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[Wii U Premium bundle with ZombiU down to £200 at participating HMV locations]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/22/wii-u-premium-down-to-199-99-at-participating-hmv-locations/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/22/wii-u-premium-down-to-199-99-at-participating-hmv-locations/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/22/wii-u-premium-down-to-199-99-at-participating-hmv-locations/#comments British retailer HMV is the latest outlet across the pond to drop the Wii U's price, lowering the console's Premium SKU and ZombiU bundle down to just £199.99 at participating locations. On its own, the Premium SKU typically retails for £299.99, and that's without ZombiU thrown in for good measure.

HMV did not clarify to Joystiq whether this price reduction is temporary or permanent, so if you're British and in the market for the Wii U that's worth owning, now may be the right time.

JoystiqWii U Premium bundle with ZombiU down to £200 at participating HMV locations originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 22 Mar 2013 11:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>HMVnintendoNintendo-LandPremiumsaleukwii-uZombiUFri, 22 Mar 2013 11:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Origin deploys sale on all things Battlefield]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/19/origin-deploys-sale-on-all-things-battlefield/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/19/origin-deploys-sale-on-all-things-battlefield/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/19/origin-deploys-sale-on-all-things-battlefield/#comments Soldiers, sweep your sectors - discounts are creeping in the brush. Select Battlefield games are up to 75% off until February 27 on EA's Origin online store, with discounts applying to both digital and physical products.

Highlights include Battlefield 3 for $10 as a download on PC or $20 for a physical copy on all platforms. A Battlefield 3 Premium subscription is also on sale for $30, a discount of $20 - Battlefield 3: Premium Edition physical copies are on sale for $40; $35 for a PC download. Bad Company 2 is also on sale for $5, with its Vietnam expansion's price tag a hot $5 compared to its usual $15 asking price.

JoystiqOrigin deploys sale on all things Battlefield originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 19 Feb 2013 22:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battlefield-3battlefield-3-premiumbattlefield-3-premium-editiondiceeamicrosoftoriginpcplaystationpremiumps3xboxTue, 19 Feb 2013 22:15:00 EST<![CDATA[COD Elite being extended until March 1, 2013 for MW3 early adopters]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/08/cod-elite-being-extended-until-march-1-2013-for-mw3-early-adopt/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/08/cod-elite-being-extended-until-march-1-2013-for-mw3-early-adopt/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/08/cod-elite-being-extended-until-march-1-2013-for-mw3-early-adopt/#comments COD Elite being extended till March for MW3 early adoptersHere's good news for early Call of Duty Elite subscribers who may have been prepping their checking accounts for another premium subscription charge: You've got a few extra months to play. Activision has sent out emails to members who joined the Elite Premium service on launch day last year, extending their Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Elite memberships until March 1, 2013.

The same services (which include things like clan support, Elite TV, and a few other options) are going to be free for everyone in Call of Duty: Black Ops 2. Given the issues Elite had at launch, it seems sensible to let premium subscribers keep playing without paying any more.

This leaves one question, however: What will happen to MW3 Elite Premium subscribers when subscriptions do end on March 1, 2013? A FAQ on the official website says Activision isn't taking any new subscribers at all, since new DLC is no longer being offered. We've contacted Activision for comment and will update if we hear back.

Update: Activision says that "when your Call of Duty Elite Premium membership subscription term for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 ends - whether on March 1, 2013 or after, your formerly "Premium" Elite membership for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 turns into a "Free" Elite membership for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3." So users will still have access to all of the features of MW3 Premium, but they won't have to pay. Feel free to keep shooting!

JoystiqCOD Elite being extended until March 1, 2013 for MW3 early adopters originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 08 Nov 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>call-of-duty-elitecall-of-duty-modern-warfare-3elitemicrosoftmodern-warfare-3pcplaystationpremiumps3subscriptionxboxThu, 08 Nov 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PSA: Battlefield 3's Close Quarters DLC now on PS3; PC and Xbox get it next week]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/19/psa-battlefield-3s-close-quarters-dlc-now-on-ps3-pc-and-xbox/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/19/psa-battlefield-3s-close-quarters-dlc-now-on-ps3-pc-and-xbox/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/19/psa-battlefield-3s-close-quarters-dlc-now-on-ps3-pc-and-xbox/#comments Those rocking the vanilla Battlefield 3 experience - as opposed to EA's new Premium subscription service - get their first crack at Battlefield 3's first big expansion today. The Close Quarters expansion pack, which aims to offer more personal conflicts in the FPS, is available exclusively to PS3 players today.

Premium members have had access to Close Quarters since earlier this month. And while the PS3 has an exclusivity deal in place for Battlefield 3 DLC, Xbox 360 and PC players won't have to wait too long: Close Quarters drops on those platforms next week.

Gallery: Battlefield 3 - Close Quarters (E3 2012)

Continue reading PSA: Battlefield 3's Close Quarters DLC now on PS3; PC and Xbox get it next week

JoystiqPSA: Battlefield 3's Close Quarters DLC now on PS3; PC and Xbox get it next week originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 19 Jun 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battlefield-3battlefield-3-premiumdicedlceamicrosoftpcplaystationpremiumps3xboxTue, 19 Jun 2012 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Battlefield 3 dishing out double XP this weekend]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/15/battlefield-3-dishing-out-double-xp-this-weekend/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/15/battlefield-3-dishing-out-double-xp-this-weekend/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/15/battlefield-3-dishing-out-double-xp-this-weekend/#comments Dedicated Battlefield 3 players might have planned on playing this weekend, and following through with that intention will net you sweet bonus points. For this weekend only - starting at 12:01am PT on Saturday and lasting until 11:59pm PT on Sunday - all Battlefield 3 players will earn double their end-round score.

