Sony Owned 2009, Will Own 2010 and 2011: Exclusives Galore (Year End Articles)

Just when you thought the hardware giant from the land of the rising sun shot all their bullets in 2009, they've reloaded and are ready to rumble yet again in 2010. Looking back at the year that was, (2009 is almost out), one would think Sony played all its cards: Redesigned PS3 Slim, new price point, Killzone 2, Uncharted 2: Among Thieves and a PSN overhaul just to name a few. The team at Sony's PlayStation division practically outdid themselves this year. Aaron Greenberg might be talking about 2010 as a better year than 2009 for the Xbox 360 and rightfully so, 360's lineup was weak; Sony owned 2009. But the bigger story is that they're set to do it all over again in 2010. In fact they've got it bagged already, and 2011 looks even more promising. Let's examine the situation.

The Exclusives: 2010

Just so you know, this article is mostly about exclusives because what we've come to realize is that more than anything else, the exclusive lineup of a console is what separates it from the pack. Makes said console worth owning and adds great value to it. And in this department, no other company comes no where close to Sony in 2010:

God of War III - On the market March of next year, this one is not only a must buy for any PS3 owner, it'll single handedly help Sony move hundreds of thousands of PS3s worldwide.

Heavy Rain

Resistance 3

White Knight Chronicles

MAG

Gran Turismo 5 -

There's a lot of Forza talk going around now, and rightly so, the game is indeed great. But when March 2010 comes around, it'll be the veteran's turn to shine. The Franchise has been around since the original Playstation, and went on to sell over 52 million copies and has grossed over 1 billion dollars in sales. Polyphony Digital's boss Yamauchi has gone on record saying GT5 will look better than real life. You read this correctly, better than real life.

Mod Nation Racers

The Last Guardian

EyePet

The Exclusives: 2011

The list above is indicative to what is set to happen on your PS3 in 2010, there's no asking, PS3 will destroy all else with that kind of lineup. But what about 2011? Well, it gets even greater:

Syphon Filter

Final Fantasy Versus XIII -

Many PS3 owners are now calling this game the true next-gen Final Fantasy, arguing that because FFXIII went multiplatform, there's no way Square-Enix would've been able to harness the PS3's full power because they had to keep the Xbox 360 in mind being that, according to them it's much weaker than the PS3. I'm not sure about all of that but there's one thing I know, Versus XIII will be a darn great exclusive.

Killzone 3

Twisted Metal

Uncharted 3

Final Fantasy 14- Online

New SOCOM

inFamous 2

Agent -

It's from Rockstar, the great company behind Grand Theft Auto. The hype train is slowly building because the game is still some time off, but when it comes don't be surprised if Agent totally steals the show and a strong following leading up to its release. Another great exclusive title to look forward to come 2011.

Yakuza 4

Upgrades to look out for:

3D Gaming: 3D Is Making a Huge Comeback and guess who's at the helm of it? None other the Sony with reports circulating that the company is set to ship HDTVs that support 3D gaming next year.

Motion Control:

In a recent interview with 1up, Sony said the motion controller will be implemented in many family friendly titles and even shooters. The company also said that Nintendo and Microsoft should not take lightly what they're planning with their own motion device. Might sound as if the hardware giant is bragging, but we must remember that Sony was the company who first implemented motion technology in the gaming industry with the EyeToy, and so it's not a stretch to think that their technology could indeed be ahead of the rest.

More Features On PSN, Including Cross-Game-Chat: Sony is promising a plethora of upgrades to PSN in the coming year that will add even more value to the great service it already offers. One of the most anticipated and talked about additions however is cross-game-chat. It's no longer a rumor as Sony has said they plan to make it available. A premium service will inevitably come next year but according to Sony, you won't ever have to pay-to-play, the premium service will offer special features, it's like a VIP pass.

Love it or hate it, for the next few years, there are more than enough reasons to justify buying yourself a PS3. It's well worth the price.

