White PlayStation 3 bundle surfaces unannounced at Canadian retailers

White PlayStation 3 bundle surfaces unannounced at Canadian retailers

In North America, the PlayStation 3 is the Model T of consoles: you can have any system color you want, as long as it’s black. Sony might be dropping the circa-1908 approach in the near future, at least in Canada. Both Best Buy and its Canada-only sister chain, Future Shop, are listing a Crystal White Limited Edition Bundle that includes a 500GB hard drive, a year-long PlayStation Plus subscription and a trio of games for $300 Canadian ($305 US). It’s a good deal compared to the existing lineup, but extra-special when white has been limited to a handful of other countries — and when Sony hasn’t mentioned any North American plans for the color. We’ve asked the company for comment, and we’ll let you know the response. When both stores list a January 27th in-stock date, however, any answers will come quickly.

Continue reading White PlayStation 3 bundle surfaces unannounced at Canadian retailers

Filed under: ,

Comments

Via: Joystiq

Source: Best Buy, Future Shop

New Borderlands 2 DLC Sir Hammerlock’s Big Game Hunt launches

If you’re a fan of the video game Borderlands 2 the latest add-on content for the game is now available to purchase. The new add-on content is called Sir Hammerlock’s Big Game Hunt and is the third add-on campaign for the game since it launched. The DLC is available for the Xbox 360, PS3, and PC.

borderlands2-hunt

The new download content takes place in Aegrus, which is in uncharted territory in the swamps of Pandora. The new campaign has appearances from Sir Hammerlock and Claptrap. Players will also meet new characters including Hyperion Scientist Professor Nakayama. The professor tries to derail the players hunt.

Players will explore all-new environments in the The Sun Swamps on a quest to collect new loot and to fight new bosses. Among the new bosses the players will encounter is the cave-dwelling monster called Thermitage. The new mission supports play with up to four friends cooperatively and players will battle new enemies.

New enemies will include spider-like Two-Legged Drifters, flying Slagged Spores, and Vampire Witch Doctors. That last new enemy is able to unleash swarms of bats to attack the player. Sir Hammerlock’s Big Game Hunt is the third add-on content campaign for Borderlands 2 and is available as part of the Borderlands 2 Season Pass for $29.99 or 2400 Microsoft points. The Big Game Hunt content is available alone for 800 Microsoft points or $9.99.


New Borderlands 2 DLC Sir Hammerlock’s Big Game Hunt launches is written by Shane McGlaun & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Nuketown Zombies Arriving On PC And PS3

nuketown zombies Nuketown Zombies Arriving On PC And PS3Courtesy of a 30-day exclusive deal which was established with Microsoft, if you are a gamer on the PS3 or PC platform, you would be able to get a hold of a Season Pass that will also give you access to the undead DLC known as Nuketown Zombies later this week. This bit of information came about from the official Call of Duty Twitter account, and although a picture speaks a thousand words, it also would benefit our readers to hear what the official description of Nuketown Zombies is all about.

“Nuketown Zombies is set during the events of Moon, and after the end of the multiplayer level from the original Black Ops game. A group of radiation scientists are investigating the Nuketown remains and discover soldiers that have been revived by Element 115 from a nearby Nevada base. The zombie soldiers attack the radiation scientists and turn them, and after receiving a distress signal, the base in Nevada sends in CIA and CDC agents to investigate. Upon arrival in Nuketown the agents lose communication with Hangar 18 and become stranded…setting the stage for Nuketown Zombies.”

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Dueling Coming To Diablo 3 In Patch 1.0.7, Possible Final Fantasy V And VI Announcements Teased For 17th January,

Why is the Xbox 360 so popular in the U.S.?

Microsoft’s Xbox 360 is a sales juggernaut in the U.S. In fact, according to the latest data from NPD, the Xbox 360 led all consoles in sales for 24 months in a row. The console even was able to beat out the Nintendo Wii U in December – a surprising feat considering that console just went on sale in November and the Xbox 360 has been available for seven years.

xbox_360-580x3642

The Xbox 360’s staying power in the U.S. is nothing short of astounding. In December, alone, Microsoft sold 1.4 million consoles in the U.S., indicating gamers see no reason to hold off on buying the device until the Xbox 720 launches later this year. Better yet for Microsoft, many of those folks sign up for Xbox Live, providing the software giant with a steady stream of revenue over the course of its lifecycle.

All of that success, however, has me thinking: why is the Xbox 360 – a console that, at launch, some thought would be trounced by the PlayStation 3 – so popular in the U.S.?

Perhaps the first reason is its core market. Microsoft isn’t trying to take on Nintendo’s more casual gamers. Instead, Microsoft has found a loyal following in the hardcore segment, where gamers like to play online, pick up shooters, and play for hours. To those gamers, the Xbox 360 is a device worthy of its success.

