In a move to help its next-gen console better rival the service options offered by the Xbox 360, Sony Entertainment has been trying to make its PlayStation a little more “homey” for users. The electronics giant recently announced that more than 20 different companies have signed on to have their own slice of “Home.”

Some of the partners that will offer content on PlayStation Home have been confirmed as Activision, EA, Capcom, Disney Interactive Studios, Namco Bandai and Ubisoft. Gamers with access to Home can create their own 3D avatars to navigate the world, customize their experience and check out the content available to them.

The Home concept has been in development for several years and entered beta in late 2008. While it looks splashy, many wonder if it’s a little too little a little too late. With the success of Xbox Live and its ever-expanding offerings, it just may be.

I have to admit, however, Home does look pretty spectacular. The Sony site shows avatars worthy of Sony Online Entertainment’s MMORPGs. The 3D aspect is quite striking. The company has, in fact, put together a great lineup of content providers.

As Home shapes up, it will be interesting to see if it helps pull users away from the tried and tested Live or if it, like the console that backs it, will languish as the slow runner in the next-gen race.

Nods to 1UP

Related
PS3 May Get A Price Cut

Labels: playstation home, soe, sony, xbox 360, xbox live

It seems I’m not alone in my infatuation for the Xbox 360’s latest whistle. According to numbers released today, a million Netflix subscribers are taking advantage of the ability to watch movies from that service instantly on their televisions via a connection with the Xbox.

Thanks to the partnership formed about three months ago, Xbox 360 owners have been given the ability to watch any movie or television show in the Netflix instant watch library through the console. Since the program’s launch, 1.5 billion minutes of Watch Instantly footage has been viewed in this manner.

The program’s popularity comes as no surprise to me. It’s useful, affordable and downright convenient. Having the ability to easily make the connection between Netflix and the television is a boon in my eyes not only to Microsoft and Netflix, but also owners of the console.

Netflix is so pleased with the program’s reception so far, it is crediting it for a rise in quarterly results. This makes absolute sense. The marriage of the two services brings more value to them at a price that’s affordable. The streaming videos are available to Xbox Live subscribers with gold accounts. The Netflix add on starts at $9 a month. That’s a pretty cheap add on for people who already have gold accounts.

Nods to Reuters.

Related:
Xbox 360 Scores Big In 2008
Xbox 360 Disc Replacement Plan Is Weak

Labels: netflix, streaming video, xbox 360, xbox live

While some gaming companies are facing major cutbacks in the face of a worldwide financial crisis, there’s at least one segment of the industry that’s experiencing a heck of a boon. Free online gaming Web sites have reported a surge in traffic.

According to market research company comScore, the American audience for free gaming sites has grown in leaps and bounds. The figures for December 2008 show some 86 million American visitors to free sites. The numbers from the previous December were only 67 million. Time spent playing these games has also grown. Some of the top sites for free games trafficked by American players include Yahoo! Games, EA Online, Disney, MSN and AOL.

While free online games and the console game industry both saw increases in 2008, PC game sales fell an estimated 14 percent. This makes sense on a few levels. Console games, for the most part, enable multiple players. This means buyers can justify them as “family entertainment” purchases. Free online games are just that – they’re free. There’s no need to justify the expense and the entertainment value is there.

OK, so games on MSN might not rival Vanguard, World of Warcraft, Age of Conan and scores of others in graphics department. That’s a given. They are enjoyable nonetheless. The sad fact is PC games, even if they claim to be multiplayer, are awkward to play as such. And, with many costing $50 a pop plus online access fees, they can prove to be very costly in a time when most families are trying to trim the fat from their monthly bills.

As the budget crunch pinches even more, my guess is sites like AOL, EA and Yahoo will continue to experience growth. After all, they do offer an interesting and affordable option to more costly titles.

Check out a few of the online gaming sites below:
Yahoo! Games
MSN Games
AOL Games
Pogo.com fom EA
Disney Game Kingdom Online

Labels: free online games, MSN, online gaming, Yahoo Games

As the economy continues to flounder, it seems no one is immune from its bite. Sega of America and Microsoft are the latest video game maker to announce layoffs.

Sega has let 30 people go in an effort to streamline its operations and reduce costs. Sega has issued an official statement about the move: “Sega of America has grown at pace with the booming videogame industry, but at this time of economic recession, harsh retail landscape, and the reality of business challenges to profitability, we must take steps to reduce our cost structure and ensure long-term success."

