We want to go head to head with PS3 - Microsoft @ EuroGamer

Microsoft may be happy with a second Christmas without next-generation competition from Sony, but it wants to go head-to-head with its rival so that consumers can finally compare the two console offerings.

Speaking exclusively to our sister site GamesIndustry.biz, Xbox boss Neil Thompson also stated that he only sees Nintendo's Wii as a product that will compete with 360 in the most basic sense this Christmas – as a product that may steal consumer pounds.

When asked about Microsoft's reaction to the news that the PS3 would not launch in Europe this side of Christmas, Thompson replied: "In some ways it would have been good if it had, because then people could have really made the comparison. Sometimes it's worse when you're fighting a myth, than when you're fighting reality."

"In a lot of ways we'd like people to put the system side-by-side and see whether people want a platform where they're paying for Blu-ray straight away. Is Blu-ray that important to you that you want to buy into that platform right now and spend GBP 500 doing that? Or do you want a gaming system that has more high-definition gaming content today, has a better online service and provides you the choice of whether you want to upgrade to the next-generation of DVD platform in the future?"

"We would have quite liked to have gone head-to-head on those issues because we feel very strongly that we have an incredibly compelling offering," he added.

And despite Nintendo warning retail channels its Wii console may sell out in Europe this Christmas, Thompson is adamant that the new system will not encroach on Microsoft's space.

"It has the potential of taking consumers spend and wallet share away from us in general, but at a product comparison level it's not competing with us at all. It's an innovative, low-definition product," said Thompson.

"People will make a clear decision as to whether they want that sort of product - a kid's toy - or they want high-definition gaming and entertainment and all that it brings."

"They are only a competitor in so much as they'll take consumers pounds and I'd like to have as many of those as I can," he concluded.

Comparing next week's PS3 and Wii launches @ Joystiq

Chris Morris over at CNN/Money explores availability, mass advertising, limited launch titles, and PS3 vs. Wii predictions as the two consoles prepare for launch next week in the US. While Sony's extremely limited number of PS3 launch units is known (400k), Nintendo's exact November 19 numbers are unknown. THQ president Brian Farrel predicts Ninty will have between 600,000 to 800,000 units available on launch day, "enough to keep the flow coming." The article expects Wii restocking to happen before Black Friday but has no idea when a PS3 restock will hit because Sony isn't sharing much information at the moment.

Regarding a lack of mass advertising, Morris and Nintendo President Reggie Fils-Aime remind us that launches are all for hard-cores who don't need company sponsored promotions. "The advertising and marketing is for casual gamers. We want to get them excited when they can actually go out and get something, so we'll start next week," said Fils-Aime.

The column also touches on the question that "doesn't matter, but everyone likes to talk about:" Who's going to win? The prediction? No definitive manufacturer winner in terms of market share. Only gamers win as the playing field is expected to be a lot more even this time.

Japan Queues Up for PS3 @ Future NetWork

On Friday at 8 p.m. in Tokyo, gamers were already lined up to buy the PS3, which wasn’t to go on sale until 7 a.m. the next morning. There were two distinct lines of people who intended to get their hands on a system: one in Ikebukuro in front of Bic Camera in the gadget district Akihabara made up of around 250 people, and one in front of Asobit City Games, consisting of less than 100. (See photo below from Tokyo.)

Japan is expected to get around 80,000 units total on day one, so quantities will be initially tight in Japan, as with the rest of the world. Most major retailers will have 100 to 150 PS3s to sell, while smaller stores will get a paltry two to five units.

Although there is certainly great anticipation for the system, there is a low-key air about the launch. It’s almost as if many Japanese consumers were dissuaded to line up because of the well-known shortages that are anticipated. Nevertheless, the system is likely to sell out in the first hour or so.

Amidst complaints from gamers, some stores in Akihabara have decided to sell the few PS3 through lottery drawings--if chosen by number, customers win the right to buy a console.

As for software, the latest polls from ITmedia indicate that 30 percent of the people who are going to buy a PS3 will go for Ridge Racer 7, 25 percent for Resistance: Fall of Man (a good figure for a country known for being relatively anti-FPS) and 24 percent for the new Gundam title. Genji: Days of the Blade recevied only 5 percent of peoples' attention bringing up the tail-end of the poll.

The PS3 is set to launch in North America with around 400,000 units on November 17.

Sonic PS3 Has Been Delayed @ GamingHorizon

Originally scheduled to be a launch title with the PlayStation 3, SEGA has announced that Sonic the Hedgehog has been delayed.

The game instead will ship sometime during the holiday season. The delay is due to a need for more time to incorporate downloadable content for the game meaning content will be available immediately on release day when the title finally comes out.

PS3 lines already forming in America @ VideoGamesBlogger

Nine days until Sony’s PlayStation 3 launches in America, and lines are already forming. A CAG forumer went to Best Buy this morning and saw about 7 people waiting outside. He went inside and one of the workers told him that they had been there since Monday. He immediately pondered: “Do these people have no lives?”

