We're guessing that not too many people will take advantage of Madcatz' latest accessory, but with as stingy as television manufactures can be with HD input options, there's certainly some segment of the 360-owning population who will benefit.

Preorder [via gamingnexus]

I may very well be one of the only people with this problem, but HDMI-enabled devices are a total pain in the ass for me. That's because when I bought my television there weren't many out there with multiple HDMI in ports, so mine only has one. And I have a cable box, PS3 and Xbox 360 Elite that all use HDMI. So I bought the only switcher I could find at the time, a 2-1 splitter, and just manually swap cables, which is a pain in the ass.

Walking around CEDIA today I stumbled upon RT Com, a company that specializes in HDMI switchers and splitters. What caught my attention was this nifty set-up: One Playstation 3 playing on six high-def televisions at once. Once there they I spotted an 3-1 remote controlled HDMI switcher for $130, not bad, not bad at all.

There were some funny exceptions, like the 103-inch high-def television being used to play Wii Golf, a sales rep standing by cringing with every wild swing of those involved. The endless supply of PS3s being used to show off high-def video. The HDMI splitter being used to feed video from one PS3 to six high-def televisions. I'll be writing all of that stuff in a bit, including my being pwned by a pro-gamer on Halo 2, but for now check out the gallery and revel in the non-gaminess of it.

On the plus side, wonderkins did provide a photo of the new Premium's DVD-drive, the quieter BenQ variety. More shots of the hardware in the gallery below and at the original NeoGAF thread. Thanks to wonderkins for the original photos.

The Falcon and the Snowman: Greatest Movie Ever or The Greatest? [NeoGAF]

Also, when the current "Zephyr" chips are replaced with new, smaller, cooler "Falcon" technology, that will be right on the box as well:

Shop smart. Don't do drugs. Yadda yadda yadda.

Wonderkins Photobucket shots [via joystiq]

Microsoft has just confirmed that HDMI is now standard with the Premium version of the Xbox 360, now priced at $350. The retooled Premium 360, sporting the fancy HDMI, will sport an HDMI logo on the outside of the box, a Microsoft rep told Kotaku.

"Yes, we are offering an HDMI port for Xbox 360 simply as another choice in Xbox 360 owners' games and entertainment experience. Retailers are gradually introducing HDMI-enabled Xbox 360s into the channel to meet demand."

Big kudos to Opposable Thumbs for being the first to get their teeth into this story and Shack News who got their hands on the first picture proof.

The console clearly displays a manufacturing date of July 4, 2007, indicating that Xbox 360s that post-date that are likely to be of the new, HDMI ready variety. No official word yet on whether the new box is sporting a CPU of the 65nm manufacturing spec, but we'll get our magnifying glasses and rulers out to check as soon as is humanly possible.

One additional note, it appears the box for the new Xbox 360s makes no mention of the change, nor is an HDMI cable included in the Premium package as it is in the Xbox 360 Elite. Buyer beware.

HDMI Port Appears on X360 Premium Model [Shacknews]

Opposable Thumbs is reporting that a new batch of Xbox 360s, with built-in HDMI, 65nm processors, quieter DVD drives and resolved heating issues, will be quietly hitting shelves last this month or next month.

The story, which cites an unnamed source, says that the new 360s will be quietly rolled out, but that there will be something on the box that calls attention to the new HDMI out feature.

The story doesn't say anything about a price increase on these new versions of the 360, so I assume that the recent $50 price drop will still apply, otherwise Microsoft would be pulling a Sony and instead of discounting their console, they'd be having a fire sale to get rid of their buggy stock... no pun intended.

360 Cores and Premiums with HDMI? An Inside Source Spills the Beans [Opposable Thumbs]

However, Eric Lempel, director for PlayStation Network Operations does mention that "We're continually evaluating and improving PS2 software compatibility too" so maybe there's something marginally exciting nestled within. Deep within.

Me? I'm just happy to know what I'm downloading ahead of time. Thanks, PlayStation.Blog! Michael McWhertor

PS3 Firmware Upgrade 1.81 Coming Tomorrow [PlayStation.Blog]

If you're one of the few who decided to double invest in the Xbox 360 due to your love of HDMI, a free (FREE!) transfer cable is just a PDF away. Simply fill out the migration kit order form, then mail it off to Microsoft and wait patiently.