Sega joins a long and ever-growing list of video game and related companies that have announced layoffs. Some of the more notable firms to slice their staff numbers have included Midway, EA, Funcom and Sony. Microsoft also announced it will let up to 5,000 go across many of its departments.

Although I don’t have a crystal ball to predict what will happen tomorrow, next week or next year, it is interesting to note that Nintendo has been largely quiet in this economic downturn. In fact, some industry writers and analysts say that company is actually experiencing somewhat of a boom.

In Canada alone, the Wii sold nearly 700,000 units without Christmas season sales. About 10.2 million consoles sold in America.

If Nintendo is any indication, the companies that will do well in this recession are those that are lean, mean and offer products that provide not only entertainment, but also value. While it’s hard to find good news in the recession, if anything, maybe a return to good old fashion value for money invested will be witnessed more in the gaming world and outside of it, as well.

Related:
Sony Adds More Proof That Gaming Industry Isn’t Immune
Video Gamers Have A 1 Up On The Economy

Labels: microsoft, Nintendo, nintendo wii, sega, Wii

As the next-generation console race leaves Sony’s PlayStation 3 in the dust the problem is not with the console, it’s with the price tag. With a starting price of $399, the console’s bells and whistles just haven’t been enough to move the PS3 off the shelves. This could change in April.

According to industry analyst Michael Pachter from Wedbush Morgan Securities, Sony is likely to drop the price of the console to a sweet $299. This would better position it against the Wii and the Xbox 360 in terms of investment.

“Once the PS3 is at a more affordable price point, we think that sales of that device will once again begin to grow,” Pachter is quoted as saying.

Pachter is convinced the price cut is necessary to make the PS3 more attractive in a market where consumers are forced to hang on to every penny they have. He also expects Microsoft to drop pricing on its Xbox 360 even more.

If Pachter is right, 2009 could shape up to be an interesting year for gamers who have yet to jump on the next-gen bandwagon.

The question is whether or not a PS3 price cut would come soon enough to balance out the financial losses Sony has faced, in part, due to the PS3. The console costs almost $450 to make, which means game sales would have to be extremely high to make up for the loss of another $100 in entry price.

Add to this the prediction that Microsoft will further slash the 360’s price and it might just turn out to be an even bigger hit for Sony. While it technically has the most impressive of the next-gen machines, players still want value. The 360 already offers this with its most recent price tag sweetening the deal. Put another cut out there and Sony could be very hard-pressed to compete.

Although a price cut would make the PS3 a whole lot more attractive, it just might be a case of a little too little and a little too late.

Regardless, it will be interesting to see how the Big 3 compete in a market where value and pricing suddenly matter a whole lot.

Nods to Xbit

Related:
Sony Scrambling To Make PS3 Sales
Xbox 360 Scores Big In 2008
Sony Adds More Proof That Gaming Industry Isn’t Immune

Labels: microsoft, nintendo wii, ps3, sony, xbox 360

Sony’s PlayStation 3 might be the most powerful and impressive of the next-gen consoles, but that isn’t translating at the sales counter. With a starting price tag of $399, this machine does require a serious investment. While the power and graphics capabilities make it a sound purchase, Sony just can’t seem to beat out Nintendo’s Wii or Microsoft’s Xbox 360 Arcade in the sales department.

There are a host of reasons for this that go well beyond the pricing difference. Now that Microsoft has dropped the starter 360 to $199 and the Wii price remains a very fair $249, Sony seems to be running a little scared. The proof is in the latest marketing ploy. Sony has released a value comparison chart that shows the PS3 offers a whole lot more bang for the buck over the two other consoles.

While there’s no denying that the PS3 does offer a tremendous amount of power and lots of bells and whistles, these things are not adding up to be enough to make gamers rush out and buy the console.

So, what’s the PS3 missing?

It all comes down to perceived value. Sure, the starter 360 doesn’t have Wi-Fi or an included hard drive. It does, however, have a mass of titles available for play.

Plus, it does provide these things as optional if players decide they need or want them. It, in short, gives users choice.

The Wii doesn’t come with a whole lot of bells and whistles either. Add ons aren’t really part of the design. This console does, however, deliver a ton of titles and a whole lot of fun. The value is there.

We have all three consoles in my house. The Wii and the Xbox 360 get used a lot. The 360, in fact, is used daily for playing Halo, Call of Duty (and Pacman. Hey! I’ve gotta have a vice, right?). The PS3 has been relegated to replace a broken DVD player. I don’t think we’ve played a game on it in about six months.

