Jump into the action packed Cars 2 universe with Cars 2: The Video Game – out now on all major platforms including Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, and DS. To celebrate, and because we're so darn nice, we're going to give away a copy of the game and an XBOX 360 gaming console to one lucky winner!!

Check out the game’s newest trailer featuring top-secret footage of Cars 2 character Holley Shiftwell - from the international spy training centre CHROME where game players are put through their paces to become world class spies.  
 
Inspired by the Disney Pixar animated film, Cars 2: The Video Game is packed with an array of beloved Cars characters competing in international spy adventures in exotic locations around the globe. With single or multiplayer modes, unlock challenging new tracks and take on exciting missions to be the best in the world.

Put yourself in the driving seat and go wild over the 25 different characters, including the new yet instantly loveable Holley Shiftwell and Fin McMissile and old favourites Mater and Lightning McQueen. Join the gang and take part in simulated hazardous missions using high-tech gadgets to tackle your opponents.

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Sony has announced an inexpensive version of its Sony PlayStation Portable game console, which will arrive later this year. Jim Ryan, president for Sony Computer Entertainment Europe, announced the new PSP E-1000 model that has a shocking compromise — lack of WiFi support.

Besides, the mono-aural speakers replace the stereo speakers in the previous generation PSP models. The new Sony PSP E-1000 models will be sold for $99 in US, 99 Euros in Europe and 99 Pounds in UK but there was no information on its release or availability date.

Sony is expected to launch the PS Vita game console sometime early next year in the USA and European region. Apparently, the company at the Gamescon 2011 expo announced a cheaper PlayStation Portable E-1000 model with Universal Media Disc drive support (yes, you read this right). Looks like Sony is not going to give away the proprietary physical game media option for the PSP consoles.

PSP E-1000 comes with the same 4.3-inch TFT LCD display with 16:9 aspect ratio and there is also no mention of the SIM slot. That makes us wonder — how will this PSP model connect with the PlayStation network online? Either this model is meant just for playing ALL PSP games published till date or it will connect to the PlayStation network via a PlayStation 3 or PC. No additional video or music codecs has been added to the new PSP Model.

From the photos, the user interface appears to be totally new and fresh. The new PSP E-1000 is expected to be available sometime early next year along with the PS Vita.

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"Total console hardware and disc-based software revenues are on track to slide a few percent in 2011 compared to 2010," says Lewis Ward, research manager, Consumer Markets: Gaming, at IDC. "But prognostications that consoles have peaked as a product category are premature. I expect that the launch of the Wii U, a revamped interactive entertainment console from Microsoft in the 2014 timeframe, and the arrival of Sony's 'PS4' circa 2015 - along with more than a few exclusive, innovative games - will help drive a new wave of console-centric spending in the next several years."

IDC forecasts direct global console hardware and disc software sale revenue will increase at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.6% from 2010 to 2015, reaching USD 39.7 billion in 2015 with developing economy growth rates about twice those in developed markets. Despite this rebound, the installed base of actively used game consoles won't keep pace with the number of worldwide households.

IDC expects there to be about 257 million active consoles worldwide by 2015, or 12.7% of anticipated households that year, down about 1% when compared to same console penetration figure for 2011. In this sense, it's possible to conclude that console popularity will slip due to the rise of media tablet gaming, casual, free-to-play/social online PC games, etc.

The forecast also shows the PS3 will have the largest active installed base of any game console worldwide by 2015. In this sense, the PS2's 'long tail' may ultimately repeat.

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Much has been made of the video game console business’ steady decline, and rightfully so; console sales have dropped considerably in recent months. Some attribute the sliding sales to a weakened economy while a minority believe trends are turning toward casual mobile gaming, but market research firm IDC says we shouldn’t be sounding any alarms just yet. In a new report, IDC suggests that console gaming will begin to reverse current downward trends in 2012, with a big-time resurgence to follow in the coming years. “Total console hardware and disc-based software revenues are on track to slide a few percent in 2011 compared to 2010,” Lewis Ward, an IDC research manager, said in a statement.