This is a limited time offer, only open to residents of North and South America who own both Xbox 360 (Core or Pro) and an Xbox 360 Elite. If that's you, make with the form filling! Michael McWhertor

Hard-Drive Transfer Kit for the Xbox 360 Elite System [Xbox.com]

Thanks for the warning, Dan. We appreciate it. Michael McWhertor

Xbox 360 Elite [Gamestop]

Despite his vast knowledge of video games, Stephen Totilo is, it appears, a television newb. That's right, he owns a (gasp) SDTV.

Valiant in the face of overwhelming odds, Totilo went looking for kindred spirits on the cusp of Microsoft's big HDMI announcement.

He found an unlikely ally in Epic's Mark Rein:

"The amount of crap that can go on in the scene isn't defined by the monitor, it's defined by the graphics capabilities," he said. "I think Microsoft made a mistake when they tied Xbox 360 so much into HD TV. What they should have done — it's complicated jargon, but they should have talked about high-definition visuals and high-definition TVs as separate things. Yes, the high-definition TV will improve the look of the high-definition visuals, but you still get much higher-definition visuals on Xbox 360 than you do on Xbox or PS2. Much higher."

After that Rein started to spiral down into technical jargon and talk of down-sampling, losing both Totilo and my interest.

There's much more involving windows, Gears of War and ancient televisions over on Totilo's site. Me? I'm a big-screen high-def kinda guy. Mostly because I happened to be finishing our basement and needed a big TV to fill the entertainment center.

I do sort of agree. While a standard picture looks like crap on my big-ass TV, I suspect that's because it's so big. High-def looks like normal def to me when seen on a big screen. What do you think? Brian Crecente

Mark Rein says I'm right and Microsoft "made a mistake" [Player Two]

I had an interesting conversation with Albert Penello yesterday about the Xbox 360 Elite and Microsoft's changing stance on HDMI. Here's Microsoft's Channel 10 talking him through the announcement and showing off the new console. Brian Crecente

By: Brian Crecente

It's no great surprise that Microsoft has a new Xbox 360 model in the works, but today they made if official and also announced five new Video Marketplace partners.

The Xbox 360 Elite will come with a 120GB hard drive, an HDMI port, a HDMI cable, both component and composite cables, an audio adapter for use with HDMI and a black finish for the console, wireless controller and Xbox Live headset. It will not have, despite rumors to the contrary, the smaller 65 nanometer chips, built in IPTV support or a built-in HD-DVD drive.

While Microsoft declined to comment on specific launch numbers for the new model, they did say it would not be a limited edition run. The Elite is here to stay, as are the core and standard Xbox 360.

The Elite model will hit in North America on April 29 for $479.99 along with a new stand-alone 120 GB hard drive that will sell for a whopping $179.99. The hard drive will come with a transfer cable and software to move the content stored on a 20 GB hard drive to your new drive.

Microsoft will also begin selling black battery packs and play and charge kits for the same price as their white counter-parts.

While the Elite edition will also be selling around the world, Microsoft did not discuss the date or price for other regions.

"Today's games and entertainment enthusiast has an insatiable appetite for digital high-definition content," Peter Moore, corporate vice president for the Interactive Entertainment Business at Microsoft, said in a prepared statement. "Xbox 360 Elite's larger hard drive and premium accessories will allow our community to enjoy all that the next generation of entertainment has to offer."

Peter Dille, senior vice president of Marketing for Sony Computer Entertainment of America, was quick to point out that all of Sony's consoles offer an "elite" experience.

"The PlayStation 3 is the only elite gaming system on the market. Microsoft is trying to catch up to us at this point. Beyond the benefits of HDMI and a hard drive offered on every PS3 we make, we also provide game developers and consumers the huge capacity of Blu-ray disc, Wi-Fi, free online gameplay, wireless motion sensing controller and the power of Cell," said Peter Dille, senior vice president of marketing, Sony Computer Entertainment America. "Our strategy has always been to offer all our consumers a future-proof experience when they first purchase any PS3, rather than continually asking users to upgrade with expensive new add-ons and entire new SKUs."

