If you want to play online, get an Xbox

Microsoft chairman Bill Gates has declared that the strategy for Xbox 360 is "working perfectly", questioning Sony and Nintendo's next-gen console offerings.

Gates observed that the original Xbox was "20 per cent better" than its rivals.

However, he continued, "It didn't matter. We were a year late, didn't have the best games. We had this bigger box. We did have online. We didn't switch positions on that."

But as for the strategy for Xbox 360, "It's working perfectly. We wanted to be the guy with the small box that costs less. We wanted to have the most games. We wanted to play to our software strength, and tools and online.



"We wanted to swap positions with Sony. We wanted to not be a year late, not be a big box, not be a more expensive box. How are we doing on that?"

According to Gates, Nintendo "clearly did some things right" in the past - such as building a close relationship with UK studio Rare. ("In my household, everybody plays Viva Piñata," Gates revealed.)

But he questioned Nintendo's strategy for the Wii, saying, "Look at the resolution you get with a controlled experience like that. Say to yourself, how in terms of using a game for a long period of time, what kind of accuracy and capability do you want?

"Look at the classic Nintendo positioning. Look at the graphics. Look at Nintendo's execution in terms of online capability... If you want to play online, get an Xbox. We're not standing still.

"Look at what you saw today connecting up the world to the Windows PC. Do you expect Nintendo to rev up a team to create cross-device gaming and tool kits to develop those things? Not very likely."

Gates also criticised Sony and the way the PlayStation 3's processors have been developed. "They were going to have the Cell be the video processor. But they didn't know what they were doing... They turned to Nvidia at the last minute, but Nvidia can't do embedded DRAM.

"Go look at the bandwidth problems... They took their year and burned it by not having a decent CPU strategy and then turning to Nvidia at the last minute. It's a very unusual thing. Those processors are isolated from each other."

Gates went on to say that he doesn't believe any of the first batch of PS3 games will look better than Halo 3, and questioned whether the option to create games at 1080p gives Sony's console a great advantage, stating, "Go ask the game developers."

A round-up of all of the latest Gamez news

THQ has signed an agreement with the Ultimate Fighting Championship to create a series of games, with the deal lasting until 2011. The publisher has the rights to produce games for all consoles, PC and handheld systems.

Lego Star Wars developer TT Games and publisher Eidos will release Bionicle Heroes for the Wii this Easter. The title is the first Lego Bionicle release for Nintendo's new home console.

Capcom has revealed the recently released Lost Planet: Extreme Condition has shipped one million units worldwide. The Xbox 360 title is the second to reach the target, following Dead Rising's success earlier in the year.

Ubisoft plans to target the younger gaming market with the release of Cosmic Family on the Wii. The point and click interactive adventure is due for release mid-2007.




Two titles from Koei will miss the launch of the PlayStation 3 in Europe. Bladestorm and Fatal Inertia are now scheduled for release this summer.

Namco Bandai will be bringing the DS title QuickSpot to North America. The game is due for release in the spring, and is an updated take on 'spot the difference' puzzles, utilising the DS touch screen and multiplayer features.

The publisher has also lined up Tamagotchi Party On! for the Wii, also due for release in the spring.

Atari will release War Front: Turning Point in the UK this March. The game is an alternative reality RTS for the PC, from developer 10tacle Studios.

Electronic Arts is to release a new line of story driven games in The Sims franchise. The first, The Sims Life Stories is due this spring, with Pet Stories and Castaway Stories due by the end of the year.

Nintendo DS title Mario Vs Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis is due for release across Europe on March 9.

Post-Christmas blues as next-gen consoles suffer drop in sales

Next-generation consoles have suffered a slow week of sales in Japan, with the PlayStation 3 recording its worst figures since release.

The PS3 sold 25,531 units for the week ending January 14.

Nintendo Wii sales were estimated at 93,708 units, the second worst week since it sold just over 85,000 units immediately after launch.



The news wasn't impressive for Microsoft either, with the Xbox 360 managing just over 9,000 units sold in the same period.

Sony recently announced it has shipped over a million units of the PS3 to Japanese retailers.

Looking at sales data for software, Wii Sports is the number one title in the region, selling over 61,000 units. Resistance: Fall of Man is the highest ranking PS3 title in the charts at number 40, while there are no Xbox 360 games in the top fifty at all.

HMV is PS3 launch partner

Sony is due to announce full details of the European PS3 launch and price point next week - that the 60GB model will hit the shops on March 23, priced at £425.

HMV will be Sony's official launch partner, with a special midnight event set to take place at their Oxford Street store.

HMV are currently discussing a range of possible options. I can't say right now whether this will include an official launch event, as such, but it's certainly the case that more and more publishers and games companies are approaching HMV following the success of a number of major launches over the last few years."



