Sony’s victory in its battle with Toshiba and its (now obsolete) HD DVD format rival. can be attributed in part to the runaway popularity of the Blu-ray-equipped PlayStation 3 videogame console.
The system is going to become even more popular now that the console’s next system update will see Sony’s entertainment powerhouse equipped with a wealth of new features, including Blu-ray Disc Profile 2.0 — or BD-Live as it is also known.
Good news on the retail front. Best Buy is offering customers $100 off Sony Corp.’s Playstation 3 when purchased with an HDTV $999 and up. The promotion intends to further high-definition sales.
Each PS3 sold includes a Blu-ray disc drive to playback high-definition titles.
Touch of the Dead
Zombies gone terribly wrong. A game only the DS can provide. Great…
Fallout 3
Can you believe that this game is real? 2007 was an amazing year for hardcore gamers that have been craving sequels to old games. Starcraft 2 and Fallout 3. Later we’ll reveal Duke Nukem Forever for the third time!
Mortal Kombat Armageddon Giveaway
We hold our first giveaway contest with Mortal Kombat Armageddon as the prize! To bad no one entered…
One of technology’s more heated battles is between the HD-DVD and Blu-ray storage formats, a rivalry comparable to Windows/Linux/Mac, UT/Quake 3 and Sony/Microsoft. The latest strike has been made, and Toshiba reports that HD-DVD is in the lead!
HD-DVD players began to outsell Blu-ray ones since about mid-September, according to NPD sales figures. Jodi Sally, Toshiba VP for marketing of digital A/V products said that year to date, according to NPD figures, HD DVD players command 53% of sales; Blu-ray players, 44%; dual format players, 3%. The lead may sound marginal, but it may just herald a dark future for Blu-ray.
Sony managed to woo many customers to their camp of evil when they released a cheaper version of Blu-ray players, and attained a status of absolute win. Sally says that the victory was short-lived and that HD-DVD still dominates the scene. Sony can be seen crying in that corner again, like last week (or the week before).
And as for the PC, Toshiba expects 5 million HD-DVD drives to be sold in the fiscal year 2008. With this, they seek to compete further against the atrocities of Sony’s Blu-ray. What is Toshiba’s master plan?
Toshiba believes more people are buying PC HD DVD drives with the pure intention to watch high-def movies than people who are buying the PS3. Sources have estimated that just 20% of PS3 owners have played movies on the machine.
Where will war turn next? Will Blu-ray strike back? Will Toshiba merge with Sony to form the Imperial Japanese Electronics corporations and attack American shores? We can only hope wait.
Several years ago Joss Whedon, the creator, executive producer, and a lead writer for both Buffy the Vampire Slayer and it’s subsequent spin off Angel created a futuristic western for Fox called Firefly. The series didn’t do immensely well ratings wise and was canceled after the first eleven episodes. However, like many of Whedon’s TV series, the series developed a dedicated cult following. A movie spin off was made by Paramount called Serenity. Despite positive critic reception the movie didn’t perform as well as hoped in theaters.
After 3 separate DVD incarnations over the years, a copy of the movie resting up in the International Space Station, and many many efforts to increase DVD, we’re finally seeing some positive news. The sales from the recent release of the collector’s edition has reignited the chances of a Serenity sequel. Alan Tudyk, the actor who played Hoban “Wash” Washburne in the Firefly series and Sonny in the I, Robot remake, says that there are talks within Paramount to make a Serenity 2, either as a theatrical release or a straight-to-DVD release.
While it’s not been greenlit yet, Whedon and the rest of the Serenity cast (well perhaps no Tudyk considering his character’s demise in the movie) will likely jump at the chance to make another movie if given the chance. While this might not jump start a chance at a second season for Firefly, considering Whedon’s disposition on working with Fox again, I’m sure all of us Browncoats would love to see another movie, regardless of how big or small the release. Keep flying my friends, keep flying.
Rumors are running a muck over the supposed release of a newer, cheaper, and slimmer PS3 model. Apparently, the new model will contain a 40 gig hard drive and will only cost $400. This is all according to Ars Technica’s mole who seems to be a very reliable source, previously reporting the addition of HDMI ports to the 360 and the the wireless/wired controllers for 360/PS3 versions of Rock Band (respectively). According to the mole, the 80 gig model will be dropped to $500, the new 40 gig model will be priced at $400, and the good ol’ PS2 will be priced at $99. In addition, a Blu-ray version of Spider-Man 3 will come with the purchase of any PS3, or at least with one of the models.
To fuel the flames of this rumor, Sony has filed information about a new PS3 model – CECHG01 – with the FCC and (as you can see in the post below) has announced that there will be a big announcement on October 12th. Could this be the new 40 gig PS3?
A $400 PS3 is exactly what Sony needs to get back on it’s feet. It would put the PS3 within a competitive pricing range of the 360. If they can manage to release some more good games for their console, this could be Sony’s saving grace.
Ah, but take this all with a grain of salt. In fact, take it with an ounce of salt. These are just rumors at this time. Hopefully, for any PS3 fans, they are true. Sony’s big announcement is in only 12 days so that’s all you have to wait to find out.
Well, see you then.
