So, I hope you weren’t holding out for a PS3. I really hope you didn’t pre-order one. Sony was already spreading themselves very thin by releasing 2 million systems at launch between Japan, Europe, and the U.S. Today, Sony announced that that number is actually smaller. They’re only going to have 500,000 systems available at the system’s launch. 400,000 of those are reserved for the U.S., 100,000 for Japan, and Europe gets bupkis. The European launch of the system has been delayed for four more months, to March 31, 2007.
For those of you hoping for a PS3 this Christmas, don’t hold your breath. Seriously, that could hurt. Assuming they’ll actually get 400,000 systems to the states on launch day (and really, do you believe ‘em?), your local stores will either be full on pre-orders, won’t get any, or will only be sold to the lucky few that camp out for a few days prior to launch (or is that unlucky…).
Sony’s still saying that they should have 1-1.2 million PS3’s in the states by the end of the holiday season, far more than the Xbox 360 did last year. But, they’re also sticking to their 6 million PS3 worldwide shipment target by the end of March. Again, can you believe ‘em?
Also, their reason for this delay is, “caused by the delay in the mass-production schedule of the blue laser diode within the Sony Group, thus affecting the timely procurement of key components to be utilized in PlayStation 3.” Given their track records with the original Playstation and Playstation 2, and their lack of ability to competently produce parts for the PS3, can we expect a quality product when the PS3 is available? I guess that’s the, uhh, five or six hundred-dollar question.
Now that a large chunk of the video game playing populace is back in school, games can finally start coming out at a decent pace! One of these days I’ll have to figure out why the summer drought exists. But, it’s now behind us so check out what’s out!
Madden 2007 (all systems) – Never heard of it. I think it’s a game about lacrosse? No, wait. It’s got to be a hack n’ slash with zombies. Or is it an exercise in obtaining a stranglehold on the NFL games market? I’ll have to do some research about this one later.
Xenosaga III (ps2) – The final installment in the trilogy is supposed to be a whopper of a game. That is, as long as you’re down with reading the in-game encyclopedia to catch up with the story. I mean it – even if you’ve played the first two, you may want to brush up some. It’s quite good though.
Disgaea II (ps2)– A lot like the first one, but you can find it in stores. Really, if you’ve played and enjoy squad-based tactical RPGs that shouldn’t be a problem. It’s good stuff.
Enchanted Arms (Xbox 360) – The first “traditional” (read: Final Fantasy-like) role-playing game for the Xbox 360. Another game that doesn’t offer much that’s new, but does what it does well.
Yakuza (ps2) – Final Fight meets Grand Theft Auto… or something. It comes out this week and has been earning impressive reviews.
Saint’s Row (Xbox 360) – A blatant rip off of Grand Theft Auto (from now on, GTA is its own genre, so I can stop saying “like Grand Theft Auto.” It’s such a waste of time typing out, sort of like extended parenthesis…) that even has the same font. Apparently (I haven’t played it yet) it does many things better than the original though.
NASCAR 2007 and the new Spy Hunter, now Rock powered, are also due in stores this week, but I haven’t heard much about them yet so you’ll have to wait if you’d like my opinion forced upon you! Also, several handheld games came out like Starfox Command (DS) and Locoroco (PSP). You’ll have to come in to the store to get my (lack of) expertise on those games. You’ve read enough. Go buy something already! =)
Phantom Entertainment Transforms Phantom Gaming Console into “Service.” Release Date? Never.
Written by Chase
Not to beat a dead horse, but I’m about to. Aptly named Phantom Entertainment recently updated their website to show that they’ve cancelled their Phantom Gaming Console. The Gaming service, however, is still supposedly in development. Now it’s to be released for PC as a software application. According to Gamespot’s interpretation, the service will “still be used to ultimately get PC games running on TVs instead of a monitor, as the website lists a “High Definition or Standard Television” among the service’s requirements.” I didn’t know this was the original intent of the Phantom. That sounds like an awful idea – the audience that wishes to play PC titles but doesn’t have the means and is technologically savvy must be incredibly small.
We can’t forget about the Phantom hardware either. The Phantom lapboard, recently pushed back from “no later than October” to “November” has a hauntingly high retail price of $129.95. If you order before October you can shave 30 bucks off of that price but I’m not sure that a single person has seen a return on their investment in the company or its products. So, you know, beware and stuff.
I can’t wait for hell to freeze over so I can see some of Phantom’s fine products!