Speaking with Albert Penello, director for global platform marketing for the Xbox 360, earlier today I asked him why, after months of saying that an HDMI output was unnecessary for high-def gaming, was Microsoft now releasing a console with the port.

It was, after all, just six months ago that Msoft's Shane Kim was calling 720p the "super sweet spot" for gaming.

"That's a good question," he said. "I think what's interesting is that we have proven the point. One of the reasons we talked about that at the beginning was we were competing with a bunch of empty promises. We said 1080p can be done through analog, the picture quality isn't any better on HDMI, and I think we proved that."

" I don't think (HDMI) is necessary, it's not necessary to give a high-def experience," he said. "The HDMI decision was partially something that we have been thinking about how we were going to introduce. And now that there are a lot of televisions that have HDMI, we felt the time was right."

But, Penello is quick to point out, the Elite really isn't about the HDMI out, the big news for the Elite is the larger hard drive.

"I wouldn't encourage a current owner to come out and buy the Elite," he said. "We are releasing the stand-alone 120 GB drive... that's really going to be the primary solution for those who want more storage."

Penello said that Microsoft is working on a way to allow those current Xbox 360 owners who do decide to buy an Elite to transfer their data from their old Xbox 360 to their new one. He added that Microsoft has no intention of discontinuing either of the current models, there will be, he stressed, three Xbox 360 SKUs in the marketplace.

"We still think the 20 gig model will be our volume driver, the one most customers will buy," he said.

The decision to create an Elite model for the 360 was spurred in part by the "explosive growth of marketplace," Penello said.

While Penello acknowledged that the hard drive limitations of the Xbox 360 is a hot topic on gaming forums, he said that Microsoft doesn't believe that's an issue faced by most typical gamers.

"From my standpoint a lot of people still have room on their 20GB hard drives and we are still going to optimize all of the content on marketplace around 20GB," he said.

Microsoft also announced deals with distribution deals with five new video Marketplace partners:

Warner Bros. Home Entertainment: They will be releasing its direct to video movies exclusively in high definition on Xbox LIVE simultaneous with their availability on DVD, starting with "Sublime" and later offering "Babylon 5: The Lost Tales."

A&E Network: "Dog the Bounty Hunter," "King of Cars," "Gene Simmons Family Jewels," "Driving Force" and "Criss Angel Mindfreak"

ADV Films: Top offerings from the #1 producer-distributor of Japanese animation ("anime") outside of Japan

National Geographic: The television series "Is It Real?" and "Taboo" as well as programs such as "21 Days to Baghdad" and "Air Force One"

New Line Cinema: "Snakes on a Plane," "Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning" and "Tenacious D in the Pick of Destiny," plus top titles including "Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me" and "Magnolia"

TotalVid: A broad action-sports offering including extreme skiing and snowboarding, skateboarding, motocross, surfing and mountain biking

We posted it as a rumor this morning, based off of a Games Informer article, but the mag's editor has since contacted us to confirm that the story that is running in the latest Game Informer is no joke: A new Xbox 360 is arriving next month.

While Microsoft declined to comment on the story, sources tell us they plan to send out a press release next month, which is pretty much the only time they could, announcing the story.

According to the mag article, the new black Xbox 360 will arrive in late April and feature HDMI output, an HDMI cable and a 120GB harddrive all for $479. Unfortunately, there appears to be no talk of a 360 featuring a built-in HD-DVD drive. Perhaps that's down the line. There also seems to be room for a 360 with support for the IPTV announced at CES earlier this year.

Four SKUs, sounds like a bit much to me, but I thought two different Xbox 360s were out of line, so what do I know? Brian Crecente

Game Mag Says Black Xbox 360 is Coming [Kotaku]

Always get an iffy feeling posting black Xbox 360 stories — Especially ones that pop up in April. Yes, we know that the debug unit is black. And yet, the rumor continues to surface. This month's Game Informer says that a black Xbox 360 with larger 120GB hard drive, HDMI output and an HDMI cable will retail for approximately US $479. It does not include HD-DVD playback. A well-placed source at Microsoft tells GI that the reason is because the "format's not proven." Then again, neither is this rumor. And if this is in fact an April Fool's Joke, we've got two words: Not funny. Brian Ashcraft

Thanks Jc!

