Games industry flashes wad, swaggers

GOOD FINANCIAL REPORTS continue to flood in from around the games industry, including a report from research firm NPD Group which states that sales of PC games have risen by 48 percent on the previous year.

This might go some way to explaining the good news coming from UK retailer Game, who reported a doubling in profit for online sales, a tripling of profit for international sales, and the claim that another 80 stores are to be opened across the country.

Xbox
If you're interested in comparing your three year old copy of Halo 2 with the soon-to-be launched PC version, you'll be keen to note the improved graphics being shown off at Gamespot.

Microsoft has released information explaining the process of migrating data from the 20GB Xbox 360 hard drive to the new 120GB hard drive.

A data migration FAQ can be read here and a demonstration of the process can be viewed over at Major Nelson's blog.

If you're peeved at the high price of the new drive, a hacker named 'TheSpecialist' has released a new version of his program HDDHackr, which now allows you to make your own 120GB drive for the Xbox 360. Check it out at Xbox-scene here.

Instead, if you're wondering how the 360's HDMI video is looking compared to the old component and VGA connections, Gizmodo has the low down.

Alternatively if you'd just like to see how the black box looks compared to Sony's black offering, check out the pictures at Engadget.

Joystiq had its own analysis of the leaked Halo 3 beta this week, commenting on the poor quality of graphics and textures. We've also had a close eye on leaked/published images of the game, and must concur that the games graphics do currently seem to be below par, considering the quality from the likes of GRAW and GoW.

PS3/PSP
While Sony appear to be making sacrifices to the devil in attempt to raise sales of the PS3, Sony console users are fighting to cure Alzheimer's with Folding@home.

More than 250,000 people have signed up their PS3s to contribute processing power to the Folding@home project, the PS3 version of which has been active for just one month.

Stanford University's research now enjoys a computing power of 700 teraflops in a single moment, 400 of which are delivered by PS3 owners, doubling the power base of researchers studies of Alzheimer's and other diseases.

If you leave your console on all night to battle disease, you may wish to invest in a PS3 cooler.

Alternatively you may wish to invest in a new Madcatz keyboard accessory if you're jealous of the new built-in keyboard joypads from Microsoft.

This might help you use your newly installed PS3 version of Yellow Dog Linux, but don't expect any pretty graphics. The RSX graphics chip isn't accessible through the Linux installation, and PS3 owners are already petitioning Sony demanding support. Go read about it and sign up via this link.

Whilst users push Sony to opening up the PS3 to its full potential under Linux, Sony Worldwide Studios boss Phil Harrison has been talking about allowing homebrew on the system.

"I fully support the notion of game development at home using powerful tools available to anyone," Harrison said in an interview with Slashdot. "We were one of the first companies to recognise this in 1996 with Net Yaroze on PS1. It's a vital, crucial aspect of the future growth of our industry and links well to the subtext of my earlier answers."

Good news for handheld gamers this week, as Sony announced plans to cut the price of the Playstation Portable, which will retail for £129.99 in the UK and €169.99 in the rest of Europe from Friday May 4.

In addition the company is dropping the RRP of Platinum titles to £14.99, with five games down for release at the new price point - Ridge Racer 2, Tekken, Killzone, LocoRoco and Moto GP.

Sony also announced the long expected eye toy specifically for the PS3, you can grab images and info from the SCEE site here.

Wii/DS
Don't worry if you're also jealous of the Xbox keyboard pad, Nintendo is thought to be making one for your Wii.

Don't go modding your Wii though, Nintendo has begun making noise that it isn't too happy with the current spate of mod chips available.

Nintendo has had a great week of news, mainly concerning its financial results and an end to the dearth of available Wiis. You can read the INQ report here.

This hasn't stopped IDC research analyst Billy Pidgeon suggesting that the Wii console will continue to experience supply problems until 2009, suggesting that Nintendo may see consumer interest in the console dip unless the issue is properly addressed.

This might make this SNES-Wii mod even more eccentric.

If you still can't get your hands on a Wii, you may wish to purchase the 'only' PowerFest '94 cartridge for your old SNES. Check out Engadget for the low down.

Maybe you'd prefer to use your DS as a tablet? Try this for size. µ

See also
Microsoft gaming labelled a "disastrous endeavour"
Xbox handheld and solid PSP2 rumours
Wii mod-chip works
PS3 and wii shortages reviewed