Nintendo Wii is the Fastest Selling Gaming Console, beats Xbox 360 Sales in Less than a Year

According to a report issued by VG Chartz, the sales of the Nintendo Wii have way surpassed that of Microsoft’s Xbox 360 in less than a year’s time. VG Chartz is a web portal that keeps record of the sales of game consoles.

With this feat, the Wii gets the distinction of becoming the fastest selling console in the history of gaming consoles. The study by VG Chartz states that a total of 10.6 M Wii units have been sold, which is a little above the Xbox 360’s estimated 10.5 million. Since its launch, the Wii has outsold the Xbox 360 by a margin of above 2.3:1. As per VG Chartz, the disclosed figures are based on sample data from retailers worldwide, till Wednesday, 23rd August, 2007.


To calculate the sales of the Wii, the site segregated the sales of the Nintendo Wii between three markets, namely Japan (3.46 million consoles), America (4.24 million consoles), Europe, Australia, and others (combined 2.87 million consoles).

On the other hand, the third competitor in the next-gen console was, i.e. Sony’s PS3 has sold only 4.3 million units around the world since its launch in November 2006.

At present the DS and Wii are the top two selling systems in the gaming industry. Nintendo had attained the top spot this time around. The last time it was on the numero uno podium in 1994 when the company’s Super NES and Game Boy lines were on the top.

Furthermore, the report claims that inspite of frequent shortages, Wii has managed to become the fasting selling console of all time selling at a greater pace than the most extensively purchased console in history, Sony’s PlayStation 2.

In a statement on the company’s official website, VG Chartz states, “In just two years, home console sales for the three major manufacturers have effectively reversed.” Adding, “This will have a large impact on third party publishers and will undoubtedly influence the decisions they make in the future.”

For a fact, Wii has always got one factor on its side as compared to the other next gen-consoles, and that’s its affordable price. And the games too are exciting!


source:techshout.com

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Razer Lachesis 4000dpi Laser Gaming Mouse unveiled

Leading gaming peripheral manufacturer Razer has announced the launch of a laser gaming mouse called ‘Lachesis’. This high-precision 3G laser gaming mouse is truly a revolutionary peripheral as it features 4000 dpi laser!

According to Robert Krakoff, president of Razer, “None of the DPI numbers on our mice are interpolated figures, which other mouse makers’ achieve by enabling tweaking of the software included with their mice. Our DPI specifications are all hardware-based, which essentially means what you see is what you get – true DPI.”

Krakoff also mentioned that the Lachesis gaming mouse features another two buttons below the scroll wheel. Using these buttons, gamers can cycle through pre-determined DPI stages.

“We’ve heard the communities’ requests for true on-the-fly DPI switching and we-ve designed the Razer Lachesis to make it possible,” added Krakoff.


The design of the Razer Lachesis laser gaming mouse is simply amazing. It measures 129mm (l) x 71mm (w) x 40mm (h) and weighs around 128gs. This mouse is sure to become a craze among gamers who desire nothing but the best when it comes to doing what they do the best i.e. gaming!

Features of the Razer Lachesis Laser Gaming Mouse at a glance:

*4000DPI 3G Laser Sensor
*60 – 100 IPS (depends on the surface)
*Improved Lift-off Distance
*Razer Synapse 32kb Onboard Memory
*Variable DPI settings in 125DPI increments
*1000Hz Ultrapolling / 1ms response
*Nine independently programmable Hyperesponse buttons
*On-The-Fly Sensitivity
*Always-On mode
*Ultra-large non-slip buttons
*16-bit ultra-wide data path
*Zero-acoustic Ultraslick Teflon feet
*Gold-plated USB connector
*Seven-foot, lightweight, non-tangle cord

In the past, Razer launched equally cool looking mice for gamers such as the Boomslang and DeathAdder mice. The Razer Lachesis laser gaming mouse will cost $79.99 (around Rs.3290) and is expected to be available in October 2007.


source:techshout.com

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Sony Launches TV Tuner, Recorder for PS3

Sony Corp. took another step to lure new customers for its high-end PlayStation3, saying it would sell a device to let users record live television that can be stored on the game console or transferred to the PlayStation Portable for later viewing.

The combined television tuner and personal video recorder, dubbed PlayTV, is aimed at helping Sony boost sales of its high-end gaming console as well as its portable gaming unit. Sales are due to start in Spain, Germany, France, Italy and Britain in early 2008.

Sony announced the new product Wednesday at the Games Convention in Leipzig, Germany.

Using a format known in Europe as Digital Video Broadcasting - Terrestrial, the PlayTV integrates into the PlayStation 3 console and lets users record individual episodes or entire series to its hard drive.

Sony said the device's twin TV tuners are high-definition ready and able to view, record and play back in that format. Recorded video can be sent wirelessly from the console to a PSP.

For all its advances, Sony's PS3 has faced formidable competition from rivals like Nintendo Co.'s Wii and Microsoft Corp.'s Xbox 360.

Sony had sold 4.3 million PS3 consoles as of June, compared with 11.6 million Xbox 360s and about 8 million Wiis.

The PS3 retails for 599 euros ($808) in Europe and $499 in the U.S. The company did not say how much PlayTV would cost or when it would be available elsewhere in Europe, Asia or the Americas.

Jonathan Arber and Jonathan Coham, analysts at Ovum, a London-based research firm, said PlayTV was the ''next logical step'' for Sony in competing with the Xbox 360, but said Sony still has to overcome the console's price and bring out more games.


source:tech2.com

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July NPD: Game Industry Soars to Nearly $1 Billion, Wii Tops All, PS3 Almost Matches 360

Who said summer was slow? July was fueled by NCAA Football, Guitar Hero and continued Wii and DS sales. The PS3 didn't beat 360 in unit sales as some analysts had predicted, but it was close. For the year, the industry could reach an incredible $18 billion, NPD's Anita Frazier told GameDaily BIZ. Much more within...

The NPD Group has sent GameDaily BIZ the latest video game sales data for the July reporting period, and the video game industry in the U.S. continues to reach new heights. Total industry sales were $925.5 million, up 37 percent year-over-year, and through July the industry has already totaled $7 billion in sales (tracking ahead of 2006 by 42.6 percent).


Hardware sales in particular saw much growth, rising 77.4 percent to $380.8 million. Of that total, console hardware dominated with $286 million in sales (a 140 percent jump), while portable hardware actually dipped one percent.


That said, the DS still fared quite well with 405K units sold. But it was the Wii, not the DS, that took top honors with 425K units. The news is encouraging for Sony as well, as the PS3 finally got over the 100K hump with 159K units sold, hot on the heels of the 360 which sold just 170K. Meanwhile, Sony's other platforms continued to put up respectable numbers – the PS2 sold another 222K and the PSP sold 214K. At the bottom of the list, the old GBA sold 87K units.


On the software side, total sales were up 11 percent to $419.2 million. Console software, as with hardware, made up the bulk of that with $313.2 million (a 15.9 percent bump). Portable software fell 1.5 percent. Year-to-date, software sales are at $3.3 billion, up 22.4 percent over 2006.


The big winner for July was clearly EA Sports' NCAA Football 08, whose total on the 360, PS2 and PS3 combined for 789K unit sales. As expected, Activision's Guitar Hero games and Nintendo's Wii Play, Mario Party 8 and Pokemon Diamond were all well represented too.


Here are the top ten best sellers (by units) for July:

*NCAA Football 08—360—EA—397K
*Guitar Hero Encore Rocks the 80s—PS2—Activision—339K
*Wii Play w/remote—Wii—Nintendo—278K
*NCAA Football 08—PS2—EA—236K
*Mario Party 8—Wii—Nintendo—177K
*NCAA Football 08—PS3—EA—156K
*Pokemon Diamond—DS—Nintendo—144K
*Transformers: The Game—PS2—Activision—143K
*Guitar Hero II w/guitar—PS2—Activision—138K
*Guitar Hero II w/guitar—360—Activision—108K


To get some perspective on the data, GameDaily BIZ went straight to the source: NPD industry analyst Anita Frazier.

With three of the top ten titles for the month coming from Activision's Guitar Hero franchise, it's clear that gamers can't get enough rock. The battle with Rock Band this fall is bound to be fierce.

"The Guitar Hero franchise has solidified its position as one of strongest and freshest video games offerings lately. As long as the future versions continue to bring something new to the table and are fun to play, I see no reason why the franchise can't continue to have great-selling new releases going forward," said Frazier. "Everyone who has played Rock Band or seen it demonstrated seems really excited about the game, so I think both of these have hit upon something that is really speaking to consumers, and not just the tried and true video gamer. I don't think there are any of us that haven't daydreamed about being a rock star after all."


We asked Frazier if the recent hardware price cuts were a major factor in the more than 77 percent growth for the month, and while she agreed to some degree, she also pointed out that cheaper platforms like the DS and PS2 played a large role too.


"Price cuts definitely played a part in hardware sales increases because we know there are price-sensitive consumers out there that were looking for reductions in order to make their purchases. However, the best-selling platforms didn't make any price cuts so hardware acquisition decisions are made by consumers on a variety of motivators. Price is one of them, but certainly not the only one. By far the most significant purchase motivator is the availability of desired content and that will play into hardware sales more than anything else," Frazier explained.


There's been plenty of talk about the impact of the GTA IV delay lately, and with the industry tracking ahead of last year by 42 percent, we wondered how the game's absence might bring down the final tally for 2007. Frazier, however, doesn't think the slip will make much difference.

