Tretton: We’re Going “to take different things to get different consumers”

Posted in PlayStation 3, Sony Computer Entertainment Worldwide Studios with tags , , , , on July 8, 2009 by Jonathan Cullen

Jack TrettonJack Tretton’s come out to Fast Company, stating that Sony will try “to take different things to get different consumers” as far as getting consumers involved with the PS3.

It comes in an interview the SCEA president gives to the site on price-cut’s, the 10 year cycle and the PSP Go.

If you were one of the first consumers to get a PS3, I hope that you would say, “I might have paid $499 or $599 for it, but it does so much more today.” There are a lot of technologies where people say, “I don’t even bother pulling it out anymore. I was excited when I first got it, but I have kind of moved on.” And that’s sad. It costs a lot to invest in rolling out new technology, and if the consumer walks away before the lifecycle’s over–you can talk about the install base of hardware, but how many of those machines are still active, how many people are still playing them?

And on the 10 year cycle…

I said that in the context of, “We want a price drop; when’s a new system coming out?” I am saying to enjoy the technology that you have, explore the technology that you have, maximize the technology that you have, instead of trying to hasten the demise. People are just coming up to speed with the technology. Today’s platform and tomorrow’s platform is the PlayStation 3. But there’s somebody that wants to talk about when PlayStation 4 is coming out and what kind of technology is it going to have.

More through the link. Via GAF.

Stringer: Activision Threat is “noise”

Posted in Activision, PlayStation 3 with tags , , , , , on July 8, 2009 by Jonathan Cullen

ps3It’s fucking on like fucking Donkey fucking Kong! Sony president Howard Stringer has been talking at the Allen & co conference in California this week according to Reuters, via VG247. And Stringer had harsh words to his counterpart at Activision, Bobby Kotick.

He likes to make a lot of noise. He’s putting pressure on me and I’m putting pressure on him. That’s the nature of business.

If you dont know whats going on, lets catch you up. Last month, Activision, to be specfic Kotick, threatened to pull support for the PS3 and PSP unless Sony did a price cut for the PS3.

They have to cut the price, because if they don’t, the attach rates are likely to slow. If we are being realistic, we might have to stop supporting Sony. Games generate a better return on invested capital on the Xbox than on the PlayStation.

And on that front, Stringer was asked about a possible price-cut.

I (would) lose money on every PlayStation I make – how’s that for logic

Ladies, ladies, just get in a mudbath and slig in it out in bikinis.

Final Fantasy IV to Release in Japan for Wii On July 30th

Posted in Famitsu, Nintendo Wii, Square Enix with tags , , , , on July 8, 2009 by Jonathan Cullen

final-fantasy-ivSquare Enix has announced in this week’s Famitsu that the production work on Final Fantasy IV: The After Years is complete and will release in Japan on July 30th for the Wii.

Scans are after the jump.

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Atari Distrubution in PAL Region Purchased by Namco

Posted in Other Gaming with tags , , on July 8, 2009 by Jonathan Cullen

tekken-360Namco-Bandai’s announced it has swallowed up Atari’s distrubution arm for PAL regions.

Basically put: Namco is now their own publisher and will now self-publish games like Tekken, which had to be published by Sony if they wanted to make Europe, even then it was exclusive to PlayStation.

It’s been renamed Namco-Bandai Partners, effective immediately.

“We are very excited about working with all our valued partners in retail, media and publishing to grow what is already a successful distribution business even further as part of the NAMCO BANDAI Games family,” said Jackie Fromion.” CEO of NAMCO BANDAI Partners.

“We are very proud to have a greatly increased international presence following the creation of NAMCO BANDAI Partners. The goal of the new organization is to make our products appeal to a wider audience, and also provide an effective distribution service which reaches the widest possible international market.” said Shu Takahara, President and CEO of NAMCO BANDAI Games Europe.

Full PR is after the jump.

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Lombardi: Left 4 Dead 2 Demo Coming

Posted in Xbox 360 with tags , , , , , on July 7, 2009 by Jonathan Cullen

Left 4 Dead 2Doug Lombardi’s announced the envitable: there will be a demo for Left 4 Dead 2 shortly before released.

Valve’s PR head said to Joystiq there will be a demo coming, via pre-orders, in selected retailers for the Xbox 360 version with the demo for the PC version coming for pre-orders on Steam. However, if you dont pre-order, not to panic. The demo will be out for all prior to release.

