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[Revolutionary: Dreaming of Wii 1.5]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/07/revolutionary-dreaming-of-wii-1-5/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/07/revolutionary-dreaming-of-wii-1-5/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/07/revolutionary-dreaming-of-wii-1-5/#commentsFiled under: , ,

With both E3 '08 and the midpoint of this generation fast approaching, while it may be a bit premature, we wouldn't mind seeing a few changes in the Wii hardware. Within their lifetimes, the PS2 slimmed down, the Gamecube parted with a port, and the DS shed its baby phat, so it's not unreasonable to expect some sort of alterations to the Wii.

A compact box that's already inexpensive to produce (and continuously remains in greater demand than supply can keep up with) may not cry out for revision, but there are a few bits that can be nipped and tucked to enhance the appeal and value of the Wii. This week Revolutionary goes Revisionary.

Continue reading Revolutionary: Dreaming of Wii 1.5

JoystiqRevolutionary: Dreaming of Wii 1.5 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 07 May 2008 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dvd playerDvdPlayerflashflash driveflash memoryflashdriveFlashMemoryhard driveHardDrivejoystiqfeaturesRevolutionarytouchWed, 07 May 2008 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Revolutionary: Wii can has hard drive?]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/23/revolutionary-wii-can-has-hard-drive/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/23/revolutionary-wii-can-has-hard-drive/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/23/revolutionary-wii-can-has-hard-drive/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Every other week, Mike Sylvester brings you REVOLUTIONARY, a look at the wide world of Wii possibilities.

If you're smitten with the Virtual Console, one thing we're sure you aren't in love with is having to swap games between an SD card and your Wii's internal memory, or even worse -- deleting games to be re-downloaded later. WiiWare is on its way and it's hard to imagine My Life as a King demeaning itself to share its estate with less noble games. And certainly not with it bringing microtransactions to the royal ball. And wouldn't it be dandy if some of our multiplatform ports had somewhere to store that downloadable content that everyone is raving about on other consoles?

We want need more storage, and some of you have gathered to plead with Nintendo to sell a Wii Hard Drive. It appears that your cries just fall on deaf ears because they seem hardly driven to provide one. In this edition of Revolutionary, we'll examine why Wii can't have a hard drive.

Continue reading Revolutionary: Wii can has hard drive?

JoystiqRevolutionary: Wii can has hard drive? originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 23 Apr 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hard drivehard drivesharddriveHardDriveshardwarejoystiqfeaturesperipheralsrevolutionaryvirtual consolevirtualconsolewii warewiiwareWed, 23 Apr 2008 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Conjecture Countdown: 13 days to go]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/28/conjecture-countdown-13-days-to-go/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/28/conjecture-countdown-13-days-to-go/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/28/conjecture-countdown-13-days-to-go/#commentsFiled under:


Even with a diminished E3, there's no controlling the wave of rumors that hit the Internet every year before the show. Why fight it? From now until E3 hits, we'll be posting one piece of wild speculation every day. Some may be patently ridiculous, and others just might turn out to be true. Even some of the ridiculous ones might turn out to be true! Rest assured, everything will be totally made-up and unfounded. Except, of course, when we speak about all the ass Reggie is going to kick. That part? Totally true.

Rumor: Aw, just kidding, guys ... we're releasing hard drive options. We just like to make you sweat.

JoystiqConjecture Countdown: 13 days to go originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 28 Jun 2007 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>e3e3cchard driveHardDrivehumorrumorsThu, 28 Jun 2007 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Wii hard drive just isn't happening]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/27/wii-hard-drive-just-isnt-happening/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/27/wii-hard-drive-just-isnt-happening/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/27/wii-hard-drive-just-isnt-happening/#commentsFiled under:

If your Wii is getting ready to overflow and you're looking for a reprieve from Nintendo in the form of a hard drive, it's time to accept purchasing some extra SD cards and erasing VC titles. Even with the announcement this morning of WiiWare, Nintendo isn't planning on making a hard drive for the system and expanding their measly 512MBs. CVG asked Nintendo if they are making a hard drive and were given a very clear, "No."

For some, the 512MB hasn't been enough, but unless you've been on a VC bender, it's still pretty difficult to fill up. Although, this small amount of space really doesn't stand up well against obvious future issues, especially once the ball really starts rolling on the Wii and more space is required. We're still hoping to put VC titles on SD cards, but a hard drive has to be somewhere in the future -- unless they just go with a Wii 2.0 option.

JoystiqWii hard drive just isn't happening originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 27 Jun 2007 17:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hard drivenintendovcwiiWed, 27 Jun 2007 17:26:00 EST<![CDATA[Nintendo waves away hard drive rumors]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/27/nintendo-waves-away-hard-drive-rumors/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/27/nintendo-waves-away-hard-drive-rumors/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/27/nintendo-waves-away-hard-drive-rumors/#commentsFiled under: ,

After today's revelation of WiiWare, the new original content download service, the idea of an add-on hard drive for the console seemed much more likely. Until, that is, Nintendo UK unequivocally said, "no." Looks like it's time to start employing a wee army of SD cards, because with all the downloadable goodness, that 512 MBs of space is going pretty fast.

JoystiqNintendo waves away hard drive rumors originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 27 Jun 2007 15:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>flash memoryFlashMemoryhard driveHardDriverumorsd cardSdCardshopping channelShoppingChannelWed, 27 Jun 2007 15:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Hard drive rumors are back]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/05/hard-drive-rumors-are-back/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/05/hard-drive-rumors-are-back/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/05/hard-drive-rumors-are-back/#commentsFiled under:

We know that we'd like a hard drive on the Wii-- and while we're dreaming, we'd like it to be free and preloaded with Sega CD games-- but we don't have any real evidence that one's coming. We first heard some unfounded speculation about it back in March, from a Japanese magazine.

Now the rumor is back, with just as much to back it up (nothing). IGN editors speculated in a podcast that Nintendo might show one at E3, and CVG saw the fact that Neo Geo games are big as evidence. Then, of course, everyone picked up on the rumors-- including us, right now. Not to say that there's no chance of a hard drive in the future, but we'd like to remind everyone that SD cards exist and are cheap.

JoystiqHard drive rumors are back originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 05 Jun 2007 14:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>drivehardhard driveHardDrivehdhddneogeonintendonintendo wiiNintendoWiirumorswiiTue, 05 Jun 2007 14:35:00 EST<![CDATA[Data transfer demo for your new HDD]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/27/data-transfer-demo-for-your-new-hdd/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/27/data-transfer-demo-for-your-new-hdd/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/27/data-transfer-demo-for-your-new-hdd/#commentsFiled under: ,


If you're a current 360 owner and are in the market for a new 120GB HDD or the Xbox 360 Elite in the coming weeks, then you'll be dealing with some HDD data transferring. And thanks to Major Nelson's data transfer demo, the whole process will be painless. In the embedded video above, Major and his clothes twin Albert walk you through the whole thing step by step and even do a little Xbox 360 Elite unboxing to boot. It's actually quite simple and should take less than an hour to move all your data to your new 120GB behemoth. And, as if it wasn't mentioned enough, the data transfer will be permanent and can only be done once. So, make sure this is what you want, as there's no going back.

