PSP European launch in September
00.06AM 26/04/2005: By Cian Ginty: On
September 1, the PSP, which is already available in the United States,
and Japan, will be released in Europe. The announcement came to Games
Toaster under embargo from SCE Ireland late yesterday.
The PSP ‘Value Pack’ will retail at 254.99 euro, or £179 UKP,
it contains a PSP console, a protective pouch, 32MB Memory Stick Duo,
battery pack, headphones with remote control, AC adaptor, wrist strap
and a non-interactive demo of video, music, and game, on the PSP’s
UMD format disk. No price was given for the standard PSP.
The ‘Value Pack’ is nearly identical to the current US/Japanese
‘Value Pack’, which currently retails on the import site
lik-sang.com for 219 euro, while the standard PSP sells there for 195
euro — excluding delivery and related charges.
Games currently released for the portable console includes Ridge
Racer, Wipeout Pure, Spider-Man 2, Tony Hawk’s Underground 2, Tiger
Woods PGA Tour, and Need for Speed Underground Rivals.
As well as the ability to use video, music, and pictures vie Memory
Sticks, the PSP also plays music and film on the PSP’s protected
read-only UMD format - although unlike games, films are region
protected.
In a limited early offer SCEE will give free copies of the film
Spider-Man 2 on UMD to people who buy the game ‘Spider-Man 2′ and
register their handheld on vie their site yourpsp.com.
PSP specifications and features…
Product Name: PSP
Colour: Black
Product Code: PSP-1001K
Dimensions: Approximately 6.7″ (W) x .9″ (H) x 2.9″ (D)
Weight: Approximately 280g / .62 lbs (including battery)
CPU: PSP CPU (System clock frequency 1 - 333MHz)
Main Memory: 32MB
Embedded DRAM: 4MB
Display: 4.3 inch, 16:9 widescreen TFT LCD
80 x 272 pixel, 16.77 million colours
Maximum luminance 180 /
130 / 80cd/m2 (when using Battery Pack)
Maximum luminance 200 / 180 / 130 / 80cd/m2 (when using AC Adaptor)
Sound: Built-in stereo speakers
Main Input/Output IEEE 802.11b
USB 2.0 (mini-B)
Memory Stick Duo
IrDA
IR Remote
Main Connectors: Memory Stick Duo slot
USB connector
DC OUT connector
DC IN 5V connector
Headset connector
Power: Lithium-ion Battery
AC Adaptor
Disc Drive: UMD Drive (Read only)
Profile: PSP Game
UMD Audio
UMD Video
Codec: [Video]: “UMD”: H.264/MPEG-4 AVC Main Profile | Level 3
[Video]:”Memory Stick”: MPEG-4 SP, AAC
[Music]: “UMD”: linear PCM, ATRAC3plus
[Music]:”Memory Stick”: ATRAC3plus, MP3(MPEG1/2 | Layer3)
[Photo]: JPEG (DCF2.0/Exif2.21)
Security: (Encryption) 128bit AES
(Copyright protection technology) MagicGate
Access control: Region, Parental Control
Wireless: IEEE802.11b
Infrastructure Mode
Ad Hoc Mode
(connects up to 16 PSP systems)
PSP Value Pack (supplied accessories)
AC Adaptor
Battery Pack
Memory Stick Duo (32MB)
Pouch (Black)
Headphones with Remote
Control (90dB limited*) (White)
UMD In-pack Sampler
Wrist Strap (White)
Cloth (Light Grey)
* conforming with European
standards
Xbox 360 images?
Renders and photographs (above below) apparently of Microsoft’s
next games console, the Xbox 360, have being doing the rounds on the net yesterday
and today. The images, which are believed to be real, match a close-up
photograph previously released from Microsoft’s viral marketing website OurColony.net.
In not-so-great-news, a vague advertisement - that reveals nothing - is
currently airing on MTV to promoting the console’s half-hour first-look TV program
due to be broadcasted on the station the week before E3. 
