Sony: PlayStation Finally Profitable, Sort Of
Wonder of wonders, Sony's PlayStation 3 may have finally inched into the black after years of splashing around in an ocean of red. The company claims it turned the road in the fourth quarter of its fiscal year which runs from April to March, posting a profit for the first time since the PlayStation 3 went on sale back in November 2006.
Not so fast though, the company's Networked Products & Services Division, which includes the PlayStation as well as Sony's VAIO line of PCs, actually reported a 10.2 percent drop in annual sales and substantial operating losses for the fiscal year. Total red ink? $896 million.
Blame that on the PSP and PS2, mostly. Sony certainly is: "Sales in the game business decreased mainly due to unfavorable foreign currency exchange rates, decreases in unit sales of PSP hardware and of PS2 software," said Sony.
Sony reported PSP sales declined from 14.1 million to 9.9 units, a whopping 30 percent plummet (though only slightly below the company's target number), while PS2 sales declined less severely from 7.9 million to 7.3 million units. The company said PSP game sales fell from 50.3 million to 44.4 million units, while PS2 game sales plunged from 83.5 million to 35.7 million units. The latter drop probably reflects the lack of new PS2 titles, possible driving used game sales not tracked in new retail data (a "real" market snapshot would include used video game sales data, which given the PS2's sustained albeit much diminished hardware figures could weigh substantially in analyses that gauge factors like brand awareness or "real" market revenue).
On the other hand, PlayStation 3 sales jumped from 10.1 to 13 million units with a commensurate software sales upswing from 103.7 million to 115.6 million units. Thank the slimline PS3 for saving the day (or the last two quarters) when it launched last September with a $100 cheaper price tag.
Sony expects the PS3 to keep growing through 2010, bolstered by its 'Move' motion-control add-on, launching later this year.
Related information:
The original PlayStation, released in December 1994, was the first of the ubiquitous PlayStation series of console and hand-held game devices, which has included successor consoles and upgrades including the Net Yaroze (a special black PlayStation with tools and instructions to program PlayStation games and applications), "PSone" (a smaller version of the original) and the PocketStation (a handheld which enhances PlayStation games and also acts as a memory card). It was part of the fifth generation of video game consoles, competing against the Sega Saturn and the Nintendo 64. By March 31, 2005, the PlayStation and PSone had shipped a combined total of 102.49 million units,[7] becoming the first video game console to reach the 100 million mark.[8]
Released in July 2000, concurrently with its successor the PlayStation 2, the PS one was a smaller, redesigned version of the original PlayStation video game console and was considerably smaller than the original PlayStation. Originally launched on July 7, 2000,[9] it went on to outsell all-other consoles including its successor the PlayStation 2 throughout the remainder of the year.[10] It featured two main changes from its predecessor, the first being a cosmetic change to the console and the second being home menu's Graphical User Interface.
[edit] PlayStation 2
The original PlayStation 2
Released in 2000, 15 months after the Dreamcast and a year before its other competitors, the Xbox and the Nintendo GameCube, the PlayStation 2 is part of the sixth generation of video game consoles, and is backwards-compatible with most, if not all, original PlayStation games. It has also been released as a media center configuration and also, like its predecessor, a slimmer redesign. It is the most successful console in the world,[11][12] having reached over 140 million units in sales as of July 20, 2008.[13] On November 29, 2005, the PS2 became the fastest game console to reach 100 million units shipped, accomplishing the feat within 5 years and 9 months from its launch. This achievement occurred faster than its predecessor, the PlayStation, which took "9 years and 6 months since launch" to reach the same benchmark.[8] It is the most popular console in the series.
