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SplitFish's EdgeFX controller brings PC-style input to the console
The evolution of input devices for gaming consoles has certainly been interesting to follow: from Atari's paddles and joysticks to Nintendo's classic NES controller to the modern million-button joypads which delight children and confuse adults, developers are forever seeking ways to increase both the functionality and ergonomics of these peripherals. Well even though today's DualShock and Xbox gamepads are widely praised for their comfort and control, PC gamers still seem to prefer the old keyboard and mouse combo for maximum versatility and fragability (is that even a word?). Fully aware that there will always be folks who enjoy aiming their weapons with a mouse instead of an analog stick, SplitFish -- of MotionFX and DualFX fame -- has just released a new product that attempts to bring PC-style input to Sony's PlayStation 2. The EdgeFX is a two-part system composed of a rumble mouse sporting the standard geometrical buttons and a nunchuck-like wired attachment that contains a D-pad and single thumbstick. Probably the main appeal of this innovative controller is a dedicated "focus" button which adjusts mouse sensitivity on the fly so that you can aim with precision and still swing around wildly when you're surveying the field of play. Available immediately from GameStop for $70, the EdgeFX only supports PS2 for the time being, but SplitFish claims that a PS3 version is in the works and even 360 may "get in the game" if there's adequate interest.[Via PS3 Fanboy]
Sony's Phil Harrison congratulates Nintendo
There's no doubt that the PSP hasn't done as stellar as everyone has hoped. But that doesn't mean it's done poorly, either. MTV News spoke with Sony's Phil Harrison about the performance of the PSP so far. He notes that the PSP is doing a "very good job," distinct from the "great job" that Sony did on PS1 and PS2. He thinks that "most people use their PSP at home," an oddity that he'd like to change. Finally, he praised Nintendo and the DS, stating: "Nintendo should be congratulated... [DS owners] are our customers of tomorrow." Certainly, as Nintendo DS owners get older, they'll most likely look towards products that satisfy a more mature taste. It happened with the transition from Super Nintendo and Nintendo 64 to Playstation and PlayStation 2, and it may happen again.
Criterion talks about Burnout Dominator
EA recently revealed that the upcoming Burnout Dominator will be a PSP and PS2 exclusive, a strange decision in the light of a new generation of platforms. Nick Channon from Criterion Games spoke to Gamespot in a recent interview, and shared a few more details about the upcoming racer: The game will feature shorter "skill-based" levels, which is "perfect on PSP." The PSP and PS2 versions will not feature any connectivity with each other. All multiplayer will be available via ad-hoc (no Infrastructure? Boo!). Not too revealing, but at least it's something. Expect more updates as this game gets closer.
New Burnout is a PS2 and PSP exclusive
When Burnout 5 was announced for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, current-gen system owners felt somewhat neglected. Well, it appears that Electronic Arts is giving the Sony current-gen platforms some love through an all new Burnout game called Burnout Dominator. "The series was born on the PlayStation 2, and Burnout Dominator is about celebrating the essence of Burnout," said Nick Channon, Senior Producer of Burnout Dominator."Celebrating the essence" of the franchise makes this upcoming game sound a lot like PSP's Burnout Legends, which was an amalgamation of various games from the acclaimed series. Considering how excellent Legends was, PSP gamers have a lot to look forward to.(Of course, a DS version wasn't announced. Probably because the first DS Burnout was a horrible idea.)[Via Gamasutra]
Crooks tie up victims with power cord whilst stealing PlayStation
While this one came oh-so-close to being filed under the ongoing PS3 crime spree chronicles, the inability to pinpoint the PlayStation unit crooks nabbed as one of the highly-coveted "3" models forced us to clump this in with the smorgasbord of other (general) utterly dumb criminal acts. While it wouldn't surprise us to find that the armed burglars who ransacked a Cincinnati home were indeed after the mighty lucrative PS3, their bafflingly high level of stupidity leaves us to wonder if it wasn't a PlayStation 2 (or worse, a PSOne). The robbers reportedly bum rushed the house with their eyes on the prize, tied up the victims with a "PlayStation power cord," bolted out while laughing evilly, and then realized they needed the very cable they left behind. Similar to the crook who jacked a TV but returned for the remote, these guys apparently forgot the keys to pulling off an even marginally successful heist, but thankfully didn't harm the poor family they intruded upon. The wonders of humanity will never cease.[Thanks, Matt M.]