"GTA IV was certainly eagerly awaited by fans, but at the most macro-level for the industry, I don't think its postponement will have that big an impact on total industry dollar sales once everything is tallied for the year," she said.


Echoing sentiments expressed by GameStop executives she added, "There are other very big games still to come that will really smooth over any hole left from GTA IV moving to 2008. What I really think is that 2008 will benefit from GTA IV because it will be no small task for the industry to measure up to this year's sales."


Indeed, 2007 could be one for the ages. "The industry is continuing to follow similar patterns as it has for the first half of the year, and really the only question to me now is 'how big can it get?' Based on July year-to-date figures, the industry looks like it will end up realizing somewhere north of $16 billion for the year, perhaps even closer to $18 billion," Frazier told us.



by James Brightman
source:gamedaily.com

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Nintendo Triumphant but SCEA 'Very Pleased' Following July NPD

According to Nintendo, during July the Wii reached its highest weekly sales rates since December. While Nintendo blew away the competition for the month, SCEA was still "very pleased" with its PS3 sales which grew considerably following the price cut. [Update: Microsoft says 360 is main driver of growth in industry]


Following the fantastic results for the U.S. video game industry in July, both Nintendo and Sony Computer Entertainment America have provided their take on their platforms' respective performances for the month.


Nintendo needless to say couldn't be happier, as the Wii and DS completely dominated. Alluding to the recent PS3 price cut, Nintendo said that its "momentum pays no heed to industry pricing shifts."


The company said that the Wii, which sold 425,000 units for the month, "achieved its highest weekly sales rates since December, despite pricing shifts in the industry." Moreover, Nintendo boasted that its Wii and DS hardware outsold all other platforms combined.


Other factoids from Nintendo: Nintendo remained the top U.S. game publisher for the sixth consecutive month; So far this year, Nintendo titles claim six of the industry's top 10 best sellers, including the top three: Pokemon Diamond (overall No. 1) and Pokemon Pearl (No. 3) for Nintendo DS, and Wii Play (No. 2) for Wii; Wii has added new titles (averaging nine per month since launch) at a faster rate than any other new home system.


As for Sony, on the official PlayStation.blog Mariam Sughayer, analyst relations manager for SCEA, noted that Sony was "really anticipating a good reaction" to the PS3 price cut. "...we were obviously very pleased to see that PS3 sales increased with 159K units sold at retail for the month of July, which puts us up 61% over June numbers," she said.


"While I think a lot of that had to do with the new price, I also think there is a great deal of anticipation for the line up of games just around the corner, including Warhawk (Aug. 28), Lair (Sept. 4) and Heavenly Sword (Sept. 12)," Sughayer continued. "In fact, September should definitely be a big month for us when you add in the launch of the new slimmer, lighter PSP which will hit store shelves next month."


While it's a definite improvement for Sony and the PS3, SCEA failed to comment on the fact that their console still did not edge out the Xbox 360, despite the fact that Microsoft's console was burdened with the warranty news. With only 170K units sold, it's clear that the Xbox 360 was affected by the warranty issue. That said, Wedbush Morgan Securities analyst Michael Pachter commented, "Xbox 360 demand was far stronger than we expected this month," and he expects sales to pick up in August now that the warranty news is in the rearview mirror.


GameDaily BIZ contacted Microsoft for comment on its July performance, but the company has not provided any statement as of this writing.


[UPDATE] Microsoft has finally issued its own statement on the Xbox 360's performance in July. The company noted that the Xbox 360 outsold PS3 for the 9th month in a row, despite the PS3 "price drop." [Note: MS did indeed put quote marks around price drop.]


Microsoft also was very happy to see that the Xbox 360 had the #1 title for the month of July with NCAA Football 08 from EA, which sold more than the PS2 and PS3 versions combined. In addition, customer spending on Xbox 360 is 2:1 to PS3 and Wii, according to MS, and Xbox 360 software sales increased 24 percent year-over-year.


Microsoft took the credit for the industry's tremendous growth in July. "Xbox 360 continues to drive the growth and success of the video game industry, with Xbox 360 customers again spending more this month on the Xbox experience than on any other next-generation console. Largely in part to this next-generation success, the video game industry has seen 37 percent growth year over year," the company stated.



by James Brightman
source:gamedaily.com

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Sony Announces PlayTV for PS3, PSP GPS, Video Downloads & More

SCEE made several important announcements at the Games Convention to expand the functionality of the PS3 and PSP, including PVR capability for the PS3 and video downloads, GPS and VOIP for PSP. SCEA tells GameDaily BIZ that they're exploring their options for North America.

At the Games Convention in Leipzig, Germany Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE) made a bevy of announcements to improve the functionality for both the PS3 and PSP. First up is what Sony is calling PlayTV, a combined TV tuner and Personal Video Recorder (PVR) for PS3, which is expected to launch in the U.K., France, Italy, Germany and Spain in early 2008, with other PAL territories to follow "in due course."

The peripheral features twin TV tuners that are high definition ready, allowing users to watch, pause and record live TV in full HD1080P. It also features "seamless connectivity" with PSP, which allows users to set recordings, watch Live TV and recorded TV shows remotely on PSP via a Wi-Fi connection (using the Remote Play function). Users also have the option of transcoding recorded TV shows for viewing on the PSP.

As for the PSP, SCEE officially announced that the Go! branded Video Download Service, a joint venture with British Sky Broadcasting (Sky), will launch in early 2008 in the U.K. and Ireland. The first official PSP video download service anywhere in Europe will enable PSP owners to download assorted Sky content, including sports, entertainment, movies, music and animation.

The PSP's communication functionality also got a boost with Go!Messenger, a special wireless communications package developed in partnership with BT slated to launch in January 2008 in SCEE territories. Go!Messenger uses VOIP technology so that PSP users can chat free of charge from any wireless internet connection.

A future firmware upgrade will place a small application on PSP's XMB (this can be downloaded separately from the web and installed to a Memory Stick as well), and PSP owners will be able to instant message (IM) each other when connected to a Wi-Fi hotspot, using an on-screen keyboard. And if users add a headset, voice chat/voice messaging becomes possible, and a separate Go!Cam enables users to make video calls to their friends.

And finally, SCEE also unveiled Go!Explore, a new Satellite Navigation package for PSP that's expected to launch next year in Europe. With the help of TeleAtlas and NavNGo, Go!Explore (which comes with UMD software and a GPS receiver) turns the PSP into an In-car and Pedestrian GPS unit. The program offers 3D city maps, 3D landmarks in certain key cities, support for 11 languages, and more Maps & Points of Interest (POI) can be purchased via the PlayStation Store.

Although SCEA has not made any similar announcement for North America just yet, Sony is exploring its options for this part of the world.

Dave Karraker, Sr. Director, Corporate Communications for SCEA provided GameDaily BIZ with the following statements on each SCEE announcement:

Go Messenger:

We are continually expanding the capabilities of PSP via firmware upgrades. SCEE has announced some significant new enhancements for PSP in their territories via Go! Messenger service. We have not made any announcements for this type of service in North America, although we continue to explore different options for PSP.

PS3 PVR Functionality:

We have no announcements at this time regarding DVR/PVR capabilities for PS3 in North America.

Go Explore - PSP Sat Nav

While the GPS hardware/peripheral is currently available in Japan and select countries in Europe, we want to ensure there is the appropriate level of software that would be applicable and bring value to the consumers in North America. We have no announcements regarding GPS capabilities for PSP in North America at this time, but will continue to explore appropriate and compelling software that would allow us to bring this feature to PSP in our market.

Sky Video Download Service

SCEE has announced a unique partnership for downloading TV content to PSPs in the UK and Ireland. We are evaluating similar types of partnerships in North America, but have no announcement at this time. We understand and respect the consumer interest in this type of service, and we will continue to explore downloadable content options for our territory.



by James Brightman
source:gamedaily.com

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Logitech G51 Surround Sound Speaker System for Gamers unveiled

Logitech has unveiled the G51 Surround Sound Speaker System, expanding the company’s award-winning G-series PC gaming peripheral family. Logitech’s latest offering is a 5.1 speaker system that features 360-degree surround sound with dual Matrix modes offering gamers the most immersive experience when doing what they do the best.

The Logitech G51 System offers all the benefits of 360-degree surround system and even makes it available whether or not there is a multi-channel audio source.

Besides, with the help of Logitech’s dual Matrix technology, gamers will be able to recreate the 5.1 surround sound experience from just about any two-channel stereo source.

This is because nearly all digital music and games are primed just for stereo (two-channel) sound. But, due to the presence of Logitech’s proprietary Matrix surround sound technology, the G51 speakers split the audio signal into six channels of sound, without lessening the audio quality.

In other words, if a particular game does not provide six-channel audio, gamers will still be able to enjoy the sound. Thu, when playing games especially first person shooters, gamers will gain a competitive advantage as they will be able to hear enemies stealthily creep up behind them.

But the Logitech G51 Surround Speaker System is not limited for use just in the gaming arena. This system has two matrix modes, one for gaming and the other for music. The Music Matrix mode enhances stereo music, delivering a much more natural surround sound experience using all five satellite speakers.

The Logitech G51 Speaker System is able to deliver 155 watts of totals RMS power. It also features Frequency Directed Dual Driver (FDD2) technology, which produces a uniform sound field by housing two drivers in each satellite. Besides, with the laser-tuned audio drivers, these speakers are able to provide clear audio with less distortion.

