PS3 Games Online

John Hight, external production director for SCEA, is the overseer of PS3 games' digital distribution program, E-Distribution Initiative. He claims that this new distribution project will benefit Sony and open opportunities for game developers. Hight explains that online distribution erases inventory risks while being cost-effective. He asserts that this is Sony's contribution in the anti-piracy drive because online distribution will curtail the sales of used games and software transfer.

As added benefit for the developers and aspiring developers of PS3 games, the difficulties of breaking in the game publishing industry is minimized by the online platform. Through the online platform new games by big and new developers can be tested with low risks in a medium that encourages quick feedback. There is no need to publish the game and get reviewers to test it. The prototype of the game is uploaded in the online platform where actual PS3 gamers can play it and post their own reviews. Hight asserts, in another dig at Microsoft, that their company is committed to game development in the circle of its own studios. He reminds that Microsoft relies on third party game developers to supply their Live Arcade with games. He even added that Sony opens platform doors for independent publishers who funded their own games. But not just any game can make it to Sony's online platform. Hight stresses that despite the openness of their platform, Sony is only looking for new and fresh ideas to benefit from the influence of the PS3.

Sony Computer Entertainment's Ken Kutaragi, amplifies the cost-efficiency of their online platform. He states that they expect high returns from the sales of downloadable PS3 games. He also denies reports about added fees and charges for playing and networking through the E-Distribution Initiative. He explains that all basic services from Sony's online platform will be free except for the downloads.

SCEA also confirms reports that some of their PS3 games, downloaded or not, are not compatible with Xbox 360. The company gives hardware demands and game designs as reasons behind the incompatibility. This confirmation coincided with the announcement of new game titles developed exclusively for Sony.

From these, Sony makes it clear that it is taking steps to compete with Microsoft even in the online arena. Though the initial information released by SCEA is vague, the online platform clearly has two primary functions: PS3 games download and player interaction. Its basic functions are much like that of Microsoft's online platform. The PS3 games console is facing a tough challenge from Xbox 360 because of its delayed launch. Whether the E-Distribution Initiative will face the same challenge remains to be seen when it collides with the more established Xbox Live Arcade.

Two New PS3 Games From Sega

After all that hullabaloo about the pricing schemes for Sony's PS3 games, Sega announced that it will release two PS3 titles come November. Scott Steinberg, marketing executive for Sony, made the announcement earlier this week. According to him, the two PS3 games will be "Full Auto 2: Battlelines" and popular "Sonic the Hedgehog".

A sequel to the best-selling "Full Auto, Full Auto 2: Battlelines" features the next-gen quality high speed combat racing among PS3 games. The game features the once-pleasant districts of Staunton City as battle zones, rife with automotive destruction. Using explosive weapons, high-speed vehicles, and skillful technologically-groundbreaking demolition tactics, players must defeat their opponents and claim the city as their own. The game has six unique multiplayer game modes: gauntlet, base assault, and team deathmatch. Players can engage in intense online multiplayer for up to eight players or fight and race against a friend in two-player split-screen mode. There are six districts of Staunton City waiting to be conquered. With their own choice of weapons and battle-ready cars, players can enjoy hours of fresh gameplay in this story-based career mode. There are over 25 cars to choose from which players can customize by adding over 20 explosive devices and weapons.

Sonic, the blue blur is making a comeback via a new PS3 game. Sonic's newest adventure focuses on a mysterious new world ruled over by a beautiful princess. For ages, the kingdom has secured a mysterious gem that is encased in a necklace that hangs around the princess's neck. Unfortunately, the gem turns out to be the powerful Chaos Emerald. Dr. Eggman, hearing of its existence, soon attacks the kingdom in hopes of using the gem's power for himself. Sonic finds out about his enemy's plan and sets out to save the princess and her kingdom. The game makes heavy use of the Havok physics engine like all PS3 games making enemies to errant debris fly about in a pretty realistic way. In this game, the blur gets an ally in person named Silver. He is a fast runner like Sonic but more adept in throwing things and weapons to our blue-furred hero.

These two PS3 games will be released together with Sony's PS3 which make for an interesting feed to the rumor mill. Is Sony trying to lure in fanatics to buy Blu-ray formatted games by releasing the two most popular games of all time? Rumors escalate as these two games will be released exclusively for Sony and the PS3 for a period of time. After the limited period both games will also be published for Xbox 360. Curiously, this limited period ends some time after the release Sony's PS3 in the stores. Analysts figure that this is a tactic by Sony to encourage Full Auto and Sonic fans to buy a Sony console.

Aside from the two popular PS3 games, Steinberg also announced the release of a new PS3 game come March 2007. Part of the Virtua Fighter series, the fifth installment of the game will also be initially available for PS3 console use. Sony is obviously banking on a tactic other than Blu-ray. But will the latest PS3 games be enough to save Sony from predicted disaster? Whether this tactic will work, only the gamers can tell.

