In the News #29 – 2/19/1008

Daily News for February 19th, 2008.

• Toshiba announced today that it will stop manufacturing HD-DVD players. Which means that the HD-DVD has pretty much lost the High-Definition war. Who could have known that Sony was making a good decision with making the PS3 a Blu-Ray player? Weird.
• Capcom has announced its demo for the upcoming Lost Planet: Extreme Condition on PS3 will be available on the UK PlayStation Network on Thursday, February 21st.
•  According to The Famitsu Marketing Data Service 1,729,034 Playstation 3s, PSPs, and Playstation 2s were sold across Japan in just the month of January. The PSP was the most popular piece of Sony hardware sold during the month, with almost 400,000 units. The Playstation 3 sold 166,000 units in January in Japan. And somehow, after seven years on the market, the Playstation 2 still managed to sell 74,000 units in January in Japan.

Playstation Weekly Review #3

PSP, Playstation 2, and Playstation 3 Weekly Review for the week of February 4th, 2008 – February 8th, 2008.

• Electronic Arts is predicting that the Playstation 3 is going to sell 9.5 to 11.5 million units this year. Europe is where the majority sales will take place. Playstation 3 has a predicted 5 to 6 million units sales as opposed to the Xbox 360 with 1.5 to 2.5 million.
• Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. announced Monday that the total number of registered users for Folding@home has reached over one million users since PlayStation 3 started taking part in Stanford University’s Folding@home project back in March of 2007. On average, this is roughly 3,000 PS3 users registering for Folding@home per day or 2 new registered users every minute worldwide.
• Sony Computer Entertainment Japan announced Tuesday that a new “Silver Satin” 40GB PS3 model will be available in Japan on March 6th at regular price. A Silver controller will also be available for purchase, and to our understanding will be included with the system. At this time, there are no plans for a U.S. release of this model.
• Leading worldwide Publisher Lighthouse Interactive announced Thursday that it has acquired full publishing rights for the PlayStation 2 and PSP system platforms in North America through its signed agreement with Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc.
• The Playstation Store has been updated. Read More.
• The Lost Planet demo, that was released just a couple of days ago on the Playstation Network, has recently been taken down from the store. The demo was removed to “address issues that have come to light,” said Chris Kramer in a post on the Playstation Blog. No time has been given to when the demo is expected to make a return.

In the New #21 – 2/7/2008

Daily News for February 7th, 2008.

• Earlier today on GTA-Division, we reported on how Take-Two Interactive might be bought out by Viacom. Read more on GTA-Division.com.
• Leading worldwide Publisher Lighthouse Interactive announced today that it has acquired full publishing rights for the PlayStation 2 and PSP system platforms in North America through its signed agreement with Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc.
• Legendary is coming. The first-person-shooter from Atari and Gamecock will be coming to PCs, Xbox 360s and PlayStation 3s in North America sometime this summer.
• According to 1up.com, David Ortiz, the lead producer on the Madden football series, has left EA Tiburon. Family reasons were cited for the sudden leave from the company, but rumors say he was frustrated with the studio. Read more.
• Well, we just went with the flow…and the flow turned out to be wrong. Duke Nukem Forever is not coming out in 2008, sorry. Yesterday, we reported that Duke Nukem Forever is coming out in 2008; but it turns out this was proven incorrect.

  “Quite simply, they are lying bastards and they know it,” Miller wrote.

  The release date remains “When it’s done.”

• The Lost Planet: Extreme Condition multiplayer demo will be released on the next Playstation Network update.
• A “Major League Eating” game has been announced. I can’t believe it either. Read more on IGN, I don’t have the stomach to explain it further.
• Activision is saying they are going to ‘take it up a notch’ with their next installment in the Tony Hawk series. “We need to step up innovation,” stated one Activision executive. We’ll find out what they mean sooner or later. 

Playstation Weekly Review #1

Playstation 2, PSP, and Playstation 3 Weekly Review for the week of January 21st, 2008 – January 25th, 2008.

• Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare apparently outsold Halo 3 for the most sells in 2007. It sold more than 7 million units
• Rumors of a price drop for the Playstation 3 are circulating all over the net. The new price is set at $299 and is set to supposedly drop on January 29.  
• Sony said on Wednesday it is delaying the planned introduction in late January of a Skype Web phone service for PlayStation Portable (PSP) users in Japan due to technical problems.  Sony’s game unit said earlier this month it would start offering Skype software for downloading onto the latest PSP model, enabling PSP Users to make free Web-based phone calls to other PSP users and to users of PCs equipped with Skype software. However, the game unit said on Wednesday a microphone it planned to start selling in Japan for the new service did not meet Skype specifications, forcing the delay
• Filings at the Federal Communications Commission reveal that Sony will be releasing the Ceramic White PlayStation 3 in North America. Originally released in Japan in November, the 40 GB units comes with a white DualShock 3 controller and retails for JPY 39,980 in the region.
Haze has been delayed. The company expects the title to arrive during the 2008 fiscal year, which runs from April 1, 2008 to March 31, 2009.
THQ’s recent financial report revealed Wednesday that upcoming videogame Frontlines: Fuel of War will not be coming to the PlayStation 3 after all.
The Juiced series and the Stuntman franchise, as well as the PS2 version of Destroy All Humans: Big Willy Unleashed have all also been cancelled.
According to a post on PS3fanboy.com, the 80 gig PlayStation 3 is being discontinued. The blog says: “an anonymous Best Buy employee has sent us a scan of an internal letter, which notifies employees that the 80GB system is being discontinued.”
The letter reads:
“The 80GB version of the PS3 is going closeout and won’t be replaced at this time…It will come off the planogram on Jan. 28. The 60GB version should already be gone from stores. Only the 40GB version of PS3 will be sold in Best Buy stores at this time.”
It looks as if God of War III won’t be out until atleast December 2009. The game will be in 1080p, and will feature Sixaxis and rumble support when it makes it’s next-generation debut.
The Playstation Network Store was also updated with games, demos, add-ons, movies, and more. Click here to read the full list of new downloads.

Playstation Update Pt. 2

Another Playstation Update so soon? Yes, but today was a big day for Playstation, let alone video games in general.

• THQ’s recent financial report revealed yesterday that upcoming videogame Frontlines: Fuel of War will not be coming to the PlayStation 3 after all.
• The Juiced series and the Stuntman franchise, as well as the PS2 version of Destroy All Humans: Big Willy Unleashed have all also been cancelled.
• According to a post on PS3fanboy.com, the 80 gig PlayStation 3 is being discontinued. The blog says: “an anonymous Best Buy employee has sent us a scan of an internal letter, which notifies employees that the 80GB system is being discontinued.”
  The letter reads:

  “The 80GB version of the PS3 is going closeout and won’t be replaced at this time…It will come off the planogram on Jan. 28. The 60GB version should already be gone from stores. Only the 40GB version of PS3 will be sold in Best Buy stores at this time.”

• Haze has been delayed. The company expects the title to arrive during the 2008 fiscal year, which runs from April 1, 2008 to March 31, 2009.

Playstation Network Update

• Games
  • PixelJunk Monsters – $7.99 – This price is listed as “for a limited time”
  • Jet Moto 2 for PS3/PSP – $5.99
• Demos
  • Devil May Cry 4 demo – Free
  • The Club demo – Free
• Expansions and Add-ons
  • Folklore Create-a-Creature Winner add-on (free)
  • Rock Band ($1.99 each) – “Wonderwall”, “Live Forever” and “Don’t Look Back in Anger” by Oasis.
  • Rock Band Oasis Pack ($5.49)
  • Stranglehold Map Pack ($14.99) – Also comes in Collector’s Edition style.
  • Need for Speed ProStreet Extender Pack Bundle 1 ($5.99) – Pay for the privilege of driving the Aston Martin DBR9, Porsche Carrera GT, Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera, Porsche 911 GT3 RS, Lancia Delta Integrale Evo, and Dodge Challenger Concept.
  • Need for Speed ProStreet Extender Pack Bundle 2 ($5.99) – More stuff that’s already on the disc, but requires cash to play includes the Koeniggsigg CCX, Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG, Aston Martin DB9, Audi R8, Porsche 911 GT3, and Honda S2000.
• Game Videos
  • Tony Hawk’s Proving Ground – Stevie’s Skater Story
• Movie Trailers
  • Step Up 2: The Streets trailer
  • Dragon Wars Blu-ray trailer
• Wallpapers and Themes
  • PixelJunk Monsters theme
  • Lemmings theme

