Xbox 360 To Emerge as Next-Gen Victor: Merrill Lynch
November 15, 2006
According to an International Business Times report citing Yoshiyuki Kinoshita, a research analyst for Merrill Lynch, the Tokyo-based division for the financial giant has predicted, “The winner in the next-generation console battle is likely to be the Xbox 360, which is the leader in North America, the world’s biggest market.”
In addition, Kinoshita’s research note revealed: “We forecast respective market shares [in March 2011] of Xbox 360 [at] 39 percent, PS3 [at] 34 percent and Wii [at] 27 percent, thus overturning Sony’s domination of the market with its PS2-based share of 69 percent, and doubling Microsoft and Nintendo’s respective market shares.”
Kinoshita clearly believes that no one company will dominate all territories, suggesting that Sony will still have 57% of the console market share in Japan by that date, with Nintendo’s Wii at 39% and an unspecified small percentage for the Xbox 360. It is Kinoshita’s prediction for the North America market is most startling - and debatable; he suggests that Microsoft will have 50% market share by 2011, while the PlayStation 3 has just 27%, and the Nintendo Wii 23%.
For its Japanese Wii launch, Nintendo will ship almost 400,000 units of its Wii console (compared to 100,000 for Sony’s PlayStation 3). There’s no word yet on how many Wii consoles Nintendo will make available in the U.S. for its November 19 debut.
PS3 Launch List and A Special Deal From Best Buy
November 14, 2006
Best Buy will be offering a special deal on Xbox 360 systems to people who do cannot get their hands on a PS3 unit. The sale package will reportedly include an Xbox 360 Premium System, two video game titles, and a third title for free. Not bad. The offer starts on launch day, Nov. 17 and ends Nov. 19. With only 400,000 PS3 units being shipped throughout North America for the PS3 launch, many PS3-hungry gamers could very well be leaving their local Best Buy with an Xbox 360!
For those of you who do manage to secure a PS3, here is the final launch list that will be available to (not so many) North Americans on Nov. 17:
Launch Titles (in alphabetical order):
- Call of Duty 3
- Genji 2: Days of the Blade
- Madden NFL 2007
- Marvel Ultimate Alliance (pictured)
- Mobile Suit Gundam: Crossfire
- NBA ‘07
- NBA 2k7
- NHL 2k7
- Resistance: Fall of Man
- Ridge Racer 7
- Tiger Woods PGA Tour 07
- Tony Hawk’s Project 8
- Untold Legends: Dark Kingdom
The following titles will also be available by the end of the year:
- Blazing Angels: Squadrons of WW II (Dec.)
- Full Auto 2: Battlelines (Dec.)
- Sonic the Hedgehog (Holiday 2006)
- Need for Speed: Carbon (Nov. 20)
- Fight Night Round 3 (Dec. 12)
- Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Vegas (Dec. 19)
PS3 is a Hit in Japan but May Be Delayed in Europe
November 13, 2006
Sony sold 88,400 units of its PlayStation 3 game console in the first two days after the launch in Japan, leaving most stores without any stock. Sony started selling the latest version of its blockbuster game console in Japan on Saturday, and all indications point to a strong start. Sony plans to have the PS3 on shelves in North America on Nov. 17, followed by a European launch in March.
According to Enterbrain, Sony sold 88,400 units combined on Saturday and Sunday, depleting stocks at most electronics retailers that were able to get their hands on a limited supply of the console. Sony was able to ship only 
100,000 units for the launch after a glitch in blue laser diode production disrupted its output plans.
An official at Enterbrain said the sales figure could be interpreted as a promising start for the PS3, with thousands of game fans lining up for hours at electronics stores in Tokyo over the weekend to be among the first to play PS3 games. Ridge Racer 7 and Mobile Suit Gundam: Target in Sight, both from Namco Bandai Holdings, were the top two selling games at about 30,000 units each. Of the total sold so far in Japan, Enterbrain said 54,600, or about 62%, were of the more advanced (60GB) model.
In related PS3 news, Sony Worldwide Studios boss Phil Harrison, responded to the question of whether the PS3 will definitely be out in March in Europe: “Given that all of our previous statements about launching in Europe simultaneously with the US and Japan turned out not to be the case, I would not like to make any definitive statements on that. It’s not my job to comment on hardware supply issues other than to say some very smart people are working very hard to catch up. In fact, the ramp up is already starting to happen in supply and output, just obviously too late for us to have launched in Europe at the same times as the US.”
Prior to 2006, the plan was that PS3 would not launch until spring, 2007 - following the same pattern as the PlayStation 2. The announcement and then cancellation of a worldwide launch has caused a good deal of confusion amongst European consumers and retailers.
