Sony play catch-up as PSP sales double in Japan - Nintendo DS still leads

Nintendo's DS still leads hardware market

Sales of Sony's PSP have more than doubled in Japan, with the console selling 184,610 units for the week ended December 16, compared to 91,481 units the previous week.

The boost in sales comes without any significant new PSP software releases during the period, with only three games for the handheld in the top fifty best-sellers.

However, Nintendo's DS is still leading hardware sales in Japan with 222,144 units sold in the past week, backed by 28 games in the top fifty.

The Wii has shifted 170,558 units according to data from Media Create, with the PS3 selling 63,720 and the PS2 18,025 units.

Sales of the Xbox 360 are still under 10,000 units with Microsoft shifting 8,561 units.

Source: Games Industry

Nokia to delay N-Gage cellphone revamp

Nokia N81

Testing has uncovered "issue" needing to be addressed

Nokia has announced another delay in its N-Gage First Access platform, originally scheduled for a November launch.

The pre-release version, was going to work only on Nokia N81 or N81 8GB phones and was to feature one or more games. Those with access to the application could post feedback and make suggestions on the company's forums.

Now, however, even the pre-release version of the revamped N-Gage platform has been delayed.

"We know all of you are eager to get started with N-Gage First Access, and we are just as eager to get it into your hands and start hearing your feedback. We have teams of people around the world, literally, working overtime to deliver this experience to you," said a statement on the official N-Gage blog.

"Unfortunately, as can sometimes happen in software development, unexpected difficulties can occur. We have been doing an internal run with more than 1,000 global testers this week, and during this process we uncovered an issue we feel we need to address.

"Overall, the games and service are working smoothly, but because of this issue, we feel we could not release N-Gage First Access before the holidays as planned."

While working on a solution, and carrying on extensive internal testing over the holidays, Nokia plans to "polish the overall experience" even as it readies more games.

Nokia released the original N-Gage, a combination phone, handheld gaming device, MP3 player, PDA, and FM radio, in 2003. A year later, a subsequent redesign - the N-Gage QD - removed radio reception and MP3 playback features.

The latest iteration of the N-Gage is an application, built into or downloaded to a supported Nokia phone, that acts as a central hub for content including games.

Sony and Capcom team for Devil May Cry PlayStation 3 bundle in Japan

Two limited edition PlayStation 3 SKUs for Japan

Sony and Capcom are teaming up for the release of Devil May Cry 4 by announcing two limited edition PlayStation 3 bundles for Japan.

Available in both black and ceramic white, the 40GB PlayStation 3 will come with a copy of the game and extra content on a separate Blu-ray disc.

The bundle will retail for JPY 47,800 when it's released on January 21.

Source: Games Industry

Nintendo Wii and DS software dominates Japan video game charts

Sony's Gran Turismo 5 Prologue has made its debut in the Japanese charts at number three, selling 116,000 copies according to data from Media Create.

However, it's the only PlayStation 3 title in the top twenty, with Nintendo Wii and DS product clogging up the charts for the week ended December 16.

Mario Party DS is at number one with 180,000 sales over the seven day period, while Wii Fit is at two with 124,000 units sold, taking it past half a million sales since release.

There are two PlayStation 2 games in the top twenty from Konami and Bandai Namco, and one PSP title – Sony's Hot Shots Golf sequel.

The Japanese top twenty follows:

1. Mario Party DS (DS)

2. Wii Fit (Wii)

3. Gran Turismo 5 Prologue (PS3)

4. Prof. Layton and Pandora's Box (DS)

5. Super Mario Galaxy (Wii)

6. Dragon Quest IV (DS)

7. Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games (Wii)

8. Wi Sports (Wii)

9. Wii Play (Wii)

10. Chocobo's Mysterious Dungeon: The Labyrinth of Forgotten Time (Wii)

11. World Soccer Winning Eleven 2008 (PS2)

12. Mario Party 8 (Wii)

13. Powerful Pro-kun Pocket 10 (DS)

14. Kirarin Revolution (DS)

15. Pokemon Mysterious Dungeon: Time Expedition Party (DS)

16. Mario Kart DS (DS)

17. Taiko Drum Master (DS)

18. Pokemon Mysterious Dungeon: Shadow Expedition Party (DS)

18. Hot Shots Golf Portable 2 (PSP)

20. SD Gundam G Generation Spirits (PS2)

Source: here

78 million UK games sales in 2007 is new record

78 million games sold in 2007

Sales of game software in the UK will reach 78 million units by the end of the year, as retail enjoys another year of rapid growth.

According to data from Chart Track, last week generated sales of GBP 87.9 million, with the UK seeing a record-breaking third quarter as revenues rose 36 per cent from GBP 233.5 million in 2006 to GBP 332.6 million.

The number of units sold was up 16.6 per cent for the weeks 1 to 50, and 25.3 per cent by value.

"2007 has been a fantastic year for our industry as all the latest generation of consoles and handheld devices have become fully established," commented Paul Jackson, director general of ELSPA.

"Interactive entertainment is now truly mass market, and this is just the beginning of a period of real sustained growth."

Software units for the third quarter were up 33 per cent from GBP 8.52 million to 11.33 million, with console revenues up 45 per cent from GBP 180.95 to GBP 263.20 million.

The console market now accounts for 79 per cent of software revenues and 75 per cent of total software units.

