Some people are not particularly into the wide array of peripherals and attachments which Nintendo has created to accompany the Wii Remote in their invasion of consumer homes. But according to one analyst, these kinds of add-ons have helped the Wii (and other consoles) find a larger audience.

Speaking to IndustryGamers, an unnamed analyst from DFC Intelligence offered the following after explaining how the variety of gadgets for the PlayStation 3, following the introduction of Move this Fall, could confuse consumers.

DFC does acknowledge, however, that having lots of peripherals isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It might even help, judging by previous hardware examples. “For Sony, the PlayStation 2 became the best-selling system ever because of its diverse product line. In Europe, the Eyetoy camera and Singstar microphone were extremely popular add-ons that helped drive hardware sales,” DFC noted. “Those gadgets had much less of an impact in North America. Meanwhile, the Wii has all kinds of add-ons: the Nunchuk, the Zapper, the MotionPlus, the Wii Fit Balance Board, and the Wii Wheel being some of the official ones from Nintendo. It is clear that far from confusing consumers, these accessories have helped the system appeal to a larger audience.”

Elsewhere in the article, the analyst examines the challenges facing Microsoft and Sony, whereas Nintendo had the “strongest showing” at E3. He says that Kinect will likely have a “negligible impact,” and that “Xbox 360 has some good years left, but the platform is clearly on the downside of its lifecycle.”

On the Sony side:

“We still think 3D may remain more of a gimmick than something consumers want to do on a regular basis. Nevertheless, it could work as a selling point for a system like the PlayStation.”

But even as a selling point, it’s the “something for everyone” approach which DFC feels is likely to cause the consumer confusion in the first place.

Source: IndustryGamers (via GoNintendo

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So this Multiplayer/Community Expansion is on the store but says “Coming Soon”. Thus, it isn’t in the weekly PSN update list and is not yet usable. There is, however, a list of the expansion’s features:

There will be new game modes, split-screen cooperative, split-screen versus, an editor for the battling ships, remastered music and sound effects, enhanced visual effects, a music attack mode and clan support.

So there we go, exciting stuff. There has always been online leader-boards for Super Stardust HD, but clan support sounds – interesting. A Super Stardust Clan? Hard to get your head around that one, but it sounds cunning.

Oh and just a little warning – this add-on is purchasable now, but it’s an empty purchase, so do not buy it or you shall be out of pocket. Quite a few people have fallen for this “trap”, since the “Coming Soon” is only in the picture, which doesn’t load immediately. Some strange mistake by Sony there. It also doesn’t seem to be viewable by everybody.

Below is the rest of the US Playstation Store Update, followed by a screenshot of this new Super Stardust HD add-on.

Note the Need For Speed add-on file sizes – only 100KB. They are already in the game, but EA is giving you the opportunity to buy them instead of earning them through completing the Career mode for those of you who are lazy. Strange.  You’re just buying very expensive cheat codes.  Nice one E.A.

Demos

- Burnout Paradise Demo (free) - Welcome to the Burnout Paradise Demo. Explore Motor City, Big Surf Beach and Ocean View. Find the Burning Route junction in Motor City. Discover Jumps, Stunts and Smashes all over the map and if you’re online, invite friends to join you for some challenges. Remember, this is just a small part of Paradise City.
File size: 764 MB

Add-on Game Content

- High Velocity Bowling Bowler 1 ($0.99) – Add Amber Vorhees, a semipro softball player turned bowler, to your High Velocity Bowling roster. A San Francisco native, Amber’s prowess on the softball mound has translated into her unique bowling style: straight and fast with no fancy spin. File size: 40.6 MB

– High Velocity Bowling Bowler 2 ($0.99) - Add Mike “The Strike” Diaz, a well-rounded, ableit short, bowler to your High Velocity Bowling roster. Originally from East Los Angeles, Mike has a fiery attitude and unorthodox bowling style that is sure to spice up the game. File size: 40.8 MB

