Video console sales drop as recession bites game sales also disappoint

Xbox 360, PS3 and Nintendo Wii sale drop in July

Game sales in August show the lowest sales of the year and console sale have also slowed .

Microsoft Xbox 360 dropped 5% with 195,200 consoles sold PlayStation 3 sales dropped 18% with 185,400 consoles sold the Nintendo Wii sales also dropped 185 to 453,000 units sold in August.

Games sales were expected to rise by 20-25% but only managed a 13% rise this is the lowest since January. 

Games sales had been enjoying almost 50% growth this year but the economic slowdown has hurt video game sales. Nintendo showed the worst sales in six months.

The exception to this downturn was Madden NFL 09 from EA games this American football simulation game,  under the Madden brand name, has sold over 2 million games since launch.

Sale are expected to improve following the Microsoft Xbox 360 price cut this month.

Early report point to a doubling in Xbox 360 sales since the price cut.

F1 Monza Ferrari star in Gran Turismo 5 video game

F1 Monza - Ferrari star in Gran Turismo 5 video game

Gran Turismo 5 Prologue, a prequel of Gran Turismo 5 for PlayStation 3 (PS3) – on Blu-ray and download from PlayStation Network (PSN) winter 2008. Gran Turismo and PlayStation are partners in one of the most successful world game series in ten years – known for its realism, design and physics – now, with the power of PlayStation 3 it’s going to be amazing.
Featuring over 40 cars Gran Turismo 5 Prologue includes Mitsubishi, Lotus, Nissan and Ferrari race on realistic, real-life tracks: including Eiger Nordwand, London City Track and Suzuka – in High Definition graphics. With all-new driving physics offering the most lifelike driving experience ever. Opponent artificial intelligence has been upgraded for the toughest race challenge yet.


Now in Gran Turismo 5, you’ll now be able to race against others online. Play with another 15 players head-to-head on PlayStation Network on your PlayStation 3 - PS3. Global Rankings plus My Garage home page lets other compare their ranking to your Gran Turismo 5 standings.


Add an Online Dealership, with a wealth of facts on cars, manufacturers and Gran Turismo TV – the dedicated online television channel exclusively from PlayStation Network packed with great contents.


Key Features:

• Gran Turismo online racing: online driving against up to 15 other Gran Turismo players
  
• Over 40 stunning, high-performance cars
  
• Real life race tracks including Eiger Nordwand, London City Track and Suzuka – race in reverse or use alternative routes
  
• New physics engine with true next-generation vehicle handling
  
• New, improved opponent Ai
  
• Online Gran Turismo TV : great motoring TV programs
  
• Online Dealership - Access to car manufacturers online
  
• My Garage - personalised homepage feature with friends, chat and personal records
  
• Quick Tune - adjust power, tyres, suspension and more
  
• High Definition at 1080p (race: 1080p-60fps, replay: 1080p-30fps)
  
• Gran Turismo 5 – the full title – launches in 2008.

Until then, there’s enough ultra-realistic, high-speed racing in Gran Turismo 5 Prologue on PlayStation 3.

Death by Decibels Nine Free MP3 tracks from the music tour Four Bands and Fallen Angel rock North America

Death by Decibels Free MP3 tracks from the music tour Four Bands and Fallen Angel rock North America

As part of its ongoing marketing efforts to support the upcoming Action RPG Sacred 2 - Fallen Angel, is pleased to announce sponsorship of the "Death by Decibels" heavy metal music tour.

The tour will showcase renowned Nuclear Blast artists including KATAKLYSM, ELUVEITIE and KEEP OF KALESSIN, along with Relapse artist DYING FETUS.

To download free MP3 tracks from KATAKLYSM and other Nuclear Blast artists, please follow this link (Amazon.com)

"As publisher of the upcoming Action RPG Sacred 2: Fallen Angel, we are delighted to spotlight these great bands that share a North American record label with BLIND GUARDIAN," stated Mario Kroll, Marketing and PR Director for cdv Software Entertainment USA. "Having BLIND GUARDIAN perform a very special song in-game, and having enjoyed the tremendous support from Nuclear Blast records, this is a great opportunity to give back to heavy metal fans that we're certain will enjoy not only the great music from the four bands on the Death by Decibels Tour 2008, but also Sacred 2: Fallen Angel on PC, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3."

Maurizio Lacono of KATAKLYSM commented: “Today is a good day for the KATAKLYSM camp! We just received confirmation that leading video game publisher cdv USA, has decided to sponsor KATAKLYSM's upcoming tour with the promotion of its new game Sacred 2: Fallen Angel! We’re stoked as hell with this news and our bus will now be a rolling billboard. We’re proud to have been chosen and this is a great tour with great bands (Switzerland’s ELUVEITIE and Norway’s KEEP OF KALESSIN) that also happen to be great friends. Come support an AUTHENTIC metal package for a change - or die!"

Planned venues and performance dates are as follows:

26 - Sept The Pearl Room – Mokena, IL

27 - Sept Harpo’s Concert Theatre – Detroit, MI

28 - Sept Peabody’s Concert Club – Cleveland, OH

29 - Sept Blender Theater at Gramercy – New York, NY

30 - Sept Sonar – Baltimore, MD

01 - Oct The Palladium – Worcester, MA

02 - Oct Jaxx – W. Springfield, VA

03 - Oct The Masquerade – Atlanta, GA

04 - Oct Ground Zero – Spartanburg, SC

05 - Oct Volume 11 – Raleigh, NC

07 - Oct Meridian – Houston, TX

08 - Oct White Rabbit – San Antonio, TX

09 - Oct Ridglea Theater – Dallas, TX

10 - Oct Club 101 – El Paso, TX

11 - Oct Soma – San Diego, CA

12 - Oct The Key Club – Hollywood, CA

14 - Oct The Metro – Oakland, CA

15 - Oct Hawthorne Theater – Portland, OR

16 - Oct Studio Seven – Seattle, WA

18 - Oct Black Sheep – Colorado Springs, CO (+ Arsis)

19 - Oct Marquis Theatre – Denver, CO (+ Arsis)

23 - Oct The Opera House – Toronto, ON - CANADA

24 - Oct Le Medley – Montreal, QC – CANADA

25 - Oct L’Imperial – Quebec City, QC – CANADA