According to NPD, Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 was the most popular game in the industry last year. And for the fourth year in a row, the Xbox 360 version was the most popular option among U.S.-based consumers. That’s perhaps as much a testament to the console as it is its robust online-gaming service that delivers the features today’s customers want far more effectively than on competing consoles.

Speaking of competing consoles, is it possible that they’re causing the Xbox 360 to be so popular? Granted, the PlayStation 3 has sold more units worldwide than the Xbox 360, but let’s not forget that that is due mainly to Sony’s international success. In the U.S., the Xbox 360 is still the dominant force.

“Gamers became more wary of the PlayStation Network after the hacking scandal”

Perhaps that’s due to Sony’s sluggish online services. Although they’ve been around for years, Sony’s online services haven’t really caught on until recently. Plus, with the hacking scandal that rocked the platform, gamers became a bit more wary of the PlayStation Network.

The Wii and Wii U might also be pushing gamers to Microsoft. As mentioned, those consoles cater to a casual sector of the market – one that Microsoft doesn’t really care about. At the same time, hardcore gamers who have played the Wii and Wii U and try to stick with it have trouble. Like it or not, the consoles just aren’t capable of keeping their attention as much as the Xbox.

Finally, I think we should point to the Xbox 360’s strong library. For years now, it has offered just about every major franchise, and exclusives like Halo have kept customers coming back. Hardware might get all of the attention in the marketplace, but it’s software that drives customers to buy the consoles. And on that front, Microsoft is winning handily.

Of course, the Xbox 360’s success might be due to several other factors. Why do you think Microsoft’s console is so popular today?


Why is the Xbox 360 so popular in the U.S.? is written by Don Reisinger & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Best Arcade Cabinet Ever Has 55-inch Screen, Plays Over 50,000 Games

I’ve always wanted an arcade cabinet in my house so I could play all of the classic arcade games like they were meant to be played. But I keep putting off the purchase because I have more important things to do with my money, like pay for food and my mortgage. Still, if I ever have the money lying around, I’ll definitely bite the bullet and buy one. And if I hit the lottery, I know exactly which machine I’m buying.

jace hall arcade cabinet 1

This extraordinary arcade cabinet was built by Jack Thompson and the crew at ArcadesRFun with a massive Samsung 55-inch LED/LCD Smart TV, and full controls for up to four players. It’s also got a second 37″ LG marquee display at the top so it can display different images up there during gameplay.

jace hall arcade cabinet 2

It’s got every controller you can dream of, including RGB LED ball top joysticks, RGB LED buttons, an RGB LED trackball (perfect for Marble Madness, Missile Command and Golden Tee), a true 4-way stick for certain games like Q*bert, and dual spinner controls for games like Tempest and Arkanoid, which can be swapped with tiny metal steering wheels for racing games. It’s also pre-loaded with the awesome Hyperspin UI, so it’s easy to flip between games on just about any system you can imagine.

jace hall arcade cabinet 3

Under the hood, this beast is powered by a Dell Alienware Aurora R4 PC w/i7 3.9GHZ six core CPU (overclocked to 4.1GHz), with 16GB RAM, 2 – 2TB hard drives and a 3GB AMD Radeon 7950 Video card. It’s also got a Blu-ray player. Audio is provided by a powerful 232 Watt Corsair Gaming Series PC speaker with a “giant” subwoofer. And in case playing games on MAME, MESS and other software emulators isn’t enough for you, it’s also got a PS3, Nintendo Wii, and Xbox 360 w/Kinect pre-installed. You’ll also be able to play console games using the wireless Xbox 360 gamepads.

jace hall arcade cabinet 4

You can also select from other custom controls, such as a Discs of TRON style flight stick (also great for games like Zaxxon), dual light guns, and a special push-pull spinner (also needed for Discs of TRON and its pesky custom controls.)

The original one of these machines was built as a custom commission project for Monolith Games/HD FILMS founder/IGN host Jace Hall, who wanted a single gaming system which could “play every known game ever made.” While I’m not certain that you could play all of these on it, it’s got over 50,000 games covered between all of the emulators and physical game systems inside. It’s unclear exactly what the differences are between the model you can purchase and Jace’s original – its creators only say that it’s “slightly scaled down.”

Here’s a video of the original system. Jump to about 1:10 to see the machine in action:

So how much does all of this arcade and console gaming goodness cost? Well, bust out your 401Ks, because this bad boy is selling for a whopping $19,995(USD) over on eBay. If you’re serious about buying one, ArcadesRFun has a demo unit available in New Jersey. And if you can’t afford $20k, but you still want a cool arcade cabinet, be sure to check out their website, where you can get into a smaller 32-inch, 2-player system for under $3k, or an incredible virtual pinball machine, complete with force feedback, for about $8k.