Go all Dualshock on your 360, prototype edition
Last week we reported that TeamXtender had plans to create an adapter for your 360 so you could hookup your mouse, keyboard or PS2 controller. Today, TeamXbox received some prototype shots of the device as TeamXtender seems to be moving full speed ahead in development. The adapter itself is looking a tad large, but I guess beauty is neglected as functionality is the main focus. More pictures after the jump.
Today's hottest game video: Link vs. Riku -- FIGHT!
We wonder how much time these guys spent on this thing. If it was more than one Sunday afternoon, then we fear for their souls. It starts off pretty decent, and the costumes are nifty (check out Link's ears and Riku's hair -- dang), but then we get to the fighting and it just slows. way. down. Watch as I SWING WITH MY SWORD AND THEN ... *tap*. Check out Link's off the rock spin move, eh? He's so proud of it that he does it several times.The video ends with, "It's not over yet." Dear god, why not? Is there a sequel brewing? Don't get us wrong, it was a nice effort ... just two minutes and 41 seconds too long. Check it out after the jump.
Game sales up 16% in October on lower average price
On the heels of THQ's quarterly report comes some more positive gaming news. According to the NPD Group the gaming industry has posted a 16% jump in software sales. An interesting trend noted by the NPD Group is the average price of games sold has declined by $2.40. The decline in price could be confusing to many gamers, especially those staring down the $60 price tags on new Xbox 360 (and soon to be PS3) games. The decline in price was due mainly to the fact that new release PS2 games are now in the $40 range and six of the top ten software games were for the PS2 (the top ten was rounded out by three Xbox 360 games and one Xbox game). If the revenue is up and the game prices are down this means that unit sales are WAY up. The data pokes in the eye the argument that next-gen software needs a $60 price point to make a profit. If PS2 games are selling for $40 -- and selling well at that -- keeping $60 price tags emblazoned all over our precious games is absurd when gamers are clearly buying $40 merchandise in droves. By selling next gen software at even $50, gaming companies can easily use economics of scale to their advantage. The increased production costs can easily be drowned out by more sales generated by a lower price point. Stop gouging us guys ... you know you can make a profit without that $60 price tag.
Atari founder says PlayStation an accident
Nolan Bushnell , founder of Atari and Chuck E. Cheese, looks to be a new member of the Microsoft Defense Force. In an interview with Red Herring, Bushnell took the time to trash the entire PlayStation brand, not just the PlayStation 3. While we can expect the SDF to come out swinging, Bushnell's comments leave even those of us sitting on the fence with raised eyebrows.Bushnell is absolutely convinced the PS3 will fail ... and not just fail to reach the vaunted nine-digit milestone for the third time, but outright flop. Bushnell told Red Herring that "It would not surprise me if a year from now they'll be struggling to sell 1 million units ... I think in the the number of early adopters you have is actually around 300,000." Furthermore, he goes on to say the PlayStation and PlayStation 2 were merely accidents, reaping rewards not by being the best, but by being in the right place at the right time.The PlayStation did not succeed because Sony had a Field of Dreams moment; it was supported because developers loved how it was easier to develop than the cumbersome Saturn and consumers bought it because the software was far cheaper than the N64. My PlayStation didn't just fall off the shelf and into my shopping cart, I bought it for a reason. While it would take a fanatic to believe the PS3 will sell over 100 million units, thinking the PS3 will only sell one million units by this time next year -- and fail to sell out of the launch units -- is crazy.[Via GameDaily]
Fitness gaming moves beyond DDR
