Bungie splits up with Microsoft
Bungie heading off to become an independent developer was probably the biggest news story of the year. Even the proper journalists were talking about it. After all, Bungie effectively gave the Xbox brand an identity with the creation of Halo, and brought Xbox 360 its most successful title in Halo 3.
Disappointingly, there were no passionate tales of deception or betrayal after the Halo creator split from long-term paymaster Microsoft. Sigh. Nowadays we like to imagine a horde of freshly-shaved and smartened-up publishers gathering outside Bungie's window to earnestly coo sweet nothings in hope of attracting the superstar developer. No reason, it's just a nice image.
Image credit: Joystiq.com
Sony reveals 40GB PS3, cuts backwards compatibility
Since there was such a blast of annoyance when Microsoft dismissed the importance of backwards compatibility, we were all taken by surprise when Sony announced the cut-down 40GB PS3 that axed support for PS2 games.
Even more so when the electronics giant whined that it would be too hard to develop a software solution. That said, no one's really made much of a fuss about it since, have they?
Street Fighter IV announced
It's rare to see a room of usually cynical, hard-bitten videogame journalists transformed into whispering, excitable fanboys (or girls, natch). But that's exactly what happened when Capcom revealed SF IV's stunning teaser trailer at a recent press event. We really didn't see this one coming.