Weekly News & Notes (9/22)
More news, more news, and only 34 days until Playstation2.
Published: September 24, 2000
Alot of news to get to, so I won't waste any more time.
+ TOP STORY - Sony is almost ready to launch their online strategy. To be quite honest, online console gaming is still for the most part unproven territory. Recent surveys have indicated that most console gamers aren't all that excited about the concept of playing games online. But then again, when that poll was taken none of those polled had any experience playing NFL2K1 online either. Now whether the future of online gaming on the Dreamcast or on any console for that matter will be more like a couple of random Chu Chu Rocket games or an immersive, although not perfect, offering of NFL2K1 remains to be seen. What I can tell you is that the cat is out of the bag and the technology is there.
When Sony announced that the PlayStation2 would eventually support online gaming we knew that Sega was in for a real showdown. The fact that Sony all but slaughtered Sega with the PlayStation and the backlash that the short-lived Saturn brought to Sega's reputation couldn't help sell Sega's 128-bit Dreamcast.
But the prospect that it would be a cheaper and more versatile unit could help. The Dreamcast is more versatile simply because it supports online play. While this didn't happen at launch as Sega had promised (there were a few hurdles in America to overcome) it has arrived with all of the pomp and circumstance that you could imagine.
So you can imagine why Sony wants a stake in the online console market, if there indeed is one. To get the ball rolling on this plan, Sony of Japan announced that it has formulated a system for content distribution on the PlayStation2.
The partnership will bind Sony and Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation together to provide this service to consumers. The service will put the multi-faceted PlayStation2 online and make it possible to get movies, games, and other goods over the Internet.
Sony has long contended that online gaming would be limited as long as there weren't broadband solutions available. On the other hand, Sega has been using a 56K connection for its online games with the potential USB upgrade already in the works. This PlayStation2 online system will work using NTT's fiber optic network and should support Sony's USB plans.
The service isn't ready for public consumption yet, as Sony announced that the preliminary testing of this service will begin this December and if all goes well PlayStation2 users in Japan should be able to plug into this service by late 2001. There has been no word as to when the PlayStation2 will support online features in Europe or North America.
Given that Japan is typically the testing ground for these sorts of endeavors, don't be surprised that the service doesn't proliferate until mid to late 2002. We will keep up with this story and bring you further details as they surface.
+ HEADLINES - Europeans delays, bummer. As we approach the PlayStation2 release date in Europe we are quickly becoming privy to more and more information regarding that release. While it seemed early on that our European friends might be receiving the shaft as Sony seemed ill-prepared to handle a simultaneous U.S. and European launch, it seems that things are finally starting to make sense on the European side of the Atlantic.
I recently received confirmation on several key European release dates. The most important of these surrounds the highly awaited Gran Turismo 2000.
According to our sources, GT2000 will be ready in time for the launch of the PlayStation2 in Europe and will be accompanied by other top-shelf launch titles such as Kessen and Wipeout Fusion. This puts and end to speculation that had GT2000 being pushed back until Christmas in Europe.
I also have confirmation on who will be publishing Koei's games in the European marketplace and the announcement that Electronic Arts will be handling the honors that confirms our suspicions and puts an end to the rumor mill. Also in related news, SCEE announced that Gran Turismo will be accompanied by Namco's GP500 (Moto GP to us Yankees).
In March 2001, Wipeout Fusion and Formula 1 2001 should appear on European store shelves. EA will release Kessen in Europe on the seventh of December to appease all strategy buffs. Unfortunately there is no real news as to when or if EA will be publishing Koei's Dynasty Warriors 2.
We expect that they will, it is just a matter of penning a date. Most conservative estimates would put this title as a first quarter 2001 release.
Hopefully that clarifies a few things concerning software releases in Europe. While not exactly great news it could be worse. EA could release the James Bond Collection instead of Kessen and then you guys would feel really sad.
+ OTHER NEWS - Today was the big day for those just salivating to get their hands on Sony's newest console. Well, so it is totally new, but it is definitely more compact. I am talking about the PSOne, kids. Today you can get your hands on the redesigned, 1/3 size version of the original PlayStation for only $99. Now just be on the look out for the four-color LCD screen that is scheduled for release in Spring of 2001. My full review is available here
+ FINANCIAL NEWS - Intel Corp. lowered the number its expects for the third quarter in revenue because of the lackluster demand in Europe. The company is now predicting to be up about three to five percent from its second quarter $3.8 billion.
+ OTAKU NEWS - SCEI announced that there will be two new PlayStation 2 peripherals released in Japan later this year. The first peripheral will be a USB printer used to print memos and postcards. The second will be a digital camera to be called the "DSC-P1." The DSC-P1 will also be USB based and will capture game action for about 100,000 yen.