We’ve asked EA to see when L4D2 is coming to the UK. So far, nothing yet.

But it is due on November 17th in the US for 360, so we’re gonna assume it’s November 20th in the UK.

1 vs 100 Enters European Beta Testing This Week

Posted in Xbox 360, Xbox Live with tags , , , on July 7, 2009 by Jonathan Cullen

xbox-360Microsoft has announced the release details for the European beta’s of 1vs100.

The beta for the UK and Republic of Ireland goes live on Friday, while the beta’s in France in Germany go live on Sunday. The news comes way of Xbox Live community head Graeme Boyd aka .

The Canadian beta started in May and ended the same month. A US beta has been ongoing since E3, at the start of June. The website for the UK beta is live.

Konami ID’s to Be Scrapped

Posted in PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 with tags , , , , , on July 7, 2009 by Jonathan Cullen

pes-2010Fed up of Konami ID’s? Well, be fed up no more, the ID’s are gone, starting with the release of Pro Evolution Soccer 2010.

Konami state that it is too late to do anything in past games released, biggest example would be Metal Gear Online. However, speaking to French gaming site , Konami say that they will get rid of the system with this year’s annual PES release for PS3 and 360.

Although, as far as we know, the 360 doesnt really use ID’s for Konami games, just Xbox Live where as the PS3 does, but we’ve only seen it in MGO. But anyways, its gone, and now, there will be only PSN’s and XBL GT’s to use for Metal Gear Solid: Rising’s online (if there is online for Rising)

Molyneux: Natal “has given life to Milo”

Posted in Microsoft Games Studios, Project Natal, Xbox 360 with tags , , , , , on July 6, 2009 by Jonathan Cullen

Molyneux & NatalIt’s like that movie with the whale, the puppet and the cricket, innit.

Lionhead’s president Peter Molyneux has said to that thanks to Project Natal, it has brought Milo to life. Look papa, I’m a real boy! Molyneux also stated that Milo existed long before Natal did.

Milo existed. But Christmas has given life to Milo.

Molyneux also confirmed that Milo was the remnants of Project Dimitri, but legal issues were present and had to change it.

Yes, before it was called Dimitri. We use the name Dimitri, but there were legal issues and could not use.

Earlier, BioWare head Ray Muzyka said that the motion camera was “a platform extention” as well as adding it is”a really powerful idea.”

Muzyka: Natal is a “really powerful idea”

Posted in EA, Project Natal, Xbox 360 with tags , , , , on July 6, 2009 by Jonathan Cullen

NatalBioWare boss, and newly made head of EA’s RPGMMO division, Ray Muzuka has said that Project Natal is a “really powerful idea”.

Speaking to GI, Muzyka states that the motion camera, revealed at E3 last month, is an ” platform extention”.

I got a demo of Project Natal before E3. So I got to check it out hands-on at EA with some other folks, and I thought it was pretty cool. We didn’t get to go to the Microsoft or Sony booths unfortunately because we were booked in meetings, but I read some of the announcements and saw some of the feedback and responses. It’s very interesting. And Natal looks exceptionally interesting as a platform extension.

“I think it’s a really powerful idea.

Mass Effect 3 to use Natal? We shall see.

Ueda Takes Aim at Grand Theft Auto IV & Mario Galaxy

Posted in Nintendo Wii, PlayStation 3, Rockstar Games, Sony Computer Entertainment Worldwide Studios with tags , , , , , , on July 6, 2009 by Jonathan Cullen

fumito-uedaMiyamoto and the Houser brothers better be hiding under the desk, Fumito Ueda is coming for them and their games.

The Team ICO head gave a scathing attack in an interview with Swedish magazine LEVEL, translated by GAF, saying “he expected more” as far as Super Mario Galaxy went.

Yes I have played it, it was hard to not to since it was rumored that Miyamoto-san was inspired by me. But I had expected more, that segment, was like the rest of the game not so fun as it could had been. I think the fans made a big deal out of nothing when they said Miyamoto had stolen from me.

And for course, there was Sam and Dan Houser’s masterpiece, GTA IV.

The biggest problem with the game is the lack of innovative things in the game. The graphic style impresses, but not the base premise, which is exactly the same as the predecessors.

We wouldnt dare disagree with Ueda, even though Galaxy and GTA IV are great games, considering that he has made two simply spellbinding games for the PlayStation 2, ICO and Shadow of the Colossus. Team ICO have The Last Guardian in development right now for the PLAYSTATION 3, due sometime next year