Late Night Consoling

For a while now, Microsoft has been stating that the Xbox 360 controller would be compatible with Windows games. However, when the company announced its new gaming mouse yesterday, there was a note near the bottom of the announcement noting that the wired "Xbox 360 Controller for Windows" would be available in November for $44.95. However, online retailer EBGames.com lists the wired Xbox 360 Controller (for Xbox 360) with a price of $39.99. This discrepancy suggested a possible difference in the hardware itself.

GameSpot contacted Microsoft and was told that the only difference between the two is that the Windows controller comes with Windows drivers. The price difference is due to Microsoft misjudging the price the retailer would choose.

Microsoft has announced the existence of a limited edition version of Rare's Perfect Dark Zero, an Xbox 360 launch title. This is not particularly surprising, as many high-profile games have been getting this sort of doctoring up lately. However, while this limited edition set will retail for $59.99, it is notable that the regular version of the game will be only $49.99. As we are all aware by now, many Xbox 360 games are expected to be set at the higher of those two price points. According to Gamasutra, it seems that that will still be the case--at least for third party games. However, titles published by Microsoft Game Studios--including, of course all games by Microsoft-owned Rare--will have a $49.99 price point. Gamasutra points out that Sony has made use of a similar strategy this generation, with a $39.99 price tag on most (but not all) Sony-published games and a $49.99 tag on most new third-party games.

For those who are interested, the limited edition of Perfect Dark Zero will include a video feature on the game's art, a dance track, a Perfect Dark Zero theme for the 360 Guide, the first chapter of the Perfect Dark novel, and a Perfect Dark comic book.

There were several game announcements, discoveries of games, or clarifications of vaguely-announced games today, so here's a recap:

Atlus has announced that a Shin Megami Tensei game is in the works for PlayStation 3; no specifics were revealed. Shin Megami Tensei: Digital Devil Saga (PS2) was released earlier this year and that game's sequel ships this month.

Despite Take-Two's exclusive license on third-party MLB games, EA Sports is continuing its MVP Baseball line. It's just moving to the NCAA (with which EA had great success in this year's NCAA Football 06). The newly-christened MVP 06 NCAA Baseball is set for release in spring of next year, surely for a billion platforms.

Sega is bringing Super Monkey Ball to the Nintendo DS. The game will obviously use the stylus to control the ball and sports 100 levels. It will contain six modes and have wireless multiplayer.

Capcom's "Rockman Rockman" (or "Mega Man Mega Man" outside of Japan) PSP title previously noted to be present at TGS will be a remake of the first NES Mega Man game. It will apparently make use of cute deformed polygonal graphics (though the actual gameplay will be straight 2D) and apparently contains some kind of level editor.

Sega is working on a game called Sonic Riders for PS2, which may or may not be under development by Sonic Team, may or may not be a racing game, and which may or may not be a sequel to or spinoff of Sonic R (Saturn). One thing is certain: it will have Sonic in it.

Tecmo announced Gallop Racer 8: Live Horse Racing for PS2. So if you have all seven other Gallop Racer games and you're jonesing to race more horses, you better get ready to import this baby when it's released in Japan on November 24.

According to IGN, Japan's Famitsu magazine reports that Namco will have Ridge Racer 6 (X360) in playable form at next week's Tokyo Game Show. Rare's Kameo: Elements of Power and Taito's World Air Force will also be playable. It is likely that more playable games will be announced as the show approaches.

Sega of America has recruited a new Senior Vice President of Product Development in the form of William Petro. Previously, Petro worked at Atari where he headed the Backyard Sports franchise, and prior to that he was employed by Westwood and is credited with design and programming roles on games such as Lands of Lore and Blade Runner.

...and that system is cell phones. Hooray?

With game prices due to rise with the release of the new consoles, Next Generation asks industry professionals for their opinions on the matter. Somewhat unsurprisingly, publishers who responded support the change, whereas developers were more wary.

Stephen Lim from Insomniac Games has part one of a developer diary about Ratchet: Deadlocked (PS2).