“But prognostications that consoles have peaked as a product category are premature. I expect that the launch of the Wii U, a revamped interactive entertainment console from Microsoft in the 2014 timeframe, and the arrival of Sony’s ‘PS4′ circa 2015 – along with more than a few exclusive, innovative games – will help drive a new wave of console-centric spending in the next several years.” Of course the market could rebound even sooner than that. BGR reported exclusively that Microsoft may be preparing to unveil a new Xbox model as soon as E3 2012, and Sony could be fast-tracking plans for a new PlayStation 4 console as well. The Xbox is now six years old, Sony’s PlayStation 3 is five years old and Nintendo’s Wii is almost five years old as well. As quickly as technology now evolves, it shouldn’t be any mystery that console sales are currently waning. IDC’s press release follows below.

Despite recent macroeconomic instability and particularly weak overall video game spending in North America this summer, the latest International Data Corporation (IDC) forecast of the worldwide video game and interactive entertainment console market points to a rebound beginning in 2012, largely driven by new platform releases and rising console penetration and spending in select developing economies.

“Total console hardware and disc-based software revenues are on track to slide a few percent in 2011 compared to 2010,” says Lewis Ward, research manager, Consumer Markets: Gaming, at IDC. “But prognostications that consoles have peaked as a product category are premature. I expect that the launch of the Wii U, a revamped interactive entertainment console from Microsoft in the 2014 timeframe, and the arrival of Sony’s ‘PS4′ circa 2015 – along with more than a few exclusive, innovative games – will help drive a new wave of console-centric spending in the next several years.”

IDC forecasts direct global console hardware and disc software sale revenue will increase at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.6% from 2010 to 2015, reaching $39.7 billion in 2015 with developing economy growth rates about twice those in developed markets. Despite this rebound, the installed base of actively used game consoles won’t keep pace with the number of worldwide households. IDC expects there to be about 257 million active consoles worldwide by 2015, or 12.7% of anticipated households that year, down about 1% when compared to same console penetration figure for 2011. In this sense, it’s possible to conclude that console popularity will slip due to the rise of media tablet gaming, casual, free-to-play/social online PC games, etc.

This IDC study, Worldwide Game and Interactive Entertainment Console Hardware and Software 2011 -2015 Forecast (IDC #229438), assesses and forecasts the demand for, usage of, and revenue associated with video game console hardware and software on a worldwide basis through 2015. It provides a competitive assessment of the leading current-generation console platforms based on survey data, interviews, and other research sources and models next-generation platform releases based on historical precedent and other inputs. Worldwide game console totals are broken down into four regions: North America, Western Europe, Japan, and the rest of the world.

The forecast also shows the PS3 will have the largest active installed base of any game console worldwide by 2015. In this sense, the PS2′s “long tail” may ultimately repeat.

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This console buying guide was updated on August 17, 2011, to incorporate all the up-to-date information regarding each system and recent price drops. A lot has changed since the Xbox 360 debuted in November 2005. After what has seemed like dozens of upgrades, improvements, omissions, price drops, motion controllers, and bundles, the dust has settled (once again) and we're left with three competitively priced consoles. Such an evenly matched trio of hardware brings up the ultimate question for prospective video game console buyers: which home console should you buy?

This question doesn't necessarily have a definitive answer. Quite frankly, the answer could be any of the three depending on what you're looking for. In other words, there is no default "best console." It's about finding the one that's right for you--and what will be the deciding factor in your case will ultimately depend on what you plan to use the console for. That said, in lieu of detailing every last bit of functionality that each console offers, let's discuss the type of person we think would benefit most from each console.

