Technology Blogged, News » Games

Amazon throws us video game trade in store, just in time for Christmas

Jakk — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 08:48:26 +0000

In case you didn’t know, it is Christmas soon. In fact, Christmas will be upon us before we even know it. And Amazon certainly know this, because they [yesterday] rolled out their online video game trade in store, where users can put up their games to swap for Amazon credit.

Thrown in to this online video game trade in store is the ability to see how many credits Amazon will give you for any game that you have, thus giving you full control on whether you want to go ahead with the transaction.

In a statement, the director of video games at Amazon.co.uk said:

Trading-in with Amazon.co.uk is quick and easy, providing customers with a great way to exchange their old games and save money on future purchases”

Playstation 3 is to receive 3D Firmware update

Jakk — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 18:48:09 +0000

Sony is to incorporate 3D into the PlayStation 3 this summer, according to John Koller, Director of Hardware Marketing for Sony. In an interview John Koller revealed that the console’s 3D plans were on track for a summer release, just in time for Sony’s 3D TV range to hit stores, on this, he said; “3D is a major part of our initiatives in 2010 and we’re currently developing 3D stereoscopic games to come in conjunction with the launch of Sony’s 3D compatible Bravia LCD TV in summer 2010″

He then said, or rather purred; “The amazing thing about the Playstation 3′s technology is that all PS3 units that exist in homes and markets will be able to play 3D stereoscopic games as well as 3D BD movies through separate firmware upgrades – something that other platforms are unable to do.”

This comes as news as the Wall Street Journal released information that Sony are still making a loss on every gaming console sold. And so could 3D be the final push to get Sony a profit? Or are game developers still just grasping the graphical overlaying of current advanced games? Meaning that 3D will not be put to its full potential because of the lack of game developers with the experience?

Either way, it is good to see Sony back on track with what could be a good move for them. I am sure all Playstation 3 owners will gladly go through all the measures of updating and purchasing the necessary equipment to have a go at 3D gaming.

PS3 Sales rise but Sony are still making a loss

Jakk — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 16:08:46 +0000

As a technology blog it is always nice to see that a great product gets the sales figures it deserves – from the Nintendo Wii, with its revolutionary control system, all the way to Avatar with its fantastic 3D visuals to which you are, admittedly, immersed within. And so it is also nice to see that the Sony Playstation 3 sales figures have grown this quarter – possibly because, like some of my friends, people have traded in their 360 to get a PS3 for the Blu-ray player and media control alone.

But it has also been revealed that Sony are still making a loss on every single Playstation 3 sold, according to The Wall Street Journal, which examined Sony’s fiscal third-quarter financial performance. The Wall Street Journal stated that the company loses 6 cents on “every dollar of PS3 hardware sales.”

That is a lot of money, considering the millions of hardware sales Sony makes. Despite the glum news, Sony still has a brigHt view on things – mainly because the console life span of the PS3 should outlive the XBox 360 before a new XBox release. ‘Futureproof’ is what the Playstation 3 is – mainly because of the Blu-ray player. Sony is also set to reduce its production costs by 15 percent, is a stamement Sony Chief Financial Officer Nobuyuki Oneda said ” we are to cut production costs by 15 percent in the fiscal year ending March 2011.” He said that alone would help the company generate “tens of billions of yen.”