TOP 40 ENTERTAINMENT SOFTWARE - INDIVIDUAL FORMATS (UNITS), WEEK ENDING 10 November 2007
http://www.chart-track.co.uk/index.jsp?c=p/software/uk/latest/index_test.jsp&ct=110032
Saturday, 17 November 2007
October NPD: Xbox 360 Led Software Sales
NPD has released its October U.S. software and hardware numbers. As expected, the Nintendo Wii was the best selling new system but Xbox 360 led in software sales and that's what Microsoft highlighted in a mail sent to us. For the month of October, Xbox 360 led in total revenue with $354 million compared to $246 million for Wii and $116 million for PS3. In addition to leading in total consumer spend, Xbox 360 led in software sales:
Xbox 360 software revenue at retail surpassed that of Wii and PS3 combined
Xbox 360 holds the #1 & #2 spot in the Top Ten list across all consoles --“Halo 3” (Microsoft Game Studios) sold 434K units and “Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock” (RedOctane/Activision) sold 383K units
Xbox 360 is delivering the highest-rated games lineup this generation, with 7 out of the top 10 rated games through the end of October according to Metacritic, the world-wide authority in entertainment reviews. Highlights:
Xbox 360 beats Wii in total consumer dollars spent
Xbox 360 games portfolio continues to drive consumers’ retail spending more than any console this generation. Xbox 360 leads with $354 million in consumer spending.
For the month of October according to NPD, Xbox 360 software represented 54 percent of total software sales (at $162 million dollars) for this generation, compared to 30 percent for Wii and 16 percent for PS3.
Xbox 360 held 3 spots in the Top Ten Console List with Master Chief and “Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock” leading the way
Last month “Halo 3” shattered retail records at every turn. This month the title has continued to dominate software sales as it was again the #1 title across any console.
October also brought the release of one of the most anticipated titles of the holiday, “Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock” (RedOctane/Activision) which launched October 28. The Xbox 360 version w/guitar bundle led all consoles with 383K units sold. Combined with sales of the stand-alone game, Xbox 360 was the destination of choice for Guitar Hero fans this generation, with 491K sold overall (guitar bundle plus stand-alone game), compared to the PS3 version at 106K and Wii at 286K.
Coming in at #7, “The Orange Box” (Electronic Arts) for Xbox 360 posted strong sales with 238K sold.
Xbox 360 leading in 3rd Party success
Gamers continue to show preference for third party titles on Xbox 360. Of all 3rd party U.S. software revenue in October, Xbox 360 generated more than double that of the PS3 and Wii. Xbox 360 weighs in at 57 percent with $130 million, compared to Wii with 28 percent and PS3 at 15 percent.
PS3 and Wii combined had one third party title in the top ten console title list for the month, while Xbox 360 weighed in with 2. Since November, third party partners have seen their titles hit the top ten 29 times for Xbox 360, compared to 2 for PS3 and 2 for Wii.
In last week’s earnings announcement from Electronic Arts, Xbox 360 represented 50 percent ($218 million) of their total revenue during the third quarter. In fact, EA titles on Xbox 360 outperformed those same titles on PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2, PSP, Wii and DS combined.