12/24/09 Ernice Gilbert

Microsoft Forced Sony To Do Better: Cheaper PS3, Overhauled PSN, Topnotch Exclusives (Year End Articles)

There are some things that people know is true, and yet will never admit it, they will summon all other excuses in an effort to turn away from the truth. The simpler solution would be to come clean, be honest and get the load off their backs but no, they choose to go the difficult path of making excuses in an effort to defend their stance.

This is displayed perfectly among some PS3 owners who passionately defend their console and fail to see or recognize anything that's good from the other side. One of the issues being the clear evidence showing Microsoft forced Sony to be a better company by forcing it to stay on its guards, not leaving not an inch of room for error, or else get punished for gazing. The software giant kept the heat on the hardware giant and because of it, PS3 owners spend less cash, get better service and second to none exclusives. Let's look at some of the benefits caused by the pressure Microsoft placed on Sony.

A cheaper PS3:

Some will argue that Sony always does this with all its consoles, that is true, but the PS3 Slim came rather early, in fact earlier than all its predecessors and the reasons are so blatant that even a blind person would comprehend. The PS3 is just over 3 years old and Sony has dropped the Price of its flagship console three times. The Reason: Microsoft's Xbox 360 was constantly outselling PS3 globally save Japan, causing Sony to lose market share precipitously; therefore, it had no other options but do something drastic. They did, in August of this year, Sony announced that there would indeed be a redesigned PS3 that would be sold a the new price point of $299. Thanks to Microsoft.

Overhauled PSN:

Ah, many a times people have complained about PSN in the past. I said in the past because they were comparing it to the service that introduced online play and in the process revolutionizing gaming forever. Xbox Live first debuted with the original Xbox and since then the service has grown by leaps-and-bounds. Sony followed suit with PS3 but initially the service was a dud. There's no denying it, if Xbox Live was not established, we probably would still be stuck with only campaign modes in our videogames today. Not only that but the people who complained about PSN in the beginning as being weak and stale, (rightfully so) we inevitably comparing to Xbox Live.

Sony needed to do something, and that's exactly what they did. Overtime the service has grown almost identical with Xbox Live marching its experience in almost every way. Sony also issued a major overhaul to the service recently with firmware 3.0, giving PSN new life and a fresh look. Again, Microsoft deserves credit for forcing the company to create a better online experience.

The Exclusives:

While Sony has been delivering great exclusive games throughout its over 15 years in the industry, a lot of said exclusives were from third party devs. Think Square-Einx - Final Fantasy, Rockstar - Grand Theft Auto, Konami - Metal Gear Solid and Namco Bandai's Tekken. As you can probably tell by now, all of the aforementioned are no longer PS3 exclusives but can now be found on other consoles, namely Microsoft's Xbox 360. So all the great titles that made the PlayStation brand what it is were ending up on the competition's system. That was a problem, a big one that needed immediate attention.

Full throttle, Sony started pumping out fresh IPs from first party devs and some third party partners with whom relationship ties ran deep. New IPs Like Resistance appeared, Uncharted, and MAG helping to beef up PS3's lineup and leading the industry with innovation. MAG will be the first game to handle 256 players at once, Uncharted has surpassed all else in terms of narrative and graphics, and Resistance has been revolutionizing the FPS genre in its own way.

There's one company you should thank, it's Microsoft. They kept the heat on Sony, and the results are benefiting PS3 owners across the globe. So the next time you go to a store and collect a great exclusive, the next time you go online to play against your friends, or the next time you're thinking about buying a PS3 because of its cheaper price point, think and thank Microsoft. Because although Redmond is not solely responsible for all the changes made at Sony, they definitely are responsible for some.

12/24/09 Ernice Gilbert

Will Heavy Rain Be Heavy Fail, Or Will It Set A New Benchmark?

David Cage, Sony and Quantic Dream have been trying their best to get the Heavy Rain hype train full steam on course, and they've accomplished exactly that. For years now Quantic Dream has left gamers awestruck with the title's realistic visuals that promises to bring out emotions of in-game characters like we've never seen done before. The developer is promising a mature experience that will be something new to the gaming world; so obviously expectations are through the roof. But since the game is bringing so many new and unfamiliar experiences in an industry that has gotten used to 'more of the same', the question remains: will Heavy Rain fail hard, or might it be one of the biggest success stories in gaming history?

