Early specifications of AMD’s upcoming 55nm Radeon HD 4000 series graphics cards have been documented for the first time outlining cards from low-end HD 4450 up to big daddy 4870 X2.

AMD has managed to create seven GPU’s from the three cores RV770, RV740 (using 256-bit memory bus) and RV710 (slower 128-bit memory bus).

At the top of the range is the HD 4870 X2 which is a dual-GPU card like the HD 3870 X2 but with much higher core clock speed (1050MHz vs. 825MHz) and using newer GDDR5 memory, which is said to run at 1800MHz DDR. As usual, there will first be the HD 4870 which has a core clock of 1050MHz also but with its 1GB of GDDR5 memory running at a huge 2200MHz DDR.

Going down the list is the slightly cut down HD 4850 which uses 512MB of GDDR5 memory clocked at 1800MHz with its core clock running at 850MHz. Moving onto the RV740 is the mid-range HD 4670 and 4650 using GDDR4 memory and at the bottom based on the RV710 is the HD 4470 and 4450 using a mix of GDDR3 and GDDR2 memory.

Pricing ranges from $59 USD to $499 USD bottom to top, which is again very competitive against Nvidia.

Image from TweakTown.

Reports have confirmed the differences between the Xbox 360 version and the PS3 version of the latest game of the Grand Theft Auto series, Grand Theft Auto IV.

It has laid two additional issues that would make you want to buy a Xbox 360 instantly to get the full experience of GTA IV.

These included that the game will not have no online play and it would have a less-than-HD 640p resolution. Sony says that they are aware of the online play problems, but Rockstar has not responded yet.

The GTA IV servers for online play are hosted by Gamespy.

Now before you scream at both Sony and Rockstar for the little problem with the resolution, you should remember that Halo received the same treatment. The Xbox 360 version has a 720p HD resolution.

As well, neither game runs at 1080p, which is the highest possible HD resolution that was heavily promoted by Microsoft and Sony. If it comes to the Wii - we won’t have any complaints.

Grand Theft Auto IV has already been leaked online to the web on the file-sharing network BitTorrent after it was uploaded last week and has been spreading like wildfire.

Though it was supposed to come out sometime this week, it was first reported on the gaming blog Kotaku, a Gawker Media property.

The file, a 6.32GB, has a document attached saying that it the PAL version of the game for the Xbox 360, and not to use it until the debut. This means that only those who have a modded Xbox 360 in Australia, New Zealand and some parts of Europe can play the files.

We know that the US and Canada cannot use the file since they use the NTSC system, and France cannot use it since they use SECAM.

However, the public aren’t taking the group’s, called "iCON", message seriously and have started posting their scores on the gamertags. As well, amateur videos of the game are available on YouTube; but have been taken down due to a copyright claim by the game’s distributor, Take Two Interactive.

As well, in the message, the group has said that they should buy a legal copy of the game. "Guys, seriously, go and buy this one," the message said.

"[Rockstar] deserves it."

The Pan European Game Information, or PEGI, is set to get a ratings update after a survey was done in all of the EU member states.

The survey has revealed that some nations have not done anything to enforce the age limits, with a code of conduct is being suggested with retailers around Europe.

The survey was carried out by the European Commission, after a request by the Council of the EU. It found that 20 states that use PEGI and back up its recommendations on who should play what game, by different means.

It also found that Germany and Lithuania were the only members that has specific laws concerning how games are sold. Malta has enacted laws on the sales of games, but less broad. A further 15 states have laws that ban the sale of "harmful" games to minors.

However, Cyprus, Luxembourg, Romania and Slovenia have no laws relating to the sale of harmful games.

The Commission hopes that game retailers sign up to the code of conduct, which is expected to be drawn up by 2010.

In a move that signals the "next phase", as APC says, Intel has slashed the price of the Q6700 Core 2 Duo Quad processor in half, with the other chips in its line reduced by 30 percent. The Q6700 now sells for US$266, or around AU$280; from the original price of US$530, or AU$558.50.

In total, it has reduced the pricing of 14 processors in what now the industry watchers are seeing it as a move to put pressure on its rival, AMD.

The new price cut will be good news for many gamers, who were ogling on the powerful quad-core machines, but the price may have been steep to make the plunge. Even better, the PC manufacturers have reduced their prices for their high-end gaming computers.

Dell is offering the XPS 420 for $2128, but the price cut would push it down to the sub-$2000 category. This means you can get a quad-core processor, 500GB of storage, 2GB of RAM and and a 20-inch flat screen monitor for under $2000. (This is not an advertisement).

Also taking a price cut is the Xeon server processors, with the X3230 slicing 50 percent of its price to become US$266. These price cuts are mainly focused on those using Intel’s 65-nanometer process, with the company moving to the newer 45-nanometer production process and will push the old stock for the new stock.

Sandy Duncan, CEO of YoYo Games and the person responsible for setting up and running the European Xbox business for Microsoft, believes that console gaming will “die in the next 5 to 10 years.”

“The industry is fundamentally driven by technology. I think dedicated games devices i.e. consoles (and handhelds) will die [out] in the next 5 to 10 years. The business model is very risky and the costs associated with creating new hardware are incredibly high,” Duncan told That VideoGame Blog in an interview to be published tomorrow.

Beyond wishful thinking, I really don’t know what information Duncan is basing this prediction on. While I do agree that the gaming industry as a whole has become a risky business, that’s no different to, say, the movie business. Some games make a profit (and when they do, it’s usually quite staggering), others sink.

