Late Night Consoling

As the industry moves more and more towards a multiplatform mentality, platform holders have been constantly seeking as many ways as possible to declare their games (or versions of games) as exclusive, either due to having an early release date, unique characters, specific in-game content, or other perks. During Microsoft's pre-E3 press conference this year, Xbox marketing head Peter Moore announced that the Xbox 360 version of Rockstar's Grand Theft Auto IV would be available on October 17, 2007 under some kind of exclusive content agreement with Rockstar. Some took this to mean that the game would be out on Microsoft's machine before Sony's. In reality, Moore was revealing that the game would be out on both systems the same day, but would include two additional episodic gameplay downloads for the Xbox 360 version of the game available "just months" after the game's release.

Now, according to a Eurogamer source "close to [developer] Rockstar North," it seems that the PlayStation 3 version of the game will have its own exclusive content. Apparently, this content will be comprised of new physical areas that will expand the game's existing world. "Think of the world as a large island," explained the source. "The new downloadable areas will be like smaller islands linking into it." Eurogamer was quick to point out that this does not imply that the game literally takes place on an island.

If true, for single-console owners, today's reports are likely to spark heated internet arguments about platform superiority, while multi-console GTA enthusiasts will have to start deciding on one version of the game--or both.

Despite early Blu-ray discs having a capacity about three times higher than that of standard DVD9 discs, Sony Computer Entertainment Worldwide Studios head Phil Harrison claims that PlayStation 3 games are already pushing that limit. "Already, at our launch titles, we're getting up close to the 25GB limit that we have on our Blu-ray discs this year," said Harrison, speaking to Eurogamer in an interview originally serialized on ThreeSpeech. The first PS3 games will ship on 25GB discs, but at some point next year developers will have access to 50GB discs. Some have questioned the necessity for such a large storage medium considering games such as Bethesda's The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion have shipped for Xbox 360 on a DVD9, but Harrison had a laundry list of game components factoring into the equation. "It's about 7.1 audio, it's about speech, it's about having up to 1080p movies built into the game; it's high-res textures, it's animation, it's everything that goes into making a very rich and varied next-gen experience," he explained. "Partly it's visual, partly it's sound, and partially it'll be down to gameplay benefits as well - more levels, more detail, richer experiences." He also pointed out high definition prerendered cutscenes as a viable storytelling device that demands a great deal of space.

Harrison denied that Sony is using PS3's Blu-ray drive as a Trojan horse to push its Blu-ray movie format. "It's got nothing to do with movies," he said. "DVD is not sufficient capacity to power the kind of data consumption, or to feed the data consumption needs of Cell and RSX - just purely as a gameplay device, we need Blu-Ray to supply the kind of data that PS3 games use."

Microsoft announced today that Q Entertainment's Lumines Live!, an Xbox 360 version of its highly rated PSP puzzler Lumines, will be going live on Xbox Live at 1am Pacific time tomorrow, October 18, by which time Xbox Live will presumably also be live following its scheduled downtime. Lumines Live! will include an online multiplayer mode, a new mission mode, and the ability to purchase new skins, missions, and other content via Xbox Live Marketplace. The game will run 1200 Microsoft Points ($15). Additionally, as soon as the game is available, players will be able to purchase the Lumines Live! Advance Pack, consisting of unspecified additional content, for 600 Microsoft Points ($7.50).

Casual game publisher MumboJumbo has announced that it plans to bring two of its franchises to Sony's portable console. First up is the action puzzle title LUXOR: Wrath of Set. (MumboJumbo points out that LUXOR was the "#1 online casual game of 2005.") The company is also bringing over Platypus, a sidescroller rendered in a claymation style. "MumboJumbo has already established itself as the leading provider of premium casual games at the retail channel for PC and MAC users," said CEO Mark Cottam. "Now PSP system owners will be able to play some of the most popular casual titles ever made, like LUXOR, which exceeded 40 million downloads since its debut in 2005."

Both LUXOR: Wrath of Set and Platypus will be available for PSP in mid-November 2006.

According to IGN, Microsoft today released a list of Xbox Live Arcade games coming to Xbox Live Arcade by "early 2007." All of the games had been previously announced as coming to Live Arcade. Specific dates were not revealed, save that of Lumines Live!, releasing tomorrow. Among the games expected soon are Konami's Contra and Gyruss, Midway's Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3, PomPom's Mutant Storm Empire, and Gastronaut's Small Arms. The announcement apparently promised more games in the near future, but did not specify titles.

EA sends along a video explaining various features of the Wii verison of Madden NFL 07 via developer commentary.