The Matrix. Ah, what a cool movie. Divine in inspiration. Perfection in execution.

Then they had to go and make sequels.

Talkin’ about ruinin’ a good thing!

So we’ll just have to see how this Matrix game turns out, which is rumoured to be coming out for the PS3 as well. (Yeah, I know - it doesn’t score very well on the credible confirmation scale, but oh well.)

License holder Shiny sent out job listings today advertising among others a “PSP programmer” position, suggesting that a port of Path of Neo could be heading to the slick handheld. Also advertised were programmer positions for Xbox 360, of which applicants were needed to “work together with PlayStation 3 and Revolution programmers on converting existing code base to run on Xbox 360.”

C&VG - THE MATRIX HEADS TO NEXT-GEN CONSOLES?

The latest issue of PSM has an interview with Kaz Hiral and Jack Tretton, two bigwigs at Sony Computer Entertainment America. Some interesting stuff came up.

For example, they quickly squashed the idea of a possible 2007 launch, saying the only way that would happen is if they didn’t have any software, which was unlikely.

And as to the quality of PS3 visuals, as “demod” at E3 this year:

PSM: Are you confident that the final PS3 will deliver the quality of visuals seen in the E3 demos?

Kaz Hirai: Yes, and I think the proof will have to be in the pudding. Because no matter what I say here, people are going to try dispel that and be skeptical until they see what we bring in terms of the final product. I’m going to say it’s going to be just as exciting or even better than what people have seen, we will deliver, just as we have on the original Playstation. The Playstation 2, and most recently, the Playstation Portable.

Jack Tretton: We wouldn’t be making claims of what our platforms could do if we didn’t feel we could deliver on them. We’ve actually got three internal [PS3] titles that we’re working on at Sony Computer Entertainment America. On of them, WarHawk, is playable, and you can compare the graphics and see them live, and also with another one of our launch titles, a game from factor 5 called Lair, again live footage, that footage compares very favorablely to what was shown at E3 press conference. I think that, in the very near future, you’ll see some comparable gameplay footage that will really put those rumors[PS3 can’t be as powerful as we’re claiming it is] to bed.

They also squashed the rumour of things being taken out of the PS3 to make the PS3 less expensive.

Unfortunately, they didn’t give any new information about release dates, pricing, or whether it would be launched in Japan first or what.

PS3 Forums - Sony Speaks

According to GameSpot, plenty of Xbox 360 consoles were available throughout the launch weekend in Japan.

But after hardcore gamers made their purchases, many 360 units remained unsold. For example, the Akihabara branch of Yodobashi Camera promoted the Xbox 360 heavily. It established a dedicated area and cash register for the machine, where many customers stopped to check out a trailer of the 360’s forthcoming adventure game Ninety-Nine Nights. However, most visitors walked away without buying a 360. On Sunday evening, one of the busiest shopping times in the weekend, over two dozen Xbox 360s were stacked up behind the 360 cash register and several idle, bored-looking sales assistants.

I think that Microsoft was hoping for a little better. But they have a long way to go, and Microsoft has always been most persistent. Deep wallets and everylasting patience usually win out in the end.

GameSpot - Japanese Xbox 360 sales off to slow start

Just a small note to say that Sony’s still targetting a spring 2006 launch for the PS3. I’ve been hearing rumours here and there (mostly from the other side of the fence) saying that the PS3 might be late. But Sony just reconfirmed a spring 2006 launch for the PlayStation 3 (probably in Japan only, but we don’t know yet).

Sony Corp. on Thursday said it remained on track to roll out its PlayStation 3 game console by spring 2006 despite industry speculation that the scheduled launch could face delays.

Reuters - Sony says PS3 still on track for spring launch

Unreal Tournament 2007 will become available for the PlayStation 3 console.

Epic’s Unreal Tournament 2007 will be available for Sony’s Playstation 3 console in addition to the already announced PC version. From the article: ”[Epic] is relieved to make the game for the console market since they will be able to offer cutting-edge graphics on a sub $500 console, while on a PC you’ll need to pay over $600 just on graphics card to play the game at those settings.”

Joystiq - UT 2007 on PlayStation 3

The Cell processor will become more effecient soon, but not soon enough for the PS3 launch.

Power consumption of the Playstation 3’s Cell processor may be reduced by up to 40%, thanks to new technologies developed by IBM and AMD.

IBM and AMD have employed two different techniques which fall into a category known as ’silicon straining’. Essentially, these techniques allow electrons to travel faster, thereby reducing a chip’s power requirements without sacrificing chip performance.