Contra Comes to Xbox Live Arcade
November 8, 2006
Hell yeah!!!! Overlooked amidst the Gears of War/Resistance/Call of Duty 3 hullaballoo, the original Nintendo version of Contra has come to Xbox Live Arcade. The classic video game is going to run natively at 720p, for starters, and will offer co-op over Xbox Live. You’ll also get new visual effects, sound effects, voice communication, a Live scoreboard, and achievements. No prices have been listed yet, but the good news is that “The Code” (Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right…) will still work; you won’t, however, be blowing on any cartridges this time out.
For those of you who are not familiar with the phenomenon that is Contra, let me bring you up to speed. The Red Falcon organization is plotting to conquer the Earth, and it is up to two commandos, Lance and Bill, to infiltrate their evil base. Lance and Bill are all that stand in the way of Red Falcon and their plans for global domination! Travel through eight stages in the jungle armed with a machine gun and the ability to capture upgraded weapons including a Fireball, Laser, Rapid Fire gun, and a Spread Gun.
New Buena Vista Games Studio Exclusive to Nintendo
November 7, 2006
Buena Vista Games representatives have announced the formation of a new video game development studio based in Salt Lake City, Fall Line Studio, which would create video games exclusively for Nintendo platforms. Fall Line Studio’s stated focus is to develop games based on Disney’s characters, television shows, and entertainment franchises, as well as creating new intellectual properties for the Nintendo DS and Wii formats.
The studio will operate as a sister studio to Buena Vista Games’ Salt Lake City-based Avalanche Software studio and will focus on small-team, creative projects and. The formation of Fall Line Studio is the latest in a long line of expansions by Buena Vista Games, which has acquired British developer Climax Racing, purchased the Turok comic book license, and partnered with Tetsuya Mizuguchi’s Q Entertainment and Jupiter Corporation.
The set-up of Fall Line Studio represents one of the most significant investments in Nintendo formats by either Buena Vista or Disney. How the formation of the new studio will affect the licensing of Disney properties to other companies is still unclear, with the company presumably intending to continue to develop multi-format titles externally.
“This studio will be one of our centers of creative excellence and it gives us the ability to fully capitalize on our properties and expand our market share on Nintendo platforms,” said Graham Hopper, senior vice president and general manager of Buena Vista Games. “Scott Novis brings the perfect mix of team building and relevant business experience to the position of studio head for Fall Line Studio.”
Nintendo Chooses Retailers for Wii Launch
November 6, 2006
Last week, Nintendo announced GameStop and Toys “R” Us as the U.S. retailers to host the launch of its Wii video game console, which goes on sale Nov. 19. Toys “R” Us’ flagship Times Square store in New York and GameStop’s Universal CityWalk store in Los Angeles will host the official launch event. The “official” Nintendo midnight launch events at Toys “R” Us and GameStop will feature live music and entertainment, and a countdown to the moment that the Wii officially goes on sale.
GameStop and Toys “R” Us, which have been taking Wii pre-orders, said they had quickly run through the supply of consoles that they allotted for the early orders. Other consumer electronics retailers (Best Buy, Circuit City) may also start selling Wii on November 19, Toys “R” Us and GameStop may have access to better Wii supplies through their partnership with Nintendo.
GameStop, according to a company spokesman, was not releasing any Wii allocation or reservations figures, and a spokeswoman for Toys “R” Us said the retailer “will be in a great stock position” for the midnight launch. Toys “R” Us installed a former Best Buy executive as president of its U.S. business and has said it is looking to expand relationships with electronics manufacturers as it tries to boost sales.
Even if GameStop and Toys “R” Us do not snag a better-than-average supply, aligning themselves with Nintendo and the launch publicity could help boost traffic in their stores, as customers come to them seeking the new system.
The Wii launch will take place two days after Sony’s PlayStation 3 hits U.S. stores, and both consoles are expected to be in short supply as demand outstrips the companies’ ability to turn out the new devices.
As previously reported, Nintendo’s Wii comes with a motion-sensing controller that lets players simulate swinging a tennis racquet, hitting a golf ball, or wielding a sword. Its $249.99 price tag is a fraction of the cost of the PS3, which is priced at $499.99 or $599.99 depending on features.
EA Link
November 3, 2006
Electronic Arts has overhauled its download service for computer games and plans to officially announce the new portal, EA Link, today. EA Link, which was up and running on Wednesday, replaces EA Downloader, the company’s admittedly clunky year-old effort at offering downloadable content for its PC games.
EA Link enables users to download materials faster, search for products in a more organized 
fashion, launch purchased games directly, and have their payment information, including a new online payment option through PayPal, linked to their accounts.
The site currently has 16 PC game titles available for download. EA said that any upcoming PC games will be made available on disk at retail stores, as well as in a digital version at EA Link, at the same price and on the same day. Extra content (game demos, trailers, wallpaper, and software patches) will also be featured.
