For the story version, click here

Roll out the red carpet; summer ’11 is exploding with A list blockbusters. This summer be sure to look for wizards, robots, pirates and talking cars.

Muggles around the world will finally see the epic ending of the two part final installment of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.  Directed for the third time by David Yates, Harry Potter Part 2 will follow Harry, Ron and Hermione as they finish their quest for the last of the hidden Horcrux. Only then will the ultimate faceoff between the “Boy Who Lived” and “He -Who -Must –Not- be- Named” occur.  Sparks and spells will fly giving audiences the last chance to see the magic on the sliver screen. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 opens July 15 nation wide in 3-D. Let the battle for Hogwarts begin.

Ships Ahoy.  Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides reprises Johnny Depp’s role as Captain Jack Sparrow for the fourth time. The plot is set for the search of the Fountain of Youth creating the chance for new characters like Penelope Cruz and Ian McShane to join the pirate crew.  Don’t expect the fourth installment to stray from the pack, pirate star, Greg Ellis said, “It should be a great movie.  The first time in 3-D, and the first time with a new director Rob Marshall. I think the story is similar to the first film. It’s a simpler story to understand, it’s basically a race between three ships.” Disney has had huge success with the Pirate franchise and a fifth Pirate film is already in talk.   Check out Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger tides May 20.

Disney Pixar movies seem to be hit after hit so why not keep the wining streak going with a second look at the movie Cars? Cars: A World of Gran Prix tails the super sleek red race car, Lighting McQueen as he is bound to race around the world. Mater the rusty old tow truck will accompany Lighting as he competes in the Grand Prix to discover the world’s fastest car.

The collider.com gives it brief synopsis, “But the roads of championship is filled with plenty of potholes, detours and hilarious, surprises when Mater gets caught up in an intriguing adventure of his own; international espionage.”  Roar those engines as Cars 2 races into theaters June 24.

Lastly, keeping with the theme that seems to plague the summer blockbusters is a third Transformer movie. Transformers: Dark of the Moon.  Yes, Shia LeBeouf, Tyrese Gibson, and Josh Duhamel will be back without Megan Fox who has been replaced by Victoria Secret model Rosie Huntington-Whitely. The third flick will bring more explosives, heat and metal more than the first two combined.

Sony Computer Entertainment CEO Jack Tretton, in a recent interview with Gamastruta.com, asserted how companies must have the highest cutting-edge technology in order to stay relevant for a long period of time.

Tretton drew comparisons to Nintendo’s and Microsoft’s marketing strategies toward their highly popular consoles, the Wii and the Xbox 360. But in my opinion, I feel he contradicted himself several times and began bashing both Nintendo’s and Microsoft’s current home and handheld consoles. Nevertheless, I have complete respect for Sony and their marketing decisions, but I would like to lie out and counter argue Tretton’s main points.

First, Tretton argued that a console must be launched with the highest cutting-edge technology, stressing that this is Sony’s philosophy. In my opinion, this is not always true. It is a fact that Playstation 2, the weakest console alongside Xbox and Gamecube, dominated the console market. It did not have the highest cutting-edge technology, either. Also, greater technology means more production costs, equating to a higher potential net loss for each product sold. According to Gamasutra.com, the Playstation 3 lost $300 for the 20GB model, sold for $499, and $240 for the 60 GB model, sold for $600. In comparison it was reported in 2005 by Gamespot.com that Microsoft lost $125 for every Xbox 360 hard-drive equipped launch model, and Nintendo lost $6 for every Wii launch model in 2006.

Second, Tretton argued that Nintendo’s motion gaming is not truly accurate if someone has to wave their arms six inches. So why did Sony release their Playstation Move? In my opinion, it is obvious why. Sales statistics demonstrate that Wii has experienced tremendous success with its innovative motion controls since 2006. What did Sony decide to do? They followed suit, like how Microsoft improved the “Avatar” concept after the “Mii” was introduced on the Wii. While Microsoft and Sony will both defend their positions on such matters, websites like IGN.com have articles written with concurring opinions. So why is Tretton insisting that motion gameplay is not accurate? In my opinion, he must have no knowledge of the Wii motion plus, which allows for 1:1 motion, making movement with the Wii remotes even more precise.

Third, Tretton commented on Nintendo’s handheld devices by calling them a “great babysitting tool.” He added that no twenty-year-old is going to sit on an airplane with one. It is a fact that Nintendo is the leader of the handheld market, in the past with Gameboy, and in the present with Nintendo DS. I honestly do not understand what message Tretton is implying. It is clear as day that Sony is competing in the handheld market. They have done so with the Sony Playstation Portable (PSP). Sony is also working on the PSP successor, codenamed Next Generation Portable. Like the Playstation 3, it promises to deliver the highest cutting-edge technology to the market. To call Nintendo’s handheld a babysitting tool, in my opinion, is outrageous, because someone could say the same for the PSP. His reference to the twenty-year-old is ludicrous, as well. The PSP is more heavily targeted to the hardcore audience, even though Sony is attempting to broaden its age demographic. But, to me, games, such as Twisted Metal, Call of Duty, Metal Gear Solid, Final Fantasy and Grand Theft Auto do not support this, even if games such as Hannah Montana and Rock Band Unplugged are thrown into the mix.