PS3 Games

Sony already caused a buzz earlier during the last E3 when it announced that the PS3 console will be costlier than the Xbox 360 or the Wii. Then came the word war between Microsoft and Sony regarding the formats of their consoles, games, and hard drives. What seems to an endless battle now has added fuel. Sony has just announced that PS3 games and titles will be pricier than the current titles available in the market. Why? Blu-ray discs, of course. Besides, games developers also affirm that developing PS3 games for Blu-ray is a lot difficult than their previously developed PS games.

Kaz Hirai, Sony's top executive for United States operations made the announcement last Friday. Hirai said that PS3 games costs can amount to as much as $99 dollars which is roughly 53 Euros. Met with protests from avid gamers, as well as Sony fans, Hirai insisted that Sony is trying to keep games' cost down. Still, players have to splurge to get top-caliber games. Hirai even gave reason behind the protests over Sony's expensive games. He cited assumptions back in the 90's that games on disc would only cost from $39-$59. Of course, with this mindset, people would be hard-pressed to find an almost $100 game justified.

The pricing of PS3 games have been under speculations for some time. There are those that predict low prices to balance out the high price of the console. On the contrary, majority of the gamers expected high pricing to complement the console and its next-gen Blu-ray format.

It seems that Microsoft's attacks on the PS3 console's price did not discourage Sony at all. Digs about the console's price even seem to serve as inspiration for Sony to make its games expensive. The company appears not to care that they are pairing a prohibitively priced console with equally expensive PS3 games. Maybe Sony thinks that Blu-ray is enough reason for raising prices. But we have to admit that Sony does think about its fans. Hirai assures prospective PS3 gamers that the games may be priced higher than $59 but not over a hundred dollars. Swell, that's a relief. So there you have it from Sony folks; $59-$99 price bracket for a PS3 game. Now, obviously Hirai's comments are a bit vague, and certainly right now we're already seeing some next-gen games come in higher than $59 with Collector's Editions. But if the majority of PS3 software is suddenly over $60 that could be a real problem. Consumers are already shelling out $500 or $600 depending on which PS3 SKU they purchase. In the end, Sony, with the two other console manufacturers and video game publishers, is competing for a limited number of consumer dollars.

PS3 and Sony fans do not mind these pricing schemes (or they pretend not to), attributing it to the Blu-ray. Though Blu-ray haven't had time to prove itself, let's all hope that it is all it promises to be. PS3 games may not be the cheapest stuff out there, but they are surely the most hyped. People who want copies of PS3 games but are not willing to shell out big bucks might have to wait a bit longer. Games and technologies do depreciate, and gamers are sure to get fairly good prices at a later date. Just don't show your games to those who brought theirs at the height of the PS3 hype, they might not appreciate your ingenuity

Clearing Up PS3 Games Rumor

The PlayStation3 console won't be released until late this year but there are already rumors doing their rounds about it and the PS3 games. The report about Theseis is one rumor that perhaps confused even the most devoted player. Developers and publishers, as well as game sites, have been coming out with their reviews, release dates, and other news about the latest PS3 games for the past months. The hype about the PS3's Blu-ray increased expectations about the games; a game rumor, though confusing, was not unexpected.

Let me refresh the events that fueled the rumor mill. Track7 Games, the developer of the popular adventure game Theseis for PC and Xbox 360, allegedly called the people behind PS3 Land to announce an important news. The announcement? The development of PS3 Theseis was consequently cancelled due to high development costs for PS3 games. The article that PS3 Land published even quoted Vicky Valvanos, managing director for Track7, saying that Theseis development would resume if Sony offers the company some assistance.

This bit of news has spread among Internet gaming sites and blogs with webmasters and forum moderators picking up the threads. Debates also ensued regarding the production of Theseis as one of the PS3 games. Apparently, no gamer noticed that there wasn't any announcement or news during the recent E3 or on the product lists about a Theseis software for PS3. A probable reason for this was the fact that Theseis appeared on several retailers sites as a PS3 game. Track7, however, did not recognized the existence of these catalogues.

This is the point when everything became confusing. Track7 didn't recognize the Theseis games on the retailers' sites but they called PS3 Land to announce that PS3 Theseis was discontinued? Track7 tried to clear up the issue by saying that the bits about canning PS3 Theseis and Theseis development were just jokes. The company even called the PS3 Land article "erroneous". As of now, PS3 Land updated their article on PS3 Theseis with the new article from Track7. But the confusion about the PS3 games came from Track7. According to them, there was no Theseis planned or developed for PS3, but what about the announcement they made to PS3 Land? Was there really an error, or was it just a joke said in passing that got blown up into big proportions?

A misunderstanding between PS3 Land and Track7 is a probable cause, although the question of what they talked about remains. Surely, there was some reference to Theseis, otherwise, it wouldn't have appeared in the article. There was also a number of retailers' database that showed Theseis as one of the PS3 games. Clearly, someone started it and the knowledge about Theseis lies solely with Track7 as Sony didn't include the game in its repertoire during the recent E3. The most probable cause, I think, is that Track7 wanted to develop a Theseis software for PS3. They let out that bit of "joke" to test the market and the demand for their game. In my opinion, they did this, also to bait Sony into thinking that a Theseis is a good addition to their games. Anyway, whatever the reason behind this, the market for PS3 games is a big one, and I can't blame anyone for wanting to exploit this lucrative business.