- Rock Band – Build your Rock Band library by purchasing “I Fought the Law” by The Clash, “Rockaway Beach” by the Ramones, and “Ever Fallen in Love” which is a cover of a song made famous by Buzzcocks. Rock Band Punk Pack 1 includes all three songs. Please note: you need to actually own Rock Band in order to play these tracks:

* “I Fought the Law” – The Clash ($1.99)

* “Rockaway Beach” – The Ramones ($1.99)

* “Ever Fallen in Love” – Buzzcocks ($1.99)

* Rock Band Punk Pack 1 ($5.49)
File sizes: 13 MB – 22.3 MB (singles), 56.5 MB (Track Pack).

- Need for Speed ProStreet – Unlock vehicles for immediate use. These cars can be achieved without purchase by progressing through Career.

* Lamborghini Murcielago LP640 ($2.49) File size: 100 KB

* Pagini Zonda F ($2.99) File size: 100 KB

* Nissan GT-R (R35) ($2.99) File size: 100 KB

* Muscle Car Bundle ($4.99) – This bundle includes the following cars: Chevrolet Camaro SS, Ford Mustang GT ‘03, Chevrolet Corvette ‘67, Plymouth Hemi Cuda, Pontiac GTO, Ford Mustang GT. Note: all cars in this bundle can be achieved without purchase by progressing through Career. File size: 100 KB

* Tuner Car Bundle ($4.99) – This bundle includes the following cars: Nissan 350Z (Z33), Ford Focus ST, Volkswagen R32, Audi S3, Lancer Evolution IX, Subaru Impreza WRX STI. Note: all cars in this bundle can be achieved without purchase by progressing through Career. File size: 100 KB

* Sport Car Bundle ($4.99) – This bundle includes the following cars: Audi S4, Audi TT 3.2 Quattro, Lotus Elise, BMW M3 E46, Porsche Cayman S, BMW Z4 M Coupe. Note: all cars in this bundle can be achieved without purchase by progressing through Career. File size: 100 KB

* Ultimate Performance Bundle ($9.99) -Don’t leave anything to chance. This ultimate performance bundle immediately unlocks EVERY performance package in the game. After you get the parts, the rest is up to you! Note: all parts can be achieved without purchase by progressing through Career. File size: 100 KB

Game Videos

- GT Awards at SEMA Video (free) – Go behind the scenes at the 2007 SEMA Show in Las Vegas to get an exclusive look at the Fifth Annual Gran Turismo Awards and see Gran Turismo 5 Prologue unveiled for the first time in North America. See which vehicle Gran Turismo™ creator Kazunori Yamauchi picked from among the finalists as the 2007 Best of Show vehicle that will soon be forever immortalized as a drivable car in the Gran Turismo™ franchise, available only on the PLAYSTATION 3 system. File size: 457 MB (HD)

- Burnout “Stunt Run” Trailer (free) – Take to the air to pull off boost-earning 360s, barrel rolls, and super jumps with Burnout Paradise’s most ambitious, high-flying cars. File size: 65 MB (HD)

- Tony’s Skater Story Trailer (free) – File size: 21 MB (HD)

- Ratchet BTS – Art (free) – Get a behind the scenes look at the art style and graphics of Ratchet and Clank® Future: Tools of Destruction™. File size: 223 MB (HD)

Movie and Blu-ray Disc Trailers

- Cloverfield Trailer (free) – Five young New Yorkers throw their friend a going-away party the night that a monster the size of a skyscraper descends upon the city. Told from the point of view of their video camera, the film is a document of their attempt to survive the most surreal, horrifying event of their lives. File size: 25 MB (SD), 93 MB (HD), 130 MB (1080)

- Untraceable Trailer (free) - Within the FBI, there exists a division dedicated to investigating and prosecuting criminals on the internet. Welcome to the front lines of the war on cybercrime, where Special Agent Jennifer Marsh (Diane Lane) has seen it all……until now. File size: 109 MB (HD), 145 MB (1080)

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