This promotion applies to both Premium and non-Premium members - if you plunked down the cash for Premium, you'll also find double the points awaiting you in Close Quarters. You'll find double points spread across every map and every game mode, so long as you're playing on a ranked server.

JoystiqBattlefield 3 dishing out double XP this weekend originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 15 Jun 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battlefield-3battlefield-premiumclose-quartersdicedouble-xpeamicrosoftpcplaystationpremiumps3xboxFri, 15 Jun 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Battlefield 3 Premium announced, extends PlayStation 3 DLC exclusivity to two weeks]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/04/battlefield-3-premium-announced-extends-playstation-3-users-dlc/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/04/battlefield-3-premium-announced-extends-playstation-3-users-dlc/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/04/battlefield-3-premium-announced-extends-playstation-3-users-dlc/#comments Battlefield 3 Premium announced, extends PlayStation 3 users DLC exclusivity to two weeksBattlefield 3's "Premium" membership got officially revealed this morning by EA (via an exclusive Reuters piece), and it confirmed many of the details we already knew about the soon-to-be-launched service. "Premium" costs $50 one time, not to mention a variety of other in-game weapons and dog tags, as well as a handful of "enhanced" Battlelog features (such as resetting stats). The piece doesn't mention getting access to the game's five announced map packs, but that seems like an odd omission considering the $50 asking price. It does note, via EA vp Patrick Soderlund, that Premium offers, "savings since access to content included in the membership package would cost $25 more if it was purchased separately."

Additionally, the membership gives users two weeks of advanced access to the variety of unreleased DLC packs - except this perk only applies if you're a PlayStation 3 customer. Much like Call of Duty's adherence to an exclusivity window on DLC for Xbox 360, Battlefield 3 is locked to a similar tryst with Sony's PlayStation 3. This means that users who pay for the Premium service on either Xbox 360 or PC won't get that same level of early access, which is ... pretty bizarre to us.

The piece doesn't make clear when the service launches, but the perviously leaked memo and yesterday's leaked trailer indicated it would launch as soon as today. The piece also notes that Battlefield 3 has thus far moved 15 million units. Not too shabby! We expect to hear even more about Premium during EA's press conference this afternoon.

Update: Further details of Battlefield 3 Premium have since been officially revealed by EA during today's press conference. Check out all the news right here.

JoystiqBattlefield 3 Premium announced, extends PlayStation 3 DLC exclusivity to two weeks originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 04 Jun 2012 08:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battlefield-3battlefield-3-premiumdicedlcdownloadable-contentea-diceelectronic-artsmicrosoftpcplaystationpremiumps3xboxMon, 04 Jun 2012 08:06:00 EST<![CDATA[Battlefield 3 'Premium' service dated for June 4, alongside 'Close Quarters' DLC pack]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/30/battlefield-3-premium-service-dated-for-june-4-alongside-clo/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/30/battlefield-3-premium-service-dated-for-june-4-alongside-clo/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/30/battlefield-3-premium-service-dated-for-june-4-alongside-clo/#comments ImageOur European friends at the PlayStation Blog made a bit of a mistake this morning, it seems, having accidentally outed an upcoming "Premium" service for Battlefield 3, as well as a date (June 4) and pricing across European/Australian regions (£39.99/€49.99/AU$79.99). The game's upcoming DLC pack "Close Quarters" also got a date and price: June 4, £11.99/€14.99/AU$23.95.

As you might imagine, someone at Sony quickly realized the issue and pulled the info ... but not before Google Cache caught it in its icy, permanent grip. We've reached out to EA and Sony for more info, but it sounds like the rumored Call of Duty Elite-esque service for Battlefield 3 is more than just a rumor.

JoystiqBattlefield 3 'Premium' service dated for June 4, alongside 'Close Quarters' DLC pack originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 30 May 2012 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battlefield-3battlefield-3-premiumclose-quartersdlcdownloadable-contentmicrosoftpcplaystationpremiumps3xboxWed, 30 May 2012 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA['The Last Laugh' DLC coming to DC Universe Online in June, adds new PvP content]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/09/the-last-laugh-dlc-coming-to-dc-universe-online-in-june-adds/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/09/the-last-laugh-dlc-coming-to-dc-universe-online-in-june-adds/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/09/the-last-laugh-dlc-coming-to-dc-universe-online-in-june-adds/#comments ImageThe Last Laugh, a new DLC pack that expands player-versus-player options in DC Universe Online, is set to arrive on PC and PlayStation 3 this June. In addition to introducing three different four-on-four battle scenarios (all conjured up by the actions of Batman's nemesis, The Joker), The Last Laugh adds a two-phase, 16-vs-16 scenario in which both sides try to take over the other's Headquarters. And there's a new weapon called The Shield, which can either be used to bash enemies, or hurled for a ranged attack, Captain America-style! (Wait ...)

Finally, there are two new Legends PvP characters to play as: Kilowog the Green Lantern, and Amon Sur from the Sinestro Corps. The pack is a free download for Legendary subscribers, and available for purchase by Free and Premium players. You can see what it all looks like in the gallery below.

