[Source: techradar]

[Source: Gizmodo]

The sales figures keep rolling in and they are looking more and more unfavorable for the PS3. Analysts often cite three problems preventing the PS3 from achieving successful sales figures; its price, users’ apathetic attitudes towards the blu-ray, and the lack of a good video game library. While I personally disagree with the last 2, I can definitely agree with the first point made. The PS3 sits at $400 dollars which is significantly more expensive than the Xbox 360 or the Nintendo Wii which can often be found at half that price. Xbox and Wii are both overtaking the PS3 by margins that get bigger with every month. Sony cannot afford to lose so many potential users by having its price so high and will definitely need to adjust to fit the market if they want to stay afloat.

As if Blu-ray disks aren’t big enough, Pioneer is showcasing their new ultra high capacity Blu-ray disks that are capable of holding a whopping 400 GB of data (half of your entire porn collection)! The standard Blu-ray disk today holds about 25 GB of data. This new technology is the same concept as dual layer DVD’s except that it will split the Blu-ray into 16 different layers each holding 25 GB. 400 GB isn’t even the limit as Pioneer is anticipating capacities of 1 TB in the years to come as they utilize both sides of the Blu-ray disk. The PS3 is reportedly already able to read these disks so future games can include entire mini-series for cut scenes!

[Source: PCworld]

The PSP to date has sold about 40 million units. The PS3 on the other hand, at 17 million units, lags behind its other console competitors such as the Xbox 360 and the Wii. Sony has been trying to boost its sales through a variety of factors (that don’t include a price drop). In my opinion, Sony needs to hurry up and implement the feature that will allow PSP users to play games on their PS3 on the go if they want to boost their sales. After all, it has the potential to turn a big chunk of their PSP base into PS3 owners as well. Sony can learn a thing or two from Apple with regards to hardware interconnectivity.

It has long been rumored that Sony is poised to attack Nintendo’s motion sensing controller market. After all, the PS3′s controller does have the six-axis which has had limited success. Leaked images of a new patent currently being filed reveal a break apart controller that will have capabilities far superior to the Wii remote. The motion sensing will utilize the Playstation eye as well as ultrasonic waves to map out motions in 3D space. Simulating the shaking of a rain stick (see above) is but one of the many possibilities that the new controller will provide. My 2 cents? If Sony does decide to implement this, they should do it now or at least soon…

This year’s christmas season promises a host of highly anticipated games. But has anyone else also noticed that the most anticipated games these days tend to be FPS/Sequels or BOTH? Was anybody else as excited when Assassin’s Creed came out because for once we had a big budget game that didn’t fall into the realm of the FPS? It beckons the question of whether or not original IP’s are dead in gaming.

The fact of the matter is that these days, with production prices rivaling that of Hollywood movies, video game developers simply don’t have the room to take risks with originality anymore. That’s why over half the games in development these days is some form of First Person Shooter. That’s why Trilogies are announced before the first game is even out. And that’s why in many ways, games have begun to stalemate a little as of late. Don’t get me wrong I enjoy Gears of War and Resistance: Fall of Man just as much as the next guy but at the same time I can’t help but wonder if the future of gaming lies in the FPS. Are we doomed to look forward to an endless stream of hammy characters and AK-47′s for the rest of our lives?

There is hope however, because Assassin’s Creed managed to sell so well, it gives hope that perhaps I’m not alone in this desire to see some truly original games. Original not only in story and character but original in gameplay as well. Here’s to hoping that perhaps there are still revolutionaries and inventors left in the industry and that the Video Game industry won’t end up completely like Hollywood.

If you’ve been around gaming long enough, its hard to be excited about a title like Quantum of Solace. For a variety of reasons, games based on movies simply tend to be horrific. They tend to be shameless profiteering attempts by big Hollywood studios with little experience in videogame development. Usually when a game tries to sell units based mostly off the fame of a non-game related subject (such as the fame of the James Bond series) If there are any parents watching, do not buy your kids this game unless you want them to end up doing drugs and joining a gang out of spite.

HITS
Viva Pi?: Trouble In Paradise
Brothers In Arms: Hell’s Highway
LittleBigPlanet
Fracture
Fallout 3
Fable 2
Dead Space
Guitar Hero: World Tour
Mortal Kombat vs DC
Resistance 2
Gears Of War 2
Warhammer Online
Left 4 Dead

FAILS
Spore
Too Human
S.T.A.L.K.E.R: Clear Sky
Mercenaries 2
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed
Crysis Warhead
Silent Hill
Saints Row 2
Bioshock (PS3)
Rock Band (Aus release)
Mirrors Edge
Red Faction: Guerrilla

Simply put for example, even a decent shooter like Red Faction: Guerrilla won’t be able to compete against a heavy hitter like Gears of War 2. 2008 certainly has its share of hits.

[source:PS3News]

The first rumor to report on is that the successful Max Payne series will be getting a new developer. The original Finnish developer, Remedy Entertainment, has their hands full with the development of the new psychological action thriller Alan Wake. According to EGM magazine, in their place comes the team that developed The Warrior for Rockstar Games. This team has been given the go ahead to develop Max Payne 3.

In other news, the development team behind Grand Theft Auto 4, will be developing a new game that will be exclusive for the Sony Playstation 3. A title and premise has yet to be announced.

Release dates for the new Max Payne game and the untitled game has yet to be announced. Stay tuned as more information comes our way.

- Geoff

[Source: Wired]