World’s first PlayStation 3 available

News report taken from the PS3 Website – www.ps3pad.com

The first significant step towards the launch of the PlayStation 3 has been taken today after a Japanese newspaper reported that at least one major retailer in Tokyo has taken delivery of a PS3 demo kiosk.

Accoridng to the paper, the multi-story Yodobashi Camera outlet in Tokyo’s Akihabara district now has an actual PlayStation 3 unit on display. A monitor above the system shows trailers for games like Afrika, Genji, Heavenly Sword and The Eye of Judgment.

The system is strictly hands-off at this point.

Let’s hope they have 24 hour security on site.

It’s nearly here folks, or in this particular case. It…. (er) …. is!

Ridge Racer 7

One of the PlayStation classics is set to be the most sought after opening day release racing games on the machine.

Ridge Racer 7 once again whips the racing series in a frenzy, with movie-quality visuals and a stronger online component from that of the Xbox 360 game, Ridge Racer 6.

Director Masaya Kobayashi, assistant producer Hideo Teramoto, and sound director Hiroshi Okubo all worked on the successful PSP and Xbox 360 Ridge Racers, and are aiming to use RR for PS3 as a showcase of the system’s power and capabilities.

Expect 5.1 sound, blistering speed and graphics, 20 courses to racer on, online play for as many as 14 racers, implementation of cool Nitro system showcased in the last two versions, car customization options for at least 200,000 car variations per vehicle, and significant improvements in online play (including cooperative team play.)

Best of all, Reiko Nagase returns in Ridge Racer 7, bringing back the racing queen of your dreams.

Ridge Racer 7 Screenshots

9/21 Shots:

9/13 Shots:

9/4 Shots:

4/27 Shots:

Video Trailer

Ridge Racer 7 (http://www.gametrailers.com/gamepage.php?id=2628)

The £50 PS3 Game

Reports have been surfacing following TGS that Sony have suggested the retail price of PS3 games will hit 8,800-9,800 Japanese yen.  This is $75-$85 in the US.  Allowing for the extra factoring of European prices, we could expect to see games retailing at £49.99. 

No official announcements have been made on pricing, and in particular the development of a ‘Platinum’ range as previously used by Sony.

Third generation games have massively increased development costs – rumours for instance are circulating that Grand Theft Auto IV will be based on real London.  The costs involved in creating titles for PS3 are much greater than the PS2.  If you’re saving up for your PS3 right now – make sure you don’t forget about the cost of the games.

Resident Evil 5 – no exclusive format

A while ago it was often a battle among forum goers, about which console (if any) would end up with the exclusive rights for this momentous game. One week it would be exclusive for x360 for a year and the next for the ps3.

All was quiet at Capcom, that is until now anyway. It now seems that they have clarified the matter and have admitted that there will be NO exclusive rights to any console.

So you can now be safe in the knowlege that whenever this game does release you can happily play it on your shiny new PS3.

 

Call of Duty 3

Call of Duty 3 is the name of the next installment in the Call of Duty video game series. While not much is known of the title right now, it will be released for all three next-generation video game systems, the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Wii. It will also be released for the PlayStation 2 and , while a version for the PSP will be developed by Amaze. Unlike Call of Duty 2, Activision doesn’t plan to release a version for the personal computer.

In the July 2006 Edition of Electronic Gaming Monthly, it was revealed that the game will center around the Normandy Breakout. Unlike previous games in the series, the user will play as American, British and for the first time, Canadian and Polish soldiers which are replacing the Russian campaign. It was also confirmed by the magazine that Call of Duty 3 will incorporate a hand to hand combat system, in which enemy soldiers attempt to rip the weapon out of the player’s hands. This game will make use of the power of the next-gen consoles with dynamic lighting effects and destructible environments. Online play has also been confirmed, with 24 players able to play at once, a leap from the 8 player capacity on the Xbox 360’s Call of Duty 2. The online play, as well as offline, will also have vehicles similar to Call of Duty: United Offensive, the expansion pack to Call of Duty for the PC. The Wii version will make use of the console’s unique controller to aim, do “battle gestures”.

It is reported that Activision announced that Call of Duty 3 will be a launch title for Wii at Activate Asia 2006.