Ed's Note: Matt Helgeson, senior editor over at Game Informer, just dropped us a line to let us know that the story is in fact true. As a rule they don't post fake news stories in their April mag. So go celebrate.

Holy snot! Just take a look at Japanese gadget critic Yoshio Ohara's set-up. So sweet that a 20GB PS3 was hauled over to his house to see how it would look connected with a US $1,200 HDMI cable and projected on a 200-inch theater screen. Once hooked up, things like reading the print on the initial screens were difficult — Most likely, due to the fact the game wasn't designed for 200 inches. That aside, playing Ridger Racer 7 was compared to riding a theme park ride. Can you imagine? Brian Ashcraft

PS3 Blown Up [Arena]

GS: What can you tell us about the HDMI-enabled Xbox 360 rumors that have been going around?

CS: We're always working on prototypes and new technologies and just playing with stuff in Redmond to see what's interesting. I think at the moment we have the widest available connections on the system. If you want to get great HD, I think we've got a good solution for that. In the future it's interesting to see where standards evolve to. I think one of the problems that the whole industry, us and entertainment, are facing at the moment is we're in this world where standards are evolving very quickly.

We have different high-definition standards for discs that we know are competing at the moment. We think HD-DVD is going to be the right way to go, but really it's all about choice in that system so that's why we're offering these sort of services with downloads—skip that whole "format wars" problem. With other standards, audiovideo standards, they're evolving very quickly as well. We're obviously keeping an eye on that and saying, "What are the future standards and how do we give consumers the right choice for that?"

At the moment, everything you might have seen is just looking at our experimentation back in Redmond, not really a product that we're thinking about announcing.

The interview is a must read, Satchell also talks about whether IPTV is coming to all Xbox 360s or just a specialized model, sales, the PS3 and the Wii. Brian Crecente

CES 07 Q&A: Microsoft's Chris Satchell [Gamespot]

Well this seems to pretty much 100 percent confirm the rumor of the HDMI-touting Xbox 360. I wonder if it comes with can of petroleum jelly for all of us 360 beta testers. Brian Crecente

Exclusive: 360 HDMI Proof - HR Pictures and Video - HANA Scaler [Xbox Scene]

The second Xbox 360 revealed: codename Zephyr [Engadget - Thanks Chilly!]

Since I'm finally in the PlayStation 3 Owners Club, I'm going to play... a bunch of old PS2 games. Maybe some Klonoa 2, maybe a bit of God of War, who knows? It's going to be a freeform jazz odyssey PS3 jam session with my roommate.

Just to keep the ire going on this site, I might play some more of the MotorStorm demo, which just happens to look gorgeous in 720p on my Sharp Aquos.

Mostly though, I'll be hunting down a Dreamcast VGA cable, some HDMI cables, and one fiber optic cable, for optimal audio and video performance. Yeah, I'm becoming that guy.

What about you kids? With Xmas only a few weeks away, you'd better not be buying yourself too many presents. What's on the gaming menu this weekend? Michael McWhertor

Are you looking to make the HD jump this holiday? If you're expecting an Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3 under the tree in a few weeks, you'd better make sure you have something awe-inspiring on which to play it. This is the kind of present you buy yourself.

Mercury News' Dean Takahashi has a good little primer up on his blog that might help you out if you don't know your HDMI from your DLP from your 1080i. The best part about this particular TV guide, is that it's targeted at the most important aspect of your television: how well it displays your games.

Dean covers many of the pitfalls you'll want to avoid when making your investment and writes frankly about what hot technology you might or might not benefit from.

I'm going to go give my Sharp Aquos LCD HDTV a goodnight kiss now. Michael McWhertor

Buying An HDTV: What Do Gamers Need To Know?