Released in 2004, four years after the launch of the original PlayStation 2, the PlayStation 2 Slimline was the first major redesign of the PlayStation 2. Unlike its predecessor the Slimline was smaller, thinner, and quieter and also included a built-in Ethernet port (in some markets it also has an integrated modem). In 2007, Sony began shipping a revision of the Slimline which was lighter than the original Slimline together with a lighter AC adaptor.[14] In 2008, Sony released yet another revision of the Slimline which had an overhauled internal design incorporating the power supply into the console itself like the original PlayStation 2 with a further reduced total weight of the console.[15]
[edit] PlayStation 3
The original PlayStation 3
Released on November 11, 2006, the PlayStation 3 is the third and current iteration in the series. It competes with the Xbox 360 and the Wii in the seventh generation of video game consoles. It is the first console in the series to introduce the use of motion controls in games through the use of the SIXAXIS Wireless Controller along with other features, such as Blu-ray Disc and Full High-definition resolution graphics capability. The PlayStation 3 comes in 20 GB, 40 GB, 60 GB, 80 GB, 160 GB, 120 GB, and 250GB, with the last two being the current models. It features a Slim model similar to its predecessors. As of September 30, 2009, the PlayStation 3 has sold 33.5 million units worldwide, according to Sony Computer Entertainment.[16]
Released in 2009, the redesigned model of the PlayStation 3 is the only model in production. The redesigned model is 33% smaller, 36% lighter, and consumes 34% to 45% less power than previous models.[17][18] In addition it features a redesigned cooling system and a smaller Cell processor which was moved to a 45nm manufacturing process.[19] It sold in excess of a million units in its first 3 weeks on sale.[20] The redesign also features support for CEC (more commonly referred to by its manufacturer brandings of BraviaSync, VIERA Link, EasyLink and others) which allows control of the console over HDMI by using the remote control to use as a controller. The PS3 slim also runs quieter and cooler than previous models due to its 45 nm Cell. The PS3 Slim no longer has the "main power" switch (similar to PlayStation 2 slim), like the previous PS3 models, which was located at the back of the console.[17] The PS3 slim was officially released on September 1, 2009 in North America and Europe and on September 3, 2009 in Japan, Australia and New Zealand.
More PSP 2 rumors as E3 gaming conference looms
Rumblings of a true next-generation PlayStation Portable just won't go away, with the latest chatter pegging next month's E3 gaming conference in Los Angeles as the likely venue for its unveiling. Meanwhile, sales of Sony's current PSP models — including the new PSP Go — are taking a turn for the worse.
Gaming site MCV says it has a "senior industry source" who claims that unnamed gaming publishers are already "laying the ground[work] for an offensive on a brand-new iteration" of the PSP, with one publisher "waiting on a specific announcement from the platform holder" — i.e., Sony — "before it can reveal its future PSP plans."
So, what's Sony saying about all the PSP 2 rumors? "No imminent plans," according to MCV, which ran the latest buzz past a Sony rep.
Despite the denials, rumors of a supposed PSP 2 have been circulating for months, with the latest round of speculation coming in early April after a series of sightings of the term "PSP 2" in various online resumes.
Of course, Sony already released a new version of the PSP — the compact, UMD-less PSP Go — last fall, but sales of the pricey handheld ($249, versus $169 for the larger PSP 3000) have been disappointing, to say the least.
Indeed, in its latest financial report, Sony admitted that it sold just 9.9 million PSPs overall in its last fiscal year, down from 14.1 million PSPs sold in 2008, according to PC World — not the trend you'd hope for after putting a flashy new PSP on the market.
Granted, Gamasutra has noticed a spike in PSP sales in Japan with the release of one of the most anticipated PSP titles in a long time, "Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker." (Heck, I might dust off my own, long-neglected PSP 3000 for that one.)
According to the PC World report, however, Sony expects the PSP situation to get worse before it gets better, with the consumer tech giant's own bean counters projecting PSP sales of just 8 million units for the coming fiscal year.
At the same time, Sony's handheld competitors are stepping up their own respective games, with the iPhone and iPad gaming markets booming and Nintendo set to show off a new DS with a 3-D display at June's E3 gaming convention.
While Sony is denying the PSP 2 rumors for now (although the "no imminent plans" thing sounds a little evasive to me), that doesn't mean we can't indulge in a little healthy speculation. My own personal PSP 2 wish list is already a matter of public record, including a new, higher-resolution display with "cutting-edge" graphics, and a new control scheme with a second analog stick. To that, I'd also add trophy support (not sure why I didn't mention that before).
