e3

PSP redesign: Fact or fiction?

Google PSP redesign or PSP2, and you'll get tens of thousands of results (and even a few interesting homemade Photoshop jobs, such as the "PSP Mini" shown above)--a testament to the fact that many gamers, it seems, were never quite comfortable with the design of Sony's first handheld gaming system. To be sure, the PSP has its share of issues, not the least of which is the UMD format--the proprietary optical disc format is hobbled with slow load times, and the moving parts sap the PSP's battery life. Controls have always been suspect, too, … Read more

Sega's E3 2007 Nintendo lineup: Sonic and Mario, dogs and cats living together, mass hysteria!

Sega and Nintendo working together still vaguely weirds me out. I grew up when children became bitter enemies or best friends depending on whether they thought the Super Nintendo or Sega Genesis was the better system. To this day, Sonic the Hedgehog and Mario working together just feels wrong, somehow.

That's not stopping Sega, chummier than ever with Nintendo, from showing off its upcoming Wii and DS titles at E3. We've heard about these games before, but E3 will bring more screenshots, more trailers, hands-on impressions, and harder release dates for all of these games.

First on deck … Read more

E3 2007: What's on deck for the PS3?

Sony launched a pre-emptive strike on the E3 grapevine with its announcement yesterday that it's cutting the price of the 60GB PlayStation 3 to $500, and offering a new 80GB model for $600 in August. But what else does the company have up its sleeve for the show? There are still at least a couple of unanswered questions offering grist for the rumor mill:

rumble-enabled Sixaxis controller: Sony has already shot down rumors that the 80GB PS3 will come bundled with a new rumble-ready Sixaxis controller. (Of course, the company was denying rumors of a PS3 price cut as … Read more

Details emerge on Spielberg's EA video game initiative

Some of the very first details have emerged about Steven Spielberg's video game partnership with Electronic Arts.

According to Newsweek, the famed film director is working on a game code-named PQRS--note the sequential letters--that "neatly blends the creativity of the building-blocks game Jenga with the charm of a Saturday-morning cartoon."

Newsweek said the game, which will run on Nintendo's hit Wii console, has a physics engine designed to allow players to move blocks around with the Wii controller.

The second game, code-named LMNO--also sequential letters, hmmm--is for Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation 3 … Read more

Microsoft E3 preview: Price drop anyone?

Rumors are flying around about what will be announced at E3, yet little of this speculation has anything to do with Microsoft exclusively--until now. Not to be outdone by Sony's recent actions, at this year's E3, Microsoft is planning to announce a price drop on all three versions of the Xbox 360. Next-gen is reporting that the new prices will go as follows:

"The $299 Core pack will drop to $249; the $399 Premium pack will drop to $349; and the recently released $479 Elite model will drop to $399."

Also potentially showing its face at … Read more

Garden sim 'Plant Tycoon' extends its roots

Plant Tycoon, a garden simulation game that lets players nurture simple backyard gardens into lavish nursery empires, is about to set down roots in the PC and Mac. Now here's an upbeat title even grumpy game foe Jack Thompson might like.

Created by game studio Last Day of Work, the new version of the handheld title lets players breed and cross-breed species, within a budget, in a search for six magic plants. Solve the genetic puzzle and you'll be rewarded with wealth--and virtual horticultural fame.

In a nice twist on real-time green-thumbing, the gameplay continues unless you pause … Read more

The DS at E3: Games, games, and more games

The Wii, the Xbox 360, and the PS3 might be getting the most attention at this year's E3, but don't count Nintendo's two-screen handheld out of the picture. The Nintendo DS probably won't be getting any major hardware announcements this year, but it's still slated to get a bevy of must-have and might-want-to-have games.

Of all the DS' upcoming titles, The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass is undoubtedly the most anticipated. This direct sequel to the Gamecube hit The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker will be the first Zelda game to hit the DS. This … Read more

What E3 might bring to the Wii

With any luck, E3 will bring an end to the recent drought of Nintendo Wii games and news. After impressive sales and a handful of great titles, Nintendo's newest system has been just sitting quietly with little in the way of compelling games or interesting news for months. Nintendo might be planning a major announcement for E3, but they're playing it close to the vest.

Possibilities for the Wii itself range from the nigh-inevitability to the hopeful dream. Most likely, Nintendo will announce a new range of colors for the Wii. While the little system's simple, white … Read more

PlayStation 3 price cut official: 60GB PS3 now just $500

Last Friday, we reported a rumor about the PS3 getting a $100 price cut, based on a Circuit City flier that's been circulating the blogs. Well, it's not a rumor anymore. Sony just confirmed that the PlayStation 3 is indeed getting getting a fair bit cheaper.

Starting this week, the 60GB PS3 will retail for $500, the same price as the now-defunct 20GB PS3. If you had your heart set on spending $600 on a PlayStation 3, have no fear; the price drop makes room for the new 80GB PS3 bundle Sony also announced today. Taking the 60GB … Read more