JoystiqData transfer demo for your new HDD originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 27 Apr 2007 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>120 gb120 gb hdd120Gb120GbHdd360 elite360Eliteelitehard driveHardDrivehddxbox 360 eliteXbox360EliteFri, 27 Apr 2007 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Save some cash, use your own 120GB HDD]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/23/save-some-cash-use-your-own-120gb-hdd/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/23/save-some-cash-use-your-own-120gb-hdd/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/23/save-some-cash-use-your-own-120gb-hdd/#commentsFiled under: ,

The hard drive prophecy has come true. Xbox-Scene is reporting that the new version of HDDHackr has been released allowing the use of an unlicensed 120GB hard drive for your 360 storage. The HDDHackr program uses the newly found 120GB signature and will allow anyone to use a specific 120GB WD HDD for their 360 storage saving roughly $100 over Microsoft's official Xbox 360 120GB HDD. Though, you'll need to be somewhat familiar with hacking programs and PC hardware setup to get the drive up and running. But, if that's your thing, you can save big bucks and up your Xbox 360 hard drive capacity to 120GB the l33t way. So, is anyone up for the challenge?

JoystiqSave some cash, use your own 120GB HDD originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 23 Apr 2007 10:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>120120 gb120 gb hdd120Gb120GbHddhard driveHardDrivehddperipheralMon, 23 Apr 2007 10:45:00 EST<![CDATA[120 GB hard drive snagged for $99]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/20/120-gb-hard-drive-snagged-for-99/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/20/120-gb-hard-drive-snagged-for-99/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/20/120-gb-hard-drive-snagged-for-99/#commentsFiled under: ,

If the Xbox 360 has one consistent complaint, it is undoubtedly the cost of its peripherals. In particular, the price of its hard drive has been the most difficult to stomach. $99 dollars for 20 gigabytes seems positively ludicrous in today's world of cheap storage. The new 120GB hard drive isn't much better, clocking in at $179. Microsoft has defended the pricing structure, saying that they demand very strict specifications from manufacturers (things like drive speed, security, etc.), but it's hard to believe it couldn't be had for less.

Enter one lucky 360 fanboy by the name of Scooter. Scooter spotted a 120GB hard drive at his local Wal-Mart. Looking closer, the drive was priced at a cool $99.88. Seizing upon the opportunity, he asked a clerk to open up the case and ring it up. Of course, once the item was scanned, it came up as $172. After a quick interchange with customer service, it's revealed that Wal-Mart store policy requires that items be sold for the price at which they are marked (even if the price is incorrect). So, he walks out with a 120GB drive for a full $80 less than retail price.

Granted, we're sure the display price was corrected immediately following the sale, but it's nice to hear that at least one fanboy managed to stick it to the man. Our advice: scour your area Wal-Marts for mislabeled hard drives. You might end up with a killer deal. Follow the "read" link for photographic proof of the $99 120GB HDD.

[Thanks, Scooter]

Joystiq120 GB hard drive snagged for $99 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 20 Apr 2007 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>120 gb hdd120 hard drive120 hdd120gb120gb hard drive120gbHardDrive120GbHdd120HardDrive120Hddhard driveHardDrivehddFri, 20 Apr 2007 12:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony now 'considering' 80GB PS3]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/16/sony-now-considering-80gb-ps3/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/16/sony-now-considering-80gb-ps3/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/16/sony-now-considering-80gb-ps3/#commentsFiled under: ,

In a reversal of Sony's March assertion that they "don't have plans" to increase the PlayStation 3's hard drive size, Sony spokesman Satoshi Fukuoka now says the company is "considering" a version featuring a drive bigger than the 60GB existing model (and 20GB model that was discontinued in the USA five days ago). Does this mean a pending price drop for the 60GB PS3? Or will Sony blow our minds and bank accounts with a new $700 SKU?

[Via Fragland]

JoystiqSony now 'considering' 80GB PS3 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 16 Apr 2007 13:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>80gbhard driveHardDrivehdps3Mon, 16 Apr 2007 13:56:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft defends 120GB Xbox HDD price]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/04/microsoft-defends-120gb-xbox-hdd-price/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/04/microsoft-defends-120gb-xbox-hdd-price/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/04/microsoft-defends-120gb-xbox-hdd-price/#commentsFiled under: ,

elite hddAaron Greenberg, Microsoft's group product manager, told Game Theory yesterday that the 120GB external drive for the Xbox 360 is not overpriced at $179. Said Greenberg, "If you compare what we are offering with a real plug-and-play drive the closest thing would be to take a 120-gig self-powered external PC drive, and in that case we are seeing those retail at anywhere from $160 to $200 for comparable laptop-sized external hard drives."

Greenberg probably doesn't want you to know that he's wrong, but he's wrong. Sure, you can pay $200 for a 120GB drive if you really want to, but as with most products, there are plenty of deals to be had; unless you're locked into buying peripherals from a single manufacturer that controls its monopolistic pricing with a proprietary vice-grip. Which, in the case of the Xbox 360 ... you are. Though if Greenberg had said, "We own you. Deal with it," that might not have been as good for PR.

They own you. Deal with it.

JoystiqMicrosoft defends 120GB Xbox HDD price originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 04 Apr 2007 12:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>120gb360hard driveHardDrivehdhddoverpricedxboxXbox-360Wed, 04 Apr 2007 12:09:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony working on new 80GB PS3]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/29/sony-working-on-new-80gb-ps3/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/29/sony-working-on-new-80gb-ps3/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/29/sony-working-on-new-80gb-ps3/#commentsFiled under:

Xbox 360 Elite is Microsoft's attempt at matching PLAYSTATION 3's impressive hardware features. While the Elite doesn't provide wi-fi support like the premium PS3, nor does it feature integrated HD disc support, it does offer a whopping 120GB of hard disk space, dwarfing the 60GB PS3 hard drive.

According to a recent FCC filing, it appears Sony is going to modify the current PS3 and include a larger 80GB hard drive: "The model CECHE01 to be added by the difference of the capacity of hard disk." Although this doesn't match the Elite's hard drive, it does add even more value to the $599 PS3. Current users need not feel short-changed, though. Unlike 360 users, PS3 owners are free to install almost any hard drive into their system, without having to pay ridiculous prices for proprietary peripherals ($180 for 120GB hard drive?!).