Of course, this all assumes that we're talking about a true, next-generation Sony PSP, not just an update to the current, six-year-old platform.
Anyway, what about you: Think it's high time Sony unveiled a next-gen PSP? Will we see it unveiled at E3 next month, or do you think it's too soon after the release of the PSP Go? And what's on your PSP 2 wish list?
Related information:
The PlayStation Portable (officially abbreviated PSP) is a handheld console manufactured and marketed by Sony.[6] Development of the console was announced during E3 2003,[7] and it was unveiled on May 11, 2004 at a Sony press conference before E3 2004.[8] The system was released in Japan on December 12, 2004,[9] in North America on March 24, 2005,[10] and in the PAL region on September 1, 2005.[11]
The PlayStation Portable is the first handheld video game console to use an optical disc format, Universal Media Disc (UMD), as its primary storage medium.[12][13] Other distinguishing features of the console include its large viewing screen,[14] robust multi-media capabilities,[15] and connectivity with the PlayStation 3, other PSPs, and the Internet.[16][17]
Sales of the PSP have (with cyclical exceptions) lagged behind its main competitor, the Nintendo DS.[18] Nevertheless, the console is "the most successful non-Nintendo handheld game system ever sold".[19] After the release of a remodeled, slimmer, and lighter version of the PlayStation Portable, titled Slim & Lite, in early September 2007, sales quadrupled in the United Kingdom the following week and increased by nearly 200% in North America for the month of October. The Slim & Lite had a minor redesign including a new screen and inbuilt microphone, and has since been followed by the PSP Go.[2
Nintendo Sues Sites Over Game Copying
Nintendo said Thursday that the company had filed suit against a network of sites that the gaming company said were used to sell game-copying technology.
Nintendo filed suit against NXPGAME of Queens, New York, charging that the site was selling so-called video game copiers that could be used to illegally copy Nintendo DS and DSi software.
"After multiple letters and telephone calls from Nintendo's legal counsel, the owner agreed to cease selling game copiers and closed his website," Nintendo said. "Shortly thereafter, the owner launched an identical business at a different website address, and redirected people who visited his old site to the new one to purchase illegal game copiers.
Nintendo said that the suit will reference Nintendo v. Chan, a 2009 case that ruled that game copiers violate the Digital Millennium Copyright Act.
"Using game copiers to play unauthorized downloaded games is illegal and it's wrong," said Jodi Daugherty, Nintendo of America's senior director of anti-piracy, in a statement. "Piracy is especially harmful to smaller developers. When their creative works are stolen and copied illegally, some companies find it difficult to survive economically."
Related information:
Nintendo Co., Ltd. (任天堂株式会社, Nintendō Kabushiki gaisha?) is a multinational corporation located in Kyoto, Japan. Founded on September 23, 1889[1] by Fusajiro Yamauchi, it produced handmade hanafuda cards.[5] By 1963, the company had tried several small niche businesses, such as a cab company and a love hotel.[6]
Nintendo soon developed into a video game company, becoming one of the most influential in the industry and Japan's third most valuable listed company, with a market value of over US$85 billion.[7]
Besides video games, Nintendo is also the majority owner of the Seattle Mariners, a Major League Baseball team in Seattle, Washington.[8]
According to Nintendo's Touch! Generations website, the name "Nintendo" translated from Japanese to English means "Leave luck to Heaven".[9] As of October 2, 2008, Nintendo has sold over 470 million hardware units and 2.7 billion software units.
Free games lure new players including women, elderly
The video game industry has weathered the economic slowdown better than most industries, but there could be a reason -- free games with new figures showing up to a third of gamers don't pay to play.
More people are getting into gaming through free titles like Zynga's "Treasure Isle" played online through social networking sites like Facebook, downloading free games like ngmoco's "Godfinger" on mobile devices like iPhone and iPad, or sitting on a friend's couch to play multiplayer maps with titles like Activision Blizzard's "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2."
New research from video game tracking firm Newzoo found every existing video game platform from mobile to console has an audience of at least 30 percent of non-paying players.
"The shift toward online business models servicing a broader range of target groups started before the recession and has resulted in continued growth through the rough economic times in terms of revenues," said Peter Warman, managing director and founder of Newzoo.