Call of Duty 4 Patch In the Works, Features Revealed
Infinity Ward has announced it is already working on an update for the Xbox 360 version of Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare. Straight from the horse's mouth: Wanted to give you a heads up for an update in the works for the Xbox 360 version. We're going to be optimizing a lot of things behind the scenes with matchmaking and host selection as well as adding a few new features via the update which I have outlined below. No ETA on when this update will be available for download, just giving a heads up on what's to come in the future in the first potential update: Additions / New Features:
Added Kill cam to Airstrike bombs and Claymores
Addition of Host Migration so if Host Leaves auto-chooses next best host Tweaked the following Oldschool Mode settings based on feedback:
Added Unlimited Sprint
Increased Magazine Size
Added Ragdoll Cam Optimizations / Tweaks:
Identify party by background color (in Lobby)
Optimized server selection for first match for better connections
Improved network performance for 18 player games
Optimized 'Chase Cam' when Spectating
Fixed Playlist error when attempting to join from other games
Handle Corrupt Create A Class data instead of kicking player
Added Kill cam to Airstrike bombs and Claymores
Addition of Host Migration so if Host Leaves auto-chooses next best host Tweaked the following Oldschool Mode settings based on feedback:
Added Unlimited Sprint
Increased Magazine Size
Added Ragdoll Cam Optimizations / Tweaks:
Identify party by background color (in Lobby)
Optimized server selection for first match for better connections
Improved network performance for 18 player games
Optimized 'Chase Cam' when Spectating
Fixed Playlist error when attempting to join from other games
Handle Corrupt Create A Class data instead of kicking player
DVD Forum Approves Three Layer 51GB HD DVDs
At its 40th Steering Committee Meeting, the DVD Forum has approved the triple-layer HD DVD ROM (read only) specification proposed by Toshiba. The new HD DVD ROM disc has a three-layer structure, with each layer storing 17GB of data, offering a total disc capacity of 51 gigabytes. Currently, HD DVD ROM has a single-layer capacity of 15 GB, with dual-layer discs offering 30 GB. The new disc, which can store up to 7 hours of high-definition video, shares the same disc structure as standard DVD and previously announced HD DVD formats: two 0.6-mm thick discs bonded back-to-back. This time-tested physical structure offers proven volume manufacturing at little cost increment. With this latest development, the HD DVD camp is able to offer a product that matches the capacity offered by a dual-layer Blu-ray Disc.
Wednesday, 14 November 2007
Download original Xbox games on your 360 this fall
Software... update. Two extremely dull words that, when combined, become even duller. So why is the entire gaming community currently abuzz about the next iteration of the Xbox 360 dashboard? When did mandatory software upgrades become so dramatic and controversial?
Easy - when Microsoft announced that this update had something to do with Halo. Starting December 2, you'll be able to download some of the original Xbox's classic titles and play them on your 360. No disc, no ugly green box, no need to move your ass off the couch. Popular games like Fable, Fahrenheit, Crimson Skies, Crash Bandicoot, Burnout 3 and, yes, Halo: Combat Evolved will all be available at the push of a button.
But are these old timers still worth the asking price of $15, or 1200 MS points? If you don't already own Halo, you can buy it new on Amazon for only $10... $7 used. If Crimson Skies didn't already come packed with your console, you can nab it used for only a dollar. These cheaper retail copies will work on a 360 using backwards compatibility, so why should we pay $15 for an intangible download?
As the downloadable library expands, however, we expect to get pretty excited. Already, the criminally overlooked and difficult-to-locate Psychonauts is being offered. Nice. Throw some other forgotten gems on the list (Breakdown? Stranger's Wrath? Panzer Dragoon Orta?) and we might forget all about next-gen.
Easy - when Microsoft announced that this update had something to do with Halo. Starting December 2, you'll be able to download some of the original Xbox's classic titles and play them on your 360. No disc, no ugly green box, no need to move your ass off the couch. Popular games like Fable, Fahrenheit, Crimson Skies, Crash Bandicoot, Burnout 3 and, yes, Halo: Combat Evolved will all be available at the push of a button.
But are these old timers still worth the asking price of $15, or 1200 MS points? If you don't already own Halo, you can buy it new on Amazon for only $10... $7 used. If Crimson Skies didn't already come packed with your console, you can nab it used for only a dollar. These cheaper retail copies will work on a 360 using backwards compatibility, so why should we pay $15 for an intangible download?
As the downloadable library expands, however, we expect to get pretty excited. Already, the criminally overlooked and difficult-to-locate Psychonauts is being offered. Nice. Throw some other forgotten gems on the list (Breakdown? Stranger's Wrath? Panzer Dragoon Orta?) and we might forget all about next-gen.
Tuesday, 13 November 2007
Unwrapped: Mass Effect Limited Edition
Wondering what the Limited Collector's Edition of Mass Effect will hold? Wonder no longer: one mysteriously arrived in the GameLife office just today, and we furiously photographed its innermost secrets.
