September sees women covering up and the games industry get going again. SPOnG wonders if there’s a correlation.. but decides there probably isn’t. The beginning of the month is spent at GameStars Live, the new consumer/trade show held in London.
We decide that the event is above average, an opinion echoed by most attendees. We do break the fact that Xbox PES4 will see full online play. So that’s a good start.
EA US Vice-President, Nancy Smith (presumably a Nokia shareholder) goes on record to say "In reaching the one million milestone, we see that the N-Gage is establishing itself as a serious player in the portable gaming business." Meanwhile a tumbleweed blows by.
The 2nd of the month sees Acclaim file for bankruptcy. The company’s assets are placed into the hands of receivers to be auctioned. A tale of greed and mismanagement comes to its predictable natural conclusion. But it is still a shame to see one of the industry's once-great players come to such an ignominious end, particularly as we are seeing choice eroded on a seemingly daily basis.
On the 7th, Sega sees it’s Xbox-based Chihiro arcade board cracked by the increasingly proficient Xbox hacking community. With added RAM, a modified Xbox can play games including Crazy Taxi High Roller, Ollie King, Outrun 2, The House of the Dead III and Virtua Cop 3.
A strange event on the 8th as the director of Skip Entertainment in Japan decides to tall the world that he’s not working on a new DS game. “Sorry, but it was all a lie," said Nishi-san in an update on his site. "I can't really talk about what I'm doing because of my legal obligation to keep secrets... I’m sorry for any trouble caused.” One of the odder moments of 2004.
Reports that the clouds of sweet-smelling smoke billowing forth from Sonic Team’s office following UGA’s arrival are directly accountable for the emergence of I Would Die For You could not be confirmed. The game sees a wondrous crashing together of Sonic Team and United Game Artists and becomes the watched game on the DS.
The 10th and ECTS Event Director Andy Lane says, "Lots of exhibitors and visitors were there. It didn't have the big name publishers, but the industry is about more than that and CMP has always been committed to running a wider trade event." This, in spite of certain EGN sales people - proudly and clearly disingenuously announcing that "…ECTS has seen less than one hundred through its doors…" in reference to the second day of the show.
Clearly, CMP is unhappy to see its long-neglected and mis-handles cash-cow nearing its end. Let's just hope that all involved are not determined to drag out the death of ECTS for as long as possible.
Former United Game Artists lead Tetsuya Mizuguchi says, “I think my next game will be for the PSP or Nintendo DS. You think because that it is on side of the game, when it meets, please use voice by all means.” No one knew what he meant. However, TGS saw the man’s pseudo Rez sequel, Lumines.
On the 15th, UK stalwart Eidos records a massive £2 million operating loss. The firm offsets the news by claiming every company and his COO is lining up to buy out the IP-rich firm. "Discussions, which relate to a possible sale of the company, are progressing well, although there can be no certainty at this stage as to whether or not they will lead to an offer being made."
The Tokyo Game Show kicks off and is as unremarkable as ever. Aside from Sega Rally, our man on the ground reported “nothing of interest aside from some suspiciously batteryless PSP units attached to some ladies with suspiciously small hands.”
News of the slim line PlayStation 2 unit, set to launch alongside San Andreas reaches SPOnG. The news proves genuine.
The 20th sees Gran Turismo 4 slip in Japan, with the PAL date nowhere near the horizon. Sony shifts the Eastern release to “winter 2004” giving itself the post-Christmas opt-out clause. Months later, SCEJ commits to a December 28th release.
The 21st sees Nintendo fully spec-out the DS to the press, an aggressive mode marking the beginning of a undermining campaign aimed at Sony’s PSP. Release dates for the US and Japan, pricing and complete technical specifications are published. Sony remains quiet on all fronts.
Later that day, in the words of In the words of David Reeves, president of SCEE, "We did it for Playstation and now this time for PlayStation 2. This totally redesigned, network ready model will demonstrate that PlayStation has once again the design flair and innovation that has made PlayStation the world's best loved and most successful games console." The tiny and gorgeous PSTwo spoils the DS party brilliantly, and makes the Xbox look even more like a suitcase.
