PS3 @ $300?!?!?!

According to an analyst’s opinion on a news report on Gamasutra.com about the future of the PS3, Sony may lower the price of its console at $100 less than the current price in April. Though the results of the last holiday shopping season are still not official, Wedbush Morgan analyst Michael Pachter stated Nintendo was very successful with even more sales than in November with an impressive amount of 3.25 million Wii consoles. Microsoft got a pretty good second place with 1.5 million XBox 360 consoles sold. However, Sony got third place and was only able to sell 750,000 PlayStation 3 consoles. Another report indicates Sony will lose about $1.1 billion dollars by the end of its fiscal year in March, or a higher amount depending on the outcome of other products. It could be the company’s first annual operating loss in 14 years, and the second one since its inception in 1958. Job cuts are expected to affect about 8,000 workers. If Sony wants to succeed, it must lower the price of its PS3 console. The company does have many games coming out this year to its main console that will attract more gamers.

De acuerdo a la opinión de una analista en un reporte en Gamasutra.com acerca del futuro del PS3, Sony puede bajar el precio de su consola a $100 menos del precio actual en abril. Aunque los resultados de la última temporada de compras festivas no son oficiales, el analista Michael Pachter de Wedbush Morgan declaró que Nintendo fue muy exitoso con más ventas que en noviembre con una cantidad impresionante de 3,25 millones de consolas Wii. Microsoft obtuvo un muy bien segundo puesto con 1,5 millones de consolas Xbox 360 vendidas. Sin embargo, Sony consiguió tercer puesto y fue solo capaz de vender 750.000 consolas PlayStation 3. Otro reporte indica que Sony perderá cerca de $1.100 millones de dolares al final de su año fiscal en marzo, o una cantidad mayor que depende en el resultado de otros productos. Podría ser la primera pérdida operativa anual de la compañía en 14 años, y el segundo desde su inicio en 1958. Se espera que cortes de trabajos afecten a cerca de 8.000 empleados. Si Sony quiere tener éxito, debe bajar el precio de su consola PS3. La compañía sí tiene varios juegos que van a salir este año a su consola principal que atraerá a más jugadores.

Sources/Fuentes:
Report: Sony To Post $1.1 Billion Loss? [http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=21832].
Analyst: Wii Sold 3.5 Million In December, $299 PS3 By April [http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=21823].

Lord of the Rings: Conquest – Launch Trailer

Fable 2: Knothole Island DLC Pictures|Imágenes

Fable 2: Knothole Island DLC - Storm Temple

Fable 2: Knothole Island DLC – Storm Temple

FIFA Interactive World Cup ‘08 Champion: Alfonso Ramos

From/De: EA

FIFA Interactive World Cup champion officially crowned at FIFA World Player Gala

Record numbers already signed up for FIFA Interactive World Cup 2009. Barcelona confirmed as venue for 2009 competition grand final in May.

Zurich, Switzerland, 13th January 2009: FIFA, the world’s governing body of football, Electronic Arts Inc (NASDAQ: ERTS) and Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE) today announced that Alfonso Ramos, the FIFA Interactive World Cup 2008 Champion, has received his official winner’s trophy at the FIFA World Player Gala in Zurich. Ramos was joined by some of the world’s greatest footballers, including Cristiano Ronaldo and Fernando Torres at the star-studded event which also saw Cristiano Ronaldo crowned the 2008 FIFA World Player of the Year.

Alfonso Ramos (FIWC Champion) & Fernando Torres (Liverpool)

The FIFA Interactive World Cup (FIWC) 2009 has received a record number of entrants with around 320,000 competitors already signed up to compete in this year’s competition. The FIWC has become one of the largest and fastest growing sports gaming competitions in the world with players from around the globe battling it out on EA SPORTS™ FIFA 09 for PLAYSTATION®3 (PS3™) in a bid to be crowned the best virtual footballer in the world and receive the $20,000 1st place prize. For anyone who thinks they’ve got what it takes, there is still time ahead of 31st March to enter and show the world what you’re made of, so get registered and start laying your claim to the crown.

FIFA, EA and SCEE have also announced that the FIWC 09 grand final in May will take place in Barcelona, one of the world’s greatest football cities. The glamorous grand final marks the culmination of months of qualifying rounds currently taking place both online via the PlayStation®Network and at FIWC 09 Live Qualifier Events around the globe, in countries including Australia, Brazil, UK, Germany, France, Italy, South Africa and the US.

