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UK hardware sales: Xbox 360 roars, PSP whimpers
Thanks in no small part to a price drop and a new model, Microsoft's Xbox 360 scored a 260% sales increase in the United Kingdom from two weeks prior, according to ChartTrack (via MCV). The Elite model was released in the territory August 24 for £299.99, while the Pro and Arcade models received price drops to £249.99 and £179.99, respectively. The momentum is also likely to be helped by a certain Covenant-crushing behemoth set to deploy later this month.Though Microsoft may be having its (VH1) Best Week Ever, Sony's PlayStation Portable had its worst. ChartTrack is reporting the PSP had its worst week of sales since its launch September 1, 2005. Both SCEE and ChartTrack blame the sales drop-off on the impending launch of the PSP-2000 model, coming September 14 (sans ceramic white) and believe the redesign will boost the PSP's sales.Chart-Track did not provide specific numbers for either console's sales.Read -- 260% sales jump for Xbox 360Read -- SCEE looks forward after worst week ever for PSP
Halo-themed Xbox 360 (over)priced for UK
When Microsoft deploys the Halo-themed Xbox 360 in the United Kingdom September 26, it will cost true Spartan loyalists £279.99 (via CVG). Factoring in the price drop, that gives us the following tier: Arcade: £179.99 Pro: £249.99 Halo: £279.99 Elite: £299.99 Should you not care about the paint job, the £20 difference between Halo and Elite will prove aggravating, since the latter has 100 GB disk space more than the former (a 120 GB HDD by itself costs £129.99 and the Halo edition does not include a copy of Halo 3). How much do you love an olive drab console with an orange disk tray?
DS conquers all competitors in UK, prepares to assault mainland
The British gaming industry sales watchers at MCV are reporting today that the DS has overtaken both the PS2 and PC in unit sales and overall market value in the UK. They attribute the little portable's triumph to its strong sales since Easter, as well as bumper crop of high quality releases, including Pokemon Diamond and Pearl and More Brain Training, that currently account for over 15% of the all game sales! While sales of Apple's iPod might indicate otherwise, one has to wonder how long the DS can hold onto its worldwide domination. But by then, it'll be time for some new colors or an even sleeker form factor. Onboard flash memory, anyone?
Euro rating system PEGI goes online
The Pan European Game Information, or PEGI, rating system is currently used for all offline video game releases in the United Kingdom and Europe. Now it's looking to tackle online, too. The PEGI Online has been a project eighteen months in the making. A multi-language website has launched to inform about the new initiative and provide resources to explain online gaming to the not-so-tech savvy parents. Additionally, a PEGI Online symbol has been created to go on the back of games who adhere to the PEGI Online Safety Code. The code insists that license holders (developers, publishers) use their "best endeavors" to prevent offensive material from proliferating through the online service. We applaud the clause for a coherent privacy policy, but are cautious toward a call for disallowing all game content not appropriately rated through PEGI, BBFC or German USK from a website. Pending interpretation of the wording and the aptitude of lawmakers regarding technology, that could be applied to user-made content such as Halo 3 replays or entrants in the Unreal Tournament mod competitions. We want a code to protect children, so long as it's not inappropriately used in a detrimental manner.
PS3 sells million in PAL region
The PlayStation 3 has reached platinum in the PAL region, having sold one million units since its launch ten weeks ago, GameSpot reports. That report would put the console as faster selling than the PS2 and PSP. The top-selling games were Resistance: Fall of Man (600,000) and Motorstorm (500,000).It is not clear if the data represents units sold to the consumer or units sold to retail chains (i.e. units shipped). The PAL region covers Europe and Australia. Sony's latest console also broke records at the UK launch, becoming the fastest-selling home console ever for the country with 165,000 units reportedly sold during its launch weekend beginning March 23.The numbers are impressive for Sony, and serve as good news for the company that has lost market share since the last generation, but it probably won't deter calls for a price drop anytime soon.[Image Context, "as graceful as a walrus falling upward with an anvil as parachute"]
PSP getting VoIP'ed in UK
UK telecommunications operator BT has developed software for PSP that will enable Sony's handheld to call other participating PSPs and some BT phones in the UK, and eventually PCs, landlines and other cellies in as many as 100 additional countries. Using the Go!Cam peripheral (currently scheduled for a UK release on May 25), the service will utilize BT's 21 Century Network, which has been designed for IP technology -- supporting both voice and video calling. BT plans to reveal further details during the Leipzig Games Convention in August, but the service's initial launch will be limited to UK calls to and from home or BT-operated wireless hotspots (there are roughly 2,000 scattered in and around airports, train stations, hotels and fast food joints in the UK).BBC recalls that Nintendo was the first to has also attempted to transform a portable gaming device into a clunky, crippled phone, revealing DSpeak in 2005, which enabled Mario-mimicking VoIP calls -- but the application was never released. Still, with a headset, DS users can make calls to friends while both are playing VoIP-compatible games like Metroid and Pokémon.Update: PSP games like SOCOM Fireteam Bravo also support player-to-player VoIP communication via a headset.[Via Engadget]
Nintendo UK and ad agency split up
If you live in the UK and were hit by the advertising blitzkrieg that heralded the launch of the Wii, then you know this ad agency's work. Of course, you might have some opinions, be they negative or positive, about how the Wii was advertised in the region, so the news that the agency responsible (Leo Burnett) is calling it quits with Nintendo could be a good or bad thing in your eyes.The agency worked with Nintendo for 7 years and reportedly split with Nintendo due to a "change in business requirements," says UK marketing director Dawn Paine. If Marketing Magazine is to be believed, this all stems from a series of documentary-style commercials Leo Burnett shot for the Wii, which Nintendo insisted be reshot to 'look more like ads' weeks before the console's launch.