While the PS3 has the power, it doesn’t offer the same level of fun. And, if you look at the pricing of the three consoles, you can get a Wii and now an Xbox 360 for only about $50 more than a single PS3. Now, that’s real value!

Sony's going to have to do a whole lot more than make neat charts to convince buyers the PS3 offers enough use value to justify the price.

Related:
Xbox 360 Scores Big In 2008
Sony Adds More Proof That Gaming Industry Isn’t Immune

Labels: call of duty, halo, nintendo wii, ps3, sony, xbox 360

Move over Super Mario Bros. Nintendo has another hit on its hands. Seemingly insignificant Wii Sports has topped the long-lasting franchise to become the No. 1 selling game title of all times, according to the Examiner.com.

Although packaged with the Wii console at the time of purchase in most areas where Wiis are sold, Sports has a certain quality that has made it a major hit among Wii owners. Sales to date have topped the 40-million unit mark as a result. While this number might be seen as a “default win” since it comes with the console, Sports is popular in its own right. This is evidenced by the accessories that are now sold to make this freebie title even more fun.

So, what’s that quality that makes it so popular?

It all comes down to its simplistic playability. Wii Sports is one of the few games ever that has managed to cut across generational lines and actually provide enjoyment to players of all ages.

Where I live in Florida, Wii Sports is the center of community play events. Our local library, for example, plays host to bowling tournaments. A nearby nursing home also has several consoles loaded with Sports for the use of its residents. (The machines get used – a lot!)

Nintendo has once again scored a coup. It’s proven that simplicity does work. This is especially so if simplicity is married with playability.

Related:
Xbox 360 Scores Big In 2008
Wii Fit Sensation Continues To Rock Stores
Analysts Expect Wii To Deliver Movie Content Soon

Labels: Nintendo, super mario bros., wii sports

In the battle of next-gen consoles, Microsoft’s Xbox 360 scored two big points in the brilliance column in 2008 in my book. First, the company teamed up with Netflix via Xbox Live to deliver movies and TV shows directly to users’ television sets.
Then it dropped the price on its arcade version to a sweet $199.

If you’re wondering why I’m just writing about all of this, it’s because of the point Microsoft didn’t score in the brilliance column. Our second Xbox pretty much bit the bullet of death in 2008. You know, that flashing red light of doom that so many complain about. Well, we got it again. This, of course, meant we couldn’t take part in the Netflix service via the Xbox until we picked up a new console. This we did for Christmas after the price drop.

Now, let me tell you, this service boosts the Xbox’s functionality to a whole new level. Not only can you play games, chat with friends, watch disk-based movies, but now you can instantly watch tons of Netflix selections right away.

Having fallen behind on “Heroes,” we’ve been catching up on that thanks to the new service. So far, I have to say I’m impressed. The set up is fairly easy to tackle and the video quality has been fantastic on our system. My only complaint is with Netflix itself. The watch instant selection – the one that Xbox users can access – does leave a lot to be desired. It is, however, getting better all the time.

Don’t get me wrong, the Wii is a fun little machine. The PS3 has incredible video quality. But, the Xbox 360 is the machine that’s irreplaceable in my house. Its overall appeal has only gotten better with and the bang for the buck is amazing.

Good job Microsoft!

The Netflix site has a bunch of information on how you can get the 360 setup working on your system.

Related:
Xbox 360 Disc Replacement Plan Is Weak

Labels: microsoft, netflix, ps3, Wii, xbox 360

There is no denying that Nintendo has done it again. Not only is its console the hottest thing on the market, but the company even has Americans falling all over themselves to get fit – Wii Fit that is.

The shortage of this anti-couch potato “game” was predicted by Nintendo itself prior to the start of the 2008 holiday season and it’s panning out to be quite true. Retailers all over America have been running into shortages of this hot demand item.

Amazon.com, for example, has instituted a Wii Fit purchase limit policy. On the Wii Fit page, Amazon warns customers: “As you may know, the Nintendo ‘Wii Fit’ is in great demand, and there are shortages of this product across the U.S. In an effort to provide as many customers as possible with the opportunity to purchase a ‘Wii Fit,’ we are limiting the total number of ‘Wii Fit’ units that can be purchased. As a result, each household may only purchase two Nintendo ‘Wii Fit’ units within any 30-day period.”

Even in my local Wal-Mart in the Tampa, Fla., area, a limit of one per customer is in effect. A sign hangs ominiously on the Wii display proclaiming this fact. Unfortunately, the store’s been out of Wii Fit boxes for a while.

