Hasta La Gadget!

Just as the portable gaming world is getting ready for the release of the Nintendo DSi, word on the street is that Sony’s followup to the PSP may not be far off–at least according to a bigwig at Acclaim.

David Perry, the company’s chief creative officer told Kotaku yesterday, “I spoke to a developer who is working on it right now. I know this developer is already working on it, so that means they have a prototype. That would sound like a fall release to me.”

According to Perry, Sony will be dropping the UMD movie player from the next generation of the PSP. The hope, he said, is that the device will go entirely digital–if not in the second generation, then in some version in the near future–gaining Sony a piece of the direct sales market and doing away with used game sales.

If you live in the States, you won’t actually be able to get your hands on one until April 5th. But at the very least, you can ensure that you’re among the first to get a Nintendo DSi by reserving one through Walmart.com.

The online version of the mega-retailer made tens of thousands of the new Nintendo portable console available for pre-order today. The DSi is $169 and comes in black or blue. It features two cameras, a voice recorder, and a music player.

This week Sony Computer Entertainment America announced that it would be officially expanding its business to Latin America. The key word is “officially,” because the PlayStation 3–as well as other PlayStation versions–has been available, via import from the United States. However, increasing demand made Sony take another look at the market last year.

With more than 500 million consumers south of the border as a potential market, Mark Stanley, SCEA director and general manager for Latin America, said, “This expansion is the direct result of us listening closely to our community,” So, later this year the PS2, PS3 and PSP will be made available to 13 different countries in Latin America.

Time will tell whether the PS3 will be a hit in South America, though. And while pricing and availability haven’t been announced, it is worth noting the PS3 could be the most expensive console to actually land on Latin America shores. This could be Sony’s last gamble to build the international presence of the PS3, which still trails the Microsoft Xbox 360 and Nintendo Wii in sales.

Post by Peter Suciu

Nintendo today announced a U.S. availability date for its long-awaited third version of the popular DS handheld gaming system, the DSi. Already selling in Japan, the DSi will arrive on our shores April 5th, carrying a $169.99 price tag. At launch, the system will be available in either blue or black.

The new DSi features a number of improvements over its predecessor, the DS Lite, including a slimmer form factor and two built-in cameras–one of the outside of the body and one inside, which points at the user when the device is opened. The DSi also features an interactive voice recorder and music player, a stereo headphone output, and an SD card slot. Also new is the introduction of DSiWare, which lets users download games to the system–much like the Wii’s WiiWare app.

Prior to today’s news, the U.S. release for the system was scheduled roughly for next summer.

In honor of the new Guitar Hero World Tour and the upcoming release of Guitar Hero Metallica, Activision will be releasing individual controllers in North America later this week, on Feb. 15.

The controllers, which will arrive on store shelves this Sunday, include the new wireless drum kit, which features three drum pads, a bass kick pedal, two raised cymbals, and velocity-sensitive drum heads. The drum kit controller can be expanded with a second bass kick pedal allowing expert gamers to rock to double bass pedal charts.

Unfortunately, Activision didn’t announce pricing for any of the instruments.

“Guitar Hero World Tour”, the fourth full sequel in the series, arrived in stores late last year, expanding the instrumentation to include a Rock Band-like drum set. “Guitar Hero: Metallica” is set to arrive this spring, and the standalone instruments are compatible with both.