God Of War 3: Ascension DualShock 3 Controller Coming Your Way

god of war ascension controller God Of War 3: Ascension DualShock 3 Controller Coming Your WayIf you are all for limited edition gaming peripherals, then you would surely fall in love with what we are about to announce, assuming you are a God of War fan as well. Sony Australia has revealed that there is a limited edition God of War DualShock 3 controller which will be released alongside God Of War 3: Ascension later this March. Yesterday, we tackled news concerning the beta version of the game’s spanking new multiplayer mode, where it will include a mayhem-inducing 4×4 team-based combat.

Well, how differently will the new limited edition controller function from a regular DualShock 3 controller? Your (educated) guess is as good as mine, where the simple answer is this – it will not be any different at all, other than the livery on the outside that clearly sets it apart visually from a boring old DualShock 3 controller and its color. It should not fetch too much on the second hard market though.

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Ubisoft Highlights Tomb Raider Multiplayer In Latest Dev Diary, Xerneas And Yveltal Are Legendary Pokemon In Pokemon X And Y,

Epix heading to PlayStation 3 and PS Vita

Epix heading to PlayStation 3 and PS Vita

iOS, Android, Google TV, XBox — heck, Epix even has an app for the BlackBerry PlayPook. So, what’s surprising is not that the premium movie channel is coming to the PS3 and Vita, but that it took so long for it to happen. Soon Sony’s gaming faithful will be able to download the app from the PlayStation Store and start streaming the network’s sizable catalog of movies and original content. Of course, you’ll have to have actually subscribe to it through your cable provider first, but you knew that already, didn’t you. For more check out the PR after the break.

Continue reading Epix heading to PlayStation 3 and PS Vita

Filed under: , ,

Comments

Baldur’s Gate: Enhanced Edition Considered For PS3 Release

bg enhanced Baldur’s Gate: Enhanced Edition Considered For PS3 ReleaseOne of the more acclaimed RPGs (Role Playing Game) back in the 1990s on the PC platform was the Baldur’s Gate series, and it is safe to assume that no true fan of the genre has forgotten that name, in fact, reading this might actually cause you to fire up the game yet again to give it a go. There are certain quarters who have little or no regard for Baldurs Gate: Dark Alliance titles for the PS2, as it has been considered by purists to be dumbed-down versions of the original PC classic(s), and those assumptions do have their merit.

Well, here we are with word that Baldur’s Gate: Enhanced Edition was also given consideration to be released on the PS3 platform, according to DualShockers who picked off the Twitter feed of creative director Trent Oster, saying, “We talked with Sony about #BGEE for #PS3 In the end, the rework to keep the fun and fix the control / UI for console was just too much.” Perhaps these could be similar roadblocks that Blizzard are facing when it comes to porting Diablo 3 over to the console world.

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Microsoft Rewards Xbox Live Cloud Save Outage Sufferers With Free Month Of Gold, Kid Receives Nintendo 3DS Box Filled With Rocks For Christmas,

Skyrim Dragonborn DLC For PS3 Coming Early 2013

dragonborn ps3 Skyrim Dragonborn DLC For PS3 Coming Early 2013The Skyrim Dragonborn downloadable content (DLC) which has been seen by many to be stillborn, does seem to have a fair shot at arriving on the PS3 platform sometime early next year, and this bit of information came from the folks over at Bethesda themselves. The game developer is said to be hard at work to deliver Dawnguard and Hearthfire to the PS3 platform, too. In fact, a day before the Skyrim Dragonborn DLC arrived for Xbox LIVE, Bethesda mentioned in an update on their official blog by dropping hints that the DLC’s release date for the PS3 is early next year.

Bethesda mentioned, “We’re also happy to announce Dragonborn will be available on PS3 and PC early next year.” Does this mean we could be looking at a January 2013 release date? After all, PS3 owners have waited long enough, don’t you think so, to deserve an earlier release. Ah well, all we need now is to expend our patience for a wee bit more.

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Microsoft Rewards Xbox Live Cloud Save Outage Sufferers With Free Month Of Gold, Kid Receives Nintendo 3DS Box Filled With Rocks For Christmas,

Sony Advises Against Microwaving Your PS3

ps3 microwave Sony Advises Against Microwaving Your PS3I don’t know about you, but this is definitely a no-brainer – you should not put another piece of consumer electronics into a microwave to dry it. Unfortunately, there must have been some folks around the world who has done so, considering how Sony went about recently to make a public announcement that you should not put your PS3 console in the microwave. I am at a complete loss for words to hear that from Sony, how about you?

Sony did so based on the evidence of some PS3s which were sent back to Sony for repair, saying, “Of the defective products received by Sony, we have detected on some rare occasions evident changes in the shape of the unit and even burn marks that can only be assumed to have been brought about by the use of an electrical appliance such as a hairdryer or microwave. Heating up your game console leads not only to a defective unit but also creates the risk of a fire or even serious injury”.

Speechless, dudes, totally speechless.

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Dead Space 3 With Kinect Will Recognize And Reward Cursing Your Lungs Out, Tomb Raider Will Feature Multiplayer Modes ,