A while back I had mentioned receiving an email from Netflix asking me my thoughts on whether I’d use the instant streaming service on a PS3. I crossed my fingers wishing it were true, now months later a little birdie in the form of an uptick in share price, yes I watch financial markets, sends me sleuthing.  What I find is news of a deal between Netflix and the Playstation 3.

Users will need to request a PS3/Netflix disc allowing them access to the service and if you already have a Netflix account, the functionality is free. Depending on how you frame the argument you can say Netflix is already free on the Xbox360, that is if you omit the $50.00 Gold Membership XboxLive charge.

However, as the title suggests, the devil is in the details: “Watching instantly is included with an unlimited Netflix membership”. I’m not totally sure what this means since all Netflix plans include unlimited instant watching (except 1). One might complain/scoff at the idea of having to keep handy a PS3 Netflix disc around to play content, but licensing plays a major part in this.

The original Xbox needed a DVD dongle (at the cost of Xbox owners) to play DVDs whereas the PS2 didn’t and Sony had to pay a large upfront fee for licensing. When Netflix first appeared on the Xbox360, Sony Pictures and its subsidiaries were blocked out of being shown on instant streaming to Xbox360 owners. With Sony/PS3 now reaching a content agreement, the full Netflix instant library may soon be available, but only to Playstation 3 owners.

[The Industry Standard]

What is one thing we can all agree on that would make Windows a better operating system? An official OS-Tan! Well, that is just what Microsoft has decided to add in for their Japanese language version of Windows 7. Buyers of the Japanese version of the upcoming Windows 7 will also receive a special theme voiced by Mizuki Nana, the VA behind the well loved Fate Testarossa from Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha, and Allison Whittington from Allison & Lillia. And lets not forget the star of this new theme, an officially sanctioned Windows 7 OS-Tan! Let’s all welcome Nanami Madobe into our hard drives! 

This seems like a great way for Microsoft to get some more sales over in Japan. Especially the otaku demographic.  Hell, I know a few people over here that wouldn’t mind picking up a copy just for this. What about you guys?

[Akiba PC]

As we await for the squad based Halo 3: ODST, Microsoft has treated us to an extended viewing of their previously 1:30 TV Ad Spot. While there is the on again/off again Peter Jackson film of Halo. I sit and wait desperately hoping it will come true. I don’t know if the hype surrounding ODST is warranted, but I look forward to more well designed commercial spots.

Nothing is better than getting home after a long day, grabbing your favorite beverage and sitting in front of the TV to do some gaming; maybe you’re going to chat with that friend you met in game or watch a movie on Netflix. Then, suddenly without warning it happens. The flash of your Xbox LEDs indicates a serious malfunction.

Sadly, this has affected many of us gamers, so much so Game Informer magazine decided to do a survey amongst their readership. A staggering 54.2% reported either the dreaded Red Ring of Death or an E74.

However, being the devil’s advocate, don’t let these findings scare you away from buying the 360. Results suggest newer models are less susceptible to overheating and the console is used on average more, by about 3-5 hours, than the PS3 and the Wii. So while M$ is making improvements on design and quality, it’s still a shame to know more than half of every Xbox360 in the wild has issues.

[Consumerist via Joystiq]

We knew it was coming, it just made sense. Every time the Zune got an upgrade the rumors came flooding once more. “Microsoft is making a handheld!” Well of course they are but up until now it wasn’t anything but business logic and rumors. No more though! Shane Kim, a MS VP recently declared in an interview that "For us, it’s a matter of focusing on ‘when’". That, right there, is an admission of what we all knew was going to happen. He went on to say:

"because if we chased after a mobile or handheld opportunity, we would not have the resources and ability to do things like instant-on 1080p HD, Facebook, Twitter, Project Natal … And so we’ve chosen to focus on the living room experience from a hardware standpoint, if you will, but we’re building a service in Live that will… extend to other platforms. No question about it."

Oh, cool stuff Microsoft, so not only are you confirming that you will eventually release a handheld but that it will run Live? Well color me shocked! What’s next, are you going to announce this device will use electricity? Oh right, I shouldn’t get ahead of myself, an announcement like that will probably take another 2 years.