Source: Games Industry

Sony PSP firmware update allows remote play of all PlayStation One titles

PlayStation 3 2.10 and PSP 3.80 firmware required

The recent PS3 and PSP system update comes with an unannounced feature - the ability to remotely play any PS One game on the PSP handheld.

A PS3 2.10 firmware update was released in the US today, adding a voice changer feature to voice/video chat, DivX and VC-1 (WMV) codec support to video playback, and picture-in-picture features to Blu-ray disc playback.

A PSP 3.80 firmware update was also released, adding Internet radio compatibility.


Remote play of PS One titles was not mentioned in either update, but GamesIndustry.biz has confirmed the existence of the new feature.

Although some PS One titles have previously been made available for sale via the PlayStation Store, this update allows all PS One titles to be played on the PSP via the PS3's remote connection.

It also lets PS3 owners play purchased PS One titles remotely from the hard drive, rather than requiring them to be downloaded to a PSP memory stick.

A SCEA spokesperson had not yet responded to a request for comment.

It is not known if there are any compatibility issues with specific titles, but users will need to reassign the controls in many games to account for the PSP's lack of two analog sticks and four shoulder buttons.

Source: Games Industry

Nintendo DS Brain Training tops Spanish, German charts

No Xbox 360, PS3 titles in top ten

Nintendo's DS Brain Training games have topped the charts in both Spain and Germany.

Dr. Kawashima's Brain Training is at number one in Spain, with sequel More Brain Training taking the coveted spot in Germany.

Neither the Spanish or German top ten has any PlayStation 3 or Xbox 360 games, with Wii, PlayStation 2 and DS the dominant formats.

The top ten for each country follows:

Spain, week ended December 9

1. More Brain Training (DS)

2. WWE Smackdown Vs RAW 2008 (PS2)

3. Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 (PS2)

4. Imagina Ser Mama (DS)

5. Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games (DS)

6. Imagina Ser Disenadora De Moda (DS)

7. The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass (DS)

8. Mario Party (DS)

9. Dr Kawashima's Brain Training (DS)

10. WWE Smackdown Vs RAW 2008 (PSP)

Germany, week ended December 2

1. Dr Kawashima's Brain Training (DS)

2. More Brain Training (DS)

3. High School Musical - Sing It (PS2)

4. Need for Speed Pro Street (PS2)

5. Super Mario Galaxy (Wii)

6. FIFA 08 (PS2)

7. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (PC)

8. Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games (Wii)

9. Wii Play (Wii)

10. Need for Speed Pro Street (PC)

All data supplied by Media - Control GfK International

More exclusive Grand Theft Auto IV content for MIcrosoft XBox 360 - 2009

In addition to episodes due 2008

Take-Two has announced in a conference call that it intends to release more exclusive Grand Theft Auto IV episodes for the Xbox 360 in 2009.

The company revealed earlier this year that it would be supplying two extra episodes for Microsoft's home console in 2008, but this is the first time it has spoken of extra content beyond the initial deal with Microsoft.

"In fiscal 2009 we'll also be offering additional episodic content for Grand Theft Auto IV on Xbox 360," confirmed Ben Feder, CEO of Take-Two.

The publisher also reiterated the full game will be released next year, with two exclusive episodes due before the end of 2008.

"We're eagerly anticipating the release of Grand Theft Auto IV in our second quarter. The game looks terrific and we're confident it will be every bit as ground-breaking as previous titles," added Feder.

Source: Games Industry

Codemasters pulls Sensible Worlds of Soccer from Xbox Liv

"Incorrect" version of game made available

Codemasters has pulled Sensible World of Soccer from Xbox Live Arcade as the game disconnects users attempting to play online.

The developer has promised to put a fully functioning version of the game on Microsoft's online service shortly.

"It has come to our attention that an incorrect version of Sensible World of Soccer was made available on Xbox Live Arcade," said Codemasters Online Gaming.

"We are currently investigating the issue and will have a correctly functioning version of Sensible World of Soccer available soon.

"Any users that have already downloaded Sensible World of Soccer will need to delete their copy of the game and download it again when the correctly functioning version is available in order to enjoy online play via Xbox Live," detailed the company

Sensible World of Soccer was released on Xbox Live Arcade today, although Codemasters had originally hoped to release the game in the first quarter of 2007.

Game Group see profit jump to over £70 million

British computer and video games retailer Game Group said it expected its full-year profit to be ahead of an average market forecast after continued strong sales in the run-up to Christmas, boosting its shares.

Shares in Game Group, which have outperformed the UK general retailers' index by around 184 percent this year, were 9.5 percent higher at 254 pence at 3:08 a.m. EST, valuing the company at around 870 million pounds ($1.74 billion).

The company, which earlier this month said it was performing slightly ahead of expectations in the run-up to the key Christmas trading period, said profit before non-recurring costs and tax for the year to January 31 would be no less than 70 million pounds, up from 29.5 million the year before.

Game Group had been expected to report an underlying pretax profit of about 58.9 million pounds this year, according to the average forecast of 12 analysts polled by Reuters Estimates.

On December 11, Game -- which sells computer and video games, consoles and accessories to more than 800 shops in Britain and abroad -- said like-for-like sales rose by 44.1 percent in the 45 weeks to December 8.

The company said it would report fully on Christmas trading for the six weeks to January 12 on January 15.

Source: Reuters