Now that we have covered the audio quality of the Logitech G51 Surround Sound Speaker System, let’s take a look at the physical aspects and looks of this system.

For the sole purpose of gamers, Logitech has equipped the G51 Speaker System with an improved control pod that includes both headphone and microphone jacks. Plus, the control pod provides precision dual mute controls, which enables gamers to quite easily mute the game audio, or mute only the microphone, or both.

The control pod has silicon feet and so gamers will never have to worry about it shifting during intense gameplay.

That’s not all; the Logitech G51 Surround Sound speaker System also features independent volume controls as well as convenient LEDs that make controlling the subwoofer, center channel and satellite speakers very easy.

Logitech has kept in mind the nature of gamers. Gamers will be able to create their own artwork for four left and right satellite speakers.

The Logitech G51 Surround Sound Speaker System is slated to be available in October 2007 for a price of $199.99.


source:techshout.com

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VIKING: Battle for Asgard for Xbox 360, PS3 announced by Sega

Sega Europe and Sega America has announced a new game called ‘VIKING: Battle for Asgard”. This game will come to the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 consoles in 2008.

In VIKING: Battle for Asgard, a fierce struggle is taking place within the realm of the Norse Gods. The Goddess Hel has been banished for defying Odin, Lord of Asgard. Angry at her fate, Hel has raised an army of undead warriors to enslave the mortal realm of Midgard, and then provoke Ragnarok- the apocalyptic battle that will destroy Asgard and the Gods themselves.

The task of stopping Hel and defending the future of mankind falls to Skarin, a prmising but deeply flawed young warrior, ignorant of the true reason for his favour with the Gods.

This is where ‘YOU’ come in! Yes, you will be playing as Skarin, a new iconic gaming hero.


“Skarin is a cutting edge hero in a fantastic re-imagining of Norse mythology. Skarin is obviously a very dangerous man. Add in his inner conflict, a confused heritage and growing distrusts of the Gods and you have the makings of gaming’s next great hero,” saidGary Knight, European marketing Director Sega Europe.

Sega’s VIKING: Battle for Asgard is due to be released on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 consoles sometime in early 2008. Yes, pirates and ninja’s are a thing of the past. Now, it’s vikings all the way!


source:techshout.com
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Mafia 2 for Next-gen Consoles, PCs announced by 2K

2K Games, Take-Two Interactive Software’s publishing label has announced that it will play publisher to the sequel of the original Mafia title called ‘Mafia 2’.




Interestingly, the original Mafia title sold over two million copies worldwide. In fact, this game helped popularize the whole gangster genre.


Mafia 2 features a deep mobster-driven narrative packed with both behind-the-wheel and on-foot action.


Mafia 2 immerses players in the mob underworld of a fictitious late 1940’s early 1950’s scenario. Players will easily become engaged in the game’s cinematic Hollywood movie experience with strong, believable characters in a living breathing city.


By fusing high octane gunplay with white knuckle driving and an engaging narrative, Mafia 2 looks like it could become the most compelling Mafia title to date.


Mafia 2 is being developed by Illusion Softworks, who were also the developers of the original Mafia game title.


According to Christoph Hartmann, President of 2K, “As the original Mafia was a big success, we are excited to leverage the power of next generation console technology to create an all-new experience, while embracing the elements that resonated with the previous game’s fans.”


“The ‘wow’ factor of Mafia 2 is definitely the benchmark-setting visual quality and action that you expect to see only in Hollywood movies,” he added.


Mafia 2 is being developed for all next generation video game consoles as well as Games for Windows.


source:techshout.com

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Microsoft's Innovative Gaming Mouse: The SideWinder

At the Games Convention in Germany, Microsoft unveiled its SideWinder gaming mouse to fill the void of gaming mouse customization. Despite its roller coaster-like name, it's designed to be more ergonomic, thanks to its two vertical side buttons, a wide metal scroll wheel, and four balanced weights.


Its "Quick Turn" capability, which lets gamers check their position wherever they are in the game, requires just a click of a button. For more gaming customization, the SideWinder offers changeable mice feet for different glide preferences, a cable anchor (which doubles as the weight tray), and three DPI switches.


Perhaps the most innovative feature is the gaming mouse's LCD. (Yes, it has an LCD!) The LCD is meant to "easily keep track of key gaming actions--including their DPI and steps for recording macros--without being distracted from the game."


Microsoft's SideWinder Mouse will be available in October 2007 for $79.95. Pre-order it now on Amazon.com.


source:Gearlog.com
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Microsoft Plans New Gaming Mouse

SEATTLE (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp. said on Tuesday it plans to introduce a , in an effort to capture a growing segment of the computer peripheral equipment market.

Microsoft's new SideWinder mouse, which will target hard-core computer video game fans, allows nearly 5,000 different adjustable settings, including weight, materials and touch.


The new mouse comes with a small liquid crystal display between the thumb and index finger to keep track of game functions and settings.


Executives at Microsoft said computer gaming is growing rapidly and sales of mice catered to video game use has increased at a double-digit pace. Rivals Logitech and Razer Group also manufacture computer mice for video games.


The SideWinder mouse will sell for $79.95 when it becomes available in October.


source:pcmag.com

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Paramount, DreamWorks Throw Exclusive Support Behind HD DVD

Blu-ray outsold HD DVD 2-to-1 for the first half of the year, but the movie format war is far from over. Paramount, which is the leading studio in domestic box office, is now exclusively supporting HD DVD. That $179 360 HD DVD Player probably just got even more appealing. [Update: Blu-ray counters with exclusive Fox/MGM deal]



Just when it looked as if the tide may have turned in favor of Blu-ray, HD DVD received a significant boost today in the form of exclusive support from Paramount Pictures and DreamWorks Animation. Going forward, all movies distributed by Paramount Pictures, DreamWorks Pictures, Paramount Vantage, Nickelodeon Movies and MTV Films, as well as movies from DreamWorks Animation, which are distributed exclusively by Paramount Home Entertainment, will be exclusive to the HD DVD format.


The exclusive support starts on August 28 with the comedy Blades of Glory, and that will be followed by blockbusters such as Transformers and Shrek the Third—those three alone represent more than $1.5 billion in box office ticket sales worldwide. The news comes as a blow to Sony's Blu-ray format, which had been gaining steam of late. And it means that PS3 owners who thought they'd be able to snag these movies on Blu-ray will have no such luck.


Paramount Home Entertainment said that today's announcement does not include films directed by Steven Spielberg, however, since his films are not exclusive to either format.


The studio commented that its decision to distribute exclusively in the HD DVD format "resulted from an extensive evaluation of current market offerings, which confirmed the clear benefits of HD DVD, particularly its market-ready technology and lower manufacturing costs."


"The combination of Paramount and DreamWorks Animation brings a critical mass of current box office hits to consumers with a line-up of live action and animated films that are perfect for HD DVD," said Brad Grey, Chairman and CEO of Paramount Pictures. "Part of our vision is to aggressively extend our movies beyond the theater, and deliver the quality and features that appeal to our audience. I believe HD DVD is not only the affordable high quality choice for consumers, but also the smart choice for Paramount."


"We decided to release Shrek the Third and other DreamWorks Animation titles exclusively on HD DVD because we believe it is the best format to bring high quality home entertainment to a key segment of our audience – families," added DreamWorks Animation CEO, Jeffrey Katzenberg. "We believe the combination of this year's low- priced HD DVD players and the commitment to release a significant number of hit titles in the fall makes HD DVD the best way to view movies at home."


Microsoft recently cut the price on its Xbox 360 HD DVD Player to $179. Combined with the price reduction on the console itself, this Paramount news could help fuel HD DVD Player sales for the console along with further sales of HD DVD movies.


Universal Pictures is the only other studio to exclusively support HD DVD, meaning that films such as Peter Jackson's King Kong and The Bourne Ultimatum will not be available on Blu-ray for PS3 owners. By the same token, however, movies from Sony Pictures, such as Spider-Man 3, and movies from Disney's Buena Vista such as all three Pirates of the Caribbean, will only be available on Blu-ray.


[UPDATE] Just hours after the surprising Paramount news, we've now received an announcement from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment, which also releases films from MGM. The studio was one of the more vocal Blu-ray supporters early on, but Fox hasn't released any high-def movies since March and has not really been much of a factor in the format war.


Now, however, in what seems like an answer to the HD DVD camp's big Paramount news, Fox and MGM have pledged exclusive support for 29 Blu-ray titles through the end of this year. The plan highlights six day & date BD/DVD new theatrical releases from Fox including the $241 million box-office hit Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer and the $335 million box-office draw Live Free or Die Hard, four day & date BD/DVD (U.S. only) new theatrical releases from MGM, 19 'must-have on BD' films from the two studios' libraries, Fox's first-ever TV release on BD, Prison Break, and Fox's intention to release at least one state-of-the-art title per month featuring numerous BD 'firsts.'


Fox noted that the "vast majority" of its upcoming global slate will be presented on 50 GB dual-layer discs with BD-J interactivity and feature numerous Blu-ray exclusive high-definition bonus materials—something that many BD's have failed to adequately provide.


"Given that Blu-ray has consistently outsold HD DVD all year, and this is the case for any titles released by any studio in both formats, we believe that the time is right for us to accelerate our activities and help convert the nearly 60 million high definition households worldwide into Blu-ray households," commented Mike Dunn, President Worldwide, Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment. "By the end of this calendar year there will be expansive availability of technically vibrant releases featuring never-before-seen, advanced BD-J interactivity as well as a broad offering of playback devices at attractive prices that will prove to any doubting consumers once and for all that Blu-ray is the only way."