This week’s releases – #1

Monday, November 12th, 2007
Are you Smarter than a 5th grader? – DS
Blacksite: Area 51 – PC, Xbox 360
Boogie – Playstation 2
Spongebob: Atlantis Squarepantis – Wii
Super Mario Galaxy – Wii
Ultimate Mortal Kombat – DS
Warhammer 40,000: Squad Command – PSP

Tuesday, November 13th, 2007
Alien Vs. Predator: Requiem – PSP
Assassin’s Creed – Playstation 3, Xbox 360
Assassin’s Creed (Limited Edition) – Playstation 3, Xbox 360
Baby Pals – DS
Beowulf: The Game – PC, Playstation 3, Xbox 360
Cabela’s Big Game Hunter 2008 – Wii
Contra 4 – DS
Cooking Mama 2: Cooking With Friends – DS
Darkness Within: In Pursuit of Loath Nolder – PC
Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3 – Playstation 2 
EA Sports 07 Collection – PC
Everquest II: Rise of Kunark – PC
EverQuest: Secrets of Faydwer – PC
Fire Pro Wrestling Returns – Playstation 2
Geometry Wars: Galaxies – Wii
Imagine: Fashion Designer – PC
Jenga – DS
Kane & Lynch: Dead Men – PC, Playstation 3, Xbox 360
King of Fighters XI – Playstation 2
Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Anniversary – Wii
Medal of Honor: Heroes 2 – PSP,Wii
Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops + – PSP
Monster Jam 07 – Playstation 2, Xbox 360, DS
Need for Speed ProStreet – PC, Playstation 2, Playstation 3, Xbox 360, Wii, DS
Next Life – PC
Orcs & Elves – DS
Petz Catz 2 – PC, Playstation 2, Wii, DS
Petz Dogz 2 – PC, Playstation 2, Wii, DS
Petz: Hamsterz Life 2 – DS
Petz Horsez 2 – PC, Playstation 2, Wii, DS
Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords – Playstation 2
Rayman Raving Rabbids 2 – Wii, DS
Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles – Wii
SimCity Societies – PC
Soldier of Fortune: Pay Back – PC, Xbox 360
Sonic Rivals 2 – PSP
Smarty Pants – Wii
Strawberry Shortcake: The Four Seasons Cake – DS
WWE SmackDown! vs. Raw 2008 – Playstation 2, Playstation 3, PSP, Xbox 360, Wii, DS
WWE SmackDown! vs. Raw 2008 (Special Edition) – Playstation 3

Wednesday, November 14th, 2007
The Lost Crown: A Ghost-hunting Adventure – PC
Shadowgrounds Survivor – PC
Shrek-N-Roll – Xbox 360

Thursday, November 15th, 2007
America’s Army: True Soldiers – Xbox 360
Impossible Mission – DS
Left Behind: Eternal Forces Expansion Pack – PC
Super FruitFall – DS
WordJong – DS

Friday, November 16th, 2007
Agatha Christie: And Then There Were None – Wii
Code Lyoko: Quest for Infinity – Wii
Crysis – PC 
Crysis: Special Edition – PC
Ghost In The Sheet – PC

Monday, November 19th, 2007 
Avatar: The Last Airbender — The Burning Earth – Xbox 360
College Hoops 2K8 – Playstation 2, Playstation 3, Xbox 360
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation: Dark Motives – DS
Link’s Crossbow Training – Wii
Mario Party DS – DS
Medal of Honor: Airborne – Playstation 3
TimeShift – Playstation 3
Unreal Tournament III – PC
Unreal Tournament III (Collector’s Edition) – PC 

Next-Week’s Big Releases 
Elder Scrolls IV: The Shivering Isles  – Playstation 3
Mass Effect – Xbox 360
Rock Band – Playstation 3
Rock Band: Special Edition – Playstation 3, Xbox 360
Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune – Playstation 3, Xbox 360

* All dates are based off of IGN.com.
* All dates are subject to change and may vary by store.
* Games highlighted in Blue are the highly anticipated games.