I’m at a loss to really explain what happened in April; if you’re anything other than a Nintendo fan, you’re not going to be pleased with the hardware sales figures. Not a single system other than Nintendo’s duo managed to crack 200,000 units for the month of April in the US, according to the NPD Group.
April 2008 Hardware Sales (March numbers in parentheses):
Nintendo Wii - 714,200 (721,000)
Nintendo DS - 414,800 (698,000)
PlayStation Portable - 192,700 (297,000)
Xbox 360 - 188,000 (262,000)
PlayStation 3 - 187,100 (257,000)
PlayStation 2 - 124,400 (216,000)
Talk about a 50-50 split for the PS3 and 360 here in the US; just 900 units separated the two systems. Oddly enough, the rankings turned out to be exactly the same as in March, which is, in a way, good if you’re in the market for a Wii as Michael Pachter’s prediction that the Wii shortage would be resolving itself seems to have come true. Nearly 1.5 million consoles sold in two months means the system is out there in fairly large quantities.
Unfortunately, my archrival’s other predictions weren’t quite so accurate. The 360 and PS3 sold roughly 90k and 100k less, respectively, than he thought. But really, who would have thought the numbers would be so low this month?
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Konami is all over the place this morning, and the best thing I have seen so far are the assets they released for Silent Hill: Homecoming. Maybe I am just prejudiced because I like the whole horror genre better than anything else, or maybe it is just because Rock Revolution (the Wii Version) has left a horrible taste in my mouth.
What ever the case may be, here are some lovely screens for both of the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions and two trailers featuring exploration and a cemetery where you encounter an evil demonic dog that looks as if it has been turned inside out.
PS3 Screens
The Xbox 360 screens and the exploration trailer are posted after the break.
Xbox 360 Screens
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Konami today announced Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia exclusively for Nintendo DS which will introduce the all-new “Glyph” attack system which allows players to use special attack combinations as they attempt to defeat Dracula and his horde. Also new to the series are the outdoor locales ranging from forests to the ocean, giving players the chance to explore outside of Dracula’s Castle.
In Order of Ecclesia, players take the role of a member of the Ecclesia, an organization that has sworn to defeat the evil forces of Dracula. By using the Glyph attack system, players can unleash more than 100 different combinations to battle Dracula’s minions throughout 20 explorable areas. Utilizing Wi-Fi , players can choose to compete head-to-head, or trade items and equipment they have found while exploring the environments. Multiple endings that can be unlocked depending on how the player completes the game adds to the game with plenty of exploration, combat and items to discover.
Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia is planned for release in the Fall 2008.
Via: Press Release
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Konami has announced the availability of a limited edition Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots PS3 bundle for North America. Featuring a Gun Metal Gray 40 GB PS3 with matching DualShock 3 wireless controller and Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots Limited Edition game. The bundle will be exclusively available at Konami’s website for $599.99.
Pre-sell for the bundle begins on May 19th and limited supplies are available.
Here are the stats pulled from the Konami site:
Due to limited quantities, orders will be limited to 1 (one) bundle per household
Shipping costs are higher than normal on this item, due to product size. Please review the shipping costs, during your order process
Please review our Return and Warranty policies before purchase
Gun Metal Gray PLAYSTATION 3 with a 40GB Hard drive
Gray DUALSHOCK 3 wireless controller
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots Limited Edition
The Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots game, which includes Metal Gear Online, enabling you to take part in the ultimate multiplayer squad based tactical shooter
Exclusive Blu-ray disc including over 2 hours of additional content - “Hideo Kojima’s Gene” a behind-the-scenes vision of Hideo Kojima’s production team & game and “The Making of Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots” documentary
The official Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots CD Soundtrack, including 16 never-before-released tracks by Harry Gregson-Williams (Shrek, Armageddon, The Rock), Nobuko Toda, and Ennio Morricone
To order, get more information, or just salivate over it, click here.
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I didn’t think that there was much of a difference between Madden 08 and 09 from the screenshots that PSU had compiled, and after seeing the trailer above, I’m still not convinced. While it’s not in HD running at 60 frames, you can still see the way the players animate and I don’t really feel like this is much of a leap forward in the technology department from Madden.
So what do you think? Perennial Madden hater or not, do you see much of an improvement over last year’s Madden?
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A lot of cynics would argue that one of the few things EA Sports bothers updating Madden with every year is the graphics. Madden NFL 09 is just a few months away from its big 20th anniversary release, so PSU thought it appropriate to take some screenshots from last year’s game and the upcoming Madden and see if there’s really that much of a difference.
The arms look a bit more realistic, but I’m not sure that I see that significant of a difference between the two games. But what’s important about Madden is how it looks in motion, so we’ll have a trailer for you shortly so that you can be the judge.
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As if the Bayonetta trailer Jonathan posted yesterday from Platinum Games wasn’t cool enough, today we have another trailer from the Japanese gaming company from the upcoming Wii exclusive MadWorld.
