Sony Computer Entertainment are clearing gearing up for the US release of the PlayStation 3 console this coming Friday, and have launched a revamped version the PlayStation website.
The site remains to cater for the PSP, long with the rest of the PlayStation family.
"The re-designed PlayStation.com site will better serve our customers' needs in terms of content and accessibility," said Peter Dille, senior vice president of marketing, Sony Computer Entertainment America. "The heavily visited site will be our calling card for introducing consumers to the PS3(TM), and will continue to be the premier destination for information on all experiences found only in our PlayStation portfolio of products."
SCEA and the Ziff Davis Game Group have announced plans to discontinue the Official U.S PlayStation Magazine (OPM) in North America.
Production of the title will cease after the release of the January 2007 issue.
The networking and web capabilities of the PlayStation 3 are to blame for the decision, with a key element of the OPM being a disc bundled with each issue.
"A key element of the OPM magazine was the playable PlayStation disc packed in with every magazine. With the launch of the PLAYSTATION(R)3 (PS3(TM)) computer entertainment system and its full network and Web capabilities, we are focused on delivering content via the PlayStation Network and PlayStation.com website, not discs," said Peter Dille, senior vice president of marketing, SCEA.
PSP Grand Theft Auto fans are rejoicing as the second GTA title for the PlayStation Portable emerges today in UMD form.
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories, which hits stores in the US today and in the UK on November 3rd, and sees the franchise return to Vice City, previously visted in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City on the PlayStation 2.
Take-Two publishing label 2K has announced that the Family Guy game title has shipped to retailers.
Developers High Voltage Software have created the interactive version of the popular animated comedy show with a combination of platform, combat and puzzle-solving gameplay modes. Gamers will be able to take on the role of Peter, Brian and Stewie in a series of scenarios which fit existing story lines. Seth MacFarlane and the existing cast provide original voice-overs for the Family Guy characters.
"Family Guy is one of the most popular and outrageously hilarious shows on television," said Christoph Hartmann, president of 2K. "We are excited to bring that comedic experience to video games. By working with the TV show's creative team, we've given fans of the show a way to experience Family Guy on a whole new level."
The UK MD of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe has insisted that the seemingly floundering UMD format has a meaningful future.
Speaking to trade title MCV, Ray Maguire was upbeat regarding the prospects of the universal media disc, stating "UMD has a fantastic attachment ratio. Where we’ve struggled a little is getting a decent proposition for full-length movies."
It seems the Sony UK boss is optimistic about finding the right blend of content to enable a revival of the initial success of the UMD.
"UMD is not the problem – it’s getting the right content that’s the challenge. When we put shorts on UMD they sell really well, and that’s related to PSP usage. It’s about getting the offer right, and we will do that."
With the holiday console retail rush fast approaching, Sony has once again denied rumours of a PSP price cut, favouring instead to try and market the non-gaming functionality of the PSP unit.
"We don't necessarily see the need to cut the price," John Koller,product manager at Sony Computer Entertainment America told Reuters. "We need to offer broader value and introduce new consumers to what the PSP can do."
Instead of a price drop to battle against superior sales of the Nintendo DS rival device, Sony has already released a new Entertainment pack, bundling both movie (Lords of Dogtown) and game (ATV Offroad Fury: Blazin' Trails) UMD formats into a $250 console package.
PSP owners will soon be able to experience the 'brain training' phenemenon thanks to a new Sega developed title published by Ubisoft.
'Mind Quiz' follows the hugely successful title for the Nintendo DS platform, Dr Kawashima's Brain Training: How Old Is Your Brain? and will no doubt hope to achieve similar distribution figures.
Mind Quiz, minus touchscreen input is expected for release in November, in plenty of time to help fill festive stockings. [Source]
After early speculation about a PSP price drop for the holiday rush, SCEA has announced it will start to ship a new PSP bundle called the PSP Entertainment Pack in the US from September 13, 2006.
Priced at a SRP of $249.99. The new pack will contain the PSP system, a copy of the Lords of Dogtown UMD movie, PSP Greatest Hits title ATV Offroad Fury® : Blazin' Trails UMD game and a 1 GB Pro Duo Memory Stick.
Sales of UMD movies released by Warner Home Video in Japan have increased by a factor of 10 after the company slashed prices for the UMD movie titles.
Warner Home Videos originally cut the prices of titles from its portfolio to just 980 yen (c.$8.30 USD / £4.40 GBP) stating the price drop would be in effect for a limited period. However last month the move was made permanent and healthy sales have continued. [Source]
In the wake of news of the pink PS2, Sony have announced plans for a pink PSP, too. Complete with a UMD featuring content from music artist Pink (P!nk), the pink PSP is due to launch in Europe on the 27th of October, nicely in time for Christmas.
"The P!nk PSP launch is much more than just launching a new colour. It is about a confident and powerful attitude for young women. The association with P!nk, a worldwide icon and musical chameleon, will enable PSP to push new boundaries," said Stephane Hareau, PSP Senior Brand Manager for SCEE.
£169 gets you the limited edition pink PSP unit, Pink UMD, battery, AC adapter, 32MB memory card, case, wrist strap and headphones. Sadly all accessories are standard colour.
Sony Computer Entertainment president Kaz Hirai has addressed some key PSP and UMD rumours, along with giving insight into the future in an interview with GameSpot.
Speaking about the PSP Connect service, Hirai confirmed Sony were still hard at work on the project and were committed to a launching a quality product, rather than something rushed to market.
"We are still hard at work on the download service for PSP. And again, we want to make sure that what we're offering is something that we can be happy with as opposed to something that's just put together for the sake of getting something out there as quickly as possible."
Talking about downloadable PlayStation One titles for the PSP, Hirai confirmed that it was still the plan to bring the service "as close to launch as possible" by the end of the year. Any suggestion of all 1200 titles being released for the PSP at the same time was quickly thrown out.
The subject of a PSP "2" was also met with flat refusal backed up with the fact the PSP has been Sony's fastest selling unit compared with the PlayStation and the PS2.
"...we're obviously very happy with the technology we've packed into the current PSP, and we don't have any plans to redesign the PSP at this point in time."
After denial of any planned price drops for the PSP console, the subject of the UMD format was put to Hirai which was met with a comprehensive reply quoting suitability of certain media to a prerecorded medium such as the UMD. Mention of a move from UMD to memory stick as a preferred medium of content delivery, was met with verbal applause from Hirai as both methods would increase the PSP ownership base.
Read the full interview with Kaz Hirai at GameSpot.
