As soon as Okami came out, it was showered with praise as possibly the best Zelda-like game on the PS2, but the real question on everyone’s minds was: when is this awesome game going to come out on the Wii? The paintbrush mechanic, while functional with the dual shock, would be a revelation with a wiimote. It was finally confirmed a little while back that this very port would come to pass, and now we have a date: April 11 in the U.S., people. Get buying. Okami Wii for April in the US [Eurogamer] → Read More
[photopress:ps22222.jpg,full,center] This month’s Electronic Gaming Monthly has an interview with PlayStation Network director Eric Lempell. Among other things, Lempell wants the world to know that PS3 backwards compatibility isn’t quite dead yet. (The 40GB PS3 killed backwards compatibility.) He says there may be a way through software emulation and other forms of wizardry for all PS3 models to play PS2 games. More importantly, the 40GB model won’t prevent Sony for eventually releasing PS2 games on its online store like it does with PS1 games. Nothing’s been confirmed or anything, just that Sony recognizes it’s in its best interest to make good with gamers. Now there’s a foreign idea. Like I said, the full interview is in EGM, which I can’t find online just yet, on Usenet or the ProQuest database. When the PDF shows up (or 1UP re-publishes it), I’ll point y’all in the right direction. Is PlayStation 3 Backwards Compatibility Dead? Maybe Not [Kotaku] → Read More
[photopress:px_3600_console_2.jpg,full,center] The PX-3000 is a real console that’s based on other real consoles. The PX-3000 also, incidentally, is a piece of garbage. Making the connection, if something that is based on something else is garbage, does that mean the thing it’s based on is garbage? Questions to ponder, friends. px-3600 console fakes xbox, ps2, ps3, wtf? [Technabob] → Read More
Maybe people just really love the PS2? How else could you explain November’s sales numbers, which saw the PS2 sell 496,000 units vs. the PS3′s 466,000? (The Wii, despite the shortage, sold 981,000 and the 360 sold 770,000.) Actually, I wonder if Sony cares as much (that the PS2 outsold the PS3) as the inflammatory headlines you’re likely to see suggest. At this point, selling PS2s must be as close to pure profit as any company can get. Further more, all those PS2s still being sold probably help offset the money lost on every PS3 sold. To the armchair pundits who only see “PS2 sold more than PS3, lolz,” well, maybe there’s a reason they’re only armchair pundits. Or put another way, would Sony prefer to be selling no PS2s at all? Optimally, they’d be selling 962,000 PS3s, but in lieu of that, a couple PS2s sold can’t be all that bad. But what do I know. Old Sony console outsold PS3 in US last month [The Register Hardware] → Read More
Sony’s PS2 may be seven years old, but it’s still the most played console out there. Nielsen released figures yesterday covering the April-November period that show the PS2 accounted for 42.2 percent of all gaming minutes. The Xbox1 came in second, followed by the Xbox 360 and Gamecube. Wii and the PS3 round out the list. Even though Nielsen never contacted me, I’d day my own numbers gel with theirs. The PS2 is still my primary game console, but that may be a function of me having nearly no time to play anymore. So when I do, it’s a couple of games of “PES” then back to more important matters… like CrunchGear! Nielsen: WoW, PS2 Remain Top-Played [Next Gen via Xbox-Scene] → Read More
Well look at these humdingers. They’re up for auction on eBay right now with a current bid of $1000 and there’s still three and a half days to go. They come with some pretty loud purple laces that you can’t see in this photograph, but why not just click on through and see what all the hubbub’s about? Man, these are size 13. I wear size 13. Should I buy them? I can’t think of a much better use of (at least) $1000. NIKE AIR FORCE 1 PLAYSTATION PS2 PREMIUM DS Sz 13 OG PE [eBay] via gameSniped via Kotaku → Read More
As the only CrunchGear writer born and raised in Minnesota, I’m pretty sure I got assigned to write this under the assumption that I enjoy bass fishing. Well, I don’t. I don’t really enjoy any type of fishing. I find the smell, the hand-slicing gills, and the lack of reliable internet access or power sources on the open water to be somewhat of an annoyance. Plenty of people from Minnesota don’t share my same feelings, though. I can also only assume that nobody thinks that PS3, Wii, or Xbox 360 has made it to the Land of 10,000 Lakes yet and, as such, I’ve been tasked with telling PlayStation 2 owners about Activision Minneapolis’ new Cabela’s Monster Bass game, available now for $29.99. It provides players with the ability to "take an exciting journey through six of the hottest bass spots and compete in 14 tournament events in pursuit of the biggest, most coveted species of trophy bass." Full press release after the jump. → Read More
Worst Photoshop in history? You decide. Forget that abomination of a NiGHTS game for the Wii (jkjk, guys), the real one is coming out for the PS2 soon enough. Sega announced that a port of NiGHTS into Dreams, complete with updated graphics and support for 16:9 TVs, will be released for the PS2 in Japan this February. We can only assume—hope, really—that it comes out over here. See, I knew there was a reason I’ve held onto my PS2. NiGHTS on PS2… the good one! [ComputerAndVideoGames.com via Kotaku] → Read More
Uh oh. A guy in a suit is saying that Electronic Arts is going to be slashing the prices on certain EA Sports titles, mostly for the PlayStation 2 although I’d expect some PC-version cuts in there as well. These are the "08" games too like NBA Live 08, Madden 08, and Tiger Woods 08. Fourteen games in all will be price-reduced. Analyst Evan Wilson says that "pre-holiday price cuts on games have been a precursor of slower-than-expected sales." I have a simple idea for Electronic Arts that I think might help increase its sales of new sports titles (for the PC, at least). → Read More