Founder and CEO of Quantic Dream, David Cage, has been making the rounds on various gaming websites and other media outlets promoting the game to the max. But it's not your conventional marketing strategy, in fact the path they're taking with advertising is one most developers dare not venture. In a recent interview with GameInformer, Cage was asked whether Heavy Rain was an adventure game and how did he feel about said genre being applied to the title. He gave the definition for what exactly an adventure game is and then uttered, "Based on this definition, Heavy Rain is NOT an adventure game," he told the website. "There is no inventory in the game, no objective to combine or examine, no puzzle, the game does not rely on everlasting dialogues. The story is through players actions and not through cutscenes and players actions have significant consequences on the narrative."

As it stands now according the Mr. Cage, the game can't be tagged under any genre, apparently it's not even a game anymore. That's what he told D'toid in a recent interiview adding even more hype, mystery and of course high anticipation if for nothing else, to see how the effort turns out.

"Heavy Rain is not a videogame anymore in my mind, because it breaks most of the traditional paradigms, but it's fully interactive," he told D'toid. "If the format becomes successful, we will probably have to find a different name for this type of experience," he concluded.

One of two things can happen, either Heavy Rain defy all odds and be successful at creating a new genre, or the game will fail miserably. I see no middle ground. But at least Sony and Quantic Dream must be respected for taking risks in an industry that offers no second chances.

Will you purchase Heavy Rain on day one, or are you staring away all together? Share your thoughts below.

12/22/09 Ernice Gilbert

MAG Gold Beta Open For US Tomorrow

Zipper Interactive has confirmed through the US PS Blog that the MAG has gone gold and to commemorate, folks of the USA will be able to openly play the beta as of tomorrow.

On January 26th, 2010, MAG will be available in North America and Asia, January 28th in Japan and January 29th in Korea. The highly anticipated new IP is Zipper's latest effort, and with great games like the SOCOM franchise under their belts, we hope they're able to continue the legacy of bringing great content to us.

"Beta 5" opens up to the world on January 4th, 2010.

12/21/09 Ernice Gilbert

God of War Collection Eats Up 23GB Of Blu-ray Disc Space

If you're wondering how much space did the God of War Collection occupied on the PS3's Blu-ray disc, try almost all of it.

According to a tweet sent out from Digital Foundry, "God of War Collection occupies 23GB of Blu-ray disc space."

That's just 2GB shy of the PS3's Blu-ray disc capacity. Makes you wonder if 25GB will be enough to house God of War III, or will Santa Monica need to use the a dual layer disc that holds 50GB. Which ever way, I'll be picking up GoW this coming March, my PS3 just won't feel right if Kratos never makes an appearance.

Will you purhase the game when it comes out? Let us know in the comments below.

12/19/09 Ernice Gilbert

In Japan, Final Fantasy XIII Sold 1 Million Copies On Day One

And the first day sales numbers are in, results? Final Fantasy XIII destroyed the charts in Japan moving just over one million copies. Although this was expected, it's great to see the long running series still has a strong fanbase.

It's also the first time that a game has sold 1 million copies on the first day it was made available on the PS3 in Japan. Yoichi Wada and the gang must be smiling all the way to the bank now.

The game comes to the west on March 9th, 2010. I personally can't wait.

12/18/09 Ernice Gilbert

Uncharted 2 Was A "labor of love" Says Amy Hennig

Last night Video Game Awards show will be remembered as one of the most memorable nights for the great studio behind the critically acclaimed Uncharted 2: Among Thieves. As you already know, the title won the most prestigious award of the night, adding more credence to what most critics have concluded: Uncharted 2 is the best game this generation thus far. But what was even more touching was the moment Amy Hennig and the Naughty Dog team went to collect the award, the other guys were obviously elated, but Amy was overwhelmed.

From the time she took to the stage, her demeanor displayed how she felt on the inside and with tears in her eyes she said, "It was a labor of love". Naughty Dog's leading lady went on thanking a host of people who helped make this game what it is including Nolan North and Claudia Black.

