News Bytes: World of Warcraft Trial Bundled with South Park
Even with the confusing SKUs, I think Microsoft is in a pretty good place with the $350 20-gig console. For the average consumer, it doesn't make a ton of sense to pay $500 for a PlayStation 3 when the 360 has most of the same games, and even more big-name exclusives during this holiday season at least. Though I have no doubt the Wii will win in consoles sold, and probably profits, since Nintendo is the only one not losing money at this point.
Microsoft says its entertainment division will be profitable this year. With its last quarter bringing in the biggest operating loss since the division's creation, I'm not sure I see it--though I guess you can't really underestimate the selling power of something like Halo 3.
Anyway, this week's bytes has South Park WoW action on DVD, heavy metals on Wii, a multicolored DS model, new demos on Xbox Live, and something about those FIFA games.
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South Park DVD will include World of Warcraft trial
[pc]Aspiring World of Warcrafters may want to wangle "South Park: The Complete Tenth Season" when it retails on DVD August 21. Included in the 14-episode collection is the famed "Make Love, Not Warcraft" WoW parody, Comedy Central announced today. In a superb cross promotional effort, the package will include a 14-day trial of World of Warcraft on a separate disc.
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Mercury Meltdown gets cheap date on Wii
[wii]Ignition Entertainment's Mercury Meltdown Revolution will retail September 25 for the Wii at the budget price of $19.99, the company announced today. The game is the fourth in the Mercury Meltdown series, and ostensibly a safer alternative to playing with the quicksilver of broken thermometers.
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Two-tone DS will ship with Brain Age sequel
[ds]A Nintendo DS system with a crimson-colored top and black bottom will come bundled with Brain Age 2: More Training in Minutes a Day when it retails August 21. The $149.99 package is presumably targeted at spirited young collegiates whose school colors coincide with the new model's look.
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Eternal Sonata, Vampire Rain demos on Xbox Live
[xbox360]Demos for two Japanese-developed Xbox 360 titles, Tri-Crescendo's RPG Eternal Sonata and Artoon's stealth-action game Vampire Rain, hit Xbox Live Marketplace today. Vampire Rain came out early last month and was widely panned by critics, while Eternal Sonata has a planned retail date of September 17.
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EA names second-youngest cover athlete
[pc] [ps2] [ps3] [xbox360] [wii] [ds] [psp]At 17, Josmer "Jozy" Altidore of Major League Soccer's New York Red Bulls will become the second-youngest cover athlete in EA Sports history when his face is ignored by millions on the cover of the North American version of FIFA Soccer 08. Altidore will appear alongside Mexican national goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa of Club America of the Mexican Primera Division and Brazilian International Ronaldinho.
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Beady
reply"biggest operating loss since the division's creation"
Only because of the billion dollar warranty extension, which now wont harm their bottom line in any other quarter. Sans that, the losses are declining, so its more than likely the holiday season will push them over the edge and make them a profit. Interesting to see if they can continue in the black in the quarter after though.
