Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Independent UK retailer boss expects PSP Go to 'fail miserably']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/10/07/independent-uk-retailer-boss-expects-psp-go-to-fail-miserably/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/10/07/independent-uk-retailer-boss-expects-psp-go-to-fail-miserably/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/10/07/independent-uk-retailer-boss-expects-psp-go-to-fail-miserably/#comments The managing director of Chips, the UK's largest independent game store chain, doesn't see a bright future for Sony's new PSP Go. In fact, during a little pow-wow with GI.biz, Don McCabe said, "I'm 99.9 per cent sure it's going to fail miserably, in which case it's going to put back other potential people coming into that digital space." Wow, that's a lot of certainty!

McCabe doesn't point to any one thing about the new handheld as a deterrent for potential customers (examples: price; no UMD; crazy cable accessories), but seems adamant that the system isn't destined to "go anywhere." Of course, this comes in stark contrast to Sony's opinion that PSP Go sales are meeting expectations. If both end up being correct, those must have been some weirdly low expectations.

JoystiqIndependent UK retailer boss expects PSP Go to 'fail miserably' originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 07 Oct 2009 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chipsdon-mccabepsp-goukWed, 07 Oct 2009 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[UK retailers lament PSP Go pre-orders, demand PSN cards]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/26/uk-retailers-lament-psp-go-pre-orders-demand-psn-cards/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/26/uk-retailers-lament-psp-go-pre-orders-demand-psn-cards/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/26/uk-retailers-lament-psp-go-pre-orders-demand-psn-cards/#comments
If PSP Go is considered a "ripoff" in America, what do our friends in the UK call it, where it may retail for more than double the cost of the current PSP? The official UK price has yet to be revealed, but the leading national retailer Game is taking pre-orders at a "guide price" of £230, a significant jump over the average retail price of £100 for the current PSP.

The sticker shock may be scaring off customers, as independent shops are telling Edge some frightening pre-order stories. "I don't have a single pre-order for PSP Go at the moment," Chips' Don McCabe told the outlet. "We haven't got any [PSP Go pre-orders] at all," repeated Grainger Games' Chris Harwood. While the head of SCEE believes consumers will pay an early adopter premium, McCabe believes otherwise. "We can't see where that price justification comes in when effectively it's a lighter, slimmer PSP. It's got a bit more memory, but memory's not that expensive. It can't handle UMD so part of the mechanism disappears, so where does the price come from?"

Retailers are not getting an added benefit for stocking the PSP Go. Margins on game hardware have been historically low and PSP Go looks to follow suit. In America, SCEA's Eric Lempel noted retailer enthusiasm due to the sale PlayStation Network cards at retail. UK retail partners currently don't have an equivalent revenue source, a problem that may hinder retail enthusiasm. "You need to see some sort of revenue streams coming off the back of these machines, otherwise from a retail point of view it's just not worth it," said McCabe.

JoystiqUK retailers lament PSP Go pre-orders, demand PSN cards originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 26 Jun 2009 13:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chipsgrainger-gamespsp-goretailsceeSony-Computer-Entertainment-EuropeFri, 26 Jun 2009 13:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Nvidia and Intel at odds over chipset license agreement]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/02/18/nvidia-and-intel-at-odds-over-chipset-license-agreement/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/02/18/nvidia-and-intel-at-odds-over-chipset-license-agreement/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/02/18/nvidia-and-intel-at-odds-over-chipset-license-agreement/#comments
We don't wish to bore you with our extensive knowledge of integrated memory controllers or graphicular renderpipe cashays, so we'll simply leap to the core of this computer matter. Nvidia has responded to an Intel court filing, which alleges that a 2004 chipset licensing agreement between the two companies does not extend to Intel's future generation CPUs -- you know, the ones with integrated memory controllers.

Nvidia has deemed this movement counter to the prior agreement, with president and CEO Jen-Hsun Huang saying, "We are confident that our license, as negotiated, applies." He sees it as a brewing power struggle, labeling his own company as the major innovator and Intel as attempting to "stifle innovation to protect a decaying CPU business." Nvidia claims that it has been attempting to settle matters outside of the court for over a year. Good luck to whatever judge has to decide which hardware giant has the bigger chip on its solder, eh? EH?

[Via Big Download]

JoystiqNvidia and Intel at odds over chipset license agreement originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 18 Feb 2009 15:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ChipsCPUIntelLawsuitNvidiaPCWed, 18 Feb 2009 15:40:00 EST<![CDATA[New Shiren 2 screens are all that and a bag of Shiren chips]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/25/new-shiren-2-screens-are-all-that-and-a-bag-of-shiren-chips/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/25/new-shiren-2-screens-are-all-that-and-a-bag-of-shiren-chips/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/25/new-shiren-2-screens-are-all-that-and-a-bag-of-shiren-chips/#commentsFiled under:



We couldn't decide which was more awesome -- these new screenshots for Shiren the Wanderer DS 2: Demon Castle in the Desert, or the fact that Chunsoft went out of its way in 2001 to promote the original Game Boy Color title, Shiren the Wanderer GB2, with bags of steak-flavored chips (In case you're late to the party, STW DS 2 is a roguelike remake of STW GB2).

So, we went ahead and featured both the crisps and an image of Shiren's long-lost and perpetually hungry brother, Pekeji, in our article image. Hopefuly, publisher Sega will have a similar potato chip promotion with STW DS 2! Even better, maybe they'll eventually localize the chips along with the game?