He added, "And as Blu-ray continues to grows stronger, it has become survival of the fittest which is most apparent in the retail landscape where our eager and growing global Blu-ray consumer base has caused a shift that is forcing the allocation of more space to the format that is selling the best. And, in many recent instances of note, top retailers in North America are choosing to promote the Blu-ray format exclusively in their stores."


by James Brightman
source:gamedaily.com

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Tennessee Volunteers for XOS Technologies Madden Simulator

In one of the more interesting 'serious games' applications (especially if you're into sports), both the University of Tennessee Volunteers football team and an undisclosed NFL team have begun using a Madden-based simulator to help train their players. XOS Technologies' Albert Tsai explains the program and where they'll take it next.
XOS Technologies, a leading technology provider for collegiate and professional sports teams, has officially begun the first stage of implementing its new XOS PlayAction Simulator Powered by EA Sports at both the collegiate and NFL levels today. On the college side, the University of Tennessee Volunteers football team will be the first university to utilize the PC laptop component of this technology, which allows coaches to transfer X's and O's for weekly opponents into a 3D playable simulator for quarterbacks to study.


"We're leading the nation by taking advantage of this cutting-edge technology and we couldn't be more pumped about it," said UT head coach Phillip Fulmer said. "UT football has a long and storied tradition of success and because we look to pioneer groundbreaking concepts before anyone else, we'll proudly continue that history. The XOS PlayAction Simulator begins a new chapter for UT and we're pleased to add it to our football training regiment."


Using the same TDT engine technology that powered Madden NFL 07 and NCAA Football 07 on PC, the XOS PlayAction Sim has been included on Dell Latitude D820 laptops that the UT coaching staff currently has been using as they prepare for the season opener against Cal.


Albert Tsai, vice president of advanced research at XOS Technologies, said that the scalable program is currently focused on the quarterback position, which is what the market demanded. The software allows the quarterback to play and replay the plays for an upcoming opponent from their dorms, rather than just on the field.


"We'll lag behind EA by about a half a year in terms of new Madden gameplay features," said Tsai. "Version 1 of this product focuses on the QB, but over the course of this season we'll add other offensive players to the mix. The plan is for the next football season, we want to support all 22 players on the field on both offense and defense."


Tsai said each year the company will pick and choose which advances in the Madden game will be added to its product. He said they're not interested in things like Franchise mode, but new animations and artificial intelligence will enhance the experience for the company's long list of clients, which includes 95 percent of the BCS schools and most NFL teams.


In addition to Tennessee, which is the exclusive trial school for this technology this year, Tsai said XOS Technologies has informal trials with other college teams going on this year. But next season is when the company's making a big splash to sell this software to both the college and professional sports franchises.


The second half of the XOS PlayAction Sim involves cutting-edge virtual reality and motion-capture technology. An undisclosed NFL team is already using the advanced version of the simulation technology with its quarterbacks. This technology will also be offered to any universities that want it next year.


The XOS SportMotion studio enables athletes to literally immerse their physical bodies into the virtual game, while specially equipped head-mounted displays and body sensors would track and record each movement for strength and conditioning analysis.


"Military sims have been using virtual reality for a while, but soldiers are used to carrying heavy equipment in the field," said Tsai. "With football, athletes need to simulate the on-field experience, so we've had to wait for computer technology to shrink. Now we have the ability for a player to carry a small computer with them in a mo-cap studio, wearing the mo-cap outfits and throwing a real ball that has been taped for mo-cap."


The player wears a helmet with a first-person heads-up display that allows him to drop back five steps, pick a receiver and throw the actual ball in their direction--all using 3D technology that makes the field look like he's inside a game of Madden NFL 07. The technology tracks every element of the throw, including the ball's velocity and direction, and allows coaches to analyze the athlete.


"We can expand to two players simultaneously, if we need to," said Tsai. "The only restriction is space. While the quarterback simply needs to drop back and throw, a receiver needs space to run a pattern."


After getting all the coaching feedback from the college and professional ranks, both products will roll out next year for the 2008-09 college football and NFL seasons. Tsai said the technology will be shown to college football coaches at the American Football Coaches Association meeting in January and NFL coaches will see it at the NFL combine and Senior Bowl in spring 2008.


XOS Technologies specializes in Coaching Solutions and Facilities Design & Integration. Through these areas of expertise, XOS helps teams and leagues in every sport integrate video, data and interactive technologies to assure maximum return on each investment. Tsai said EA Sports has used the company's technology for several years in working internally on the Madden game franchise at its EA Tiburon Studio, which is located just down the road from the XOS Technologies office.



by John Gaudiosi
SOURCE:GAMEDAILY.COM

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Nokia N-Gage to get I-play Casual Games in 2008

Today, Nokia revealed that mobile entertainment company I-play will be launching a line-up of casual games for Nokia’s N-Gage platform.

The first two casual game titles to be introduced for the Nokia N-Gage phone are “World Rally Championship” and “Super Mah Jong”.

Interestingly the game “World Rally Championship” has acquired the official license of the FIA WRC. “Super Mah Jong” will need no introduction to most people, but incase you aren’t a fan then you must know that the game revolves around an epic tale based on eth ancient spiritual game Mah Jong. Also, “Super Mah Jong” has been created by the makers of the highly addictive casual game “Jewel Quest”.

According to Gregg Sauter, Director, 3rd Part Publishing, Nokia, “I-Play brings a diverse games portfolio to N-Gage, and we’re excited to have them on board. The N-Gage toolset provides the opportunity to deliver new features and richer experiences to consumers through I-play’s strong portfolio of content. We look forward to this cooperation.



Now that I-Play has struck the deal, the company will be providing a big line-up of casual games for Nokia’s N-gage mobile phone. In fact, they will concentrate on casual, ‘one-thumb’ games for the mass market.

I-play’s “World rally Championship” and “Super Mah Jong” for the Nokia N-Gage mobile phone will be introduced in 2008.

source:techshout.com

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Mike Hussey to endorse Cricket Life 08′ PC Game title

Gamebience, a Canada-based games developer and publisher has announced that Australia’s “killer” cricketer Mike Hussey will be associated with its upcoming ‘Cricket Life 08’ game.



As part of this deal, Hussey who is popularly and fondly referred to as ‘Mr.Cricket’, will be endorsing the Cricket Life 08’ PC versions.

George Fredericks, Public Relations Manager, Gamebience, expressed his excitement on signing this deal with Hussey, Cricket Life 2007-08 is a game about experiencing a cricketer’s life and we are delighted to associate Mike with this game, who has so quickly risen to international fame while facing a lot of challenges enroute to success.”

About Cricket Life 08 game:

This will be the first time a cricket game is going to be released in a 2-DVD pack with over 8GB of game content.

Cricket Life 08 features a double treat for cricket lovers, allowing them to not only play a cricket game, but to live a virtual life as a cricketer and experience the peaks and troughs of his life. The game features over 40 stadia from all over the world and allows the gamer to achieve success in professional and personal life while facing a wide range of difficulties including injuries, media scandals, team rivalries.

Cricket Life 08 combines elements from sports, business, strategy, management, simulation genre into a single game. The gamer can decide which sponsorship and media contracts to sign, handle team contract issues, hire and fire managers and personal coaches, and even select a sports management firm to represent him in marketing deals, thus giving a unique experience to the gamer.

Currently, Mike ranks 3rd in the world’s top ten one-day cricket batsmen rankings.

Gamebience has acquired the exclusive worldwide rights in the PC edition of Cricket Life 08’ and thus, this will promote the promotional appearance of Hussey and the rights to the use of his name,, images, attributes in the duration of the contract.

When asked to comment about the game, Hussey said, “I am fascinated by the inspiring storyline of Cricket Life 08. The concept of living and experiencing a virtual life of a cricketer is appealing and I am confident that the gamers will enjoy playing this game.”

The Mike Hussey-endorsed Cricket Life 08’ Pc game title is slated for release shortly sometime this year.


source:techshout.com


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Analysts Debate Impact of 'Poorer' Madden on PS3

Sony's PlayStation 3 may be more powerful than the Xbox 360, but you wouldn't know it from playing Madden 08. UBS analyst Ben Schachter thinks this negative perception is a pretty big deal for Sony's console, while Wedbush Morgan's Michael Pachter believes the issue's been overblown.

Ever since it was revealed that a number of EA Sports' games would run at 30 frames per second (fps) on the PlayStation 3 versus 60 fps on the Xbox 360 the Internet and popular gaming forums have lit up with discussion. Of course, there's no bigger EA Sports title than Madden and the fact that Madden NFL 08 runs at half the speed on Sony's console has rubbed some critics the wrong way.


In fact, USA Today gave the 360 version a 9 out of 10 while the PS3 version was slapped with a 7. "Madden on 360 is fast and fluid, thanks to a sharp jump in frame rate that allows the game to move twice as fast. PS3 owners, unfortunately, are greeted with a Madden that is sluggish in comparison," the paper said in its review. "Action stutters far too often, particularly on injuries, penalties and turnovers. There's also a half-second delay between pressing the hike button and receiving the ball in your hands. Even close-ups between play look dull when lined up against the 360's sleeker cut scenes."


