Gaming show:
Confirmed show topics:
Wii interview
Wii Chanels
PS3 Controller
X360 Vs. PS3 Graphics comparison
What does the PS3 have? [debate if there are any listeners]
Wii controllers recalled
Manic ones game of the week!
Tune in this week at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/veterangamer 8pm GMT tommorow.
The person I will be interviewee's blog is a good read and can be read at themanikone.wordpress.com.
There have been a great deal of reports on the internet about over-enthusiastic players swinging controllers areound madly. This then causes them to let og of the controller and it flys out of their hands breaking many items including a large, flat screen HD TV! A number of customers are blaiming it on the weak wrist strap. As a result Nintendo are calling back 3.2 billion controllers to fit a new, stronger cord.
To find out examples of what damages the controller has caused there is a blog donnated to it. Wii have a problem
Also, searching youtube for Wii have a problem or a term simmilar to that, will no doubt result in some interesting and comical videos.
My appologies for anyone using a RSS reader, you may have recived 25 posts again. This, I belive is due to me upgrading to the new blogger.
I am looking for people who own a Wii and are based in the UK to talk on my next blogtalkradio show [link in sidebar.] If you are interested please leave a comment or email me. If you know someone with one, point them in my direction. I already have a couple of candits, so I will choose closer to the date.
Sorry again,
The Wii came out today, but if I hadn't already have known, I wouldn't have. It was some what a anti-climax for me. There were no adverts in game. I still don't have one. No one I know has one, I can't play on one in the shop and there hasn't been a surge in reviews because it has been out in America. The only difference is, I now have a email saying happy Wii day. Wii day was a major let down. Even on GS, it was just a todays stories; IT WASN'T EVEN A FEATURE. To combat this I am going to scoure to blogosphere in search for a English Wii owner and interview him on my gaming show.
Happy Wii Day
I, as no one will probably notice, have switched to the new blogger. I am going to try and go though my old posts and label them, but from this point on they will be labeled. In gaming news, the Halo 3 trailer has been released and is viewable here. And on that note TSAH2 is very funny flash movie and is viewable here.
Predicted game of the year: Elder Scrolls: Oblivion
Xbox 360 Versus PlayStation 3 Graphics Comparison - Features at GameSpot
This is a major point. The selling point of the PS3, was that it was superior i hardware at the VERY least. In this comparison, the graphics are usually worse, and also the frame rate was meant to be slower. Either Sony have been lying, or there is something seriously wrong with their hardware. On the last page, scroll down to the comment by ellisthered it is very good.
This has stunned me. The 360, I always thought was a better console overall, because it had Xbox live, a rumble controller and good graphics, on top of a suitable price tag. However, I thought that, if you paying £550 for something, the very least you want from it is it to be the best at SOMETHING.
Sony have, as I originally said they would, screwed this up. They say that Microsoft are wrong for launching two different price packages, and then do that. They say that the Wii controller is gimmicky, then copy it and, because they don't have as much time to make it good, it really is gimmicky. They price it way above the other consoles. They claim it is going to have the best graphics and processing power: it doesn't. They waste time and gamers money adopting an obscure format (blu-ray) like they did on the PSP. The only thing Sony have done right is not change the console name so millions of people go out and buy it because it is the PLAYSTATION 3. Will there be a PS4, I would have always said yes, but I don't know anymore. It will be interesting to see what happens to Ebay prices after this report. And Sony's stock price for that matter.
The Wii has been released in the USA and Japan now. Nintendo has announced the numbers of units sold in America. It was 600 000. This is more than 6x the amount Sony sold/shipped in Japan who only sold a mesaly 86000 and a roumored 300000 in the US. Nintendo has out done both Sony and Microsoft on getting consoles to shops on launch day. They still sold out!
Due to prior arangments that I had forgotten about, my show has been delayed until saturday at 8 O'clock, same topics. Sorry
Blog talk radio is a peice of technolgy that allows bloggers (ME!) to create a show with live callers, just like a radio show for free. My first episode is airing this Friday 8:00PM GMT (subject to change). Full details can be found here . The topics are: The Wii, PS3 Backwards Combatability and E3 lives on as GamePro Expo. If you would like to phone in at any time just type (646) 915-9573 into skype or a normal phone between 8 and 8:30 this friday. Any callers I do get I will try to make sure you get to saywhat you want to. Speak to you then hopefully!
