In a not-so-surprising turn of events, Microsoft hacked down Xbox 360 prices, with the Arcade model going even cheaper than the Wii. One analyst believes that the PlayStation 3 might be on the losing end this holiday season. But is Sony concerned? No, not really. Read more after the link.

 

A report coming in from Chinese local newspaper Economic Daily News has pinned the mainstream motherboard manufacturer ASUSTek with a mediocre 2007 revenue performance due to reduced PlayStation 3 shipping. ASUSTeK is one of the favorite and trusted motherboard brands for tech-savvy PC enthusiasts, while also a major contractor for manufacturing quality PlayStation 3 motherboards in Asia.

ASUSTeK Computer Inc. is expecting an all-time low in revenues this coming May, after the Taiwan-based company reported a change in the motherboard profit season and the decreased shipments of the PlayStation 3 from Asia. However, other competing motherboard companies such as Gigabyte Technology and Elitegroup Computer Systems (ECS) have noted a possible increase in May shipments during the summer season, according to local paper Apple Daily.

Despite feeds coming in from Asia that the PlayStation 3 production is indeed slowing down, it appears that ASUSTeK has prepped themselves for a quick recovery, right after Intel starts shipping their new Centrino platforms for laptop computers, codenamed Santa Rosa, for the month succeeding May.

Analysts agree that the Taiwan computer manufacturing giant will be able to return to standard shipping levels by June, allowing the company to benefit from a steady revenue stream for the rest of 2007. Thanks to DigiTimes for the heads up!

Say hello to Sony's PlayStation TV. Meant to showcase the full functions of the PlayStation 3, the PS TV is Sony's new marketing tool, which will be setup as retail kiosks throughout Japan as the November 11 launch draws nearer. With a 60 gigabyte PS3 unit, a high-definition LCD monitor, and a couple of controllers, this kiosk will surely up the ante of the next-gen consoles competition.

Accessible from the Cross Media Bar on the kiosks are games, video, photos, and music. The PS3 game titles are housed on the hard disk and can be actually played. Also, demo games are accessible. Just click on the thumbnail of your selected game and you're all set to go. The unit would also house promotional videos for the next-gen console's software.

As for the photos, you can check out the sample photos stored in the hard disk individually, or as part of a slide show with music. So you want to hear for yourself just how great the music can be on your PS3? You can also try that out with the PS TV, with full high-definition effects.

So what exactly can you catch stored in its hard disk? All set to go are playable demos of Devil May Cry 4, Power Smash 3, Gran Turismo HD, and Ridge Racer 7. For the video section, there will be 30 clips available. But don't worry, these won't be all there is to it. Content will be periodically updated and added via network updates, so definitely, there's more in store for you.

The PlayStation TV will be settling in about 1000 shops throughout Japan by the end of October. So keep a look out for that and get that chance to finally judge the PS3 for yourself.

One of the more exciting sights during the TGS was SCEA's title featuring faithful replications of Africa's flora and fauna. With a working title Afrika, we say 'more' because it didn't fail to cause stir among spectators despite lack of details. However, the unexpected brief chat with SCE Worldwide Studios Head Phil Harrison temporarily quenches this information drought.

When asked what Afrika is really all about, Harrison immediately answers, "Africa allows you to experience a very interesting part of the world, a safari in the plains of Africa. The gameplay is entirely non-violent. You don't kill the animals. It emphasizes the positives rather than the negatives."

Also, if you happen to have watched Afrika's trailer, you might be wondering what's up with the guy riding a jeep at the end?  Harrison divulges that it would be one of the people gamers will control. "It's about collecting experiences and keeping them for posterity," he added.

On a related news, Harrison admits retailers in the U.S. vastly prefer the 60 gigabyte, $599 PlayStation3 model. That, according to him, is one of the main reasons why the US price did not get the same price cut as with the Japanese'. He talked as well about "magic price points," saying the original price received positive feedback everywhere else except in Japan.

Since Sony execs seem bizarrely incapable of doing so themselves, Midway President and CEO, David Zucker has stepped up to the plate in defense of Sony's PS3. When asked how he felt about the high price of the PS3, he responded by pointing out that when you consider what you're getting, a next generation Blu-Ray player in addition to a 20 or 60 gigabyte hard drive, it seems like a reasonable price (I tend to agree). He does however point out that he expects price cuts over the systems lifespan to make it that much more appealing. His exact words were:

"There's a lot in the PlayStation 3; think about the fact that you get Blu-ray, the next-generational leap in DVD - you get a Blu-ray player in the machine. When you think about that and some of the feature sets that come with it, including the hard drive, it seems like a reasonable price for the early launch. Presumably that price will come down over time as they move through the console cycle."

While many have their reservations about whether or not Blu-Ray technology is needed in the next generation, and whether it has a place, Zucker seems to have made up his mind on the format.

"I think it's an important part of the puzzle. The other side is, if PlayStation 3 is huge, the gamers are helping to drive that, that's going to have a big impact in helping Blu-ray DVD technology. It's going to work both ways."

Zucker also promises fewer, bigger, better titles, in line with Midways recent effort to rethink and retool the way it makes games, aiming for higher quality titles as opposed to quantity. It can't be argued they've got the right idea. Midway is currently prepping John Woo's Stranglehold for the PS3 launch.