For EA's part, the company attributed the differences to the simple fact that they're still learning about developing for PS3: "In the case of the next-generation consoles, many publishers have been developing titles for the Xbox 360 for over 3 1/2 years while everyone who publishes now for the PlayStation 3 with the exception of Sony has been developing for the PlayStation 3 for only a little over one full year. The differences in the overall knowledge of the hardware is vastly different for both consoles and, as is the case with newer technology, it is very difficult to get it right the first time."


Nevertheless, this kind of negative perception in a big mainstream publication like USA Today could have a bigger negative impact on Sony and the PS3 than we might think and it's another feather in Microsoft's cap, argues UBS analyst Ben Schachter.


"The blogosphere is full of posts highlighting the relatively weaker performance of ERTS's Madden NFL 08 game (released 8/14) on the PS3 vs. the Xbox 360. Such detailed discussions of slow frame rates and performance are not typically considered important by Wall Street. But given Madden's popularity and the volume of this debate, we think this is a more meaningful negative for Sony than investors might realize, as it gives gamers just one more reason not to buy a PS3 this year following the slip of GTA IV. It is a positive for MSFT," stated Schachter.

Wedbush Morgan Securities analyst Michael Pachter disagrees, however.


"Analysts are too quick to criticize," he told GameDaily BIZ. "There are obviously PS3 games that look fantastic (have you played Resistance, Motorstorm, or seen Call of Duty 4?). It's not an issue with the PS3, notwithstanding what EA said. It's an issue with how they built Madden for the PS3. Remember, EA doesn't have much experience on the PS3 (NOBODY does, except Sony). From what I can tell, the frame rates for NCAA Football and Take-Two's All-Pro Football were equally slow, and nobody complained about them. Eventually (as in next year), EA will figure it out, and nobody will care.


"In the meantime, analysts who are quick to criticize will run around like chicken little claiming that the sky is falling, and journalists who are quick to criticize will print their opinions without checking with me first," Pachter quipped.


He added that his analyst colleagues might be better off focusing elsewhere: "The PS3 is a fantastic console, and anyone who has one knows it's awesome. The Xbox 360 is also fantastic, but has no Blu-ray playback, and has been plagued with warranty issues. One would think that stupid analysts would be writing about the 360 warranty issue, and how people will avoid that box until they can be assured that they won't see the 'three red rings of death.' I love my PS3 (and love my 360), and can't wait to watch 300 in 1080p."



by James Brightman
source:gamedaily.com

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RealPlay Wireless Gaming Range for PlayStation 2 Consoles announced by IN2Games

After a spurt of goodies exclusively for next-generation console owners, now the partly-ignored owners of the older PlayStation 2 console will be getting treat. IN2Games, the pioneering developer of motion-sensing gaming technology will be showcasing ‘RealPlay’, a new range of wireless games at the Leipzig Games Convention.

The best part about IN2Games’ RealPlay wireless games is that each of them comes with a unique wireless controller. This will be a much-welcomed move for PS2 owners as they will now be able to get a taste of wireless motion sensing gaming on their consoles.

Elliott Myers, CEO, IN2Games said, “The REALPLAY™ range of games is aimed squarely at those PlayStation2 owners who want to play wireless motion-sensing games without needing to splash out on a new console.”

The RealPlay range of wireless games includes such games like RealPlay Tennis, RealPlay Golf, RealPlay Pool, RealPlay Racing, RealPlay Bowling and RealPlay PuzzleSphere.

RealPlay Tennis comes with a wireless tennis racket, which will detect every serve, smash, volley and lob. RealPlay Golf for the PS2 comes bundled with a wireless club that registers just about every drive, chip, hook and slice.

RealPlay Pool comes with its own ‘wireless’ cue, that enables potting precision within its many variations of pool and snooker. RealPlay Bowling comes with an actual wireless bowling ball!

RealPlay Racing comes with a steering wheel. The last of the RealPlay PS2 games is called RealPlay PuzzleSphere and introduces a new concept of party games as p;ayers manipulate a physical sphere around vertigo-inducing courses.

“Each peripheral is as accurate as any videogaming technology out there at the moment, but on an entirely new format. The games are fun, challenging and highly addictive, and the wireless peripherals offer the best way of controlling games on what will be this Christmas’s most popular mainstream console,” added Myers.

The first six RealPlay wireless games + controllers will be available in time for the holiday season, making them a perfect Christmas present for friends. Each game is expected to cost £29.99 (approx. Rs. 2480).

This is really great and we hope it works as good as it sounds. In fact, for all PS2 owners this would be something too good to be true. But it is, and we can’t wait to get our hands on one of those wireless steering wheels. If it works well, then it looks like Nintendo is going to get some competition for its Wii and Wiimote, which offer similar wireless capabilities sans amazing graphics.


source:techshout.com

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EA Ships Four Mac Games

Delayed titles are available only through Apple's retail or online stores.
Peter Cohen, Macworld
Electronic Arts (EA) late Friday announced that it is shipping four of its promised six new games for the Macintosh, including Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Need for Speed Carbon, Battlefield 2142 and Command & Conquer Tiberium Wars.

Users can order the games from Apple's online store Friday. Need for Speed Carbon and Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix are both going to be available in Apple retail stores beginning Tuesday, August 21, while Battlefield 2142 and Command & Conquer 3 Tiberium Wars will be available a week later, on the 28th.

"We're thrilled that the world's number one games company is making this major commitment to the Mac and game fans are going to love playing these new EA titles on a Mac," said Apple spokesman Anuj Nayar.

Customers looking for the games will need to go specifically to Apple's retail or online stores. The titles aren't available anywhere else. Apple confirmed to Macworld that the games are exclusive to the Apple stores, at least for the moment.

The announcement that EA is shipping these titles comes weeks later than expected. Back in late July, EA had no explanation for the delay.

"Over time, as EA gains experience in completing and shipping Mac games, the gap will narrow. This is a huge leap compared with past launches. We've shorted the gap between the Mac launch and other platforms to just a few weeks," said EA spokesperson Tammy Schachter.

When EA co-founder Bing Gordon originally announced plans to publish Macintosh games at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June, 2007, the company said it would release Mac versions of Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2008 and Madden NFL 2008 as well -- two of the company's landmark sports titles. EA indicated both games would ship simultaneously on the Mac and other platforms.

Madden NFL 2008 was released on August 14, 2007, but the Mac version is nowhere in sight. And this afternoon EA confirmed that the game's release -- along with Tiger Woods PGA 2008 -- had been postponed. Mac versions of both games are now slated for "the September/October window," according to EA.

"It is our intention to ship the games as close to other platforms as possible," said Schachter.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is a tie-in to the recently released movie of the same name; an adaptation of J.K. Rowling's fifth novel in the Harry Potter series where players help Harry, Ron and Hermione form "Dumbledore's Army" as they bolster their defenses against Voldemort and his Death Eaters.

Need for Speed Carbon is a street auto racing game in which you and your crew race vehicles to take over territory by winning progressively more difficult races. You don't just face heat from other races, but from the police, as well.

Battlefield 2142 takes the venerable war combat action game in a very different direction. While past installments of the game on the Mac have focused on World War II-era warfare, this game takes you to the future, where two multinational coalitions wage a war for survival; each side is armed with an arsenal of weaponry and gear like active camouflage, EMP grenades and more. You have to work as part of a team to win battles.

Command & Conquer 3 Tiberium Wars is the latest installment of the hugely popular real time strategy game series. This game takes place in 2047, after a nuclear fireball initiates the Third Tiberium War. The infamous Kane has returned and the Brotherhood of Nod is staging a massive assault on the Global Defense Initiative. You have to use your skill to fight for your side in the battle as you deploy forces and use the mysterious alien substance known as Tiberium to the best of your ability.

All of the new games have been developed for the Macintosh using Cider, a technology developed by TransGaming that enables Intel-based Macs to run Windows games inside a translation layer running on Mac OS X. They are not playable on PowerPC-based Macs.


source:pcworld.com

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Xbox 360 Elite Black Console arrives in India via Microsoft and Indiatimes

While the rest of the world got to enjoy the Xbox 360 Elite console in March this year, India was left out of it. But now, we have finally got a chance to sample the ‘Black Beauty’ as Microsoft has officially announced its launch in the motherland.



Microsoft India has said that the Xbox 360 Elite console will be available through Indiatimes.com from August 17 onwards.

As you might already know; the Xbox 360 Elite console has an uber-cool black finish with signature metallic detailing.

But more important that being a sleek and smart looking console, the Elite offers gamers a whole lot more space to store their music, movie downloads and game content all due to the 120GB hard drive that was not available with the ‘now-oh-so-drab-in-comparison’ white Xbox 360s.

Plus, included with the Xbox 360 Elite console is a high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) port and a high-definition cable for the console. You also get a wireless controller in the bundle.

The Xbox 360 Elite console package inlcudes the following:

*Xbox 360 Elite console: The console is equipped with a premium black finish and three powerful core processors capable of producing the best in HD entertainment (up to 1080p), 16:9 cinematic aspect ratio, anti-aliasing for smooth textures, full surround sound, HDMI output and DVD playback with upscaling capabilities right out of the box.
*Xbox 360 Wireless Controller (black): This award-winning, high-performance wireless controller, now in black, features the Xbox Guide Button for quick, in-game access to friends and music. It has a range of up to 30 feet and a battery life of 30 hours on two AA batteries.
*Xbox 360 headset (black: Now available in black, the headset lets gamers strategize or trade taunts while playing games
*Xbox 360 HDMI cable: New to Xbox 360, HDMI allows consumers to get HD video (up to 1080p) and multichannel surround sound, all from one cable.