Of course the life of the waiting-in-line-for-almost-two-weeks PS3 fans isn’t made easier by a bunch of people coming to Best Buy and making funny remarks like: “I hope you guys brought enough food!” Another one said, “Where is the line for PS4? Is it on the other side?”

Live is Dead for PS3 @ IGN

It's been forever since we last heard anything about the PlayStation 3 version of NBA Live 07 (which was announced at E3 2006 back in May), but that's for good reason. According to EA representatives, whom we spoke with just moments ago, the PS3 edition of Live has been cancelled altogether and will not be coming out for the system until next year (NBA Live 08).

"We are concentrating our efforts on creating a spectacular NBA Street: Homecourt [instead of porting NBA Live 07]," said David Tinson, Public Relations Manager, EA Canada. "[Homecourt] is coming to the PS3 and Xbox 360 early next year."

Though PS3-specific features or fixes for the PlayStation 3 edition of NBA Live 07 were never announced, the game was used to demonstrate what EA Sports could do with the system's hardware during Sony's onstage presentation prior to E3. Specifically, the demo focused on NBA Live's "Procedural Awareness Technology" and how that would translate into realistic on-court reactions.

Performance Designed Products to launch PS3 accessories line

For you console and handheld owners, Performance Designed Products would be more familiar if we used one of their brand names: Pelican. Yes, in the countdown to PS3 Launch Day, one of the more well-known third party accessories manufacturer is joining Nyko in prepping a lineup of add-ons and subs for Sony's next-gen console (our bet: we're going to hear from Logitech next).

What does this mean? Who knows, maybe Nerf SIXAXES. We know a five-year-old who might appreciate it. And it wouldn't be Pelican/PDP's first foray into a motion sensing controller. Still remember the Tiltforce 2 that dates back to the PSOne? Then there's that mysterious "PS3/PS2 Controller Adapter" the boys of PS3 Fanboy found (you can check that article out for details, all theories are spread from heck to breakfast).

Well, PDP prepping to make PS3 accessories shows their confidence in the console, come to think of it. Or at the very least, they see a market well worth entering into. We'll see in the weeks after Launch Day if PDP will launch a Pelican PS3 Nerf controller, and we'll be there to tell you about it. Nope, these pelicans won't eat pigeons alive - what the...

PS3 titles to use single online sign-in @ Gi

One sign-in for every game, but online features may still differ

Every game on the PlayStation 3 will use the same universal sign-in and the same online ID, Sony has confirmed - even titles which do not use the central buddy list and messaging systems offered by the console.

Speaking to GamesIndustry.biz this morning, the UK producer on launch title Resistance, Dan Brooke, said that he "wishes to be clear that Resistance uses the PlayStation online ID to sign into the game. There is no separate login for Resistance and the online ID you create will be the same you use for all titles."

The clarification comes after Ted Price, head of Resistance developer Insomniac Games, revealed last week that despite having extensive online functionality, the game will not be using the central buddy list offered by the PS3; instead, players will build an in-game buddy list unique to the game.

Resistance is also set to offer advanced community features such as clan support, party support, match-making and ranking. At present the PlayStation 3 operating system does not offer centralised support for these features.

However, contrary to some reports which have appeared in recent weeks, gamers will not be expected to sign up new accounts for each game they play, as the PS3 will handle a single sign-in ID for this purpose.

This system is similar to how online games worked on the PlayStation 2, where users had a single Central Station ID which identified them in every game on the system - although unlike the PS2, the PS3's network adapter is built in and configures itself automatically in most network environments, and the system boasts persistent internal storage for network and sign-in details, as well as for downloaded content.

However, the PS3's service still falls significantly short of Microsoft's highly regarded Xbox Live system, whose voice chat, messaging, buddy lists and so on are not only a core part of the service, but are utilised by all online titles on the console.

PS3 to ship without Linux?

Sony's PlayStation 3 (PS3), due this month, will not ship with Linux pre-installed, as suggested in March by CEO Ken Kuturagi. However, TerraSoft CEO Kai Staats says his company's Yellow Dog Linux is installable by "anybody who knows how to use a keyboard, mouse, and browser," according to an interview in the Coloradoan.

Both Kuturagi and Staats have said that when running Linux, the PS3 has limitless potential to serve as a home computer, as well as a gaming device, DVD player, and digital media server. Staats told the Coloradoan, "This is not an application-limited appliance. This is a full-blown computer. There is no issue of 'can it do this or that?' It can do everything."

The PS3 is based on a "Cell" processor with a PowerPC core and seven vector processors called "synergistic processing engines" (SPEs). Its multiple SPEs are expected to bring the PS3 unprecedented graphics capabilities -- such as the ability to drive extra-high-definition "1080p" displays (1920 x 1080 displays with progressive rendering).

The Coloradoan's interview with Staat can be found here.