Most recently, HMV hosted the launch event for World of Warcraft expansion pack The Burning Crusade, which took place on Monday night. According to Ellis, "The midnight launch attracted a staggering 1500 fans, making it by far the biggest event of its kind ever staged by our Oxford Circus store."

HMV was also Nintendo's official partner for the launch of the Wii in December, and was previously chosen by Sony as its partner for the PSP launch in September 2005.

WoW Burning Crusade First lvl 70

Video on the first lvl 70: Gawell (Mage, Millenium on Archimonde EuFr)



Or watch here

Sega Rally (PC PS3 X360)

First three screenshots...

Step into the 19th Century...

Discover the adventures of Sherlock Holmes in a game with a gripping atmosphere, for the first time ever delivered in a full 3D world of thoroughly intensive and wholly immersive real-time sleuthing.

Cities and places exude authenticity, creating environments you would expect to find at the end of the 19th Century. And yet, amidst the daily grind and bustling lives of society, there also exists terrifying places, and it is in these confines where you will have to control your fears, retain your focus, and ascertain the truth.



Get Closer to the Clues…

This new adventure of Sherlock Holmes rises to the challenge of being entirely in 3D, while the creators have retained the traditional adventure game 'point & click' mechanic, in which the game is played solely with the mouse. The use of full 3D allows for an immersive experience, with changing game rhythm and additional enigmas and puzzles using physics and lighting.

Sherlock Holmes - The Awakened offers rewarding gameplay, a true symbiosis of two technologies specific to adventure games: WARP (used in the first Myst and Amerzone) which allows first-person movement in pre-calculated decors; and 3D surroundings, which allows the character to be controlled in a truly immersive manner, as well as being able to appreciate the splendour of the surroundings, thus offering a large freedom of movement. The advantage of mixing these two game modes provides a greater diversity of scenario, interaction with more people and a high factor of realism. You will also be challenged by puzzles in 3D, linked to physics for example, in which the weight of objects can be used to trigger mechanisms, and others using dynamic lighting, where a torch might be used to illuminate, in real time, certain places in order to reveal clues or other secrets and passageways.

Neversoft to create new Guitar Hero titles

The development of future titles in the Guitar Hero franchise looks set be taken on by Neversoft, after a recent job listing appeared on the Tony Hawk developer's website.

Harmonix had developed previous titles in the acclaimed series, but has since been bought by MTV Networks for US $175 million in September last year.


Activision acquired original Guitar Hero publisher RedOctane, along with the licence, in May of last year, adding the music franchise to a highly-regarded portfolio of brands that includes Call of Duty, Tony Hawk and Spider-Man.

A spokesperson for Activision would not be drawn on the situation, offering: "Activision does not comment on matters of rumour or speculation."

Neversoft has been an Activision studio since 1999, and has worked on titles such as Tony Hawk's Project 8, Gun and Spider-Man.

Halo 3 beta boosts Crackdown pre-orders by 25 per cent

Retail has noted a surge of interest in free-roaming action game Crackdown, since the announcement that the game disc will include a beta key to the multiplayer testing of Bungie's highly-anticipated shooter Halo 3.

Specialist chain GAME says that pre-orders for Crackdown have risen by 25 per cent since Microsoft unveiled the initiative.



"Halo 3 is one of the most highly anticipated Xbox 360 titles for 2007 and our customers are hungry to get hold of it," commented, MD of GAME Group's online business.

"Halo 3 beta is a great way for gamers to actually influence the making of the game and will ensure the production of a truly amazing game," he added.

Crackdown, from developer Realtime Worlds, is due for release February 23 in Europe. Copies of the game which include the Halo 3 beta key will be housed in specially marked packaging.

EA and Bizarre reveal new Live Arcade title

Boom Boom Rocket to be EA's first title on Xbox 360 download service

Electronic Arts has revealed its first title for the Xbox 360's Live Arcade service - a game developed by Project Gotham team Bizarre Creations and conceived by Pogo.com.

Boom Boom Rocket is a rhythm action title due for release in Spring this year, and marks EA's first entry into the growing on-demand download service for consoles.
Project Gotham from same developers


"As one of the worldwide leaders in game publishing, EA has long recognised the power of on-demand, online entertainment," said Chris Early, product unit manager for Xbox Live Arcade.

"We're honoured that EA has chosen Xbox Live Arcade as the platform for their first-ever downloadable game for console game players and are excited to make Boom Boom Rocket available to the millions of Xbox Live Arcade players around the world."

Developer Bizarre Creations has already enjoyed success in the download market with Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved, a fan favourite and one of the first titles available on Xbox Live Arcade.

"Boom Boom Rocket is an addictive and original challenge for all types of gamer, and we're enjoying working with EA to create this unique Xbox Live Arcade experience," said Martyn Chudley, MD of Bizarre Creations.

"Our teams love both working and playing on Xbox Live Arcade, and we're looking forward to releasing another innovative title on this platform with Boom Boom Rocket."