Instead, the handicapping of the PS3 was part of an effort to "encourage buyers of the entry-level PlayStation 3 to purchase more games designed specifically for the new system." If only there were some other ways of doing that outside of ripping out the PS3's ability to play PS2 games better than an actual PS2 in so many cases.

God, I just can't think of any. Obviously having better PS3 software won't work. Nor would working more closely with third parties to help them ship their PS3 ports of Xbox 360 titles day and date, feature for feature. I'll admit... I'm stumped!

Sony Slashes Price of PlayStation 3 [Wall Street Journal (subscription required)]

Attendees at the Edinburgh Interactive Festival were witness to a prime example of spin control and knowing your audience.

Former SEE boss Chris Deering did a bit of dub work on the truth by using the price of beer to prove that the Playstation 3 is in fact cheaper than the original Playstation was when it was released.

"In terms of the number of pints of beer you have to forego to get a PS3 it's really just the same as the number of pints of beer you had to forego to get a PS1 back in 1995".

And the math checks out, according to Spong. The Deering Beers Scale proves that you could purchase a PS3 and nearly three beers for the cost of a PSOne. Whoever figured that out for Deering deserves a raise, in Guinness.

PlayStation 3 Cheaper Than PSOne In Beer [Spong]

We've been calling around a number of stores today to try and get to the bottom of a bunch of rumors including that the Xbox 360 premium and core now have HDMI built-in, and while we haven't gotten to the bottom of that rumor, yet, we have nailed down something else: The Xbox 360 Top Spin Bundle is real, and it's already available at a number of stores.

At least a half-dozen stores have confirmed that Top Spin will be included with the Xbox 360 premium starting on Sunday, and four of the stores we've called so far say that they're already on the floor available for sale for $350. So if you've been on the fence about buying a 360 and want a free game, this could be your time to shine.

Talk to the people who run GameStop, talk to the people who run BestBuy, and they'll tell you that the demand is unprecedented and that they give us kudos for managing to keep a very sophisticated supply chain moving.

I just love seeing what the guy has to say, and the interview is a great read overall. He discusses the price point, the rumble feature ("it's not the next-generation feature"), and things the competition could learn from Sony. Hit the link to check out the full interview. Michael Fahey

Phil Harrison: We Are Under No Pressure to Drop PS3's Price [GameDaily.Biz]

I was just watching CNN when a short report on the National Institute on Media and the Family's annual video game report card hit.

Each year NIMF releases a list of games that parent's should avoid buying for their kids. They also release a MediaWise list. As much as I hate their often deceptive press releases, I think the concept of putting out a list of games that aren't particularly child friendly is a good idea. Too bad someone hasn't come up with some sort of system that could look at games and in some way give them a score of some sort, perhaps a rating that in some way described the content found in that game. It could sort of be like the movie rating system, but perhaps have more descriptors and a greater break-down between ratings. Yeah, too bad no ones done that.

Hit the jump for the two lists and more of me being a smart-ass. Brian Crecente

Parent Alert! Games to avoid for your children and teens

Gangs of London M
The Sopranos M
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories M
Reservoir Dogs M
Mortal Kombat: Unchained M
Scarface: The World is Yours M
The Godfather: Mob Wars M
Saints Row M
Dead Rising M
Just Cause M

Looking over this list of parental alert games, I see several that no one should buy just because they suck. So it's good they included them. What I don't get is how these particular games have been separated by the pack. I mean, if you're going to single out Dead Rising, why not F.E.A.R.? What about Resistance: Fall of Man or Gears of War? Shit, what about Bully?

I give this list a D- for its seemingly arbitrary attack of a handful of games that don't really stand out in violence and often wouldn't be purchased anyway because they are crap. (I'm talking about you Just Cause.)

MediaWise recommended games for children and teens

LEGO Star Wars II - The Original Trilogy E 10+
Mario Hoops 3 on 3 E
Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz E
Roboblitz E 10+
Madden Football '07 E
LocoRoco E
Dance Factory E
Brain Age E
Nancy Drew: Danger by Design E
Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: The March of the Minis E

I like how this lists started, Lego SW2 just kicks ass. I like it so much I actually invented a word to describe in the Rocky Mountain News. I called it Faddictive. But Madden? That's all about smacking people into the ground, you can even deliver more powerful hits with that hit stick. And Roboblitz? Come on you can blow the shit out of stuff in that game. Don't robots have rights too? Then they throw a monkey wrench in their list, which has mostly decent games, by including Nancy Drew. Nancy Drew? Why not just throw in Barbie's Horse Adventures.

I give this list a D. While it included some good titles, the strange assortment of titles shows a general lack of knowledge of gaming and obvious disdain for the rights of robots.

Music mag Spin provides all with the first Dead Rising review. Well, the first one I've seen, and I'm sure there are others. Loads of 'em. Writer Tom Dumont writes:

Dead Rising does commit the sin of repetition: Watching brains explode inevitably gets old.

Uh, no it doesn't. Regardless, Spin seems to dig it, giving the game three stars. Florian and I were yapping like guppies about this game yesterday, and I was saying that if this game was half as good as I'm hoping it will be, Dead Rising will be zombie brilliance. Brian Ashcraft

Thanks, Mechz