This third-person action has a unique black and white style that straddles graphic novels and 3D worlds with blood red splashes - think Sin City. In the game, you will battle opponents using various weapons and items found within the environment, such as chainsaws and street signs, while “sports commentary” is going on the background - think Running Man. Containing both humor and over-the-top violence, MadWorld is definitely going to be a must have for the Wii and should help scour away the squeaky clean image of the console, which is just plain awesome. I can’t stop watching the trailer actually.
MadWorld is expected to launch in North America sometime in the early part of 2009.
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Coming to the PS3, Wii and Xbox 360 is Konami’s Rock Revolution. Described as an “unprecedented, authentic music-based video game that will re-define the rhythm genre”, the game will come with its own drums. You can also “rock out” with the bass, guitar and vocals. Take THAT Harmonix!
According to Konami, Rock Revolution will be available with the most realistic drum peripheral on the market when it launches for the PS3 and Xbox 360. Featuring a supposedly extensive music selection on the game disc, along with a wide variety of downloadable songs available at launch, the game will also have single player modes as well as the prerequisite multiplayer.
The Wii version will be quite different from its Microsoft and Sony counterparts due to its “interactive use of the controls” where you will have the definitive “air-drum and air-guitar experience”plus the DS version will let you use the stylus for rhythm matching sessions.
Rock Revolution is scheduled to launch this Fall, and to quite honest with you, I cannot see anyone choosing the Wii version over the others if all you get to do is “air drum” and “air guitar” - I mean, “air guitar” and “air drums” what a crock… I am not paying over $40 for something I can see a mullet coiffed redneck in a beat up trans am do at a stop light here in my hometown.
I hope to the gaming gods that I read the press release wrong, I really do. Anyway, check out the trailer for yourself.
Via: Press Release
KONAMI DIGITAL ENTERTAINMENT, INC. REDEFINES THE RHYTHM GENRE WITH ROCK REVOLUTION
ndustry Leader Turns Up the Volume With New Music-Based Franchise for the PLAYSTATION®3 system, Xbox 360™, Wii™ and Nintendo DS™
Authentic Drum Peripheral Delivers Unparalleled Music Game Experience
EL SEGUNDO, CA - May 15, 2008 - Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. today announced Rock Revolution, an unprecedented, authentic music-based video game that will re-define the rhythm genre. Brought to market by the company that created the music video game category, with breakthrough titles such as DanceDanceRevolution®, Karaoke Revolution®, Beatmania and Guitar Freaks, Rock Revolution provides an unmatched rock experience. Breaking new ground with its definitive drum experience, Rock Revolution also gives players a chance to rock out on the bass and lead guitar. Designed by musicians, Rock Revolution will be available with the most realistic drum peripheral on the market at launch for the Xbox 360 and PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system.
“Rock Revolution will be the most innovative and realistic rock game to hit the market, that will provide a quality drum peripheral and music that players will appreciate,” said Anthony Crouts, Vice President of Marketing for Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. “As the originator of music-based games, we are dedicated to bringing fans a truly preeminent music experience. With Rock Revolution, we put the emphasis on the drum kit, delivering an experience unlike any other.”
Rock Revolution features an extensive music selection on the game disc, along with a wide variety of downloadable songs available at launch for the Xbox 360 and PLAYSTATION 3 system versions of the game. Additionally, title offers a variety of innovative single-player and multi-player modes.
A unique aspect of the Wii version is the interactive use of the controls with the Wii Remote™ and Nunchuk for an air-drum and air-guitar experience. Rock out anywhere with the Nintendo DS version, using the stylus for intense rhythm matching sessions.
Rock Revolution is scheduled to launch this Fall for the Xbox 360™ video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PLAYSTATION 3 system and the Wii™ and DS™ video game systems from Nintendo.
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We may not have any definitive screens for the game, and we may not have all the information on it yet, but Game Informer sure does in the June Issue. Here are some tidbits regarding Prince of Persia: Heir Apparent, which is scheduled to hit this fall:
Elika, the female, is expected to revolutionize the role of a supporting character
Vast outdoor spaces as opposed to mainly indoor exploring like in past games
Graphically, it will be cell-shaded, like a storyboard
If you subscribe to GI, you can look forward to some more information on the new PoP game, and according to Game Informer “the cell-shaded art approach is not the only exciting change the newest iteration has to offer.”
Ubidays is coming up pretty soon, so expect to see loads more information pop up for Heir Apparent in the not so distant future.
Heir Apparent is really confusing me - why did the name Prince of Persia Prodigy get patented? Is this a second game coming or did they just have two different titles ready for the game a the toss of a coin decided which it would be? Or is this the name of the much ballyhooed movie coming out? Hopefully we will find out soon enough.
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It looks like G4TV’s X-Play managed to snag an exclusive trailer for the upcoming PS3 MMO, The Agency. We’ve heard a lot about the game and even seen pre-rendered trailers, but this is the first time we can actually see the gameplay in action. Granted, this video gives a very short glimpse, but at least we know what we’re in for a little more. The whole project sounds pretty ambitious, but I’m hoping the developers can pull it off.
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Konami today announced 