1UP followed up with Microsoft who claimed that the box contained a "misprint", denying that HDMI output would be included in the package. Yeah. Misprint. That may very well be true for this particular bundle, but something smells fishy.

So, what is it? Are we looking at a future hardware revision? Will Microsoft be selling an HDMI output cable this holiday? We were tipped about one popping up on Gamestop the other day for a cool $80, shipping December 1, but it has since disappeared.

We'll let you know what else we hear, but since all Microsoft rumors are true, expect an HDMI output announcement soon. Michael McWhertor

Reload this Page Xbox 360 w/ HDMI spotted [Beyond3D Forums]
Lost Planet Bundle To Storm Japan [Kotaku]

Update: Microsoft declined to comment on this speculation when contacted about the HDMI rumor. Surprise!

And so the PS3 HDMI-related problems start. At least for one dude. CheapyD at CheapAssGamer reports that he's been having issues using the PLAYSTATION 3's and an HDMI-capable TV. Here's the part that concerns me: Cheapy and I have the same plasma, Panasonic's Viera. Yet, I haven't hooked up HDMI cables. According to him:

Although everything seemed ok when I was navigating the PS3 menus, once I launched a game, my TV (Panasonic Plasma TH42PX500) would lose the video signal and would not respond for a few moments. Upon regaining control of the TV, if I cycled through my TV's video inputs and came back to HDMI, I would regain the picture. The same problem occured with DVD movies.

However, when he switched to component cables, he didn't experience any of this weird blacking out. He found a work-around at the AVS Forum, which included this solution:

• Turn on TV and set input to HDMI port being used.
• Make sure PS3 is connected via HDMI.
• Power on PS3 via power button and HOLD IT for 5 seconds (release after the second beep). It should automatically configure your PS3 to the TV's native resolution for all settings.

That worked. But, then things got strange and Cheapy now had an audio prob.

When the auto-setup for HDMI is used, the PS3 is configured to use HDMI for both video and audio. Like most, Cheapy says he needs to use optical audio out of his PS3 to connect to his surround sound system. This is, changing the console's audio settings to optical out killed the auto-setup and made it impossible for him to run HDMI video and make use of the optical audio output! Writes Cheapy:

Since I am relying on the auto-setup for HDMI, this is a pretty big issue, as I can't run Dolby Digital audio.

It seems like this would be a pretty easy fix via a firmware upgrade. I guess the question is, how many PS3 owners will be affected and how soon will a fix be available?

This might be a PS3 issue. A TV issue. Or just an issue. Discuss. Brian Ashcraft

Cheapy's Prob [CAG]

The cables, Monster says, both enhance the audio and video throughput and look snazzy. They better for $30 to $100 a pop.

"The PlayStation 3 is a state-of-the-art entertainment platform," said Noel Lee, The Head Monster at Monster Cable. "But experiencing its exceptional audio and video capabilities means it's crucial to properly connect it with high-performance cables - something that's not found inside the box. The PS3's HD games and 1080p-capable Blu-ray Disc movies can be amazing, but not when you hook it up with inferior or general-use cables. That's why we crafted GameLink specifically for the PS3 — so it could be enjoyed the way it was truly meant to be experienced."

Are you planning on buying any after-market cables for your Playstation 3? I didn't for my Xbox 360, but I suspect I will have to buy an HDMI splitter this time around. Brian Crecente

Monster Hook-Ups for PS3 [Game Daily]

Ken Kutaragi did not say whether that price cut will be coming to the U.S. as well.

HONG KONG (MarketWatch) — Sony plans to reduce the price of its soon-to-be-released PlayStation 3 game console, the head of its game division reportedly said Friday. Ken Kutaragi, president of Sony Computer Entertainment, said at the Tokyo Game Show that the console's less expensive version would now sell for 49,980 yen ($429), according to media reports. Kutaragi attributed the price cut to customer complaints that the console was too expensive. The PS3 is scheduled to be released on Nov. 11

I've been told a press release is coming out tonight, hopefully it will have more official word. Sony has confirmed to me that HDMI out will now be present in both versions of the PS3 worldwide.