“We got involved in the FIFA Interactive World Cup with the intention of creating an iconic gaming competition, but to achieve the huge increase in competitors that we have seen this year is something that exceeds even our most optimistic predictions”, said Darren Carter, Vice President for Brand and Consumer Marketing, SCEE. “Everything about the FIWC this year is bigger and better and to see so many competing online on PlayStation Network really highlights how PlayStation® has grown along with the tournament. We can’t wait to welcome the best virtual footballers to Barcelona, Spain.”

“We are extremely proud to once again be supporting the FIWC alongside FIFA and Sony Computer Entertainment”, said Matt Bilbey, Vice President International Marketing, EA SPORTS. “We believe that FIFA 09 is our best ever football title and we are delighted to see so many gamers battling it out in the game both online and at physical qualifying events around the world. The FIWC has grown over the years to become a truly global gaming competition which captures the heart and spirit of football and gaming and we look forward to crowning this year’s victor at the grand final in May.”

Details about the live qualifier events near you will be made available over the coming weeks at www.FIFA.com/FIWC, so check in regularly to keep your fingers on the pulse of the FIFA Interactive World Cup 2009.

PC: Mirror’s Edge

From/De: EA

Mirror’s Edge for PC Ships to Retail Stores Today

Award-Winning Action Adventure Game That Redefined First Person Games Makes Its Way to the PC

REDWOOD CITY, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–DICE, an Electronic Arts Inc. studio (NASDAQ:ERTS), today announced that the critically acclaimed first-person action adventure title, Mirror’s Edge™ has shipped for the PC to retailers in North America and will ship worldwide on January 16^th. Players who purchase the PC version of the game will also receive a free copy of the Mirror’s Edge remix album. The album features the popular title track “Still Alive” performed by Swedish rock/pop star Lisa Miskovsky and remixes by some of today’s hottest artists including Benny Benassi, Paul van Dyk and Armand Van Helden.

DICE also confirmed today that downloadable content (DLC) for the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system, the Xbox 360® videogame and entertainment system and the PC will be available January 29^th. This special DLC pack will challenge players to achieve the fastest times possible on nine races across seven all-new and totally redesigned Time Trial maps. The DLC pack will be available for $10 USD or 800 Microsoft points.

Guitar Hero World Tour: Bruce Springsteen Track Pack

Bruce Springsteen Makes Guitar Hero(R) Debut With Brand New Song ‘My Lucky Day’ and Classic Hit ‘Born to Run’

Guitar Hero(R) World Tour to Debut Exclusive Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band Tracks as Downloadable Content Day and Date with Release of New Album, Working on a Dream.

SANTA MONICA, Calif., Jan 13, 2009 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX News Network/ –

Bruce Springsteen will make his videogame debut on January 27, 2009, with two downloadable songs available exclusively in Activision Publishing, Inc.’s (Nasdaq: ATVI) Guitar Hero(R) World Tour.

Coinciding with the release of his new album, Working on a Dream (Columbia Records), the two-song Track Pack will be available for download simultaneously with the album’s release on January 27, 2009. The Track Pack, which features the iconic Springsteen song “Born to Run” and “My Lucky Day,” a brand-new track off his new album, Working on a Dream, will be free to download during the first week of the album’s release.

“Bruce Springsteen has been a defining force in Rock ‘n Roll and we are incredibly excited to have him make his video game debut with Guitar Hero World Tour,” said Robert Kotick, CEO of Activision Blizzard.

LotR: Conquest

The Powers of Good and Evil Collide as The Lord of the Rings: Conquest Raids Retailers Worldwide

Pandemic Studios The Lord of the Rings: Conquest in Stores Now

LOS ANGELES–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Pandemic™ Studios, a division of Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:ERTS) announced today that The Lord of the Rings: Conquest™ for the Xbox 360^® video game and entertainment system, PLAYSTATION^®3 computer entertainment system, PC and Nintendo DS™ platforms, is available today in North America and January 16, 2009 in Europe.

In a partnership with New Line Cinema and The Saul Zaentz Company, The Lord of the Rings: Conquest builds on “The Lord of the Rings” universe of J.R.R. Tolkien as depicted by the Academy Award^®-winning films and thrusts players in to key moments of the story and on the frontlines of the epic battles.

“‘The Lord of the Rings’ experience is something our team has been passionate about delivering and we believe players will discover a Middle-earth experience like no other,” says Andrew Goldman, Pandemic Studios co-founder and general manager. “Starting today ‘The Lord of the Rings’ fans can choose to save The Shire or set to destroy it. Providing that level of control and freedom is something we are proud to offer.”