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves should receive a significant sales boost for winning Game of The Year from the most watched Video Game Awards show. Congratulations Naughty Dogs! Now bring us another sequel.

12/13/09 Ernice Gilbert

Uncharted 2 Wins Game of The Year At The VGAs

Although it was already my GoTY, when Uncharted 2 received the honor at the Video Game Awards, I could not help contain my exuberance so I jumped off my couch and yelled HEC YES!!!!

Naughty Dog deserved it. Amy Hennig's speech was tres' emotional, the lady almost cried saying, "it was a labor of Love" and continued to thank a plethora of folks including Nolan North and Claudia Black.

Epic Win for an EPIC game. That's all I have to say.

12/12/09 Ernice Gilbert

Santa Monica: God of War III is "complete"

If you've been wondering what's the status of the last installment in the venerable franchise, God of War, you can stop giving yourself headaches, because according to Santa Monica, the game is "complete".

Sony director of development John Hight has told the US PS Blog that God of War III is "complete".

"The entire game is complete - we're not adding anything to it," he said. "We just made beta with the game so we're doing a lot of play-testing, tuning the game to make sure that it's fun, got the right level of complexity and of course optimized so that it runs super-smooth."

So it's time for Kratos to rule again. March. Can't. Come. Soon. Enough. Watch the interview below.

12/11/09 Ernice Gilbert

Insomniac thinks they're the best development studio you could work for

The studio behind the Resistance and Ratchet and Clank series wants you to know that if you're looking for employment, they should be the first studio you give a call. Why? Only because they've been consistently nominated since 2004 among the best places to work. But that's just the tip of the iceberg. Listed here are the top 10 reasons why you should consider giving Insomniac a call now to start off you career in the gaming business.

1. The studio has received 11 awards since 2004 naming it among the best places to work.

2. According to Insomniac, their games rock! Which we'll leave you to be the judge of that.

3. Everyone who works for the company has a say, meaning their ideas a useful and sometimes implemented. Which imo is a god thing, sometimes the best ideas comes from those you least expect.

4. They have excellent benefits, among the best in any industry.

5. Their perks are even better....

6. The studio offers long term ongoing training and development.

7. Locations, locations, locations! You'll have to ask them about this one.

8. Insomniac says they "walk the talk on honesty and openness company wide. Which means you won't be left in the dark concerning what's going on with the company.

9. Here's a really good one: seven weeks minimum of annual paid time off, which does not include sick days and conference attendance.

10. Last but not least, they're company that's environmentally friendly, and when all the talk about global warming in the airwaves, you'll at least feel better you work for a company who's concerned about the environment.

The gaming industry is known for taking good care of its own and it's good to see a reputable studio at the forefront, leading the way and setting a clear path for others to follow. Gearbox is another good example of a development studio taking great care of its people. Keep it going guys, let's make the onlookers envy this great industry.

Seven weeks minimum of annual paid time off which do not include sick days and conference attendance sound like a darn great deal to me. Have you made that call yet?

12/09/09 Ernice Gilbert

David Cage agrees that adventure games are dead

How this could be true I have no clue. In fact in my humble opinion, adventure games are the best! So for one of the leading minds in the industry to agree with the notion that somehow the genre is dead comes off as a premature statement. In fact take any poll today and you'll find out that action/adventure games are at the top of a great percent of gamers favorite genre list.

The Quantic Dream boss man gave his opinion in a response to a question posed by GameInformer.

GameInformer: "Adventure games are dead" is a common phrase in the gaming industry. Do you think that discussion is even relevant in the current gaming landscape?

"I probably agree with the phrase. The adventure genre is one I really enjoyed but it has struggled probably because it's been unable to evolve with the games becoming outdated and of less interest," he said.

"Again, I'm talking about games based on inventory management, puzzle and dialogue choices.

"It certainly does not mean people lost interest in good stories and interesting characters, but more in the specific experience this type of games had to offer.

Leaping from discussing the action/adventure genre, Mr. Cage delved into what differentiates his title from the rest.