[Gearlog]

It’s no surprise console makers want further penetration into a consumer base. Microsoft plans to bring a music service to the 360; Sony is trying to expand PSN Home into… something. The key idea is incorporating the console into the center of your life. The Wii brought together the family and expanded casual games. Project Natal and the Sony Wand hope to not only accomplish this on their platforms, but are aiming to do so much more. It remains to be seen how well it is pulled off, but you can expect future generations of these device is improve exponentially.

As someone who owns all 3 consoles, must be connected to the internet and has a DirectTV Tivo, the consoles are not far off from being the primary sources of entertainment. My Wii is what I use for parties; the Xbox is great for multiplayer gaming, community, Netflix, and demos; my PS3 is the BluRay powerhouse and solo-gaming (RPG mostly) system.

The online experience is an untapped market for these machines. Google has revolutionize information cataloguing. Amazon has brought together a review community and personalization into a highly niche targeted environment. Imagine being on XBL and based upon your ratings, social-network likes and dislikes, you have targeted ads that compel you to purchase/demo a product/game, all with more information readily available and easily navigable.

The question I ask myself: do I want to be so reliant on these gaming companies?

Now that the crowd has departed from greater Los Angeles and the dust has settled from the glitz and glamor of 2009’s Electronic Entertainment Expo, we now have a chance digest all of the latest and greatest videogame news. From Microsoft’s Project Natal and Milo video, Sony’s newest addition to the MGS franchise, Nintendo breathing life into Mario Bros and Metroid. What were you most excited about or disappointed in this year’s E3? I’ve added my take below to start off the discussion.

[E3 News]
[More E3 News]

So if you read Dasuraga’s log of Microsoft’s conference today you read about Project Natal, the suposed Wii-killer functionality of the Xbox 360. Now there’s a video to explain it further.

First things first, I’m a little reluctant to believe everything shown in this video, it could very well be just application concepts. However, if it’s real, if the technology is as good as shown, then this is huge! The technology to clearly capture the movements of several people, with facial and vocal recognition would open up games to a whole new range of experiences in games and applications. Forget flailing your arms around, skating or driving a car, those are blunt and coarse examples of what could be done.

Project Natal is extremely promising, but I remain skeptical, it could very well end up being a supped up eye-toy.

Is this a Wii Killer? I doubt so, not this generation, by the time it catches on and develops to full potential it would be too late in the game to knock the Wii off its place. However this totally changes the outlook of for the next generation of consoles. Now Nintendo has real competition and the only real winners will be us, the gamers. What are your thoughts on Project Natal? All hype? Game-changing? Let us know!

Well, E3 “officially” starts tommorow, but as per tradition, Microsoft holds their conference the day before. This year was not lacking in terms of new announcements, although some could argue about the quality of what was announced.  We had new games, new parternships and even new ways of playing games announced;Hit the jump to see what.

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The game looks great graphically. I get sick and tired of saying it whenever a Square Enix trailer drops, because it goes without saying and it’s stating the obvious. But it’s something you have to throw out there none-the-less. Final Fantasy Versus XIII is a pretty looking game!

The whole thing is wreaking of Kingdom Hearts so far. I know the same team is behind this game, but damn! This whole trailer just stunk of Kingdom Hearts. The kakkoi boys with their over done hair do’s, puny arms and big feet. The main man wielding crazy blades looking like a member of Organization XIII. The girl who looks like she shares fashion tips from Naminé. And also the main characters names having dual meanings with things related to the earth ‘n shit: Kindgom Hearts – ‘Sora’, ‘Kairi’ and ‘Riku’ meaning sky, sea and land respectively. Versus XIII – ‘Noctis’ and ‘Stella’ meaning Night and star. Real original.

The mystery surrounding this game is what I think keeps it on people’s radars. Plus, PlayStation 3 owners can take solace in knowing it will be a system exclusive. Unless of course Microsoft drop a skip of money outside Square Enix HQ and it gets a release on the Xbox 360 too. Not out of the realm of possibility. We know how Microsoft’s pockets are deep and that Bill Gates can make it rain on hoes and game studio execs for days.