Professional Gamer returns with some news and time wasters this week. Again, let me remind you that if you find anything game related which you think is worth sharing feel free to email me ([email protected]) and I will try and include it in a future post.
NEWS
Gfk Chart Track released the UK Lifetime Hardware figures as of 31 January 2009. Link
Wii 4.9m
360 3.2m
PS3 1.9m
DS 8.8m
PSP 3.2m
PS2 10m
The PS3 is lagging behind its two competitors (launched later than both consoles) but it’s believed to be ahead of the 360 in the rest of Europe. While the Wii appears to be the new leader in the current console generatio, and not just in the UK, some dark clouds are starting to appear in the horizon. Japan has traditionally been the country where the console cycle is ahead of the rest of the other countries. Bill Harris at Dubious Quality has an excellent analysis of the lifetime sales in Japan and why Nintendo should be worried. It seems that the financial crisis, lack of good Wii games and the expansion of the market to less hardcore gamers are starting to take effect. Not to mention that the Wii has not had a price cut yet since it’s launch. In Cyprus the Wii is more expensive than the 360.
“The Wii‘s decline is also shocking. I knew that sales were down substantially, but on a twelve-month basis, those numbers are alarming. Yes, the first year sales were absolutely huge, but it’s still a freefall.” Read more here
Downloadable content
A lot of downloadable content out there this month.
Valve once again shows the gaming world how it is done. It released the FREE patch for Left 4 Dead Survival Pack. The patch is available on PC and Xbox Live to download and introduces the Survival mode “Survival Mode pits your team against never ending waves of infected”. I really love this game and want to play more of this. For more details read the Left 4 Dead blog. Link
Burnout Paradise is probably one of the best value for money and highest quality racing games of all time. Criterion keeps producing excellent downloadable content for the game with the next one coming out on April 30th named Cops & Robbers. Will be available on both the PS3 and 360. Here is the teaser trailer Link.
Tom Clancy’s HAWX, Ubisoft’s flight simulator. has also got some DLC this week called European Assault and it costs 400pts on XBL or US$4.99 on the PS3. The pack contains The Dassault Rafale, the Saab-37 Viggen, “two Mirage planes designed for nuclear strike and long-range interception,” the FB-22 prototype bomber, and the XA-20 Razorback, from Tom Clancy’s EndWar. HAWX is not my cup of tea but it has a good co-op campaign experience for those console owners longing for some dogfights.
TIME WASTERS
If you are reading this at work that means you are really bored. If you like arcadey, no brains fun flash games then check this one out. Flying dinosaurs shooting laser beams from their mouths…..Link
Another flash game called Hex Empire and it’s a hex turn based strategy game for the armchair emperors out there. It’s pretty straightforward to play and it has that “one more turn” curse. Link
CURRENTLY PLAYING…..
I have been playing a lot of card and board games on Xbox Live Arcade this past week and specifically Carcassone which is a tile based game. If you are a fan of Catan (one of my favourite board games), Risk, Ticket to Ride then you should probably check this game out. Here is a link to the Eurogamer review which also explains how the game is played. It’s a fast game to play meaning you should be able to play a (offline or online) session in around 45mins or less. I had my doubts about the element of strategy in this game but i am finally understanding that it has its own virtues and i am enjoying it a lot.