I've added the press release that Sony just sent out. It doesn't add anything new. I've also emailed to ask if there is any comment on the U.S. price, but I don't expect to hear anything until tomorrow at the earliest. Brian Crecente

Tokyo, September 22, 2006 - Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCEI) today announced that PLAYSTATION 3 (PS3) with 20GB hard disk drive (HDD) will come equipped with HDMI(*) (Ver 1.3/supporting Deep Color) output as standard with the system. PS3 with 20GB HDD will become available in Japan at a new recommended retail price of 49,980 yen (tax included).
Since SCEI first announced product specifications of PS3 at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) in May 2005, demand for enjoying full HD quality image and realistic digital sound through HDMI has grown tremendously. Given the sharp increase in availability of flat displays supporting HDMI in the market, SCEI has decided to equip HDMI as standard on all PS3 systems.
SCEI, with strong support from software developers and publishers, will offer a broad lineup of exciting and innovative titles and vigorously promote the PS3 platform.

I'll make sure to post a full story when we get to the bottom of this and also figure out if the price drop is spreading to other countries.

If you missed the news check out the full press release on the jump, but in a nutshell Microsoft announced the Japan price and date for the HD-DVD add-on for the Xbox 360. More importantly, they announced that the fall software update for the console will allow the console to output game and movie content in 1080p resolution. That's right I said movies and games.

The interview was exactly 10 minutes long, so naturally I spent nine minutes trying to figure out just how a console with no HDMI out would gain 1080p output with a software update.

Kim was clear that the console could support true 1080p out.

"If it is running at 720p we will up-res it to 1080p, if it it's already 1080p then we can display it in 1080p," he said. " This is a great example of our console's ability and the great advantage of being a software company."

Kim said that while the console will soon support 1080p out, it will not have an HDMI out.

"We have the ability to output either through VGA or component. We have no HDMI announcement now," he said. "We do have the capability to deliver the software and, if needed, the hardware."

I pointed out that some movie studios have said they will use HDMI output as a form of copy protection and Kim acknowledged that if a studio uses that scheme then HDMI will indeed be required.

While Kim expects that some third-party game developers will create 1080p games, he said that 720p will likely remain the norm.

"We believe 720p is the sweet-spot for high definition," he said, adding that Microsoft Game Studio titles will, for now, continue to be created at 720p.

While the release of a low-cost HD-DVD player for the 360 could help make the console more competitive against Sony's upcoming PS3, Kim things the main development that could help jumpstart 360 sales in Japan are game titles.

Kim said that Microsoft plans to have 110 titles available for the 360 by the end of the year in Japan and 160 in North America.

"It's all going to be about the content and how customers value the content," he said.

Hit the jump for the official press release with details on new Live games, the Pac-Man World Championships, Xbox 360's HD-DVD player, some new titles and XNA support in Japan. Brian Crecente

Microsoft Showcases Library of Nearly 110 High-Definition Xbox 360 Games at the Tokyo Game Show
"Blue Dragon" Leads Holiday Lineup of Games; "Pac-Man" World Championship, Xbox 360 HD DVD Player in Japan and 1080p Support for Xbox 360 unveiled.

TOKYO — Sept. 20, 2006 — Today at the Tokyo Game Show 2006, Microsoft Corp. delivered information on new and improved entertainment experiences for Japanese gamers, including details of the Xbox 360 library of nearly 110 high-definition games available this holiday season in Japan, which will include the highly anticipated "Blue Dragon" from Microsoft Game Studios. Microsoft also paid tribute to NAMCO BANDAI Games and "Pac-Man," announcing that the first "Pac-Man" World Championship will be held in early 2007 using Xbox 360 and Xbox Live Arcade. Microsoft also revealed details of other entertainment offerings enabled through Xbox 360, with availability date and pricing provided for the Xbox 360 HD DVD player in Japan, as well as news of an update that will allow the Xbox 360 console to output full 1080p games and video.