[Via Engadget]

JoystiqSony working on new 80GB PS3 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 29 Mar 2007 12:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>80gbfcchard driveHardDriveplaystation 3Playstation3ps3sonyxbox 360xbox 360 eliteXbox360Xbox360EliteThu, 29 Mar 2007 12:12:00 EST<![CDATA[Preloaded content revealed for 120GB HDD]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/29/preloaded-content-revealed-for-120gb-hdd/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/29/preloaded-content-revealed-for-120gb-hdd/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/29/preloaded-content-revealed-for-120gb-hdd/#commentsFiled under: ,

Over at TeamXbox they got the dish on what content will be preloaded on the newly announced Xbox 360 120GB HDD. First off, all the preloaded content will be available on both the Xbox 360 Elite hard drive and the seperate retail version. As far as content goes, everything that's preloaded on the 20GB model will be included on the new 120GB drive. We kind of expected this since the new drive is huge ... uber huge. This 120GB behemoth will also come preloaded with a bunch of other content not available on the 20GB drive including demos like Lost Planet, Street Fighter II, and Call of Duty 3. You'll also see more trailers, gamer pictures, and themes, all of which you can delete instantly or savor for the long run. A full list of the 120GB HDD's preloaded content can be found after the break.

[Thanks, Derka]

Continue reading Preloaded content revealed for 120GB HDD

JoystiqPreloaded content revealed for 120GB HDD originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 29 Mar 2007 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>120 gb120 gb hd120 gb hdd120Gb120GbHd120GbHdd20 gb hd20 gb hdd20GbHd20GbHddhard driveHardDriveperipheralxbox 360 hard driveXbox360HardDriveThu, 29 Mar 2007 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Xbox 360 120GB HDD advertising appears]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/26/xbox-360-120gb-hdd-advertising-appears/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/26/xbox-360-120gb-hdd-advertising-appears/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/26/xbox-360-120gb-hdd-advertising-appears/#commentsFiled under: , ,

It looks like promotional materials for the new "rumored" Xbox 360 120GB hard drive are surfacing. We received this picture from fanboy reader Ralph, who says it's a shot of Gamestop's promotional poster for the much rumored 120GB hard drive. Yes, we know it's a tiny picture, but Ralph says it's so small because it was sent to him via his trendy little Blackberry. Stupid Blackberrys and their small screens. So, is this confirmation of a new 120GB hard drive and possibly the Elite 360? Not exactly, but it makes for great speculation goodness. And we all know how much we love our rumors and spec.

[Thanks, Ralph]

JoystiqXbox 360 120GB HDD advertising appears originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 26 Mar 2007 01:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>120 gb hard drive120 gb hdd120GbHardDrive120GbHddhard driveHardDrivehddrumorrumorsxbox 360Xbox360Mon, 26 Mar 2007 01:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Rumor: Wii hard drive]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/19/rumor-wii-hard-drive/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/19/rumor-wii-hard-drive/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/19/rumor-wii-hard-drive/#commentsFiled under:

Another day, another completely speculative rumor. This time, the word is that there's an external hard drive in the works for the Wii,. This rumor is brought to us by a Japanese magazine called Gamelabo, which, according to the media watchdogs at NeoGAF, is not necessarily a trustworthy source.

Our take: those USB ports have to be used for something sooner or later. Also, if this rumor turned out to be true, it would lend a lot of credence to those other rumors about Saturn games and demo downloads-- but using one rumor to support other rumors does not receive the Wii Fanboy Seal of Approval. We want it to be true, though! That trumps logic, right?


JoystiqRumor: Wii hard drive originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 19 Mar 2007 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>channelchannelsdemodemochannelhard driveharddrivehddnintendonintendo wiiNintendoWiirumorrumorswiiMon, 19 Mar 2007 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Install a bigger HD in your PS3]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/01/23/install-a-bigger-hd-in-your-ps3/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/01/23/install-a-bigger-hd-in-your-ps3/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/01/23/install-a-bigger-hd-in-your-ps3/#commentsFiled under: ,

Sixty gigabytes not enough for you to store all your pictures and movies on your PS3? Sure, you could use a USB hard drive to expand the space, but that's much too easy. For those masochists that just need to have that extra storage inside the system casing, there's now a MySpace page with detailed advice on how to install any 3.5" drive in your system.

For those of you who just need to have every USB device you own hooked up to the PS3 at the same time, the site also has video instructions for installing a USB hub to expand the four ports included with the system. Personally, we're too busy playing Resistance: Fall of Man to take the time to do any of this stuff, but for the hardware fetishists out there, go nuts.

JoystiqInstall a bigger HD in your PS3 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 23 Jan 2007 11:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hackhackshard drivehard drivreHardDriveHardDrivreHDDinternalPS3Tue, 23 Jan 2007 11:55:00 EST<![CDATA[DVR Xbox 360 possible, IPTV the catalyst]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/01/15/dvr-xbox-360-possible-iptv-the-catalyst/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/01/15/dvr-xbox-360-possible-iptv-the-catalyst/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/01/15/dvr-xbox-360-possible-iptv-the-catalyst/#commentsFiled under: ,

it doesn't look different...Speaking with Major Nelson, Microsoft group product manager Aaron Greenberg speculated that a version of Xbox 360 specialized for IPTV and DVR activity was certainly possible. Greenberg admitted that "[Microsoft] did not build [Xbox 360] to be a high-definition DVR," suggesting an IPTV upgrade (i.e. larger hard drive) and IPTV-specific console "configuration" were both possible solutions to the inherent dilemma. Greenberg did note that a larger hard drive would only be necessary for DVR functionality -- IPTV could function with or without a hard drive.

While this is hardly confirmation that a new version of Xbox 360 is inbound, Greenberg's statements may indicate that Microsoft is closing in on a strategy for 360 v2; one that won't upset early adopters (at least, not as much). Marketing v2 as an IPTV/DVR device (PSX, anyone?) might be enough of a diversion to excuse the original Xbox 360's lack of substantial hard drive space and HDMI output. If that is to be the case, it will be imperative that all of the v2 components are available for the original console, including a free IPTV software installation (with purchase of contract, of course).

JoystiqDVR Xbox 360 possible, IPTV the catalyst originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 15 Jan 2007 23:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>360DVRHard DriveHardDriveHDHDDHDMIHigh DefinitionHighDefinitionIPTVXbox 360Xbox-360Xbox360Mon, 15 Jan 2007 23:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Seagate - the answer to digital distribution?]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/01/02/seagate-the-answer-to-digital-distribution/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/01/02/seagate-the-answer-to-digital-distribution/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/01/02/seagate-the-answer-to-digital-distribution/#commentsFiled under: , ,

When thinking of gaming, the companies that make the storage medium are rarely thought of. Seagate, however, is offering up an interesting view of the future; a future that could effect the way we buy our games.

According to Seagate, they are working on a technology that will drastically increase the amount of data we store on hard drives. Using a technology called heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR), the company expects to be able to shove 50 TB of information into a single square inch of drive space, or around 300 TB of information on a standard 3.5" drive. With that kind of space, the entire Library of Congress can be stored ... without any compression.