Eidos acquires mobile developer Rockpool Games
Under the Eidos label, UK publisher SCi has acquired Manchester-based mobile developer Rockpool Games along with sister companies Ironstone Partners and SoGoPlay. The 36 members of Rockpool's staff will join Eidos' New Media division, which was established in 2003 to pursue, in part, a mobile gaming strategy; and has since produced iterations of Tomb Raider, Hitman, and Championship Manager. "We believe that the global market for mobile games is set to grow considerably over the next few years from around US $3 billion in 2006 to US $10 billion in 2009," said SCi chief exec Jane Cavanagh.Rockpool is previously responsible for mobile versions of Worms, MotoGP (pictured), and TOCA Race Driver. Ironstone Partners is the company's licensing division and also manages the Epyx back catalog (California Games, Impossible Mission), while SoGoPlay develops casual games for mobile and PC platforms.
Gran Turismo added to list of 'killer games'
UK newspaper The Times has added Gran Turismo to its short list of "killer games." Sony's racing sim joins Manhunt, Carmaggedon, and Canis Canem [Edit] (but not oft-targeted series Grand Theft Auto -- or Pac-Man). GT landed on the list following the trial of two boy racers whose reckless driving led to a fatal car crash, killing 79-year-old Phylis Williams. Both men were cleared of "causing death by dangerous driving"; instead fined relatively small amounts (£1,000 and £750), in addition to having points deducted from their licenses.Immediately preceding the crash, one of the "bloody chavs," 19-year-old Christopher Hayden, had been playing Gran Turismo (on an in-car LCD monitor) while parked alongside a road. The court seemed convinced that playing the game encouraged Hayden to engage in the impromptu race; The Times took it a step further, placing GT in the company of "killers." *Sigh* ... another game catching the blame for senseless tragedy... [Via Guardian Unlimited]
UK gamers about to get Conned
The Con didn't exactly generate a lot of buzz when it originally came out for the PSP in the US. It was critically panned (getting a 64 average on metacritic) and didn't develop much of a following even from early PSP adopters. Despite all this, The Con is finally coming to the UK from SouthPeak Games with enhancements. It's reported to have faster load times and an adjusted difficulty level. With Tekken: Dark Resurrection and several other fighting options like Power Stone out for the system, I'm not sure The Con still has a market, but if you are interested in getting conned, you can pick up The Con in March on UK shores. [Via DCEmu]
Path to PSP, PS2 now clear for 'Free Running'
Free Running (the game) has seemingly overcome the obstacles, finding a publisher in Ubisoft and enough mainstream attention to warrant a UK release in mid-March. We first spotted Free Running in June 2005 when then publisher Eidos was showing off some footage of the Core Designs PSP title, which was also being called Parkour Freerun (note: parkour and free running are two distinct disciplines).Since that time, Core Designs was acquired by Rebellion, which eventually passed Free Running off to Reef Entertainment. Reef, now teamed with Ubisoft, has found an opportunity to finally turn out Free Running, which will also be released on PlayStation 2 (in addition to its original PSP format).The game release is timed with building commercialization of the 'free running' discipline, whose founder -- and star of the upcoming game -- Sebastien Foucan showed off some moves in the latest Bond flick Casino Royale. Ubisoft is a fitting publisher as both its Prince of Persia series and upcoming title Assassin's Creed feature elements inspired by free running. The publisher has no apparent plans to distribute Free Running outside of the UK.[Via PSP Fanboy]
Dark Water Studios open for business
Let's all give a warm welcome to Dark Water Studios, which has just officially opened its doors. The Northern Ireland developer is headed by industry vet Mike Brown, with former Acclaim man Paul Houbart named as technology manager, and Rory Fellowes, another vet, on board as lead animator. Dark Water currently totals 10 employees, with a goal to reach 25 by the end of the year.The studio is developing a multiplayer PC title, partially funded by DETI, the economic development branch of Northern Ireland's government. Dark Water is also working on a prototype project for PC and consoles.
BBC building MMO world for kids
BBC has unveiled plans to launch an online world based on its CBBC property, which is geared toward kids ages 7-12. The venture will focus on safety and responsibility; and in doing so, BBC will forgo chat rooms and the possibility of users altering the game world. CBBC World will not feature the sort of in-game economic structure that has been popularized by games like Second Life.At least initially, when CBBC World is rolled out this summer, the online world looks to primarily function as an interactive gateway to media; a glorified website. Kids will be able to create and customize their own avatars, and then hit the virtual trails in search of minigames, videos, music, and other CBBC-generated content. There will also be some form of limited content sharing between users, which will likely be moderated by CBBC administrators. Come September, CBBC World will be integrated with a revamped CBBC TV channel, birthing a unique cross-platform effort.
