Gaming Systems
October 19, 2009
Microsoft rolls 250 GB Xbox 360 Modern Warfare 2 gaming package
Microsoft has responded to the Sony's 250 GB Playstation Slim with its own 250 GB strategy. Costco and Amazon will both ship a 250 GB Xbox 360 with the game Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 and a pair of wireless controllers. You'll pay $50 bucks more than you would for the Playstation Slim ($399.99), but it's worth it for the extras.
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October 15, 2009
Sony debuts new PS3 Slim with more storage space
Sony today announced it would be releasing another PS3 Slim with more memory and a higher price tag. Targeting high-end gamers, the new PS3 Slim features 250 GB of storage space as opposed to the current PS3 Slim and its 120 GB hard drive. Sony says the current model, which has only been on the market for a few weeks, sold one million units in its first three weeks on the market. The new PS3 Slim will cost $350 and ship November 3.
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September 30, 2009
Microsoft gets ready for the holidays with XBox 360 Elite bundle
Microsoft announced Tuesday that it is releasing an XBox 360 Elite Holiday Bundle. The bundle features and XBox 360 console, wireless black controller, and copies of Lego Batman: The Videogame and Pure, an action sports game. Shipping Tuesday, the XBox 360 Elite Holiday Bundle will retail for $299.
Also in time for the holiday season, Microsoft will release the XBox 360 Wireless Controller Game Pack. The package comes with a black wireless controller and 4 XBox Live Arcade title including Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2, Lumines Live, Bomberman Live and Ms. Pac Man. Also included is a free 48-hour XBox Live Gold trial enabling buyers to try out XBox online. The Wireless Controller Game Pack will ship in November for $59.99.
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September 1, 2009
Blu-Link PS3 remote combines Bluetooth and IR capabilities
Looking for a universal remote control that will work with your PS3 that doesn't require a Bluetooth-to-IR adapter? Until now, it's been impossible, but with the debut of SMK's new Blu-Link remote, gamers can now find what they've been looking for. The $49.95 remote combines a Bluetooth PS3 controller with a standard IR universal remote control and is compatible with support for over 400 HDTV brands, 200 satellite receiver models, 50 DVR models, 200 home theater systems, 100 cable TV receiver brands, and 150 VCR (what's that?) brands. The Blu-Link PS3 remote is available now.
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August 27, 2009
Microsoft to phase out Xbox 360 Pro as part of price cut
As expected, Microsoft has dropped the prices of its Xbox 360 Elite and 360 Pro game consoles to $299 and $249, respectively, this morning. However, the company denies the price cut has anything to do with the recent Playstation 3 price cut, also to $299.
According to paidcontent.org:
But to hear Xbox 360 Product Manager David Dennis tell it, the price cut had nothing to do with Sony or the PS3--it's part of Microsoft's plan to phase out the mid-tier Xbox Pro. "We haven't been building the Pros anymore; we're phasing them out at a $249 price point. This is a manufacturing change that has been in the works for many months--we couldn't just make a global supply change within a week."
So there you have it. The 360 Pro is going bye-bye. The company also doesn't feel that the PS3 is its real competition either. And with 9 million PS3s sold compared to 16 million Xbox 360s, that's probably a fair assumption. Microsoft really wants to go after the PS2; with 138 million units sold, it's the best-selling game console of all time.
August 25, 2009
More evidence supporting Xbox 360 price cut emerges
More evidence as emerged, complementing a leak last week, that supports a price drop for the Xbox 360 Elite AND the Xbox 360 Pro. Leaked shots of next week's Target ad sent to Engadget depict the 60 GB Pro for $250 while the 120 GB Elite will drop $100 to $300. Target's ads run from Sunday to Saturday, so expect this price cut to go into effect on August 30!
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August 24, 2009
Xbox 360 Elite price dropping to $299.99
Two separate flyer leaks have appeared on the interwebs over the last couple of days showing a $100 price cut for the Xbox 360 Elite 120 MB SKU. A Meijer's flyer and more recently, a Walmart flyer, both show an Xbox 360 Elite priced at $299.99. So should these leaks prove true, what does this mean other than savings for the end consumer? A vicious battle between the Xbox 360 and the Playstation 3, which also dropped to $299.99 with the announcement of the Playstation Slim!
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August 18, 2009
PS3 Slim unveiled in 120 GB and 250 GB models
As expected, Sony revealed its new PS3 Slim gaming console this morning at the Gamescon European gaming conference. The unit is roughly 1/3 the size of the current PS3, packs a 120 GB hard drive and costs $299 when it ships in the first week of September.
Also, despite no verification from Sony on this one, an FCC database digger has uncovered a 250 GB PS3 Slim. Sony hasn't mentioned this larger capacity version but it exists and will probably launch sometime in the fall after the 120 GB PS3 Slim. The company even filed the product under the name Sand Company Enterprise in an attempt to keep it hidden from FCC snoopers. Looks like the plan didn't work out so well.
Playstation 3 price cut to $299
Rumors of an upcoming Playstation 3 price cut have been flying around for awhile, despite repeated denials from Sony, maker of the game console. But today it appears that "the rumors are reality". A Kmart.com promotion has the PS3 listed for $299 (80 GB), a $100 price cut, a drop meant to prepare us for a "new" PS3--presumably the PS3 Slim. Later today there is a Sony press event in New York during which I'm expecting we'll hear more details. Stay tuned.