Chaos in Dublin
As Games Toaster reported before the event,
Dublin”. As well as an Xtravision shop,
the ‘free runners‘ and people with PS2s on their backs visited the St Stephen’s
Green, Grafton Street, and Henry Street areas of Dublin City centre. Here are
some photographs UbiSoft managed to take on
Update reminder: GT4 Ireland competition
Sony Computer Entertainment Ireland’s GT4 competition, with a top
prize of a 55,000-euro Nissan 350Z sports car, closes in just over ten
days from now on April 30. For details, see our first report.
With over 1,000 submissions, the current average time for the top 16 entries currently stands at 7:27:931
Commenting, Marea Gray, Marketing Director at SCE Ireland said,
“We’re delighted at the response to the competition so far”,
adding that “Although we realised the car is a fantastic prize we
didn’t expect such a huge reaction”.
DC to open Dublin studio
The Canadian developer DC Studios, with headquarters in Montreal, and UK studios in Glasgow and Bristol, is set to move into the government’s Digital Hub in the Liberties area of Dublin.
DC’s IDA-backed expansion is set to create 50 jobs, which will
include artists, programmers, and producers. The deal with the IDA is
– as usual — undisclosed.
According to sources, DC’s first project in Dublin is a PS2 game.
The company also has a game for the next console cycle in the pipeline,
but at this time it is unknown if this will be developed at their
Digital Hub studio.
As well as ‘Dino Dini’s Soccer’ on the PSP, which is due later this
year, DC are working on games for the PS2, Xbox, GC, GBA, and mobile
phones. They also recently released ‘Rayman DS’ on the Nintendo DS.
Their extensive portfolio includes Tour de France (2003; PS2;
Konami), Bear in the Big Blue House (2002; PSOne; Ubsoft), Bratz,
(2003; GBA, PSOne, PC; Ubisoft), Army Men Advance (2002; GBA; pub:
3DO), Taxi 2 (2001; PSOne; Ubisoft), NBA Jam 2001 and NBA Jam 2002
(2001 2002, GBC, Acclaim).
Announcing the move the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and
Employment Micheál Martin TD said that “DC Studios, a young ambitious
company, will be a valued addition to the growing cluster of digital
media activities in Ireland, in particular games development”.
Although, the press release issued by the Department of Enterprise,
Trade and Employment, stated that “This will be Ireland’s first
overseas investment in console software development”, this is not the
case, Norwegian developer Funcom had
studios in Ireland. Before August 2001, when Funcom closed their Irish
studio to focus on online PC games, Dublin had been their console base
since 1995/6. Most notably, the PlayStation game ‘Speed Freaks’ was
developed at their Sandyford Industrial Estate offices. As far as we
can make out, ‘Jet Sprint MX’ for the Xbox was still in production when
the developer stopped creating console games.
As we reported before, homegrown Irish developers Torc Interactive, and Kapooki Games, are due to release games later this year.
Top 20 Ireland Games Chart (W14, 2005)
Week 14, Year 2005; Ending 9th April 2005.
- Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory
- Fifa Street
- Doom 3
- Gran Turismo 4
- Brothers in Arms: Road to Hill 30
‘Irish software charts’ compiled by ChartTrack, copyright (C) 2005 ChartTrack Ltd
Week 14, Year 2005; Ending 9th April 2005.
- Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory
- Fifa Street
- Doom 3
- Gran Turismo 4
- Brothers in Arms: Road to Hill 30
- <non-game title>
- Rugby 2005
- The Simpsons: Hit Run
- Super Mario 64 DS
- Championship Manager 5
- <non-game title>
- The Incredibles
- Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
- Timesplitters: Future Perfect
- The Punisher
- The Sims 2: University
- Devil May Cry 3: Dante’s Awakening
- Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
- Pro Evolution Soccer 4
- Full Spectrum Warrior
‘Irish software charts’ compiled by ChartTrack, copyright (C) 2005 ChartTrack Ltd
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Next Xbox to premiere on MTV
First sight of console to broadcast on iconic US music TV station
By Cian Ginty: The
unveiling of Microsoft’s second console is to happen first on MTV in
North America on 12 May, and the next day to the rest of the world, not
as first expected at Microsoft’s annual pre-E3 media event.