"Heavy Rain offers a new approach to interactive storytelling: it is not based on mechanics, it fully integrates real time 3D and cutting edge visuals, it mixes storytelling and actions, and most of all, it offers players to have a real impact on the story. It is not just seeing one or another cutscene at the end, it is about living different stories, being a writer, actor and director of their own story."

Interesting interview, however I still disagree with the notion that action/adventure games are a dying breed.

12/08/09 Ernice Gilbert

Playable demo of GT5 date confimed

If you've been wondering how long you'll have to wait to get your Gran Turismo 5 thirst quenched, it won't be much longer.

According to the EU PS BLOG, a playable GT5 demo will release on December 17th.

"It will be the first opportunity to get a first hands-on tester to what Yamauchi-san and his Polyphony team have been carefully crafting and polishing at their Tokyo base," this according to the Blog.

The download is a GT Academy 2010 trial, through which you can get into the GT Academy just as in real cars.

You'll be invited to a national event if you qualify in the top twenty within your country.

Get the full vibe through the link.

12/03/09 Ernice Gilbert

Quantic Dream tells Gama "games can be meaningful"

Quantic Dream co-CEO Guillaume de Fondaumiere sat down for an interview with Gamasutra, in which he said if done right, games could be "meaningful."

"I think the most important goal for us is to show that video games can be more than just shooting, driving - that games can be meaningful."

Guillaume de Fondaumiere was also pleased the their game was being called an "interactive movie."

"The best short-term definition we found [for Heavy Rain] was 'interactive movie' which is a double edged sword quite simple because it reminds people of those games at the early '90s when you were basically in a movie and you had the going to the left or opening the door to the right - which of course Heavy Rain is absolutely not."

Heavy Rain will be out February 2010.

Get the full thing through the link.

12/01/09 Ernice Gilbert

Uncharted 3 is a sure thing says Nolan North, and we say, you think?

The voice actor for Nathan Drake has said that Uncharted 3 is "assured to happen," according to OPM.

"Well I know we're going to be assured a third one," Nolan said. "That would just be financially irresponsible not to do a third one."

Thing is, I doubt there were a lot of gamers out there who ever doubted it. The original title sold millions and Uncharted 2: Among Thieves is the second fastest selling exclusive on PS3, the top title is Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots. So thanks Nolan but....

Thanks CVG.

11/29/09 Ernice Gilbert

Naughty Dog has something quite awesome in store you for this weekend

Think Uncharted 2's multiplayer is just so good? That's great, but Naughty Dog don't settle for good, guys and gals believes in outdoing themselves to give there fans more than what they asked for. And if the masterpiece that's Uncharted 2: Among Thieves didn't do it for you, then maybe this will.

"Things are looking up that we're going to have something quite awesome lined up for multiplayer at the end of this week," the studio said via its Twitter page.

We have not a clue what it is but you can start guessing.

11/25/09 Ernice Gilbert

Guerrilla Games prepares for massive project, seeks new people to join team

Not too long ago, news broke that Guerrilla Games, the studio behind the critically acclaimed Killzone 2 is already full throttle into development of Killzone 3. It was also rumored that said game would in fact be released in 2010. That we're not sure of, but if the recent posting on their website holds true, there is no doubt that the team is either working overtime to release the game sooner rather than later, or there's another major project in the works all together.

Do you think you have what it takes to become a team member at Guerrilla Games? Try your luck then.

Here are the positions now open:

* Senior Producer

* Senior Level Designer

* Senior Game Coder

* Senior Build Engineer

* Senior Game Designer

* Senior Environment Artist

"Guerrilla Games is rapidly expanding game development studio with an established reputation as one of Europe's leading game developers," the company said on its website.

"Founded in 2000 as a result of a merger between three smaller studios, Guerrilla now employs 130 developers from 20 different nationalities."

The positions listed above are indicative to one thing, something big is cooking up in The Netherlands, and Guerrilla Games are the ones in the kitchen.

11/22/09 Ernice Gilbert

Throwback Gaming: Watch the GamesThirst Original series now!