See also: Shiren GB2, Shiren DS 2 compared


[via Inside Games]

JoystiqNew Shiren 2 screens are all that and a bag of Shiren chips originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 25 Jun 2008 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chipschunsoftfushigi-no-dungeongame-boy-colormystery-dungeonroguelikesegashiren-the-wandererWed, 25 Jun 2008 23:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Hackers get into Wii, hunt for Angelina Jolie begins]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/28/hackers-get-into-wii-hunt-for-angelina-jolie-begins/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/28/hackers-get-into-wii-hunt-for-angelina-jolie-begins/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/28/hackers-get-into-wii-hunt-for-angelina-jolie-begins/#commentsFiled under: , ,


It would seem that the hacking community has finally cracked the Wii, as they've figured out a way to get code up and running on the console. It's a feat that hasn't been performed before and was accomplished after many Bothans people sacrificed time and energy to complete this task. See, inside of the Wii, the Hollywood chip doesn't just handle graphics, it's got a whole lot to do with authentication (you know, to make sure you've got a valid Wii or GC game disc in there). Well, these hackers have found out that upon booting up a GameCube game, this chip will turn off all of the cool Wii functionality (bluetooth, USB, etc.) and restricts the area of memory you're allowed to access. But, there isn't any kind of encryption dealing with the memory, so this is where the folks knew they should focus.

Now, the next part gets too technical for us, but just know that they found a way to get these authentication codes from the memory and trick the Wii into believing it was loading a Wii game (in this case, Lego Star Wars). This then allowed them to load their own code into the Wii. Judging by the clapping in the video, it's a pretty big deal and means that homebrew on the Wii is that much closer to being a reality.

Oh, and if you don't get the Angelina Jolie reference, head past the break.

Continue reading Hackers get into Wii, hunt for Angelina Jolie begins

JoystiqHackers get into Wii, hunt for Angelina Jolie begins originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 28 Dec 2007 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chipsgamecubehackershackinghackshollywoodmemoryFri, 28 Dec 2007 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The future of console hardware design]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/05/the-future-of-console-hardware-design/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/05/the-future-of-console-hardware-design/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/05/the-future-of-console-hardware-design/#commentsFiled under: , ,

The next generation has just barely become the new generation, but the folks at Semiconductor Insights are already thinking about what might be under the hood of the next generation of consoles. In an article at TechOnline, SI manager Allan Yogasingam discusses how the focus of system design has tilted from simple cosmetics for the Atari 2600 to "cost, heat [management], cooling and [efficiency] test." in the 30 years since.

That cost bit might be the most important -- SI manager Greg Quirk predicts Sony and Microsoft will soon introduce 65 nanometer processors to reduce the costs associated with their current, 90-nanometer-chip systems. Yogasingam also predicts that the drive for cost reduction might lead console makers to look towards "second- and third-tier chip and software vendors " for the next generation. Someone better warn IBM that their gravy train might be in jeopardy.

What else is likely to be in the next generation of hardware? The SI team thinks 802.11n wireless, tilt-sensitive MEMS controller sensors and other entertainment features are likely to stay hot, but that's not exactly rocket science. Where are the bold predictions for things like laser cannon attachments and Holodeck-style projectors.

JoystiqThe future of console hardware design originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 05 Jun 2007 23:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chipchipsCPUdesignevolvehardwareIBMmotherboardPS3semicodnuctorWiiXbox-360Tue, 05 Jun 2007 23:30:00 EST<![CDATA[IBM to future game makers: Stay in school]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/12/01/ibm-to-future-game-makers-stay-in-school/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/12/01/ibm-to-future-game-makers-stay-in-school/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/12/01/ibm-to-future-game-makers-stay-in-school/#commentsFiled under: , ,

The vagaries of computer chip design don't usually hold a school child's rapt attention. But tell the student how that chip design relates to video games and things might go a little differently.

That was clearly IBM's hope when they invited over 300 New York area children to its $2.5-billion East Fishkill manufacturing plant this week to show them how the chips behind today's game systems get made. The trip was part of a program to encourage math and science education by "making the subjects interesting and relevant to them."

To that end, IBM showed the students how math and science make games possible, and how the technology behind video games is being used in everything from health care to energy exploration. The students also got to get some hands on time with the next-gen systems, which we're sure made them forget all about that boring educational stuff.

With IBM chips in all three next-gen systems, the company clearly has a vested interest in promoting its position at the forefront of gaming hardware technology. Still, it's always nice to see a corporate mega-conglomerate giving something back to the community.

JoystiqIBM to future game makers: Stay in school originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 01 Dec 2006 10:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chipseducationgamingIBMnext-genPS3studentsWiiXbox-360Fri, 01 Dec 2006 10:35:00 EST<![CDATA[MS opens in-house chip lab for Xbox 720]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/10/21/ms-opens-in-house-chip-lab-for-xbox-720/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/10/21/ms-opens-in-house-chip-lab-for-xbox-720/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/10/21/ms-opens-in-house-chip-lab-for-xbox-720/#commentsFiled under:

The NY Times reports that Microsoft is ending its partnership with IBM to found it's own chip design lab to work on chips for a planned third generation Xbox:

The design effort will initially be split between research labs at the company's headquarters in Redmond, Wash., and its Silicon Valley campus here. Tentatively named the Computer Architecture Group, the project underscores sweeping changes in the industry.

One reason for the effort is that Microsoft needs to begin thinking about the next-generation design of its Xbox game console, said Charles P. Thacker, a veteran engineer and Microsoft engineer who will head the Silicon Valley group. Voice recognition may also be an area where the research could play a significant role.

Thacker is famous in certain circles for his work at the Xerox Palo Alto Research Center. The division will be called the "Comupter Architecture Group" which isn't the snazziest name ever, but then, neither was IBM.

JoystiqMS opens in-house chip lab for Xbox 720 originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 21 Oct 2006 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chipsdesignlabnext-genthird-genxbox 720Xbox720Sat, 21 Oct 2006 13:30:00 EST