As US retailers shift into high gear the day after Thanksgiving, Wedbush Morgan Securities analyst Michael Pachter is expecting impressive results.
"The industry will crush all records," he told GamesIndustry.biz. "Hardware should be up 15 per cent over last year, and software around the same."
While noting the positive effect of recent price cuts, Pachter nevertheless expects Nintendo to remain the hardware sales leader.
"I think the Nintendo DS will sell the most units, followed by the Wii," he said.
Most publishers have now released their titles for the busy Christmas sales period, making it a crucial time for them. When the dust settles, Pachter expects Electronic Arts to come out on top with respect to software sales.
But which game will be number one this holiday season?
"Depending on when we start counting, Guitar Hero has a chance to be number one," said Pachter. "If we start back in September, Halo 3 has a shot."
S.T.A.L.K.E.R developer GSC Game World has become a certified Xbox 360 developer.
The Ukranian studio announced the news this weekend, saying that it has obtained all the necessary development tools “to get down to development of projects on Xbox 360”.
“Obtaining such a status for an independent developer based in ex-USSR means a lot - it took us over two years to get,” said Sergiy Grygorovych, CEO of GSC Game World.
"Creating games for PC, we achieved practically everything, and now are prepared to garner the top spots in sales charts and gamers' recognition in the world of console games too. This said, we will continue paying maximum attention to the PC platform."
Get ready for classic space shooting action with the release of “Asteroids” and “Asteroids Deluxe” which will be available jointly for download on Xbox LIVE Arcade for Xbox 360 this Wednesday, November 28 at 9:00 a.m. GMT (2:00 a.m. PST).
Save the earth from a deadly deluge of asteroids and re-experience the beloved arcade classics “Asteroids” and “Asteroids Deluxe” on Xbox LIVE Arcade. Players control a spaceship in an asteroid field and shoot to destroy asteroids and saucers, all while trying to avoid a costly collision. Complete with re-mastered HD visuals and the whiplash inducing high-speed “throttle monkey” mode, players will be hooked for hours! “Asteroids” and “Asteroids Deluxe” will be available worldwide as a joint download for 400 Microsoft Points and are rated E for Everyone by the ESRB.
Expand Your Xbox LIVE Network of Pals by browsing the Friends lists of other Xbox LIVE members. New Experience to be made available on December 4th with the Xbox 360 Fall Dashboard Update
Microsoft is making it even easier to expand your Friends network on Xbox LIVE, starting with the Fall Dashboard Update on December 4th. Members will now be able to check out the friends lists of fellow Xbox LIVE members right from the Dashboard. With this new feature, members can find old friends or connect with new ones within the community of more than 8 million people on Xbox LIVE around the globe and send messages and game invites, as well as compare games and Achievements.
With the prevalence of social media websites such as MySpace and FaceBook, this type of capability has largely come to be expected from consumers as a means to relate in an online community. Xbox LIVE continually seeks new ways to better serve the expectations of its members, which often result in enhancements made available for free through the bi-annual Dashboard updates.
When the Fall Dashboard update is distributed on December 4th, the new default setting on Xbox LIVE will be active enabling members to see the Friends lists of other Xbox LIVE members. Members who would like to keep their friends list private can take the following steps to change their settings beginning today:
Log in to http://www.xbox.com/fof and select one of the three options available for your Gamertag:
- Everyone (only available to members 18 and older)
- Friends only (available to members 13 and older)
- Blocked (available to all members, and automatic for anyone under the age of 13)
Stay tuned for more information about the Xbox 360 Dashboard Update later this month.
Microsoft is being sued by consumers who are upset about the Halo 3 video game frying while they're playing it on the Xbox. Heaven help us!
TMZ obtained a class action lawsuit filed in Federal Court, which claims Halo 3 is causing major problems when played by people using Xbox systems. Randy Nunez alleges that when he used the nearly $60 game on Xbox it would "crash, freeze, or lock up" while running.
According to the suit, Microsoft and Bungie, the company who makes Halo 3, raked in close to $300 million in the first week. Nerds!
The class action suit seeks over $5 million in damages.
Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock Wireless Guitar Controllers Hitting Retail Shelves in Early 2008
SANTA MONICA, Calif., Nov 26, 2007 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Activision, Inc. (Nasdaq:ATVI) today announced that standalone wireless guitar controllers for Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock will be available at retail stores nationwide by early 2008.
Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock lets fans thrash and burn with new wireless guitar controllers available for each platform, including exclusive Gibson Guitar's Les Paul model for the Xbox 360(TM) video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, Wii(TM) home video game system from Nintendo, and PLAYSTATION(R)3 computer entertainment system. PlayStation(R)2 gamers will also get to shred on an exclusive shape, Gibson's Kramer guitar, popularized by hard rockers and known for its body design, pickups, electronics and construction for furious finger fretting.
Terminator: Survivors confirmed for Xbox Series, PS5 & PC via Steam Play as a survivor in the aftermath of Judgment Day in Terminator: Survivors, a new open-world survival game by NACON (@Nacon). Build the resistance and defy the machines in Terminator: Survivors, com..
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"I think the Nintendo DS will sell the most units, followed by the Wii," he said.
“Obtaining such a status for an independent developer based in ex-USSR means a lot - it took us over two years to get,” said Sergiy Grygorovych, CEO of GSC Game World.
According to the suit, Microsoft and Bungie, the company who makes Halo 3, raked in close to $300 million in the first week. Nerds!