5 things every PS3 owner must know

So you're now a proud owner of Sony's Playstation 3, hard earned cash was spent to purchase the system and now, you're playing games online and off and having the time of your life. But are you maximizing your PS3 or have you just scratched the surface? I suspect it's the latter so we've compiled a list of 5 things you need to know in order to get the best out of your new system.

from downloading updates at work to making free video calls via the USB headset. So without further adieu we present to you our list.

1) Do your system updates at work -

Most times gamers turn on their system to play, they only have at most an hour. So why waste your time doing system updates at home when that time could be spent playing? We thought the same thing you're thinking. Instead, download the updates at work and take them home on a USB stick or disc for instant installation on your PS3.

Make a folder called PS3 on your disc/stick and one inside that one called "UPDATE." Go here, choose your country and find the system software update box. download the latest update and put the file in your "UPDATE" folder. When you go home choose "update from storage medium" instead of "via internet" on your PS3 System Update option.

2) Boost your WiFi -

Slow and annoying connections at home? Give this a shot...

First things first, try to find clear spot between your wireless router and your PS3, make sure both of them are not hiding behind furnitures and other home decor. Remember nothing stalls your connection like a big old appliance or piece of furniture.

Stand both the PS3 and the router on end. Your PS3's antenna is to the right side therefore standing it up gives it a bigger spread. The same directions also apply to your router - prop it on one end and make sure it's placed somewhere high.

Now here's the geeky stuff - take a can (Coke, Sprite) or whatever tickles your fancy and cut the top off. Cut down the sides of the cup-like can, and fan out the divisions slightly so it looks like a metal flower. Now place a hole in the bottom of the can and place your new hi-gain antenna over your router's aerial so it pokes through. If done right, you should see a 10% boost in signal strength. What? No seriously, it works, give it a shot.

3) Borrow Game saves -

O.K. you're not the type to play through games without help? No problem, you can just snag game files online.

Sites like PS3savegame.com host the completions and other options for all your favorite latest games. You'll need to use your PC as a link to get the files from the site unto your system, but it should be a breeze if you follow these instructions:

* Download the Save Game zip file

* Unzip to a USB drive using this path at the root: PS3/SAVEDATA\

* Once you plug the USB device into the PS3, go to the GAMES tab on the XMB, then select the Saved Data Utility.

Once you select Saved Data Utility, it should show your USB drive as one of the selections. When you select that, your saved game icon should automatically open up. Select the games save you want to transfer, then hit the triangle. Select Copy, and it will automatically copy the game save to the PS3's hard drive, and now be available for you to load when you restart the game.

4) Make free video phone calls via the USB -

You're going to need a USB headset like the one from Metal Gear Solid and also an EyeToy camera. Plug in both via USB and go to your Friends menu. Choose a friend and press X. Choose "Start New Chat" and type a message. Providing your friend is in front of their PS3, they'll see your message and have the option to accept your video chat. Now, as long as they have a camera and headset, two windows will open up, showing yourself and your friend. Hit triangle again to "invite more people," up to six can join the chat.

5) Play any video format on your PS3 -

Download PSPvideo9 your PC. Get it free here, then use the program to convert your AVI, MOV, DivX and WMA files to MP4 format. You can also convert VOB files (which you'll find in the video TS folder on your DVDs). Now make a folder on a USB stick called "PS3" and inside that one make a folder called "VIDEO." Drag your new MP4 files to this folder and put the stick in your PS3. Head to the Movie folder on your PS3 and select the stick.

And there you have it, 5 things every PS3 owner must know. Hopefully it'll help you maximize your PS3's potential, but those just listed are not all. Next week we'll have 5 more, so make sure to stop by and see what else we have in store for you.

And don't worry Xbox 360 owners, your list is coming soon. There's a lot you can do with that console of yours.

11.17.09 Ernice Gilbert

Sony kills God of War III co-op rumor

By now you've probably heard of the rumor around the web that claims God of War III will feature online co-op. Well you can rest easy Greeks, one Kratos is enough to take out the gods. Phew.

"The news is false," Eric Levine, Sony's Public Relations man told the examiner.

There's no need to say more, forget about it, it's dead. Now let's all move on shall we?

