Say goodbye to all those games you bought for PS2 With cost cutting measures going into effect at Sony, it makes sense for the console manufacturer to remove the Emotion Engine chip inside the PS3. But what does it mean for you? Essentially, that Emotion Engine chip is a PS2/PS1 on a chip. Take it out and use a software emulation solution instead and you’ll find that half your older games no longer work on the PS3. With the EE chip already missing in Europe, it was only a matter of time before the US followed suit. The newly discounted 60GB PS3s will still carry the chip, but any new 80GB models will be sans Emotion Engine. Tough break, since I really would have enjoyed playing Final Fantasy Tactics and Rez for hours on end. 80GB PS3 won’t include the Emotion Engine chip [Slashgear] → Read More
Take Two has “temporarily suspended” Manhunt 2 in response to the game’s ban in the UK and AO rating here in the U.S. The game was supposed to come out on July 10, but its publisher had to shelve it in order to “review its options.” While I’m personally opposed to games that feature such wanton violence—oh, excuse me, art—I definitely feel for the developers in this case. But there’s no way that Take Two would release an AO game since an AO rating basically means it’s pornography. Take-Two shelves Manhunt 2 [GameSpot] → Read More
The British Board of Film Classification has banned the sale of Manhunt 2, which was scheduled to come out next month for the Wii, PS2 and PSP. As you might expect, the ratings board cited the game’s encouragement of “visceral killing with exceptionally little alleviation or distancing…. There is sustained and cumulative casual sadism in the way in which these killings are committed, and encouraged, in the game.” So because the game “encourages” wanton violence, it’s banned, censored, never to set foot on British soil. Good. → Read More
As if you needed any more confirmation on just how great the Nintendo Wii is, the latest Japanese sales numbers show a 5 to 1 advantage in terms in consoles sold compared to the PS3. Again, this doesn’t mean that the Wii is any better than the PS3, but it does show that Nintendo’s gamble of tapping into the non-gamer market is paying off. (Compare that to the PS3 where you need to take out a loan just to afford the thing.) → Read More
Nintendo knows it’s got a winner on its hands with the Wii and now it looks like the company is starting to project some hubris. George Harrison, the head of marketing for Nintendo of America, says Sony screwed up by releasing a PlayStation 3 that’s simply too expensive for what it does. Hence, as Harrison points out, Sony is still selling a large number of PS2s. → Read More
Can’t get enough Guitar Hero? Don’t worry! Activision realizes you’re not just a casual gamer and need more rockage. That’s why they’ll be releasing Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80s sometime this year hopefully. A new tracklisting has been posted, showcasing some of the hits of the 1980s. Songs include: → Read More
Some of us have trouble pulling ourselves away from the computer and sometimes that can be OK. But if you need your fix of video gaming and Internet surfing and happen to live in Austin, Texas, you may want to call Ricky Gray for a cab. Gray has outfitted his minivan-turned-taxi with two LCD TVs on which customers can play Playstation 2 games on, watch TV, and surf the Internet. Gray’s exceptional service, combined with a geeked out cab make for a great time while cruising around the Austin area. He says his future plans include upgrading the PS2 to a PS3, getting bigger LCD TVs, and adding a satellite dish so better programming is available. If he added a snack machine, I’m pretty sure it’d be worth taking the scenic route on every trip. A cab with a view: two TVs, a laptop and a PlayStation 2 [CNet] → Read More
The band is back together. Activision confirmed today the long-running rumor of a 1980s-themed Guitar Hero. Called Guitar Hero: Rock the 80s, the game is scheduled to be released exclusively for the PS2 (sorry, 360 fans) this summer. Most importantly, Activision revealed a couple of songs Clapton wannabes can look forward to, uh, shredding. • Twisted Sister’s “I Wanna Rock” • Flock of Seagulls’ “I Ran” And… → Read More
The NPD Group tracks all sorts of data related to video games and a report due out later today breaks down just exactly the online gaming world looks like. There’s two big shockers right off the bat: a majority of online gamers are console owners (whaaa?) and that girl gamers—excuse me, grrrl gamers—account for 42 percent of all online gamers. I call bravo sierra. → Read More