At the best-attended gaming convention in the world, Microsoft showcased games that will boost the Xbox 360 software library in Japan to nearly 110 titles by holiday season 2006 as well as more titles coming well into 2007. The Xbox 360 games showcased include "Blue Dragon" (Microsoft Game Studios), "Lost Planet: Extreme Condition" (Capcom), "Dead or Alive: Xtreme 2" (Tecmo Inc.) and the newly announced "Trusty Bell" (NAMCO BANDAI Games), and a host of anticipated Xbox Live Arcade titles. For 2007, Microsoft also announced a pipeline of great games that include the epic role-playing game (RPG) "Infinite Undiscovery" (Microsoft Game Studios).

"The key to winning the hearts and minds of the Japanese market is great games, and this great lineup demonstrates that Xbox 360 has those games in spades," said Peter Moore, corporate vice president of the Interactive Entertainment Business in the Entertainment and Devices Division at Microsoft. "Our lineup of role-playing games from the acknowledged masters of the genre is proof positive that there has never been a better time for Japanese gamers to jump in and pick up an Xbox 360 system."

Many game titles, including the much-anticipated epic RPG "Blue Dragon," will be playable for the first time in the Microsoft booth at the Tokyo Game Show. Other playable titles include "Lost Odyssey " (Microsoft Game Studios) and "Viva Pi ata " (Microsoft Game Studios).

Xbox Live Arcade and the "Pac-Man" World Championship
The creator of "Pac-Man," Toru Iwatani, announced onstage with Moore that Microsoft and NAMCO BANDAI will host the first "Pac-Man" World Championship in early 2007. The top 10 players in the world for "Pac-Man" on Xbox Live Arcade will compete for the title in New York City. More details, including how to qualify for the championship, will be made available in the coming months.

Continuing its tremendous momentum, Xbox Live Arcade has also announced in Tokyo a host of exciting new games, including some that will be exclusive to the Japanese market. Gamers will have the opportunity to try a host of new games on the show floor, including the classic side-scroller "Contra" (Konami Corp.), the space-shooter "Gyruss" (Konami), the enemy-popping classic "Dig Dug" (NAMCO BANDAI Games), arcade favorite "Track & Field" (Konami), "New Rally-X" (NAMCO BANDAI Games) "Rush'n Attack" (Konami), a favorite 1980s side-scroller, and the inimitable "Ms. Pac-Man" (NAMCO BANDAI). In addition, the Japan-exclusive Xbox Live Arcade game "Yie Ar Kung Fu" (Konami), one of the very first fighting games, was announced for release in 2007.

Xbox 360 HD DVD Player and 1080p Support
Microsoft announced pricing and availability details for the Xbox 360 HD DVD Player in Japan. The accessory will launch on Nov. 17, 2006, priced at 19,800 (estimated retail price), and will come with an Xbox 360 Universal Media Remote.

"Xbox 360 and the HD DVD Player together deliver the most powerful and affordable games and movie system for Japanese consumers," Moore said. "The freedom to choose their entertainment experiences is extremely important for consumers as they enter the next generation."

In addition, Microsoft announced that its fall software update, scheduled for release later this year, will allow all Xbox 360 consoles around the world to output game and movie content in 1080p resolution.

XNA
Demonstrating its pledge to democratize game development for tomorrow's game developers, Microsoft announced that four Japanese universities will use its XNA Game Studio Express software in educational material and research within their course offerings. The XNA software allows hobbyists, students and independent game developers to create games for Windows and, for the first time, Xbox 360 with the goal that user-generated games made with XNA will arrive on Xbox Live Marketplace. Tokyo University, Tokyo Polytechnic University, Ritsumeikan University and Osaka Electro-Communication University join the dozens of universities worldwide that have pledged support for Microsoft's XNA vision and are recognizing the potential of XNA Game Studio Express as an educational tool. As a result, these four schools will integrate XNA software into their game development curricula, labs and games-related research.

"As I turn my attention and passion toward teaching the next generation of game developers, I am thrilled with XNA Game Studio Express and related products," said Toru Iwatani, a lecturer at Tokyo Polytechnic University and original creator of "Pac-Man." "I believe that these products are attractive and effective because they create a development environment that matches the skill level and area of expertise, widening the entry of future developers into game development."

