The Last Word: October 9-13

Gamers line up for Wii and PS3 preorders as Clover's luck runs out, Bully stands up to Jack Thompson, and the first details of the new E3 emerge.

Before Star Wars: Episode I: The Phantom Menace came out in theaters, fans terrified of waiting in line only to be turned away on opening night camped out months early to wait in line to buy advance tickets that would then let them wait in line again when the movie released. That phenomenon was mirrored in the gaming world this week as retailer GameStop opened up preorders for the Wii and PlayStation 3 at its retail GameStop and EB Games locations.

The Last Word

GameSpot Newsteam Assemble!

Both preorder campaigns were announced the day before reservations opened up--the PS3 preorders happening Tuesday and the Wii ones on Friday--and both saw gamers camped out in advance for a spot in line on launch day. Even though gamers were putting down $50 reservations for the Wii and $100 for the PS3, nobody was guaranteed a system on launch day. Online auctions for the PS3--expected to be the scarcer of the two systems after launch thanks to a US allocation of only 400,000 units--were averaging $1,500 a pop following the beginning of GameStop's preorder campaign.

While gamers around the country looked forward to those next-generation systems, one of the more beloved developers of the current generation had its fate sealed this week. Capcom on Thursday announced that it was closing the doors on Clover Studio, the developer of critically acclaimed titles like Viewtiful Joe and Okami. While the news came as a surprise to most, it turned out that some of the studio's bigger names had already left to pursue other opportunities months earlier.

Also this week, Florida lawyer Jack Thompson once again had Take-Two in court, this time asking a judge to stop the release of the publisher's upcoming game, Bully. After reviewing the game behind closed doors on Thursday, the judge ruled that there was nothing in the game markedly worse than what could be seen on TV each night. He added that while he wouldn't let his own children play it, there was no reason to prevent Take-Two from releasing the game.

Finally, the Entertainment Software Association revealed a few more details about the new-look Electronic Entertainment Expo. For 2007, the convention will be moving from downtown Los Angeles to nearby Santa Monica, and it will be held a little later in the year than usual, from July 11 to 13. A significantly smaller venue will house the event, as E3 will take place in the 40,000-square-foot Barker Hangar, a far cry from the 720,000-square-feet of exhibit-hall space found at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Bookings for the event, now officially named the E3 Business and Media Summit, are expected to begin within the next 30 days.

MONDAY
GameStop details PS3 preorders
Analyst sees solid September stats
Conferences get consolidated
Blue Byte set on Settlers VI
LGF: Game tourney closes festival

TUESDAY
PS3 preorders sold out at GameStop, EB
Final Guitar Hero II tracklist confirmed
2K Sports tilts PS3 NBA 2K7
Sega fires up PSP After Burner
Q&A: Tim Schafer psychs out digital distribution

WEDNESDAY
PS3 preorders lead to eBay avalanche
Bully's judgment day is nigh
Japanese GameCube Zelda to be sold online only
Untold Legends gets Xfired
Level 5 travels to Wonder Town

THURSDAY
Capcom to dissolve Clover Studio
Beta begins for Burning Crusade
GameStop, EB Wii preorders detailed
OK game law sidelined
Q&A: From Sun Tzu to Xbox author Ed Halter

FRIDAY
E3 07 dated, detailed
Report: Judge OKs Bully
NPD: September game sales spike 38 percent
Clover stars had split Capcom
Sony shares rebound

NEW RELEASES
Shippin' Out 10/8-10/13: Scarface, God Hand, MK: Armageddon

RUMORS
THQ pounding out two Warhammer 40K sequels in 2007?
Lumines Live to be free?

CHARTS
Aussie game charts: Sept. 25-Oct. 1
UK game charts: October 1-7
US PC game charts: September 24-30
Bestbuy.com best sellers: October 1-7

67 Comments

  • exavior17

    Posted Oct 19, 2006 2:48 pm PT

    When they say you aren't guaranteed a system on launch day, that doesn't mean that they don't have to give you one if they have them. That just means that they can't guarantee you that they will recieve X number of systems. They might have been told they will get 6 but maybe something happens with production or something and they only get 5. That means 1 person is going to be left without a system. That is just their way for covering their own ass. Sony has already came down in number since they first stated how many there were going to have ready (1 million down to 400,000), who is to say another mishap can't happen. If they have the systems on launch day then you will get them, if they don't get enough for what they presold then you won't. Same for Nintendo, something could happen there also and they could not get the number of Wii they were told they would.

  • OPOLO

    Posted Oct 18, 2006 7:03 am PT

    Yet another one falls - farewell Clover

  • Paperlink64

    Posted Oct 18, 2006 1:02 am PT

    Yeah...it's sad to see Clover go.

  • chopperlink

    Posted Oct 17, 2006 3:47 pm PT

    I can't belive that clover studios is closing up. I LOVE VIEWTIFUL JOE!!! I can believe that!!!

  • Mechakucha

    Posted Oct 17, 2006 2:17 pm PT

    "I heard E-bay has a deal with Sony, and any ads for the PS3 console from the USA will get pulled. For those of you auctioning off your Pre-order, consider it bought in full by yourself! HAHAHA"

    okaaaay... I'll just wait until I have the console before auctioning it off for $2000 to some rich SOB. Thanks for the heads up!

