Dutch retailers boycott on PSPgo

According to Eurogamer, Dutch biggest country retailer, Nedgame, refuses to sell PSPgo.
Their argument is that the PSPgo is too expensive and not attractive. Really? Is that all?

Of course not. The bigger concern is PSPgo games are digitally distributed via PSN. Nedgame said it will hurt significantly their profitability for not selling UMD, which is their main source of income.

Sorry Sony, its a very valid argument by Nedgame, should I say.
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Adult film will be available soon on PS3?

Vivid entertainment, the largest adult film production company in the world, plans to seduce Sony to let them bring adult film to the Playstation network. Users then can rent or buy the selective movie from the Playstation store.
Since Sony already approved Japan's DDM.TV to bring on-demand blu-ray quality adult movies to PS3, Steve Hirsch (the head of Vivid entertainment) will make a formal request to Sony.
Sony has always been reluctant to allow adult entertainment in their console because kids do play PS3 everyday. However, Steve is confident that as long as age restriction and parental control module is in place, there shouldn't be any problem to restrict underage to access Adult Only section.
Vivid entertainment will also look into possibility bringing their product into Xbox 360 and Wii.  

Source: Kotaku
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3D gaming arriving to PS3 in 2010

Sony made major announcement at the IFA consumer electronic show in Berlin, that PS3 will have software upgrade to play game in 3D.

You will need a 200 Hz TV, and a 3D glass. Up to this moment, Sony couldn't guarantee that it will works on all existing game, they will need to conduct technology investigation whether it is possible.

Sony even presented a Wipeout gameplay demo in 3D.
Watch it!

PS3's new 3D mode captured on video, coming in 2010 to all existing games
[engadget]
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Xbox 360, Project Natal: Can Microsoft breakthrough the casual market?

Microsoft announced Project Natal during E3 show. Project Natal enable user to manipulate game without the use of controller. It uses camera that can detect body movement, facial recognition, which in turn use it to control the games.  With Natal, Microsoft hope to gain some casual gamer market from Nintendo Wii.

Casual gamer market simply cannot be underestimate. Since Wii launched, Nintendo has always been no 1 spot in terms of console sale.

Part of Nintendo plan was to create a controller that does not intimidate first time gamer.

Nintendo did it by creating a controller that is simple to use by moving it and it doesn't have a lot of buttons. And it resembles a remote tv, a device that is common to every household.

Now, with project Natal, Microsoft intends to follow Nintendo's step. By creating a simple controller, (what could be simpler than no controller?), it reduces one of entry barrier for casual market.
Now the real question is, can Natal deliver? Is it going to become a revolutionary or just a gimmick?

There is a lot of issue. Microsoft will need to create great software to show what Natal can do before other developers will follow.
Not only that, how is Microsoft going to integrate Xbox and Natal. For example: 2 people playing Modern Warfare 2. One is using controller, the other is using Natal. How do you balance the game? And the one using Natal, can they last couple hours of constant body movement?
And the price. Natal is using high end camera, that is estimated will cost $600 dollar each. Even if Microsoft dare to take a loss and sell it at $200 a camera. Casual gamers will find it too expensive to shell out a total of $500 just to experience casual gaming. Especially since there are lots of competition, ie: Nintendo Wii, Facebook games (which did pretty alright for casual gamer).

Will Microsoft succeed? Only time will tell.
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Pirated games vs Original, the trend..?

As I'm living in country of the heaven for pirated software,but I'm noticing a slight change of trend.

Me and everybody else here grew up playing pirated software. We were never educated about the significant of it nor we cared about it. It's cheap and it plays "exactly like the original". I emphasized these words because this is the significant.

Gaming has evolved, we used to play alone or at the most we do multiplayer only if our friends are coming over. Nowadays as digital era is getting more matured, we play online games not limited to our friends, but other people around the world. And a lot of games have multiplayer element in it.

Piracy back in the days was pretty simple, install a mod chip and there it goes. All the games are 100% compatible, no fuss.
But current console generation has becoming more sophisticated anti piracy feature. Yes some of it can still be pirated (Wii, Xbox 360, DS, PSP), but it gave a lot of hassle. Some games cannot be played, I have to upgrade the firmware. After upgrading, some older games couldn't work, and many other problem as well. 

Beside of that, one of the main problem with piracy is you can't play online.Once you connect your Xbox 360 online, and server detected that your Xbox 360 has been mod, it will automatically banned your Xbox from getting online to the server ever again. In other words, pirated software does not function 'exactly like original' anymore.

Online play is a major part of the total gaming experience today. And it is a big deal.
Because of this, the market of original game, which didn't really exists before, has slowly grown, and I expect it will continue and I think it is a good thing, because then our gaming market industry has a chance to grow.
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Some insight on the console wars

With both Sony and Microsoft announced price drop for their PS3 and Xbox 360 respectively, lets take a look on the pricing map for all the three main rival.

PS3 slim - $299
Xbox 360 Elite - $299
Wii - $249

How does it impact to the gaming market? Today I bring along my friend Andree (AT), who has been and always been a hardcore gamer, to discuss and give his insight on this topic together.

Regarding both PS3 and Xbox 360 getting price cut. Do you think Wii should have a price cut as well? Why?
AT: Should Wii drop their prices? I think it don't really matter. Wii still can sell as good as before without the price drop. Wii targets markets are quite different from PS3 and Xbox360. Wii are more to the casual gamers, meanwhile PS3 and Xbox 360 are more into the hardcore gamers just like me. The price drop from PS3 and Xbox 360 sure will impact Wii sales in someways, but I am sure not that much. So even though PS3 and Xbox 360 are only $50 different, Wii will always have have their loyal casual gamers. And they will buy Wii's and Wii's Games because they don't like PS3 and Xbox 360 Games. Like wise, the hardcore gamers will only buy PS3 and Xbox 360 and not even look at Wii even though Wii is cheaper then the two products.
HDJ: I do think Wii has no hurry to immediately cut price. Cause their market is more casual gamers, which explain the low attach rate and the least played console by the hour (surveyed). Also games in PS3 and Xbox 360 is more hardcore and it is sometimes not very appealing for casual gamers.
Wii should wait and see how things going before make a decision whether to cut price or not.

Which of the console between PS3 and Xbox 360 have more impact from the price cut?
AT: I must say PS3. The price drops by SONY for PS3 will make a big impact in gaming industries. One of the reason why people don't buy PS3 in the first place because is way more expensive than the Xbox 360. Sure... you can say when you buy PS3 you get yourself a Blu Ray player. It's a very good deal right? True! But the problems is, back then PS3 still more expensive than the 360. Why buy a system which can cover you the exact quality of games with more expensive price? If you say Blu Ray, nope, it is not helping much. People are still used to their DVDs and have no reason to switch to Blu Ray just yet. So it's down to the price and the exclusive games both console have. Xbox 360 got HALO,Gears of Wars, Mass Effect which have TONS of fans. PS3 got Metal Gear Solid 4, God of War 3 (NOT OUT YET)and Grand Tourismo 5 (NOT OUT YET). With PS3 dropping the price, It will level the term with Xbox 360 and still overing better hardware with the Blu Ray and no RROD. GO PS3!!!
HDJ: By comparing, PS3 slim bundle is more attractive than Xbox 360. It has built in wifi (you have to spend additional $99 for Xbox wifi), Blu Ray, and no RROD.Xbox 360 has Halo ODST, Fable 3, Forza 3  The likes of GOW3, GT5, MAG, UC2, these are all AAA title that is coming soon to PS3, which I think a stronger games line up than Xbox 360.
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