I saw a story on Joystiq about some blurry next gen Golden Axe screen shots and decided to do a little sleuthing. Turns out SEGA released two screens during E3, rendering these blurry shots somewhat moot. I guess it’s not gameplay but they look very nice. See one more after the break.
Eurogamer recently scored a trailer of SEGA’s upcoming Virtua Tennis 3—subtitled SEGA Professional Tennis. The music kind of sounds like a business training video, which is wierd. Also, the characters looks a little bit animatronic to me. Still the game itself looks pretty fun and it has a great history. I’m looking forward to it. Check out the trailer here.
—via Xboxic
In a dazzling moment, Sony Ireland executive Niall O’Hanrahan made a bold statement recently. Niall spake thus:
“We have a marketing challenge from now until launch. This is not a done deal. It will require a lot of effort from us.”
Adding,
“We would never say we cannot fail.”
Let me be the first to say, “Whaaaaa?” Adding more fuel to the crazy fire, Mr. Ohanrahan had this to say:
“Competition is now not limited to direct competition. We compete with MP3 players. We noticed at E3 that games for PCs are back.”
We noticed that PC games are back, huh? By “we”, do you mean “my buddy Phil Harrison and me,” because I think he might disagree with you. Because, you know, he said that the PS3 would replace your PC and all.
What kind of world do we live in when a Sony executive can admit the possibility of defeat?
—via Eurogamer
A new report states that the PS3 will initially include the original PS2 chipset for emulation of PS2 and PS1 games. This statement goes against Ken Kutaragi’s previous statements that emulation would be handled through software a la the 360. While this will no doubt allow for smoother emulation, it’s probably also one of the factors in the PS3’s rather enormous price tag.
The chips will apparently be removed in further iterations of the PS3 hardware once the software emulation is ironed out.
—via Evil Avatar
In a recent interview with German Magazine—say it with me now—Der Spiegel, Sony Exec Phil Harrison lays down a quote that I’m sure will soon be famous:
“We believe that the PS3 will be the place where our users play games, watch films, browse the Web, and use other computer functions. The PlayStation 3 is a computer. We do not need the PC”
Call it a leap if you will, but I’m guessing that the PS3 won’t include a word processor, photo editor, web editor, or a multitude of other PC functions. Still, I find this continued dismissal of the PS3’s main function disturbing. Not only that, diversifying the PS3 too much will confuse consumers. If people (ie Moms) see the PS3 as a computer, they will have a more complex choice to make. Let’s imagine a little exchange shall we?
Consumer Mom: What is this exactly? My child wants one.
Mr. Sales Guy: Why, it’s a PS3. It’s like having a “Super Computer.”
Consumer Mom: But we already have a computer.
Mr. Sales Guy: But this can play Blu-Ray movies!
Consumer Mom: We already have a DVD player…
Mr. Sales Guy: Exactly! Blu-Ray is like DVD only better. Look at that picture!
Consumer Mom: I can’t tell the difference…
Mr. Sales Guy: Um…Well, it plays games, too!
Consumer Mom: Yes, that’s what little Billy wanted. How much?
Mr. Sales Guy: Five hundred dollars.
Consumer Mom: Gadzooks! Why so much?
Mr. Sales Guy: Well, it’s like a “Super Computer” remember?
Consumer Mom: Okay…do you have anything that just plays games?
And so on and so forth. I know Sony is counting on tech savvy adults to buy this for themselves, but the truth is that a lot of little kids will be wanting a PS3 under the Christmas tree. If Sony wants to sell these things to Mom, they’d better be damned sure to exemplify the PS3’s primary function. Then again, I’m not sure even Sony knows what that is anymore.
—interview quote from 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.
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.
The deluge of news during E3 has brought about some kind of stasis to my posts, but I was thinking about something yesterday. You may have read comments from Nintendo’s opponents about Wii’s place in a gaming household. Peter Moore had this to say:
“People are going to buy two. They’re going to buy an Xbox and they’re going to buy a Wii … for the price of one PS3.”
Meanwhile, on the other side of the schoolyard, Sony’s Phil Harrison said this:
”I think Peter Moore is exactly right. I think Nintendo will be the second system consumers purchase after PlayStation 3.”
Now, correct me if I’m wrong here, but if both Sony and Microsoft concede that Wii will be the second console, doesn’t that make Wii the first console? Regardless of where your loyalties—or budget—lie, it’s an interesting situation. I’ve got my 360 and I will be getting Wii, so right now the prophecy holds true.
—quotes from the Washington Post and Gamasutra.
Kaz Hirai was recently questioned about the high price of the PS3 on CNN Money. He defended the price saying:
“I think when you look at what we put into the box – Cell, Blu-Ray, backwards compatibility, the ability to go online - I think it’s a very compelling package.”
He also spoke about the cheaper SKU saying:
“The only difference is HDMI – and at this point, I don’t think many people’s TV’s have that.”
What? Wasn’t “True” HD the whole point of cramming Blu-ray into the PS3 in the first place? Sony’s marketing is addling my brain…
—via Gamasutra
Considering my recent SEGA rant, this announcement is like edible gold. A new Golden Axe is set to debut next year on the 360 and PS3. Maybe SEGA is finally seeing fit to resurrect all of its sequel deserving properties (Eternal Champions, please). Little was mentioned of the game, though a trailer is to be shown tomorrow at E3. I will be there (virtually) with bells on.
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