Gallery: DC Universe Online: Last Laugh DLC

Joystiq'The Last Laugh' DLC coming to DC Universe Online in June, adds new PvP content originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 09 May 2012 02:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>DC-Universe-Onlinedcuodlcdlc-packlegendarypcplayer-versus-playerplaystationpremiumps3pvpsoethe-last-laughWed, 09 May 2012 02:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MW3's next DLC drops from a skyscraper onto Xbox Elite members on Feb. 21]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/07/mw3s-next-dlc-drops-from-a-skyscraper-onto-xbox-elite-members-o/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/07/mw3s-next-dlc-drops-from-a-skyscraper-onto-xbox-elite-members-o/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/07/mw3s-next-dlc-drops-from-a-skyscraper-onto-xbox-elite-members-o/#comments Call of Duty Elite premium members playing Modern Warfare 3 on Xbox Live will receive the next batch of DLC, Overwatch, on February 21. Overwatch puts players in a construction site at the top of a New York City skyscraper, with a very real chance of dropping 70 feet to the sidewalk as an added risk. If you have trouble visualizing that, check out the gallery below.

The previous batch of downloadable content, Liberation and Piazza, is set to launch on PSN on February 28, having come out on Xbox Live in January, all in accordance with MW3's exclusivity deal with Microsoft. The next three batches of MW3 DLC will drop in March for Xbox premium members and will include the multiplayer map Black Box and two new Special Ops missions, Black Ice and Negotiator.

Gallery: Modern Warfare 3 (Call of Duty Elite: Overwatch)

JoystiqMW3's next DLC drops from a skyscraper onto Xbox Elite members on Feb. 21 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 07 Feb 2012 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ActivisionCall-of-Dutycall-of-duty-elitecall-of-duty-modern-warfare-3DLCeliteInfinity-Wardmicrosoftmodern-warfare-3overwatchpcplaystationpremiumps3xboxTue, 07 Feb 2012 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[PS3 CoD Elite premium members to get new old maps in February]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/02/ps3-call-of-duty-elite-dlc-release-date/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/02/ps3-call-of-duty-elite-dlc-release-date/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/02/ps3-call-of-duty-elite-dlc-release-date/#comments Players with a paid Call of Duty Elite membership on Playstation 3 will be able to snag two new Modern Warfare 3 maps, Liberation and Piazza, on February 28. Both maps launched for Xbox 360 Elite premium members on January 24, and we presume they will come to non-Elite and PC players eventually -- possibly another month after the PS3 version goes live.

Or possibly another two months, just to really rub it in, like the below screens for Liberation and Piazza will do.

Gallery: Modern Warfare 3 - Call of Duty Elite Season Content (Liberation and Piazza)

JoystiqPS3 CoD Elite premium members to get new old maps in February originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 02 Feb 2012 13:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Activisioncall-of-duty-elitecall-of-duty-modern-warfare-3eliteInfinity-Wardliberationmapsmodern-warfare-3piazzaplaystationpremiumps3sledgehammer-gamesTreyarchThu, 02 Feb 2012 13:20:00 EST<![CDATA[A brief history of Club Nintendo Awesomeness]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/10/07/a-brief-history-of-club-nintendo-awesomeness/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/10/07/a-brief-history-of-club-nintendo-awesomeness/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/10/07/a-brief-history-of-club-nintendo-awesomeness/#commentsFiled under: , ,

By now, you've no doubt heard: Nintendo is rolling out Club Nintendo in the U.S. by the end of 2008. Wahey! Yeah, we know that Japan (generally speaking) gets the most excellent items when compared to elsewhere, but listen here, bub: it's free stuff. We're not about to complain, and nor should you (if you want to feel sorry for somebody, Australia's Club Nintendo scheme has gone AWOL, and check out South Africa's piss-poor Stars Catalogue).

Anyway, as these are happy times for North Americans, we thought we'd reflect on some of the bestest Club Nintendo gifts and trinkets from both Japan and Europe to date -- some of which could end up in the U.S.! Hit the gray button to start DS Fanboy's whirlwind Club Nintendo Tour of Wonders!

JoystiqA brief history of Club Nintendo Awesomeness originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 07 Oct 2008 11:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advance-warsbadgebowsercaseclub-nintendodonkey-kongebayexclamationwarriorsgame-and-watchgame-and-watch-collectiongoldhot-summerjoystiqfeatureskirbykirby-and-the-amazing-mirrorlimited-editionlinkmariomario-power-tennismiimusicnintendo-pointsnotepadpeachpremiumsnessoundtrackstars-cataloguestatuesuper-famicomsuper-mario-galaxytingleballoonfighttwilight-princessvirtual-consolewariowiimoteyoshizeldaTue, 07 Oct 2008 11:18:00 EST<![CDATA[Shield your eyes: Premium DS Lite spotted in the wild]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/15/shield-your-eyes-premium-ds-lite-spotted-in-the-wild/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/15/shield-your-eyes-premium-ds-lite-spotted-in-the-wild/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/15/shield-your-eyes-premium-ds-lite-spotted-in-the-wild/#commentsFiled under: ,


Remember those Club Nintendo "Premium" DS Lites that were revealed back in June? Well, Nintendo has now sent out the limited edition systems to the 3,000 lucky winners, and Japanese blogger Hatimaki decided to torture us by smugly photographing his Premium Silver model, which just so happens to be unbelievably, blindingly shiny. But pfft, like we care! Seriously: just imagining the finger prints on that makes us feel totally okay about not owni -- gaaah, who are we kidding?

If you're feeling flush enough, a selection of these have already appeared on eBay, priced around the $500 mark. It's an investment ... probably.

Gallery: Limited Edition Lites: A History of Sadness

Play DS like a rock starToo little too lateMaster using it and you can have thisTake me out to the video gameWhat.