That's all for this week, see ya in a few!
+ TOP STORY - Sony is almost ready to launch their online strategy. To be quite honest, online console gaming is still for the most part unproven territory. Recent surveys have indicated that most console gamers aren't all that excited about the concept of playing games online. But then again, when that poll was taken none of those polled had any experience playing NFL2K1 online either. Now whether the future of online gaming on the Dreamcast or on any console for that matter will be more like a couple of random Chu Chu Rocket games or an immersive, although not perfect, offering of NFL2K1 remains to be seen. What I can tell you is that the cat is out of the bag and the technology is there.
When Sony announced that the PlayStation2 would eventually support online gaming we knew that Sega was in for a real showdown. The fact that Sony all but slaughtered Sega with the PlayStation and the backlash that the short-lived Saturn brought to Sega's reputation couldn't help sell Sega's 128-bit Dreamcast.
But the prospect that it would be a cheaper and more versatile unit could help. The Dreamcast is more versatile simply because it supports online play. While this didn't happen at launch as Sega had promised (there were a few hurdles in America to overcome) it has arrived with all of the pomp and circumstance that you could imagine.
So you can imagine why Sony wants a stake in the online console market, if there indeed is one. To get the ball rolling on this plan, Sony of Japan announced that it has formulated a system for content distribution on the PlayStation2.
The partnership will bind Sony and Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation together to provide this service to consumers. The service will put the multi-faceted PlayStation2 online and make it possible to get movies, games, and other goods over the Internet.
Sony has long contended that online gaming would be limited as long as there weren't broadband solutions available. On the other hand, Sega has been using a 56K connection for its online games with the potential USB upgrade already in the works. This PlayStation2 online system will work using NTT's fiber optic network and should support Sony's USB plans.
The service isn't ready for public consumption yet, as Sony announced that the preliminary testing of this service will begin this December and if all goes well PlayStation2 users in Japan should be able to plug into this service by late 2001. There has been no word as to when the PlayStation2 will support online features in Europe or North America.
Given that Japan is typically the testing ground for these sorts of endeavors, don't be surprised that the service doesn't proliferate until mid to late 2002. We will keep up with this story and bring you further details as they surface.
+ HEADLINES - Europeans delays, bummer. As we approach the PlayStation2 release date in Europe we are quickly becoming privy to more and more information regarding that release. While it seemed early on that our European friends might be receiving the shaft as Sony seemed ill-prepared to handle a simultaneous U.S. and European launch, it seems that things are finally starting to make sense on the European side of the Atlantic.
I recently received confirmation on several key European release dates. The most important of these surrounds the highly awaited Gran Turismo 2000.
According to our sources, GT2000 will be ready in time for the launch of the PlayStation2 in Europe and will be accompanied by other top-shelf launch titles such as Kessen and Wipeout Fusion. This puts and end to speculation that had GT2000 being pushed back until Christmas in Europe.
I also have confirmation on who will be publishing Koei's games in the European marketplace and the announcement that Electronic Arts will be handling the honors that confirms our suspicions and puts an end to the rumor mill. Also in related news, SCEE announced that Gran Turismo will be accompanied by Namco's GP500 (Moto GP to us Yankees).
In March 2001, Wipeout Fusion and Formula 1 2001 should appear on European store shelves. EA will release Kessen in Europe on the seventh of December to appease all strategy buffs. Unfortunately there is no real news as to when or if EA will be publishing Koei's Dynasty Warriors 2.
We expect that they will, it is just a matter of penning a date. Most conservative estimates would put this title as a first quarter 2001 release.
Hopefully that clarifies a few things concerning software releases in Europe. While not exactly great news it could be worse. EA could release the James Bond Collection instead of Kessen and then you guys would feel really sad.
+ OTHER NEWS - Today was the big day for those just salivating to get their hands on Sony's newest console. Well, so it is totally new, but it is definitely more compact. I am talking about the PSOne, kids. Today you can get your hands on the redesigned, 1/3 size version of the original PlayStation for only $99. Now just be on the look out for the four-color LCD screen that is scheduled for release in Spring of 2001. My full review is available here
+ FINANCIAL NEWS - Intel Corp. lowered the number its expects for the third quarter in revenue because of the lackluster demand in Europe. The company is now predicting to be up about three to five percent from its second quarter $3.8 billion.
+ OTAKU NEWS - SCEI announced that there will be two new PlayStation 2 peripherals released in Japan later this year. The first peripheral will be a USB printer used to print memos and postcards. The second will be a digital camera to be called the "DSC-P1." The DSC-P1 will also be USB based and will capture game action for about 100,000 yen.
That's all for this week, see ya in a few!