Sorry about the size issues in this post something happened with blogger!
The Wii is sold out. We have the same situation as we did with the X360 and what we will have with the PS3. Preorders on sites such as Amazon rival a new Coldplay album and the Harry Potter books, which were at the top of the preorder chart. Amazon has said that it does not know when it is getting more stock nor even hinted as to whether you can get one for Christams.
HMC are also making a "we don't promise anything" stance:
3) Due to high levels of demand and restrictions by Nintendo on stock availability, stock may be limited and HMV cannot, therefore, guarantee your pre-order will be fulfilled on the estimated release date, nor that your pre-order will be fulfilled within any given time-frame. Accordingly, release dates are subject to change by Nintendo and any date given for fulfillment of your order is an estimate only, is not guaranteed and should not be relied upon.
I was about to download the song "Chelsea Daggers" off the album Costello Music by the Fratellis when iTunes said something had happened that made this task impossible. I went in to the store to investigate. Once I had arrived at the relevant page, I discovered that it was now only down-loadable with the album. Apple know they have the market effectively cornered and they know that is the song people are most likly to buy. This is a case of iTunes taking advantage of its customers. Maybe this has happened before, but it is unacceptable, and as a consequence I am not going to buy and more iTunes vouchers, or download the song that I love. Please sign this "Petition" if you support me. Maybe we can get a apology, no seriously!
Gaming News:
PS3 backwards compatibility issues - 200 games effected.
Medieval Total War 2 - 16+ Rating
Splinter Cell Double Agent - Advertised as an 18, actual game 15
PS3 launches in Japan - 84,400 sold, many disappointed
Wii and PS3 round the corner for US
PS3 backward compatibility marred - News at GameSpot: "This isn't a huge issue, sure, but if you payed $600 + for your system, it would be awful nice if it worked like it's supposed to."
I was reading about the backwards compatability issues with the PS3 and the comment "his isn't a huge issue, sure, but if you payed $600 + for your system, it would be awful nice if it worked like it's supposed to." made me simle. Some people are critizing sony, but the X360 only 200 games WORK. Obviously, we have to wait to the Wii to see if if Nintendo pull it off, but they are including support for different disksizes, about 40 years of consoles and they have a completly different controller to anything before. I don't think this is a massive failure for Sony, like people who can afford a console at $600+ sold his PS2 which played PS1 games fine.
PS3 backward compatibility marred - News at GameSpot: "This isn't a huge issue, sure, but if you payed $600 + for your system, it would be awful nice if it worked like it's supposed to."
I was reading about the backwards compatability issues with the PS3 and the comment "his isn't a huge issue, sure, but if you payed $600 + for your system, it would be awful nice if it worked like it's supposed to." made me simle. Some people are critizing sony, but the X360 only 200 games WORK. Obviously, we have to wait to the Wii to see if if Nintendo pull it off, but they are including support for different disksizes, about 40 years of consoles and they have a completly different controller to anything before. I don't think this is a massive failure for Sony, like people who can afford a console at $600+ sold his PS2 which played PS1 games fine.
E3 lives on as GamePro Expo - News at GameSpot
I am so there!! Is this good, I was unsure about the downsize of E3 but now we have the best of both worlds. A small one for the press so that is not complete chaos all the time, but still a huge one for huge fun.
PS3 pushing SCE $1.71 billion into red - News at GameSpot
Sony admit to losing money. Is this a slippery slope that will result in the downfall of Sony. The thing that Sony is relying on is blu-ray. The problem is, last time Sony tried to enforce their own format, it failed. Movies stopped becoming widly avalible for the PSP, could this be the same old story. Part of me wants to see Sony die just so I have proved my self right. However, less compettion means less development and competitive pricing. If Blu-ray does fail, will Microsoft buy Sony so they can use the controller. Another theory of mine is Google. Why not? They have the funds, they have the technology, but most importantly, the still have Sergy and Brin and a whole team devoted to coming up with innovative ideas. For those who are unable to read between the lines I was suggesting that Google could create a console.
Sorry about the capitals it is how Sony like it written.