[Via Kotaku]

JoystiqShield your eyes: Premium DS Lite spotted in the wild originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 15 Sep 2008 19:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>club-nintendolimited-editionpremiumsilverMon, 15 Sep 2008 19:18:00 EST<![CDATA[Club Nintendo giving away shiny things]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/24/club-nintendo-giving-away-shiny-things/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/24/club-nintendo-giving-away-shiny-things/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/24/club-nintendo-giving-away-shiny-things/#commentsFiled under: ,


Your DS just got less cool. Sorry! We're suffering from the effects as well. What has de-awesomogrified the world's supply of DS Lites? Club Nintendo. From July 1 to August 31, Nintendo of Japan will give away 1,000 Premium Silver, 1,000 Premium Platinum, and 1,000 Premium Rose DS Lites to Club Nintendo members who register two new games in that period, with winners determined by random selection.

We don't even have the regular silver DS Lite, and Japan gets a super shiny version for free. Wiping off fingerprints every time you look at the thing is really the only downside.

Could this mean that Nintendo won't be announcing new hardware at E3 (since they'll be giving away Lites in that period)? We think it may mean just the opposite: Nintendo is clearing out some of their existing DS Lites by throwing shiny parts on the outside and making prizes out of them.

JoystiqClub Nintendo giving away shiny things originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 24 Jun 2008 08:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>club-nintendolimited-editionmetallic-rosemetallic-silverpremiumTue, 24 Jun 2008 08:45:00 EST<![CDATA[More European price drop news]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/09/more-european-price-drop-news/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/09/more-european-price-drop-news/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/09/more-european-price-drop-news/#commentsFiled under:


We reported previously on a European retailer advertising the 360 price drop and here we are reporting on another article about the very same thing, and this time it appears to carry a bit more weight. The Financial Times Deutschland has an exclusive on this, claiming that the official prices of the units will drop from 280 and 349 Euro, to 199 and 299 Euro. Now assuming that a fairly well known financial reporting body such as the Financial Times Deutschland isn't lying, this could be a huge for the European 360 market. It would allow the Arcade unit to undercut the cost of the Wii by a good 50 Euro, which is a bullet point that was almost undoubtedly taken into account, and it would leave the 360 well ahead of the PS3's current European MSRP. It seems the only thing we're waiting on with this one is the final confirmation from Microsoft.

JoystiqMore European price drop news originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 09 Mar 2008 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arcadehardwaremicrosoftpremiumSun, 09 Mar 2008 21:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Joystiq Holidaze: explaining the Xbox 360 SKUs]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/22/joystiq-holidaze-explaining-the-xbox-360-skus/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/22/joystiq-holidaze-explaining-the-xbox-360-skus/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/22/joystiq-holidaze-explaining-the-xbox-360-skus/#commentsFiled under: , ,

We'd love to say picking up Xbox 360 is as easy as going to the store and grabbing the first box with the console's name on it. For better and worse, this generation of consoles gives consumers many choices at the (potential) expense of causing confusion at the store.

So it's with this in mind that we present you this handy guide for discerning the difference between the various Xbox 360 versions (aka SKUs) out there. Please note that the red and green coloring is not only festive decor for the holiday season but also a subjective highlight of what each version excels in (or subsequently lacks).

Elite Halo
Edition		 Pro Arcade Core
Hardware
Price $449.99 $399.99 $349.99 $279.99 $199.99*
Storage 120GB HDD 20GB HDD 20GB HDD 256MB
memory card		 none
Color Black Green/Orange White White White
HDMI port Yes Yes Certain models** Yes Certain models**
Bundled Accessories
Ethernet cable Yes Yes Yes No No
Headset Wired Wired Wired No No
Play &
Charge Kit		 No Yes No No No
Video cables HDMI 1.2,
Component,
Composite		 Component,
Composite		 Component,
Composite		 Composite Composite
Controller Wireless Wireless Wireless Wireless Wired
Other
Xbox Live Silver,
1 Month Gold		 Silver,
1 Month Gold		 Silver,
1 Month Gold		 Silver,
1 Month Gold		 Silver
Backwards
Compatibility		 Yes Yes Yes No*** No***

Notes:

* The Core model has been discontinued. The $199.99 price tag is based on the GameStop refurbished price.
** See explanation below
*** Hard Drive required

And just in case you still have questions, we've gone ahead and written up a F.A.Q. after the break.

Continue reading Joystiq Holidaze: explaining the Xbox 360 SKUs

JoystiqJoystiq Holidaze: explaining the Xbox 360 SKUs originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 22 Nov 2007 08:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arcadechristmascoreelitehalohalo-3holidashholidazemicrosoftpremiumproshoppingskuxbox-360xbox360xmasThu, 22 Nov 2007 08:01:00 EST<![CDATA[$299 Premium 360s at Office Depot]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/07/299-premium-360s-at-office-depot/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/07/299-premium-360s-at-office-depot/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/07/299-premium-360s-at-office-depot/#commentsFiled under:

After digging through our inbox today we stumbled across a tip from shenlong77 who sent us an Office Depot leaked adscan (or one that is readily available to everyone, but advertises deals that start September 9th) and it features a pretty sweet Xbox 360 console deal. According to the ad, this Sunday online at OfficeDepot.com they will be offering Premium Xbox 360s for only $299 after a $50 rebate. And for the sake of us being a little curious we hopped on over to their online store and looked up an Xbox 360 Premium to see if the deal was in effect right now and we're sad to say that not only are the Premiums not $299, but they are actually trying to sell them for $369! Ouchers. But hopefully our ad is right and this Sunday brings $299 Xbox 360s, money savings and world peace.