"The platforms offering free-to play-gaming options like massively multiplayer online (MMO) games, mobile games and casual game portals lare successfully converting players to payers."
PopCap.com, a leading game maker in the $3 billion casual games industry, offers free versions of its games like "Bejeweled Blitz" on Facebook, as well as its own site.
"Our belief is that by allowing customers to experience our games for free it's a good way to guarantee customer satisfaction, as they have been able to play the game pre-purchase with the promise of lots more fun to come," said Paul Breslin, general manager, Popcap.com.
The "Newzoo Games Market Report" said one-third of the $25.3 billion that U.S. gamers spent on video games in 2009 came from online revenues (MMOs, game portals and mobile devices) and the digital distribution of console and PC games.
FREE GAMES SPREADS THE NET
The U.S. currently leads the world in online business revenues, but Warman believes the EU and other territories will continue to grow gaming revenue in this arena moving forward.
"These free options are definitely broadening the appeal of video games among older and female demographics, and a lot of these consumers don't actually consider themselves gamers at all," Michael Cai, vice president of video game research, Interpret.
"Without casual gaming portals like Pogo, Real Networks, and Big Fish Games, many older female gamers would have never paid for gaming content."
Interpret discovered that 21 percent of the U.S. population, or over 46.1 million Americans, play social network games. Over 11 million Americans only play social network games. The median age for social network gamers is 38.8, versus 30.9, which is the median age of console gamers.
Cai found that 12 percent of these social network gamers plan on buying a Wii, which would be their first game console.
More console game makers are offering consumers free play, including downloadable game demos through Microsoft's Xbox Live Arcade and Sony's PlayStation Network Store. "Handing over free content to gamers can be tremendously beneficial to developers and publishers, even if it comes in the form of a short playable demo of a game that's not spectacular," said Patrick Shaw, features editor, GamePro Magazine.
"Often times a small taste of a game is all it takes to entice the player to purchase the full game."
Related information:
Ben Sawyer of Digitalmill observes that the game industry value chain is made up of six connected and distinctive layers:
- Capital and publishing layer: involved in paying for development of new titles and seeking returns through licensing of the titles.
- Product and talent layer: includes developers, designers and artists, who may be working under individual contracts or as part of in-house development teams.
- Production and tools layer: generates content production tools, game development middleware, customizable game engines, and production management tools.
- Distribution layer: or the "publishing" industry, involved in generating and marketing catalogs of games for retail and online distribution.
- Hardware (or Virtual Machine or Software Platform) layer: or the providers of the underlying platform, which may be console-based, accessed through online media, or accessed through mobile devices such as the iPhone. This layer now includes non-hardware platforms such as virtual machines (e.g. Java or Flash), or software platforms such as browsers or even further Facebook, etc.
- End-users layer: or the users/players of the games.
What is Speed in Physics?
In the world of physics, time, speed, distance, displacement and velocity are some of the fundamental physical quantities that govern the motion of an object. Understanding these fundamentals of physics are absolutely necessary for students to build a strong base in physics. As a part of introductory physics courses, students learn about various physics formulas and their wide applications in daily life.
For solving numerical problems in physics, memorizing formulas are necessary, however, mere memorization of physics formulas list may not help you to delve deeper into the concepts of physics. Hence, instead of jumping directly to the speed formula, let us define speed and understand its features.
What is Speed in Physics?
Speed thrills many of us especially when we wish to have some fun riding our bikes or go for long drives. Ever wondered how physics defines speed? Well, we all know that a fast moving car can cover some specific distance in a relatively short period of time while a slow speed car takes a longer time. So speed is linked to two basic parameters - time and distance. In other words, speed is a function of time and distance.
The more the speed, the faster you reach your destination. So, this description must have given you some idea about how to define speed. Well, simply stated, speed is the rate at which an object is moving. Now the term "rate" refers to the factor per unit time. Speed is defined as "distance traveled per unit time". In fact, speed formula is also derived from the basic definition of speed.
