Images of Turok

Buena Vista Games released these images of Turok, to be released this fall on Playstation 3 and Xbox 360. It's supposed to be really impressive in motion, and these gameplay images shows some real talent - and it will of course look much better in 10 months or so at the release. Xboxyde

PS3 price quietly jacked up in Canada

It looks like the not insignificant price break Canadian gamers have been enjoying on the PlayStation 3 may have abruptly come to an end, with Future Shop, Best Buy, and other retailers now listing the 60GB console at $699.99 Canadian ($593US). The console had previously been selling for $649.99 Canadian which, at the current exchange rate, made it a full fifty bucks cheaper than the console's US retail price. While the new price is still a relative bargain compared to the premium our European friends have to fork over, given the unlikelihood of any price cuts in the near future, it looks like those that have been holding off on a purchase may well find themselves regretting their patience. Engadget

Early 2007 price cut for 360 "unlikely"

According to an analyst for Lazard Capital Markets, a price cut for the Xbox 360 in early 2007 is "unlikely." One of the primary motivating factors for this is Microsoft's recently revised shipment forecast. After announcing that revenues were up, Microsoft altered its Xbox 360 shipment forecast from 13 to 15 million units to 12 million units by the end of fiscal 2007 -- this works out to approximately 1.5 million consoles by June 30th. With the shipment estimate reduced, it doesn't make sense for Microsoft to cut the 360 price and damage its prospects for profitability. While a price cut is not imminent, the analyst did not rule out the possibility of promotional bundles, though this depends partly on the performance of Sony and Nintendo's new consoles. Xbox 360 Fanboy

Gears nominated for 10 awards

We all know by now that Gears has done really well; it has sold millions, and continually is the most played game on Xbox Live week in, week out. So it should come as no surprise to see Gears of War being nominated for ten different awards from the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences.

This is the tenth year that the awards have been running, something which Denny Thorley, chair, AIAS’ executive board was very excited about:

“This year’s awards are a milestone event for the industry and mark 10 years of
advancements in game development. Games have truly reached mainstream and AIAS is committed to honoring the best games and recognizing superb achievements.”

The ten categories that Gears has been nominated for are:

• Overall Game of the Year
• Console Game of the Year
• Outstanding Innovation in Gaming
• Outstanding Achievement in Animation
• Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction
• Outstanding Character Performance - Male
• Outstanding Achievement in Game Play Engineering
• Outstanding Achievement in Online Game Play
• Outstanding Achievement in Visual Engineering
• Action/Adventure Game of the Year

Not everyone likes Gears, but no-one can deny that the game looks amazing, and was one of the best games released last year. The winners will be announced on Thursday the 8th of February, with the event being hosted by comedian extraordinaire and
“Ghost Whisperer” co-star Jay Mohr, at The Joint in the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in
Las Vegas. The tickets, if you really want to go, are $125, or $250 for yourself and a guest. Is it worth paying that much when Xboxic will have the results for you right here? Probably not, unless you’re a massive fan of Jay Mohr.

If you want to see exactly who was nominated for what, head over to the official website and hit “Awards“. Xboxic

Forza Motorsport 2 to debut May 2007

The moment that racing fans have been waiting for since E3 2006 has arrived, almost. Although we don’t know the exact day when we’ll be able to get our racing gloves on Forza 2, we do know the month and that’s more than enough to get our rubber burning. Keep your engines warm, May 2007 is when you’ll be letting rip. Xboxic

Reduced 360 target causes VG stock dip

Resulting from Microsoft's lowered shipment target for the Xbox 360, several video game makers saw their stocks fall today. THQ, Take-Two, Electronic Arts, and Activision have all dropped, with THQ falling the farthest (4.7%). The stock drop comes after Microsoft announced that it had reduced its Xbox 360 shipment targets from 13-15 million units to 12 million units. Analyst PJ McNealy notes, "There is investor concern about a re-set of expectations around both the Xbox 360 and the Sony PlayStation 3."

We find the all around stock decrease interesting, as another analyst, Colin Sebastian of Lazard Capital Markets, expects that Microsoft's shipment reduction will have a negligible effect on software sales (though it does make the possibility of a 360 price cut unlikely).

It will be interesting to see how the market reacts when Sony makes its financial report on Tuesday. Xbox 360 Fanboy

PS3 Price Drop? Don’t Count On It!

In the latest issue of GameInformer I recieved, an official from Sony’s gaming department was interviewed. He commented on how there is no intention of lowering the price and that he is not worried about how the PS3 is currently behind its competetors, the XBox 360 and Nintendo Wii.

With that being said, some stores are practically desperate to get rid of their PS3s because they aren’t selling. I was at Wal-Mart the other day and I saw that the price of it has been cut by $50 to $550.

There has to be at least a small part of you that pities Sony. But not in me, they did this to themselves. Gamesoul

Video: Unreal Tournament 3

It seems to be a very big day for Epic today. On top of the Square-Enix news, our sources on the inside have confirmed that Unreal Tournament is coming to the Xbox 360. We have been hearing rumors for months now about this but we can now say without a shadow of a doubt that it is going to come out on the 360. There is also a strong possibility that the game will be released by Christmas this year. From what our little birdy tells us, the game will also get a name change to Unreal Tournament 3.

After seeing the amazing success with Gears of War (it broke the Japanese top 10 even), it's not too surprising to see it coming for the 360.

What are your thoughts on this? It seems like another major blow to PS3 to me.

DESTRUCTOID :: Hardcore gaming blog

Sony to Publish PGR 3 as Gran Turismo 4?

Original screenshot from Project Gotham Racing 3 (June 17, 2005):

What you are about to see is photographic proof that could be graphically disturbing to you, especially if you own a $600 grilling machine.

According to a graphic found at Sony's Connect music store, Gran Turismo 4 for the PlayStation 3 (Gran Turismo HD Concept) is a port of the one-year old Project Gotham Racing 3, which means that PlayStation 3 owners can download a game Xbox 360 users played over a year ago.

No, this is not an early April Fool's Day joke. At least not from us. Through its Connect PSP website (located at http://psp.connect.com/), Sony is offering the latest trailer of Gran Turismo 4 ... or is it Project Gotham Racing 3?

By now, we're very confused. Xbox

Xbox Live Fights Crime

A high school in Pickaway County, Ohio, had to be closed after the FBI received an alert of an Xbox Live user who claimed he will take a pistol to the school. Soon after the Teays Valley High School was closed, WBNS-TV reported:

According to Ashville Police, an unnamed middle school student told a California teen during an Xbox 360 Live chat on Monday that he would bring a 9 mm pistol to school. That teen's father alerted the FBI.

The Pickaway County Sheriff's Office said in a press release that a search warrant was executed, and the Xbox, a firearm (not a 9 mm) and other "items of evidentiary value" were seized.

Now, you know it. The next time you talk over Xbox Live, be sure you are not sharing your secret dirty plans or you may find the FBI knocking at your door. Xbox Live Fights Crime - Xbox

Unreal Tournament 2007 coming to Xbox 360!

Punching home a message that Midway is coming to the next-generation with a full stable of goods, the Chicago-based publisher today announced that the game formerly known as Unreal Tournament 2007 is now Unreal Tournament 3. And it's coming to the PC, PlayStation 3 and Microsoft's Xbox 360 in the second half of 2007. IGN: UT3: It's Real