Not long after Sony released its much awaited PlayStation 3 Slim, video game console makers seem to have woken up from their slumber. If you thought that the video game console wars are over, think again! It’s back and in full force.

Try looking online for a video game console and you will be met with various promises and offers. This console has better hardware to give the best graphic experience. This one is the fastest. This one has awesome sounds. And so on.

More than the actual console itself, manufacturers are coming up with a plethora of hardware add-ons that promise to give gamers the best experience yet. At the most recent E3 convention in May, Sony revealed a new control system that is compatible with the PlayStation Eye. Not to be outdone, Microsoft revealed Natal, a hands-free control system. Of course, Wii had its MotionPlus.

Now we are witnessing the slashing of game console prices. The PlayStation 3 Slim already costs less than the first models. I was really taken by surprise at how low the price was! The Wii is also getting cheaper, with a 20% discount in the works.

What does this mean for us, consumers? Simple! We will have more and better choices in the near future. Looking at things from another angle, owners of the Xbox 360 and PS3 Slim are quite assured of the longevity of their consoles – it doesn’t seem like the units will be phased out for newer ones anytime soon.

Tags: Microsoft, Nintendo Wii, Playstation 3, PS3 Slim, sony, video game console wars, video game consoles, video games, xbox360

There is no doubt about it, Super Mario is the best video game ever; at least, according to the British. In the recently concluded GAME British Academy Video Games Awards, Nintendo’s Super Mario got the best video game award of 2008. This does not come as a surprise to those who have been huge followers of the video game, but for some, it was a disappointment. Prior to the awards, there were a lot of rumors that the game Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare would be the winner. Alas, it was not to be.

I am not one to be disappointed, though. The award is a testament to the enduring appeal of Super Mario. I still remember falling in love with the game when I was a kid, and countless young children (and those who are young at heart) continue to fall in love with this game. Nintendo does not seem to be resting on its laurels, though, and keeps on coming up with new versions and variations of this fun game.

Here are the other winners in this year’s Baftas:

Best Casual Game – Boom Blox
Best Sports Game – Race Driver: Grid
Game Awards of 2008( public vote) – Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
Best Handheld Game – Professor Layton and the Curious Village
Best Action and Adventure Game – Fable 2
Best Game – Super Mario Galaxy

Surprisingly, we didn’t hear much from GTA IV, which was also a favorite among many. I suppose that it all boils down to personal taste.

The Wii has always had this image of being family friendly. People get together for good clean fun without the worry of having too much violence, blood, gore, sex, and what have you. Come to think of it, you always hear about people going haywire about games on the PlayStation (2 or 3, it is the same) and the Xbox 360 (and the old Xbox) but you do not hear people creating such a huge fuss about Wii games. How can you? With games such as Wii Sports and Cooking Mama, you simply cannot find anything to complain about!

Then again, change is the only constant thing in this life. And apparently, Nintendo is not immune to changing. They are set to release what is being dubbed as the most violent game ever. Called MadWorld, the game is supposed to “revolved around the themes of brutality and exhilaration.”

The descriptions of the game that have been going around are really stirring things up. Parents and anti-violence groups are already making some noise about it. Some are saying that the game should not be released at all while others are just asking for a ban in their country.

I am not really that big on excessive and senseless violence in video games BUT this kind of reaction is not really logical in my mind. The only thing I can think of is that NO ONE is forced to buy any game. If a game is dubbed as violent then do not buy it! No one forces your children to play these games, right?

Londoners who love to eat sushi and play video games are being treated to the best combination ever – the chance to play a cooking game while eating at their favorite sushi bar. What else can they ask for? This set up was announced a couple of months ago and was featured by Gamespot UK:

UK restaurant chain Yo! Sushi is going to be letting gamers play with virtual Japanese food while they eat the real thing. The eateries will have Nintendo DS portables loaded with 505 Games’ Cooking Mama 2: Dinner With Friends placed around the sushi-delivering conveyor belts for the amusement of diners.

The Yo! Sushi branches in London’s Farringdon Road and Poland Street will be the first to get the game on April 14, and the rest of the restaurants will be getting theirs “over the coming months.” Sushi lovers will be able to play solo, or against other diners by challenging them to a cook-off.