  • marioman50

    Posted Oct 16, 2006 6:24 pm PT

    good luck to clover, ah-ha, that moron jack thompson finally got told how it is, and yay a new E3, It should bring back booth babes

  • helluvagood

    Posted Oct 16, 2006 5:32 pm PT

    krazy preorder chaos!

  • PixyMisao

    Posted Oct 16, 2006 9:58 am PT

    Actually I was in line for the Wii at my local Gamestop, and 13 of us were in fact guaranteed a system on launch day with our $50 down reservation.

  • wild_world_girl

    Posted Oct 16, 2006 9:54 am PT

    jr0904:

    "It's about time someone stand up to that ediot thompson before he run the gaming world to the ground.Thank god for that judge."

    Yeah, I'm glad for the common sense, but this was no miracle or "really cool judge." Any attempt by a court to stifle a form of media in it's distribution or sale is a form of state censorship and will not be tolerated by the higher courts.

    Even if the judge had found in favor of Thompson, it never would have made it through the appeals process. A good rule of thumb for the courts system is that the more local and low-power the circuit - the more they focous on the immediate issue before them as described in the complainant's/defandant's documentation.

    The higher the court, the more concerned they are with precedent and constitutionality. Part of the reason why these fail at the lower level so quickly and often is that they judge at the lower level is not usually willing to go to the trouble to make a ruling that will simply be overturned shortly after by a higher court. First and foremost, it is a waste of time and money. Second - it is a public reminder of their lack of authority and is embarrassing to have rulings swiftly overturned by more powerful courts.

    Non-judiciary branches of government have been less and less tolerant of this lately because not only is it a waste of direct court costs, but since the state/county etc. loses the case, they are also responsible for paying the legal fees incurred by the defense. It is a pure, unadulterated waste of money.

  • jmac777

    Posted Oct 16, 2006 9:43 am PT

    Jack Thompson...needs to stop dissing games and being a hypocrit...
    He attacks games with "immoral" content..when he was fined and sued for making sexual advances to females and making Sexist comments...

    I see a double standard dont you//?

  • jr0904

    Posted Oct 16, 2006 9:40 am PT

    It's about time someone stand up to that ediot thompson before he run the gaming world to the ground.Thank god for that judge.

  • wild_world_girl

    Posted Oct 16, 2006 9:31 am PT

    Phazevariance:

    "I heard E-bay has a deal with Sony, and any ads for the PS3 console from the USA will get pulled. For those of you auctioning off your Pre-order, consider it bought in full by yourself! HAHAHA "

    1.) Someone sounds bitter.

    2.) No way that is true. Got a source for that "info" other than the standard message board "I heard..."

  • Phazevariance

    Posted Oct 16, 2006 8:31 am PT

    I heard E-bay has a deal with Sony, and any ads for the PS3 console from the USA will get pulled. For those of you auctioning off your Pre-order, consider it bought in full by yourself! HAHAHA

  • gbrading Site moderator

    Posted Oct 16, 2006 8:16 am PT

    Ahh, yet another great show guys! And Brendan's back! Hope he's cheered up next week. Without doubt, the most entertaining and informative show on Gamespot!

  • fluffebunnie

    Posted Oct 16, 2006 7:59 am PT

    Sad news about Clover...

    Can't wait for the PS3! Let's do this already.

  • Phazevariance

    Posted Oct 16, 2006 7:49 am PT

    5 weeks and counting... Wiiiiiiiiii

  • Nintendus

    Posted Oct 16, 2006 5:24 am PT

    Next, i see not that much news interesting with the exception of Wii and PS3.

  • DiscGuru101

    Posted Oct 16, 2006 12:21 am PT

    Funny show! - (The good news about Clover I heard was most of the people who worked there got transfered? Bad news is, inovative games dont sell well in the US. Its a crying shame too, Okami is big time.)

  • legs1986

    Posted Oct 15, 2006 9:26 pm PT

    I normally like to have very civilized conversations and discussions; however, this is necessary, suck it Thompson

  • Jo-El_Kung

    Posted Oct 15, 2006 7:46 pm PT

    I can't decide between a Wii and a PS3. It's not like I'm getting them on launch day, though. I'll wait for a few months and see which is better.

  • damstr

    Posted Oct 15, 2006 7:38 pm PT

    Thompson is a tard.

  • SnakeVenom3000

    Posted Oct 15, 2006 6:09 pm PT

    When Will Jack Thompson realize he is fighting a losing battle?

  • cfamgcn

    Posted Oct 15, 2006 12:37 pm PT

    Great!!!

  • risi37

    Posted Oct 15, 2006 12:03 pm PT

    great show

  • demoralizer

    Posted Oct 15, 2006 11:34 am PT

    I wonder if certain giant enemy crab had any thing to do with E3 down size?

  • princeofgames90

    Posted Oct 15, 2006 9:15 am PT

    The stupid jack Thompson trying to stop the game I support Take-two

  • Geek12

    Posted Oct 15, 2006 7:49 am PT

    hehehe Sorry Jack Tomp. Looks like maby you should target somone else, TV and stop bugging us gamers.