The move follows Sony’s plans to move their pre-E3 event to just hours before Microsoft’s press event.
The half-hour program, ‘MTV Presents: The Next Generation Xbox
Revealed’, will broadcast on MTV UK Ireland at 8pm on Friday 13
May. Lord of the Rings actor Elijah Woods, and indie band ‘the
Killers’, will host the premiere, with other celebrities giving their
opinion of the new system. Along with game footage, details of the
future of Xbox Live will also be aired.
After the North America show, MTV.com
will feature a behind-the-scenes video, photos, and other unspecified
details. The site is also set to promote the console and its games on a
longer base.
Talking about the program, Peter Moore, vice
president of worldwide marketing and publishing for Xbox, said, “We are
ecstatic about our alliance with MTV and unveiling a video game
platform in a way that has never been done”.
The first sign that Microsoft was to break
with the industry-norm of unveiling new consoles to the media and industry at or
around the E3 Expo was the recently launched viral marketing website and game ‘Our
Colony‘, which is counting down to the date of the television program. Microsoft
had a similar viral campaign for the launch of the Xbox game Halo 2.
Full dates and times: Thursday, May 12 - North America: 21:30 (EDT). Friday, May 13 -
UK/Ireland: 20.00, France: 19:00, Portugal: 20:00, Spain: 21:30,
Netherlands: 19:30, Germany: 19:00, Italy: 23:30, Poland: 21:00,
Romania: 20:00, Scandinavia: 22:00, Australia: 19:00, and Japan/Asia:
11:30.
From Scotland with voice
Goodbye Mr Brosnan, hello again Russia; shot from Everything or Nothing game
According to the Hollywood Reporter,
Sean Connery will lend his voice and likeness to EA’s next Bond game,
‘From Russia with Love’, based on the 1963 film of the same name.
Echoing recent comments from other actors working on old-film-to-game converts, in a statement Connery said that “As
an artist, I see this as another way to explore the creative
process,… Video games are an extremely popular form of entertainment
today, and I am looking forward to seeing how it all fits together.”
After ‘Nightfire’, ‘Agent Under Fire’, ‘Everything or Nothing’, and
‘Rogue Agent’, Russia will mark a move for EA away from original story
and back to the Bond films for game content.
Both film and game franchises have now dropped the Irish-born Pierce
Brosnan, and both will be looking backwards for storylines. The next
Bond film is based on ‘Casino Royale’, Ian Fleming’s first Bond book –
currently only filmed as a parody.
Other films on their way to becoming games include the Godfather (EA), and Dirty Harry
(Warner Bros Interactive Entertainment), while last week the news broke that the more recently made television program ‘24′ (SCE) is also set for the game treatment.
Top 20 Ireland Games Chart (W13, 2005)
Week 13, Year 2005; Ending 2nd April 2005.
- Fifa Street
- Gran Turismo 4
- Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory
- Brothers in Arms: Road to Hill 30
- Rugby 2005
‘Irish software charts’ compiled by ChartTrack, copyright (C) 2005 ChartTrack Ltd
Week 13, Year 2005; Ending 2nd April 2005.
- Fifa Street
- Gran Turismo 4
- Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory
- Brothers in Arms: Road to Hill 30
- Rugby 2005
- Norton Internet Security 2005/Goback 4
- Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
- Timesplitters: Future Perfect
- Devil May Cry 3: Dante’s Awakening
- The Punisher
- Super Mario 64 DS
- The Sims 2: University
- Championship Manager 5
- The Simpsons: Hit Run
- Norton Internet Security 2005
- Resident Evil 4
- The Spongebob: Squarepants Movie
- Spider-Man 2
- The Incredibles
- Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
‘Irish software charts’ compiled by ChartTrack, copyright (C) 2005 ChartTrack Ltd