According to Mohit Anand, Country Manager, Entertainment and Devices division, Microsoft India, “India’s youth today has an insatiable appetite for style and entertainment in all spheres of life. There is a huge demand for gaming in the country and fans are constantly craving for products and features that enhance their experience. The Xbox 360 Elite’s good looks, larger storage space and premium features will allow our customers in India to enjoy all that the next generation of entertainment has to offer.”

The Microsoft Xbox 360 Elite “black” console will carry a price of Rs.34,990 in India. To book your black Xbox 360 Elite console click here.


source:techshout.com
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Development Issues Delaying PS3 Games?

An industry analyst claims that PS3 development is lagging because of performance and optimization issues compared to the Xbox 360.
Gamepro Staff, GamePro



Industry analyst Evan Wilson believes PS3 development difficulties are to blame for inferior quality when releasing games on schedule with the Xbox 360. The analyst also believes development challenges heighten the number of PS3 game delays.

The statement comes as Madden NFL 08 for PS3 is widely seen as inferior to the Xbox 360 version due to sluggish visuals.

Wilson believes the added difficulty for developing on PS3 is directly to blame for the game's slower speed despite Electronic Arts comment earlier this week that it simply takes time to get things right for each individual console. The Xbox 360 has been available for a full year longer than the PS3.

"If your game starts on Xbox 360 you will have to re-engineer aspects of the game to run properly on PS3. This means additional effort," Sony's development team told us back in June. Assuming Madden first started development on 360, the above issue could have easily resulted in slower moving frame rates.

The analyst also believes PS3 difficulties are causing some publishers to unnecessarily delay their games after the 360 versions in an effort to bring the titles up to par.

Medal of Honor, for example, is slated on Aug. 28th for the 360 but in November for the PS3. EA's Skate is scheduled for release on Sept. 12 for the 360, and two weeks later for the PS3. And Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter II from Ubisoft came out in March for the 360 and is scheduled for an Aug. 21 release on PS3.

Some speculated that PS3 development challenges forced Rockstar to delay the highly anticipated Grand Theft Auto 4 on both the PS3 and 360.


source:pcworld.com
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Command & Conquer 3: Kane’s Wrath Expansion Pack announced by EA

Yesterday, Electronic Arts announced Command & Conquer 3: Kane’s Wrath, expanding the ‘Command & Conquer’ series. Kane’s Wrath is an expansion pack to the well-received Real-time Strategy game ‘Command & Conquer 3 Tiberium Wars.



Now in the latest expansion pack, players will return to the Tiberium universe with Kane at the center of an epic new single player campaign.

In fact, the single player campaign will allow players to experience a totally new story that spans 20 years, right from the rebirth of the Brotherhood of Nod after the 2nd Tiberium war through the dramatic events of the 3rd Tiberium war and beyond.

The story of Command 7 Conquer 3: Kanes Wrath is told through a new set of high-definition live action video sequences staring a celebrity cast. Joe Kucan, the original actor who played the character Kane in Command & Conquer games over the last 10 years will once again the his role.

Command & Conquer 3: Kane’s Wrath also features a new strategic layer to the game that allows players to establish bases, build customized armies, and attack their enemies on a global scale.

The expansion pack also introduces six new sub-factions and a number of new units, structures, and powers to the armies of the Global Defense Initiative, the Brotherhood of Nod, and the enigmatic alien Scrin.

Xbox 360 owners are lucky in this respect as they will be getting a revolutionary new radial interface designed specifically for console gamers. This version takes Real-time Strategy controls to a whole new level, allowing players to use the command stick to build, deploy and attack.

According to Mike Verdu, VP and Executive Producer at EA Los Angeles (EALA), “The reaction to Command & Conquer 3 Tiberium Wars has been tremendous. Fans and critics alike appreciated the combination of fast, fluid, and fun RTS game play with a deep story and the classic full-motion video sequences that are a hallmark of the Command & Conquer series. I’m excited that we’re able to return to the Tiberium universe with Command & Conquer 3: Kane’s Wrath. This expansion has an impressive new single player campaign, a new global strategic layer that adds depth to the familiar Command & Conquer style gameplay, and several fun, all-new toys that range from versatile combat soldiers to giant armored walkers.”

Command & Conquer 3: Kane’s Wrath has been developed by the Electronics Arts LA studio. The game is expected to ship in Spring 2008 for Windows PCs and the Xbox 360 console.


source:techshout.com
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New Xbox 360 Games Will Require Hard Drive Model

Microsoft changes policy, says MMO developers can require hard drive space for games.
GamePro staff


Microsoft announced this week that it would soon allow developers of massive multiplayer online (MMO) games to require hard drive space when playing games on Xbox 360 despite the console maker's previous denial of such claims.

"Feel free to require 30GB for your game - [but] that's just going to make your potential audience a lot smaller," a Microsoft representative told a group of developers while speaking at GameFest.

Effective immediately, Microsoft will not restrict the amount of hard drive space MMO game developers can use. It is unclear if non-MMO games will be allowed to require hard drives when playing future games on 360.

An estimated 20 percent of 360 owners don't own a hard drive, which is optional for those only wanting to purchase the Core model.

Developers will be able to create a single "Master Storage File" on user machines so long as the server-based games explicitly state the amount of hard drive space required on the front of the game's box.

Microsoft also said the that it will not increase the allowable size of Xbox Live Arcade games which currently stand at 150 mb.

Just last week, Microsoft denied reports in an email to GamePro that Xbox 360 Core owners would be unable to play certain games labeled with the "hard drive required" sticker.

"Every game will work with every Xbox 360 system," a Microsoft spokesman told us. That no longer appears to be the case, at least with MMO games.


source:pcworld.com
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Sony, EA,Defend PS3

Games aren't better on rival's console, developers tell critics.
GamePro staff
EA and Sony on Tuesday responded to criticisms that the PS3 lacks in smoothness and artificial intelligence when compared to the Xbox 360.

On Tuesday, USA Today published a story claiming that Madden NFL 08 on Xbox 360 is superior to its PS3 counterpart due to the better 60 frames per second visuals of the former compared to just 30 frames per second on the latter.

Electronics Arts defending the PS3 version saying:

"In the case of the next-generation consoles, many publishers have been developing titles for the Xbox 360 for over 3 1/2 years while everyone who publishes now for the PlayStation 3 with the exception of Sony has been developing for the PlayStation 3 for only a little over one full year. The differences in the overall knowledge of the hardware is vastly different for both consoles and...it is very difficult to get it right the first time."

It should be noted that EA did release Madden NFL 07 last year on the PS3 with 08 being the second, not first game to grace to system.


In related news, Sony's director of corporate communication Dave Karraker defended the PS3's ability to produce advanced artificial intelligence despite recent Ubisoft allegations of the contrary.

"PS3 can more than handle AI, as you will see with Heavenly Sword, which has hundreds of on-screen enemies with different AI routines at one time thanks to the power of Cell," Karraker said in a reply on the official PlayStation blog.


source:pcworld.com
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Chipmunks Game a 'Brash' Move

Movie-focused video game company Brash Entertainment will create a new game based on the upcoming Alvin and the Chipmunks movie later this year. COO Nicholas Longano talks about the license and why he expects Brash's games to fare better than typical movie-based titles.

Looking to target the family audience during the holiday season, game publishing startup Brash Entertainment will bring out a game based on the 20th Century Fox movie Alvin and the Chipmunks, set to reach theaters in December.

The music- and rhythm-based game is being aimed at kids ages 7-15 as well as parents already familiar with Alvin and his tuneful brothers from their animated series and the many Chipmunks novelty records, which began in the late 1950s. Alvin and the Chipmunks will be released for the Nintendo Wii, PC, PlayStation 2 and portable DS system.

Brash president and COO Nicholas Longano said the company is aiming for a day-and-date release with the film, which stars Jason Lee, adding, "We're going to try and get out there day-and-date with all our games tied to theatrical releases because that's when there's the most excitement around a franchise."

While there are plenty of game publishers that have great track records with film licenses -- most notably Activision, Electronic Arts and THQ -- Brash is the first whose business model is so intertwined with Hollywood.

Backed by $400 million in venture capital and other funding, Brash was formed in June and quickly went to work, inking deals with Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, 20th Century Fox, Universal Studios, Vanguard Animation and Lionsgate Films. Although Chipmunks is its first announced title, Brash already has dozens of deals to make additional games based on other unannounced movies.

"We're dedicated with one thing in mind, which is to create content out of these theatrical franchises because we understand both sides of the equation: the film side as well as how to create compelling gameplay," Longano said. "We already have around 40 licenses, and they include film franchises that have a legacy or heritage as well as franchises that people may not have heard of before but will make for a fantastic game."

Despite the recent success of Spider-Man 3 and Transformers as licenses, games based on movies aren't always a sure thing. Indeed, some of the biggest debacles in video game history, including E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial and Cutthroat Island, were movie-based titles.

But Longano said today's filmmakers have a much better understanding of gaming.

"We're still putting 18-24 months into the development or our titles, but Hollywood is really embracing video games," he said. "That means we're getting insight into casts and scripts and access to assets much earlier. We've even had talent come to us with properties and ask, 'If I make this into a movie, will there be a compelling game experience here as well?' "

Michael Goodman, director of digital entertainment at Yankee Group, is familiar with Brash and said the movie-game business model can work provided that the company keeps tight control on its expectations and costs.

