Monthly Archives: September 2009

Herr Bobster Kotick, Activision Blizzard Übermensch, has admitted that tough times lie ahead for the games trade, and that growth “over the next couple of years” will be a problem thanks to high barriers to entry.

“It’s not a trivial investment for people,” Kotick told Barrons, talking of the cost of buying a games console.

“Part of my concern over the next couple of years is when you look at an economy that’s not growing and you look at all the economic challenges we face, not just for videogames but for all businesses.”

Sony and Microsoft have now lowered the price of PS3 the 360 Elite to $299. Clearly it’s not enough for gaming’s biggest big man.

Hit the link. Interesting stuff.

Sony WWS boss Shuhei Yoshida’s told GI that the GamesCom-announced PS3 price cut has removed a barrier to “success” for the company’s products.

“We’re so excited about the products we’re working on for release this year, but if there was one thing that could have prevented the success of our titles we felt that would be the price point – so we’re relieved to see it finally happen,” said the exec.

Yoshida added that the addition of general economic recovery will broaden his market and allow the more casual part of PS3′s line-up to flourish.

“Games like MAG, or those hardcore games, we have no concerns over,” he said.

“But games like EyePet, or Heavy Rain, or ModNation Racers – they’re targeted to grow the audience, and it’s crucial to make the hardware more approachable to those consumers.”

Relief all round. More through there.

NintendoEverything’s got the first image of Okamiden from what looks like Famitsu.

It involves DS and Okami, from the look of it.

We’ll ask Capcom, innit.

Square’s announced its TGS line-up. As previously reported, FF Versus XIII hasn’t made the cut.

Games marked with an asterisk are playable.

• The Four Light Warriors: Final Fantasy Gaiden (DS)*
• Dissidia: Final Fantasy Universal Tuning (PSP)
• Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers (Wii)*
• Final Fantasy XIII (PS3)*
• Kingdom Hearts: Birth By Sleep (PSP)*
• Front Mission Evolved (PS3 / Xbox 360)*
• Dragon Quest IX (DS)
• Final Fantasy IV: The After Years (WiiWare)
• Final Fantasy XIV (PS3 / PC)
• Final Fantasy XI: Vandiel Collection 2 (PS2 / Xbox 360 / PC)
• Lord of Vermillion II (Arcade)
• Dragon Quest Monster Battle Road II (Mobile)
• Dragon Quest More Mysterious Dungeon (Mobile)*
• Secret of Mana (Mobile)*
• Kingdom Hearts Coded (Mobile)

The show takes place from September 24-27.

Thanks, Siliconera.

Sony’s released Firmware 3.0 for PS3. You can download it now. The new Slim PS3 logo’s been added, and it’s all sparkly!

Dynamic themes, PS Store shortcuts and more have now been added to the console’s UI. There’s a new clock, date and messages bar at the top, too.

Get more detail and a demo movie here.

Wii Fit Plus will launch in the US on October 4, NoA’s Reggie Fils-Aime said at the 2009 GameStop Manager Conference today.

The exec also announced new US colours for DSi, the Wiimote and Wii MotionPlus. As of September 13, DSi will be available in white and pink: the machine’s currently on sale in blue and black in the States.

The Wiimote and Wii MotionPlus will get new black SKUs.

PR after the break. We’ll check on a Euro date this morning.

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Sony couldn’t topple pirates with firmware, so the console-maker’s taking things to the next logical level with an all-out hardware based assault. The target: the PSP Go’s battery.

“You won’t be able to rip your games and play them on the system, the firmware precludes that,” Sony’s John Koller told PlayStation Insider. “There’s no external battery, so there’s a number of protections put into place on the system.”

See, before, pirates were able to wrestle control of the platform away from Sony with something known as the Pandora Battery. Without the ability to install it, however, pirates will have a much harder time cracking the PSP Go. Or at least, that’s the hope.

Sony’s playing hardball now. It’s your move, pirates.

Former IGDA board of directors member Tim Langdell issued a statement about his recent departure, saying that he wasn’t pushed out the door. Rather, he chose to vacate his position so that the IGDA wouldn’t be caught in the crossfire between Langdell and those who are out to get him.

“I make this decision,” he said, “not because I have done anything wrong — on the contrary I am confident that all accusations against me were unfounded and purely intended to defame, and am confident that I have at all times acted in the best interest of the IGDA and its membership — but because I must make this decision between concluding a process that will show I did no wrong, and having that process irreparably damage the IGDA, I cannot permit the latter to happen.”

“This has to drive my decision today, taking priority over defending myself against these accusations to a conclusion.”

Langdell added that he’ll remain “active” in the IGDA, though obviously not in any sort of leadership capacity.

The man’s a saint, clearly.

Full statement’s after the break.

Thanks, G4.

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Machinima.com recently got a look at Uncharted 2′s suite of movie-making tools, and — in case you were worried — they can, in fact, be used to make movies.

The tools can change characters’ movement postures, add lip-synced speech, and even swap out entire backgrounds or set characters against a green screen. It looks pretty awesome, if you ask us.

Check out the video after the break.

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