Not many PS3s heading for Europe

WE'RE STILL WAITING for the last console launch of this generation in Europe, and details are finally beginning to trickle out.

PS3/PSP
220,000 Playstation 3 units are expected in Europe on launch, so claims MCV.

It's not even out in Europe yet, and analysts are already claiming that the games console could shortly be the focus of price cuts. Gamesindustry.biz has the low-down from Wedbush Morgan Securities analyst Michael Pachter here.

Joystiq on the over hand also believes that price-cuts are likely for the PS3 due to a more streamlined production, but also that the PSP is over-due for a price-cut - and we should be seeing one shortly.

This won't come in time for the PSP/PS3 pre-order package from HMV though. HMV will allow you to jump the PS3 pre-order queue if you purchase a PSP with a 4GB memory card. Just £675 for the privilege.

If you're still unsure whether to buy a PS3, maybe Crunchgear can help you make up your mind, with an article focusing on why the PS3 is the best console ever.

Maybe you'd simply prefer the PS3 flavoured sauce? Available in 20GB and 60GB flavours.

The newly announced horizontal scaling within the new programmers SDK has been under attack from Bruce Dawson, a senior software design engineer for Microsoft's Xbox Advanced Technology Group, via the Ozymandias blog.

"I see no sign that the PS3 contains a chip that can do vertical scaling, and this new feature (horizontal scaling) is a poor substitute for a true hardware scaler,” said Dawson. He continued: "It is a step forward for owners of 1080i only HDTVs, once PS3 games support it, but it is nowhere near as good as the Xbox 360's scaler."

It seems one of the latest PSP firmwares from Sony has again been hacked by the usual GTA route. 3.03 is now downgradeable to 1.50. 3.10 has also been decrypted and is ready to be cracked.

Xbox 360
Gizmodo have details of a new 512MB memory card for the Core users out there. About time considering the newly lifted limit on Xbox Live Arcade games.

Extremetech go into great detail and length over the DVD playback quality of an Xbox 360, read the disapointing analysis here.

HD-DVD playback is much more impressive though, and HardOCP have an interesting discussion with Xbox Console & Consumer Software team member, Shaheen Gandhi, discussing the device and its design.

Check out this 1up.com article for the story behind the next 10 Xbox Live Arcade games. Interesting reading for those of you downloading these small, low-budget titles.

Expertfaqs has a tutorial on how to use two wireless routers to network your 360 instead of using the add-on USB wireless adapter. It could potentially be a cheaper alternative, while also giving you the use of a second router.

If you wish to play NES games on the Xbox 360, try this new NES emulator via the new XNA platform, currently in quite a basic form, and available here.

The red ring of death has plagued many a 360 owner since its launch, but some guys are just unluckier than others it seems, especially if you insist on buying from US giant Wal-mart. This chap experienced three dead machines in a row.

Fanboy owners of the 360 won't appreciate the Playstation 3 adds recently viewable in preview code of an EA football game, expect uproar if it's released.

Worried about the power consumption of your 360? Check out PlanetXbox360 for interesting results.

Wii/DS
Last weekend we reported that the Wiinja chip was being readied for mass production and sale, but it seems the newly announced 'CycloWiz' has beaten the Wiinja to a proper independently verified review.

Maxconsole bring us the details, and pictures, of a chip from Team Cyclops. The mod doesn't require any wires, and is a simple process of attaching to the mainboard and soldering in the ready-cut holes.

The chip will allow the playing of GC homebrew software, import/same-region backups, and Wii backups from the same region.

It's a matter of when as opposed to if, but Joystiq seem to think we'll be receiving coloured Wiis before the year end. Black and red are definite, with two others also confirmed. A pink version should certainly help further uptake from the girly gamer crowd.

Engadget have a 'useful' two part tutorial on how to make a Wii laptop. Part one is here and part two is here. Please don't come running to us if your laptop/Wii doesn't work after following the tutorial advice.

Instead, maybe you'd prefer to move your Wii Gamecube ports to the front of the console, so it's more Gamecube-esque? Or maybe not.

PC
More details on the much anticipated Directx 10 title, Crysis. CVG bring word of a multiplayer public beta, due very soon.

Joystiq went a little further, with a hands-on play of the new title, which you can read here.

Those of you awaiting the new Quake title; 'Enemy Territory: Quake Wars', may have to wait a little longer, as Activision's financial report reveals the release date has moved into 2008. The game had previously slipped from autumn 2006 into early 2007. µ

See also
Wii wins round one of console war
Wii hacked to play backups
Playstation 3 launch dates now official
Tales of PSP2 and next-gen Xbox 360 surface