Wow, been a while since I've done one of these, besides the E3 versions... Here we go!

- 1: Analysts speculate: The Wii predicted to be $200.
- 2: Bethesda says two weeks for a Thieves Den.
- 3: Everything but HDMI output is upgradeable for the PS3?
- 4: Microsoft to undercut the PS3 with its HD-DVD package?
- 5: We gamers say: We're okay with ads. It's the future.
- 6: 15 launch titles for the PS3? Mixed signals incoming...
- 7: The Xbox 360 tops April's console sale charts!
- 8: Infinium finally busted? Hopefully...
- 9: Microsoft countersues Lucent, Lucent screwed?
- 10: Immersion says: What the hell, Sony?
- 11: Gyroscopic controller coming to the PC & PS2...
- 12: Are you a vector artist? Click the link!

Full stories after the jump!

- 1: Analysts speculate: The Wii predicted to be $200.

An anon SEGA executive says below 200, Merrill Lynch says just about 200, but what should we really expect? Hopefully, nothing above $175. Honestly, the Revolution doesn't look much better than the GameCube (graphically), and, unless the controller is, like, fifty bucks, 200 will turn some people away. In all honesty, I'll buy it as long as it's under $225, but expect it to be much lower than that.

- 2: Bethesda says two weeks for a Thieves Den.

Best part: "You'll be able to form your own band of pirates," Who doesn't want their own band of pirates!?

- 3: Everything but HDMI output is upgradeable for the PS3?

Sony has confirmed that Wi-Fi and memory upgrades for the $499 edition of the PlayStation 3 will be available at some point. The problem is, what is the biggest cripple of the 499 edition?

Probably: the HDMI output. This is a plus, but who knows the prices... Is it going to be significantly beneficial to buy a $599 PlayStation 3 instead of the $499 version? Hopefully not, for the sake of those who really don't have the extra hundred but still want Sony's machine.

- 4: Microsoft to undercut the PS3 with its HD-DVD package?

"that Microsoft has intimated to [retail sources in the UK] that the HD-DVD add-on for the Xbox 360 will be priced such that console and peripheral combined are cheaper than Sony's PS3."

As much as most people find next gen formats useless (me?) at this point, Microsoft needs to release their HD-DVD player at a competitive price as to be able to say that they too, are offering a new format, and if they do as said in this Joystiq article, then they can say they have the new format for less cash than the PS3. A huge plus to those early adopters of these two disc formats.

- 5: We gamers say: We're okay with ads. It's the future.

What did the study show? It showed that most gamers understood the fact that advertising and games are meant to mix for the future, and that they accept it and will still buy games that contain advertisements.

It's all about keeping the games fun, guys. As long as the games don't loose any quality, ads can be fun to look at. I laugh to myself everytime I see one. Maybe one day I'll be pissed, because there'll be too many, but a slight increase couldn't hurt. Could it?

- 6: 15 launch titles for the PS3? Mixed signals incoming...

Hirai says 15 games for the launch. Activision, EA, and Ubisoft back Sony on this statement. But Sega of America and THQ disagree. Sega mentions that many developers haven't recieved development kit hardware from Sony, and THQ states that their Sopranos game will not release with the PlayStation 3 launch "because lack of hardware specifications make the title's release too risky".

With the Xbox 360 having released with 18 titles, as well as 12 XBLA titles, and the Wii planned to release with 20+ titles, a "risky" 15 estimate seems a bit low.

- 7: The Xbox 360 tops April's console sale charts!

295,000 Xbox 360s sold in the month of April! This number succeeds over the PlayStation 2's 205,000 units sold... Holy... How the hell does that damned console still sell like that? Do people realize that there is a next generation out there? And that the Xbox 360 is released, with the PlayStation 3 and the Wii set to release this year!? What the hell?

Surely Sony's poor performance and Microsoft's strong showing at E3 will make May an even bigger success for Microsoft. And I'm not saying this with any matter against the PlayStation 3 - just about the PlayStation 2... It's old now.

- 8: Infinium finally busted? Hopefully...

"So we aren't surprised at all that the SEC is investigating Infinium Labs ex-CEO Timothy Roberts for misleading investors to artificially raise Infinium's stock prices, then immediately selling his own shares at an inflated price before they got wise."

Finally. Finally... When is this damn Phantom going to die? Is it ever going to die?

- 9: Microsoft countersues Lucent, Lucent screwed?

Following the lawsuit against Microsoft by Lucent Technologies, for misuse of Lucent's video decoding patent, Microsoft has countersued Lucent after the judge has ruled Lucent's lawsuit invalid over a technicality.

Now, Microsoft is claiming that Lucent has infringed on several Microsoft patents. Good. I hope Lucent gets crushed. I don't know how they pull this garbage. Oh, yeah, I forgot, we're in America...

- 10: Immersion says: What the hell, Sony?

Microsoft and some other company settled with Immersion, so should Sony. But they won't. In fact, Immersion Corporation's President, Victor Viegas, says they're trying to do anything but settle (Sony, that is), creating unnecessary energy around the suit. Including Viegas' claims that one of Sony's witnesses was paid for his/her testimony. What else is new with Sony?

Viegas also says he doubts Sony's claims that vibration was taken out of the PlayStation 3 controller because of the tilt features. In fact, he says that the problem would be easy to solve, and Immersion engineers would be happy to solve the issue for Sony.

"Vegas says that Immersion 'would have no qualms helping Sony with their problem, if indeed it is a problem,' but the company would have to cease its appeal against the current injuction."

" 'We have solutions we have perfected and demonstrated to Sony, contingent on their acceptance of our terms,'  Viegas said. 'All we can do now is wait and see.' "

"Sony's PlayStation 3: A Step Backwards". Do it, Sony, settle and get vibration back into your controllers. It's the right thing, as well as the smart thing, to do.

- 11: Gyroscopic controller coming to the PC & PS2...

Is it just me or is that controller hideously ugly? Anyway, besides the point... Is any developer going to take advantage of this controller? Does anyone else find it funny that technology from Immersion is going on the PS2 again? All in all, this looks pretty useless. At least, for the PS2, since no one is going to go back and make this work with a game well enough.

Good thing Sony isn't making it, otherwise I'd be pissed and confused at the same time. I'm still waiting out on what other developers, besides Incognito, do with the PS3's controller.

- 12: Are you a vector artist? Click the link!

_{Hey guys,
So we found a flash animator and we're looking for a vector artist to fill out the ranks more.... This project is so cool I'm even doing the sound for it bahahahahahaha
Seriously though, if you can do vector art or know someone who can then please drop me a line at andy@gamerandy.com... This is the final piece of the puzzle, hopefully we'll be able to show off results in bout 2 weeks
-Andy}

Well, that's all for today, folks. Until next time...

Game on!