For all the hullabaloo surrounding the next-gen console war, and the Nintendo Wii in particular, Sony’s PS2 (yes, PlayStation 2, the one released here in 2000) will continue to outsell the Wii until 2009. Again, one of those analyst types has gone on record saying that Nintendo’s inability to produce enough Wii consoles will hurt its standing among “mass market” consumers, the very same consumer who Nintendo is betting will help it win this war. In the meantime, there’s been very little slowdown in PS2 hardware and software sales, lately owing to games like God of War II. And what about the Xbox 360 and PS3? Well, they’d better get killer apps ASAP, says the analyst, or all those lost sales will simply transfer over to the likes of the PS2 and DS. Console wars are fun! Games Continue Record Pace [Home Media Magazine via Next Generation] → Read More
Alex over at Joystiq tells an interesting story about a Sunday-drive to Gamestop where he tried to purchase God of War II. When Alex entered the store and asked for a copy of GoW2, the employee behind the counter asked if a reservation had been made. When he replied “No”, the employee at the Gamestop walked over to the display wall, grabbed a case, opened it, and stuck a copy of the disc and manual inside. There were plenty of brand new copies inside the display case behind the counter (like always), but the employee wasn’t budging and kept insisting the game he was trying to sell was completely new. Terrible. So what did Alex do after standing there in shock-and-awe for a hot minute? He did the same thing I did with WoW: BC: drove to another store (Best Buy) and bought it in 100% new condition. I knew Gamestop sucked, but this much? That’s just nuts. Hit the link for the full-story and one of the best pics I’ve seen in my lifetime. Gamestop shenanigans sell open games as ‘new’ [Joystiq] → Read More
Recently, I reported that Europeans would not be getting a PS2 Emotion Engine chip inside their PS3s thanks to Sony trying to cut costs. Now that Sony has pissed off a bunch of Europeans, it’s now launching a PR campaign to try to rectify the situation to the best of its ability. A list that shows which PS2 games will be compatible has been released on the web for all to see. The official URL is http://faq.eu.playstation.com/bc and judging by a quick glance at the UK’s website, most of the awesome Playstation 2 games are not supported. Fantastic Sony. Way to add fuel to the fire when you were originally trying to extinguish it. Sony lists games compatible with Playstation 3 [Reuters] → Read More
Word on the wire is that folks in the good ol’ USA may be getting PS3s without the PS2 Emotion Engine chip. Europeans and those using the PAL version of the PS3 already have gotten the shaft. Not having that Emotion Engine chip means the PS3 is forced to emulate a PS2 through a software-based method. Because this is the same way Microsoft is doing Xbox-support on the 360, only a limited number of games for Europeans and those with PAL systems will be available. Could this all happen in the US as a cost-cutting measure? Definitely. So if you’re a fan of classic titles like Castlevania: SOTN, Jet Moto, and Final Fantasy 8, then pick up a PS3 in the US before Sony screws us over. Sony to bring ‘PS2-less’ PS3 to U.S., Japan? [The Register] → Read More
? MojoPlay understands and for 2007 the display maker is rolling out three new displays made specifically for console gaming. The MP-920XB made for Microsoft’s Xbox 360 is a 9.2-inch LCD with a mounting system that seamlessly connects to the 360 without affecting the cooling vents on the top of the console. It’s resolution is a decent 800×480 and there are built-in stereo speakers as well as dual headphone jacks. It’s available now for $170. More details at MojoPlay’s site. I wouldn’t want to play on this thing full time, but if it means the difference between watching “Gilmore Girls” and gaming, I’m on-board for $170. → Read More
Blaze Games announced today that it would be releasing it’s Xploder HDTV package in the States. The system allows PS2 users to upconvert PS2 games for use with HDTV. Compatible with over 95% of all PS2 games, the Xploder HDTV Player is a unique software utility that unlocks the inherent High Definition capabilities of PS2 games – providing gamers with 480p, 576p, 720p and 1080i HD modes. Simply load the disc, select the required settings from the simple on-screen interface and position the screen image for optimal playback, before loading the game. It will be available later this month for $49.99 and it comes with a high-quality RGB component cable to connect the PS2 directly to the HDTV. Xploder HDTV Player → Read More
Bundled with the popular UK game Singstar Pop, which lets you Karaoke along with your favorite pop tunes, this Pink PS2 will be landing the Queen’s country with as much grace as Ken has when he’s dressed in Barbie’s clothes. Not only is the body pink, the controller, control cables, and even the memory card is pink. Boy, we bet they’re going to get the girls to play video games now! Plop down £130 and you get to take one of these home with you. Pink PS2 arriving in November [Stuff UK via Gizmodo] → Read More