The technology is expected to become commercially viable in a scant three years, by 2010. This means we may be seeing the Xbox 720 and PS4 being entirely based around digital distribution or fully installed console games, mostly eliminating ugly load times and noisy disk drives. With that kind of space, we may never have to worry about filling it up; 300 TB can hold around 6,144 50 GB Blu-ray disks (or the entire Library of PS through PS3 games that could ever be created with room to spare).

JoystiqSeagate - the answer to digital distribution? originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 02 Jan 2007 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>big hard driveBigHardDrivedigital distributionDigitalDistributionhard drivehard drive sizeHardDriveHardDriveSizelarge hard driveLargeHardDrivePS3PS4TBterrabyteXbox 360Xbox 720Xbox-360Xbox360Xbox720Tue, 02 Jan 2007 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Samsung hints at hard disk-enhanced PSP]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/12/29/samsung-hints-at-hard-disk-enhanced-psp/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/12/29/samsung-hints-at-hard-disk-enhanced-psp/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/12/29/samsung-hints-at-hard-disk-enhanced-psp/#commentsFiled under:


Do you see what I see? There seems to be a very familiar looking portable device in that girl's hands. This photo was taken at Samsung's announcement of new portable hard drive tech. The 60GB version of Samsung's 1.8" N-series drives may end up in a future PSP revision, which should be enough to satiate you with days, if not weeks, of music and games and porn.

[Via Engadget]

JoystiqSamsung hints at hard disk-enhanced PSP originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 29 Dec 2006 00:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>60 gb60Gbengadgethard driveHardDriven-seriespspsamsungFri, 29 Dec 2006 00:10:00 EST<![CDATA[PSP survey suggests redesign]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/12/19/psp-survey-suggests-redesign/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/12/19/psp-survey-suggests-redesign/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/12/19/psp-survey-suggests-redesign/#commentsFiled under: ,

Well, would you? Sony recently sent a survey to select members of its GAP community polling them on various features for the PSP. This is unsurprising: they've done this quite a number of times before. However, this is the first time the language has suggested a redesigned PSP: would you buy another PSP, just like the hordes of DS owners that threw out their Phats in exchange for the lovelier Lite? Personally, I think the PSP's design is good just the way it is, and being an owner of a 4GB Memory Stick makes me not care too much about a hard drive. However, video out is very important to me. Why? Well, then I can finally give you guys some direct-feed PSP footage. What about you, ye faithful PSP fanboy?

[Via IGN Boards]

[Update 1: Our readers have voted! A whopping majority of you, 62%, would purchase a redesigned PSP. As long as it doesn't render the current PSP useless, I think it's clear that a PSP "Lite" would go over very well with the masses.]

JoystiqPSP survey suggests redesign originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 19 Dec 2006 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gaphard driveHardDrivepspredesignsonysurveyvideo outVideoOutTue, 19 Dec 2006 21:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft's Xbox 360 HDD workaround: buy another]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/11/08/microsofts-360-hdd-workaround-buy-another/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/11/08/microsofts-360-hdd-workaround-buy-another/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/11/08/microsofts-360-hdd-workaround-buy-another/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

please buy another, pretty pleaseSpeaking with GamersReports, Xbox Group Product Marketing Manager Aaron Greenberg addressed concerns that Xbox 360's current 20 GB hard drive would not be sufficient for the forthcoming movie and television download service. When pressed for a solution, Greenberg offered up this workaround:

"I can tell you what people tell me they do to get around this. What they do is they put their Live account on a memory unit and then they have one hard drive that they put their games or related content on, and then they have another drive that they put their movies and TV on."

Of course! Why didn't we think of that? Duh, the 360 HDD is detachable -- just buy another! And $100 later, we've got enough room to store 5 hours of HD content on a separate drive. Wow, that's awful.

The good news is a larger hard drive will almost certainly hit the market. The even better news is there's already technology that will allow you to avoid buying any more of Microsoft's overpriced drives, big or small. Try Datel's XSATA ($49.99), which allows users to transfer data from the 360's HDD to another drive via PC connection. A quick search yields several 250 GB hard drive options hovering around the $100-mark. Do the math. That's more than 60 hours worth of HD movie and television content storage capacity -- for just $150. So much for Microsoft's "workaround."

JoystiqMicrosoft's Xbox 360 HDD workaround: buy another originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 08 Nov 2006 17:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>downloadhard driveHardDriveHDDXbox LiveXbox-360XboxLiveWed, 08 Nov 2006 17:55:00 EST<![CDATA[PS3 Ridge Racer: 9 minutes too long?]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/11/02/ps3-ridge-racer-9-minutes-too-long/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/11/02/ps3-ridge-racer-9-minutes-too-long/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/11/02/ps3-ridge-racer-9-minutes-too-long/#commentsFiled under: ,

Nuh-noooooooooooooooooooooooo!The Nintendo Nsider Forums are lighting up with glee (and spilling onto Digg) at how horribly terrific it would be if Ridge Racer 7 required a 5 GB install on PlayStation 3's hard disk drive. Some generous (in favor of Sony) math calculates that the install would take 9 minutes and 46 seconds. The assumption is most PS3 games will require HDD dumps, forcing users to constantly install, erase, and reinstall -- these data chunks would fill up the drives fast; certainly the 20 GB model.

Here's what we know: Ridge Racer 7 will have an optional 5 GB HDD installation feature that's in place to speed up load times. Currently, Ridge Racer 7 and Genji (4 GB install) are the only games known to include this option. While this will almost certainly change, there's little reason to believe that HDD dumps will become a PS3 standard (unless you buy Sony's "it's not a console, it's a computer" mumbo jumbo).

Anyways, waiting 9 minutes and 46 seconds for data to install isn't as agonizing as we'd sometimes like to believe; especially if it's a one-time (or once in a while) procedure. On that note, let's wait this conundrum out for a while longer, watch how it develops.

JoystiqPS3 Ridge Racer: 9 minutes too long? originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 02 Nov 2006 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Blu-rayGBhard driveHardDriveHDDNamcoPS3Ridge Racer 7RidgeRacer7Thu, 02 Nov 2006 22:30:00 EST<![CDATA[New data transfer solution: Datel Xport 360]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/10/30/first-impressions-datel-xport-360/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/10/30/first-impressions-datel-xport-360/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/10/30/first-impressions-datel-xport-360/#commentsFiled under:


The Datel Xport 360 showed up at Best Buy un-announced and caused some confusion with Datel's other data transfer solutions. Xbox-Scene has a forum post with details on the new device, which should let you back up your 360 hard drive with ease. Datel does come up with some decent stuff and I'd like to thank them for not bombarding us with a stream of press releases and viral ads. But it would help sales if they let people know when they have a new product.