[Thanks, shenlong77]

Joystiq$299 Premium 360s at Office Depot originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 07 Sep 2007 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dealspremiumxbox360Fri, 07 Sep 2007 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Europe gets Xbox 360 price cuts this Friday]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/20/europe-gets-xbox-360-price-cuts-this-friday/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/20/europe-gets-xbox-360-price-cuts-this-friday/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/20/europe-gets-xbox-360-price-cuts-this-friday/#commentsFiled under:

Early this morning, Microsoft announced that all of Europe will be jumping in on the Xbox 360 price cut fun this Friday. Europe, being one of the last territories to receive an Xbox 360 price cut, will see price cuts for both 360 versions dropping the Core from 299 EUR / 199 GBP to 279 EUR / 179 GBP and the Premium falling from 399 EUR / 279 GBP to 349 EUR / 249 GBP. Also announced was that the Xbox 360 Elite will be launching this Friday in Europe and retail for 449 EUR / 299 GBP with the 120GB HDD available separately for 179 EUR / 129 GBP.

It looks like the Xbox 360 price cut fun has come to an end and is complete friends with North America covered, Australia getting theirs and now Europe taking the plunge. Get ready to empty those wallets ... empty 'em hard!

JoystiqEurope gets Xbox 360 price cuts this Friday originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 20 Aug 2007 09:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>coreeliteeuropepremiumpricecutxbox360Mon, 20 Aug 2007 09:15:00 EST<![CDATA[360 holiday bundles to include MUA and Forza 2?]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/13/360-holiday-bundles-to-include-mua-and-forza-2/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/13/360-holiday-bundles-to-include-mua-and-forza-2/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/13/360-holiday-bundles-to-include-mua-and-forza-2/#commentsFiled under: ,

Holiday console bundles are nearly a guarantee every year and by the looks of the images above, we think we know what Microsoft's plans are for Christmas '07. French website gamick.fr was browsing a Microsoft marketing website when they stumbled across the two console packaging images above (which have since been pulled) labeled as "Holiday Value Bundles" which state that both Marvel Ultimate Alliance and Forza Motorsport 2 are included in the box. Oh joy!

So, it looks like some territory will be receiving two free games with the purchase of an Elite or Premium (now Pro?) Xbox 360 this holiday, but the big question is who? Remember, a French website found these images, so which territory will be receiving this exact bundle is still a mystery. And is it just us or you loving the whole "Go Big" and "Go Pro" marketing thing too?

[Via Joystiq]

Joystiq360 holiday bundles to include MUA and Forza 2? originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 13 Aug 2007 12:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eliteholidaybundlepremiumproxbox360Mon, 13 Aug 2007 12:15:00 EST<![CDATA[No Falcon technology in HDMI Premiums]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/12/no-falcon-technology-in-hdmi-premiums/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/12/no-falcon-technology-in-hdmi-premiums/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/12/no-falcon-technology-in-hdmi-premiums/#commentsFiled under:

Over on the NeoGAF forums, forum member wonderkins posted pictures of his freshly cracked open HDMI featured Xbox 360 Premium console to see if it had the new heatsink or the new 65nm chips. His findings were that the latest 360s rolling off the assembly lines do feature an extra heatsink, but they do not include any new 65nm "Falcon" technology just yet. We know that some of our fellow fanboys are huge tech buffs and will be sad to hear that news, because all they've wanted for their mid-August Christmas has been Xbox 360 65nm tech. But keep your chin up eager 65nm hopefuls, because the technology is guaranteed to be rolling out within' a few months, so you'll just have to wait a little bit longer.

[Thanks, Ryan Hartman]

JoystiqNo Falcon technology in HDMI Premiums originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 12 Aug 2007 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>falconhdmipremiumxbox360Sun, 12 Aug 2007 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Look on the box, confirm HDMI, make purchase]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/10/look-on-the-box-confirm-hdmi-make-purchase/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/10/look-on-the-box-confirm-hdmi-make-purchase/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/10/look-on-the-box-confirm-hdmi-make-purchase/#commentsFiled under:

We know everyone who's in the market for a new Xbox 360 wants a fancy schmancy HDMI port in their Premium, but may not know how to identify these new consoles. Well, good news for you, because it's quite easy to identify them in the wild. Xbox-Scene found an Xbox 360 Premium box that featured the HDMI connection and confirmed that under the contents section of the box it lists "HDMI port" as a console specification. No, it isn't as obvious as a huge reflective sticker plastered on the front of the box as we expected, but at least you don't have to play the guessing game when it comes to identifying a HDMI Premium.

JoystiqLook on the box, confirm HDMI, make purchase originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 10 Aug 2007 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hdmipremiumxbox360Fri, 10 Aug 2007 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Amazon.com discounts Xbox 360 Premiums to $329]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/09/amazon-com-discounts-xbox-360-premiums-to-329/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/09/amazon-com-discounts-xbox-360-premiums-to-329/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/09/amazon-com-discounts-xbox-360-premiums-to-329/#commentsFiled under: ,

Wowzaz! Xbox 360 price cuts are doing deeper than we ever expected, $20 deeper to be exact. Today, Amazon.com dropped the price of the Xbox 360 Premium console from its recently price dropped $349 price tag to an even lower $329! We expect the price cut to be related to yesterday's confirmation that HDMI will be making its way into Premium consoles and so Amazon.com just might be liquidating the older, HDMI'less Premiums to make room for the new models. But we can't confirm that theory, so it might be possible that these $329 Premiums will include HDMI. It's really a shake of the dice.