The $70 limited edition version of the game includes the following:
Tin case
"Mass Effect: A Future Imagined" 36-page art book
"Galactic Codex: Essentials" 36-page fiction supplement
Mass Effect instruction manual, in glorious color
Battlestar Galactica final season advertisement
Cardboard-and-plastic game keepcase with game disc and bonus content disc
The $70 limited edition version of the game includes the following:
Tin case
"Mass Effect: A Future Imagined" 36-page art book
"Galactic Codex: Essentials" 36-page fiction supplement
Mass Effect instruction manual, in glorious color
Battlestar Galactica final season advertisement
Cardboard-and-plastic game keepcase with game disc and bonus content disc
http://blog.wired.com/games/2007/11/unwrapped-mass-.html go link for pics
Sunday, 4 November 2007
Devs Problems: Lack of memory on Sony PS3 and storage on Xbox 360
We have heard many gamers comparing the different games on the Sony PS3 and Xbox 360 but today we had a long comment from someone calling themselves “IsThis4Real” and they make an interesting case for both the PS3 and 360.
Also they outline some of the problems both games consoles face and explain a little about the CELL CPU. Have a read a let us know if you agree.
Here is IsThis4Real’s comment:I honestly wish people would get over the whole “CELL” thing. Its totally, as it stands now, overated - and the concept is still in its infancy. Its not the be all end all of CPUs. Its simply a single IBM Power PC core with 7 SPEs. I think people still make the mistake in claiming and thinking that they are essentially seperate CPUs. They are not.
Its “simply” designed for very fast on the fly encoding/decoding (gross missunderstatement, I know - but I think for some it has to be put VERY simply if you know what I mean) - its specialty will lie in the integration of the home based setup.
This is something Sony mooted nearly 10 or more so years ago, the ability to have every single (Sony based) product in one house hold to be able to communicate with eachother. This is when they forst started announcing that they were working on a single SUPER cpu.Watch that space over the next few years. They might actually get there, but I tell you, it aint going to be this incarnation of CELL, thats for sure.
It is not even an ideal functioning model for multi-threaded coding, an area, which despite a few game companies have said they are able to pull off, is again, still very much in its infancy - especially on the mainstream level - ie to you.
If you really want to be “technical” the PS3 setup is absolutely lousy - plain and simple - for modern game setups. The majority of the work needed for the PS3 is not the so called difficulty of the CELL processor, but its lack of main memory, lack of video memory, and very slow load data-read speeds, and much slower bus speed, all in comparisson to the Xbox 360.
The CELL, despite what is said, is NOT an overly complicated piece of architecture. It has the potential to be quite elegant in fact.
Think to yourselves for a minute, peoples?You have games on the PS3. Dev kits have only been out X amount of time. Both 360 and PS3 release are identical - dont be anal guys.
Yet, you will notice that the PS3 sufferes time and time again in comparison - just mildly - mind you. The issues being what? Framerate? Resolution? This are problems not associated with CELL, but less memory, fill rate, bus transfer etc. The only way to really optimize is for Sony to “cut the fat” from their supplied libraries. Thats it. Its very little, or nothing at all to do with CELL difficulty. The processors are a non event.
That will possibly be the only major problem for devs for both consoles in the near future.1). Lack of memory on the PS3.2). Lack of storage space on the Xbox 360.Watch out for that one. It will be here sooner than you think, if not already.
Hence the heavy need for almost triple assest content on Blue Ray discs, and very heavy cache useage. But cheers to Sony anyways for bringing something new to the table. But to say that games that are comming out would not be possible without it are just plain rubbish. But not so if on the PS3… Its just a little bit different. Tis all.
You want to talk about technical limitations??
All it will take is one REALLY good game, yet to come, on the PS3, with exceptional graphics and very heavy scripting, and it will absolutely bring that machine to its knees. Just because of the Single PPC core, and small ammount of memory. If you have actually looked at the way the PS3 “works”, it is a very laborious process !! There is so much to and fro before it even gets into the pipeline for post processing, any benefit that the CELL even began to pose is vanquished.
But everyone, just bear this in mind. The Xbox 360, for all the bagging it gets, is really quite a powerfull piece of kit. It has 3 seperate PPC cpus, which basically equates to 6 hardware threads. It has more memory to play with, a superior GPU, and superfast bus rate.