I have been thinking about the PS3, trying to classify it, a copy of the 360, a super computer, a uninnovate hunk of junk. However, as I was watching a video, I realised what I had been looking for. It is a souped up PS2. The controller is identical except with the tilt which most games aren't going to use. Hell, even the console doesn't look that different except it is less practical when you put it sideways. This is fine except a PS2 is £100 with 2 games, but a PS3 is £500 plus 2 games at £75 so £650 for better graphics. Admittedly they are awesome, but £550 for better graphics?!
BBC NEWS World Americas UN initiates arms trade agreement: "Only the US"
I think this shows the USA in a very negative light. I know I don't normally cover politics but this is a exception. The US has such a large economy it is not like they won't be able to survive without their weapons trade. It is because, if the US stop selling weapons to Irak then there won't be any reason to fight them.
Sorry about the lack of posts recently. Just moved house and have a lot on my plate. I have just got the expansion pack to Civilization 4. I have experienced some of the new features and I am much enjoying playing the barbarian mod. It has, however, inspired me once again to review Civilization 4. I will hopefully get round to it this half term.
Console News
Xbox 360
The new camera for the Xbox 360 is now out. It is effectively a eye toy. It allows video conversations over Xbox live, custom display pictures, and a couple of completely useless cool features. Its RRP is £35 and so is quite expensive considering it is just a gimmick. It fits in with the style of the 360 though. The pack includes 1 month Xbox live gold, a microphone and the camera.
Halo 3 is due out this March and a RTS is also coming out, Halo Wars. This game is not going to come out on PC so that they can make a intuitive controller for a console based RTS. However, I believe this is a mistake, not only because a lot of the Microsoft market are PC gamers, but because they are spending time on a intuitive controller, rather than a innovative game.
PS3
The PS3, although coming out this November as planned in the rest of the world. In deepest darkest Europe it is coming out this March. However, this is not all bad. In the USA, it is reported that when Sony were asked how many units had been allocated to each shop in America, the answer was 6. This means, that there will be global shortage, however, when it comes out in Europe the problem should be much less. Having said this, my dads friend went in to Game, the man behind the counter asked him if he would like to reserve a PS3. The deposit was £50, when asked if this equaled a guaranteed PS3 on launch day, the reply was : "No, your name will be put in a hat and you stand a chance of getting one on launch day"
The expected price is going to be, as predicted, a two tier launch price. This, although predictable, is slightly hypocritical of Sony as they criticized Microsoft for doing this with their launch. The two price plans are:
£335 - CHEAP
Will contain a 20gb hard drive
£400
Will contain a 60gb hard drive
If this expense wasn't enough, remember the games are going to be £75. That is a lot of money to justify spending on a game. The reported reason for the delayed launch was caused by a "diode creation error" and if I was to read between the lines :"and you are our least important market and we have to miss someone out."
Another interesting feature of the PS3 is the controller named thraxis. Cool name, not so cool idea. They wanted to be innovative so they have built in a motion sensing tilt. At first I thought this was just a attempt to be innovative like Nintendo whilst still doing Microsoft on the stats front, it didn't look like the best or worst idea, I didn't think it added much, but it hardly took much away. However. after some thinking, I realized the idea was made up by a board of directors. The tilt function is used a a accelerator on some racing games, which means you are going to be holding the controller at a very difficult angle. Simulate that with your hands and try holding that for a couple of minutes. It starts to ache after a couple of seconds. Hopefully, it will be possible to disable this feature for games that do not lend themselves to it.
Wii
In comparison, the Wii is going to cost £179 and is coming out on the second of December. Some videos were released on the Nintendo website showing new players experience the controller for the first time. It looks like Nintendo have done it. At first I was skeptical because I didn't think it could work. I haven't quite forgiven them for the Micro, but I am coming close. The thing that Nintendo has done well this time well is external developers and the introduction of games aimed at a higher age audience than 4.
The graphics do not look significantly better than the NGCs, it still doesn't play DVDs, it doesn't have a hard drive, but you know what, I don't care. Providing they throw in Wii sports with it I am happy. I look forward to buying my Wii this Christmas with Red Steel as my game.
PC
Not much news here. Vista is still quite a while away . The new flight simulator from Microsoft has come out. Gamespot gave it a 8.4 so if you are looking for a good flight simulator or know someone who does, it may be a good Christmas present. I have discovered that wired Xbox 360 controllers, although not guaranteed to work, should so. However, if you do not want to take the risk there is a special version. The same goes for the web cam and external HD DVD player available for the 360.