I can already imagine some people scoffing at this idea but even though I have not had the chance to play the game whilst eating my sushi, I am sure that the idea will be a hit. We all know how popular casual gaming is becoming and though I don’t know if we can classify Cooking Mama as a casual game, the idea of playing with your friends – and perhaps strangers – at a sushi bar is definitely interesting. I have been trying to get the feedback of people who have actually been to these sushi bars in London but I have been drawing zero as of yet. Anyone know anything?

It is just the middle of the year but it may be the time to get your presents already. That is, if you are planning on getting a Wii or two for your kids (or yourself!). Forbes recently published an article on the possible – no, probable, shortage of the Wii come the Christmas season:

Although it has been nearly two years since Nintendo’s latest videogame system went on sale, finding one is still a challenge for U.S. consumers. The hunt may get a little easier in the months to come, but bagging a new Wii is still far from a sure thing.

“We are really intending to increase the shipments to the U.S., especially compared to last year,” says Satoru Iwata, Nintendo’s global president and CEO. “However, I can’t give you a 100% commitment [that you'll be able to find a Wii this holiday season]. What I can commit myself to is that Nintendo is going to do its best to supply as many Wii hardware units as possible in order to meet demand there.”

Iwata says demand for the device in the U.S. is unusually high in contrast to either Europe or Asia. The company is on schedule to produce 2.4 million Wiis this year and will allocate additional units to U.S. retailers. Still, it has been caught off guard by the popularity of the Wii in America.
“We could not imagine it would be that high,” he says.

I understand how much in demand the Wii can be but what I really do not get is why the manufacturers just don’t make more of the consoles! They have been experiencing shortages for the past year and I am sure that they can somehow predict how many consoles they will be selling for the year. Why can’t make things easy and produce ENOUGH to meet the demand?

Photo courtesy of el3enawe

We took a trip down memory lane in the last post and featured a couple of old gaming consoles that were part of our childhood. How about a couple more?

Console: Nintendo Family Computer (Famicom) – Japan
Manufacturer: Nintendo
Discontinued: 1995
After a disastrous release including a product recall, the Famicom bounced back and became the best-selling console in Japan. This is mostly due to the success of console-specific games like Super Mario Bros. and The Legend of Zelda (as opposed to the multi-platform Pac-Man of times past) and to a new business model of software licensing agreements with third-party developers. Even greater success would be found in America’s launch of the system.

I remember this console very well. The main game we played back then was Super Mario Bros and I bet you remember those times very well also.

Console: Game Boy
Manufacturer: Nintendo
Discontinued in: 1999
You’re looking at one of the most successful, popular and long-lived gaming machines of all time. In addition to the backwards-compatible Game Boy Color, it’s sold nearly 120 million units since its 1989 release, with several colors and limited-edition variants spicing thing up in between. Yes, it had fugly, blurry green graphics that looked kinda crappy even then, but its battery life and software support were so impressive you couldn’t not own one. This little machine also supported multiplayer via link cable, spawned the very first Pokemon game in 1996 and was initially bundled with Tetris – perhaps the smartest move Nintendo has ever made.

Aha, this one was very popular when I was in my teens. Never had one but enough of my friends did that I had a lot of playing hours spent on it.

I knew this day would come! I have always thought that one day, hotels would feature video games as part of their offerings. It is but logical – video games are not only for children but adults as well. Actually, there are already many hotels which offer video game consoles in some of their rooms, especially those catering to families.

This concept being employed by the Westin chain of hotels is somehow new though – adding Wii consoles to their hotel fitness centers. Here is more information on it:

Looking for a fun way to work out on the road?

Hotel companies across the nation are putting more money into their fitness centers as surveys show travelers are putting a high priority on them.

The folks at Westin recently added a twist to their fitness offerings: a video game. Nintendo’s Wii system, to be specific.

Last week, the hotel brand by Starwood Hotels & Resorts installed the gaming system in its fitness centers at hotels in Bellevue, Wash., and Times Square in New York as part of a pilot program.

