PS3 for $299 a reality!

Omg! Here’s a piece of information I bet would interest even the most bored viewer of the console-wars (console war, what-ever!) :

Sony has put forward a new offer which states that if you purchase a PS3 with the Sony Credit Card, you get 100$ worth of credit, thus making the 40GB PS3’s price go down to 299$.

Go here if you’re interested in signing up!

That just about puts to rest all possible arguments implying that the Playstation 3 is too expensive for purchase. If you’re into buying a gaming console, you most likely know a little bit of something about games and stuff (and the fact that Nintendo’s Wii doesn’t output in HD – High Definition, that is – ) so you will probably be interested in the Xbox 360 from Microsoft or the Playstation 3 from Sony.

The fact is, a couple of months ago, everyone was saying that they couldn’t buy the PS3 because of it’s horrendous price compared to the 360. Now, taking advantage of this offer, every model of the Ps3 is 50$ cheaper than it’s Microsoftian sibling, without even taking into consideration the Xbox Live subscription, which is another 50$ for U.S. residents, and 80$ (80 – ZOMG!) for Europe residents or the difference in out-of-the-box features.

The scene is definitely set for an all-out battle this Christmas, and it will be very interesting to follow both Microsoft and the audience’s replies.

P.S. I think this change deserves a new head-to-head review of the two gaming systems, don’t you? When I have some time, I’ll work on it.

PC games on the PS3?

Why not?

A UK-based company under the name of StreamMyGame.com claims it has managed to create a system of hypertext links to computers that can be used remotely to play PC games by other visitors on the PC or other platforms.
Right now the games must be compatible to either Windows XP or Vista, supporting DirectX8, DirectX9, DirectX10 and OpenGL formats on resolutions up to HDTV 3200×2400. However, they promise to develop a Linux-based system by the end of the year, allowing games to be played on the(-also-Linux-based) PS3.

” “We are embarking on a new paradigm in the gaming industry fuelled by advances in computer hardware, network speeds and the want of gamers to have more freedom,” said Richard Faria CEO of StreamMyGame. “We network the power of their main PC so it can be used to play high end games on other PCs and laptops around the home. I believe the demand for high resolutions will drive the sales of high end PC hardware”.

“We will release a Linux version in Q4 2007 which will enable PC games to be played on the PlayStation 3 and many other devices including DVD players, set top boxes, networked media devices and mobile phones,” he said. ” – more here

How about that for a revolution? I think it would be absolutely brilliant if they managed to put together such a community of multi-platformed gamers, especially due to the fact that my PS3 only currently has 6 games and about 30 demos, while the library of my PC games reaches a couple of hundred big (and a couple of thousand small) games.
Bring on the future, I’m ready for it!

Altair is his name, stealthin’ is his game.

One of the games that inspired me to purchase a Playstation 3 (PS3) – actually, this game, along with Haze, counts for most of my most-eagerly-awaited games on the console – is Ubisoft’s “Assassin’s Creed“.

The game takes place in medieval times (during the Third Crusade, more precisely the year 1191) and places you in the shoes of Altair, a member of the Hashshashin sect of true “assassins”, who moves freely between the cities of Jerusalem, Acre and Damascus with the goal of eliminating nine important and historically-accurate figures.

Key aspects of the game’s appeal are the total interactiveness of the environment (very realistically crafted, they say) and the flawless historical accuracy (all targets of elimination are people who died or disappeared in the year of 1191).

To tell you the truth, I think that this was the game that “rang the bell” for me, in terms of gaming platform of the future, because it will only be available for the PS3 (Sony’s latest baby – if you didn’t know that, go back and make sure you read my posts attentively. I mean, I’m working my …keyboard off trying to get my posts to be factually accurate and you don’t bother to take notice and learn?! ) and the Xbox 360 from Sony’s bitter rival, Microsoft. (it is announced for the PC also, to be released sometime in early – Q1 – 2008)

I now invite you to join me in watching “Assassin’s Creed” ’s beautifully made trailer :

Seems like Ubisoft did it again, wouldn’t you agree?
I can barely wait to get my hands on it!

Humanity’s final hope

I’ve started playing Resistance : Fall of man on the PS3 in cooperative, with Tvvity.
The action takes place in an alternate reality, one in which World War II never happened and Lenin’s revolution was supressed, leading to Russia still being lead by a Tsar.
The introductive cinematic starts off the story with the news that the Chimera, species created deep into the Russian territory in the 1940’s after some biological experiments, have conquered in a matter of weeks the entire Europe, Britain being the last remaining free European country. After some time of fighting, Britain falls too. “The war was lost” – the narrator (a woman) tells us. She then recounts of an attack the Americans launched on the western coast of the U.K., and introduces Nathan Hale, an officer in the American army. She says we’ll be following the story of the days of 11′th to 14′th of July, the last day Hale was seen.

I think we’ve gotten to about the middle of the game (12′th of July) and, up to know, the game is really a hit. The enemies are both varied and clever, making it a joy and a thrill to shoot them out of our way. The graphics are excellent and the sound is very mood-setting and appropriate to the action you are experiencing. The multitude of weapons and enemies makes the game very dinamic, allowing you to choose a number of factors that will contribute to your victory, instead of just going and and thrashing your way mindlessly (although, I must say, you CAN do that, but it takes all the fun out of it – we managed to finish one level in about 2 minutes).
When we finish the game, I’ll post a complete review and more pictures.