Friday, June 13, 2008
SonyPS3News.com IS OPEN!!!
I have just launched my brand new site for all your PS3 and other gaming news. I have spent a long time and have put all my hard work into building this site and even though there are some points for improvement, I believe this site has come a long way. I will start updating the blog starting tomorrow so until then please be sure to read my first and only post currently to get to know a little bit about the site http://www.sonyps3news.com/ . Thank you guys for supporting me and please continue as you guys make me work harder and harder on the site. Be sure to email me at admin@sonyps3news.com to let me know what you think of the site so far and what improvements I could make. ALSO MAKE SURE THAT YOU REGISTER SO YOU CAN GET EXCLUSIVE EMAILS FROM ME AND LEAVE COMMENTS. ENJOY!!!
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Posting
Hey guys it is me again. My site is alomost ready and I can not wait for me to release it. Making a website takes a lot of time and concentration along with hard work. Looking for new for the Playstation 3 on many websites is also time consuming. So what I have decided to do is work hardly and put all my effort and time I have into the website and not update this site until then. Although this might let some of you down just imagine in about a week or less a brand new site with better and more news, more features, and overall a better website. Thank you and I hope you guys understand.
P.S. I will still check for comments and if you want to buy Eye of Judgement I will still be able to work it out.
P.S. I will still check for comments and if you want to buy Eye of Judgement I will still be able to work it out.
Saturday, April 5, 2008
Eye of Judgement For Sale
I have a brand new sealed copy of Eye of Judgement for sale. This includes the Playstation Eye, Starter Deck, Pack, the software, and the camera holder and mat. I do not have a set price but will just sell it at the highest price offered that I get that seems reasonable. This will also support me and my site that I am building http://www.sonyps3news.com/ so I thought that selling a copy of this game would help. What ever offers I get will include shipping so take that into consideration when giving an offer. If interested please email me admin@sonyps3news.com or post a comment to this post. Thank you for reading.
Potential for better graphics on PS3 than 360, says dev
Red Faction: Guerrilla producer tells VideoGamer.com dev team is "finding some of the challenges of the PS3 beneficial".
The PS3 has the potential to achieve better graphics than the Xbox 360, a Volition developer has told VideoGamer.com.
Speaking to VideoGamer.com at THQ's Gamers Day in San Francisco, California, this week, Jeff Carroll, associate producer in charge of multiplayer and PS3 on upcoming third-person action game Red Faction: Guerrilla, said that while developers will struggle with the PS3 at first, once they "figure it out" they will find "a very powerful system underneath".
Red Faction: Guerrilla, the third in the popular series, sees a switch from the FPS view seen in the first two games to a third-person view. Scheduled for a simultaneous Xbox 360, PS3 and PC release in THQ's fiscal year 2009, the game has come on leaps and bounds since its first-look public unveiling earlier in the year.
When asked if there would be any differences between the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions, Carroll replied: "We've got the PS3 running at a similar frame rate to the 360. We're finding some of the challenges of the PS3 beneficial. We feel like we're doing rather well with the PS3."
Carroll went into more detail on the benefits of the PS3: "We have been getting the physics system, the Havok system and our own proprietary destruction system running on the SPUs, as well as our animations. We're seeing quite a decent speed improvement now that we've effectively got that running on the SPUs instead of the CPUs."
Carroll agreed, however, that many developers have found the PS3 to be a challenging platform, and admitted that Volition shared that struggle, at first.
"We were like that at the beginning. But I think mainly because we had to get our destruction system running on the SPUs, we had to get it running well in order to succeed, we felt a tremendous pressure right at the beginning to learn as much as we could about the PS3. And our programmers have done a wonderful job."
When asked whether it is possible to achieve better graphics on the PS3 compared with the Xbox 360, Carroll said: "I think potentially you will. I think early on people are going to be struggling to figure out exactly how to make the PS3 work. But I think once they do they will see it's a very powerful system underneath. They both have their advantages. The Xbox 360 pushes polygons rather well, which for us, because everything is destructible, that means that we have a tremendous number of polygons in our game compared to regular games, we see a great benefit with the Xbox 360, but we just learn to optimise in different ways for the PS3."
In Red Faction: Guerrilla, players will be able to destroy every building they see through a combination of weapons, vehicles and explosives. Real world physics are applied to the structures, often leading to a collapse through real-time structural stress.
Carroll added that the game is "very much" pushing the PS3, "both in terms of memory and processing power".
You can see for yourself how Red Faction: Guerrilla is shaping up over at our hands-on preview, and cast your eyeballs over some brand new screens hot off the press.