So, what is it about this particular Nintendo creation that has had shoppers going nuts since its release in May? It all comes down to the sheer brilliance of this title. Not only is Wii Fit fun, it also provides one heck of a workout.

A friend of mine managed to snag one earlier in the holiday shopping season and I’ve been hard-pressed to catch her on the telephone ever since when she’s not Wii Fitting. An avid sports fan and gamer, she said she wanted the Fit just to see if it would work. She was in shock when she realized she had actually broken a sweat following the routines.

While a lot of people will probably go without a coveted Wii Fit this holiday season, there’s no doubt Nintendo has done it again. The company has not only packaged and sold simplicity, it’s got gamers actually on their feet, working out and breaking a sweat in the process.

Now, that’s impressive!

Related:
Analysts Expect Wii To Deliver Movie Content Soon
A Return Of Wii Holiday Shortages?

Labels: nintendo wii, Wii, wii fit

Gamers who find themselves challenged by standard keyboards have reason to rejoice. Logitech has felt their pain and responded with a solution to make their chicken-pecking keyboard strokes seem natural.

The new G13 Gameboard, set to release in January, has all the keys a gamer really needs to get in on the action in most (non-MMORPG) titles without the complication and confusion of unnecessary letters. Rather than operate on a standard qwerty setup, the Gameboard puts the most important keys – S, D, A and W – in an easier to reach position. This means the days of hunting for the right movement keys most first-person shooters could be coming to an end for keyboard challenged gamers.

As impressive as the abbreviated keypad happens to be, Logitech didn’t stop there. The G13 also has 22 programmable keys and a mini-joystick. And, if that weren’t enough, the darn thing enables multiple profile creation so keys can be mapped for different titles and it has an LCD screen that can display messages from friends, system information and game stats.

With an asking price of just under $80, this keyboard would be a dream come true for most of my gaming friends. As an honest-to-goodness, all-fingers-on-the-keyboard and eyes-on-the-screen typist, I have to admit I’m a little baffled by the design, but I can see what an incredible boon this unique design will be for chicken peckers.

It’s a darn shame the release didn’t come before the holidays. I bet this keyboard would have topped some gamers’ wish lists.

Check it out here

Labels: g13 gameboard, logitech

Anyone who owns an Xbox 360 knows these machines can be hungry little devils. Bump, drop or otherwise jostle them while a disk is in the system and the damage that results is permanent. This has been blamed on the console’s incredibly high RPM speed of 7,500 versus the competition’s 4,000 and under.

While a few broken disks might be a small sacrifice to make for the power of the 360, the fact is it can be a costly problem. So costly, in fact, that a lawsuit has already worked its way through the system.

To cover its butt, Microsoft unveiled the Disc Replacement Plan for Xbox 360 owners. The plan basically gives anyone with a damaged Microsoft created game disk and an Xbox 360 the ability to obtain new copies of games damaged by the machines. All told, Microsoft backs 12 different titles with this plan.

It’s nice that Microsoft is owning up to the problem, but it’s a weak solution. With the multitude of titles out there for the console, 12 games just doesn’t cut it. We’ve personally lost at least one game to this issue and know others who have experienced a similar fate.

While it’s great some games can be replaced, the plan is just a little too little and a little too late. I’m all for power in my gaming, but having to walk on eggshells while a disk is in the system is sometimes too much.

Labels: microsoft, xbox 360, xbox 360 disk problems

After the success of The Sims, it should have come as no surprise that Will Wright’s Spore would be the stuff legends are made of. Spore, in fact, had more advanced buzz that perhaps any title in the history of video games. It was talked about for years, received honors and even celebrity thumbs up long before it hit the market.

Now that Spore has finally been revealed to the world, its creator is setting his sights on a new project.

So, what is that project?

Will’s not saying, and good for him.

According to Joystiq, the world renowned game designer refuses to do more than admit he has a new iron in the fire.

“I'm working on a big new project that I'm very excited about, but I don't want to talk about it yet because if it takes three years to come out I don't want people saying 'Wow, he's been talking about that for a loooong time,'" Wright told Joystiq.

With Spore not only a big hit in retail stores, but in the pirating world, as well, there’s little doubt Wright’s next venture will create its own buzz. Spore, in fact, has topped the list of games that have been illegally downloaded in 2008. The word is more than 1.7 million copies have been pirated to date.

Wright’s projects are worthy of buzz, but I can’t blame him for deciding to remain tight-lipped at this point. After all, by mere silence, he’s already generating interest in the title – whatever it might happen to be.