If Microsoft has its way, you’ll still be happily playing your Xbox 360 into the next decade. Mindy Mount, CFO of Microsoft’s entertainment division, wants to buck the traditional five-year shelf life trend when it comes to her company’s current console, hoping that it’ll perform similarly to the PS2 which has remained popular for the last seven years. → Read More
Sony’s set to launch a slimmed-down version of its 7-year old PlayStation 2 console in Japan on November 22nd. It’ll cost roughly $140 and weighs about a pound and a half thanks in part to the power cord that plugs directly into the unit, eliminating the clumsy brick apparatus. It’ll come in Charcoal Black, Ceramic White, or Satin Silver. Other than that, it’s a PlayStation 2. I’m sure everyone here has played one at least once or twice. It’s unknown if Sony plans to sell this new version in the US but I would venture a guess that it would and I’d venture another guess that if it’s $140, people would scoff or at least make scoffing sounds since that’d be $10 MORE than the slim PS2 unit that’s available now. Howsabout bringing it in at $99, eh Sony? Sony to launch new PS2 model in Japan [Reuters] → Read More
The PlayStation 2 is no doubt one of the most successful consoles in video game history. After recently celebrating its 7th birthday, the PS2 will now undergo yet another redesign in an effort to build-in the system’s power supply and continually trim the overall design down. In addition to a new design, the new PS2 is expected to take a price cut down to $99, making the system affordable to almost anyone. Hopefully we’ll see this new PS2 in stores by early 2008, which is Sony’s current target date for a release. For $150 you can pick up two or three sweet games and a brand new PS2. I’m all about that. New low-price ‘compact’ PS2 to arrive in 2008 [MCV] → Read More
Confirming what everyone in the world already knew, or assumed to know, a Wedbush Morgan analyst has said that Halo 3 was at least partially responsible for moving 450,000 Xbox 360s during the month of September. In dollars-and-cents, the game generated some $200 million for Microsoft. (All of these numbers are the analyst’s predictions; verifiable NPD numbers should be released within the week.) So I guess the headline here would be, in true Matt Drudge style, “Shock: Microsoft mega-game sells millions; Gates said to be ‘pleased’.” Also of note, maybe, is that we could see a PS2 price drop before the end of holiday shopping season. The new price? 99 wing-wangs. Who needs a backwards compatible PS3 when (if) the PS2 is so inexpensive? Pachter: Sep. Games Sales Up 47% on Halo 3 [Next Gen] → Read More
Activion is pulling out all the stops on Guitar Hero 3. They’ve just announced 16 more tracks for the guitar wielding rock fest. I just wish I didn’t suck at it so much because Sunshine of Your Love by Cream is the shiznit. The Sonic Youth, Dead Kennedys, White Zombie, Aerosmith (!), Bloc Party, Disburbed and The Killers (why? wtf!) have joined the stacked lineup. Hit the jump for the full list. October 28 isn’t that far off. → Read More
Get ready to rock! Pricing and launch dates have been announced for Guitar Hero’s closest rival, Rock Band. The MTV and EA mashup will be available on the PS3, PS2 and Xbox 360 platforms with varying kits that include guitars, drums and mics. The Xbox 360 and PS3 versions will begin shipping November 23 for $169.99 and will include the aforementioned accessories. The PS2 version, which was initially announced for 2008 will actually make it in time for the holiday rush on December 10 for $159.99. The guitars for the Sony platforms will be wireless while the 360 version will be wired. That’s a bummer. “Rock Band” PS3/Xbox360 Price Set, PS2 Release Moved Up To 2007 [MTV Multiplayer] → Read More
You can build just about anything out of LEGOs if you’re crafty enough. A dinosaur, a spaceship, or a working PS2 controller that’s in the shape of a Gibson Explorer guitar. In this case, it’s the latter and this LEGO guitar for Guitar Hero actually looks better than the standard guitar controllers. Shred, anyone? It works for PS2 and no, you can’t get one. But you can make one! Check out the site for more photos. Incredible LEGO Guitar Hero Controller is Fully Functional [TechEBlog] → Read More
It is hard to believe it is August already. That means summer will soon be turning to fall. Kids go back to school, the weather gets cooler and the leaves change color. But most of that doesn’t matter to a lot of guys, because fall means football season. But in the world of video games you don’t have to wait until September for the kickoff. The games are already here! This week we look at the latest titles to get you ready for another season of college and professional football. → Read More
Traditionally known for the longest press conference at the Electronic Entertainment Expo Sony Computer Entertainment hasn’t been one to “leave them wanting more.” And despite the scaled back E3 this year the company still managed to have an event that clocked in a tad bit on the long side, but with plenty of great news it was worth every minute… almost! Here is a look at what Sony had to say. → Read More
Nick at TC found some weird Sony PS2 ads that came out in India which essentially say that your girlfriend sucks and that you should play your PS2. While the concept is clever and edgy, I think the message isn’t quite as clear as it could be. Perhaps they should have a young man with his girlfriend tied up in a box while he plays God of War. Why stop at low-level misogyny when you can really dig in and sell your second-generation, old-ass console to the sadists. → Read More