That said, we can't help but recommend that you take advantage of this deal ASAP, because you just can't beat a $329 price tag, free shipping and possibly no sales tax charges. Heck, while your at it, cash in on today's Deal of the Day where the featured item is a black Xbox 360 wireless controller / black play and charge pack bundle for only $49.99! Amazon.com ... we love you.

[Thanks, to everyone who sent this in]

JoystiqAmazon.com discounts Xbox 360 Premiums to $329 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 09 Aug 2007 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amazondealpremiumxbox360Thu, 09 Aug 2007 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Happy Xbox 360 price drop day!]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/08/happy-xbox-360-price-drop-day/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/08/happy-xbox-360-price-drop-day/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/08/happy-xbox-360-price-drop-day/#commentsFiled under:

For those who have been living under a rock or have been "busy" the past few days, you should know that today is the day when the Xbox 360 price drop officially goes into effect! So far, Microsoft has announced that United States, Canada and (now) Mexico Xbox 360 prices will be effected by the price drop love. Most major retailers have already made the price drop adjustment with Amazon.com, Best Buy and Gamestop all offering the consoles at their new lower price. But we noticed some retailers (ahem, Target.com) are a little out of the loop, so be patient and be sure to avoid paying the older, more expensive console prices.

Go ahead fanboys, buy your first, buy your second or be a nice guy and buy a 360 for a friend, because price drops are where it's at today.

JoystiqHappy Xbox 360 price drop day! originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 08 Aug 2007 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>coreelitepremiumpricecutxbox360Wed, 08 Aug 2007 12:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Confirmed: Xbox 360 gets price cut this Wednesday]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/07/confirmed-xbox-360-gets-price-cut-this-wednesday/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/07/confirmed-xbox-360-gets-price-cut-this-wednesday/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/07/confirmed-xbox-360-gets-price-cut-this-wednesday/#commentsFiled under:

All the fanboy speculation about leaked ads and rumors of an Xbox 360 price cut can finally be put to rest, because Microsoft has officially come clean. Today, Microsoft announced that this Wednesday (August 8th) all Xbox 360 console versions will be getting a little cheaper in the United States. Tomorrow, the Core system will retail for $279 (a $20 price cut), the Premium will retail for $349 (a $50 price cut), and the Elite system will be available for $449 (a $30 price cut). Again, the new prices will go into effect this Wednesday and are only planned for the US, but we expect price cuts to spread worldwide soonish. And we know there are a few fanboys out there who've been waiting (nearly two years) for this to happen, so go fanboys go and get your cheaper Xbox 360 this Wednesday. You have our blessing.

JoystiqConfirmed: Xbox 360 gets price cut this Wednesday originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 07 Aug 2007 00:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>coreelitepremiumpricecutxbox360Tue, 07 Aug 2007 00:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Analysts expecting a Xbox 360 price cut]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/09/analysts-expecting-a-xbox-360-price-cut/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/09/analysts-expecting-a-xbox-360-price-cut/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/09/analysts-expecting-a-xbox-360-price-cut/#commentsFiled under: ,

If you didn't already know, today Sony announced that they've trimmed the fat on their Playsation 3 by dropping the price by $100. Surprising isn't it? Now the obvious question is whether Microsoft will retaliate with a price cut of their own or keep things the way they are. Industry analyst Michael Pachter thinks a price cut will happen and has gone on record to say that Microsoft will announce a Xbox 360 price drop sometime during E3. How Mr. Pachter sees it is that they'll knock of $50 from the Core and Premium and take $80 off the Elite making the price points $249, $349 and $399. This is of course entirely possible seeing that Sony is stepping on Microsoft's price point territory. Also, we're thinking a price cut is overdue seeing that the console has been out for nearly two years at the same price. We'll just have to wait until tomorrow night to see what surprises Microsoft has up their sleeves and if our 360 will get a fat trimming too.

JoystiqAnalysts expecting a Xbox 360 price cut originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 09 Jul 2007 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>e3e307elitepremiumprice dropPriceDroprumorxbox 360xbox 360 eliteXbox360Xbox360EliteMon, 09 Jul 2007 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Mazeltov! It's an Elite ... and what the heck is that?]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/29/mazeltov-its-an-elite-and-what-the-heck-is-that/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/29/mazeltov-its-an-elite-and-what-the-heck-is-that/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/29/mazeltov-its-an-elite-and-what-the-heck-is-that/#commentsFiled under:

Today we celebrate the birth of the Xbox 360 Elite. The $479 console comes black as a moonless night is for all you folks who just gotta have those HDMI ports. Other than HDMI, the hard drive upgrade cost is frackin' ridiculous and we've got far better color options before dropping that kind of money. Hopefully those who decided to purchase the brand new Elite system, which we'd hope wouldn't have the same issues as the non-Elite, won't have the problem found in the video after the break.

As an aside, we really can't help ourselves on this one, what's that thing in the picture? Found in this week's Gamestop/EB Games flyer and sent in earlier this week by one of our tipsters, we didn't know what to think about this. Apparently Microsoft has come out with some kind of Xbox 360 lite: it's shrunk, inverted and altered. Either Gamestop accidentally leaked another Xbox 360 SKU (they've been known to do it) or this is a terrible graphic of the HDD-less, wired controller-having Core unit we all know and love. Bring the flyer into the store and demand that model and let us know how it goes!