All the BS talked about GOW pushing the 360 is almost toss. Sorry. It was only running on two thread system. And even that engine was very buggy and “heavy” at the time. If not totally overated in its own right as well.
Honestly, if MS decided to put some form of a HD disc in it, Blu Ray or HD-DVD, the damn thing would be almost future proof, with the exception of the over heating, ofcourse.
Because, as it stands, the PS3 only has the storage space over the 360. Its not anymore “advanced” at all, and in many ways, slightly less.
Anyways, ive gone on a bit. Sorry.Sometime soon, some dev will get around to managing the PS3 with a par excellence attitude. It looks like Infinity Ward might just be there.Take it easy, guys. Sorry for going on a bit.
Also they outline some of the problems both games consoles face and explain a little about the CELL CPU. Have a read a let us know if you agree.
Here is IsThis4Real’s comment:I honestly wish people would get over the whole “CELL” thing. Its totally, as it stands now, overated - and the concept is still in its infancy. Its not the be all end all of CPUs. Its simply a single IBM Power PC core with 7 SPEs. I think people still make the mistake in claiming and thinking that they are essentially seperate CPUs. They are not.
Its “simply” designed for very fast on the fly encoding/decoding (gross missunderstatement, I know - but I think for some it has to be put VERY simply if you know what I mean) - its specialty will lie in the integration of the home based setup.
This is something Sony mooted nearly 10 or more so years ago, the ability to have every single (Sony based) product in one house hold to be able to communicate with eachother. This is when they forst started announcing that they were working on a single SUPER cpu.Watch that space over the next few years. They might actually get there, but I tell you, it aint going to be this incarnation of CELL, thats for sure.
It is not even an ideal functioning model for multi-threaded coding, an area, which despite a few game companies have said they are able to pull off, is again, still very much in its infancy - especially on the mainstream level - ie to you.
If you really want to be “technical” the PS3 setup is absolutely lousy - plain and simple - for modern game setups. The majority of the work needed for the PS3 is not the so called difficulty of the CELL processor, but its lack of main memory, lack of video memory, and very slow load data-read speeds, and much slower bus speed, all in comparisson to the Xbox 360.
The CELL, despite what is said, is NOT an overly complicated piece of architecture. It has the potential to be quite elegant in fact.
Think to yourselves for a minute, peoples?You have games on the PS3. Dev kits have only been out X amount of time. Both 360 and PS3 release are identical - dont be anal guys.
Yet, you will notice that the PS3 sufferes time and time again in comparison - just mildly - mind you. The issues being what? Framerate? Resolution? This are problems not associated with CELL, but less memory, fill rate, bus transfer etc. The only way to really optimize is for Sony to “cut the fat” from their supplied libraries. Thats it. Its very little, or nothing at all to do with CELL difficulty. The processors are a non event.
That will possibly be the only major problem for devs for both consoles in the near future.1). Lack of memory on the PS3.2). Lack of storage space on the Xbox 360.Watch out for that one. It will be here sooner than you think, if not already.
Hence the heavy need for almost triple assest content on Blue Ray discs, and very heavy cache useage. But cheers to Sony anyways for bringing something new to the table. But to say that games that are comming out would not be possible without it are just plain rubbish. But not so if on the PS3… Its just a little bit different. Tis all.
You want to talk about technical limitations??
All it will take is one REALLY good game, yet to come, on the PS3, with exceptional graphics and very heavy scripting, and it will absolutely bring that machine to its knees. Just because of the Single PPC core, and small ammount of memory. If you have actually looked at the way the PS3 “works”, it is a very laborious process !! There is so much to and fro before it even gets into the pipeline for post processing, any benefit that the CELL even began to pose is vanquished.
But everyone, just bear this in mind. The Xbox 360, for all the bagging it gets, is really quite a powerfull piece of kit. It has 3 seperate PPC cpus, which basically equates to 6 hardware threads. It has more memory to play with, a superior GPU, and superfast bus rate.