Gaming is frequently blamed for many of society's ills. One social problem, child obesity, is now being taken on by gaming. Gymkids, a UK manufacturer of children's fitness products, has released the Step2Play,seeks to tackle the problem of childhood obesity not by taking the games away, but turning every game played into a workout. The theory behind Step2Play is that outdoor activities aren't necessarily for everyone and that many kids simply won't put down the controller. The Step2Play system, which resembles a stair-stepper workout machine, plugs into the child's Playstation 2. If the child wishes to play the game, he must use the machine. If the child stops, the controller cuts off and the game cannot be played. Parents can even change the pace the child must keep up to develop a workout regimen. For £115.00, parents can buy a tool that could prove valuable in battling life-long illnesses that result from obesity. The site does not indicate if the product works in other markets, such as the United States, or if they will ship internationally. The product does have opponents who claim that Step2Play only highlights the problems with society; however, why should we undertake an impossible social re-engineering program when it's far easier to convince people to better themselves by playing on what they normally do every day? [Thanks Jose]
Xploder HDTV Player for PS2 reviewed
We were skeptical about Xploder's HDTV Game Player package for the PS2 back when it was first announced, and IGN's review has done nothing to convince us otherwise. The kit includes a disc that must be inserted every time the PS2 is hard-booted, component cables, and manual to enable setting your PS2 to output games at 480p, 576p, 720p, or 1080i. It's not that the PlayStation 2 didn't support these resolutions, but most games did not include them as an option. IGN didn't have any problems when setting things for 480p, and did notice a slight improvement in quality, however they got distortion and stretching not unlike TNT's "HD" broadcasts when using 720p and 1080i. Apparently, 576p is supposed to avoid some of these scaling distortions but their display could not accept that resolution. All in all, it seems if you really need 480p in games that didn't support it -- for example to avoid gaming lag -- this might be worthwhile but its not suddenly going to turn your PS2 into an HD-pumping beast.
The PS3 in 23 simple facts
Here's a collection of useful (and useless) PlayStation 3 facts compiled by GamePro -- and complimented by our parenthetical remarks: Touch-sensitive power and eject buttons are a nice touch - literally (but we prefer handling said activities from the couch, with a remote or controller) 15,000 kiosks across the nation by the end of November (you might not be able to score a unit until 2007, but at least your local retailer will have one) The PS3 is not just a cheap Blu-ray player (actually, it's relatively inexpensive) Not all games will be 1080p (now that's an understatement!) The Sixaxis controller doesn't feel too light (we disagree) Speaking of which, the Sixaxis motion sensing takes some getting used to. (uh-huh) The PSP will connect via Wi-Fi to the PS3's hard drive (a good reason not to sell your PSP) The Sixaxis gets roughly 30 hours of battery life (if true, it blows Microsoft's Xbox 360 rechargeable -- but easily replaced -- battery away) There's no "lag" on the wireless Sixaxis controller, either (and there shouldn't be!) The Sixaxis's wireless range tops out at over 65 feet (20 meters) (how far away do you sit from the TV?) A new controller will set you back 50 beans (and there's no first-party wired alternative) Your PlayStation 2 save game files can be transferred to the PS3 (thank goodness! Transferring Xbox saves to 360 is tedious and requires purchasing third-party apps/equipment) The Blu-ray disc drive is slot loading, and it works like a dream (yeah, but does it have a paperclip-hole fail-safe?) One LED on the PS3 seems dedicated to tracking hard drive activity (so ... ?) The first 500,000 PS3s will be packaged with a free Blu-ray feature film (but it's Ferrel's "Talladega Nights") There's still a hard "power-off" switch on the back of the system, just like the PS2 (annoying) The PS3 is very, very shiny (so keep your greasy paws off it) As a whole, the PS3 itself looks incredibly sexy (see previous) The PS3 is super quiet (we hope -- 'cause the 360 is damned loud!) You can plug in a USB keyboard and surf the 'Net (and a mouse too?) The power supply is integrated directly into the system (in other words, there's no brick to trip over) Re-download all your merch to someone else's PS3 (or better, download a friend's merch on to your PS3) First-party games are priced at $59.99 (so are some of the 360's -- *sigh*) [Via Digg]
Pelican and Hasbro team up on NERF-branded PS2 controller