This month, the system will be added to Westin properties at the Galleria in Houston, Kansas City, Mo., Hilton Head Island, S.C.,

St. Louis, San Francisco, Toronto, Hollywood, Calif., and Savannah, Ga.
Other locations will be added later, pending guest feedback, a spokeswoman said.

The Wii systems will be integrated into the WestinWORKOUT program and will be preloaded with several popular games.
(Opt for boxing rather than bowling if you really want to raise your heart rate.)

The systems will also incorporate the Wii Fit program, which leads users through various exercises, including yoga and strength training, and is scheduled for release May 19.

Maybe I’ll stay at a Westin hotel the next time I hit the road…

The Game Developers Convention was recently concluded and the awards are out. Nintendo enthusiasts will be happy to know that Nintendo got the Developers Choice Award. This is an excerpt from GoNintendo.com:

The 2008 Game Developers Conference has honored Nintendo with a Game Developers Choice Award. The Legend of Zelda®: Phantom Hourglass for Nintendo DS™ won for Best Handheld Game of the Year. The game continues to enjoy strong momentum in the U.S., with more than 1.1 million copies sold since its Oct. 1, 2007, release.

Nintendo received nominations in three categories: Best Game of the Year (Super Mario Galaxy™), Best Handheld Game of the Year (The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass), and Best Game Design (Super Mario Galaxy). The awards were presented during an annual ceremony the night of Feb. 20, 2008, at the Moscone Convention Center in San Francisco. The awards are among the highest honors in game development, acknowledging excellence in game creation.

Obviously, Nintendo is not on its way out in the gaming scene. Based on the events that went on in the Game Developers Convention, it is quite the opposite. Nintendo fans must be jumping in their seats right now. To be honest, though, this did not really come as a surprise. After all, Nintendo has always proven to be reliable when it comes to satisfying its customers. Just look back into your childhood and the chances are that you will remember – with a certain degree of wistfulness – a Nintendo game or two.

Are you ready for the second half of this list? Here goes…

Looney Tunes: Acme Arsenal
This one’s for the Wii. We all love Looney Tunes – who does not? Yet the game released for the Wii just ruined everything. Check out what 1UP has to say about this game:

It’s painful watching Looney Tunes: Acme Arsenal strive for mediocrity. With such a creatively flexible license (evident in Duck Amuck for the DS, releasing the same day), it’s even more disappointing to see it abused so haphazardly in an uninspired, glitchy, sometimes broken action-platformer. Calling Arsenal a hack-n-slash would be overcomplicating matters — it’s really just hack, at best. It’s too simplistic and childish for any passing intellectual enjoyment (even the classic Looney Tunes humor is put to poor use), and far too difficult in practice for anyone young enough to enjoy it to actually play it.

It’s sad.

Deal or No Deal
The game for the DS does not do the real game show any justice at all. I know how exciting watching the TV show can be. I couldn’t wait to play the video game. I wish I had saved that money for something else. The guys at Gamespot hit the nail right on the head:

By all accounts, making a game based on NBC’s hit game show Deal or No Deal should be the most idiot-proof concept in the world…It might not make for an especially interesting video game (it certainly didn’t in the PC version released earlier this year), but if the template is followed correctly, it should be, if nothing else, functional. However, Deal or No Deal for the DS somehow manages to screw it up, turning in a completely broken translation of the game.

It has been a common tradition that game consoles would come to a point of having to engage in price drops since immediate demands of purchase for them would not be selling as forecasted. Part of this can be attributed to their outrageous prices such as that of the Playstation 3 and the Wii series. The cost for owning one is simply too much and waiting for some time for prices to be lowered has been an expected trend as can be seen from previous game console installments such as the PS2 and the Xbox offers.

People are simply waiting in line before the price drops hit the markets. The initial purchasers will always be there, largely composed of game addicts who go for distinction and allow their excitement to get the better of them. While these people may afford to burn the extra cash, price discounts are offered after some time since not resorting to such may leave them with a heap of game consoles that will just gather dust and eat up their inventory space.

[tags]timezone, ps2, ps3, xbox, wii[/tags]

Tags: PS2, PS3, timezone, Wii, Xbox