Wii is a success, Nintendo still can’t meet demand

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The Nintendo Wii is certainly the best selling console of this generation. Almost seven months after it launched, demand is still so great that Nintendo cannot meet the demand for the console because it is so popular. One of the Wii’s attractions is the unique motion sensing controller.

Nintendo’s New York store is mobbed almost each and every day with people hoping to get their hands on the console. Some people were getting in line at 6 a.m. or earlier and getting permission to miss work to get their hands on the Wii.

If you’re hoping to pick up a Wii, you had better be prepared to call around to all the stores in your area and if one has them or is expecting a shipment, be there as soon as you can or arrive before the shipment gets there and get in the queue.

Nintendo Wiis are sold on a first come, first serve basis, it’s really a shame they don’t offer some kind of waiting list, hold list or some kind of preemptive ordering program.

None of the other competing consoles have seen this kind of demand, walk into any electronics retailer and you will be able to pick up an Xbox 360 or PS3 without any wait. Xbox 360 and PS3 sales continue to lag behind the Wii.

Nintendo has admitted that there is still a Wii shortage but is moving to increase production as soon as possible. Their contract manufacturers have been unable to ramp production up the way Nintendo would like.

An analyst from Lazard Capital Markets, Colin Sebastian, said, “Unfortunately you can’t ask a contract manufacturer to make a million a month, then 5 million.”

The Wii has sold almost 3 million units since November, demand is still unusually high and there doesn’t seem to be any end in sight.

Chris Bryne, an independent analyst said “The PlayStation 1 was certainly a big introduction, but I don’t recall any game system more than six months after its launch still having this kind of demand.”

The Bradenton Herald caught up with some Wii customers waiting in line at the New York Nintendo Store, many were hoping the store didn’t run out before they were able to purchase their way. One person wound up spending $350 on the Wii and various accessories.

The Wii is a success and it does not appear it will be going away or that demand will be met any time soon. Perhaps Sony and Microsoft should take a lesson from Nintendo.

Source

PS3 is number one down-under says SCEA head

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Sony Computer Entertainment Australia head Michael Ephraim has analysed the latest sales figures for the PS3 locally and has declared the hefty black gaming console number one in the region.

Quoting figures from data trackers GfK in Australia, Ephraim tells us (via an interview with Gamespot AU ) that the 50,000 units moved since the PS3 launch March 23rd makes it number one next-gen gaming console.

Despite the Wii hitting 100,000 units sold since its own launch December 7th 2006, Ephraim basis his ‘number one’ call on a week by week basis; “Based on GfK since launch, PS3 has been the number one next-gen console, outselling Wii and Xbox 360 every week, except for last week,” Ephraim said.

“Since March 23, PS3 has been the number one-selling next-gen console in Australia, and this is GfK figures. We’ve now sold 50,000–and we’re very excited about the fact that it’s being sold in retailers that are gaming retailers as a gaming device and other things, but as you’ll notice it’s now being sold in Harvey Norman consumer electronic stores as a Blu-ray player.”

Not so much on iTWire, but on other forums, I copped a bit of a battering for my article on the PS3 focus. Perhaps the shift from a simple gaming vision to a more holistic entertainment hub spotlight is where Sony should be pouring their effort. (read article here ).

Judging by Ephraim’s final comment on PS3 sales above, it looks like this is Sony’s thinking also. More power to them, in marketing it is all about finding your niche and pounding away incessantly.

Source

PSP Fights Homebrew with 3.51 Firmware

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Sony targets Lumines-led loophole with incremental update.

PSP launch title Lumines received an unexpected shot in the arm last week, when it was revealed that the puzzle classic contained an exploit that allowed users to run homebrew applications on the 3.50 system firmware. Amazon.com reported a 5000% increase in sales for the title, and as of press time, it remains the most popular game across all platforms.

However, it may be a short-lived phenomenon, as Sony today released the 3.51 firmware update for the PSP. Next Generation is reporting that the firmware simply overwrites the exploit and adds zero functionality to the system. Until a game is released that requires the 3.51 firmware, users may continue to run 3.50 or whichever iteration currently rests on their handheld.

Those who feel the need to stay current can grab the 3.51 firmware via the Network Update option on the PSP.

Source

PS3 firmware 1.82 released

Posted by multippt

After hearing of suggestions from readers requesting for announcing firmware updates in advance, Sony (PlayStation network) have decided to fulfill their wishes by annoucing a possible small update to the PS3 firmware - 1.82 (although they did this for 1.81, but a day’s advanced).

Here are the proposed features:
-Update allowing for playback of AVC (H.264/MP4) files.
-More PS2 game compatibility

Via Sony PlayStation blog

Lumines sales goes up, hits 3rd place in Amazon for Video Games

Posted by multippt

Ever since the Luminati exploit and the downgrader, Lumines sales (for PSP) have shot up by over 3000% compared to before the exploit was made.
This makes Lumines a best seller, in just a space of 2 days (although it is already a bestseller since during the PSP’s launch). Lumines is now ranked 3rd (for now) in Amazon (the online marketplace), just behind Mario Party and the Nintendo Wii.

PSP downgrader for firmware 3.50 released

Posted by multippt

Fanjita and co (the Noobz team) in just a short space of a few days since their latest discovery of the Illuminati exploit have released their downgrader. This downgrader allows you to downgrade from the official firmware, 3.50, to lower firmwares like 1.50.

Why downgrade you may ask? Older firmwares have greater support for homebrew. This downgrader is tailored for firmware 3.50, so if you want to downgrade your PSP which is at a firmware lower than 3.50 (and higher than 2.80), you will need to update your PSP to that version. The downgrader will automatically detect the correct motherboard type to downgrade the PSP appropriately.

Note that if you downgrade a TA-082 (or tA-086) PSP with this downgrader, you may not be able to update to the latest version, since firmwares past 3.11 (3.30 onwards) will have checks that prevent downgraded PSP using new motherboards from updating (the problem is some corrupted registry values). However, you can use new custom firmwares (like the OE series).

To use the downgrader, you will need:
-A PSP, with official firmware 3.50. The language settings should also be set to “English”.
-A legal copy of Lumines, either the Europe or US version.

The instructions for using the downgrader is provided in the “readme” text file.

As with any downgrader, there is a risk that you may accidentally render your PSP unusable, so always read the readme.

In addition to the downgrader, they have released a port of HEN (Homebrew ENabler), which allows the execution of homebrew on 3.50.

You can get the downgrader from Noobz.

New PSP exploit (Illuminati) - Homebrew for all firmwares

Posted by multippt

Noobz has made major progress on PSP homebrew, especially the part on bringing homebrew to newer firmwares. The exploit, nicknamed the “Illuminati exploit”, is able to run on all firmwares, including the latest official firmware (3.50). This exploit is similar to the GTA exploit, except it uses the (official) Lumines game.

Here are the instructions (taken from the guide in Noobz)
-You will need a copy of Lumines (known to work with the US and Europe versions)
-Download the exploit which is packaged in a ZIP file, and extract the contents inside the “MS_ROOT” folder (meaning, excluding the folder) into the root of the memory stick.
-Start the Lumines game, and press START when the game tells you to “press start”
-The screen will go blank, and the exploit will start after a few seconds. The exploit is currently a “Hello World” application, so don’t expect it to do much yet.

The exploit may allow for the creation of downgraders and HEN. Though, it would only be possible once the Noobz team allows for Kernel access through the exploit (currently the exploit allows for user-mode homebrew, since its in the early stages).

*The Lumines game can be bought at a low price. At the moment, the Lumines game is not patched, but it WILL get patched soon if Sony does something (just like GTA: LCS).