"They need to focus on singles and doubles rather that try to hit home runs with every license," he said.

Brash already seems to understand that message, having signed a 10-year deal to have Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment distribute its games at retail rather than building its own separate sales force and distribution infrastructure.

As far as keeping costs in check, Longano said, "Before we start thinking about what the development budget will be, we take a look at the franchise and story line and what's going to make for the most compelling type of gameplay. We don't just want to bring out games that take you down the same path as the movie; we look for the most compelling elements of game play that really enhance the movie experience."

Although Chipmunks will be a family mass-market game, Longano stressed that the company also has licenses that appeal to older hard-core gamers. Other Brash executives indicated that they do have an agreement to look into making games based on Lionsgate's Saw movie franchise.

Courtesy of The Hollywood Reporter

by David Ward
source:gamedaily.com

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Master Chief Puts Spidey in Crosshairs; MS Looking to Top $155 Mil for Halo 3 Debut

Halo 2 was the biggest single day entertainment sales record, and Microsoft has every intention of leaving Halo 2 in the dust when Halo 3 launches on September 25. The company is aiming to knock Spidey off his web by beating Spider-Man 3's boxoffice debut of $151 million.



Microsoft likes to trumpet their Halo 2 sales figure of $125 million in its first 24 hours at almost every chance they get, but according to a new report in Variety, Microsoft has a new target in its crosshairs: Spider-Man 3.

The company has already stated repeatedly that they fully expect Halo 3 to top Halo 2's first-day sales record, but it would appear that Microsoft would like to edge out Spider-Man 3's opening weekend at the boxoffice, which brought in a record $151 million for Sony Pictures.

"We did $125 million last time," Microsoft director of creative marketing Chris Di Cesare told Variety. "We're confident we can do better."

Although Microsoft is looking to top the record holder at the boxoffice, he cautioned that comparisons to movies aren't quite fair. "I caution the comparison at times," Di Cesare said. "I recognize it's not apples to apples. But it's big business any way you cut it."

Indeed. Microsoft has sold nearly 15 million copies of Halo 1 and 2 since the franchise made its debut with the original Xbox in 2001, earning roughly $700 million. Moreover, Halo 3 is already the fastest selling pre-ordered video game in history, having recently surpassed the 1 million mark. And the game has support from several top brands, including Burger King, 7-Eleven, Mountain Dew, Comcast, and Pontiac.

Similar to the blockbuster marketing campaign Electronic Arts has put together for Madden 08, Di Cesare said, "We've taken a very event-film approach to the launch."

He added that before Halo 2, "People didn't understand the scale or size of what Halo was. When we went to talk to promotional partners, you'd spend half the meeting talking about the videogame business. When we opened to $125 million, that really caught a lot of people's attention. It showed that videogames were no longer that thing that kids play in their basement."



by James Brightman
source:gamedaily.com
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WWE 2007 Goes Budget Price

PS2, PSP and 360 versions now for $19.99

Today, THQ announced that WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2007 has been added to the Xbox 360's "Platinum Hits" and the PS2 and PSP "Greatest Hits." The 360 and PS2 versions are now available for the price of $19.99. The PSP version will carry that price starting September 5.


"Achieving 'Platinum Hits' and 'Greatest Hits' status simultaneously is a tremendous honor that speaks to the continued growth and development of the SmackDown vs. Raw video game franchise," said Scott Guthrie, senior vice president, North American sales and distribution, THQ. "We look forward to seeing its popularity expand further as we bring WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2008 to seven platforms this holiday season, including the franchise's return on Xbox 360, PlayStation 2 and wireless devices, and its debut on the Wii home video game console, Nintendo DS and the PlayStation 3 computer entertainment system."



by David Radd
source:gamedaily.com
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Xbox 360 Elite-Review

By Brian K. Neal

With worldwide sales tallying over 10 million units since its release a year an a half ago, Microsoft's Xbox 360 platform is poised to overtake its predecessor. Already, the adoption rate of Microsoft's online gaming/media service, Xbox Live, has surpassed 60 percent of current owners. And the latest model, the Xbox 360 Elite console, is a compelling choice—for prospective buyers who don't own a 360, that is.

The Elite differentiates itself from the previous Xbox 360 Premium with a new black finish, support for HDMI devices, and a bigger hard drive. At 120GB, it boasts six times as much storage as the 360 Premium and twice as much as the largest Sony PlayStation 3 model). But that's basically it; these additions, while welcome, are certainly not enough to make current owners upgrade. Still, I do recommend that new adopters spend the extra $80 and go with the Elite instead of the Premium model (the Elite lists for $479.99)—especially to reap the full benefits of Xbox Live.

Along with the other upgrades, the Elite comes bundled with a wireless black controller, a black 360 headset, and Ethernet, component, and HDMI cables. The included HDMI cord is appreciated, since it can set you back around $60 at most retailers. Also included are a free Xbox Live silver membership (for buddy chat and downloading game/movie trailers), and a one-month subscription to Xbox Live gold (for head-to-head online play).

The Elite's chassis is not much different than that of the 360 Premium. It's curvaceous, refined, and well thought out. Though it dwarfs that of the Nintendo Wii, it's not as space-hogging as the PS3's. You can position the Elite either vertically or horizontally. Its black exterior, which lacks the polished finish of either the PS3 or Wii, looks better than the previous model's white chassis with most entertainment setups. Located on the front panel are the console's power button, IR receiver, controller sync button, and two memory stick ports that can accommodate 512MB units each. There's also a tray-loading progressive-scan DVD player (an optional USB 2.0 HD DVD drive is available for $200) and two USB 2.0 ports for connecting a multitude of devices, including Flash drives, digital cameras, or even Apple iPods. The top of the console hosts the Elite's most welcome feature—a detachable 120GB, 2.5-inch hard drive housed in an enclosure that matches the mood of the system's exterior. Located on the back of the Elite is an extra USB 2.0 port, an AC power plug, the long-awaited HDMI (v.12) port, and an Ethernet jack. What's truly disappointing here, though, is that Microsoft didn't give the Elite any type of internal Wi-Fi (a USB Wi-Fi peripheral is available for $100). This is especially mystifying, since both Sony and Nintendo bestowed Wi-Fi on the PS3 and the Wii.

I'm glad to say that the Elite's wireless controller feels very comfortable in the hand. Its rubberized analog sticks are thoughtfully placed, and it has an impressive grip. The D-pad, however, feels stiff and offers minimal tactile feedback—a slight and forgivable shortcoming. The controller can be powered by either two standard AA cells or a rechargeable battery that lasts up to 30 hours. The biggest drawback in the 360's design, however, is the power supply unit. At more than one-third the size of the console and over 3 pounds, it's large, heavy, and almost impossible to hide

The Xbox 360 platform packs a powerful punch. Blockbuster epics such as Elder Scrolls: Oblivion; Gears of War; and Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Vegas are prime examples of the console's lofty capabilities. And game developers have yet to tap into the system's full potential. However, the Elite uses not the rumored 65nm CPU but the same triple-core, 3.2-GHz, 95nm IBM CPU as the other 360s (which explains why it generates the same amount of heat and noise) coupled with a custom AMD (ATI) graphics GPU that shares 512MB of system memory.

So the question remains: What substantial benefits, if any, are there for adopters of the 360 Elite? Much of this answer can be summed up in two words: Xbox Live. The Xbox Live marketplace is a digital media lover's dream. There, game demos are usually rolled out before their retail release on a try-before-you-buy basis, along with plenty of original and retro titles available for download. Also on offer are downloadable movies, television shows, and music videos—the majority available in both standard definition and HD.

On my tests, a typical feature movie such as the 108-minute Happy Feet in standard definition (480p) occupied 1.2GB of hard drive space, and the HD (720p) version absorbed 5GB. Similarly, a 22-minute South Park episode took up 252MB of storage in SD, and the HD version swallowed nearly a gig (1008MB) of space. Though this may not seem like a lot initially, owners of the 20GB Premium model will see their hard drive capacity evaporate in no time. The Elite's 120GB of storage is a must-have upgrade, especially when even the games themselves receive updated, downloadable content on a regular basis. Upon first run, I noticed that the Elite has 17GB of storage already occupied with game demos, movie trailers, and other video content. You can choose to delete this data on your own time, of course. For Core and Premium 360 owners, a 120GB hard drive peripheral is available separately for $180, bundled with a hard drive transfer kit that will perform a one-time transfer from the 20GB model.

The Elite can output to 1080p over both component and HDMI connections, but I noticed no major differences during testing. I saw slight improvements, however, when using HDMI. For example, distance detail was better in the murkiest areas of the sewer levels in Spiderman 3, which are generally dark, but that too was barely discernible. Unfortunately, the Elite sticks you with the same DVD player as the one found in previous models, leaving the external HD DVD drive as the only option for HD fans. On the bright side, the Elite's HDMI support gives it the ability to upscale DVDs to 1080p; something that cannot be done over component. It's no HD replacement, but the Elite's upscaler works very well and will tempt you to break out some titles from your old library. For audiophiles, the Elite's HDMI supports Dolby Digital 5.1, DTS 5.1, Digital Stereo (two-channel PCM), and WMA Pro digital audio standards.