XNA Game Studio Express beta was made available to users worldwide on Aug. 30, 2006. The final version of XNA Game Studio Express will be made available this holiday season.

HDMI cables, like the PS3 aren't cheap. They can run from around $20 to $300, depending on what you're going for (but you certainly needn't pay that much!). I wouldn't be surprised to see Sony selling their own PlayStation 3 branded cable, just to squeeze a little more revenue out of the thing.

Maybe that $500 option is looking more like the one I'll be going for. Michael McWhertor

Update: Thanks for pointing out that you can get cables for less than $90, angry internet mob. The price info has been corrected.

Confirmed: PS3 shipping without HDMI cable

An mysterious source sent game site Xbox-Scene blurry photo of a Xbox 360 motherboard with a HDMI-port. Perhaps this insider was nervous, snapping a sneaky photo. Or perhaps, full of snot. Who knows? This is the third motherboard like this the insider has seen apparently, but it's not yet known whether it will be released publicly or included just in the Premium. There are rumblings that it will be included in a brand new bundle altogether. Like I said, who knows? But if this is true, bummer for early adaptors. Brian Ashcraft

More Here [Xbox-Scene]

The kids at Xbox-Scene tipped us off today that they've received—from an anonymous source, natch—the above conspicuously blurry, but well compositioned photo. Their tipster claims we're looking at an Xbox 360 motherboard with a brand spanking new, not yet announced HDMI out port. Speculation leads one to believe that this may be an early look at a new version of the console; the oft-rumored but recently quashed HD-DVD internal drive, super-duper premium version Xbox 360.

So, is this thing real? Many of the Xbox-Scene forum posters believe the thing is fake—at least the ones who aren't reflexively going apeshit over the possibility that their $400-plus investment could be rendered second-tier, or at worst, obsolete. On the one hand, this is the typical blurred-out "I TOTALLY got this under duress in a secret lab!" snap that proves nothing. On the other, this is Microsoft, and they couldn't possibly be worse at keeping a secret. Initial guess? Bogus. But I'm no expert.

We'll let you know when we learn more and/or get the official denial from the MS spokesfolks. Michael McWhertor

New Xbox 360 Coming with HDMI port?

Here's what I found out:

You will be able to upgrade the hard drive of the cheaper PS3 after you buy it. You can also buy a WiFi adaptor and memory card reader after the fact. Despite the negative buzz, the cheaper version will support the wireless Bluetooth controller.

According to Sony, and I asked them to double check this for me, both the 60 GB HDMI version and 20 GB non-HDMI version of the PS3 will support 1080p output.

The Sony spokeswoman couldn't explain the technical ins and outs of how it would be done, but one reader sent in an explanation.

Both Blu-Ray and HD-DVD (what Microsoft's HDMI-less add-on uses) support the Image Constraint Token - used to scale down the resolution of video over analog outputs. ... In reality, with Blu-Ray (and I assume HD-DVD, though I haven't gone out of my way to confirm it), whether any particular piece of media implements the ICT is left up to the publisher of the media. Sony and many other studios have already said their movies will not be implementing the technology. ... This means, (most) Blu-Ray movies will run at full resolution over analog outputs such as those on the $500 PS3. Now, do I trust Sony and the rest of the MPAA to not implement ICT in all their Blu-Ray and HD-DVD movies after a year or so, once everyone has their backs turned? Hell no. But officially, for now, either PS3 will work just fine for playing your movies.

So, there you have it. —Brian Crecente

Apparently, Humphrey Cheung over at TGDaily.com noticed during the conference that the PS3 couldn't do 1080p. When emailed about the problem, Sony rather weakly explained that HDMI-equipped televisions were rather difficult to get ahold of. Yeah, okay, then why did all the televisions at the Sony booth have HDMI inputs?

When this indiscrepancy was pointed out to Sony, they claimed they didn't have any HDMI cables. Yet supposedly several individuals and companies offered Sony spare HDMI conferences at GDC. We've said it before, but you guys should probably expect another PS3 delay. This is starting to smell like an epic Sony fubar.

PS3 Can't Do HDMI? [Game Cloud]