The biggest gaming show in the world has kicked off in Las Vegas with Nintendo saying that it plans to launch a 60 instrument music game for its Wii console. Sony has announced a new 80GB PS3 which will sell in the USA for $399 however Australians can expect to pay almost double that despite the dollar being at $0.96 to the US dollar. Also announced are new IP content services however Australia is set to be isolated from the new content services.Sony has also said that they will launch a PlayStation 3-based video distribution service later aimed at taking on Microsoft’s Xbox Live service.
Sony also said movies from at least seven studios including Walt Disney will be available on the service to rent or to own. Television programs will also be available on the video service however it is not known whether Sony is going to join the long list of other multinational Companies that have isolated Australia from new online content services.
A classic example is the new Microsoft tie-up between online movie rental company Netflix which will let consumers access content live via a PC or their Xbox. The service that is not being made available to Australians will let subscribers watch streamed movies and TV shows.
Among the big gaming announcements on day one is “Wii Music” which will let players simulate more than 60 different instruments. Activision’s “Guitar Hero” turned the music-playing genre into arguably the hottest category for video games.
“Guitar Hero” already plays on all three game consoles, including the Wii, helping to build the industry’s appeal among players beyond core fighting and race-style titles.
“A true paradigm shift has taken place in the global games market,” Nintendo President Satoru Iwata told the E3 video game conference, the most important industry event.
A more sensitive Wii MotionPlus controller add-on also will debut next spring with a new suite of Wii sports games from the company.
