MrKniceGuy.com

Category: PS3

  • E3: Sony Advertises Televisions

    Using approximately one billion Sony TVs for their E3 keynote speech, Sony reminded everyone how they really make their money and why they paid out billions to win the Hi-Def war. But in gaming news…

    Several PS3 games will now be upped to “classic” status, with the price lowered to $29.99: Resistance, Fall of Man; Motorstorm; Warhawk; Call of Duty 3; Assassin’s Creed; Oblivion; and others. In addition, they plan to release the new Ratchet and Clank add-on at a $15 price point, calling it a “new concept – it’s a shorter game at a lower price.” (Hmmm… surprisingly this concept doesn’t sound quite so “new” to this 360 DLC user).

    Sony continued to push their PS2, releasing a new bundle with Lego Batman and Justice League: New Frontiers for $149. Over 130 titles are being released on PS2 in 2008. In response to the limited number of PS3 releases, Jack Tretton of Sony takes out of a can of whoop ass and says, “We’re not interested in filling up our stores with titles no one wants to play just so we can say we have the most” (translation: I cried myself to sleep after I learned we lost the Final Fantasy exclusive. But I’ll act like I don’t care).

    Sony also has a new TV & movie download service that launches tonight with entertainment partners such as – surprise! – Sony Pictures, Warner Bros, Fox, Disney & Lionsgate. Rental prices start at $1.99, with movie purchases at $15. Media can be shared across a PS3 and PSP, so you can download a movie and watch it on your PSP.

    A new PSP bundle will be available starting in October, with a silver PSP, Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters, 1GB memory stick, National Treasure 2, and an Echochrome voucher for $199 (I may need to get this for mrkniceguy for Christmas).

    The word on Playstation Home is… be patient. Sony assures the public that the wait will be worth it. Again. And then showed off more pictures of how cool it will be. Maybe at next year’s E3, they’ll have an actual launch date.

    Sony did pull out a new SKU – an 80GB unit to replace the 40GB for $399 starting in September. Considering a 60 GB 360 will be available in August for $349, it’s a competitive pricing move for Sony. With some pretty-looking titles like God of War 3 and Infamous coming out in 2009, it looks like Sony might be better situated come this time next year.

    The big announcement for the day came in the form of an in-development title called MAG-Massive Action Game, which includes the possibility of 256-player online battles (in teams of 8). The game is currently in development – no release date set.

    So, my 360 fangirl-ism aside, who do you think made out the best this round? Both Microsoft and Sony announced streaming and downloadable entertainment content. Microsoft is partnering with Netflix and its huge database of movies, but you have to have a Netflix subscription to watch. Sony is partnering with some of the studios, but you have to pay per rental or purchase. However, Sony will let you transfer the media to a portable device. They both sound like pretty interesting deals.

    Me? I don’t buy a gaming console to watch movies. 😉

  • And the winner is…

    cod4.png

    Stats are in for the top game on Xbox Live. And no, it’s Halo 3 (it hasn’t been for a while now). There has been a battle for the last few weeks between the 1, 2 and 3 spots between Grand Theft Auto IV, Call of Duty 4 and Halo 3. Halo was champion for weeks until Call of Duty was released and gave it a run for it’s money. Now GTA IV has entered the playing field and held it for 4 straight weeks. But it was too good to last as COD 4 takes the top spot and Halo 3 slides into the #2 spot.  Just goes to show the strength that COD 4 brings to the table. Strong gameplay, great ranking system and killer maps make this a must play. And as if you needed more incentive…

    IAMfourzerotwo announces the Double XP weekend! That’s right, from Friday to Monday, play Charlie Oscar Delta 4 for double experience! Double XP for both Xbox 360 and PS3. Ah, you guys are too awesome. We *heart* you.

    Double XP on all Playlists (via Joystiq)

  • Mass Media and Video game “reports”

    There was a time, long ago, that reporters for news networks and newspapers went out into the field and researched the news they were bringing to the people. Whether it was news from front lines of war, or news from a natural disaster, or some amazing thing that happened to a family in peril. The reporter went and talked to the people who knew. The Solder at the battlefront, the eye witness of the crime, the father of the family. But lately it seems those days are gone. Now hearsay and “I heard” seems to be the research for so called “reporting.” Is it so hard to get the news from the source anymore? Or do these reporters even care? For some it’s just a matter of viewers. How many eyes can I get…

    That, I believe, is the case for Mr. Glenn Beck. Jumping on the “video game” bandwagon with apparently no expertise in the area he has called on some “sources” for comment on the GTA:IV controversy. Let’s take a look:

    Yes, I know what you are thinking. These two “sources” know about as much about video games, especially the game mentioned, as I do about breeding penguins. But that doesn’t stop Mr. Beck. He is not interested in what knowledgeable sources have to say, he is interested in being on the “bandwagon.”

    Mark Methenitis is one of my favorite blog writers as he has experience in both playing video games and legal matters. Why Beck hasn’t had Mark on his show should be no surprise; Mark will not bow to the “popular” view but prefers to think for himself, analyzing the facts and responding most eloquently I might add. Please take the time to read his response here.

    I was going to respond to the above video but Mark does such a great job, his post stands on its own.

    Today a new interview surfaced between Dr. Cheryl Olson, who is the co-author of a book called Grand Theft Childhood, a book with actual research done in the world of video games and violence. Watch his face as he realizes she is not going to bend over and agree with every little thing he says.

    But wait, did you hear that?

    “I will tell you that all these video gamers: they’re bloggers, as well as video gamers – they’re writing all kinds of stuff about me [that] I’m the enemy now of video gamers. I could care less about video games. Video game bloggers? They’re losers”

    Not that I care at all what Mr Beck thinks of me or “video game bloggers” in general, is this the kind of rude, blanket statement we can expect from CNN reporters now? I don’t have cable television, but I do know people who (as of now) watch his show. Now I know what I have not been missing.

    On the topic of GTA. I have said it before and I will say it again. This game is made for mature adults. Just as I would not let my child watch The Godfather or Platoon I would not let my children play or watch this game. That is why I was asked for ID when I purchased it, despite looking way over 17 years of age. The issue at hand has to do with parenting, not video games, music, books, movies or television. It has to do with parents being involved in their children’s lives. Ask you child about the games that they play. Watch them play them if you have trouble with the controls. You cannot pass the responsiblity to monitor your child’s media habits to the 18 year old clerk at GameStop or Blockbuster. You have to take action to raise your child.

    MKG out.