This forms a very elementary definition of speed. However, for physics students, a crucial parameter that is of paramount importance must be considered while defining speed. A very closely related physical quantity velocity is often confused with speed. So how are speed and velocity different? Students of physics must be aware of scalar and vector quantities. Quantities that have specific direction and magnitude are known as vector quantities while those representing only magnitude are called scalar quantities.
Speed is a scalar quantity while velocity is a vector quantity. Speed represents the magnitude of velocity. When you state the speed of an object, you can say, for instance 55 km/hr. However, when you state the velocity, you have to say that it is 55 km/hr east or any other direction. Direction is an important parameter for velocity. The direction of velocity is the direction in which the object moves and it is represented by a vector sign. Know more about velocity: formula for velocity.
Formula for Speed
Now that we have discussed about the definition of speed, let's now discuss the speed formula. The speed of an object that travels a distance (d) over a period of time (t) is given by:
Speed (V) = Total Distance Traveled / Total Time Taken = d/t
Students with basic knowledge of calculus can also understand the instantaneous and average speed formula. Instantaneous speed is the speed at a particular moment of time.
Instantaneous Speed Formula = dS/dT, where 'S' is the distance covered and 'T' is the time taken.
Generally, during traveling and motion, speed is not constant throughout the journey. Instead speed tends to decrease or increase depending on various factors. In such cases, instead of speed, average speed is measured as that gives an average value of the speed for the entire journey. In general, the average speed formula is same as the speed formula as you add the total distance covered and then divide it by the total time taken.
Speed Equations
In the field of one dimensional motion or kinematics, following speed equations are very commonly used. Let 'u' and 'v' be the initial and final speed of an object, 'S' the distance covered in time 't', then the speed equations are given by:
- v = u + at
- v2 = u2 + 2aS
- S = ut + 1/2at2
Angular Speed Formula
As students learn more about motion equations and mechanics, they will also gain knowledge about rotatory motion. Just like linear speed is concerned with one dimensional motion, angular speed is related to circular motion. The formula for angular speed is given by:
v = ωr, where v is linear speed, ω is angular speed and r is the radius of circle.
No quantity in physics is complete without its unit. According to the SI system, the standard unit for measuring speed is meters per second i.e. m/s. Depending on the units used for distance and time in speed formula, we can get various units of speed.
Read more on:
- Pythagorean Theorem Formula
- Density Formula
- Molarity Formula
Hope this article has made your concepts clear pertaining to the speed formula. Speed formula or speed equations are basic concepts in physics and trying to understand their derivation and use can go a long way in giving you a strong background in physics.
What is DNS Error?
Sony's Playstation 3 (PS3) is a rage in the gaming world today. With internet connectivity, a built in Blu-ray disc player and plenty of hard disk space, PS3 is more than just a gaming device. It is your complete gaming solution with extended capabilities of home entertainment. One problem that often occurs while connecting PS3 with the Internet is the PS3 DNS error. This article will explains the source and suggests some easy fixes for this problem.
What is DNS Error?
Before we talk about PS3 DNS error, let us understand what does a DNS error mean. DNS stands for 'Domain Name Service'. It is a system developed to resolve the numerical IP addresses with the domain names on the Internet. It is something akin to the conversion between area names and pin codes while delivering letters. A one to one identification needs to be made between IP addresses and domain names for routing of data. If there is a DNS error, then it means that resolution of IP addresses is not possible. A DNS error could occur for only a particular website. In that case, it is the site's problem. In most cases, DNS errors have nothing to do with the DNS system. The source usually lies in connectivity problems, caused by wrong configuration, ISP downtime or a faulty router/modem.
What is a PS3 DNS Error?
A PS3 DNS error, more often than not, occurs when you are using a wireless router. You see a DNS error message on screen and you get disconnected from the network. These DNS server errors are mostly numbered according to the underlying problem. Noting that number down might help you in ascertaining the reason for that error. Even though you reconnect for short periods the problem may relapse periodically. One of the major reasons for the occurrence of this error, is the failure on part of the router to accept an IP address request made by PS3. These errors can be really frustrating, especially when you are in the middle of a game and you get disconnected. Going to the root cause of the problem will take care of it forever.