All the BS talked about GOW pushing the 360 is almost toss. Sorry. It was only running on two thread system. And even that engine was very buggy and “heavy” at the time. If not totally overated in its own right as well.
Honestly, if MS decided to put some form of a HD disc in it, Blu Ray or HD-DVD, the damn thing would be almost future proof, with the exception of the over heating, ofcourse.
Because, as it stands, the PS3 only has the storage space over the 360. Its not anymore “advanced” at all, and in many ways, slightly less.
Anyways, ive gone on a bit. Sorry.Sometime soon, some dev will get around to managing the PS3 with a par excellence attitude. It looks like Infinity Ward might just be there.Take it easy, guys. Sorry for going on a bit.
Friday, 2 November 2007
Face/Off (HD DVD) review
The Video: Sizing Up the Picture
'Face/Off' arrives on HD DVD with a 1080p/VC-1 transfer that delivers everything fans have wanted and more. Colors are vibrant, black levels are deep, and contrast is perfectly balanced -- the previously-released DVD looks like an aging VHS tape by comparison. There's a convincing illusion of depth and I found myself noting background details for the first time since I saw the film in theaters. I didn't catch any artifacting or crush issues and I was pleased to see that Woo's quick camera never took a toll on the smooth and stable image. Facial textures, on-screen text, and the sparks in the high-rise gun battle are crisply rendered without a hint of pixelation. Best of all, fire and explosions are invigorating, splashing the screen with color and life. By the time I noted the individual feathers on the director's trademark slow-motion doves, I was convinced this transfer was something special.
There are some minor issues worth mentioning. First off, I noticed some noise in darker scenes, as well as a trace amount of edge enhancement in a few shots. The effect isn't entirely obvious, but viewers with larger screens will likely spot it. I also have to gripe for a second about the seams revealed by this high-def transfer, as wires, stunt doubles, and squib packs are more painfully obvious than ever before. Although these hiccups can't be blamed on the video transfer, they're still worth noting for newcomers who aren't familiar with the film's more amusing on-screen flubs. Even so, 'Face/Off' shows how amazing a catalog title can look in high definition. Simply put, I can't imagine this film looking any better.
The Audio: Rating the Sound
Believe it or not, the audio package is even stronger than the video transfer. 'Face/Off' features a bombastic DTS ES 6.1 surround track (1.5 Mbps) and a confident Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 mix (1.5 Mbps), neither of which disappoint. While the additional channel in the DTS track makes rear pans more transparent, it didn't enhance the experience enough to praise one over the other after some volume matching.
Both tracks use intense dynamics to augment the on-screen insanity -- bass tones are particularly impressive and regularly sent rumbles and pulses stampeding through my home theater. LFE support hits with a palpable punch and gunfire is appropriately blaring. Likewise, treble whines are reliable, solid, and crisp. I could hear the heavy breathing of nervous background characters, the varied tip tap of footsteps on an assortment of flooring, and each tinkle of falling glass. The sound designers clearly worked overtime on this one and both the DTS and DD tracks showcase their efforts.
'Face/Off' isn't a quiet movie by any stretch of the imagination, but I was happy to find that the chaotic soundscape never muffled important lines or key effects. More importantly, the soundfield genuinely transports the listener into the film. Directionality is amazing and sounds whiz and streak between the channels naturally. I can't praise these tracks enough -- these aren't just impressive catalog mixes, they go toe-to-toe with the top tier tracks available on HD DVD.
The Supplements: Digging Into the Good Stuff
Although 'Face/Off' had languished on DVD for years without any significant supplements, in September of this year Paramount finally issued a Special Collector's Edition DVD chock full of extras. Thankfully the studio has ported them all over to this 2-disc HD DVD, presenting them here in full high definition.
Commentary with John Woo and Writers Mike Werb and Michael Colleary -- This track features a fairly interesting discussion that focuses on the early production of 'Face/Off.' The presence of Werb and Colleary helps Woo establish a flow and momentum to his comments, but as you might expect, they tend to keep the commentary focused on the story rather than the actors and the final edit. Woo throws in his two cents when it comes to the action and the on set choreography, but he seems like a supporting voice in a writer-driven conversation. Considering the fact that the writers have their own separate commentary track, I would have preferred to hear a lot more from the director on this one.