JoystiqNew data transfer solution: Datel Xport 360 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 30 Oct 2006 01:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>back-updatelhard driveHardDrivexportMon, 30 Oct 2006 01:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Correction: no 100GB 360 HDD, claims Microsoft]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/10/23/correction-no-100gb-360-hdd-claims-microsoft/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/10/23/correction-no-100gb-360-hdd-claims-microsoft/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/10/23/correction-no-100gb-360-hdd-claims-microsoft/#commentsFiled under: , ,

X06 KoreaDespite clear indication at X06 Korea, Microsoft insists there are no plans to release a 100GB hard drive for Xbox 360 next March. The official statement is as follows:

"The reference to a 100GB hard drive in a recent presentation in Korea has been misleading and in fact we have no plans to bring a 100GB hard drive to the market. We apologize for any confusion this may have caused."

When questioned, Microsoft reps did concede that a larger (more competitive) drive was still a possibility, but reiterated that such an accessory would not be announced in the near future.

JoystiqCorrection: no 100GB 360 HDD, claims Microsoft originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 23 Oct 2006 14:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>100GBhard driveHardDriveHDDXbox-360Mon, 23 Oct 2006 14:55:00 EST<![CDATA[100GB HD at X06 Korea confirmed fake]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/10/22/100gb-hd-at-x06-korea-confirmed-fake/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/10/22/100gb-hd-at-x06-korea-confirmed-fake/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/10/22/100gb-hd-at-x06-korea-confirmed-fake/#commentsFiled under: ,


In a crushing blow to people who believe everything they see on the internet, German-language blog Xbox-Archiv.de reports (crappy English web translation here) that Microsoft Senior Product Manager Boris Schneider-Johne confirmed the 100GB 360 hard drive supposedly pictured at X06 Korea is a photo-shopped fake. According to Boris, there was no such product announcement. Additionally, Larry "Major Nelson" Hyrb told our own Richard Mitchell that the 100GB tale "looks like fiction" to him. This should clear up the confusion resulting from conflicting reports on the veracity of this story.

[Thanks Ankalagon]

Joystiq100GB HD at X06 Korea confirmed fake originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 22 Oct 2006 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>100gbhard driveHardDrivehdkoreax06Sun, 22 Oct 2006 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PS3's Genji uses HDD to quarter load times]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/10/21/ps3s-genji-uses-hdd-to-quarter-load-times/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/10/21/ps3s-genji-uses-hdd-to-quarter-load-times/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/10/21/ps3s-genji-uses-hdd-to-quarter-load-times/#commentsFiled under:

Before jumping into Genji to deal some massive damage to historically accurate giant crabs (nyuk nyuk) during Sony's Gamer's Day event on Thursday, MTV News' Stephen Totilo noticed a curious menu option:

INSTALL

What's this all about? Totilo writes, "Also unexpected was a feature in Genji to install the game, committing 4GB of data from the game's Blu-ray disc to the PS3's hard drive -- a three-minute one-time-only procedure available from the game's start menu that a Sony rep said cuts down in-game load times from about 15 seconds to four seconds."

So, regardless of the debate about the relative read speeds of 2x Blu-ray drives and 12x DVD drives, we can all recognize the obvious benefits of having a hard drive included by default. Why Genji appears to be the only title sporting this option is another question. Did excessive load times in the PS3's first finished title necessitate extraordinary measures, or will most games offer this time-saving option, à la PC games.

JoystiqPS3's Genji uses HDD to quarter load times originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 21 Oct 2006 02:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Gamer's DayGamer'sDayGenjiHard driveHardDriveHDDPS3Sat, 21 Oct 2006 02:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Two redesigned PSPs coming next Spring, say analysts]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/10/20/two-redesigned-psps-coming-next-spring-say-analysts/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/10/20/two-redesigned-psps-coming-next-spring-say-analysts/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/10/20/two-redesigned-psps-coming-next-spring-say-analysts/#commentsFiled under:

It's that time of the year again. Yep. Another analyst is talking about a PSP redesign, but this one's a bit more ambitious than the other ones: Paul-Jon McNealy of American Technical Research has predicted the appearance of two new models, one below $199 and one above. "Sony will likely introduce a refresh of the PSP hardware line, including a hard-disk drive PSP and a second PSP with no hard drive but with a significant amount of flash memory on board." Sounds a lot like the other rumor about a redesign.

Considering how frequently these redesign reports pop up, I'm going to place my bet that a redesign will come out... eventually (no matter how often Sony denies it). Will it be next Spring, as predicted?

[Via International Business Times]

JoystiqTwo redesigned PSPs coming next Spring, say analysts originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 20 Oct 2006 15:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>american technical researchAmericanTechnicalResearchanalystflash memoryFlashMemoryhard driveHardDriveibtibtimespaul-jon mcnealyPaul-jonMcnealypspredesignFri, 20 Oct 2006 15:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Results: What would enhance the PSP the most?]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/08/04/results-what-would-enhance-the-psp-the-most/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/08/04/results-what-would-enhance-the-psp-the-most/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/08/04/results-what-would-enhance-the-psp-the-most/#commentsFiled under:



About a week ago, PSP Fanboy asked you what would enhance the PSP system the most. It was a pretty obvious win: the ability to play PSone games on the PSP. For some reason, Sony believes that the number one most-wanted feature for the system is the ability to connect to a PS3, but as can be seen by our not-scientific poll, it's one of the least desirable functions, barely beating out Text Messaging. But in all seriousness, who would really want to use the PSP "keyboard" to text message anyone? People also seem to want a hard drive, but for some reason that's one of the main functions that Sony's not planning to implement... for now, at least. Here are some memorable comments from the Fanboys:
  • "How about if it were made by Nintendo. And oh yeah, games worth buying." - mitch
  • "I would so love to not have to name files with that useless naming convention." - PodMonkeys (wish granted!)
  • "I would really like it if the PSP came with a touch screen. Or a keyboard. It could be like the SideKick." - Hans
  • "What about the ability to pull pornography out of thin air?" - Player1
  • " A decent way to type, like a Virtual QWERTY keyboard" - MacFanBoy
  • "The greatest enhancement would be the ability to download and play iTunes and Videos from iTunes." - MM
  • "Real Bluetooth (data and A2DP) support would be nice. Then with a few software updates we could use bluetooth keyboards, bluetooth mice, bluetooth GPS devices, bluetooth stereo audio, etc. etc. the list goes on and on." - Ixalon

JoystiqResults: What would enhance the PSP the most? originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 04 Aug 2006 13:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>connectenhancehard driveHardDrivekeyboardmessagingpollps1ps3psoneFri, 04 Aug 2006 13:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Rumors: Jaffe's episodic crying adventure & streaming PS3 media]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/07/20/rumors-jaffes-episodic-crying-adventure-and-streaming-ps3-media/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/07/20/rumors-jaffes-episodic-crying-adventure-and-streaming-ps3-media/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/07/20/rumors-jaffes-episodic-crying-adventure-and-streaming-ps3-media/#commentsFiled under:

The Kotaku Rumor Mill has churned out some pretty nifty PSP rumors. Here they are, bullet-pointed for your reading pleasure:
  • We knew that David "God of War" Jaffe is developing a PSP game that would make you cry (something that porn can't do). However, the Rumor Mill suggests that his new adventure will go all Half-Life on us, becoming an episodic adventure. Each "episode" supposedly comes in at a whopping 700MB!
  • Well, if each episodic download is 700MB, that would be much too large for most Memory Sticks. It seems like Sony might be making a hard drive for the PSP. Kotaku and myself don't seem to think that'll happen.
  • The PSP will be able to stream music and video from the PS3 via any wi-fi connection, a la Location Free Player. Sounds a great bonus for PSP owners, especially if they're paying $600 for the system, a price which might be too cheap.
Remember kids, these are just rumors, so that means that they might not come true. But if they did come true, which one fancies you the most?

