Bobby Kotick (Activision’s head honcho) stated to Sony recently, “I’m getting concerned about Sony; the PlayStation 3 is losing a bit of momentum and they don’t make it easy for me to support the platform. It’s expensive to develop for the console, and the Wii and the Xbox are just selling better. Games generate a better return on invested capital on the Xbox than on the PlayStation.???

Somewhat subtlely (or NOT!), Mr. Kotick says his company paid $500 million to Sony in royalties and other goods last year, which “probably still worked out at 400 per cent of the profit they made???. Actually, Sony’s games division lost $597 million last year, and Mr. Kotick seems to think it may have to risk more losses if the £299.99 PlayStation 3 is to develop.

“They have to cut the price, because if they don’t, the attach rates [the number of games each console owner buys] are likely to slow. If we are being realistic, we might have to stop supporting Sony.???

“When we look at 2010 and 2011, we might want to consider if we support the console — and the PSP [portable] too,??? says Kotick.

If Activision decided to stop supporting Sony (PS3 and PSP), then that would mean no Guitar Hero, Call of Duty, or DJ Hero for that market. Yeah that’s a big deal for all the PS’ers out there, can you say “Pwnd”?

With this being a “worse case scenario” of course, someone (Kotick) is obviously talking some real serious business.

[Source]

(Gamespot) – As had been widely rumored, the PSP Go will have a sliding form factor like the Mylo, Sony’s ill-fated Internet communicator device. The new handheld (which does not sport a second thumbstick) is shown several times in a video, which features Qore host Veronica Belmont and John Koller, director of hardware marketing at Sony Computer Entertainment America.

According to Koller, the main differences between the PSP Go and the PSP-3000 are “on-board memory, the flash memory, and 16 gigs of space. There’s Bluetooth on board as well, so you can use a Bluetooth headset, and you can actually tether it to your cell phone as well. But ultimately, it’s the portability. Since you can bring all that content with you in a smaller form factor, you’ve got the most immersive games to play, and now you’ve got a smaller unit to do it with.”

Koller also said the emphasis will be on downloadable games. “Little Big Planet, Jak & Daxter, and even a new Metal Gear Solid will be available. So will all the first-run movies you can rent or buy on the PlayStation Network. So you can bring so much content over with you and fill up that 16 gig of flash memory.” The new MGS PSP game was previously hinted at in a Web post by the Japanese arm of the 7/11 convenience store chain.

Koller also appears to reveal that the long lost PSP Gran Turismo Mobile game (first shown off in 2004) will resurface at next week’s expo. “There are games like Gran Turismo being announced at E3,” said the executive.

Host Belmont then asks, “So since it’s called the PSP Go, I would image it will work with Remote Play as well.” Koller responds with the following blanket statement: “Integration with the PS3 is very important, and it works just like the PSP-3000. A lot of people like to be able to take their PS3 content with them on the go.”

As for the PSP Go supplanting its predecessor, Koller said flatly: “It won’t replace the PSP-3000. We’re going to keep them both on the market.” Koller did not mention a price, release date, or whether or not it would have a touchscreen when closed. Sony Computer Entertainment America reps had not responded to requests for comment as of press time.

A second video from Qore shows the PSP Go in even greater detail, and also reveals its logo. The handheld will have a 3.8 inch screen (versus the PSP-3000′s 4.3-inch screen) and will be 43 percent lighter than the original, and will have “all digital content,” according to Koller. “The UMD drive goes away…and it has a Memory Stick Micro, so you can add memory to it if you like…It will be something the digitally savvy consumer can really enjoy,” he explains, before revealing some new PSP games will be download-only.

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) – The videogame sector is looking for a resurgence this year through casual users and programs for mobile phones, themes that will be underscored this week at one of the industry’s most closely watched events.

Because videogames cost less than $50 but provide hours of entertainment, analysts and industry executives expect them to show strength even in a severe economic slump that has punished the entire consumer technology sector.