Commentary with Werb and Colleary -- This second commentary with the same writers as above ends up feeling repetitive and pointless. I appreciate their inclusion, but their outlook on the film is just too limited to sustain a second commentary. Two hours is a long time to listen to a series of seemingly endless lectures on a handful of subjects.
Deleted Scenes with Alternate Ending (9 minutes, HD) -- These excised scenes are intriguing in their own right, but were wisely cut since they tend to dwell on elements that are already extensively covered in the film's final cut. Likewise, the highly-touted alternate ending is a frightening glimpse of an idea that could've sucked the air out of the last minutes of the film. As it stands, the only thing that makes each scene worth watching is the presence of optional commentary from Woo.
The Light and Dark: Making Face/Off (64 minutes, HD) -- This is a full-length documentary divided into five featurettes that can be watched individually or all at once. Some of the information feels repetitive after listening to Woo and the writers, but the overall effort is much more sweeping than the commentaries."Science Fiction/Human Emotion" (10 minutes) is a worthwhile look at an early sci-fi treatment of the film that elevated plot over the emotional resonance of the theatrical version. "Cast/Characters" (17 minutes) explores the actors and their performances with plenty of engaging interviews and behind-the-scenes footage. "Woo/Hollywood" (22 minutes) hones in on the director and his global career. "Practical/Visual Effects" (10 minutes) is a pretty standard look at the art of hands-on SFX. Finally, "Future/Past" (6 minutes) ties up the proceedings with a quick look at the end result.
John Woo: A Life in Pictures (26 minutes, HD) -- This featurette almost makes up for the fact that Woo doesn't have his own commentary track. It examines the director's career, his canon of films, and his reputation on both sides of the Pacific. The best part is that the entire featurette is narrated by Woo himself. As a longtime fan, it was incredibly rewarding to listen to the director humbly discuss his life and his films.
Theatrical Trailer (2 minutes, HD)
HD Bonus Content: Any Exclusive Goodies in There?
Nothing.
Easter Eggs
No easter eggs reported for 'Face/Off' yet. Found an egg? Please use our tips form to let us know, and we'll credit you with the find.
Final Thoughts
Your enjoyment of 'Face/Off' will ultimately come down to how easily you can overlook its occasionally outlandish plot. Thankfully, this HD DVD release doesn't require any technical leaps of faith. It includes an excellent video transfer, a set of powerful audio tracks, and a healthy collection of supplements. This is a noteworthy treatment of a classic catalog actioner that's sure to make fans extremely happy.
Wednesday, 31 October 2007
Sunday, 28 October 2007
Friday, 26 October 2007
Xbox Division Posts Q1 Profit
Microsoft posted unaudited operating income for its first quarter ended September 30 of $165 million in the Entertainment and Devices Division, compared to a loss last year of $142 million.Microsoft has been reiterating that its Xbox business will be profitable throughout this entire fiscal year, a feat yet to be seen in Microsoft's videogame business.Strong demand for Halo 3 and Xbox 360 hardware drove the division’s numbers during the quarter, according to Microsoft. In its first day, Halo 3 in the US alone generated $170 million in sales when it launched September 25. First-week sales were $300 million globally, as the Bungie-developed title sold 3.3 million units in the US during its debut month, according to NPD Group.Revenues for the division were up 91 percent to $1.93 billion.Overall, Microsoft revenues were up 27 percent year-on-year to $13.8 billion, beating the guidance of $12.4-$12.6 billion. Operating income was $5.9 billion, similarly exceeding the guidance of $5.0-$5.2 billion.During the quarter, Microsoft said it sold 1.8 million Xbox 360 consoles, with record attach rates during the quarter in the US.“We feel very good about our position going into the holidays,” said CFO Chris Liddell regarding the games business during a conference call.Also part of the Entertainment and Devices Division is the Zune music player, which we will see at the new lineup this holiday season.Microsoft expects total company revenues in fiscal 2008 to be $58.8 billion to $59.7 billion, with operating income of $23.3 billion to $23.7 billion.
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