Sure, it's no Wiimote or caramelized Xbox controller, but the NERF Wireless Controller could definitely hold its own in a gamepad brawl. Designed by Pelican and Hasbro, this cushioned PlayStation 2 controller sports "soft, durable foam," Pelican's "Smart Play" technology, wireless connectivity, and a sweet NERF logo for extra bragging rights. The company claims it can withstand "squeezing, throwing, twisting and spiking," and while its currently only available for Sony's soon-to-be-replaced PS2, other platforms shouldn't be too far behind. So if you aren't exactly ready (read: too broke) to pull the trigger on a new console (or HD DVD attachment) come November, this $29.99 flingable controller could help alleviate the new launch envy.[Via Joystiq]
Mercury Meltown sliding onto PS2
Gamers complain that too many games make the jump from PS2 to PSP. But, fanboys don't get too pleased either when a game makes the transition from PSP to PS2. Not too many games have done it in the past, but it appears that the upcoming Mercury Meltdown will also be getting a PS2 rendition, joining other titles such as Lumines, Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories, and the upcoming Tokobot. The PS2 version will not feature any enhancements, except for the ability to use the second analog stick to control the problematic camera. The PS2 version will come out one month after the PSP version, which comes out in October.[Via Gamespot]
A portable PlayStation 2. No, not the PSP
Sandra Lee would be proud. She wanted a portable system that could play all your PlayStation games and wasn't so small for her massive gorilla-like hands. Thankfully, Brian Gardiner has created his "palmPS2" which takes many of the same parts of the original PlayStation 2 and places it into a somewhat terrifying portable device. I'm impressed, but I'll stick with my PSP for PS2-quality gaming on the go.See also:Xbox 360 crammed into laptop formThe not-so-portable GamecubeBen Heckendorn's new and improve nPodL64 redefines portable N64 stylePortable Xbox -- no, really![Via Engadget]
The pink PS2 hits UK in November
It's a little late in the game for you to have to justify a PS2 to your ladyfriend, and it's way late in the game if your ladyfriend is of the ilk to want a PS2 of her very own. That said, as we all know well from Motorola and their best-selling RAZR, when you're late getting your new product out the door, the thing to do is release the old product in a new color. Enter the pink PS2. We're not yet entirely sure when (or if) it's hitting US shores, but it's launching on the 8th of November over in Old Blighty. Oh, and for our gamer pals across the pond: thanks to the Leipzig Games Convention, which kicked off today, you'll see a dip in price of that PS2 as well. It'll only set you back £94.99 and €129.99 now, which doesn't help us over in the States too much, but we can't complain as our PlayStation 2s still cost significantly less. Unfortunately that price dip won't help out your purchase of pink there, which is still going to go for £129.99 (bundled with SingStar Pop), and €159.99 otherwise.[Thanks, Steve]
Sony makes some money, pays off debts [Update 1]
A recent article at IGN talks about Sony making a tidy profit for the quarter ending June 30th. Don't pay attention to the fact they lost money in the video game market and as a whole, the point is they're still in the black somewhere -- they're not losing money from every pore. Recall in 2005, Sony reported a loss of $62.8 million, but now are reporting a gain of $279.4 million. Yay! Digital cameras and improved exchange rates are the culprit for the money, Sony humbly claims.Not all is peachy. Sony Computer Entertainment did fall four-hundred million stories, dropping them from $1.5 billion to $1.1 billion. Let's put it this way -- when Sony is boasting about its PSP sales instead of PS2 or PS2 software, there's some concern. We have to understand though, the PS2 is pretty much at the end of its life, except for some very hotly anticipated RPG's (Final Fantasy XII, Rogue Galaxy, Valkyrie Profile 2, Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner, Phantasy Star Universe (despite multi-platform, it's still lookin' great)) and other titles, like God of War 2. Basically, Sony made money then lost it. Hopefully this last round of games will bolster Sony's numbers a little bit. If not, oh well. They'll deal, surely.[Update: clarified the "in the black" statement. Thanks, JustMe!]