Game Makers Game Players and Game Theory Abstract Thoughts

Have you ever considered Game Theory in its entirety? Surely you like to think about game theory; I think game theory is fun too, in fact I enjoy it in a business sense a lot. It is used so often in so many venues, endeavors and industries. Some say humans are not predictable and therefore we can never create Artificial Intelligent Robotic Androids to be like them. I disagree because, I think humans are predictable really and we can in fact make assistants that we be similar in nearly every regard.

I also enjoy subject around the "prisoners dilemma" and such as well. But what is so funny about all that is the most predictable are not even the prisoners, but rather the guards who put the game forth, because it is always the same. That is an ironic thought indeed.

In fact if you look at current politics of Iran's President the mirroring rhetoric, then the State Department can actually know what he will do, based on way he uses game theory to his advantage. Therefore some times the studier of the game, USA, indeed has an advantage over all the game players.

So, if you are studying game theory from outside the game you will find that the those who rule the game are actually as predictable or more predictable than those who choose to play the game you see? And someone who chooses not to play until the game players and game keepers are completed is the only guaranteed winner.

So think of game theory as a game within game, within a game, within a game, which all comes back around to those who are not in play. Abstract I know, but if you are going to study the game, be sure you are in fact studying the Real Game! Watch the players, but also watch the gamekeepers, as they will make a mistake now and again.

Here another thought; Think of tick tac toe, with an artificial intelligent pre-programmed machine, you can never win, only hope to tie, until one day you are so tired, you mess up and the game wins. But if humans always play both sides then a human will make a mistake eventually.

In this case it does not make sense to be a game player, but rather a game maker or better yet a game observer, as it all happens for you because the observer is indeed a character too? Ha Ha Ha. Consider this in 2006 and the potential eventuality of a game within a game within a game.

Designing Computer Games

Computer game design has evolved as the career of a dream come true for hard core gaming fans. Designers of computer games are generally the people who love to play computer games as they can better understand the needs and desires from a game.

Every one who loves to play computer games dreams of having a career in computer game design. I also like to play computer games and since I played computer games I always dreamed of designing my own game.

Computer game industry is a huge industry and there are many jobs available in the computer game design industry. But the computer game design is very difficult, and requires a rigorous working knowledge of programming languages on different operating systems. For a good start in this field one can get a degree in computer science but this is also not an easy task. Only one, of my six friends I had in college that were computer science majors, could complete the course. This course is overloaded with advanced mathematics classes, tedious programming exercises and much more.

It’s only for people who love programming and don’t find it tedious. A computer game designer must be able to tolerate the tedium. Everyone have love for computer games in some or the other way around. One of my college friends that got his computer science degree is currently working for a well knowing game design company readily admits that this industry is not like he thought it would be.

Earlier, computer games used to be small programs and design teams consisted of just few people to program the game but today computer games are enormous programs that may take several years to complete even though many games have several production teams consisting of up to hundreds of different people working simultaneously on different aspects of the game. The sky is the limit for a good programmer as an every company desires an expert programmer. Seasoned programmers with several completed games in their records or profiles not only demands large salary but also have a lot say over the direction of the game.

Even if you are not good at programming there is nothing to worry about. There are many other jobs in the computer game design field. Good artists and writers are also required by game makers although they generally don’t make as much money. Graphic designers and other artists are all required to make a good game today as in today’s games graphics are extensively used.

SNES Games Controllers

I was shocked when Super Nintendo Entertainment System first came out of the early picture in the early 1990s. Although, when the SNES came out I was much mature to say goodbye old type of video games.

But I remember the first Nintendo Entertainment System was amazing and groundbreaking in itself. The main drawback for Nintendo was that The Sega Genesis and the Turbo Grafix 16 were already introduced in the market. Even though the wait for the arrival of SNES was worth but it was late for the third generation of video game consoles. I still play on one of my three SNES I own and are my favorites among all third generation consoles.

Super Nintendo controller was amazing and was loaded with features. The Super Nintendo controller had twice as many buttons on the face as the original NES controller and twin shoulder buttons as well. The Super Nintendo controller set the stage for the future controllers as we can see now a days video game consoles. The style of the Super Nintendo controller brought options to the SNES games that would otherwise not be possible. One of the most popular SNES games made was Street Fighter II and was probably one of the most popular console games ever invented. Each and every button on the controller was not only used but necessary. It was so nicely arranged for the game that it was truly a new experience. Super Nintendo controller was vital to the game play. Street Fighter II wouldn’t have been the same exciting game with any other controller. Sega realized this change, although a bit late, and came out with their new version of Super Nintendo controller for their Genesis. To their luck, the controller lacked shoulder buttons, and wasn’t even nearly as comfortable as the controller of SNES.

Current game controllers haven’t changed much since then. Now, the controllers have newer grips that help to trigger buttons easily but the shape of the controllers is similar to the Super Nintendo controllers. Microsoft’s Xbox controllers have a similar color scheme of the buttons as that was on the old SNES controller. Since, its invention the Super Nintendo controller excelled in its performance and price and will continue to do so for generations.