Console price drops rumoured

THIS WEEK both the Playstation 3 and Xbox 360 have been rumoured to be about to receive price drops.

Techradar understands that the price of every Xbox 360 SKU is to be slashed by €50 (approx. £38) on 14 March across Europe, according to 'numerous well-placed games industry sources'.

The article also states that Techradar journos corroborated the story with numerous UK retailers.

This should allow the lower-spec Arcade model to compete with the Nintendo Wii on price.

Research company iSuppli has stated (via Gamesindustry.biz) its belief that Sony will push through another price cut for the Playstation 3 at some point during this year, leading up to a big Christmas for the console.

This possibility will only be more likely if Microsoft drops the price of the 360.

Instead of a new console, maybe you could go retro in style - this Dreamcast demo display unit is up for sale on Ebay.

PS3/PSP
If you happen to be in Japan on April 24th, you have a slim PSP, you'll be able to pick up a new PSP cradle.

The included AV cables will allow you to hook your PSP up to your TV and control your digital content remotely, via the included remote control.

No word yet as to the availability of a mint green cradle to go with this new garish PSP released in Japan.

Sony Computer Entertainment UK boss Ray Maguire has said Playstation 3 in-game communication will arrive this summer. Microsoft has provided that service since its first console.

Sony America's John Hight has said to expect a "pretty big change in the Playstation Network in the early part of April".

Interface changes "largely based on customer feedback" are on the cards, he told Gamasutra.

Eurogamer has also got to look at the new PlayTV for the PS3 in the UK, and like what it sees.

Wii/DS
Datel has launched the Wii FreeLoader, which allows you to play Wii games from any region on your PAL Wii. There's also a version for US Wii owners.

Wii's 'Terebi no Tomo' Channel has launched in Japan, free for download from the Shop Channel. Better understood as 'TV Friend' Channel, the service, which was announced last November, provides users with an Electronic Program Guide (EPG) that updates over the internet from Japan's G-Guide service.

Nintendo Europe has told Eurogamer there are no plans for a release of the TV channel listing in Europe.

developers are already starting to take advantage, releasing a bunch of interesting and/or useful unauthorized programs for The recently-revealed Twilight Princess exploit allows all sorts of unsigned code to run natively on the Wii.

This list also includes Wii Tetris and Genesis emulation.

Unfortunately it is thought that the hack could also lead to much easier playback of pirated software on the console, which is already no stranger to chipping modifications. µ