The official TGS website has been updated with a full list of details about the coming event in Tokyo. Running a total of four days from Sept 20th-24th (the first two of which are not open to the public), the organizers are expecting to draw a crowd of roughly 200 thousand people and 168 developers.
Basically every major Japanese developer you can think of, including Sony and Microsoft will be in attendance. The real kicker however is that Nintendo will not be participating. But before you get too up in arms, know that Nintendo has never traditionally attended TGS in the past, apart from a keynote speech by Iwata is 2005. Even then Nintendo was not “actually” participating in the event.
Nintendo traditionally prefers to run one of their own events (Space World/Nintendo World) around the same timeframe, so it’s still likely that we’ll hear a splash from Nintendo in some form or another. Very much like the old E3, TGS runs loud and expensive, and also announcements are likely to get overlooked in the big rush. Still, when everyone else is on board, it’s only a matter of time before Nintendo conforms.
The only thing more certain than the 360 pricedrop right now, was the PS3 pricedrop Sony was denying a month ago. Through several different ads and leaked insider information, we’ve learned a pricedrop is likely going to take effect very soon for the Xbox 360, within the coming weeks it seems.
However, a scan from a Circuit City ad shows something a little unexpected. It seems different models will be receiving different reductions, with the 20Gb model receiving the best deal. So where does this price drop really leave Microsoft? For starters, the Core model meant to appeal to the price weary shopper is now such a bad deal that they’d be better off going with the regular model anyways. Given a difference of only 70 dollars, and all the packed in content including the hard drive, it seems a no-brainer. On the other end of the spectrum the Elite is seemingly too expensive. Things could have been much worse when cut another way. Especially since the 20 Gb model is likely to be the biggest selling for a while to come, the 50 dollars will appeal more to the mass market. Complaints aside, it’s good to see Microsoft finally acting in turn with a price drop, something that has been a long time coming.
Square Enix just loves remaking their classic titles. When it comes to remakes, there is basically no other system to experience them all then on Nintendo DS. Perhaps cashing in on the gigantic success the DS is currently seeing, Sqaure Enix is doing everything in their power to pump out titles in the here and now. Now among those are three more Dragon Quest remakes, to add to the new Dragon Quest game exclusively for the DS.
Of course the exclusive new Dragon Quest title is sure to sell millions, but Dragon Quest remakes will probably sell quite decently nonetheless. Each will very likely crack the million mark, which certainly isn’t bad for remakes of old titles, and a smart move on Square Enix. I’m also starting to see why they aren’t supporting the virtual console. When they can just release a re-done retail game, and charge full price for it, it would be crazy to settle for a mere ten dollars on the Nintendo online service. Expect the new DQ games to shortly, and likely in rapid succession.
How many copies of Pokemon sold does it take to make Nintendo filthy rich? 10 million is a pretty good start. Today Nintendo announced that they have sold over 10 million copies of their recent DS effort in all territories. No small feat when most software titles are considered highly successful by just breaking the 1 million mark. To add more fuel to the first, Pokemon DS just launched in Europe a few days ago, meaning sales are likely to still skyrocket for some time to come. Of course, 35 million DS units are still out there, still waiting for their owners to snag a copy.
The only confusing point in the entire Pokemon legacy is why after more than a decade, we have yet to receive a proper console iteration. It’s simply baffling why Nintendo has yet to capitalize on one of their biggest franchisees, only giving us a small taste of the epic with titles like Pokemon Battle. Are Pokemon fanatics not interested in catching them all from the couch? Will Wii receive a true Pokemon title, or will console owners be forced to experience lesser Pokemon efforts for all eternity? Maybe the tune of 10 million will change someone’s mind in charge of the decisions.