They say videogames are expanding their reach beyond a traditional base of young males to a wider audience of “casual users” through products like Nintendo’s blockbuster Wii console and mobile games on such devices as Apple’s iPhone.

This week’s Game Developers Conference — which has 300 exhibitors and bills itself as the industry’s largest professionals-only event in the world — will again attract independent developers showcasing cutting-edge technologies in console, PC, mobile and online games.

Organizers say the show, which kicks off on Monday, lured 18,000 attendees last year and has provided a platform for the launch of what became the Wii, now the world’s best-selling console.

“The phenomenon that’s driving sales this year is that a big chunk of sales are to a much, much more casual audience than we have historically seen,” said Wedbush Morgan analyst Michael Pachter.

U.S. sales of videogame hardware, software and accessories are up 11 percent so far in 2009, according to researcher NPD.

“We’re in a hot category that’s growing,” said Michael Howse, chief executive of privately held Bigfoot Networks, which is launching the next generation of its gaming network card this week.

“Our general view is that we’re certainly impacted on the consumer spending side,” he said, “but for some reason, consumers have a few extra dollars in their pocket to play games.”

Some game publishers have struggled as retailers cut inventory, forcing job cuts and delayed releases. Electronic Arts, which expects a loss in 2009, is eliminating 1,100 positions — 11 percent of its workforce — and closing 12 facilities.

But gaming shares have fared better this year than last, with Electronic Arts, Activision Blizzard, Take-Two Interactive and game retailer GameStop all in positive territory.

The January 2009 North American hardware numbers are in from NPD Group.

Nintendo Wii – 679,000
Nintendo DS – 510,000
Xbox 360 – 309,000
PlayStation 3 – 203,000
PlayStation Portable – 172,000
PlayStation 2 – 101,000

As expected, Nintendo’s Wii and DS systems led the list. The Xbox 360 continues to kick the PS3′s butt as we figured, but we hear that Sony was pleased that the gap wasn’t wider.

The PSP did some decent numbers that helped bump its worldwide total to 50 million units sold.

-Crutchboy

First Glance:
Travel the land with your hero defeating your enemies… by matching gems. Like Bejeweled meets Dungeons and Dragons.

The Short Story:
This is a game that may not be played by people who only read the description on the box. But it’s more than just a puzzle game since you also have to build up your character as you play through the story. There’s a lot to this game if you just give it a chance.

The Score:
Ease of play allows for short sessions for the Busy Gamer and the portable versions allow it to go with you on the road or to the bathroom if you so desire. As such, Puzzle Quest : Challenge of the Warlords scores a 5 on our scale.

Body of review:
I admit to being a fan of puzzle games. The majority of my portable collection is puzzle type games or brain teasers. So when I heard there was a puzzle game that involved role-playing aspects, I just had to check it out.

The character creation is a simple process. There are four classes each with its own starting strengths and skills, four portraits for each class, and then you can name your character. Once you’re done with this process, you begin the tutorial portion which allows you to see how each of the gem types work and how your spells will affect the game board.

There are four types of mana gems representing each of the four elements, Blue for Water, Red for Fire, Yellow for Air, and Green for Earth. Matching the colored gems builds your mana reserves which in turn allows you to cast spells. There are also Skull gems which, when matched, deal direct damage to your opponent. Unless, of course, your opponent matches the Skulls in which case damage is done to your character.

There is also gold you can match to build up your cash reserves and purple star gems which grant experience at the end of combat. How much is given at the end of combat is determined by your Cunning Skill. The higher the Cunning, the more you are rewarded for these matches. Cunning also determines who will go first when a match begins. If your skill is higher, you go first and vice versa if your opponent has the higher skill.

The spells you gain as you level will affect how a match plays out. Some spells do direct damage to your opponent while others may clear a certain type of gem from the board, either in mass or based on how much of a certain type of mana you have when you cast it. And to further reinforce your skill set, once you have defeated a certain type of opponent three times, you are allowed the option of capturing that creature to learn spells from it. The capture process is handled through a board that
you must completely clear without benefit of your spells and without interference from your opponent. These puzzles can be daunting at first but they can be skipped completely if you simply want to use the base skills of the class you have chosen.

