Not exactly news—we’ve all heard the rumors—but research and consulting firm Diffusion Group is forecasting that Microsoft will release a portable games console in late 2007 or early 2008. The report issued by the firm states that Microsoft has now achieved the brand recognition necessary to facilitate a handheld, which would no doubt use Xbox branding of some sort. It would also likely include multimedia functionality akin to the PSP. With handhelds making more and more money, it’s pretty much a no-brainer that Microsoft would want a piece of the action.

Personally, I’m excited by the idea. If the 360 is any indication, the multimedia functionality of the Xbox Handheld would be much more user friendly than the PSP. Let’s hope they learn from Sony’s mistakes and give it more comfortable controls and longer battery life. If Microsoft could strike the right balance of DS, iPod, and PDA, they might just get my money.

Then again, it’s not like it will be replacing my DS any time soon.

—via Gamasutra

In an interview with MCV, SCEE President David Reeves mentioned that the PS3 would be manufactured for Europe first:

“I hope we will be day and date with US and I hope that we’ll get the same quantities as US as well,” said Reeves. “I don’t think we’ll be disadvantaged. In fact I believe the first PS3s being manufactured are being made for Europe – which is a first.”

Of course, if Europe is launching day and date with the US, I’m not sure it matters which units are allocated for which country. Perhaps more interesting though, were his comments on the PS3’s high price tag:

“When Blu-Ray players come out in Europe they are probably going to be between €900 and €1,000. So €599 for a Blu-Ray player – which is what a PS3 is – and a games machines with lots of good titles coming out as well is actually a steal. And the €499 unit, because that will also play Blu-Ray, is even better value.”

Sony is putting a lot of emphasis on the PS3’s Blu-Ray functionality. David Reeves went so far as to call the PS3 a Blu-Ray player before he called it a game console. With a price tag so high, I guess that’s understandable. I’m just not sure it bodes well for the actual games.

 
In a bit of shocking stupid news, Infinium Labs—known primarily for its nonexistent console, “The Phantom”—has changed its name.

Troubled former Infinium Phantom ‘console’ developer and current Lapboard accessory creator Infinium Labs has announced, via an SEC filing, that it plans to change the company name and double the amount of outstanding shares issued, and will vote on these changes at a stockholder meeting in July.”

The new name? Phantom Entertainment Inc., of course. While perhaps fitting, Phantom Entertainment isn’t really the best name for a software/hardware company. Why no one over at Infinium Phantom marketing hasn’t figured this out, I have no idea. They might as well call the company “We Really Do Have A Product, Honest! Inc.”

Seriously guys, Phantom Entertainment?

—via Gamasutra

Japanese website PC-Success recently featured the Wii for the startling price of 18,000 Yen (roughly US $160). The page was quickly taken down but not before some savvy web denizen captured the image above. Wii for twenty-one bucks more than a DS? Where do I sign up?

—via Gamebrink

In my recent tradition of picking up games two weeks after everyone else, I finally bought New Super Mario Bros. this weekend. It’s pretty much everything you would expect. It’s really more of a return to the original Super Mario Bros. than an expansion on the series. You will be hard pressed, however, to not feel the “magic” when you happen upon the first Tiny Mushroom. I am upset that the game has completely abandoned the flying dynamic established in Super Mario Bros. 3. Someone pointed out to me that you can still hijack Lakitu’s cloud, but it ain’t the same thing. It’s still pretty fun though. I will no doubt devour it quickly.

In another retro twist, I powered through Mega Man this weekend, too. A friend of mine got me the anniversary collection last Christmas. Let me assure you, anyone who can get through Mega Man the right way—in one sitting with no saves—has my respect.

In yet one more blast from the past, I played through a level or two of Halo 2. I also picked up the Halo 2 Soundtrack Vol. 2. It’s pretty nice if you’re a fan. I’ve kind of been on a Halo kick recently. I’m going back through the novels in aniticipation of the next graphic novel/book/game/movie. Hell, I must have spent two hours last week reading the Wikipedia entry on The Covenant. I also found out what a Covenant engineer looks like. They look like this:

Crazy, no?

Anyway, I hope the Americans among you had a nice Memorial Day. I did.

This isn’t exactly news, but I’m really excited about F.E.A.R. coming to 360. There is new F.E.A.R. content available on Marketplace for those who are interested. Ah 360, giving me the PC games that my PC could never play.

Major Nelson has confirmed the Spring Update for LIVE. For those of you who haven’t heard about it, the update will introduce many new features to LIVE and the 360 dashboard. Among the new features are background downloading, download queues, and easier content access. My favorite feature is the ability disable autoboot. It’s really annoying that you have to take a game out of the tray in order to boot to the dashboard. Well, not anymore. Check out Joystiq for pictures.

First thing’s first, congratulations Reggie.

Hey, internet peoples. Remember that VGA cable I ordered for my 360? Well, it showed up yesterday. Lo and behold, my eBay curse has not been lifted: it wasn’t what I ordered. The guy I bought it from advertised a Microsoft brand VGA cable. That is not what I received. Call me a snob if you want, but I don’t like third party cables—unless it’s high end stuff like Monster, which is too expensive anyway. Besides, I didn’t order a third party cable, I ordered a brand new Microsoft cable still in its blister pack.

So, I sent him a pissy email. He was gracious about it—already refunded my money—so that was good. In the end, I just went out and bought the damned thing at a store (Best Buy if you must know). The picture is much brighter than component cables, though I suspect this has more to do with my TV than the cables. It’s almost too bright really, almost washed out. Remember, I was playing at 1080i before and traded cables to get 720p. So the picture is technically fuzzier but it runs at a smoother framerate. I think the trade was worth it. I played Tomb Raider on it. My brightness settings—still very bright from the component cables—actually had to be tuned down much lower than even the default. The picture was great though.

Speaking of Tomb Raider, I finished the game last night. It’s very good. I would go so far as to say it’s the best Tomb Raider yet produced. Keep in mind, I finished the game, but there are still unlockables that I have not attained. In most games such things would not bother me but Tomb Raider is different. Seeing as the unlockables are found by exploring—or “raiding”—tombs thouroghly, I am enticed to “catch ‘em all.” I’m actually looking forward to laboriously going over every inch of these levels to find what I missed the first time. I haven’t done that since Ninja Gaiden. Let’s just say Tomb Raider: Legend is good and leave it at that. I’ll try and write it up properly soon.

Now I only hope the fine people at Crystal Dynamics can get back to making Legacy of Kain games.

An interview has an analyst predicting that the Da Vinci Code’s Blu-ray release will be a huge sales boost for the PS3. Being a Sony owned film, it’s probably a safe bet that it won’t be released on HD-DVD.

I don’t really think one movie—megahit or not—will be enough to drive sales. Then again, I’m not a highly paid analyst.

How do you get into that racket anyway?

—read the article on Vnunet.com

Update: I’ve completely re-written this post. I like it better now. So there.

I almost forgot, the Hitman: Blood Money demo hit Xbox Live Marketplace yesterday. I haven’t downloaded it yet. Still busy raiding tombs.