Strange word comes from Videogamer.com that, at least in the UK, several retailers have decided to charge £10 more for the PS3 version of Devil May Cry 4 than the Xbox 360 version. Contrary to Sony marketing bollocks, the 360 still has both a higher install base and significantly higher game sales in the UK, so, maybe retailers are looking for a way to subsidize all the SKU changes and hardware stocking costs they’ve had to eat?

“We don’t set the prices of our games, that’s at the discretion of the retailer. In this specific instance, the process has resulted in a price difference, but the process itself is not something we completely control.”

High street specialist retailer GAME lists DMC4 with an RRP of £49.99 on PS3 and £39.99 on Xbox 360. Both Play.com and Amazon.co.uk list the same pricing.”

First of all, at current exchange rates, the 360 SKU of DMC4 costs the equivalent of approximately 80 dollars. This means that the PS3 version is selling for essentially $100.00. So, a moment of silence for our British gaming compatriots, because that is fucking insane. This also means you don’t get to bitch about games being too expensive anywhere on the internet.

Second, the more I think about it, the more I really do wonder if this is aimed at recuperating costs associated with the difficult retail costs associated with Sony’s rapidly transforming strategies for the PS3 over the last 12 months. At least here in the states, hardware price drops are frequently eaten by retailers (although people are welcome to correct me if I’m wrong, as this is the case at Frys, Best Buy, and Gamestop at the very least), and retailers already make next to nothing on hardware. Will other retailers in the UK and EU decide to follow suit?

-Aegies

The latest Ratchet and Clank installment is a game that I asked for because I felt I should–as a PS3 owner–have. I have never played any of the previous games, and I am not even that much of a fan of platformers. However, after spending every waking moment of the last two days playing Ratchet, I can safely say that this game kicks ass.

The game is beautiful. Granted, as Aegies pointed out to me, it has plenty of places where it has lower res textures, but it comes together as a whole quite well. The game plays to the system’s strengths, creating a world that graphically looks somewhere between a Pixar movie and a PS2 game. And, as far as the cut scenes are concerned, they look just like a Pixar movie, complete with awesome dialog and quirky characters.

I know that Ratchet games are deeply based on the weapons system, but as a newcomer to the series I have to say that it really does have some of the coolest weapons I have seen in a game in a long time. This is partially due to the fact that the setting of the game allows the designers to create whatever crazy weapon comes to mind, but goes to show that the creators still know how to make fun weapons and items.

The pacing of the game is also something I really enjoy. Players can complete levels in a relatively short span of time, do side tasks even in shorter periods of time, and there is no “lives” system. No matter how many times you die, Ratchet is pretty forgiving.

The bottom line is that every PS3 owner should go out and buy this game (and while you’re at it, pick up Uncharted as well). Wipe the dust off that beast, it’s time to get your reality synthesizer working.

Chufmoney

P.S.- if someone from Sony or Insomniac reads this: will you please just let Insomniac create a middle ware engine for the PS3 already?

Konami issued a press release, pushing back MSG4 from Q1 to Q2 2008. For those that don’t understand moneyspeak, that’s around April, May or June.

“Konami has decided to delay the title’s release in order to make further improvements to the quality of the game and provide even greater enjoyment for more customers worldwide,” Konami said in a press release.

Does this suck? Yep. Big ones. But here are a few points: The season is already super-saturated with games. Chances are, Metal Gear being late means more people will actually be able to afford to buy the game and maybe, just maybe, new gamers can buy a PS3 to play it on. Another point is that Sony drops PS3 prices like Britney Spears drops babies (ohhh, burn!). So, hey, by Q2, there may actually be a cheaper PS3. I wouldn’t put it past them. Plus, Q2 is a quiet gaming month, so MGS4 dropping then will cause all sorts of insanity. Add to the fact that delays usually mean improvements and I see nothing but green fields and sunshine. What do you guys think? Is this delay good or horrible?

[via NextGen]

Jayslacks

ShackNews reports that PS3 firmware version 1.94 — included on Ratchet and Clank Future: Tools of Destruction — will include rumble support. Players will be able to toggle the rumble support by pressing the Playstation button. However, rumble will only be enabled on the dual-shock controllers — the ones Sony has yet to release.

Most of you are very familiar with the statements that Sony has previously made regarding rumble. However, they have realized the error of their ways — or rather, worked out things with their legal issues — and is now ready to make your fingers vibrate once again.

Is this that important of a feature to y’all? Personally I enjoy the feature when it is there, but it isn’t something that I miss when I play my handheld games. Hell, it’s not even something I miss when playing Warhawk. I just don’t get it.

Chufmoney