See also:
Xbox 360 Elite vs. classic: The test
Xbox 360 Elite Q&A
Joystiq Hands-on: Xbox 360 Elite
[Via Xbox360Fanboy, Thanks Micheal R.]

Continue reading Mazeltov! It's an Elite ... and what the heck is that?

JoystiqMazeltov! It's an Elite ... and what the heck is that? originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 29 Apr 2007 16:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>coreelitelitemicrosoftpremiumxbox 360Xbox-360Xbox360Sun, 29 Apr 2007 16:50:00 EST<![CDATA[Confirmed: 360 trade-in value increased [update 2]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/16/confirmed-360-trade-in-value-increased/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/16/confirmed-360-trade-in-value-increased/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/16/confirmed-360-trade-in-value-increased/#commentsFiled under:

Over the past few days there has been a few rumors hitting the web about potential Xbox 360 trade-in prices increasing over at EB Games and Gamestop for the launch of the Elite. Well, we got in touch with a few Gamestop managers and it's true. The promotion started today and dramatically increases the trade-in value for original Xboxes, Xbox 360 Cores, and Xbox 360 Premiums.

If you trade in a Premium 360 they'll give you $250 in-store credit, $200 in-store credit for a 360 Core, and $50 for an original Xbox. These trade-in price have increased pretty dramatically, because last week Gamestop was only paying $190 for an Xbox 360 Premium, now upped by $60. Both Gamestop managers also said that the new trade-in credit does not have to go towards an Xbox 360 Elite, but what other reason would you have for selling your 360? There you have it all wrapped up and confirmed. More trade-in cash for your old Xbox 360 to buy yourself a black Elite if you so choose.

Update 1: We're thinking there may be a little confusion in Gamestop's head. We just got word from Kevin (who works at Gamestop) that the trade-in program uses coupons that are not valid until April 29th. Kevin says that the only way to increase the trade-in value is to use these coupons and the only way to get these coupons is to buy an Elite. So, according to him, you need to buy an Elite to get the increased trade in value. But, we double checked with our local Gamestop managers and they still are saying we could come in today and they'll pay us $250 for a Premium 360. Maybe all the stores just aren't on the same page ... silly Gamestop.

Update 2: Even more details have emerged.

JoystiqConfirmed: 360 trade-in value increased [update 2] originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 16 Apr 2007 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>coreeb gamesEbGameselitegamestoppremiumxbox 360xbox 360 elitexbox eliteXbox360Xbox360EliteXboxEliteMon, 16 Apr 2007 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Shadowrun cross-play requires Games for Windows Live Gold account]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/05/shadowrun-cross-play-requires-games-for-windows-live-gold-accoun/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/05/shadowrun-cross-play-requires-games-for-windows-live-gold-accoun/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/05/shadowrun-cross-play-requires-games-for-windows-live-gold-accoun/#comments
When we spoke with PR Manager Michael Wolf about Games for Windows Live, he was sparse in details regarding a Games for Windows Live Gold account. "All I can say now is that we're working to make a Gold membership worthwhile even if you're only connecting to Live from Windows Vista," he said.

It seems Microsoft has revealed one of those incentives in the form of cross-platform multiplayer. Text shown at the end of the latest Shadowrun trailer notes that "cross platform play requires Xbox LIVE Gold ... or Games for Windows -- LIVE Gold account (on Windows)."

We're betting that PC vs. PC multiplayer will still be free, as it has been historically. However, we're hoping that Microsoft has some more ingenious plans for GFW Live Gold. Paying a monthly premium just to settle the keyboard vs. gamepad debate does not sit well. How about a GDC announcement to soothe our nerves?

Trailer embedded after the break.

Gallery: Shadowrun

Continue reading Shadowrun cross-play requires Games for Windows Live Gold account

JoystiqShadowrun cross-play requires Games for Windows Live Gold account originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 05 Mar 2007 10:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>games for windowsGamesForWindowsonlinepremiumshadow runShadowRunxbox liveXboxLiveMon, 05 Mar 2007 10:25:00 EST<![CDATA[Wii accessories list, courtesy of Gamestop [Update 1]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/07/wii-accessories-list-courtesy-of-gamestop/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/07/wii-accessories-list-courtesy-of-gamestop/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/07/wii-accessories-list-courtesy-of-gamestop/#commentsFiled under:

It's so bad.EB Games/Gamestop/EB Gamestop or whatever they're called these days occasionally gets some inside information before the press. (I say occasionally; please hold off on the "my local EB Games employee told you the Wii was coming out December 17th" tips.) A quick search of Gamestop's online store in the accessories section yields some interesting results, shows as follows:

Wii Controller Glove 9.99
Wii G-Pak Travel Case 29.99
Wii Game Wallet 9.99
Wii HD Premium Component Cable 59.99
Wii Memory SD 1.0GB 59.99
Wii Memory SD 512MB 39.99
Wii S-Video Premium AV Cable 39.99
Wii Sling Bag 29.99
Wii Storage & Protection 1.0GB Kit 69.99

We knew about the Power Glove, but the SD cards just seem like a convenient excuse for Gamestop to take people's money; the prices are quite high. The premium component cable is insanely expensive, but hey, it's premium. Other than that, your classic game-toting sling-bag take-it-anywhere-but-not-really-because-no-one-ever-does-that accessories are on the list. With the immediate need for extra controllers, memory, and games at launch, is anyone going to pick up any of these other things?

[Thanks, Randy!]

[Update 1: Clarified that the SD cards are not officially from Nintendo, and realized that you can in fact get SD cards for far cheaper.]