I take it back. Mario couldn’t stay out of our lives this week after all. After the Wii has been lying dormant (some might call it a dry spell) over the past few weeks, a first party heavy hitter will mark the end of July, leading into August when the big games will leave us satisfied all the way into Christmas. As such, 360 and PS3 have apparently decided it best to let Mario have the dignity he deserves. All signs point to go as a must buy multiplayer experience, that won’t have you wobbling to the same minigames rehashed over and over again. Continue on for the full list of titles releasing this week:
Nintendo Wii: Mario Strikers Charged
Xbox 360: Nadda
PlayStation 3: *Crickets*
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Another virtual console Monday has come and gone, and yet we are left without a single entry from Nintendo this week. Having a stream of first party published titles leading us through the mushroom kingdom, or at least donning a Nintendo character, we are truly left with a few lesser known classics. Perhaps that’s the best thing that these classics don’t have to face the big Nintendo titles, where often times it can be hard to survive. If you need to give Mario a break, try out Star Solider, Dynamite Headdy or Drop Off. Full details and pricing after the jump.
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Israeli indie developer Dark Motif today announced that they have launched their official website and revealed Adam Syndrome, an upcoming adventure game for PC. The game has players donning the role of Professor Adam Reed as the goes on a quest for answers following a strange chain of occurrences that ends with the sudden and mysterious death of his wife. As expected, the game will feature various locations including ancient lost cities, futuristic laboratories, underwater complexes, and various other locations. Here’s a bit on the story:
In a desperate attempt to discover what happened to his beloved wife, Professor Adam Reed becomes entangled in a web of conspiracy that threatens to tear apart the tapestry of his own life. Through a shocking series of revelations, Adam learns that he has unwittingly been playing a major role in a dark and mysterious conspiracy. By following a 400 year old trail left behind by John Dee, the 16th-century occultist and famous advisor to Queen Elizabeth I, he unearths secrets of the biblical giants known as the Nephilim and the ancient myth of the Great Flood, and finds himself facing powerful adversaries – the members of a strange and elusive society – as he uncovers a malevolent plot. With time running out, Adam must stop these men from wreaking monumental catastrophe by unveiling a secret buried thousands of years ago by blood and by time itself – a shocking truth that will shake the very foundations of humanity.
Adam Syndrome, set for release during Q3 2008, will feature an original soundtrack, real-time weather effects, third-person perspective, 150+ pre-rendered 3D backgrounds and over 50 real-time 3D characters.
This year’s Leipzig Games Convention will be host to the world premiere of THEY, an upcoming first-person shooter for PC and next-gen consoles. According to the press release, the game will be shown to selected media at the show. It features “next-generation effects”, brand new gameplay elements and a new weapon system.
THEY is set for release sometime in 2008/2009 and will also feature heavy usage of physics, destructible environment, various multiplayer modes and more. No other information was released, though a lone screenshot can be found above this post.
Following up on the launch of the GC Art exhibition are last year, the organizers of the event announced that it will be present this year also and will host four separate exhibitions at the show.
First up is public_play, which will see international artists displaying on the theme of “digital play and public places.” The backdrop for this year is Leipzig itself, recreated with the aid of large-format projections and soundstages.
The second exhibition will be Telespiele 1972-2007 which takes a look at the 35 year history of digital games. Content ranges from the first “Pong machine” to the current next-generation consoles. There will also be games magazines, manuals and numerous rarities on display.
The third exhibition will be showing of Machinima films – movies made using game tools and nothing else. There will be daily film shows, information on machinima, as well as a part where visitors will try their hand at making machinima themselves.
Finally, the last exhibition will be Digital Beauty – 3D Character Design, displaying 20 images created on the PC, posing the question to visitors: “virtual or real?” Workshops will also be held and participants will be guided through the various stages.
The exhibitions run from August 23-26 at the show.
Yes, you read that right. The PS3 has indeed sold 6 million units worldwide, according to GfK anyway. IGN was on hand at Sony Australia’s “Experience More” event where they showed off company products including the PS3 and some of its games – namely Heavenly Sword. Sony had this on display on one of their screens, and according to it, the company has sold 61,000 units in Australia and 6 million units globally as of March 2007.
It is not yet confirmed, as Sony announced just a few months ago that they had sold 1 million units in PAL regions and another million in Japan, but seeing as how they quote another source for the numbers, they have to be taken as real.