Last year Nintendo introduced a new bundle for the Wii that included Wii Sports, Wii Sports Resort, and a Wii Remote with MotionPlus built in. This year, the company has chopped $50 off the price and now offers a $150 Wii with just Mario Kart Wii bundled inside. Though the Wii isn't regarded as a "hard-core" gamer's console, the system has served up some pretty compelling titles over the past few years, with more recent titles like Super Mario Galaxy 2 and Metroid Other M giving Wii owners something to cheer about. A growing trend with the Wii seems to be that of rebooted franchises from the company's past, like Donkey Kong Country Returns and Kirby's Epic Yarn. Not much has been seen in terms of pure innovation, but Nintendo seems content with rewarding its loyal fan base. However, we must admit that Nintendo seems to have left the Wii hanging with little to play since the announcement of the console's Wii U successor at E3 2011.

All things considered, the Wii has become best known for its addictive party games, the occasional fitness game, kid-friendly fun, and shooting titles that emulate light-gun arcade games. The amount of first-party Nintendo titles is small, and a large number of third-party games are mostly written off as gimmicky cannon fodder.

The Wii's online multiplayer experience isn't anything to write home about, but we definitely recommend playing Mario Kart Wii online. Unfortunately, the Wii's 16-digit friend code system did not catch on with most gamers. The well-established Virtual Console offers an impressive number of classic games from various older gaming systems, and WiiWare provides a platform for inexpensive titles from independent developers.

Aside from games, the Wii doesn't offer much in terms of additional functionality. Only last year did the Wii obtain Netflix streaming, and it can't play DVDs or CDs. Besides Netflix, its only streaming media compatibility comes from PlayOn's third-party PC software. A cheaper Wii that can't play Gamecube titles was recently introduced in Europe, but Nintendo says it has no plans of releasing this system in North America.

Accessories for the Nintendo Wii can add up. The console supports up to four Wii remotes and Nunchuks (the system comes with one of each). Thankfully, Wii MotionPlus is now bundled in most new controllers, so purchasing a separate attachment is no longer needed. However, there are still plenty of accessories to purchase, and all this plus extra chargers and batteries can become quite pricey, creating a lot of hidden costs.

The Nintendo Wii is best for: Parents with children who are just beginning to enter the world of gaming; family gaming; an environment with a lot of people (dorm room or apartment with numerous roommates); loyal fans of classic Nintendo franchises.

The Wii is not the best choice for: Those who are looking for a game console that doubles as an all-purpose entertainment hub, want state-of-the-art HD graphics, enjoy a robust online community, and/or those who prefer a wide selection of adult-targeted titles.

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Today's news from overseas about Nintendo's slightly redesigned and price-dropped Wii isn't much of a surprise, with the Wii U around the corner. Neither is the new Wii's dropping of backward-compatible support for the GameCube and its peripherals. In fact, it nearly comes as a footnote.

Honestly, some people might be shocked that the Wii can even play GameCube games at all. Those small discs, looking like giveaways from some '90s music magazine, slot into the current Wii's disc slot (even though DVDs won't work). Even the GameCube controllers--and other peripherals--plug in via a door on the side. That's generous of Nintendo, but hardly necessary. Unless you have a large collection of GameCube discs, most memorable Nintendo games are easily gotten via Virtual Console downloads, re-issued Wii-ified versions, or improved franchise sequels. Do we care about backward-compatibility in our game consoles? Well, maybe we used to. It's getting harder and harder to care. Here's why.

'Next-gen' consoles are getting long in the tooth, and have plenty of games as it is. The PlayStation 3 removed its PlayStation 2 backward-compatibility years ago. At first, people cried out: once the PS3 library was large enough and had enough quality discount and used games out in stores, it hardly mattered. The Wii is the same way. Why focus on GameCube games when so many Wii games are out there to be played? The Xbox 360 started adding backwards-compatibility with a list of Xbox games, then stopped. In the end, there are only so many hours in the day, and so many games to play.

Handhelds are, arguably, the more important territory for backward-compatible gaming: Finding small, cheap used Game Boy Advance cartridges or UMD discs to stick in your handheld game system is no easier than hunting for old PS2 games. Nintendo had Game Boy Advance support on the Nintendo DS, then dropped it. The 3DS supports DS games. The PSP Go tried to drop UMD discs for download-only content, but was discontinued. The PS Vita won't be able to use PSP UMDs, but Sony's online store has plenty of digital versions of PSP classics. Which brings us to...
Downloadable game stores are repositories for retro.