JoystiqWii accessories list, courtesy of Gamestop [Update 1] originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 07 Sep 2006 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AccessoryCableEB GamesEbGamesGamestopGloveMemoryPremiumProtectionSDSlingStorageTravelThu, 07 Sep 2006 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Core Xbox 360 loses ten pounds]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/08/25/core-xbox-360-loses-ten-pounds/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/08/25/core-xbox-360-loses-ten-pounds/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/08/25/core-xbox-360-loses-ten-pounds/#commentsFiled under:


And before our juvenile brains manage to construct a poor joke regarding the Xbox 360's power brick, we'll quickly blurt out that the lost pounds are strictly in monetary terms. According to Gamesindusty.biz, several retailers in the UK have confirmed that the Core Xbox 360's price has been slashed by 10 quid, bringing its total price to GBP 199.99. A lower price says little of value, however, as walking out of the store with a Core console, a hard drive (GBP 69.99) and a component cable (GBP 19.99) will still cost you more than the standard pack (GBP 279.99).

Though this move is unlikely to cause a similar Core price drop in the US, it does seem to reinforce the idea that the cheaper deal is the less popular one. Of course, that doesn't stop retailers from advertising it in deceiving ways -- the above advertisement is straight from the front page of online retailer, Game, and proudly proclaims that "HD gaming starts" at 199.99 pounds. "HD gaming" here having the definition of "a sequence of fuzzy images conveyed by the included and technically inept composite cable."

JoystiqCore Xbox 360 loses ten pounds originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 25 Aug 2006 18:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CorePremiumprice dropPriceDropUKUnited KingdomUnitedKingdomXbox price dropXbox-360XboxPriceDropFri, 25 Aug 2006 18:45:00 EST<![CDATA[New 360 bundle w/ PGR3, points & Live?]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/07/18/new-360-bundle-w-pgr3-points-and-live/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/07/18/new-360-bundle-w-pgr3-points-and-live/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/07/18/new-360-bundle-w-pgr3-points-and-live/#commentsFiled under:

Rumors of new, value-added 360 bundles continue to swirl in lieu of an actual price drop. This supposed $399 package doesn't have any fancy HDMI ports or internal HD-DVD drives, but it does have about $85 worth of throw-ins, including PGR3, 1250 MS Points and 3 months of XBL Gold. Is this the recipe for attracting holiday hold-outs?

[Thanks Alex]

JoystiqNew 360 bundle w/ PGR3, points & Live? originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 18 Jul 2006 02:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bundlesholidayspremiumpricingstrategyXbox 360Xbox360Tue, 18 Jul 2006 02:00:00 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[$3.8 billion by 2011 in game downloads for consoles]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/04/04/3-8-billion-by-2011-in-game-downloads-for-consoles/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/04/04/3-8-billion-by-2011-in-game-downloads-for-consoles/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/04/04/3-8-billion-by-2011-in-game-downloads-for-consoles/#commentsFiled under:

Next Generation reports that the ABI Research firm believes, via conducted study, that game downloads will grow to $3.8 billion on consoles by 2011. The piece cites that while Xbox Live already has content available via download through Marketplace, it's the PS3 and Nintendo that will come out on top in the online battle for your hard-earned simolians. The firm seems to believe that this is largely due to Nintendo and Sony's free multiplayer gaming, which would leave the user with extra cash to drop on premium content via each respective service.

With the recent inclusion of Sega and TG games for the Revolution's Virtual Console, there'll be a lot of premium content available for download. While this study fails to mention how these numbers were reached, Nintendo will undoubtedly have a much more robust service to offer than its competitors.

Joystiq$3.8 billion by 2011 in game downloads for consoles originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 04 Apr 2006 12:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>contentdownloadgrafxnintendopremiumrevolutionsegaturboTue, 04 Apr 2006 12:22:00 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[Region-free PS3, free online multiplayer confirmed]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/03/23/region-free-ps3-free-online-multiplayer-confirmed/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/03/23/region-free-ps3-free-online-multiplayer-confirmed/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/03/23/region-free-ps3-free-online-multiplayer-confirmed/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

FFXII Japanese magazine spot During a Q&A session with media over lunch after yesterday's GDC keynote, Sony's Phil Harrison confirmed that PS3 software will be region free and that multiplayer gaming will also be free.

While we'd heard rumblings of the region-free set-up for games back in early November, we hadn't heard any official confirmation outside of Australia until just the other day. Importers (as well as online gamers) should be quite pleased with the development, though this move likely won't follow for Blu-ray movie discs. It's good to see the region-free status of PSP games spread to the PS3's.

If online multiplayer is included as part of Sony's free basic service (known internally as the "PlayStation Network Platform"), then what would constitute Sony's premium service besides the typical content downloads for games? Subscriptions for movie and/or music services, perhaps? And going back to the region-encoding news, it's heartening for our friends on the Continent to hear Phil's following statement: "It's possible for developers to put all the TV formats - PAL, NTSC, HDTV, and so on - on the disc." Can Sony bring the world together with games?

[Thanks, DarkFlash; image taken from Final Fantasy Odyssey]

See also:

JoystiqRegion-free PS3, free online multiplayer confirmed originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 23 Mar 2006 02:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>basicBlu-rayconfirmationencodingGDCHDTVkeynotemovieNTSCPALPhil HarrisonPhilHarrisonPlayStation Network PlatformPlaystationNetworkPlatformpremiumPS3PSPregion freeRegionFreeSonysubscriptionsThu, 23 Mar 2006 02:00:00 EST