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August 9, 2009
Xbox LIVE Marketplace gets Paypal payments in the US
Xbox LIVE Marketplace just got a new payment option in the form of Paypal. For those not so sure about entering their credit card information online, this is pretty welcome. You can't access the sign-up from the Xbox 360; you'll need to go to Xbox.com, click on the "Manage Payment Options" link and you'll be good to go. Then you'll be able to purchase games and other downloads using your Paypal account. The only bummer about the new option is that it's only available in the United States currently, and there's no word on when it will be extended to other countries.
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June 2, 2009
Microsoft Xbox Live gets 1080p, 5.1 surround sound instant movies, Netflix rentals
Microsoft announced a flurry of new Xbox-related innovations yesterday at the opening of the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3).
Many of the new additions are to Xbox Live including instant 1080p movies in 5.1 surround sound. Delivered to consoles hooked up to compatible HDTVs, the instant HD movie service also adds Netflix rentals and Live TV with BSkyB in the United Kingdom and Ireland. In addition, Microsoft added 10 new markets to its TV and movie service via Xbox Live including: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland.
Looking to make interactive gaming and TV watching more social, Microsoft also announced that Facebook, Twitter and Last.fm would be integrated into the Xbox Live experience, in effect creating a new social network. Users will be able to share status updates and screenshots from supported games including Tiger Woods PGA Tour. Last.fm integration will allow users to listen to music and even create personalized radio stations from a pool of millions of songs. Furthermore, Xbox Live Party for movies lets you share the 'living room' with friends from across the country. The new service lets friends share a virtual movie theater, complete with personalized avatars and voice chat.
One of the wildest announcements to emerge from E3 yesterday is that of Project Natal. Compatible with any Xbox 360, Project Natal is actually a sensor that combines an RGB camera, depth sensor, multi-array microphone and a custom processor to enable gameplay without a controller. Project Natal recognizes your face, tracks full body movements in 3D, and responds to commands, directions, and changes of emotion in your voice.
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May 15, 2009
Logitech Harmony Adapter for Playstation 3 now available, Guitar Hero Wireless Controller on its way
I'm a huge Logitech Harmony fan. There isn't another remote control brand available that I've come across that is as easy-to-use, while still offering remarkably comprehensive features. If the Harmony has one downside though, it's that so far it hasn't been able to turn on the Playstation 3. Why? The PS3 doesn't understand infrared signals. But it does offer Bluetooth.
That's what the new Logitech Harmony Adapter for Playstation 3 is for. The Harmony Adapter, which work with any Harmony remote, converts those strange IR signals into readable Bluetooth signals which can be used to manipulate all 51 PS3 controls. The best part is the low price. Right now the Logitech Harmony Adapter for Playstation 3 is only $59.99 from Amazon, or combined with the Logitech Harmony One Advanced remote, an even better $241.
Meanwhile, PS3 and PS2 Guitar Hero-playing gamers might also be thrilled to hear the Logitech Wireless Guitar Controller for Guitar Hero is expected to be available later this month. Featuring a wood neck and body, guitar frets and a rosewood fingerboard, the Wireless Guitar Controller for Guitar Hero is built to work as a typical high-end guitar. It works up to 30 feet away from the PS3 and has hundreds of hours of battery life. The controller will be available this month in the US for $199.99 and will ship to Europe in June.
Read--Logitech Harmony Adapter for Playstation 3
Read--Logitech Wireless Guitar Controller for Guitar Hero
Video game console sales hammered by recession
HDTV sales seem to be slowly picking up again, but the recession brought the video game industry its worst month since early 2007. Video game console sales saw their lowest levels in 23 months with all 3 big-name manufacturers reporting monthly sales dropping more than 40%. Nintendo Wii sales dropped from 601, 000 in March to 340, 000 in April; Xbox 360 sales dropped from 330, 000 to 175, 000; and the Playstation 3 dropped from 218, 000 to 127, 000. For the 3 manufacturers, it was the worst month since May 2007, December 2007 and October 2007, respectively. Year-over-year, the total unit shipment numbers for the big three are down 40% from 1, 089, 000.
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March 31, 2009
Sony cuts Playstation 2 (not PS3) price to $99
Sony has announced it'll be dropping the price of a Playstation 2 to $99.99 starting April 1. That should definitely get the PS3 predecessor flying off shelves everywhere. Compared to the PS3's $400 price tag, buying a PS2 now is likely buying a 2 x 4 instead of a new house. In today's economy at least. Unfortunately for those that were hoping for a PS3 price cut, an official statement from Al De Leon, PR Manager for Sony Computer Entertainment America, confirms such thinking is nothing more than a pipedream. "As we have stated previously, we do not have plans for a PS3 price drop, and any rumors to that effect are false and are the result of speculation," De Leon said. "SCEA remains focused on the long-term momentum of PS3. With the industry's best software lineup this year, combined with our most aggressive marketing campaign to date, we remain confident in our approach and the value we're delivering with PS3."
Okay, but the only problem with Sony's strategy here is that for the next few quarters, the PS2 and not the PS3 will be the world's number one selling game console.
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