It is not a hardware compatibility problem, but only a problem at a software level. The source seems to be incorrect network settings entered. A PS3 DNS error usually does not occur on wired connections as it directly gets the configuration setting from the wired router. This is a persistent problem with wireless connections which can be easily resolved.
How to Fix PS3 DNS Error?
Identifying the root of the problem can lead to an immediate solution of any software error. In case of a PS3 DNS error, there are some typical causes of failure. First check if your wireless router is working properly. If there is a problem at the router itself, then there is bound to be a DNS error. Ensure router settings are right and its working. Here are some ways of fixing the problem otherwise.
Reset Modem
Just reset the PS3 modem and turn the off the PS3 for a while, before switching it back on. This may take care of the problem.
Firewall Problem
Sometimes the firewall installed on the PS3 connected computer might be preventing the Internet connection for the PS3. Make sure that the PS3's internet connection is not being prohibited by your operating system firewall.
Reconfigure Internet Settings
The problem might be occurring due to incorrectly entered primary and secondary IP addresses. Enter the PS3 Internet connection settings manually again and restart the system. The correct settings might solve the problem.
PS3 Firmware Upgrade
The PS3 DNS error might be caused due to some anomaly in the PS3 firmware (embedded software). The problem might be solved by updating the firmware.
Read more on:
- PS3 Problems
- PS3 vs Xbox 360
Hope, these tips on fixing PS3 DNS error help you out. It is a problem which can be easily fixed and taken care of if you follow the above instructions. Enjoy your uninterrupted gaming.
fun filled physical games
Video Game
Long gone are the days when kids used to flock playgrounds and would get involved in fun filled physical games. For kids today, the fun has been confined to their respective rooms and is obligated only to the circuits of a video game console. Ignoring the drawbacks, let us consider the many good things that attract the kids towards these gadgets. The evolution of video games has seen kids gaining keen interest in computers and many of them mature up to get a knack of working on them, instead of just playing. But kids today are not aware of the the history of computer and video games which holds significance in the development of electronic technology around the globe. Here is brief on the history of video game consoles which started earlier than you would have ever thought.
Timeline of Video Game Consoles
The history of video game consoles is divided into as many as seven generations according to the technologically development and popularity.
First Generation
The origin of video game console can be traced back to the 1950s, when computer games using vector displays, not video screens, came to the scene. But, it was Magnavox that released the first video game console, Magnavox Odyssey, which had a video display. Initially, the Odyssey was successful only to some extent, and it was Atari's arcade game called Pong which loudly announced the entry of video games and took the public attention to the emerging industry. By 1975, Magnavox frantically suspended the sales of the Odyssey and released a new scaled down console, the Odyssey 100, that played only Pong and hockey. A higher end console called the Odyssey 200 was simultaneously released with the 100, and had added features like onscreen scoring, ability to support up to four players and had a third game - Smash. So, it was this year in which gaming consoles vigorously initiated this consumer market. This phase in the development of video game consoles is called the first generation.
Second Generation
In 1976, the Fairchild Video Entertainment System (VES) was released. This console made the first true use of the cartridge as game storage device. Previously there had been other consoles like the Odyssey that used cartridges, but had no data and served a function similar to flipping switches. The VES, on the other hand, had a programmable microprocessor and the cartridges only required a single chip (ROM) to store the processor's instructions. Soon RCA and Atari introduced their own cartridge-based consoles.
Third Generation
In 1983, Japanese gaming giant Nintendo introduced the Family Computer, also known as Famicom in Japan. It supported high-resolution sprites and with more colored tiled backgrounds. This facilitated games in Famicom to be longer and have higher graphics detailing. Famicom came over to the US in 1985 in the form of the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) and almost instantly gained immense popularity.
Fourth Generation
In October 1988, Sega, another electronics baron, retrieved market share by releasing its own high featured console in Japan called the Mega Drive. It was released in the U.S. in August 1989 under the brand name of Sega Genesis and in Europe a year later. Two years after this, Nintendo released its extremely popular Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES). This was the era was a watershed in the history of video games systems, when video game consoles were fiercely demanded by kids across north America.