  • Carrie 

    Posted Oct 15, 2006 7:45 am PT

    Torganic Chemistry made me snort Gatorade.

  • tubbablubba

    Posted Oct 15, 2006 5:22 am PT

    Im gonna pick out of a hat for which console I get.

    Because I honestly have no idea

  • ewjim

    Posted Oct 15, 2006 3:07 am PT

    Old news.............

  • Legostarwars2

    Posted Oct 15, 2006 12:58 am PT

    ................

  • Alik

    Posted Oct 14, 2006 11:07 pm PT

    actually fox you may very well be right and that would be quite sad. But if polls in Japan are accurate I think Wii will sweep in japan,.

    I think sony will probably only win here in the states. I think a lot of that may be due to the fact we have more casuals than in Japan.

    I think the Wii and PS3 will mirror how the handhelds went this time around

  • StupidFox

    Posted Oct 14, 2006 10:25 pm PT

    "Most of the people that want a PS3 dont know a thing about it"

    Exactly. The reason we have such a hard time predicting the outcomes of the industry is that people don't know crap about the systems that they're buying. Sony may very well "win" this battle of the next-gen war with name-recognition alone.

  • oxymoron1331

    Posted Oct 14, 2006 10:20 pm PT

    One thing that needs to be mentioned is the Splinter Cell Double Agent demo for multiplayer went on live this week. If you haven't gotten it yet you should.

  • Alik

    Posted Oct 14, 2006 10:19 pm PT

    so wow a quick mention of how the wii pre orders sold out but, but now story on gamespot but now story exclusively dealing with it like they did for PS3. What a surprise.

    PS3 is gonna be mainly for casual gamers i mean at least 50% of the customers I told about ps3's price were shocked when i said $600 for the price tag.

    Most of the people that want a PS3 dont know a thing about it

  • Squids-Ahoy

    Posted Oct 14, 2006 9:06 pm PT

    Poor Jack, I hope a dagger falls into his eye.

  • phSychO_AtDawn

    Posted Oct 14, 2006 8:13 pm PT

    How many Gears of War games have been reserved? And Wii's?

  • comthitnuong

    Posted Oct 14, 2006 7:02 pm PT

    e3s gonna be wierd now a days...

  • Dr_Corndog

    Posted Oct 14, 2006 5:56 pm PT

    The Wii preorder was easily the biggest event of the week for me.

  • kriptonzz

    Posted Oct 14, 2006 5:27 pm PT

    Jack Thompson getting owned is more than enough for me

  • _Sam_

    Posted Oct 14, 2006 4:24 pm PT

    a lot happened this week

  • cardiac_cat

    Posted Oct 14, 2006 3:51 pm PT

    whatever, cant wait for my ps3

  • Phylyn5151

    Posted Oct 14, 2006 1:57 pm PT

    Wiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii Jack Thompson FTW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Kaintae1134

    Posted Oct 14, 2006 12:56 pm PT

    Yeah man, Clover Studio was cool. Oh well. Bigger and better things. Still cant wait for the Wii though...

  • Mattnostic

    Posted Oct 14, 2006 12:46 pm PT

    The Last Word just keeps getting better and better! Too bad about Clover Studio. Okami was an epic adventure, and I'm glad to have played it in PS2's twilight years.

  • Alcotamaysees

    Posted Oct 14, 2006 10:51 am PT

    Get well soon Brendan.

  • LordAndrew

    Posted Oct 14, 2006 9:43 am PT

    It was a fairly nasty week.

  • spninrad

    Posted Oct 14, 2006 8:12 am PT

    Tooooooooooooooooooooooooooorrrrrrr Riiiiiiiiiiiideeeeeeeeeerrrrrr!!!

  • anderson600

    Posted Oct 14, 2006 7:57 am PT

    RIIIDGE RAAAACEEEERRRRR!!!!!!

    LOL!!

    I totally ROLFMAO(literally) when that Kaz Hirai pic appeared.

    Too bad about the sized down E3 though. I just hope that i'll still get updates i used to get before when this "E3" happens.

  • Yodax007

    Posted Oct 14, 2006 4:13 am PT

    i actually played that freddi fish game when i was little

advertisement

Hot Stories

Newsmakers

Featured Stories

Submit News

Got tips? Send them in!

Related Game

Okami Boxshot
Okami

Game Stats

  • Rank:
    1,068 of 59,229
    (down by 30)
    PS2 Rank:
    94 of 3,667
    Tracking:
    8,273 Track It»
    Wishlists:
    4,218 Wish It»
  • Users Now Playing:
    1,788
  • Number of Players:

    1 Player

  • Top 5 User Tags:
    1. okami
    2. capcom
    3. clover studio
    4. ps2
    5. adventure
  • Teen Rating Description

    Titles rated T (Teen) have content that may be suitable for ages 13 and older. Titles in this category may contain violence, suggestive themes, crude humor, minimal blood, simulated gambling, and/or infrequent use of strong language. Learn more

Full Game Details »Close
Also on

Related Games

Recent News

See All News »

Site Blogs