The story line is enjoyable and you will meet characters that can be added to your “party??? for additional benefits. While these characters provide no additional spells during combat, the boosts they provide during combat are substantial. Whether it is damage to your opponent before the match even begins or additional damage as combat proceeds, each individual can turn the tide of combat.

Additionally, various quests will become available based on what characters have joined you. The quests themselves may only provide experience when completed but several also offer up extra gear your character may equip to provide bonuses during combat. With this degree of customization, you will be tempted to play through the complete story more than once simply to see how a new character will develop.

Puzzle Quest has a low learning curve, a quest log which allows the player to see what exactly they were doing the last time they played, and an ease of play that will keep the Busy Gamer coming back for more. Throw in a multiplayer mode that allows you to see how your character stacks up against your friend’s and you’re certainly guaranteed a lot of bang for your buck.

Grits – End of Line

First Glance:
New title for Star Wars fans, now where did I put my FX lightsaber again?

The Short Story:
You are part of Renegade Squadron, Han Solo’s group of nerfherders and scoundrels whose only mission is to lay waste to the Imperial skumm so that the real heroes can come in and finish up the story that we all know and love.

The Score:
I rate this game a 4. It’s fast, great instant action, faster load times, and can easily switch the game off in seconds, picking up right where you left off, even in mid combat.

Body of review:
For those of you who are veterans of Battlefront I & II you will be unfortunately alarmed that the controls have been modified. A nice lock on feature lets you cling to any target near you and hold some blaster fire down pretty much owning many of the baddies, as long as you have adequate back up room. What I didn’t like is the lack of vertical firing option as in the previous games. The lock on just kinda grabs the nearest target and holds it till he’s particle dust. Easy shooting, but I miss the larger learning curve of it’s predecessors.

The story is quite good, you get to see the workings of the rebellion behind the scenes of the movies, between Empire Strikes Back & Return of the Jedi. Solo’s squadron has some key working roles in helping the rebels out in there conquest that really fleshes out this game for the Star Wars geeks out there.

The effects and graphics seem to be the same as before, not a lot of tweaking, a couple of new maps make for some interesting new scenery.

With the new character customization feature you get to choose your look and have a selection of all weapons graded on a point system. Meaning that if you take the big gun of doom, you have to sacrifice speed or health so that the overall balance remains fairly even. This will ultimately prove more worthy in multi player settings through the wirelesss modes that the game provides.

I really liked the galactic conquest mode better in this version. In fact, for me it seems to keep things interesting. The rules and movement phases are easier to learn, you get to buy troops, upgrade abilities, add a commander like Vader or Tarkin to your arsenal in almost like a board game sort of way. On the normal mode I did manage to beat the enemy down against striking high odds, 40 against 90 I believe. Which seems a little far fetched, but then again the empire does rock!

Overall, for the busy gamer, its great. Replayability is not the best, I’ll probably revert to Battlefront II overtime. For the fan, I recommend it, it’s a must, I mean where else can you deck out your mon calamari vagabond with a rocket launcher and actually look menacing with it?

First Glance:
Hot Shots Golf for the PSP. ‘Nuff Said.

The Short Story:
Win tournaments and match play to unlock new characters, new costumes, and better equipment for the characters. Play solo or against your friends.

The Score:
There’s a lot to do on this game even though there’s a limited amount of courses and this is the perfect example of a good investment for a Busy Gamer. You can set this game down for a couple of weeks and still come back and play it without having to relearn the controls. You may have a little trouble getting your timing back down but a couple of swings and you’re back in the game. A solid 5 on the Busy Gamer scale.