Rumor: Guitar Hero II on Xbox 360
Get this, so, some anonymous source -- don't worry, this source is, like, totally "in the know" -- has tipped off a blog -- okay, not just any blog, but GamerAndy.com -- and ... you ready ... Red Octane & Harmonix are developing a version of Guitar Hero II for Xbox 360! Rock! On!Alright, so it's just a rumor without a credited source, but it's at least worth entertaining the possibilities: a wireless 'guitar' ... downloadable tracks ... Xbox Live battles! Please...Guitar Hero II is scheduled for release in November on PS2. Neither Red Octane, Harmonix, or Microsoft has confirmed -- or even hinted at -- a version for Xbox 360. As always, take any rumor with a grain of salt (but it doesn't hurt to keep your fingers crossed).
Microsoft lacks confidence in Japan, losing next-gen battle without competition
The latest out of Tokyo reports that PlayStation 2 outsold Xbox 360 by 21,236 units in the last week of June. Not good. Sure the Japanese launch of Xbox 360 was marred by a lack of content targeted at Japanese consumer interests, but Mizuguchi's N3 Ninety Nine Nights has since been released, and so has Final Fantasy XI -- though we suspect Japanese gamers are content playing FFXI on their PS2s, as they've been doing since 2002.With Sony and Nintendo on the verge of launching their new consoles, Microsoft has run out of time to gain a significant foothold in Japan. A May poll, conducted by Cross Marketing, found that out of 366 self-identified gamers, 256 of them want a PlayStation 3. Of the respondents that were permitted to select multiple next-generation consoles, 127 said they wanted Wii. Only 93 said they wanted Xbox 360. "I can't say I'm beaming with confidence in Japan," president and chief executive officer of Microsoft Japan Darren Huston admitted at a company event last Thursday. Not good.
DFC analysts say Sony's PS3 may "end up third"
DFC Intelligence -- a market-forecasting agency -- have recently released their likely scenarios regarding the upcoming war o' consoles. They have an interesting set of scenario guidelines/factors they used in setting up how Sony would turn out. How'd they turn out? They say last third place. But keep in mind, they said, "When we say the PlayStation 3 could end up in third place that is a worst case scenario for Sony."If we look at the bulleted list on the site, the first three, summarized as: Current market position Current software library Other consoles' current software libraries There is no question Sony rocks the socks off of analysts for the first three points. The rest of the list? A little harder to discern a clear victor. These points consider: Expecting upcoming software for the PS3 (debatably good or bad) Upcoming software for competitors (debatably good or bad also) Price of PS3 measured against rivals Chance/amount of price drop Hardware/WOW! (NOT World of Warcraft...) factor A lot of debate had been risen from the fact GTA4 won't be exclusive to the PS3, however, according to DFC Intelligence, less than 20% of PS2 owners bought any of the titles. In fact, " Without GTA buyers, the PS2 would still have outsold the competition by more than 3 to 1." Nice. That's good news, even if speculation. So, will PS3 fall prey to the worst case scenario, or manage to stay on top (or even second) by the skin of its beautiful, beautiful teeth? Again, the Tokyo Game Show will hopefully give PS3 more positive press.[Edit: changed GTA4 won't be coming ... to GTA4 won't be exclusive to. Thanks, J. Dock]
