1P Start

In a bit of news that will surprise absolutely nobody, Microsoft’s Xbox 360 has fallen flat on its face in Japan yet again.

According to figures from Media Create Company released Friday, only about 6,600 Xbox 360s were sold between November 26th and December 2nd. The week before, only about 7,200 units were sold. For those of you who aren’t math majors, that means roughly 13,800 Xbox 360s have found homes in Japan over the past two weeks. This goes to further my theory that everyone in Japan who owns a 360 also owns Halo 3.

For comparison, Nintendo sold 74,000 Wii consoles last week. Again, for those of you who failed pre-algebra, Nintendo not only beat two weeks of Xbox 360 sales in a single week, but they beat them by 60,000+. The PlayStation 3 sold a respectable 37,000 units, which is also a kick in the 360’s ribs.

[Punch Jump]

Microsoft, Xbox 360, Sony, PlayStation 3, Nintendo, Wii

Roughly 2.7 million people in the US and Canada own Blu-Ray players. Nearly 2 million of those Blu-Ray players, or 74%, are PlayStation 3 consoles. That’s according to figures from Video Business.

The number of Blu-Ray players/PS3s sold received a substantial boost over the Black Friday shopping period (or as I call it, “the worst day of the year) and that following weekend.

The numbers may seem staggering at first, but come on people — it makes sense. Most Blu-Ray players are anywhere from $300 to upwards of $1,000 dollars. You throw down $500 you get not only a Blu-Ray player that is good quality, but you also get a video game console that looks like it’s about to come into its own (finally). The numbers, when you look at them logically, make perfect sense.

Blu-Ray, Sony, PlayStation 3

Drunk Pandas, I feel your pain amigo. If you haven’t heard, Drunk Pandas over at Loot Ninjas just lost another battle against the dreaded Red Rings of Death. This marks his 8th console to die.

His effing eighth!

You know, I feel his pain. I’ve had a 360 brick. Paco famously had a 360 brick (to which he later found a cure) while over at The Rally. It’s a common problem with the console, without a doubt. But eight?! That’s a combination of bad design, and God having a personal vendetta against you, your family, your friends, your pets, and your boss.

Here’s hoping the third time (squared) is the charm?

[Loot Ninja]

Microsoft, Xbox 360, Red Ring of Death

Movie playback is just one of those things I never found appealing with a handheld gaming system. No doubt that the PSP’s ability to play movies and television shows is cool, but come on. Who finds it practical to watch those movies on that tiny screen?

Apparently, Nintendo does.

DSVision (which for now is exclusively in Japan) is the name for the service, and what it is, in essence, is a microSD card that you insert into a DS cartridge, and then load it onto the console. Movies, TV Programs, Comics and even e-books will be able for use on the device.

While it is unknown what codecs Nintendo will use, and the card will initially be available only in Japan. The Starter Pack will contain the DS cartridge adapter and a 512MB microSD card. The starting asking price is ¥4000 ($36), and so far no mention of a US release has been announced.

[Trusted Reviews]

Nintendo, DS, DSVision

Enterbrain, one of the world’s largest video game magazine publishers, is reporting that for the four week period leading up until November 25th, the PlayStation 3 outsold the Wii in Japan.

That’s right. The PS3 outsold the Wii. In Japan. In fact, the PlayStation 3 (183,217 units) outsold the Wii (159,193) by 24,024 units.

While this is hardly indicitive of a possible trend shift in Sony’s favor, you almost have to look at this as a good sign for the big black box. While I would expect the numbers to fall off for the Christmas season due to a lack of software, this could be a good sign going into 2008.

Either way, congrats to Sony for knocking Nintendo off the top of Mt. Fuji. For the moment, as it is.

[Techtree]

Sony, PlayStation 3, Nintendo, Wii, Japan

Burnout Paradise producer Nick Channon has come out in support of the PlayStation 3, saying that it ultimately benefited the end product to have the lead version of the game be developed on the PS3 and not the Xbox 360.

“We’ve always led on the Sony platforms.” Channon said. “Historically at Criterion we’ve always done that and we didn’t want this year to be any different. We’ve always loved Sony machines and we’ve loved PS3 from the start, we think it’s a fantastic machine. We felt very strongly about that.”

It’s no secret that many developers don’t like the PlayStation 3 as a developer tool. When Grand Theft Auto IV was delayed, many thought it was because of stalled development on the PS3 (note that others say it was because it was chugging on the 360). To see a developer, especially one as big as Criterion, come out and say the PS3 is tops is surely a plus for Sony.

[PS3 Center]

Sony, PlayStation 3, Criterion, Burnout Paradise

Sony has answered the prayers of PSP Slim owners worldwide, announcing today a new battery pack that will add upwards of 80% more battery life for the PSP Slim. Not to be left in the dark, the original PSP will gain a cool 20% extended battery life.

Unfortunately the battery will still bulge out a little on the Slim, but not to fear. Sony is including a new battery cover that will make sure the new battery fits. Unfortunately, if you are one of those who own the Star Wars white PSPs… well, first you’re a tool. Secondly, you’re SOL as Sony will only be releasing black and silver backplates.

You can get your hands on this new battery sometime in December, for $44.99.

[PSP Fanboy]

Sony, PSP

For 20+ years Nintendo fans have been wanting a true handheld NES. Sure, the Game Boy was a great system with many NES-like games, but it wasn’t a truly handheld iteration of the console. Well, thanks to CYBER Gadget, you can now play your classic NES games on your Nintendo DS Lite with the “CYBER Lite”.

