Kotaku: confusion

Gizmondo Rising Again In 2008? No, Says Gizmodo

Michael McWhertor — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 17:20:00 MST

Like you, sister site Gizmodo was recently informed of a web site for Gizmondo Live, one that promised a rebirth of the dead as a doornail handheld from Tiger Telematics. The reason for so many folks becoming familiar with the site that promises a new Gizmondo with an "open source environment" and "exciting psychic worlds" that will "democratize gaming" may be due to the prison release of a former executive. Regardless, hints that Gizmondo will rise from the ashes are greatly exaggerated, says sister site Gizmodo.

They rumor smash the whole scenario, from bullshit quotes from former execs to poor Swedish sources to theories that the site is the work of a prankster. There's not much in the way of hard evidence, but we genuinely hope that no one sinks their money into such a poorly considered venture.

Gizmondo Is Dead, Dead, Dead. DEAD and Not Coming Back [Gizmodo]

Quantic Dream Talks More About Heavy Rain?

Mark Wilson — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 12:00:15 MST

Quantic Dream, best known for interactive movie game Fahrenheit (Indigo Prophecy in the US) has just started four months of intensive motion capture with their very own top-caliber Vicon system for their upcoming Sony-exclusive PS3 title. Do we mean Heavy Rain (picture above), the title they announced way back at E3 06 along with an incredible tech demo (linked below)? We're honestly not sure, as GamesIndustry has called the project top secret, tracing the game's very existence back to an announcement from earlier this year. Either way, here's what Quantic Dream's CEO Guillaume de Fondaumière had to say about the mysterious (probably Heavy Rain) title and their sweet new mo-cap system:

Our objective is to make this media a mainstream entertainment form with high creative expectations...To us, the only way to reach the level of quality we were targeting for the animation of our characters was to use Vicon motion capture...Demand has been immediate and we have actually already started to rent the system to high-profile video game and advertising clients. Our new studio is fully installed and is functioning almost every day either for complex full body or facial captures.

Whatever it is that Quantic Dream is cooking up, we're already committed for seconds.

Quantic Dream buys mo-cap tech for PS3 exclusive [gamesindustry]

Sony's New PS3s Are 65nm After All, Partially

Mark Wilson — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 12:00:00 MST

Deep Breath...We heard that Sony was using tiny 65nm chips in their new 40GB PS3s instead of the oringal 90nm chips but then Sony was all like no we aren't doing that and we were all like oh our bad because we heard that you were but then we heard (again) that Sony is really using the chips after all but only the Cell processor is shrunk not any of the other stuff but that makes sense to us because the new model uses way less power and we were confused how that happened without shrinking any chips but since the chips have been shrunk and we know it's true because it came from Kaz himself everything is right in the world again.

New PS3 Uses 65nm Process [IGN]

PS3 Price Drop Imminent?

Brian Crecente — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 11:00:50 MDT

OK seriously, why does every Playstation 3 pricing announcement have to turn into an enormous clusterfuck of confusion?

Let me lay it out for you, generically speaking:
1. First come the rumors about something.
2. Then come the general denials from Sony.
3. Then come more rumors in bigger publications.
4. Then come the categorical denials from Sony.
5. Then comes the statement the contradicts the categorical denial.
6. Then comes the announcement.

Apparently we are currently at step number five with this latest PS3 price drop rumor. At least if Thomson Financial Services (a competitor of Bloomberg and Reuters) and CNN Money is to be believed we are. In the latest story about the price rumor, Thomson reports the rumor as written about by a French newspaper and then follows up with this dandy of a Sony statement:

A Sony spokesman would not confirm the figures cited by Les Echos but said an announcement was 'imminent'.

OK, so correct me if I'm wrong but doesn't that slightly contradict Sony saying they have "nothing of the sort planned"?

Sony to Cut Playstation 3 Price in Run-Up to Christmas [CNN Money]

Finally A PC Mii Manager

Mike Fahey — Thu, 12 Apr 2007 14:20:40 MDT

Datel confuses me something fierce...I almost think their main goal as a company is to get me to scratch my head. Take for instance one of their latest Wii peripherals, My Mii Manager. This is software that allows you to take your Miis from your Wiis and edit them on your PCs.

While it has excellent advertising jingle potential, I completely fail to see any point to this device whatsoever. Seriously. You have a Wii, right? Otherwise you wouldn't have a Mii. Why would you need the go-between? The press release for the item says you can share your Mii over there internet...but why? If you really wanted to, there are free programs out there that will let you recreate your Mii in minutes online already, plus if you really wanted to share your Mii, Nintendo has provided for that.

My Mii Manager does come with a USB bluetooth receiver, allowing you to use your Wiimote and other bt devices on your PC, so that isn't a bad deal for $19.99. You can check out this and other slightly more useful products over at Datel's online store. I'm going to go be confused for a bit. Michael Fahey

Manage Your Wii Mii...

...It's easy with My Mii Manager!

April 10th, 2006 - Wii owners can now personalise their Wii Mii the easy way.

Datel's powerful Mii Manager software lets you edit your Mii on your PC. It's a doddle to use. Just import your Mii into the editor, then edit it until your heart's content. You can even share your Mii with Wii gamers from all over the world over the internet!

My Mii Manager has everything you need. There's the powerful Mii Manager software application for your PC, and a USB Bluetooth receiver to let you use your Wii-mote with your computer.

My Mii Manager is in the shops now, and costs 14.99 UK or $19.99 USA. It can also be bought direct at www.codejunkies.com or by calling 08456 010 015.

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"Wii NOT Region Free." Bummer.

Brian Ashcraft — Fri, 15 Sep 2006 20:40:49 MDT

It's turning into a Nintendo he said, she said. Nintendo's Perrin Kaplan told Wired that the Wii would be region-free like the DS, but now Nintendo UK honcho David Yarnton is telling GamesIndustry.biz that Wii games and online content will be region-encoded. His exact quote:

We are region-locked.

He then stated Nintendo America made a mistake in claiming otherwise. Can Nintendo make up their mind and tell us the answer we want to hear? 'K, thanks. Brian Ashcraft

More Here [GamesIndustry]