We ran a story on the 21st of September which reported that Sony's German MD, Manfred Gerdes had reported that the PSP would go on sale at 33,000 yen. Sony were quick to respond that any prices were merely speculation, and insisted that we remove the story. We refused unless they would categorically state thar Herr Gerdes had not made the offedning comment. They wouldn't. The story stayed up... but the PSP eventually launched for 20,790 yen, including tax.
On the 24th, Sony drops all of Gran Turismo 4’s on-line features. The promise of on-line play was one of the main distinguishing features of the fourth GT instalment, but the indefinite delays experienced so far had largely been attributed to its tricky implementation. It comes as a major disappointment: one that’s barely compensated by Sony and Polyphony’s rather vague claim that an online version is planned for 2005. SCE has its online gaming credibility torn to shreds in the gaming press.
ICO 2, in the guise of Wanda and the Colossus is shown to the world. The value of the original game spikes as a classic series is underlined. A release at some point next year is planned for the beautiful-looking rework.
The 28th and Microsoft inadvertently confirms the Xenon moniker for its next generation of Xbox. In a job posting the firm asks, “Want to help create a new feature for Xenon not available on any other platform? Microsoft Game Studios Publishing is looking for an SDET with server experience to…” Kind of conclusive.
On the same day GameCube online fiddler WarpPipe seals an undisclosed commercial deal to provide ongoing support across a range of undisclosed Nintendo titles.
On the final day of the month, the two-hour battery life claims aimed at SCE’s PSP console are heard. Rumour had been suggesting that the PlayStation Portable may launch with a play-time power life as low as two hours, a disaster if proven true. Contacting SCE’s press office on the day, SPOnG was told. “We've not made any announcement about PSP battery life (same for price), and as with any speculation, we don't make any comment on it,” said a spokesman. SPOnG can’t help but think everyone, especially Sony, would have better off if the firm had simply asserted that the reports were bogus. Perhaps its fair to suggest that at that time, no one knew for sure.
We decide that the event is above average, an opinion echoed by most attendees. We do break the fact that Xbox PES4 will see full online play. So that’s a good start.
EA US Vice-President, Nancy Smith (presumably a Nokia shareholder) goes on record to say "In reaching the one million milestone, we see that the N-Gage is establishing itself as a serious player in the portable gaming business." Meanwhile a tumbleweed blows by.
The 2nd of the month sees Acclaim file for bankruptcy. The company’s assets are placed into the hands of receivers to be auctioned. A tale of greed and mismanagement comes to its predictable natural conclusion. But it is still a shame to see one of the industry's once-great players come to such an ignominious end, particularly as we are seeing choice eroded on a seemingly daily basis.
On the 7th, Sega sees it’s Xbox-based Chihiro arcade board cracked by the increasingly proficient Xbox hacking community. With added RAM, a modified Xbox can play games including Crazy Taxi High Roller, Ollie King, Outrun 2, The House of the Dead III and Virtua Cop 3.
A strange event on the 8th as the director of Skip Entertainment in Japan decides to tall the world that he’s not working on a new DS game. “Sorry, but it was all a lie," said Nishi-san in an update on his site. "I can't really talk about what I'm doing because of my legal obligation to keep secrets... I’m sorry for any trouble caused.” One of the odder moments of 2004.
Reports that the clouds of sweet-smelling smoke billowing forth from Sonic Team’s office following UGA’s arrival are directly accountable for the emergence of I Would Die For You could not be confirmed. The game sees a wondrous crashing together of Sonic Team and United Game Artists and becomes the watched game on the DS.
The 10th and ECTS Event Director Andy Lane says, "Lots of exhibitors and visitors were there. It didn't have the big name publishers, but the industry is about more than that and CMP has always been committed to running a wider trade event." This, in spite of certain EGN sales people - proudly and clearly disingenuously announcing that "…ECTS has seen less than one hundred through its doors…" in reference to the second day of the show.