Fifth Generation
Initial fifth generation consoles included the Atari Jaguar and the 3DO, which were loaded with many more features than the Super Nintendo. But, the 3DO was more costly than the SNES and Genesis combined together while the Jaguar was not easily programmable leading to both consoles being discontinued in 1996. However, it was in this era, on December 3, 1994, that Sony's PlayStation was released in Japan and nine months later in North America. The PlayStation could have been a result of a business partnership between Sony and Nintendo to make a CD based add-on for the SNES. But, this was not to be and Nintendo walked out of the deal approached Philips. With the PS project nearing completion, Sony used its own resources and marketed this console under its own brand name. This was a landmark event in the history of video game consoles.
Sixth Generation
This generation saw consoles moving towards PC-like features and mulled a shift towards using DVDs for storing game media. This led to enhanced playing experience as games were longer and had spectacular visually effects. Furthermore, this generation saw another noticeable development in the history of game consoles. There was experimentation with LAN type online console gaming and introductions of flash drives and hard drives for game data storage. Consoles like Sega's Dreamcast, Sony PlayStation 2 and Microsoft XBox belonged to this era.
Seventh Generation
The most remarkable feature introduced in this time period was the new disc formats - Blu-ray Disc and the HD DVD, the later one getting discontinued soon. The use of motion as input, IR tracking (implemented on the Wii and demonstrated on the PS3) and standard wireless controllers were the highlights of this generation game consoles. This era included Microsoft's XBox 360, Sony PlayStation 3 and Nintendo Wii game console which are the most sought after consoles today.
Read more on:
- Who Invented Video Games
- History of Home Video Game Consoles
- History and Timeline of Video Games
This is where we can sum up the history of video game consoles. The experience on modern day gaming consoles is on a completely different level and all its spectacular features can be attributed to the immense effort put over these eras.
Xbox 360 red rings of death
ps3-vs-xbox360
The Xbox 360 has proven itself to be a great gaming console, far surpassing the PS3. However, it has been experience some problems with Xbox 360 red rings of death. The internet is rife with temporary solutions to this problem and Microsoft has pledged to provide a permanent fix.
What causes the Red rings of death error is not fully known. The most common theory is that it is caused due to the Xbox overheating and Microsoft’s failure to include a proper cooling mechanism inside the Xbox. This has caused a great deal of animosity among users towards Microsoft.
So what, if anything, is Microsoft doing to resolve this problem? Microsoft has made a promise to repair or replace all Xboxes which have been impacted by the red rings of death error. The problem is that this doesn’t resolve the issue. Some of the replaced gaming systems also have the red rings of death error. The same is true for the consoles which have been repaired and returned to the user.
All over the internet you can find a temporary solution to the red rings of death error. It is called the "Towel Method". The Towel Method does, in fact, work, but only for a period of 2 to 3 days, and then the red rings of death error rears its ugly head once again. You can continue to temporarily fix this error over and over again using the Towel Method, however this may not be the best option. In essence, you are doing more harm than good to your console. Ultimately, the Towel Method will cause worse problems for your Xbox and you still won’t have a permanent solution to your red rings of death error problem.
There is, however, a guide online, that provides a permanent solution, and it is not one that was issued by Microsoft. You simply need a few tools that can be found in almost every household. The online guide provides easy to follow step by step video instructions showing how to fix your Xbox system and get rid of the red rings of death error for good.
Related
If you follow this guide, you will be back to playing your favourite Xbox 360 games in no time without ever having to deal with that nasty error again. This special Xbox 360 red rings of death fix can be found at the following link: Xbox 360 Repairing. Visit this site today and say bon voyage to the Red rings of death!
commonly referred to as WOW
wow
World of Warcraft, also commonly referred to as WOW, is a video game that is sweeping the world. In fact, it is such a popular game that there is a large chance that you have played the game before. If you are playing the game how are you doing? If your response is "not that well," or something similar do you know that there is an easy way for you possibly improve your performance? That way includes the use of wow gold.