British Army recruits gamers to pilot dusty Apaches
According to the UK's Sunday Mirror, the British Army is actively seeking out veteran gamers for military service. Senior officers have descended upon schools, hoping to recruit an elite l33t team of Apache pilots. Headhunters are targeting teens as young as 17 with the promise of university scholarships (after service). A senior Army Air Corps source explained that the "new generation of computer-game playing youngsters glued to their PlayStations, Xboxes, and Game Boys" has already developed "some" of the skills necessary to fly an Apache. Interesting theory.GameSpot notes that the British Army is desperate to train a squadron of pilots capable of handling a fleet of 67 Apaches that were ordered back in 2002 (for more than $4.5 billion). The training program has been delayed for nearly three years, and most of the Apaches remain in storage.
UK Minister calls for industry-sponsored games academy
British Minister for Creative Industries and Tourism Shaun Woodward has called on the video game industry to sponsor a games academy. Woodward imagines the training ground would be similar to the London Film School and could harvest talent that would otherwise go unnoticed. "You might have kids who traditionally have quite a difficult time coping with traditional academic subjects but happen to be the most amazing gamers," explained Woodward.While it's unclear if Woodward makes the distinction between 'gamer' and 'gamer developer,' he does make an important point: the games industry has moved beyond its "rebel period." Now, as a significant factor of economic growth, perhaps it is time for the industry to build its own "institutional bricks." Where do we send the application?[Via Gamasutra]
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Nintendo responds to Game Boy accident that killed UK boy
Nintendo of Europe has offered its condolences to the family of Connor O'Keefe, the seven-year-old UK boy who was electrocuted and tragically killed last Saturday when unplugging his Game Boy power supply. Connor was vacationing with his family in Thailand when the fatal accident occurred. The UK (230V/50Hz) and Thailand (220V/50Hz) use similar voltage standards.Nintendo did not issue any further comments, claiming that details of the incident were still unclear. Police have declared the tragedy an accident. "No blame has been attached," said Lt. Colonel Sopol Borirok.
Wii storms the UK
Here's the news you're going to read everywhere this week: in the first 12 hours of Wiiday in the UK, Nintendo sold more than one console every second. Those are some really fast cashiers!But as with everything, there's a downside. Preorders languish unfilled in the UK, and we still haven't seen firm numbers on how many units were shipped to that area, much less the rest of Europe, so we're unable to yet fully measure Nintendo's European coup. David Yarnton, Ninty's man on the ground in England, says that they are working hard to meet demand ... but if the shortages elsewhere are any indication, a lot of Brits will be waiting weeks Wii-free. We're guessing there's a lot of available overtime at a few factories these days ....
Europe Virtual Console suffers emulation woes
Virtual Console games for PAL territory Wiis suffer the same 50Hz technical problems as their original releases, according to Pro-G's James Orry. In testing Sonic the Hedgehog, for example, Orry notes that the game "runs noticeably slower than the NTSC version and features sizeable borders at the top and bottom of the screen."NTSC signals display in 720x480, while PAL signals use 720x576i -- hence the horizontal bars, which are somewhat understandable. However, displaying 50Hz signals on 60Hz sets cause a noticeable slowdown that, according to Orry, "has plagued [PAL] gamers for years. Now PAL gamers are used to proper PAL conversions and 60Hz gameplay options, and being forced to return to the 50Hz dark ages isn't something Wii owners expected."Not all games suffer the same fate. In an e-mail to Joystiq, Orry notes that he has not tried other titles yet. CVG found similar problems with F-Zero, while Mario 64 and Donkey Kong Country (SNES) ran smoothly with no problems. For now, it's a grab bag.We know Nintendo promised "faithful recreations" of its old games, and we know that some European gamers won't mind the slower-than-NTSC pace, but to others it's considered lazy on Nintendo's part to bring a game with obvious technical maladies. The Wii comes out in Europe this Friday, December 8.
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DS rocking in the UK [update 1]
Well, according to Nintendo, at least. Nintendo's UK boss, David Yarnton, claims that the heat of the handheld battle with "another company" (he never mentions Sony by name) has helped drive the DS to a 75% market share. He says that by the end of the year, Nintendo will have sold 2.7 million DS units in the U.K., and that week by week, those numbers come out to 75% worth of dominance in that market. Just imagine how it would be if the games weren't continually delayed![Update 1: Completely ridiculous typo fix in the last line. "How" is not spelled "would."]
(Mostly) complete list of Wii tour stops in Europe
We know this is going to come as a big surprise to our friends in Europe, but you guys are getting something a little later than the United States. Try to pick your jaws up off the floor, guys. We know it's a shock. But hey, at least it isn't months later, right? And you guys get to miss out on the pain of Hawthorne Heights. That's right, you get an emo-free Wii Tour! We only have dates for Western Europe -- Scotland, Ireland, England -- but if anyone knows about the Wii sweeping through the rest of the region, let us know. Full list of available dates after the jump.