Sonys next generation console, the PS3, is expected to be released this March in Europe. It is still going to be launched in November everywhere else. This falls right into Microsofts plans of releasing Halo 3 at the same time, as that is the expected launch month for Halo. The plan being that shops like game will split the advertising between them, and a game getting the same amount as a new console is good for any company, even Microsoft. It might tip people towards getting a 360 as they think "I really liked that game" and not take a second glance at the huge PS3 poster.
However, it is a gamble, as they forget that, although Microsoft have a huge fanbase for Halo. Sonys is unbeatable at the moment so it may just be shooting them selves in the foot. Only time will tell.
Finally, shops like Game will know they are making a bigger profit on the PS3 so might just advertise that.
In conclusion, I think this will not work for Microsoft because shops are out to make money and Sonys fan base in only revealed by Nintendos, but Sonys covers more than one type of person.
Wii Launch Center - Wii arrives in Europe on December 8 for £179 - News at GameSpot
Update: WII £179 in England, however we will have to wait till December. This staggered launch should hopefull reduce over-demand, not that I think that is going to be a huge problem in the UK.
Gamespot repor Wii launch details.
It is offical. Nintendo's Wii will be coming out this November the 19th for $249.99 dolars; £159.06. More than I first anticpated, but still significantly cheaper than the X360 and pocket money compared to the PS3, although I would like to not that Sony have made no offical announments, although I suspect one in imminent.
In other Wii news released today, the Wii will NOT be able to play DVDs. Although you make think this is bad, I personally don't think it will make any difference. The poeple who are going to puchase the Wii aren't the kind of people who want their console to do a hundered and one different things. So disappointing yes, suprising sort of, a major problem no.
Final Specs:
WII Launch Date and MSRP: Nov. 19, 2006, in the Americas at an MSRP of $249.99.
Color: White.
Size: About 8.5 inches long, 6 inches wide and less than two inches thick (157mm x 215.4mm x 44mm).
Controls: "Up to four Wii Remote controllers can be connected at once using wireless Bluetooth technology. The wireless signal can be detected within 10 meters of the console. Both the Wii remote and Nunchuk controllers include a three-axis motion sensor. The Wii Remote controller also includes a speaker, rumble feature and expansion port, and can be used as a pointer within 5 meters of the screen. The Wii Remote controller has a power switch, plus pad, A, B, Minus, Home, 1 and 2 buttons. The Nunchuk controller includes an analog control stick and C and Z buttons."
The Look: "The Wii console features a compact design that...can be displayed either vertically or horizontally."
Media: "A single self-loading media bay will play single- or double-layered 12-centimeter optical discs for the Wii console, as well as 8-centimeter Nintendo GameCube discs."
Channels: "The Wii Channel Menu is the main gateway for a variety of...interactive multimedia, entertainment and communication functions."
Communication: "The Wii console can communicate with the Internet even when the power is turned off. The WiiConnect24 service [content and game updates] even if the system is idle. Users can connect wirelessly using IEEE 802.11, or with a USB 2.0 LAN adaptor. The Wii console also can communicate wirelessly with the Nintendo DS."
Virtual Console: "The Wii console will have downloadable access to 20 years of fan-favorite titles originally released for Nintendo 64, the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) and the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). The Virtual Console also will feature a 'best of' selection from Sega Genesis titles and games from the TurboGrafix 16 console. It also will be home to new games conceived by indie developers."
The Specs: "The Wii console has 512 megabytes of internal flash memory, two USB 2.0 ports and built-in Wi-Fi capability. A bay for an SD memory card will let players expand the internal flash memory. Design was optimized with state-of-the-art processing technologies that minimize power consumption, keep the console compact and enable the 'sleepless' WiiConnect24 mode."
CPU: "PowerPC CPU (code-named "Broadway") Made with a 90 nm SOI CMOS process, jointly developed with and manufactured by IBM."
Graphics Processing Unit: "Being developed with ATI."
Other Features:"Four ports for Nintendo GameCube controllers. Two slots for Nintendo GameCube memory cards. An AV Multi-output port for component, composite, or S-video."
For complete list of upcoming games check this out
