Recent Comments:
Gran Turismo 5 cost roughly $60 million to develop {Joystiq}
Nov 5th 2009 7:34PM 60 million is a lot for development. At that cost, you would have to sell well over a million copies just to break even. You're talking Triple AAA only territory here. But then again, Gran Turismo 4 sold something like 10,000,000 copies, while Gran Turismo 5 Prologue was the neighborhood of 3,000,000 copies. I would suspect they'll make a profit.
Hard to say what the budget of a third party Triple AAA title might be. There's multi platform considerations, but all told-- across all platforms, COD4 Modern Warfare sold more than Gran Turismo 4.
'About 50%' of Lego Rock Band team was against the game concept {Joystiq}
Nov 5th 2009 4:20PM It's funny, because they're two titles here that are becoming over-exposed and tired.... Lego AND Rock Band. Did we really need more so close to other Lego and Rock Band titles?
The whole notion of Lego Rock Band, to me at least, seemed like WHY? WHY? WHY?
Poll: Did you like the new show V? {Engadget HD}
Nov 4th 2009 7:33PM I've seen the original mini series, the second mini series, and the original TV series, and I thought this one was much better than all of them. Granted the miniseries ran for a couple of hours over multiple nights and had a sizable cast. So you were introduced to a lot more by the first night. For the ABC series, we've only seen 1 hour thus far and now we have to wait a week for the next part.
And although the kept the same basic idea and structure, there have been some notable differences between the original (mini series) and the ABC series. I'm liking one of the new plot points, that I won't mention here in case it hasn't been seen yet.
V is worth checking out. I've already given up on Lost and Heroes, so this will be a nice change of pace.
It should be noted the special effects on the ABC series have been well done for a series TV show.
As far as the original TV series (on NBC), that one was just bad all around.
What's On Tonight: World Series, Hank, Mercy, South Park {TV Squad}
Nov 4th 2009 4:59PM Just a correction... the Top Chef All Star dinner is on Bravo
SCEA files patent for interactive movie technology {Joystiq}
Nov 4th 2009 4:38PM Kind of looks like an illustration of people watching George Bush.
Modern Warfare 2 is GameStop's most pre-ordered game ever {Joystiq}
Nov 4th 2009 1:16AM You don't necessarily have to show up at 8pm. Was kind of thinking maybe getting them to, you know, sell the pre-orders early to those that show up and not have to wait until midnight. What's a few hours? :)
Comcast may own NBC soon {TV Squad}
Nov 4th 2009 1:11AM The best parts of NBC/Universal are the cable channels, the Universal brand (but not the theme parks), and Hulu. If you uncouple NBC, and sell it alone along with the NBC news organization (such as including MSNBC), it seems rather unattractive. I'm not even sure what suitors would be interested a single network that is shadow of it's former self. NBC is going to be a major project to turn around. And it's going to require somebody with deep pockets and time.
It concerns me the largest cable operator is acquiring some of these properties. I figure consoliation in the industry is inevitable, but long term this may not be ideal for consumers. If they were to leverage some of these properties exclusively for their own customers, then well, you fill in the blanks.
Modern Warfare 2 is GameStop's most pre-ordered game ever {Joystiq}
Nov 3rd 2009 1:14PM My local GameStop is having a pre-launch party starting at 8pm the day before, and then they're going to sell the game supposedly at midnight.
Leno says he'd go back to 11:35 if NBC asked {TV Squad}
Nov 3rd 2009 1:08AM Leno was never that great on the Tonight Show. He's mildly funny. And I think his audience skewed MUCH MUCH older, people who tune in because they're used to watching the Tonight Show.
Carson WAS always funny. Dave IS funny. Conan CAN be funny, but is a better writer than comedian. Leno WAS somewhat funny PRIOR to the Tonight Show, but lost whatever edge he once had.
NBC is in a downward spiral because they put themselves there. GE has NO BUSINESS operating a network. They're more interested in the bottom line, and the short term returns. The schedule is in taters. I still can't believe NBC gave up 10 o'clock. Outside of the Office, I don't watch NBC at all anymore. It's a joke of a network these days. Literally.
PS3 has lost Sony $4.7 billion, may be profitable next year {Joystiq}
Oct 30th 2009 2:17PM I beg to differ that 5 billion is nothing. It is a lot of money.
Sure, Microsoft lost that much, but they weren't carrying any debt on the books at that time. Right now Microsoft has about 6 billion dollars worth of debt, which is most likely related to the economy and getting Windows 7 out the door.
Sony, by comparision, is carrying about 15 billion worth of debt on their books. Again, economy.
As far as revenue, Sony has always made more than Microsoft. But for less profit. Sony's profits have always been thin. But that's typical for an electronics company. Sony generates 80 billion in revenue to Microsoft's 56 billion. From that revenue, Sony's profits are -2.33% compared to Microsoft profit margin of 24.46%
Microsoft has 33 billion in cash on hand, and Sony has 7 billion.
Now, neither Sony nor Microsoft is going away. 5 billion isn't going to ruin the company, but sustained losses are great either. I think Sony's recovery is dependant on the economy. In the past the PS2 was the company's cash cow that generated money even when other divisions weren't doing well. I'm not so sure the entertainment division is as rosey these days even with the recent price cut, but it is better off because of the cut from a sales point of view. It still going to take Sony years to realize benefits from the PS3 which is why this generation they're going to be dependant on a 10 year+ lifecycle, rather than 'oh our console sold for 10 years... wow that's great'
Microsoft will likely benefit in the near term from Windows 7, and the 360 continues to sell well enough.
More than likely 2010 will be a soft year possibly for consoles. The major game titles will continue to sell well. They'll likely be less titles marketed overall. We'll likely see more consolidation in the industry as the smaller or independent companies are acquired.
