News Blips: Yakuza 3 Comes to the West, Yahoo Flubs on PS3 Controller, China Online Games to Make Lots of $, and More

The fans asked, and now Sega is going to releaseÂ Yakuza 3Â in North America. Maybe there's still hope for Nintendo to bring over Mother 3, after all. Just kidding, that's not gonna happen.

News Blips:

Sega has listened to their fans' request and will release Yakuza 3 in North America and Europe. Even better, the game will feature the Japanese language audio track and have English subtitles. Man, Sega sure knows how to treat their fans right. [PlayStation.Blog.Europe]

According to the Yahoo "Grinch's Gift Guide," the PlayStation Dual Shock 3 is an un-rechargable disposable controller. More specifically, the guide misinforms consumers that "when the battery goes, Sony customers have to blow $55 on a new controller." It's assuring to know that this reporter did the proper research before writing this consumer advocacy piece. [1UP]

Analysys, a research firm, predicts that China's online gaming industry will be valued at 73.1 billion yuan ($10.7 billion USD) by 2012. Though the current online gaming revenue in China is expected to reach only $3.8 billion this year, that number is expected to rise dramatically in the future as more Chinese citizens gain Internet access. In other news, Bitmob is currently accepting applications for programmers who specialize in making MMOs.... [Joystiq]

The new PlayStation 3 firmware update 3.15 allows Sony faithful to play their PSP Minis on the PS3. The PSP Minis are applications much like those found in the DSi and iPhone app stores. Visually-challenged gamers rejoice! [Kotaku]

Got any hot news tips? Send 'em over to tips@bitmob.com .

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Brian Shirey

December 08, 2009

I believe the piece about the controller did not refer to the fact that it doesn't recharge, but if the battery dies completely to the point that it can't recharge anymore, you have to buy a whole new controller instead of just buying a new battery. It goes on to say later that Sony did this to save on swapping out batteries.. and the cost of the controller itself. Saying as though it has been costing companies more to create a battery port than to have an all encompassed controller.

Rich McGrath

Where does that guy get his tattoos done "The Jersey Shore"? http://www.foxnews.com/slideshow/entertainment/2009/11/25/jersey-shore-italian-american-stereotype?slide=12

Alejandro Quan-Madrid

@Brian, I hope you're right but the way the piece was written, it sounds as if it's a pressing concern right now as oppose to say much later down the line. Plus, supposedly in the PS3 instruction manual this is a how-to for replacing the controller battery.

@Rich, I wanna say the Yakuza tattoo is marginally less douchy than the Jersey one.