11.17.09 Ernice Gilbert

Rethink Sony, release GOWIII in May 2010, March is overbooked

Now we all know that Final Fantasy XIII will be released on March 9th, but it's not the only title that will hit store shelves in said month. And especially on the PS3 there are big hitters all looking for room on the same plane. Gran Turismo 5, God of War III, Heavy Rain in February, and as stated, Final Fantasy XIII. March is overbooked and the best solution is for Sony to push back two big games, namely GT5 and God of War III into the months of April and May of next year respectively if they want all their big hitters to sell well. Here's why.

Everyone of the aforementioned titles a behemoths, and because they are, each of them needs ample room to breathe. It's like taking the three biggest stars in the music industry and giving each of them a concert at different locations in the same town on the same day; that would be a failure for all the organizers involved because although concert goers would love to participate and be at all the events, it's practically impossible, plus there's only so much cash one can afford to spend on partying.

Same with the games business. God of War III has dedicated fans, but a lot of those same fans are dedicated followers of Gran Turismo and Final Fantasy. It only makes sense that you separate the three to maximize sales potential or else leave gamers with the difficult dilemma of picking and choosing between the titles that they've waited on for years.

I'd say release Final Fantasy on the 9th of March as announced since it'll also be on the Xbox 360 making it harder to change its date. Then Release Gran Turismo 5 on Tuesday April 20th, 2010. That would be good enough time between the two megaton titles and by then GT fans would be more than ready (cash in hands) to get their 'drive on.' And finally, the biggest dog in the house: God of War III should be released on May 25th, 2010 which is also a Tuesday. The distance between GT5 and God of War III would be just over one month, again giving fans of the titles decent space to enjoy each and enough time to save up on cash in order to purchase all and miss out on none.

I think it would be the right move, do you share the same sentiment?

11/14/09 Ernice Gilbert

The Gran Turismo franchise has sold over 53 million units globally

Polyphony Digital knows how to make racing sims, and to prove it they've released some rather outstanding numbers on the GT franchise. Sales totaling over 53 million units sold worldwide is just mind-numbing.

These figures are of September 2009. Here's the full thing:

Japan

Title / Units (K) Gran Turismo 2,550 Gran Turismo 2 1,710 Gran Turismo 3 A-spec 1,890 Gran Turismo Concept 2001 TOKYO 430 Gran Turismo 4 “Prologue” 790 Gran Turismo 4 1,270 Gran Turismo 5 “Prologue” 710 Total 9,350 (K)

North America

Title / Units (K) Gran Turismo / 3,990 Gran Turismo 2 / 3,960 Gran Turismo 3 / 7,140 Gran Turismo 4 / 2,980 Gran Turismo 5 “Prologue” / 910 Total: 18,980 (K)

Europe

Title / Units (K) Gran Turismo / 4,300 Gran Turismo 2 / 3,680 Gran Turismo 3 / 5,850 Gran Turismo Concept 2002 TOKYO-GENEVA / 1,000 Gran Turismo 4 “Prologue” / 410 Gran Turismo 4 / 6,410 Gran Turismo 5 “Prologue” / 2,440 Total: 24,090 (K)

Asia

Title / Units (K) Gran Turismo / 10 Gran Turismo 2 /20 Gran Turismo 3 /10 Gran Turismo Concept 2001 TOKYO /10 Gran Turismo Concept 2002 TOKYO-GENEVA /120 Gran Turismo 4 “Prologue” /160 Gran Turismo 4 /170 Gran Turismo 5 “Prologue” /100 Total: 600 (K)

Worldwide

Title / Units (K) Gran Turismo / 10,850 Gran Turismo 2 / 9,370 Gran Turismo 3 A-spec / 14,890 Gran Turismo Concept Series / 1,560 Gran Turismo 4 “Prologue” / 1,350 Gran Turismo 4 / 10,830 Gran Turismo 5 “Prologue” / 4,170 Total: 53,020 (K)

Now you know why GT is the King of all racing sims; it'll take magic to overthrow it.

11.13.09 Ernice Gilbert