Speaking to VideoGamer.com at THQ's Gamers Day in San Francisco, California, this week, Jeff Carroll, associate producer in charge of multiplayer and PS3 on upcoming third-person action game Red Faction: Guerrilla, said that while developers will struggle with the PS3 at first, once they "figure it out" they will find "a very powerful system underneath".
Red Faction: Guerrilla, the third in the popular series, sees a switch from the FPS view seen in the first two games to a third-person view. Scheduled for a simultaneous Xbox 360, PS3 and PC release in THQ's fiscal year 2009, the game has come on leaps and bounds since its first-look public unveiling earlier in the year.
When asked if there would be any differences between the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions, Carroll replied: "We've got the PS3 running at a similar frame rate to the 360. We're finding some of the challenges of the PS3 beneficial. We feel like we're doing rather well with the PS3."
Carroll went into more detail on the benefits of the PS3: "We have been getting the physics system, the Havok system and our own proprietary destruction system running on the SPUs, as well as our animations. We're seeing quite a decent speed improvement now that we've effectively got that running on the SPUs instead of the CPUs."
Carroll agreed, however, that many developers have found the PS3 to be a challenging platform, and admitted that Volition shared that struggle, at first.
"We were like that at the beginning. But I think mainly because we had to get our destruction system running on the SPUs, we had to get it running well in order to succeed, we felt a tremendous pressure right at the beginning to learn as much as we could about the PS3. And our programmers have done a wonderful job."
When asked whether it is possible to achieve better graphics on the PS3 compared with the Xbox 360, Carroll said: "I think potentially you will. I think early on people are going to be struggling to figure out exactly how to make the PS3 work. But I think once they do they will see it's a very powerful system underneath. They both have their advantages. The Xbox 360 pushes polygons rather well, which for us, because everything is destructible, that means that we have a tremendous number of polygons in our game compared to regular games, we see a great benefit with the Xbox 360, but we just learn to optimise in different ways for the PS3."
In Red Faction: Guerrilla, players will be able to destroy every building they see through a combination of weapons, vehicles and explosives. Real world physics are applied to the structures, often leading to a collapse through real-time structural stress.
Carroll added that the game is "very much" pushing the PS3, "both in terms of memory and processing power".
You can see for yourself how Red Faction: Guerrilla is shaping up over at our hands-on preview, and cast your eyeballs over some brand new screens hot off the press.
Sony: 2008 Will Be About PS3 Software, Blu-ray, Network
Sony had some problems early on with PS3, but everything seems to be falling into place these days. A comfortable price point has been located, sales have been outpacing Xbox 360 lately, Blu-ray won, and there's a plethora of exciting games both on the shelves and coming later this year.
Naturally, Scott Steinberg, VP of Product Marketing at SCEA, is excited about what's been going on and what's in store for PlayStation 3 in 2008.
"The software lineup is here. I think we're at the point to say we're ecstatic about what we have in 2008. It's finally to the point where there are no standards uncertainties, so consumers now can evaluate us on the skills and attributes of our lineup, and we've got an incredibly diverse lineup," he excited told GD.BIZ in a recent interview.
He's equally enthused about the network.
"On the network side, we've stated that we're in a closed beta now for Home, we'll be rolling out functionality later this year, both for the Network and making Home public to others," Steinberg added.
And as for Blu-ray's victory over HD DVD, he said that "I think it's a huge win and it gives us a lot of momentum and also gives us momentum to stop talking about standards and start talking about games."
Perhaps the PS3 slogan these days should be "2008: Let's get ready to rumble!"
Naturally, Scott Steinberg, VP of Product Marketing at SCEA, is excited about what's been going on and what's in store for PlayStation 3 in 2008.
"The software lineup is here. I think we're at the point to say we're ecstatic about what we have in 2008. It's finally to the point where there are no standards uncertainties, so consumers now can evaluate us on the skills and attributes of our lineup, and we've got an incredibly diverse lineup," he excited told GD.BIZ in a recent interview.
He's equally enthused about the network.
"On the network side, we've stated that we're in a closed beta now for Home, we'll be rolling out functionality later this year, both for the Network and making Home public to others," Steinberg added.
And as for Blu-ray's victory over HD DVD, he said that "I think it's a huge win and it gives us a lot of momentum and also gives us momentum to stop talking about standards and start talking about games."
Perhaps the PS3 slogan these days should be "2008: Let's get ready to rumble!"
DualShock 3 hits store in two flavors
The Dualshock 3 has finally hit US shelves and contrary to popular belief, both silver and black colors are available.