They also re-charge you for titles you already own. Still, having all that content on PSN, Xbox Live Arcade and the Wii Shop adds hundreds of games to already-large libraries, and offers the average person more than enough old-school gaming to give them their fill...and then some.

The trend's growing in the app age: Apple's App Store, Steam, and GOG (Good Old Games) are all cheap, gigantic catalogs for games, brimming with old titles. Good Old Games is a favorite around the CNET offices: retro games are cheap and plentiful, although you'll need a PC to play. Steam's frequent sales offer classic games for next to nothing. Most notable of all, Apple's game-changing App Store has thousands of games, many of which are retro or retro-inspired, with nearly none under ten dollars. If the future of handhelds, or of gaming in general, lies in what Apple has birthed, then it simply doesn't pay to hang onto old discs.

The negatives: out-of-print classics, saving money. The obvious downside to losing backwards compatibility is twofold: first, we lose access to some great games that may never again see the light of day. Some collectors and fans may bemoan this, but the real truth remains that most great games eventually come back out of the woodwork in some way, shape or form. (See: Rez, Marvel vs. Capcom) For the rest, you can keep your old console.

Saving money: Well, yes, we deserve to play our old games and not have to re-purchase them again later on. The same argument holds for books we re-purchase on our Kindle, or DVDs we buy in digital format or on Blu-ray. The bigger concern I see with the future of backward-compatibility is not what happens with old discs, but with old downloadable games with DRM.

Will a PlayStation 4 play or import PS3 games bought over PSN? Transferring games from one console to another borders on the ridiculous if you're an Xbox 360 owner, and impossible if you're a Wii owner. The 3DS finally allows digital transfers of old DSi Shop games, but some titles are prevented from making the leap if they're no longer on Nintendo's e-shop: like, inexplicably, one pinball game I purchased.

What do you think? A big deal, or not a big one at all? Backwards-compatibility issues strike all tech, just in different ways. After all, even the App Store faces backwards-incompatibility with some games and apps and older iPhones. If you really care, buy an old console/handheld. Plenty of Dreamcast and Game Boy fans rally around old hardware they've held onto or picked up again. Sega has made a whole side business out of repackaging and shrinking down the Sega Genesis. Heck, you could even seek out an Atari 2600, just in case you don't care for emulators.

The good news about old games is this: storage keeps getting cheaper and systems are getting more and more powerful. Old games can be re-released by the dozens on compilation discs and for download. In another ten years, you'll probably be able to tons of older games via cloud-based delivery for what amounts to pennies, much like Netflix instant streaming.

Backwards-compatibility is what it's always been: a hook to lure new owners to software-deprived new platforms. Once a software collection's sufficiently developed, backwards compatibility is dropped. Dare we ever think it will be otherwise?

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In a move that could give video-game sales a much-needed adrenaline boost, Sony Corp. has knocked $50 off the price of its PlayStation 3 game console.

The price drop, announced at the Gamescon conference in Germany, applies to both the 160-gigabyte and the 320-gig version, which will sell for $249.99 and $299.99 respectively. The console launched in November 2006 at $499.99 for a 20-gig model and $599.99 for a 60-gig machine.

"The new price will make the PS3 more accessible than ever before," said Jack Tretton, president of Sony's PlayStation business, in a company blog post.

It's also expected to help sales of video games, which have been hammered by an anemic global economy that has caused consumers to pull back on discretionary spending. In July, for example, U.S. sales of console and computer games hit their lowest mark since October 2006, according to market research firm NPD Group.

Among the three major console manufacturers, Nintendo Co. has been hit hardest as demand for its Wii has dried up. Sales of Nintendo's newest console, the handheld 3DS launched in March at $349.95, have been so lackluster that the Japanese company has been forced to chop the price twice, down to $169.99. That prompted complaints from buyers who paid full price just a few months earlier, and led to a formal apology from Nintendo Chief Executive Satoru Iwata.