JoystiqRumors: Jaffe's episodic crying adventure & streaming PS3 media originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 20 Jul 2006 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cryepisodichard driveHardDrivejaffekotakulocation freeLocationFreeps3rumorstreamingThu, 20 Jul 2006 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Xbox 360 HDD cache clear code discovered [update 1]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/06/09/xbox-360-hdd-cache-clear-code-discovered/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/06/09/xbox-360-hdd-cache-clear-code-discovered/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/06/09/xbox-360-hdd-cache-clear-code-discovered/#commentsFiled under:

Xbox 360 cache clear
HEXUS.gaming reports that a cache clear code has been discovered for the Xbox 360 hard drive via the dashboard's system blade. To perform the function, access 'memory' in the system blade, and then highlight the hard drive. Now press: Y, X, X, LB, RB, X, X. The following message should appear: "Do you want to perform maintenance on your Xbox 360 storage devices?"

If you initiate maintenance, the hard drive's cache will be cleared, including all software updates. Theoretically, this function could be used to un-update Oblivion in order to regain access to the unlimited gold and item duplication glitches. Note: we have not tested this function.

Update: corrected code.

See also: Oblivion patched for PC, 360 tomorrow

JoystiqXbox 360 HDD cache clear code discovered [update 1] originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 09 Jun 2006 11:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cachedashboardhard driveHardDriveHDDXbox LiveXbox-360XboxLiveFri, 09 Jun 2006 11:55:00 EST<![CDATA[$40 XBL Vision camera & UNO bundle detailed by MS source along with prices & dates for other 360 accessories]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/06/02/40-xbl-vision-camera-and-uno-bundle-detailed-by-ms-source-along-w/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/06/02/40-xbl-vision-camera-and-uno-bundle-detailed-by-ms-source-along-w/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/06/02/40-xbl-vision-camera-and-uno-bundle-detailed-by-ms-source-along-w/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

UNO and the Live Vision Camera: a match made in online heavenOur friendly anonymous source at Microsoft has provided us with a few more details concerning the 360 accessories announced back at E3.

Perhaps the most important involves the bundling of the Xbox Live Vision camera with a wired headset, the popular Live Arcade title UNO, and a month of Live Gold service for $39.99 when it releases in the States on September 19, 2006.

Granted, this is still an unofficial report (based on a leak of "official" info), so understand that you're probably not gonna get much confirmation from MS until they're good and ready to give it. If you'd like information on what other peripherals are coming out "Holiday 2006" (so sometime in the 4th quarter) and at what price, read on for more.

Continue reading $40 XBL Vision camera & UNO bundle detailed by MS source along with prices & dates for other 360 accessories

Joystiq$40 XBL Vision camera & UNO bundle detailed by MS source along with prices & dates for other 360 accessories originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 02 Jun 2006 00:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>20GB256 MB256Mb360360-compatible64 MB64Mbaccessoriesaccessoryadd-onanonymousbundlecameracompatibleCoredatedateddatesE3faceplatefaceplatesForzaGoldHalohard diskhard drivehard-diskhard-driveHardDiskHardDriveHDHD-DVDHD-DVD playerHd-dvdPlayerHDDheadsetHoliday 2006Holiday2006LiveLive ArcadeLive GoldLive MarketplaceLiveArcadeLiveGoldLiveMarketplaceMarketplacememory unitMemoryUnitMicrosoftMSMUnon-bundlednonbundledofficialPCPC-compatibleperipheralpriceprice pointPricePointpricespricingPS3 launchPs3Launchpurchaseracing wheelRacingWheelrumorrumoredserviceSKUSKUssourcetwo-tieredun-bundledunbundledUNOunofficialupgradeupgradesVisionViva PinataVivaPinatawebcamwheelWinter 2007Winter2007wiredwirelesswireless gaming receiverwireless racing wheelWirelessGamingReceiverWirelessRacingWheelXBLXBL VisionXblVisionXboxXbox LiveXbox Live VisionXbox-360XboxLiveXboxLiveVisionFri, 02 Jun 2006 00:26:00 EST<![CDATA[Gaming products dominate top tech list [update 1]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/06/01/gaming-products-dominate-top-ten-tech-list/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/06/01/gaming-products-dominate-top-ten-tech-list/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/06/01/gaming-products-dominate-top-ten-tech-list/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

PC World's list of top 100 tech products of the year praised our sister blog Engadget and gave Apple lots of love but the categorical winner of the list is undoubtedly gaming. The following products aren't all directly gaming related (you could use some of them to run spreadsheets) although there's a quite clear video gaming subtext underlying many of the choices. Lets just say that they're as close to being gaming technology as Uri Geller is to being locked up in an asylum.

1. Core Duo - the first chip to enable desktop level performance in games on laptop computers.
2. Athlon 64 X2 - for that ultimate gaming rig you always wanted (but couldn't, and still can't, afford).
10. Boot Camp - Apple's Mac gaming solution.
16. GeForce 7600GT - hits that price/performance sweet spot.
19. Guitar Hero - we think that this is some kind of video game.
55. Raptor X - 10,000RPM Hard Drives were invented for gaming.
58. X1900 XTX - ATI's biggest, baddest GPU. Stupid name though.
63. A8N32 mobo - it's all about the SLI, baby.
89. Xbox 360 - we've heard of this! Isn't it designed to hold your lunch?
92. GeForce 7900 GTX - nVIDIA's biggest, baddest GPU. Stupid name though.

I personally own several products identical or similar to products on this list (a MacBook with a Core Duo CPU running Windows via Boot Camp is being used to write this post - I'm off for some Eve Online in a sec). Do you agree with these choices? What's missing?

P.S. If anyone from PC World is reading this, I apologize for desecrating your logo.

[Update: "top tech," not "top ten tech". Thanks Ahms!]