Like the 360 Premium, the Elite features a Media Center extender that gives it the ability to stream content (high-definition video, music, photos, and recorded television) from any Windows Media Center or Vista PC in the house. This gives the Elite an advantage over media hubs such as Apple TV, which currently offers little to no HD content. Setup for these media-centric capabilities is more time-consuming than complicated, as it requires a number of steps to get things going. In addition, the target PC must remain on for its content to be viewable. The Xbox Media Extender interface is a carbon copy of Microsoft's WMC found on Vista and Media Center Edition PCs, so it's very intuitive, and navigation is a breeze. I tested the MCE on a 1080p set, and images from my PC were as sharp as they were on a standard monitor; the interface also supplied a light set of tools for retouching. High-definition movie files (MPEG, WMV) and recorded HDTV from my tuner also looked exceptional. Something I hope Microsoft will consider is an option, similar to Apple TV's, that lets you transfer media files from your PC to the 360. This could be done easily via a downloadable update, but given Xbox Live's continual success, that's probably wishful thinking.

Overall, the Microsoft Xbox 360 Elite wins the crown as the best gaming/media entertainment device available. It boasts an already excellent library of titles and exclusives, an intuitive interface, and a well-executed, community-focused, online model that's chock-full of downloadable content. The inclusion of HDMI also has its advantages, though that's not as important as the increased storage, so that by itself it certainly won't sway those who already own the Premium model. But for new adopters, this black box definitely rocks.


source:pcmag.com

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EA and Hasbro in Playful Relationship

Monopoly, Scrabble, Nerf, Yahtzee - these are brands that almost anyone is instantly familiar with and now EA has the exclusive worldwide rights to create video games based on Hasbro's popular family-oriented properties. At the same time, Hasbro will now create product based on certain EA franchises. More within...
As part of its continued focus on the casual gaming sector, leading publisher Electronic Arts has teamed with one of the biggest names in toys and games: Hasbro. In a "strategic licensing agreement" that the two companies say "promises to transform the interactive family entertainment landscape," EA has gained the exclusive worldwide rights to create digital games based upon Hasbro's wide array of intellectual properties, including Monopoly, Scrabble, Yahtzee, Nerf, Tonka and Littlest Pet Shop, among others, and Hasbro will obtain certain rights to bring select EA franchises to toys and traditional games, "extending EA's brand footprint, and bringing Hasbro's expertise to EA's interactive properties."

The relationship is expected to run initially through December 31, 2013, but the two companies may extend the agreement "subject to certain conditions, including achievement of specified performance metrics." EA said the agreement should not affect its second quarter and full year fiscal 2008 financial guidance.

EA veteran Chip Lange will lead the overall Hasbro business initiative as VP and General Manager, while Hasbro Senior Vice President Mark Blecher will head up Hasbro's digital gaming initiatives.

Rather than focus on any one platform or demographic, EA will develop Hasbro-based titles for a mass audience to play on just about any platform, including mobile, online, handheld, PC and consoles. The first games are slated to launch some time during calendar year 2008 (EA's Fiscal Year 2009).

"The gaming market has never been more primed for a revolution in how families enjoy games," commented Kathy Vrabeck, President, EA Casual Entertainment Label. "Hasbro is the ideal partner to help propel this change. Their games define fun. These are games that we all love and remember from our childhoods. The combination of EA's market leadership in the interactive space and Hasbro's timeless franchises is a perfect partnership for today's market. Together EA and Hasbro can create the next generation of fun for a new wave of kids and families."

"Our toy and game brands have been family-favorites for decades, and aligning ourselves with EA will result in broadening the reach of our brands through the 're-imagining' of these beloved entertainment icons in all key digital categories," added Brian Goldner, Hasbro's Chief Operating Officer. "Through the years, EA has proven themselves time and again as an incredibly creative company that delivers amazing content across multiple brands. We are thrilled to work with EA in bringing our brands to the next level in the digital world."


by James Brightman
source:gamedaily.com


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Gamers are Unaware of their Next-gen Consoles’ Functionality and Usage: reveals NPD Survey

A new report issued by consumer research group NPD has almost stunned me. The survey actually puts forth how people may own an all expensive and feature-loaded device but may not be aware of its full potential.

As per a new usage report by NPD, gamers are either now aware of or perhaps are indifferent to the non-gameplay features of next-gen gaming consoles.

According to the report, PS3 owners are less likely than Xbox 360 owners to download demos and videos on their consoles, all thanks to their ignorance. And that’s not it, a meager 37 percent of PS3 console know about the backward compatibility ability for PS1 and PS2 games. On the other hand, PSP and DS owners are fully aware of what their handhelds are capable of.

Are you aware about some excellent features that your PSP has? Read on to find out whether you belong to the ignorant or well-aware category of console owners and prospective buyers.

52 percent of PSP owners and likely purchasers are aware of its ability to present movies and videos, 19 percent know of its ability to play music, 43 percent are well aware that they can view photos on it. On the other hand, with respect to Nintendo DS system users and likely purchasers, 57 percent know about its touch-screen features, 53 percent are aware of its dual-screen presence and 49 percent know about the stylus function.

Furthermore, the NPD study also revealed that more DS users in comparison to PSP users, and more 360 users than PS3 and Wii users, are likely to play games online.

Analyst Anita Frazier said, “This study verifies what many of us already know: features related to playing games are by far the most important to consumers of video game systems.” Frazier added, “While systems’ capabilities of providing owners with additional features may become more important in the future, currently the importance of these features and the awareness among consumers of these features is far from universal.

“To make headway in this next-gen race, manufacturers still need to be primarily concerned with the quality and entertainment value of the games themselves,” she continued.

But one revelation that totally takes the cake for ignorance is that around 40% of PS3 owners didn’t realise their console could play Blu-ray discs. Also, around half those who knew about this ability have no interest in watching movies on their console. Well, I could just say one thing to these guys, what exactly did you pay that humungous amount for?

An old adage says that ‘Ignorance is Bliss,’ but after this study I conclude ‘Ignorance is NOT always Bliss.’ Not in this case for sure!


source:techshout.com

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Apple Beats Microsoft at its Own Open XML Game

Mac support for Microsoft's Open XML document standard has arrived, but it's Apple's iWork '08, not Microsoft's Office, delivering the goods.
Gregg Keizer, Computerworld

Apple Inc.'s release of iWork '08 this week is "embarrassing," an analyst said Friday, not for its maker, but for Apple's rival, Microsoft Corp.

Tuesday, Apple rolled out a refreshed iWork that added a spreadsheet, dubbed Numbers, to the earlier mix of a word processor/page layout Pages and presentation maker Keynote. But it was iWork's ability to handle the Open XML file format -- the new native format for Microsoft's own Office 2007 application suite -- that Michael Gartenberg of JupiterResearch talked about.

"This was the ultimate insult to injury," Gartenberg said. "Not only has Microsoft not delivered the ability to read and write Open XML in its Mac Office, but at the end of the day, Apple was the one who delivered."

Gartenberg referred to Microsoft's problems developing Office 2008 for Mac, which the company announced last week would be delayed until mid-January. Among the roadblocks, said Microsoft's Macintosh Business Unit (MBU), is the shift to Open XML as Office 2008's native file format. The company has also been slow in releasing conversion tools that let earlier editions of its Mac suite work with Office 2007's Open XML documents.

"This is embarrassing for MBU," Gartenberg said. "It has said that the shift to Intel has caused [its] problems, and changes in development tools, and the file format, too. But every other major vendor has pretty much managed to get their apps over to Intel [on the Mac]. Microsoft is one of the oldest Mac developers out there, so it's not like it doesn't have experience [on the platform]."

IWork '08 applications can open the OpenXML formats churned out by their Office 2007 counterparts -- Pages with Word, Numbers with Excel, Keynote with PowerPoint -- but cannot save in those formats. Currently, Office 2004 and Office v. X users can both open Word and PowerPoint Open XML files and save in those formats using beta converters MBU has issued. No such converter has been released that handles Excel 2007's Open XML files, however.

Ironically, one of those who praised iWork's handling of the Microsoft file format was a program manager for Office 2007. "[iWork '08] reads the Office Open XML files with very high fidelity," said Brian Jones on his company blog.

At the same time, Jones defended his fellow developers at Microsoft in MBU. "The Mac Office folks have a ton of stuff they are working on for the next version, so it's not surprising that you aren't seeing full Open XML support until they reach that point," Jones said in response to a question asking how Microsoft lost the race to Apple's iWork.

"Office for the Mac is just not a real priority for Microsoft," said Gartenberg as he spelled out his take for Microsoft's tardiness creating software on the Mac that can handle what are, after all, its own file formats. "And that's not likely to change anytime soon."

Asked to explain why Microsoft hasn't been able to match Apple, MBU's marketing manager, Amanda Lefebvre, ticked off the development issues that have delayed Office 2008.

"The transition to the new file format is one of several reasons the development cycle is longer with Office 2008," she said. "Office 2008 [for Mac] will run natively on Intel- and PowerPC-based Macs with a Universal Binary [and] this transition necessitated a switch to a new set of development tools as well. The combination of these two technology shifts definitely impacted our schedule."

Not quite, Gartenberg said. "What this really shows is Microsoft's inability to ship software on time these days," he said.

Apple, meanwhile, is doing the smart thing. "They're making sure that they're not dependent on Microsoft for any of the important software [for the Mac]," said Gartenberg.

That strategy, along with the US$79 price of iWork and the window of opportunity because of Office 2008's delay, puts Cupertino in the cat bird seat. "It's going to be hard for Microsoft to get those people who try and buy iWork back," he said. "Microsoft's let down its Mac customers."



source:pcworld.com

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