In the World of Warcraft the wow gold is considered one of the greatest things. The currency can be used to buy items from other players or vendors. It can be used to both sell and purchase items. Different items, including weapons, are obtainable for a set number of wow gold pieces. Weapons and other items can be purchased starting at one wow gold coin and up. There are many individuals, maybe yourself included, who are constantly defeated due the lack of weapons which are only obtainable with the right amount of wow gold.
It is possible to obtain wow gold throughout the game, but the easiest way to obtain it is to buy it. Cheap wow gold can be purchased from a number of online websites. Right about now you may be wondering how and why you would go about buying cheap wow gold online. The process is a fairly easy one that can maximize the excitement of playing the World of Warcraft. In addition to adding to the excitement of the game, it is likely that your World of Warcraft game performance will dramatically increase.
The process of purchasing cheap wow gold online will all depend on where the cheap wow gold is being purchased from. Once payment for the cheap wow gold has been purchased, the majority of online websites will transfer the gold via the internet in an agreed upon meeting place. Other websites offer instant delivery into the mailbox for your game. Once the transfer has occurred you should receive the wow gold that you purchased for a cheap price.
Related
If you are an active video gamer or just a player of World of Warcraft then purchasing wow gold may be the way to go. As previously mentioned, there are ways to play the game on your own, but why spend hours, weeks, even months trying when the process can be so much easier? With a small amount of money and the need to succeed you can be on your way to victory with the World of Warcraft. What are you waiting for, find cheap wow gold and purchase it today!
save money to build more attractions
pcgame
Video computer games have become as much a pillar of our entertainment universe as books and movies. Why is it that so many of us are drawn to the computer monitor or TV screen like flies? A bit of history might help explain the phenomenon.
Originally computers were all work and no play, being outrageously expensive to build and operate. But computer engineers and designers, being overgrown kids after all, soon began to get comfortable with their big room-filling machines. In their idle hours it occured to them that it might be kind of cool to have the computer show some spaceships and planets cruising around the galaxy. An in the 1960s a group of fun-loving computer geniuses created SpaceWar, the father of the famous arcade game Astroids.
These games were well received by geniuses and regular folks alike, which motivated the geniuses to design some more fun stuff. They could have used the computers for a lot of diversions, but somehow the visual element of the games activated the imagination. Over time we got Pong, PacMan and a continually evolving string of games, including software that eventually could beat chess masters at their own game.
By the late 1980s computer games software was getting quite sophisticated, with the invention of Sim City. This product expanded on what was going on through all the previous games; the players were being drawn into an imaginary world. Not unlike books and movies, these video games were very satisfying mentally. Sim City actually allowed the user to create amazing cities and even worlds.
Also in the 1980s, a group of computer programmers began creating software that would show moving images all generated by computer. The images started out very simple, almost like stick figures but they could dance in time to a music track. No skin, no facial features but it was very exciting to think what might come with more powerful computers. The computing power grew exponentially and, over 20 years, we now have not only some fabulout computer generated movie effects and whole characters, but the realism of video games has taken a quantum leap forward.
A good video game will draw you in to another world and, unlike a book or movie, a computer game will offer an interactive experience. In fact, at least one computer game has become sufficiently popular to become an action movie; think Mario Brothers. But it's funny that sometimes a simple game can be as entertaining as a much more sophisticated game. Some of the most beloved games of all are Tetris (stack those blocks), Pac Man and Pong.
A modern computer will still do a great job of playing state-of-the-art video games. There are hundreds of options, including many that pit you online against other players. Then there are the specialty consoles like PlayStation, Nintendo and XBox360. With tricked-out controllers, guitars and wands, you can really develop some hand-eye coordination by playing many of the current titles.
One of the most fun educational games is Roller Coaster Tycoon, where you build your own amusement park and then operate it with "real" guests making decisions about which rides to take. If a guest loses their lunch on a roller coaster you'd better have a custodian clean it up or the guests will stay away. You must watch income and expenses and save money to build more attractions. This is a great game.
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But the bottom line as to why we're so enamored with computer games software is that it captures our imagination in a variety of interactive ways. Our games are prized possessions and it is wise to treat them carefully to make them last.
J. Michael Key has written widely on a variety of subjects related to computers and entetainment.
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