inVoid

Xbox 360 Experiencing ‘Stagnant’ Demand, says Pachter

Following the NPD’s July video game sales data , which revealed just a bit over 200,000 units sold for Microsoft’s Xbox 360, Wedbush Morgan Securities analyst Michael Pachter has proclaimed demand for the platform to be "stagnant." Rumors have swirled that Microsoft is preparing to cut prices across its hardware SKUs – a move that UBS analyst Ben Schachter believes would have a "significant impact ."

Pachter commented, "Xbox 360 hardware sales were again lighter than we expected, indicating that Microsoft may be experiencing stagnant demand. The company cut the price of its Xbox 360 Pro (20GB) by $50 to $299 in July, but demand remained fairly flat. We do not expect a significant bump in August with the release of the new Pro 60GB at $349. We expect Microsoft to reconsider its pricing strategy, especially if sales of the Xbox 360 continue to lag sales of the PS3."

Despite a slight slowdown in hardware sales overall for the July period, Pachter believes that "underlying software sales strength along with increased hardware supply position the industry for continued strong sales through 2008." He said that his current software sales growth forecast for 2008 (which includes PC games) of 19 percent is "clearly too low" and Wedbush will issue a revised sales forecast in the coming weeks.

Source: GameDaily

Tags: Gaming, new, stagnant, xbox, xbox360

A Joint Microsoft/Sony Console Not Far Off

Over the past two years, Microsoft and Sony have engaged in the most brutal product conflict in recent memory. VHS versus Betamax. DVD versus LaserDisc. These petty feuds cannot hold a candle to the gruesome nature of modern-day console warfare. It’s the kind of battle that makes Ali vs. Frazier look like two chubbigans fighting over the last Twizzler, and it shows no sign of slowing in the near future. Though Microsoft Corporate VP Shane Kim has issued a fair amount of criticism at the Playstation 3 over the past week, Sony continues to emphasize their infamous “10 Year Plan” and superior hardware edge without rest. The truth is, while these industry behemoths throw hollow jabs, Nintendo has taken stride with the Wii and stands alone in their pursuit for worldwide market share.

-Brian Paterson, ReelGamers.com Tags: Gaming

The Snake is a Lie

This article contains enormous MGS2 spoilers, just so you know.

Joystiq's The B[ack]log:

"Playing Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty again, after all these years, has had an interesting effect on my opinion of it. Which is to say, I actually like it now. I'm tempted to compare it to a maturing, fine wine, a substance I'm sure was heavily consumed during the game's development, but the truth is that Sons of Liberty remains every bit the unhinged and convoluted mess I remember it to be. A mess that, with patience and even the slightest idea of what you're getting yourself into, becomes considerably easier to navigate. Wait ... does that make me the wine?" Tags: Gaming

Ubisoft responds to lineup criticism, dumps all over its good games.

Jim Sterling writes:
"An Ubisoft rep has responded to criticism that its Wii lineup contains nothing for "normal" gamers by essentially saying that nobody cares about their best games, so screw it." Tags: Gaming

Screenshot contest: Crysis versus Reality

Is it possible to build real life pictures with the Crysis engine Cryengine 2? A nice to watch screenshot contest in the crymod forums is worth a look. PCGH covers the best submissions so far. Tags: Gaming

Gears of War Re-Issue Confirmed With Details

Microsoft has sent out the official details on the Gears of War re-release, the re-release is due out on June 24 for $39. Tags: Gaming

EDGE Magazine Latest scores

Cover:Mad World

Hype

Killzone 2
Guitar Hero 4
Pure
Maifa 2
Mercenaries 2
Bourne Conspiracy
Star Wars: Force Unleashed
World of Goo
Motorstorm: Pacific Rift
Pixeljunk Eden
Silent Hill Homecoming
Siren:New Translation
Rise of the Argonauts
Battleforge
Cryostasis

Features

Alpha Protocol
Platinum Games
Burnout Dlc
Net Yaroze Interviews
Runescape

Reviews

Metal Gear Solid 4 8
Haze (5)
Grid (9)
Lego Indiana Jones (6)
Boom Blox 8
Civilzation Revolution 8
Lostwinds 8
Baroque (5)
Iron Man (2)
Soul Bubbles (7)
Noitu Love 2 (7)
Track and Field (7)
1942: Joint Strike (4)
Commando 3 (6)

Region Specific: Singapore

Time Extend: Star Fox 64

The Making of: Carmageddon Tags: Gaming

Gametrailers: World Exclusive Fracture Trailer

Here's the brand new trailer to Fracture. Tags: Gaming

Final Fantasy titles need a new theme

"The allure just isn't there anymore for the Final Fantasy titles and we have to ask why."

s0rethumbs looks at what holds the Final Fantasy series together. You can guess their conclusion isn't the game names. They think it has more to do with Square having a blond moment in design and creativity. Tags: Gaming

The Lost Nintendo Games: FF VII, MGS & More

Atlantis. The Holy Grail. That episode of Star Trek where Captain Picard dresses in drag and does the macarena. They are things lost forever to the cruel winds of time, and yet they continue to capture the imaginations of successive generations. Gaming has its own graveyard of historical curios: half-born ideas and ill-fated projects that fell to the red pen of a corporate accountant. They’re called vaporware, and it looks like the Wii is on the cusp of its first two vaporware titles: the elusive Project H.A.M.M.E.R. and the mysterious Sadness.

But as GamesRadar patiently wait to hear the final fate of those two titles, they decided to cast a tearful eye over past Nintendo games that were coldly struck down before they ever had the chance to fill a gamer’s day with sunshine, to place a smile on the face of a child. These, friends, are the games that never were. Tags: Gaming