Yes, I like the revolutions controller

The controls look pretty nice, but I thought they were just odd at first. Something new and original I guess.

I've an Xbox360 PAL / NTSC compatibility question I wonder if anybody can help me with.

Right, so I just found out there's a very nice looking game that is actually making me want to buy an Xbox360 (never would have thought i'd see the day). The only problem is, this is a Japanese game which won't be released outside of Japan, and if I buy an Xbox360, it obviously won't be a Japanese Xbox360, and I assume the game and console won't be compatible. So.

What would one have to do in order to play this NTSC game on a PAL console? How does it all work with the Xbox360? Some kind of swap disc or modification? Is it even possible yet?

I'm pretty clueless when it comes to next gen consoles.

Yeah. Supposedly it is already possible to mod an Xbox 360. That or you'd have to buy a compatible console to play the game.

I found this interesting article over at Gamespot. Where analysts analize production costs of the PS3, and Xbox 360. Kind of interesting. Here. Most analysts seem to ESTIMATE the PS3's "PRODUCTION COST" at between $700-$800/$900. As compared to ESTIMATED Xbox 360's "PRODUCTION COSTS" at/between $500-$600.

The crazy thing about the article (damn you beat me to it) is that it states that the PS3 might be released in the Spring, barring any delay to specifications..

Furthermore, they say they haven't announced regions for the release, which means that the PS3 could be here by spring!!!

But there are major major catches, so don't get you're hopes up to fast...

You know its always the same when they release systems they release the hand helds early in the year or late in the year before and home systems late in the year.

True, but they also mention that theres even talk going around that the PS3 could even be delay another year until 2007.

There is yet ANOTHER article over at Gamespot which can be found here: Sony admits a PS3 delay is possible. Rumors have been going around the internet for the past month or so about a possible delay with the PS3. Apperintly the article states that members of Sony aknowlage that a PS3 delay is possible. The reason stemming from a possible shortage of the Blue-Ray disk drives due to quality control.

Well I guess im gonna do some updating for everyone since i read all these articles. Today we shall take a look at:

Nintendo Revolution Controller Development Kits

http://revolution.ign.com/articles/694/694785p1.html

This where you can get a little more info on Nintendo's new controller. As soon as i find something new i will update.

PS3 delayed until November...in Japan.

Down with Sony.

Cool, thanks for the link. Guess I get to keep saving up, lol. I kind of like this, actually. Still many ps2 games I'm looking forward to. Also, Revo is still looking very sexy to me. If Nin pulls out a realease at the right time, they could get some great revenue/sales.

Great news for PAL!

We get PS3 in Nov with everybody else instead of waiting until March 2007.

Sony's Business Briefing gave to new information for their upcoming system PS3. Here's a couple of links to the big news.

Sony Online Live

http://ps3.ign.com/articles/696/696075p1.html

Worldwide Release

http://ps3.ign.com/articles/696/696075p1.html

PS3 Development Kits

http://ps3.ign.com/articles/696/696075p1.html

More info to come from next weeks's GDC.

I just read the article over at Gamespot. The delay isn't that bad. A delay yeah, but there is still a world wide launch in Nov. for the PS3. And just like the Xbox 360 it will ship in all territories before Thanksgiving. Interesting now that Sony will also support the hard drive, and that they are telling game developers that it is mandatory that games support it (despite the possability the system may not ship with it). The hard drive will be a 60gb 2.5" Linux hard drive. It's also interesting the online network Sony is going to introduce the PNP (Playstation Network Platform). It's going to be like Xbox Live, but free. Also it sounds like Sony might have learned a lesson from the PS2. They plan on shiipping 1 million systems per month after the system launches, and getting 6 million units into the marke by march 2007.

I think I'll call my EBGames this week and see if they have started taking pre-orders for the system yet. I want to get my deposit down early.

Umm...what's with this "we're not sure if we'll include the HDD, but it will be required to play all games" junk?

Should that even be in question, considering the necessity of it? I see this as a mess already, and they want all regions to have games ready this year, while the final SDKs haven't even been shipped yet?

It's just not adding up.

Well it looks like it shaping up to be the same as the 360 launch. The final development kits went out about the same time, last year, and we had a Nov release before thanksgiving. Just Sony is claiming they can ship 1million systems a month after the launch. Which is more than what the 360 managed. So hopefully we won't run into the same mess as the 360, and PS2.

Expect the games to be about the same. The PS2 is more complicated to develop for than the 360, so expect some "slightly better than current gen-looking" games, with 1 or 2 that stand out.

The whole HDD thing just sounds like a mess right now. As for 100% backwards compatibility for PS and PS2 games, I'll believe it when I see it. Final Fantasy 11 will be a shocker if it's PS3 compatible.

The HDD does sound hella funky, though, nice to see linux up there, lol. They say that the "basic" online package is free yet fail to give specifics. I'm more interested in what is offered than the price - or lack there of. I'm not a fan of commerce on a console, either. Isn't 360 trying to do shit like that? How is that working - and i'm not being caustic, I am interested in whether it's working out or just a gimmick.

The dev kits aren't that big of an issue. Pre-kits have been out for a while, though, i forget the pre-spec to "actual-spec" ratio. Also, I think it's kind of funny they are only going to allow blue ray's for the development. Is piracy really that big of a deal? Seriously, maybe I'm just nieve to the situation of console piracy, but blue ray only sounds kind of anal.

Actually, piracy IS a huge issue.

Going with the new format for games is a smart idea, although, since Blu-Ray recorders will eventually be out, I hope Sony is implementing something else to combat piracy, aside from the "well, they can't burn these games yet" idea.

Well I think I read in one of these articles today (possibly Gamespot's) that even with the basic free version of the Playstation Network Platform you'll have access to play games online. It basicasllly sounds like a hub for the developers. Where they can link their servers into. Rather than one giant system of servers like Microsoft does with Xbox Live.

I'm really unsure of how the 360's Silver (free) subscription actually works even though I have a 360. I had an Xbox Live account with the original Xbox, and when I rolled my account over it transfered to a Gold account with all the benefits. But Microsft plans to be offering free Gold weekends for Silver Subscribers to try out the Gold Service. I think the first weekend is coming up at the end of the month March 31-April 2. It's being sponsored by Virizon. They're having tournements and stuff, where you can win prizes. Like in a Project Gotham racing 3 torunement from 6pm.-9p.m. March 31 where you can win PGR3 faceplates. Which so far has only been given out to the developers, and people of the media who attended a release party in the Netherlands.

XB Live Silver gives you access to XB Live Arcade, allows you to download demos, and get game updates/downloadable content. The Gold membership allows online multiplayer, as well as entry into said tournaments.

I guess this is part of the this topic since it involves a new system.

Legend of Zelda to use Revolution controller.

http://revolution.ign.com/articles/696/696091p1.html

I fgured this would be an interesting break from the next gen consoles. According to a Gamespot article, Microsoft is indead working on a handheld portable called the XPlayer. Apperntly we won't see the system until 2007 though, becuase Microsft wants it to be compatible with it music download service that is still in the works. Currently code named "Alexandria". Apperently the system has been in development since 2002, but was shelved to give developers, and engeneers more time to work on the 360. It will be similar to the PSP, but their claiming it will be an IPod killer as well. The article goes on to state various reason as to why this sounds more than just a rumor. Since J. Allard hasn't been seen much since the 360 launch, etc.

Hey shingoEX here is an article just for you: PS3 to come with 60gb HD. The article states that a PR rep for Sony Europe has confirmed that the PS3 will indead come standard with a 60gb HD. Though he stated that larger drives will be available as premium add-ons.