It’s a fairly simple contraption. It attaches to the bottom of your DS Lite and plugging in through your Lite’s GBA port. That’s about it.

Now, as we tend to do here at 1PStart, we throw out the news then attach our opinions here at the end. This is no different, so here goes — who needs this? Honestly? I love the NES. I have the entire NES library… on my flash drive. As is the case with most people. Don’t get me wrong, while I love the concept, it’s just a little too late in my eyes.

[CYBER Gadgets]

Nintendo, DS, NES, emulation

Gamespot is reporting that Nintendo has already completed a redesign of the DS Lite, and that it could see its debut on the market after current stock of their DS Lite dry up.

According to analyst Evan Wilson at Pacific Crest Securities, a contact of his at Nintendo has informed him that the redesigned DS is finished, and will include on-board storage, larger screens, and will be thinner (although at the expense of the GBA port).

On a personal note… what was wrong with the DS Lite before? I liked the DS Lite as it was. To me, it was the perfect handheld (and Itagaki agreed, bitches) which allowed me to play all my DS games (I.E. Nintendogs and… well, that’s about it) as well as my classic Game Boy titles (PokeMon, Star Trek: TNG, Super Mario Land). While the addition of on-board storage is nice, and the larger screens are sure to attract those who were hesitant before, I want my GBA compatibility.

[Gamespot]

Nintendo, DS, Gamespot

If you live in Europe and have been waiting for the right time to get a PSP, you’re in for a treat as Sony and Electronic Arts have teamed up to release a special bundle for The Simpsons Game on PSP. The bundle, which comes packed with The Simpsons Game will feature a limited edition yellow and white PSP.

Now, if you live in the United States you’re out of luck. A Sony representative has informed us that this is a European exclusive. In short: It’s not coming over here. But hey, you still have Star Wars and Daxter, right?

The Simpsons Game, PSP, Sony, Electronic Arts, Europe

Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo are all putting retailers on notice that they may not be able to meet holiday console demands, MCV is reporting.

David Yarnton, Nintendo’s UK GM has the quote of the day from the article, in which he states “you can’t just turn on a tap with hardware”. Perhaps not, but you can look at sales numbers from the past year and be able to make a reasonable estimate as to the demand of your product.

Nintendo AND Sony are about to enter their second full year with their consoles, and Microsoft into their third. There is no excuse for not being able to see months in advance that the holidays will bring about higher demand for their product. Nintendo has been in the video game business for 30 years, and Sony for thirteen. There is no excuse for not having foresight, especially in the case of the Wii, where its hard enough to find one as it is.

[MCV]

Nintendo, Sony, Microsoft, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii

I have been a huge fan of racing games since I was but a youngling, playing the original Need for Speed on that newfangled PlayStation. At the time I thought it was freaking awesome to see a 3D car slam head-on into a tree. As time went by, and I grew older, I demanded more and more realism in my racing experience. I wanted better track times, better control of my car, and an overall more realistic feel for the game.

Unfortunately, I was also raised in a poor household, so my family could never afford those fancy force feedback racing wheels that I hear all of you racing aficionados talking about. Well, gaming accessories company Kontrolfreek is hoping to change that with their new device, the ‘speedfreek’ for the Xbox 360. But what is the speedfreek, and how does it work? Well, read after the break for my full rundown on the device.

(more…)

Have you been thinking about importing the new DualShock 3 controller from Japan, so you can truly feel the experience? Well, you may be up a particularly smelly creek without a paddle.

GamesIndustry.biz is reporting that demand for the new controller has become so great that import retailers have already sold out, and that as a result prices may skyrocket. If you are someone who is fiscally responsible, it may be wise to wait a few weeks to allow the price to come back down to its normal numbers. After all, why pay $80 now when you can wait two weeks and pay $50.

Hell, it’s not like any games are using the rumble right now, anyways.

[GamesIndustry]

Sony, PlayStation 3, DualShock 3

On this date in 2000 the world was introduced to the big, black behemoth, the PlayStation 2 (which has been replaced with the bigger, blacker, shinier PS3). I got one on launch night with the birthday money I received two days prior, and to date the PSDeuce has become the most successful console of all time, selling over 120 Million units in its seven years.

The PlayStation 2 is such a success that developers are still developing games for it. SingStar Pop and Buzz! lead a lineup of 160 titles due for release on the PS2 by March ‘08, which would being the total library of PlayStation 2 games to near 1,500.

While this is all good and well, and these numbers are staggering, do remember one thing: Jack Tretton wants you all to stop playing the PS2 and get on the PS3 bandwagon!

[Gamasutra]

Sony, PlayStation 2

CNBC’s Jim Goldman is reporting that his sources inside Microsoft are suggesting that the company could soon announce a new Xbox 360 SKU, specifically the long-rumored model with built-in HD-DVD.

For those of you who aren’t yet aware, the rumors of a new 360 with HD-DVD built in began when “Smarthouse”, an Australian website, began running a story in which they claimed to have gotten word from one of the top brass at Toshiba regarding the project. Now, however, Toshiba denies that they are working on any such project.

I’ve said time and again that the 360 should have built-in HD-DVD. If you don’t have a HD TV it wouldn’t affect you in any way, so really this is a no-lose move by Microsoft. IF they’re doing it.

[CNBC]

Microsoft, Xbox 360, HD-DVD, Toshiba