Though sales of the PS3 have grown steadily since its introduction five years ago, Sony has not been immune to the current weakness in consumer spending. The company sold 145,000 PS3s in July, down from 215,000 a year earlier, when the platform got a sales lift from its last price cut in June 2010.

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Lead your team to victory at Rugby World Cup 2011 with Xbox 360. Microsoft introduces a limited edition Rugby World Cup 2011 video game and console pack in time for kick off

With anticipation for Rugby World Cup 2011 reaching fever pitch, Microsoft is excited to announce the launch of a limited edition RUGBY WORLD CUP 2011 pack1.

The bundle2 includes the Official RUGBY WORLD CUP 2011 video game and a 4GB Xbox 360 console, and will hit shelves on August 25.

Developed by HB Studios and published by 505 Games, RUGBY WORLD CUP 2011 reflects the action and passion of the world's third-largest sporting event with the one of the most advanced and accurate rugby experiences ever created.

RUGBY WORLD CUP 2011 offers players the chance to pick from the 20 Rugby World Cup 2011 participating countries, and attempt to lead their team all the way through the pool phase through to the Final.

Not only is RUGBY WORLD CUP 2011 the only game that gives players the opportunity to lift the prestigious Webb Ellis Cup, for the first time it offers fans the chance to compete online by challenging other players to one-on-one matches on Xbox LIVE?3.

Six of the world's most well-known voices of rugby also offer added realism. Former All Black Sean Fitzpatrick and top Australian commentator Greg Clark form the Southern Hemisphere commentary team, in addition to the UK commentary team of Sky Sports stars Miles Harrison and former England rugby international Stuart Barnes, plus the French duo of Philippe Sella (one-time record holder for the most international rugby union appearances) and Eric Bayle.

David Rayner, Director Consumer Group, Microsoft New Zealand says, "We're thrilled to launch this Xbox bundle just in time for Rugby World Cup 2011. We know people all over the world are going to be watching their teams play and now they will be able to get involved even more and experience some of the exciting competition for themselves."

Microsoft New Zealand is an Official Sponsor of Rugby World Cup 2011 and is providing a range of desktop and server software licenses, including Silverlight Player, Windows 7, Microsoft Office 2010, Windows Server, SQL Server, SharePoint Server and SharePoint Online. This technology will support the successful operation of Rugby World Cup 2011.

The sponsorship also enables cost-effective global content distribution. Using Silverlight technology this will help provide a great online viewing experience to those unable to make it to New Zealand.

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Nintendo seems to be going through a rough phase these days, despite of generating roof blasting revenue (and leaving other brands behind) from its gaming consoles, a few years ago. As of now, Nintendo is at the bottom with news about the company everywhere that, it isn’t doing well.

The first shock is the cutback of $80 on the 3DS, which hasn’t really proven to be a success for Nintendo. Although, earlier consoles, like the Wii and DS were blockbuster hits and really gave rival brands a shiver, the scenario for 3DS is the exact opposite. While Sony is ready to release PlayStation Vita at a nominal price, Nintendo had to consider something about it. And the only thing it could think of is to reduce $80 on 3DS, even as it’s hardly been in the market for 6 months. This action is enough to state that something is wrong and Nintendo, very well, understands; so, the gaming giant offered compensation by assuring free games to buyers who paid actual price.

At this rate, Nintendo can wave its profits goodbye. The news is also out that Nintendo is ready to give up profits by 80% for which the 3DS is somewhat responsible. Moreover, Nintendo hasn’t come with interesting games for Wii this season, which could’ve helped with its console sales. Nintendo’s future innovation, the Wii U, has managed to spread some excitement around, but we’ll have to wait for its release. This year there were no title announcements made, only demos for now-isn’t enough to grab investor attention. The Wii U is probably set to launch next summer, but, in the interim, Nintendo needs to get a hold of some good investors, as soon as possible.

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