PSP go off to a slow start

According to www.andriasang.com, citing sales figures from Enterbrain, the PSP go only moved around 28,750 units in Japan in its first weekend at retail space.

This is probably the magic number that Sony was hoping for.  Sony and other software makers released select titles for the launch including Persona 3 Portable, Dissidia Final Fantasy and titles like Disgaea Infinite and LocoRoco Midnight Carnival. If anything it proves that Sunday launched are not always a great idea for hardware debuts.

Anyway, hopefully Sony’s go “will go somewhere” by year’s end.

Video game hardware, software sales mostly flat in Sept.

While some might applaud the new batch of sales numbers for the month of Sept., they show that the sector, like many others in the world during this still shaky financial times, is feeling the bite just like everyone else. It is hard to imagine what hardware numbers might look like if Sony, Nintendo and Microsoft hadn’t slashed the prices on their respective home console systems. Even with those price cuts, NPD data for the month showed a meager 1 percent gain over the same period a year ago, with total videogame related sales in the U.S. of around $1.28. Again, if not for cuts, it would have been more downward trending for the sector. Still it’s hard to ignore that compared to August, sales were up considerably in Sept.

On the hardware front, the one relevant console that did not get a price cut, the DS (which includes the DSi and DS Lite), was at the top of the heap moving over half a million units in the month. The good news for Sony - if there really is any in a month that was mostly flat - is that it managed to beat out the Wii and Xbox 360 in the month with 491,000 units. The Wii was close by with almost 463,000 units and the Xbox 360 managed to move nearly 353,000 units. The PSP moved right around 190,000 units in Sept., - which we assume includes both the old model and the new PSP go. Finally, the PS2 managed to move 146,000 units.

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$250 later: PSP Go in stores

IT’s UMD free whether you like it or not, but don’t be coy with me - you secretly love it right? Sony’s reimagining of the PlayStation Portable, PSP go, is in stores today and, according to Sony, there are approximately 100 games ready to be purchased and downloaded via PlayStation Network.

Retailing for more than the Nintendo Wii - $250, the PSP go offers 16GB flash memory, a smaller size, a sliding control panel and access to Gran Turismo, downloadable PSP games from Sony and third-party developers, and a light selection of some of the first PSP Minis titles (at right around $10 each).

Games in the store include Gran Turismo PSP, God of War: Chains of Olympus, Daxter, Resistance Retribution, MLB 09 The Show, and that’s just half of SCEA’s titles.

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God of War Collection for PS3 announced

Sony Computer Entertainment America is bringing the old God of War games to the PlayStation 3 with the God of War Collection. Scheduled for release this holiday season, God of War Collection promises enhanced versions of both God of War and God of War II on a single Blu-ray Disc at full 1280 x 720 resolution.

Originally developed for the PlayStation 2, the game have been remastered with anti-aliased graphics running at 60 frames per second for a smooth gameplay experience on the PS3 system. This new Blu-ray Disc compilation will also bring PlayStation Network (PSN) trophy support to the franchise for the first time for both games. God of War Collection will retail for $39.99 MSRP.

You can learn more about this compilation pack at www.us.playstation.com.

TRINE on PlayStation Network in Sept., says Nobilis

PS3 Slim confirmed, PS3 price cut now

Update:
According to a press release from Sony Computer Entertainment the new PlayStation 3 system will be available in stores beginning September 1, 2009, in North America, Europe/ PAL territories and Asian countries and other regions at a retail price of US$299 and €299, respectively. The system will become available in Japan on September 3, 2009, at a RRP of 29,980 yen (including tax).

The old PS3 system will have its price reduced to USD $299. That price is for the 80GB unit and won’t kick in until August 18 (starting today) in North America and August 19 in Europe. Also in North America, the price of PS3 with 160GB HDD will be reduced to a RRP of US$399 starting August 18.

Original Story:
Today at its press conference at the GamesCom event in Cologne, Germany Sony Computer Entertainment Europe finally admitted two things: the PS3 Slim is real and the long rumored price cut is coming later this week. This slimmer, streamlined SKU will launch in the first week of September on a worldwide basis for 299 Euros in Europe and $299 USD in the States. The announcement was made by Kaz Hirai, CEO and President of SCE.

The PS3 Slim will feature a 120GB hard drive, will consume 34 percent less power than its first-generation sibling and will be 32 percent smaller in size. For once, many of those leaked images of the PS3 slim that were paraded out in hundreds of rumor posts turned out to be real. Go figure. Images of the new PS3 Slim can be found below (click to enlarge):

Fat Princess on PlayStation Network

Fat Princess, not to be confused with “Fat Actress,” has finally been released on the PlayStation Network for $15. Developed by Titan Studios, this PSN exclusive downloadable strategy game sees two teams battle to rescue a captured princess. The problem is that her captors have been feeding her way too much as a means to placate her and keep her docile. This means that players will need a team to move her massive bulk to safety.

We should have a review of the game shortly, but early buzz is that this capture the flag style game is very good. The only real problem that some have had with this game is getting by its politically incorrect title.