JoystiqGaming products dominate top tech list [update 1] originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 01 Jun 2006 01:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>10,000RPM64 X264X2AppleAsusAsus motherboardAsusMotherboardAthlonATIBoot CampBootCampCore DuoCoreDuoCPUEngadgetgamingGeForce 7600GeForce 7900Geforce7600Geforce7900GPUGuitar HeroGuitarHeroHard DriveHardDriveIntelMacnVIDIAPCprice/performanceRaptor XRaptorXSLItop 100Top100TUAWUri GellerUriGellerX1900Xbox 360Xbox-360Xbox360Thu, 01 Jun 2006 01:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Rumor control: of controllers and hard drives]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/05/15/rumor-control-of-controllers-and-hard-drives/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/05/15/rumor-control-of-controllers-and-hard-drives/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/05/15/rumor-control-of-controllers-and-hard-drives/#commentsFiled under:


One of the most important E3 followups that's been going around has to do with the rumor claiming that the cheaper PS3 setup won't support wireless controllers or a removable hard drive. This would naturally have some people clamoring for clarity.

Thankfully we can dismiss this misinformation with a bit of confidence as it appears Sony's press release states that both systems will come with wireless Bluetooth controllers.

As far as the second part goes, the removable hard drive bay can actually be seen on the left of the console (or bottom when vertical). It just goes to show you: don't believe everything you read on the internet. Until we hear something else official, count the rumors as BS.

JoystiqRumor control: of controllers and hard drives originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 15 May 2006 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blublu-raycontrollerhard driveplaystationps3rayrumorsonywirelessMon, 15 May 2006 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Cheaper PS3 loses HDMI, slots, Wi-Fi, 40GB]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/05/09/cheaper-ps3-loses-hdmi-slots-wi-fi-40gb/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/05/09/cheaper-ps3-loses-hdmi-slots-wi-fi-40gb/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/05/09/cheaper-ps3-loses-hdmi-slots-wi-fi-40gb/#commentsFiled under:

PS3 SKU comparison montage
As you can see above, there are a few things different between the two PS3 SKUs planned. (Hint: the obvious alterations concern high-def output and wireless connectivity -- though Bluetooth controllers should work just fine with both, with or without any chrome case highlighting.)

So what's HDMI, built-in multimedia card-reader slots, wireless internet connectivity, and an extra 40 gigabytes' hard disk space worth to you? $100? Now that Sony's gone with the 2-SKU approach with its next-gen hardware (a la the Xbox 360's premium and "Core" systems), we can expect some tough consumer choices after six months -- with console shortages possibly for another six months after that -- as $100 separates the base $499 and premium $599 versions of Sony's "Clear Black" hope.

HDMI is important to those who want to take full advantage of Blu-ray high def and have the new screens to use it; MemoryStick, SD, and CompactFlash slots would be nice for the PS3 memory-card users and those will run multimedia on the system; Wi-Fi's the only way to avoid stringing ethernet cables for online access; and 360 owners might appreciate the full 60GB available to potential buyers of the premium PS3 model. Neither model comes with a second HDMI port; thankfully, one should hopefully be all most users need. The details are laid out in a feature-comparison table at the end of Sony's official PS3 hardware press release, available in both Adobe Reader and Microsoft Word formats. Determine what's most important to your PS3 ambitions there.

[Image pieced together from the PlayStation.com forums; thanks, Guru]

JoystiqCheaper PS3 loses HDMI, slots, Wi-Fi, 40GB originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 09 May 2006 03:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>$100$499$500$599$6002-SKU20GB36040 GB40Gb6 months60GB6MonthsaccessAdobe ReaderAdobeReaderalterationsambitionambitionsbaseBlu-rayBluetoothbuilt-inbuyerbuyerscablecablescard readercard-readerCardReadercaseCFcheapcheaperchoicechoiceschromeClear BlackClearBlackCompact FlashCompactFlashcomparisoncomparisonsconnectivityconsolecontrollercontrollersCorecustomerdifferentethernetexpensivefeaturefeature-comparisonfeaturesformatformatsforumforumshard diskhard driveHardDiskHardDrivehardwareHDHDMIhigh-defhighlighthighlightinghighlightsimage montageImageMontageimportantinternetmemory cardMemory Stickmemory-cardMemoryCardMemoryStickMicrosoft WordMicrosoftWordmodelmodelsmontagemore expensiveMoreExpensivemultimedianext-genofficialomissionsonlineoutputpotentialpremiumpress releasePressReleasePS3ReaderscreenscreensSDSecure DigitalSecureDigitalshortageshortagessix monthsSixMonthsSKUSKUsslotslotsSonySony'sspacesystemsystemsuserusersWi-FiWiFiwirelessWordXboxXbox 360Xbox360Tue, 09 May 2006 03:32:00 EST<![CDATA[Phil Harrison's media Q&A video from GDC]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/04/03/phil-harrisons-media-qanda-video-from-gdc/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/04/03/phil-harrisons-media-qanda-video-from-gdc/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/04/03/phil-harrisons-media-qanda-video-from-gdc/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Can't get enough Phil Harrison in your life? Check out this video from the media Q&A following his GDC keynote for 20 minutes of Phil-y love (and maybe a few furtive glances from Kaz Hirai sitting in the background).

We just love how Phil "swerve[d] a couple of the questions" regarding the hard drive and other hardware-related issues, but we also like how he managed to clarify those questions regarding "content offerings" that will be charged at a "premium," though he did say that there were "no plans to charge for [multiplayer gaming] at the moment."

But, yeah, Mr. Harrison wasn't as combative in his answers as some media outlets portrayed him, which is another great step for platform executives who tend to make rather grandiose statements and fiery claims. If you want to see as well as hear the Phil handle all comers, this is one of your best chances yet. We'd love to hear it all clearly in English at E3, too.

[Thanks, Fan; video courtesy of Jean-Baptiste Su of Citizen Valley]

JoystiqPhil Harrison's media Q&A video from GDC originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 03 Apr 2006 16:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>combativecontent offeringsContentOfferingsE3EnglishexecutivesGDCGDC keynoteGdcKeynotehard driveHardDriveKaz HiraiKazHiraimultiplayerPhil HarrisonPhilHarrisonpremiumPS3swerveMon, 03 Apr 2006 16:27:00 EST<![CDATA[Phil Harrison's media Q&A video from GDC]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/04/03/phil-harrisons-media-qanda-video-from-gdc/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/04/03/phil-harrisons-media-qanda-video-from-gdc/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/04/03/phil-harrisons-media-qanda-video-from-gdc/#commentsFiled under:


Can't get enough Phil Harrison in your life? Check out this video from the media Q&A following his GDC keynote for 20 minutes of Phil-y love (and maybe a few furtive glances from Kaz Hirai sitting in the background).

We just love how Phil "swerve[d] a couple of the questions" regarding the hard drive and other hardware-related issues, but we also like how he managed to clarify those questions regarding "content offerings" that will be charged at a "premium," though he did say that there were "no plans to charge for [multiplayer gaming] at the moment."

But, yeah, Mr. Harrison wasn't as combative in his answers as some media outlets portrayed him, which is another great step for platform executives who tend to make rather grandiose statements and fiery claims. If you want to see as well as hear the Phil handle all comers, this is one of your best chances yet. We'd love to hear it all clearly in English at E3, too.