One reason offered by Duncan for the demise of the console is web distribution:

“In fact in 5 to 10 years I don’t think you’ll have any box at all under your TV, most of this stuff will be ‘virtualized’ as web services by your content provider.”

The web has been vital to some sectors of gaming - World of Warcraft, gaming on cellphones/iPhone, Steam downloads - the DVD is still king when it comes to delivering games. Maybe when fiber connections become commonplace there will be enough bandwidth for delivering an immersive gaming experience, but right now we’re far, far away from that. We have the disk storage capacities, but the bandwidth isn’t there.

But the main reason why I don’t see console and handheld gaming dying any time soon is out obsession with gadgets is still as strong as ever. While games consoles have enjoyed success, the reason that they’ve neither become dominant nor been killed off by the PC is the fact that how people game is become more diverse. People want to game while sitting in front of their TVs, while sitting in front of their PCs, and while on the move. I’m not seeing any signs of convergence. If anything, I’m seeing the exact opposite.

The people at Microsoft have decided that they would expand the range of choice of things to do by hiring famous Hollywood producer, one “Mr Safran” in a hope that it would bring in more people onto xbox live and to give those already a new dimension of how to use there Xbox.

There is currently 10 million people currently playing on Xbox live with 18 Million consoles sold through out the world. This will be a big step for Microsoft as they look to take a leap in front of the other gaming giant Sony and Nintendo.

The Producer has been signed first and fore most to produce short 10 minute stories looking to target gamers interests like comedy and the ever growing genre of Horror. The Producers from Safran Company are looking to sign big filmmakers with the likes of Spielberg and Lucas thrown into the mix. Although they have said that they aren’t expecting big name actors.

The one downside is that this will of course cost, and will be through microsoft points, the idea looks to go through in americas autumn our spring

It looks like Senator Hillary Clinton is gearing up for her war on video games.

Sources say that Clinton has been asking for volunteers for a new anti-violence in video games initiative. Specifically, Clinton is looking for someone who feels passionate about extreme violence in video games.

One of Clinton’s ideas is to try and add a special tax to video games, sort of like what they do for cigarettes. The profits from the tax would then go to a child advocacy and obesity programs.

The “concerned parent” would need to attend a press conference and make a short statement about their opinion and should be able to deal with annoying reporters asking questions like: Did Clinton send out a memo asking for someone like you to talk for her at a press conference?

Just a word of warning gamers, this isn’t going away. Clinton has her heart set on making violence in video games a key component of her platform. Taxes on video games are going to be discussed.

Guitar manufacturer Gisbon Guitar has now added six major retailers to its lawsuit against Activision’s Guitar Hero. The stores are Wal-Mart, K-Mart, Target, Gamestop, Toys-R-Us and Amazon.

The decision to add them to the lawsuit was made “reluctantly”, according to a statement released by the manufacturer.

The latest move, which was filed on Monday, has been criticized by Activision.

“Our Guitar Hero retailing partners have done nothing wrong,” it said in a statement. “We will confront this and any other efforts by Gibson to wrongfully interfere with Activision’s relationship with its customers and its consumers.”

The lawsuit was launched earlier this month as Gisbon claims that it violates a 1999 patent for a “virtual-reality guitar-playing device” that could “simulate(s) participation in a concert by playing a musical instrument and wearing a head-mounted 3-D display that includes stereo speakers.” The copy of this patent was included in its original lawsuit - and it is indeed dated on November 23, 1999.

Activision filed for declaratory relief on March 11, claiming that the lawsuit came after the game publisher terminated a marketing deal with the guitar manufacturer. In the filing, it says that Gisbon “waited three years to make its patent allegations” and only started the lawsuit after it was not interested in renewing the current “marketing and support agreement”.

It also says that Gisbon’s claims were disingenuous and lack any justification.

The lawsuit brings 10 defendants to lawsuit; with MTV Networks, Electronics Arts and Harmonix being added to the list with the six retailers and Activision today. All three are involved with the game “Rock Band”, which is based on “Guitar Hero”, but also includes vocal, bass guitar and drums into the gameplay.

Representatives for all three companies that have been recently added have declined to comment. Harmonix created and developed some of the games in the “Guitar Hero” franchise.

Guitar Hero 3: Legends of Rock has been released in Australia, but the hybrid disc for Mac and PC has been delayed; with Rock Band coming out in Q2 2008.

The controversial R18+ rating for games may not go ahead at all as it is still opposed by at least one state attorney-general, a spokesperson has confirmed.

The issue has sparked many debates over the course of the election year and even beyond that. It became an issue in 2005 after it was raised in the Committee of Attorneys-General (SCAG). The issue will be raised up again on March 28th.

Currently, any game that exceeds a rating of MA15+ will be automatically be refused classification and can’t be distributed, imported or sold in Australia. The classification system can be modified if there is an agreement from the federal and state and territory attorneys-general.

However, the South Australia’s Attorney-General’s spokesperson has said that he will maintain his long-running opposition to the proposed system. As well, he will not consider the rating even if there are measures to protect children from being exposed to adult content.

“The Attorney-General remains very firmly opposed to introducing an R rating for computer games in Australia,” the spokesperson said to News.com.au.

Comparing it to international video game rating system, most have an adult or 18+ category.

The Interactive Entertainment Association of Australia (IEAA) has called for “more consistent rating system to bring Australia into alignment with the rest of the world”.