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The Week in Review news piece summarizes and highlights the most important gaming related news and rumors over the past week. This weekly article will keep you plugged in and in-tune. Despite all the action at the Tokyo Games Show, there wasn’t a whole lot of earth-shattering news that came out. While Sony was the biggest newsmaker, even their announcements were fairly tame. Perhaps the most engaging bit of info came from a leaked document detailing minutes taken during a meeting between SEGA and SCEA. It seemed to suggest that the SEGA Dreamcast and PS2 back-catalogues are on their way to the PSN. Also, a Japanese Import game section is in the cards for North American consumers via Sony’s digital marketplace. Unfortunately, none of this was confirmed at TGS, but the proposed launch date for the Sony motion controller was mentioned, and it subsequently has been proven to be right. This gives the leaked document a bit more clout. In that light, at TGS 2009 President and Group CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment, Kaz Hirai, revealed that the touted wand motion controller is set for worldwide launch in the Spring of 2010. According to his comments, and the official press release, the motion controller features a pair of motion sensors, a three-axes gyroscope and a three-axes accelerometer, along with Bluetooth and a rechargeable Li-ion battery. For a list of the proposed launch titles, click HERE . Most disappointingly, Sony confirmed this week that there will be no conversion method of UMD titles to digital format for purchasers of the PSPgo.”We were evaluating a UMD conversion program, but due to legal and technical reasons we will not be offering the program at this time,” a Sony Computer Entertainment of America spokesman told Kotaku. We’re not sure if this will doom the PSPgo or not, but people will definitely have to consider it a new generation device rather than the continuation of the old line. In better, third-party news, Capcom revealed that they will be reissuing Resident Evil 5. Called Resident Evil 5: Alternative Edition, the game will support motion control for the Sony PS3 motion controller. Additionally, Polyphony Digital pinpointed the release date for Gran Turismo 5. The game will be ready for launch in Japan in March of 2010, with PAL and North American releases to follow sometime thereafter. Nintendo and Microsoft made some waves of their own. For starters, the recurring Wii HD rumor spread once more on the heels of comments made by Square Enix’s President Yoichi Wada. According to Wada, Nintendo may release their next gaming console on the world in 2011. According to the Financial Times report, consumers can expect “functionality more like that of Microsoft’s Xbox 360 or Sony’s PlayStation 3, and possibly a different controller.” While speculation is well and good, the current Nintendo console – Wii – is now slated for a $50 price cut. Starting Sunday, September 27 th , this first retail discount keeps the Wii $100 less than its competition at $199.99 (not including Microsoft’s Xbox 360 Arcade Edition, of course). Microsoft also announced a price cut of sorts. For a limited time (between September 22 and October 5), consumers that purchase an Xbox 360 Elite will get a $50 mail-in rebate back from Microsoft. Click HERE to be connected to the rebate voucher site. Switching gears, EB Games / GameStop published a product listing for a brand new Xbox 360 wireless controller. The new controller is an EB Games / GameStop exclusive, is graphite black with a red hazard symbol imposed, and includes a rechargeable battery pack. The controller is set to drop on October 15, 2009 and will retail for $69.99. Finally, the biggest whopper of the week award goes to the rumor that is Wall Street. According to insiders, there was talk that Microsoft was interested in acquiring Electronic Arts. While this seemed highly suspect, due to platform exclusivity and licensing issues, the internet and the markets were aflutter. As it turned out, both Microsoft and EA came out with statements quelling the unsubstantiated rumors. Thanks so much everyone and we will see you next week! |