Sony Computer Entertainment will launch new version of playstation 2 in India in Diwali

Sony Computer Entertainment is going to launch a fourth version of its popular game console, Play Sation-2 (PS2). The device will be launched in Diwali this year. Along with India, PS-2 version 4 will be released in Europe. This new version of Sony PS-2 is a high end product with a more slim and sleek built. This time, there will be no external AC adapters. The new product will cost Rs. 6,990. For Play Station-3 users in India, Sony Computer Entertainment is going to launch playstation network. Already available in Europe and the USA, PS3 network will allow the gamers to download new games and updates of various games from the internet. The players will also be able to buy new games through internet. Sony Computer Entertainment’s country manager, Atindriya Bose, said that the playstation network is ready for India. Only the integration of the payment system has to be made.

Like the car market, India is also an emerging market for gaming consoles. Console gaming is still at its early stage and Sony has plans to further expand its market. Currently, Sony has 3,40,000 bases in India.

Related articles:
Economic Times

Japan Game Industry in 2008: Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G dominates the market

Sony and Nintendo mainly dominated the Japanese game market for the first half of 2008. Japan’s famous game magazine, ‘Famitsu,’ conducted a bi-yearly survey. So far, the biggest success was enjoyed by Capcom’s Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G. The game was sold over 2 million copies in Japan. The game is a prime example of what one great game can do. Players could also download new quests from the website. According to game journalist, Kiyoshi Shin, the Pokémon generation has shifted over to 2nd G and one could see this as a shift in the Nintedo DS’s audience.

Nintendo DS and Nintendo Wii enjoyed a great time as well. So far, Nintendo DS sold over 100,000 copies. Till now, Nintendo sold 20 million DSes in Japan. Nintendo Wii was very successful with its three games: Wii Fit, Super Smash Bros. Brawl, and Mario Kart Wii. Sales of all these games touched million mark.

Related article:
1up.com

Clank, Hot Shot, R-Type Command: PSP's most popular three

Launched in 2005, Playstation Portables have changed a lot within these three years. Now, with a PSP, you not only play games but call your friends through the Skype service, watch movies, listen to music and connect to the television and play games. Yes, PSPs are serious machines now. However, it is still gaming that draws PSP users. The three most popular games of PSP are:

Secret Agent Clank: It is the sequel of Sony’s popular game “Ratchet & Clank.” Ratchet is a Lombax (an alien creature) and Clank is the robot. Ratchet is very good with machines and gadgets and carries a large wrench. In this new version, Clank goes out to save Ratchet, as he is imprisoned.

Hot Shots Golf (Open Tee 2): Personally, I am not a golf lover. Cricket has already made my life miserable. However, if you are a Golf lover then you should try Hot Shots Golf. The game is developed Clap Hanz. The first version for PSP was launched in 2005 in the USA and became one of the most popular PSP games.

R-Type Command: This is one of the most popular outer-space shooting games. The new version is much more tactical.

Related article:
Kansas City.com

Sony takes Firmware 2.40 offline within one hour of release

Within one hour after uploading on the internet, Sony stopped its latest PS3 update, firmware 2.40, as it started to receive complains from users. Firmware 2.40 was released on 2nd July 2008. Sony said that a small number of people submitted complaints about the update. They were facing problems while installing the firmware. Still, Sony has temporarily stopped the download and trying to identify the problem. Information week reports:

"I downloaded version 2.40, put in Metal Gear Solid 4 [video game] and I get a black screen forever," one customer wrote. "I can't even get demos to start."

A Sony spokesman confirmed that the company pulled the firmware off its servers while it investigates the problem, which he said was experienced by a "limited number of consumers."

After releasing the update, Sony started to receive complaints about it on its official PS3 message board.

There is no news of the owners whose PS3 consoles stopped working after downloading the update. Whether they will be able to fix it for themselves or have to send it to Sony. Sony said that in order to further assess they had temporarily taken the firmware offline for further testing. The firmware 2.40 was created to add Trophies and “in-game access.”

Related articles:
Information week

Vnunet.com

Activision, Konami and MTV Games fight to take over the music games market

Action, adventure, puzzle, and now, a new kind of game is on the horizon; the music game. Already, the competition has been heated up by Activision, and MTV Games. Activision’s Guitar Hero: World Tour, and MTV Games’ Rock Band are two of the most popular games. Now, Konami is going to release Rock Revolution.

This week, MTV Games is releasing a new version of Rock Band for Nintendo Wii. Activision will release another version of Guitar Hero for Nintendo DS. None of the companies are pulling any punches when it comes to promote their games through various television shows and advertisements. For example, Guitar Hero was showcased on ‘American Idol’. Rock Band will be showcased on MTV. After the release of Rock Revolution this fall, the competition will become more intense.

However, there is a big problem, all these games support different consoles and requires different plug ins which could cost the gamers pretty penny.

Related article:
MTV

Xbox 360: Microsoft cuts price of its Xbox consoles to catch up with Nintendo and Sony

Microsoft has announced price cuts over its Xbox products. Now, the Microsoft Xbox360 will cost $349. This makes Xbox 360 the cheapest next generation console. The current price of Nintendo Wii is $50 more than Xbox360. However, prices of Xbox 360 Pro and Xbox 360 Elite are still higher then Wii. After price cuts, the current price of Xbox 360 stands at $499 and Xbox 360 Elite at $649.

Microsoft’s price cut comes in the face Xbox 360’s lower sales volume compared to Nintendo Wii and Sony’s Playstation 3. The new pricing policy will be applied to the 16 retailers listen on Microsoft’s website.Rumor is that Microsoft is going to update Xbox 360 later this year.

Related article:
News.com.au

Mortal Kombat Unchained on PSP

Now, you will enjoy the latest version of Mortal Kombat on PSP. Mortal Kombat Unchained has all the major characters of the game with its high voltage fights and violence. You will get some serious finishing moves, new dodging techniques and combos. The fighting style is also new with newly developed battle arenas and backgrounds.

All the popular characters of Mortal Kombat: Sub-Zero, Shinnok, Goro, Baraka, Scorpion, Raiden, Noob Saibot, Mileena can be found in Mortal Kombat Unchained. Though this new version is based on former version Mortal Kombat Deceptions, there are few new additions such as weapons and game modes. You can chose more deadly weapons. There are chess Kombat mode, puzzle mode and a story mode as well where you will be fighting against the evil. Last but not the least, Mortal Kombat Unchained comes with great sound effects and physical appearances.

Related articles:
psp-downloads.biz