Clearly, CMP is unhappy to see its long-neglected and mis-handles cash-cow nearing its end. Let's just hope that all involved are not determined to drag out the death of ECTS for as long as possible.
Former United Game Artists lead Tetsuya Mizuguchi says, “I think my next game will be for the PSP or Nintendo DS. You think because that it is on side of the game, when it meets, please use voice by all means.” No one knew what he meant. However, TGS saw the man’s pseudo Rez sequel, Lumines.
On the 15th, UK stalwart Eidos records a massive £2 million operating loss. The firm offsets the news by claiming every company and his COO is lining up to buy out the IP-rich firm. "Discussions, which relate to a possible sale of the company, are progressing well, although there can be no certainty at this stage as to whether or not they will lead to an offer being made."
The Tokyo Game Show kicks off and is as unremarkable as ever. Aside from Sega Rally, our man on the ground reported “nothing of interest aside from some suspiciously batteryless PSP units attached to some ladies with suspiciously small hands.”
News of the slim line PlayStation 2 unit, set to launch alongside San Andreas reaches SPOnG. The news proves genuine.
The 20th sees Gran Turismo 4 slip in Japan, with the PAL date nowhere near the horizon. Sony shifts the Eastern release to “winter 2004” giving itself the post-Christmas opt-out clause. Months later, SCEJ commits to a December 28th release.
The 21st sees Nintendo fully spec-out the DS to the press, an aggressive mode marking the beginning of a undermining campaign aimed at Sony’s PSP. Release dates for the US and Japan, pricing and complete technical specifications are published. Sony remains quiet on all fronts.
Later that day, in the words of In the words of David Reeves, president of SCEE, "We did it for Playstation and now this time for PlayStation 2. This totally redesigned, network ready model will demonstrate that PlayStation has once again the design flair and innovation that has made PlayStation the world's best loved and most successful games console." The tiny and gorgeous PSTwo spoils the DS party brilliantly, and makes the Xbox look even more like a suitcase.
We ran a story on the 21st of September which reported that Sony's German MD, Manfred Gerdes had reported that the PSP would go on sale at 33,000 yen. Sony were quick to respond that any prices were merely speculation, and insisted that we remove the story. We refused unless they would categorically state thar Herr Gerdes had not made the offedning comment. They wouldn't. The story stayed up... but the PSP eventually launched for 20,790 yen, including tax.
On the 24th, Sony drops all of Gran Turismo 4’s on-line features. The promise of on-line play was one of the main distinguishing features of the fourth GT instalment, but the indefinite delays experienced so far had largely been attributed to its tricky implementation. It comes as a major disappointment: one that’s barely compensated by Sony and Polyphony’s rather vague claim that an online version is planned for 2005. SCE has its online gaming credibility torn to shreds in the gaming press.
ICO 2, in the guise of Wanda and the Colossus is shown to the world. The value of the original game spikes as a classic series is underlined. A release at some point next year is planned for the beautiful-looking rework.
The 28th and Microsoft inadvertently confirms the Xenon moniker for its next generation of Xbox. In a job posting the firm asks, “Want to help create a new feature for Xenon not available on any other platform? Microsoft Game Studios Publishing is looking for an SDET with server experience to…” Kind of conclusive.
On the same day GameCube online fiddler WarpPipe seals an undisclosed commercial deal to provide ongoing support across a range of undisclosed Nintendo titles.
On the final day of the month, the two-hour battery life claims aimed at SCE’s PSP console are heard. Rumour had been suggesting that the PlayStation Portable may launch with a play-time power life as low as two hours, a disaster if proven true. Contacting SCE’s press office on the day, SPOnG was told. “We've not made any announcement about PSP battery life (same for price), and as with any speculation, we don't make any comment on it,” said a spokesman. SPOnG can’t help but think everyone, especially Sony, would have better off if the firm had simply asserted that the reports were bogus. Perhaps its fair to suggest that at that time, no one knew for sure.