Body of review:
I’m not a big golf fan. I’m not even a little golf fan. I’ve been known to sit down with my dad and watch Tiger play a couple of holes but that’s mostly to spend time with my dad and not because of Tiger. On the other hand, I do enjoy going and hitting a few of those little white balls at the driving range but there’s just something therapeutic about knocking the crap out of something with a big stick. I think it’s a guy thing.

Having explained that aspect of my personality, I have enjoyed the previous installations of Hot Shots Golf. Mostly because while the physics are, for the most part, realistic, the humor that is present in the game, the cartoon like graphics, and the specials shots that are available make the game more tolerable for someone like me. There’s also the fact that I don’t actually have to keep track of my ball after I hit it. That’s pretty nice.

While there are only six courses available in Open Tee, there’s enough variety in how you can play the courses to keep you from getting too bored with any one course. There’s also the challenge of obtaining the different outfits and gear as you play which helps keep play from feeling monotonous. hen there is the putting challenge which adds another aspect of game play to the overall package.

There is a total of ten characters to choose from once you’ve managed to unlock them all. It isn’t a lot but the playing styles of each are varied enough to make things interesting if you’re patient enough to unlock each individual’s full potential. Combined with the numerous costume choices you’ll have available to you as you win tournaments and you can be fairly certain that your golfer won’t look too similar to your friend’s.

The controls for Open Tee are easy to pick up and won’t give you too much of a headache to relearn if you take an extended break from the game. One of the best aspects of the game for the Busy Gamer, however, is the ability to play a full course or as little as one hole in one sitting. There’s a save function that allows to save after each hole played if you don’t have the time for a full course or tournament.

If you’re no fan of the sport at all, you may want to pass on Open Tee but there’s a lot here to enjoy for the Busy Gamer who likes golf with a little extra flavor.

First Glance:
Classic Football game, nothing very different from the past few.

The Short Story:
Great game for the guys at Busy Gamer. We can sit down pretty much whenever we like and kick the crap out of the Pats any time. One cool new feature is Player Weapons and no, I don’t mean T.O. gets to carry around a +4 Mace of Touchdowns; fast players in the NFL get the speed weapon, hard hitters get the hard hitter weapon, etc.

The Score:
This one’s a 5. Plain and simple, this is perfect for someone who doesn’t have a lot of time to play a game but likes the gratification of kicking someone’s ass.

Body of review:
This game is great and there’s not a whole lot to say other then that. Well, you would assume that at least. The career mode is by far the best out of all the previous Madden titles. You get to work your way into the Hall of Fame (HOF) and gain points in order to influence your teammates either to help them or help yourself. Gang tackles have been introduced which allows more then one player to tackle someone at the same time. As someone who loves playing on offense as a Halfback most of
the time, it’s a pain in the ass. But when I play defense as my Strong Safety, it’s nice to have a Middle Linebacker stand a Halfback up allowing me to come along and knock his head off. Now let’s hope they don’t screw up the physics engine in next year’s title.

Create a Team is back and better then ever. You can now also unlock HOF players and place them on your team. The uniforms you can create are by far the most detailed as is the face of a custom player. You can now create a far more detailed stadium, something I had a problem with in last year’s title.

The ability to bring your player from NCAA `08 isn’t a new option but I believe they have improved on it greatly and it’s a lot of fun to be able to take a player from high school until you retire. One new option for a young rookie in this league now is to hire an agent. From what I’ve seen it doesn’t do much but allows you to access the performance institute which is always nice to help you gain points.

My only complain about Madden `08 is one of the main problems I have with every title. Players on the sidelines look like a herd of cattle, each player appearing as a clone of the others. I can understand the way the crowd appears because of the large numbers but I was under the impression that EA was going out of their way in order to make the players on the sidelines look like players and not cardboard
cutouts.

So in closing, I have to say that this is easily the Best madden title to date. It looks great, players look like their real life counterparts when they’re on the field, voice-overs are great, and the gang tackles make this title the most realistic football game yet.

Thanks Everyone
EDB
eldiabloblanco@busygamer.com