Labels: spore, the sims, will wright

If you can’t beat them, join them. That’s the tactic Sony Online Entertainment has taken when it comes to gold farmers and item traders.

Although it already facilitated trades of virtual items, the company has upped the stakes with Station Cash. This system is now available in both EverQuest and EverQuest II. It allows players to buy virtual items for cold, hard cash.

To use the system, players of both EQ and EQII simply use their credit cards to load up on Station Cash. This, in turn, can be used to purchase things within the game world.

What Station Cash does is cut down on the potential profits gold farmers are making by offering an in-game, sanctioned way to purchase things. Rather than the farmers making the money, SOE does.

Recently launched, Station Cash can be purchased in the Marketplace for use in the game. The Sony-based virtual currency is non-refundable and non-transferrable. SOE is working on options to enable gifting of Station Cash, however.

As a long-time player of both EQ and EQII I have mixed feelings on this recent launch. While it’s nice to see Sony taking a bite out of farmers’ action, it feels a little seedy. I’m one of those purist players who has tried to avoid “cheating” in every game I play. Someone else leveled my character in Age of Conan through its final half-level to 80 and I lost all interest in the game. I didn’t do it myself, so the sense of accomplishment was gone.

Evidently, I’m a rarity in the virtual world, however. With a gold farming industry that’s now worth an estimated $1.8 billion a year, the market for gold and trade is strong, according to Live Gamer.
Who knows? Maybe Sony can recoup some of its financial losses that have cost thousands of jobs?

Labels: everquest, everquest II, live gamer, soe, sony

As the economic downturn continues to take its toll worldwide, Sony has joined the list of manufacturers that show the gaming industry isn’t bulletproof. That corporate giant has announced plans to shave its workforce by a whopping 8,000 people. It also intends to close quite a few of its manufacturing facilities to help it save an estimated $1.1 billion at next fiscal year’s end.

As Game Spot points out, the news is just the latest in a series of blows to the industry. Earlier, EA announced the reduction of 600 employees and a loss of $310 million. Other gaming and electronics industry companies have also faced the crunch, including Midway, Eidos and Samsung.

While Sony joins the conga line of companies impacted by the worldwide economic crisis, its news is particularly troublesome. When the giants suffer, you know it’s bad out there.

Although Sony’s announcement does highlight the severity of the global downturn, the entire situation can end up being good news for the industry. As more consumers tighten their wallets and demand quality over quantity, it could force those who want to survive to be even more creative and offer more bang for the buck.

While Sony is crying over sales, Microsoft is cheering its three-to-one sales victory over the PS3 on Black Friday. This, in my opinion, is largely due to the value the $199 Xbox 360 now offers gamers. The Wii also still seems to be more than holding its own.

It seems that sales, although down, are still coming. Consumers are demanding value for their money and they are turning to the products that deliver. The end result could be very troubling times for the industry as a whole, but it might just emerge leaner, meaner and even more intriguing for gamers.

On a side note, my heart goes out to those who have lost their jobs. This is a horrible time to be out of work. The human toll of the downturn should not be discounted, and it’s my fear we are only seeing the beginning.

Related:
Video Gamers Have A 1 Up On The Economy
A Return Of Wii Holiday Shortages?
Wal-Mart Helps Gamers Beat The Economy

Labels: microsoft, nintendo wii, PlayStation 3, ps3, sony, xbox 360

When it comes to creating multitasking devices that are functional and intriguing both, it’s hard to top Apple’s creations. The company’s iPhone is doing more than holding its own in the cellular phone market and it looks like it might get a bigger boost from gaming giant Atari in the near future.

Although the company has already put out a few games for the phone – Missile Command, Super Breakout and most recently Centipede – president Phil Harrison has pledged even more support for the phone, according to Digital Spy. Harrison has called the Apple phone a “game changer.”

He is particularly impressed with Apple’s App Store, which he says will “change the way that certain kinds of devices consume content forever."

Although iPhone’s sales are down for the quarter, the phone is rising over last year’s figures. PCMag says the sales increase over 2007 is a whopping four times, thanks in part to the increased availability.

In a time when making sure purchases are sound matters, the iPhone’s bells and whistles seem to be giving it a more-bang-for-the-buck appeal. I wasn’t impressed with this particular phone at first glance, but as its features grow, it’s really looking like it offers something savvy consumers crave in this downturned market. That something is nothing more than good, old fashion value.

Labels: apple, atari, iphone