In order to save money, Sony, in their infinite wisdom, has decided to further gimp the Playstation 3 that will go on sale in Europe March 23rd by not including the chip to allow fuller backward compatibility with PS2 games.  Instead, some PS2 games will be playable through "special" software.  Apparently Sony is also considering selling the gimped PS3's in the USA and Japan as well, but no decision has yet been made.

Like I need another reason to not buy the Playstation 3 (where's the rumble, bitch?!)

[Source: Associated Press]

Although, if this speculative rumor does come true, maybe Chris can go online.

Michael Wolf, a PR guy for Microsoft, has expressed a view, that could be taken to mean that XBL Gold MAY indeed become free in the near future.

"We're not stupid, and we're not gonna expect PC gamers to suddenly start paying for something that they currently get for free, but we're also going to be fair to our Xbox 360 owners and not expect them to pay for something that PC gamers are getting for free. So, we're figuring it out. We're figuring out a model that works for consumers, that works for us, 'cause at the end of the day we're working with our partners to make money off this thing. It's a business after all. Kinda driving towards finding the right solution that everyone's going to be happy with."

Take that for what it's worth. Maybe Microsoft has recouped enough money on flash games, I mean XBL marketplace games, such as rootbeer tapping, or other stuff? But considering nothing, including even pictures for your gamertag, have been free on XBL, I seriously somehow doubt this to be more than some PR move (Wolf is a PR guy afterall).

 Some think this may be necessary to compete with the PS3 and the Wii, but lets take a look. No one wants a PS3, and the Wii will never be online, so….

[Insert Normally Witty Picture Here] 

[Source: Aeropause] 

We here at Playgasm would like to apologize for the slow amount of updates as of late. Things have been crazy in our personal lives which keeps us from working on here.

As of now we will continue to work on the site when we can. We hope in the future we can continue to bring more news to the masses as we did before.

Thanks for reading, and we'll try to get back up to speed. 

February is coming to an end and March is soon to begin, excited? Me too. Time to get our game on and let's hope for some solid titles to come.

Playstation 2:

• MLB 07: The Show
• Major League Baseball 2K7
• Samurai Warriors 2 Empires

Playstation Portable:

• MLB 07: The Show
• Major League Baseball 2K7
• Marvel Trading Card Game
• Chili Con Carnage
• 300: March To Glory

Playstation 3:

• Major League Baseball 2K7
• F1

Xbox 360:

• Major League Baseball 2K7
• Bullet Witch
• Samurai Warriors 2: Empires

PC:

• Tube Twist
• The Sims 2: Seasons
• Virtual Vegas 7007 Slots
• Aircraft Collection Second Edition

Nintendo Wii:

• SSX Blur

That's it, nothing more. PS3 gets some more games, next week even better ones. Wii gets the long waited SSX Blur and the Xbox 360 gets Bullet Witch. I hope you all enjoy whatever game you plan on picking up this week.

Owned your face Josh.

Turns out the GameCube went the way of Jesus, R.I.P. one day, back to life three days later.

 In an official response from Nintendo, the GameCube is not dead. A spokesperson for Nintendo has stated.

"I can confirm that globally, Nintendo is still continuing production of GameCube hardware and GameCube software."

This means it's definatly high time to buy the broadband network adapter! Since I'm sure it will now be used in every single game Nintendo releases now for the not dead console! Suck it libs.

[Source: GamesIndustry] 

Have an Xbox 360, PS2, PS3 or PC? Well then you can now play Mercenaries 2! EA and Pandemic have announced that the once PS3 exclusive game is now going to be out on each system.

Mercenaries 2: World in Flames delivers
the next evolution in explosive open world gameplay - regardless of the
system you play it on," said Pandemic Studios CEO Andrew Goldman.

All four platforms are incredible gaming machines, and from the
beginning we designed an experience that accentuates their individual
strengths and delivers the interactive freedom and explosive action
Mercenaries fans demand.

We all know that with the next-gen current-gen consoles prices for development have sky-rocketed. Which then leads to spreading each game to each system to try and regain as much money as possible, so as usual expect less and less exclusives.

[Source: CVG] 

Poor Nintendo GameCube, as of today you are discontinued and no more games will be created for you. Of course, we all know games are being made for you because you're no different than the Wii.

Though the GameCube is discontinued we must remember what it brought us. Super Smash Bros. Melee, Super Mario Sunshine, Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, and a network adapter that was never used.

Good game Nintendo. 

[Source: Eurogamer] 

We're sorry if Root Beer Tapper possibly left a bad taste in your mouth, but this week there will be no new Xbox Live Arcade download.

So those looking to buy more dumb games to pass the time, you'll have to look elsewhere. But don't feel too bad, you know Castlevania is still coming so just be patient. 

Many gamers who bought the Playstation 3, and know of the upcoming downloadable game have been waiting to hear more about fl0w. With that said, it'll run you around $7.99 for the game, which is actually a fair price.

fl0w will be released tomorrow (February 22nd) on the Playstation Store, so if $7.99 isn't going to break your wallet, you should check it out.

[Source: PS3fanboy] 

Looks like Bioware is setting some high goals indeed for Mass Effect.

Don't get me wrong though, I'm totally looking forward to this game, and now that the goals have been set to achieve a storyline unlike any other, well, makes me want it even more. BioWare's Ray Muzyka has a few choice words in an interview regarding the game.

Muzyka calls it "Jack Bauer in space."

"You have complex moral choices
to make. You're out to save the galaxy. You're going to have to do
things that don't seem like they're good to do that."

He also mentions the one achievement they wish to accomplish in the game, moving dialogue, without the dialogue. Muzyka explains that eyes and motion are much more powerful tools to convey words than words themselves, and he wishes to reproduce that in Mass Effect.

Sounds kinky. Due in May.

[Source: MTV]