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The entire team of Damnation (PS3, Xbox 360, and PC) has been laid off, following “issues” with publisher Codemasters.

According to reports there were a number of lawsuits that were filed before the sackings took place. Allegedly, the root of all this was when Blue Omega was “taken off” their own game by Codemasters, including another dispute of Blue Omega with two subcontracting studios.

Another factor for this sad state of affairs would be the dismal performance of the game Damnation.

• Steam-powered Damnation dev trailer steampunk art

Despite predicting that the PS2 will not have as much influence in the market in 2009 like it used to, Wedbush Morgan analyst Michael Pachter still believes in the PlayStation power, saying that the brand will account for 31 of all the games sold worldwide in 2009.

Continuing their current push for internal development efforts, the PlayStation brand will still not secure significant third party exclusivity. Regardless, Pachter believes that the PS3 will be the top seller, picking up the slack for its older brother, the PS2, that will no longer be putting up significant numbers.

In Wedbush’s annual Interactive Industry report, Pachter cited the huge 2007 to 2008 jump in software sales for the PS3 to be an indicator. From 29.6 million units sold in 2007, PS3 software sales ballooned to 62.4 million in 2008. Although the PSP also experienced a sales increase during the period, Pachter believes that it will be the PS3’s time to shine this year.

• Pachter: Wii on top by 2015, PS3 in second place
• Pachter: Only hard drive size is keeping MS from releasing new digital releases, retailers won’t mind new mode of distribution
  

Although Wedbush Morgan analyst, Michael Pachter, predicts PS2 will become somewhat irrelevant in 2009, he doesn’t discount the combined strength of the PlayStation brand. He remains optimistic for the entire PlayStation family as he expects “software sales for Sony consoles to account for 31% of all game software sold worldwide.”

Pachter indicated in Wedbush’s annual Interactive Industry Report that, while the numbers have been dwindling for PS2, overall worldwide software sales for PS3 titles have more than doubled within the last year. In 2008, 62.4 million units of PS3 software titles have been sold — a huge step up from the 29.6 million units sold in 2007. The momentum of this growth will carry into 2009, according to Pachter, who believes PS3 and PSP titles (the latter of which only saw a 15% increase in worldwide sales last year) will pick up PS2’s slack.

PS3 titles will be the top sellers, despite the fact that Pachter predicts Sony won’t “secure significant third party exclusivity” as it continues “to focus its internal development efforts on blockbuster games.” It’s interesting to note, in light of another report, this strategy hasn’t really worked out for Sony.

Pachter: PlayStation software sales will account for 31% of all games sold worldwide in 2009 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 01 Jul 2009 01:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Although Wedbush Morgan analyst, Michael Pachter, predicts PS2 will become somewhat irrelevant in 2009, he doesn’t discount the combined strength of the PlayStation brand. He remains optimistic for the entire PlayStation family as he expects “software sales for Sony consoles to account for 31% of all game software sold worldwide.”

Pachter indicated in Wedbush’s annual Interactive Industry Report that, while the numbers have been dwindling for PS2, overall worldwide software sales for PS3 titles have more than doubled within the last year. In 2008, 62.4 million units of PS3 software titles have been sold — a huge step up from the 29.6 million units sold in 2007. The momentum of this growth will carry into 2009, according to Pachter, who believes PS3 and PSP titles (the latter of which only saw a 15% increase in worldwide sales last year) will pick up PS2’s slack.

PS3 titles will be the top sellers, despite the fact that Pachter predicts Sony won’t “secure significant third party exclusivity” as it continues “to focus its internal development efforts on blockbuster games.” It’s interesting to note, in light of another report, this strategy hasn’t really worked out for Sony.

Pachter: PlayStation software sales will account for 31% of all games sold worldwide in 2009 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 01 Jul 2009 01:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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After our initial report last week, the Square Enix teaser page has gotten clearer since we last saw it. It got updated with a dragon the following day, and now a boy can be seen riding the flying beast. Check it out.

So the picture’s getting bigger. Is the hint getting clearer too?

UPDATE

The sketch just got a new character in the teaser. A girl this time, who seems to be along for the ride, but it really doesn’t get us any closer to figuring this one out just yet.

• Teaser site countdowns anew: Square Enix hints with the number 4

In an interview with Ultimania back in May, Tetsuya Nomura let out a lot of info about the Kingdom Hearts series, spanning from Kingdom Hearts II, to Birth by Sleep, Coded, and 358/2 Days, and the relevant plotlines that each of these games have with each other. Our focus today is on the one we know the least about - the elusive Kingdom Hearts III.