[Thanks, Fan; video courtesy of Jean-Baptiste Su of Citizen Valley]

JoystiqPhil Harrison's media Q&A video from GDC originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 03 Apr 2006 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>combativecontent offeringsContentOfferingsE3EnglishexecutivesGDC keynoteGdcKeynotehard driveHardDriveKaz HiraiKazHiraimultiplayerPhil HarrisonPhilHarrisonpremiumswerveMon, 03 Apr 2006 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Revolution to support external HDDs & other 3rd party storage devices]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/03/29/nintendo-revolution-to-support-external-hdds-and-other-3rd-party-s/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/03/29/nintendo-revolution-to-support-external-hdds-and-other-3rd-party-s/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/03/29/nintendo-revolution-to-support-external-hdds-and-other-3rd-party-s/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Nintendo RevolutionDuring a recent conversation with CNN (focused on cheaper game prices), Nintendo President Satoru Iwata suggested that the Revolution would support a multitude of storage options. Referring to the console's USB ports, Iwata confirmed that "practically any storage method can be used."

The Nintendo Revolution will not feature an internal hard drive. Instead, the unit will utilize 512 MB of flash memory and built-in SD memory card support. In addition, Iwata's remarks imply that Nintendo intends to, ultimately, leave the best storage solution up to the consumer's discretion - a freedom that could give Nintendo an edge (in terms of consumer satisfaction) over Sony and Microsoft. For example, a quick search on Circuit City's website yields Seagate's 160 GB external drive for only $60 (with rebate). Compare that to Microsoft's $100, 20 GB 360 HDD (also manufactured by Seagate). No contest.

Memory options will be important for gamers looking to stockpile the Revolution's Virtual Console titles. Iwata noted that aside from classic games, Nintendo plans to issue new titles through the download service as well. But does the storage freedom mean a loss of security for Nintendo? That is, will this decision increase the prevalence of homebrew apps, including emulators that already run all of those classic games, on the Revolution? It's a tough call.

[Thanks for the artwork & additional info Rosco!]

JoystiqRevolution to support external HDDs & other 3rd party storage devices originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 29 Mar 2006 15:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>flash memoryFlashMemoryhard driveHardDriveHDDSatoru IwataSatoruIwataWiiWed, 29 Mar 2006 15:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Standard 60 gig HD for PS3 confirmed]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/03/18/standard-60-gig-hd-for-ps3-confirmed/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/03/18/standard-60-gig-hd-for-ps3-confirmed/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/03/18/standard-60-gig-hd-for-ps3-confirmed/#commentsFiled under:

Yahoo Games has confirmed that the PS3 will ship with a standard 60 gig hard drive that can be upgraded if preferred. Not clear if the upgrade means a larger hd, or an additional drive altogether (Joystiq thinks the latter).

Maybe I'm spoiled by the 200 gig drive I stuck in my original Xbox, but it irks me that PS3 fanboys get to brag about a bigger hard drive, even if Ken Kutaragi has yet to claim it can bend space and time.

Do you think Microsoft is obligated to release an upgraded hd to match Sony? I've heard many people say that they don't "need" that much space, but that sounds like  a sour grapes position, especially if you believe that the future is all about downloadable games and content.

JoystiqStandard 60 gig HD for PS3 confirmed originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 18 Mar 2006 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hard driveHardDriveSat, 18 Mar 2006 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Confirmed: PlayStation 3 will ship with 60 GB HDD]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/03/17/confirmed-playstation-3-will-ship-with-60-gb-hdd/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/03/17/confirmed-playstation-3-will-ship-with-60-gb-hdd/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/03/17/confirmed-playstation-3-will-ship-with-60-gb-hdd/#commentsFiled under: , ,

PlayStation 3To clear any confusion, a Sony representative, speaking with Yahoo! Games, has confirmed that the PS3 will ship with a 60 GB HDD, with an option to upgrade. No PS3 bundles will be sold without a hard drive. However, it's unclear if by upgrading, purchasers will have the option to buy the console with a larger hard drive, or if they'll be forced take the 60 GB HDD and buy an additional, larger drive separately-we guess the latter (at least, at launch), but aren't ruling out the possibility of two bundles with different sized hard drives (for example, 60 GB and 100 GB bundles).

Overall, standardizing the consoles to include a hard drive benefits both developers and consumers. But we're still left wondering if the asking price will be out of the range of a significant percentage of potential buyers.

[Thanks, The1 & Ron]

JoystiqConfirmed: PlayStation 3 will ship with 60 GB HDD originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 17 Mar 2006 15:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>60GB HDD60gbHddhard driveHardDrivePS3Fri, 17 Mar 2006 15:45:00 EST<![CDATA[PS3 worldwide in November [UPDATE 21]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/03/15/ps3-press-conference-it-begins/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/03/15/ps3-press-conference-it-begins/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/03/15/ps3-press-conference-it-begins/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

PS3 Early November 2006 Worldwide Launch cropped montageIt looks like the PS3 press conference is just getting started.

IGN reports Ken Kutaragi's opening statement as follows: "It is my aim to clear things up about the PlayStation 3 today. The PS2, the PS3, the network, and Future Cell Network, this will all be addressed."

More as we get it... Update 16--the wrap-up: The PS3 will launch "in early November 2006 in Japan, North America and Europe simultaneously." Incorporating the final specifications of the Blu-ray format will enable "playback of BD software at a high bit rate," with "a maximum storage capacity of 50 GB (dual layer) and robust security." The PS3 will be compatible with all kinds of TVs and a high-speed broadband connection. Update 19 (via 1UP's updated page): DRM was what delayed the launch, but the system will come with a 60GB HDD preinstalled before 11/11/06.

[Thanks, bv; pics used to create new montage from Watch Impress]

Continue reading PS3 worldwide in November [UPDATE 21]

JoystiqPS3 worldwide in November [UPDATE 21] originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 15 Mar 2006 01:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>$199 PSP base unit$199PspBaseUnit4D50000 Yen50000Yen60GBbackwards compatibleBackwardsCompatibleBlu-raydev kitDevKitDRME-Distributionearly NovemberEarlyNovemberEuropeEyeToyFiscal Year 2006FiscalYear2006Flashfree basic serviceFreeBasicServiceFuture Cell NetworkFutureCellNetworkGPShard driveHardDriveHDMIJapanKen KutaragiKenKutaragilobby matchingLobbyMatchingMemory StickMemoryStickNorth AmericaNorthAmericaPlayStation Business Briefing 2006PlaystationBusinessBriefing2006press conferencePressConferenceprice dropPriceDropPS2PS3PSOnePSPsimultaneous launchSimultaneousLaunchsix millionSixMillionUSBvoice chatvoice-over-IPVoiceChatworldwideWed, 15 Mar 2006 01:43:00 EST