Newsness
Another format revision, inspired by my last post and one of its replies: numbers for the stories for easy replies.
Also, since I think some people may not realize it, the italicized passages are usually quotes I find noteworthy, often from within the links(unless otherwise noted).
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1) From First to Worst: DFC Intelligence examines Sony’s possible fall from grace.
“With the PlayStation 3 the company is going after the high-end power user. It is almost as if Coca-Cola not only decided to go with a new formula, but also decided to exit the low-brow soft-drink business to go into high-end wines,” DFC explains. “Of course, there is a market for high-end products but it is 1) a very different consumer type and 2) not nearly as big as the blue collar mass market. Wal-Mart sells more toys than FAO Schwartz and McDonald’s sells more beef than Ruth’s Chris Steak House.”
On a side note, I keep hearing Meowth saying that first bit.
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2) Oh, snap. Whatever Sony’s losing for each PS3 sold, add about $244 million on top of that.
Atari has seen better days, too.
“I may be crazy enough to take on Batman, but the IRS? No thank you!”–Joker, The New Batman Adventures
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3) Fantastic Four vs. The Silver Surfer? Could happen in the next movie. But what I want to know is, will we see Galactus?
Washington added, “You would think that the Silver Surfer would be its own movie franchise, because people really love that character.”
…yeah, that went really well the last time they tried to market him on his own…
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4) N-Philes’ Boss Month has concluded, and looking back, there’s a neat piece added since I last talked about it for Bowser and Jr.
Trespassing, theft (water backpack), treason, illegal chemical dumping and resulting in environmental hazards resulting in possible death, possession of unlicensed firearms and weaponry, defacing public property (Graffiti), kidnapping/abduction, attempted murder…
Well gee, when they put it like that, Bowser Jr. comes off as pretty hardcore.
Anyway, it examines the Koopa family more than anything, and is sort of funny in that regard.
Heh, heh… “foofer”…
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5) Over on Slashdot, they mention another analyst’s prediction about the next-gen, citing that XBox 360 will rule through 2K9, with PS3 just behind and Nintendo trailing well behind, at least in North America.
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6) Joystiq recaps their favorite webcomics for the week.
My personal fave is this one.
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7) Joystiq also mentions the early release of the TransFormers movie trailer, and adds the following:
“I wouldn’t count on the multi-platform game launching ahead of schedule next Spring. It has been six months since Activision acquired publishing rights, and they still haven’t announced a developer.”
Incidently, I’d love to see an all-original TransFormers game. That is to say, not based on any particular series or continuity, so that the developers can basically adjust the characters as-needed. Last time they tried making one on the current line, it was pretty good, the consensus goes, but unfortunately, it came out halfway into the next line. This would avoid that.
And hell, if they can make original Star Wars material for games, why not TransFormers?
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8) Kotaku links to Toastyfrog’s blog regarding this whole racial blow-up that’s stemmed from Loco Roco.
You’d think there would be SOMEONE at these companies that would tell the developers “that shit ain’t gonna fly once it hits the water.”
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9) Btw, seen the new GTA game? I think flipping the school bus is the best part.
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10) German preorders for the PS3 get a game with the deal, all for the low, low price of ?600, or around $765. Formula 1, Motorstorm, SingStar or Genji are your picks.
“People who don’t know exactly how hard Europeans get boned on games and console always just try to translate the US price into the stronger currency at whatever the current exchange rate is, then maybe rounding it up a bit. This is not how it works: companies instead translate by assuming that one dollar is equal to one euro when pricing for European release. Considering a dollar is worth ?0.79 or thereabouts, it’s a big price jack.”
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11) Play Station: for mature gamers only.
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12) “Shit. There goes the Castle(vania).”
At least it’s confirmed that the lead Belmont will have a whip. But dammit, Hollywood, leave well enough alone for a change!
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13) Sales news: Dell cuts $50 off of 360, Blockbuster/GameRush clearance gets better, GB Micro for $65 Canadian at Toys R Us, and unadvertised $10 deals at EB Games in Canada.
God, wish I had money.
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LBD “Nytetrayn”