Nomura reveals that much of the mysteries surrounding the main plot could be answered in Birth by Sleep. But since it’s not even out yet, it would be difficult to pin down exactly what will be in a possible Kingdom Hearts III. What’s more, Nomura also revealed that the next Kingdom Hearts might not even be KH3.

I want GummiShips!

“I already have ideas for the next installment. But since Birth by Sleep isn t even out yet, I don t have to think about it until awhile from now,” he said. “Recently everyone kepts asking me when I m planning on coming out with KH3. Even though I m currently busy with Final Fantasy Versus XIII, I m also thinking that it s almost time to start thinking about it seriously. Though it s entirely possible that the next game in the series won t be KH3.”

It’s too early to say, but Nomura plans to act on Kingdom Hearts III (or whatever they’re gonna call it) as early as now. It’s a beefy interview, so if you want to know more, you can check the source below.

• Rumor - OPM: Kingdom Hearts III is a PS3 exclusive
• Tetsuya Nomura talks about next Kingdom Hearts title
  

According to the latest survey by the NPD, gaming has attracted a larger female audience in 2009 than in 2008, more significantly in consoles. The number of lady gamers out there increased by up to 4 both in “heavy portable” and “extreme games” as compared to last year.

For console gamers, the number rose from 23 in 2008 to 28 in 2009. This number can be attributed largely to the Wii, which rose in female users by 19 from last year. “Last year was one of the most transformative in history in terms of defining the audience for gaming, said Anita Frazier, industry analyst, The NPD Group. “Even with the increased competition from mobile and social network gaming, the console gamer segment added the most new participants to its ranks in the last year.”

NPD Methodology:

The data was collected from more than 20,000 members of NPD s online consumer panel, ages two to 65 . Responses for consumers ages two to 12 were captured by instructing a parent to take his or her child in this age range to the computer to answer the questions, either with or without the parent s assistance. Qualified respondents reported they personally play video games on a PC, on a console or portable system, or on another device such as a mobile phone. The following four key variables were used to create the gamer segments: ownership; usage; frequency; and purchased/received video games. Final survey data was weighted to represent the U.S. population of individuals ages two and older. Fieldwork was conducted from January 7 January 27, 2009.

NPD also noted that this study was conducted way back in January, meaning data that refers to past three month behavior includes the holiday season of the previous year.

• QuickJump QuickList: Seven types of girl gamers

Harry’s sixth year at Hogwarts will soon be out in cinemas, but here we have the accompanying video game, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, coming out before the movie, so fans can get sneak peeks through the game.

As serious as the plot gets in the sixth book, Half-Blood Prince will still have time for teenage antics, potions, and of course, Quidditch. Yes, there will be Quidditch gameplay and potion-brewing sessions with Horace Slughorn. Gotta stay in the Slug Club, yes? More importantly, there are wizard duels as well, where you and a friend can go head-to-head and see who would make a better DA member.

So until the movie’s out, the game will have to do for now. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is available now for Xbox 360, PS3, PSP, PS2, Wii, DS, and PC.

• E3 2009: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince features trailer
• Half-Blood Prince gameplay details revealed
  

Three new PSP bundles are bound for Korea, two containing the popular fighting title, Tekken 5: Dark Resurrection. The Tekken bundle is available in with either a white or black system along with the game and a 4GB memory stick. The third bundle, called the DMB Pack, includes a South Korea-specific (Read: Not import friendly) TV tuner and 32MB memory stick and the unit. Wait, a 32MB memory stick? Is that still a thing? Each bundle is priced at 278,000₩ ($218 US).

Oh, and as you would have guessed by the headline of this story, Sony is using a giant PSP with a teaspoon of sexuality to promote the bundles. Makes sense to us!

New Korean PSP bundles inbound, ads include giant system and ‘hotness’ originally appeared on Joystiq Playstation on Tue, 30 Jun 2009 23:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 owners looking forward to the next edition of Vandal Hearts will have to wait a little longer. Previously scheduled for September, the title appears to have been delayed.

In a release touting “new details and new screenshots,” Konami let slip that the title is now slated to hit Xbox Live Arcade and PlayStation Network “this winter.” Not very specific, but definitely later than September.

We saw the game when it was first unveiled back in April, and according to our brief hands-on time with it, “What we saw was pure disappointment.”