This is great news for the PlayStation 3, which will have lots of electronics packed into a small space. Unfortunately, the new and improved cell will only start being manufactured in the second half of 2006. Not enough for the first generation of PlayStation 3’s. (I hope!)

PS3Focus.com - Cell chip’s consumption reduced by 40%

There are lots of interesting things about the PS3. Recently there hasn’t been a lot of information forthcoming about the PlayStation 3, but that doesn’t mean there’s not already a lot of information to be had. So I thought I’d put together a list of things about the PS3 that you may not know.

1. PS3, 1080p, and you. The PS3 has two HDMI outputs. Sure, you knew that. And they will put out 1080p. Sure, you knew that too. But did you know that there are very few displays these days that have 1080p HDMI inputs? You can count them on one hand. There’s the HP MD6580n, the Sony VPL-VW100, and some JVC D-ILA sets (supposedly). So if you want to see the PS3 in its full glory, you might want to wait to purchase that HDTV. Or shop very carefully.
2. Wi-Fi. The PS3 supports IEEE 802.11 b/g Wi-Fi, so it’ll connect to your Wi-Fi network, and your PSP as well!
3. Two Displays. The interesting thing is that you can mix and match an HDTV with a normal SD TV. So if you buy a great HDTV to go with your PS3, don’t throw out that old set! You can use it to chat with friends while playing PS3 games! Or see stats, or anything else a second screen could come in handy for!
4. Charging Controllers. Many people wonder how the PS3 controller can be charged, or if you’d need to replace the batteries. The answer? You’ll be able to charge them with the USB 2.0 ports using a USB cable.
5. PS2 Save Games. The PS3 will be backwards-compatible with the PS2. But what about savegames? There may be a way… hotcarl mentions in “10 Reasons to Wait for the PS3″ that plugging a PSP into the PS2 using a USB cable makes it show up in the PS2 menu screen as just another memory card slot. You might be able to save games onto the PSP, then load them up onto the PS3. Wouldn’t that be cool?
6. Bluetooth. Bluetooth is for more than just wireless controllers. It’s for keyboards, mice, headsets, dentistry, and more. The PS3 is a Bluetooth hub that can connect with up to 7 Bluetooth devices. The PS3 itself is the 8th Bluetooth device.
7. Release Date. Everyone assumes that the PS3 will launch in the spring in Japan and Christmas 2006 in North America. However, Sony has not said this. This is just speculation. We can still hope for a North American spring release! Though I have to admit that, going by Sony’s past history, chances are slim. But who knows - Sony now has someone new at the helm. Things may be different this time around.
8. Warner Brothers. Did you know that the inclusion of a Blu-ray drive in the PS3 is one of the main reasons that Warner Brothers decided to back the Blu-ray standard? Now only one major studio hasn’t voiced support for Blu-ray (Universal).

So there you have it. If you know any interesting tidbits that you think belong on this list, or of any corrections, please contact me or reply to this post here or in the forums.

The fifth installment of the smash hit Resident Evil series might debut for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 at the same time.

In an interview published in Xbox360ism (a special edition of Dorimaga), Capcom Research & Development division chief Keiji Inafune said he expects Resident Evil 5 to be released simultaneously on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 if possible.

“We want to grow the Resident Evil series into a multi-platform franchise, so we hope to release it simultaneously [on the two next-generation consoles],” Inafune told Xbox360ism. “But since we don’t know the launch period for the PS3 yet, so it’s hard to say [if we can].”

Hmmm. So maybe developers are a little too much in the dark about the PS3 after all. (I can admit when I’m wrong!)

GameSpot - Resident Evil 5 debuting simultaneously on 360, PS3?

Japanese analysts are trash-talking the 360, comparing it to the PlayStation 3 and complaining about its lack of newly-developed titles for the Japanese launch.

As a long time reader, you probably know my opinion of analysts. With their crystal balls and soothsaying, how can you trust them?

So even though they’re predicting a walk in the park for the PS3, my personal console of choice, I still won’t believe it till I see it.

“We had previously thought that Xbox 360 could gain a major share of the Japanese market by taking some market share from front-runner Sony Computer,” says an analyst for Mitsubishi UFJ Securities. “But we now think that such a prospect may not be realized, given the limited attractiveness of its titles and its lukewarm functions.”

“No one — consumers or software makers — has been talking about the Xbox 360 lately, although we only have a couple of days before the release,” said another analyst from Tokai Tokyo Research Center. “Given also the fact that basic functions of Xbox 360 are inferior to Sony’s next-generation machine, and that there are not many newly-developed titles ready for the Japanese launch, Xbox 360 is not likely to become a must-buy console here in Japan,” he added.

1UP.com - Japanese Analysts Diss the Xbox 360