Late Night Consoling

Retail and corporate employees of major gaming retail chain GameStop, which includes all EB Games locations, have confirmed final preorder plans for PlayStation 3, which launches this November. Tomorrow, October 10, EB and GameStop locations will begin accepting preorders for the system with a $100 minimum deposit.

Stores are expected to have low launch allocations, with most receiving under 10 units each and some seeing up to 16; likewise, the number of preorders accepted tomorrow at each location will be limited. Even so, placing a preorder does not guarantee a system when the machine is released. Sony announced last month that it plans to ship 400,000 to North America for the November 17 launch date.

Midway stated earlier this year that its Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 would some day find its way to Xbox Live Arcade, but has made no official mention of the promised game since the initial announced. Today, buried in a press release trumpeting the release of Mortal Kombat: Armageddon for PlayStation 2 and Xbox, Midway reconfirmed the Xbox Live Arcade port of UMK3, courtesy of the XBLA porting veterans at Digital Eclipse. While stopping short of dating the game, Midway did reveal that the game will be coming to Microsoft's online service in November.

Sega has revealed details of an upcoming open multiplayer beta for the Xbox 360 version of Sonic Team and Total Entertainment's single- and multiplayer action/RPG Phantasy Star Universe (PS2, X360, PC). From Wednesday, October 11 to Thursday, October 12, Xbox Live users will be able to download a free PSU multiplayer client that will remain operational for a week-long multiplayer beta session, concluding October 18.

Final pricing information for PSU's online component was also officially revealed. The game's Guardians License, required to play online, will run $9.99 per month, with six months of play able to be purchased for $49.99. Sega plans to continually support the game with new content added over time.

Phantasy Star Universe will ship for PlayStation 2, Xbox 360, and PC on October 24, 2006.

Electronic Arts has announced the release date for the PlayStation 3 version of EA Chicago's well received boxing game Fight Night Round 3 (PS2, Xbox, PS3, X360, PSP). While it won't quite hit the launch of Sony's machine, it will follow soon after on December 12. - Today's screenshots.

CMP Technology, which owns and runs various industry trade publications and events such as Gamasutra, Game Developer Magazine, and Game Developers Conference, announced today that it has acquired The Game Initiative, which runs growing industry industry event Austin Game Conference. The Austin Game Conference recently held its fourth annual event, attracting 2,400 attendees and 150 vendors. "We are excited about the momentum created by the 4th annual Austin Game Conference and its well reported success," said The Game Initiative executive director Christopher Sherman. "We are confident that the future of the event will be well served by CMP, which has deep resources in event management."

CMP recently announced its intention to grow its successful GDC into a significantly larger affair following the downscaling of E3.