Digital distribution “is an increasing priority for us at EA and it’s a further step in EA’s commitment to have a one-on-one relationship with our customers,” said Chip Lange, vice president of EA’s online division. “The business has gone beyond a static model of ‘I’ve bought the game and I’m done.’ This keeps the games dynamic.”
More and more, video games are offering so-called “episodic” content, where users can tack on extra playing levels or chapters. Accessories used within games, such as weapons or other gear for game characters, are also commonly sold online. Traditional, packaged PC games in the U.S. retail market are declining with sales falling to $953 million in 2005 from $1.5 billion in 2001, according to the NPD Group. U.S. sales of PC game downloads, meanwhile, are expected to almost double this year to about $500 million and grow to $763 million in 2007, market researcher IDC predicted.
Sony Developing 40 Downloadable PS3 Games
November 2, 2006
Sony’s Phil Harrison has revealed that around 40 titles are currently in development for the PlayStation Store, the Xbox Live-like service that will deliver fully digitally distributed games to PS3 owners.
Worldwide Studios head Harrison said in an interview that Sony was overseeing development on “about 40 products” that fit its strategy to “create games specifically for us that we would fund, that we would publish, in the online sense of the word, and distribute online.”
Titles revealed thus far have included a console version of flOw, as well as God of War creator David Jaffe’s recently renamed vehicular combat title Calling All Cars (formerly known as Criminal Crackdown).
“My strategy,” said Harrison, “was to encourage developers to push the machine technically, creatively, artistically - to innovate in lots of different ways. But don’t be restricted by ghettoising games into a particular genre, or a particular display mechanic, because what we’ve seen on other systems tend to be retro 2D games and we’re pushing the 3D capabilities of the PlayStation 3.”
Clearly referring to the recent influx of arcade classics on Xbox Live, Harrison continued on the differences of PS3’s e-distribution strategy: “The fact that every PS3 has a hard disc drive means that we’re not restricted by the size of the download, and that has a huge impact on the kind of game design that you can do.”
In addition to the 40 titles in development for the service, Harrison has previously stated that over 100 titles are currently being developed for retail release on the PlayStation 3, and that “over 10,000 development kits have been shipped.”
Wii & Virtual Launch Titles Confirmed
November 1, 2006
Nintendo has confirmed its North American Wii launch window titles, including 32 full titles to debut before the end of the year and 30 classic NES, SNES, Nintendo 64, Genesis (remember that), and TurboGrafx games for download on the Wii Virtual Console. Of these oldies-but-goodies, Nintendo says, “Some of these games might be familiar, but if you haven’t played them on Wii, you’re only getting half the experience.”
For the Wii Virtual Console, Wii Points are redeemed in the Wii Shop Channel and players then download their games; Wii Points can be purchased online or at retail at an MSRP of $20 for 2,000 points. NES games start at 500 Wii Points, TurboGrafx16 at 600, Super NES and Genesis at 800, and Nintendo 64 at 1,000.
The full list of Wii launch window titles to debut before the end of 2006 is as follows:
Activision: Call of Duty 3, Marvel Ultimate Alliance, Rapala Tournament Fishing, Tony Hawk’s Downhill Jam, World Series of Poker: Tournament of Champions
Atari: Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 2
Atlus: Trauma Center: Second Opinion
EA: Madden NFL ‘07, Need for Speed: Carbon
Konami: Elebits
Midway: Happy Feet, Rampage: Total Destruction, The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy, The Ant Bully
Sega: Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz
SNK: Metal Slug Anthology
Tecmo: Super Swing Golf
THQ: Avatar: The Last Airbender, Barnyard, Cars, SpongeBob SquarePants: The Creature from the Krusty Krab
Ubisoft: Far Cry: Vengeance, GT Pro Series, Monster 4X4 World Circuit, Open Season, Rayman Raving Rabbids, Red Steel, Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Double Agent
Vivendi: Ice Age 2: The Meltdown
The following Virtual Console titles will be available before the end of the year:
NES: Mario Bros., The Legend of Zelda, Donkey Kong, Donkey Kong Jr., Ice Hockey, Pinball, Soccer, Tennis, Urban Champion, Wario’s Woods, Baseball, Solomon’s Key
SNES: F-Zero, SimCity
N64: Super Mario 64
Sega Genesis: Sonic the Hedgehog, Altered Beast, Golden Axe, Columns, Ecco the Dolphin, Gunstar Heroes, Space Harrier II, Toe Jam & Earl, Ristar, Dr. Robotnik’s Mean Bean Machine
TurboGrafx16: Bonk’s Adventure, Super Star Soldier, Victory Run, Bomberman ‘93, Dungeon Explorer
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