Friday, April 4, 2008
Eye of Judgement For Sale
I have a brand new sealed copy of Eye of Judgement for sale. This includes the Playstation Eye, Starter Deck, Pack, the software, and the camera holder and mat. I do not have a set price but will just sell it at the highest price offered that I get that seems reasonable. This will also support me and my site that I am building http://www.sonyps3news.com/ so I thought that selling a copy of this game would help. What ever offers I get will include shipping so take that into consideration when giving an offer. If interested please email me admin@sonyps3news.com or post a comment to this post. Thank you for reading.
Sony PS3 Dualshock 3 Controller ships Today
The rumble is finally coming to Sony PS3 consoles in the United States. Amazon.com is shipping the wireless Dualshock 3 controller today April 4th for $54.99. Sony published a site listing compatible PS3 games where you can enjoy force feedback as we all know it from the PS2.Dualshock 3 compatible games include MotorStorm, Formula One Championship Edition, Resistance: Fall of Man, Gran Turismo Prologue, and many more. Several of the games will get the rumble compatibility through an update from PLAYSTATION Network. So keep your PS3 connected when you first play a game with the DualShock 3. See the Sony DualShock 3 page for all compatible games. More details about the Sony PS3 Dualshock 3 Controller on Amazon.com
Gran Turismo creator reveals his plans for GT5 - CVG's Kazunori Yamauchi interview
After what seems like an eternal wait (extended by an unscheduled delay to its release thanks to "technical issues") Gran Turismo 5 Prologue is finally out here, but it's far from finished, series creator Kazunori Yamauchi explains.Sitting comfortably in Sony's flashy 3Rooms events HQ in London, Kazunori told CVG of the plans he has for his driving simulator, from a huge update this year that'll include car damage, to the whereabouts of the almost mythical PSP version, GT Mobile. And just what would he say to those of you that refuse to accept Prologue as anything more than "just a demo"? Let find that out first, shall we...?
Some refer to GT5 Prologue a "just a £25 demo". How do you respond to that criticism?
Kazunori Yamauchi: I fully understand the pain of the people that were expecting a full GT to be released, but it took us three years to get this far and it has not been simple. It's been very difficult to do. We just hope that everyone understands that we are trying our best.
Will the US get the content that was added to the UK version?
Yamauchi: The Japanese version was updated to match the UK version on the day of the UK release, so they are now the same. And the US version that's coming out is going to be pretty much the same as the UK version. There are still a lot of things we have left un-done in GT5 Prologue, so by fall [autumn] this year there will be another major update to the game.
What sort of content can we expect from the update?
Yamauchi: The major things that we're planning for the update will be to add community building features such as communication between players and also damage for the cars.
Damage? Awesome. And the online part of the game will be improved, too? Yamauchi: Yes, there'll be a focus on the online mode.
What's the current status with Gran Turismo Mobile for PSP and Gran Turismo for Boys (originally announced for PS2)?
Yamauchi: I don't think Gran Turismo Mobile will make this year, but we are hoping to make the PSP version a satellite game, like an addition to GT5. I have to apologise because so much of our effort and energy is going into making the PS3 version that it's making it very difficult for us to work on the PSP version. The same goes for Gran Turismo for Boys, but we're hoping to make that a feature within GT5.
So instead of making it a separate game, it will come as a simplified mode within GT5?
Yamauchi: Yes.
The improvements in GT5 Prologue over the launch day-released GT HD are huge. How close is GT5 Prologue to GT5 overall?
Yamauchi: In terms of quality and features of the game, and in terms of functionality, GT5 Prologue will ultimately reach an equivalent level to GT5. I think the major difference between Prologue and GT5 will be the number of cars and courses that will be included within the game, in that there will be many more.
The GT series is now in its fifth iteration and running on ultra-high-performance hardware. How close would you say GT5 is to real life now? Yamauchi: That's a really difficult question to answer, because there are so many more fun aspects of a car that's not just limited to driving. I hope that we've covered maybe half of the attractions of a real car, but there's still so much more to it.
Driving games strive for realism, but when they are as real as they are today, where do you see driving games going from here?
Yamauchi: We work within the PS3's hardware structure, and even that still limits what we can do - there are restrictions. There are still a ton of things that we can do as long as the hardware keeps catching up to us. There are also other advancements that can be made, like within GT5 we have the museum and GT TV modes, which widen the view, from the players' point of view, into the automobile world.
What have been the greatest challenges in developing GT5 for the PS3? Yamauchi: PS3 development itself is not so difficult. It's just that the level of quality that you can achieve on the PS3 is so high that the amount of data you have to prepare for that is massive. It just takes a lot of time and work. It was actually surprising to us; the level of detail you can put into the cars and the detail on the screen - you can almost feel it in tangible form. And that's what drove us to be even more precise with the data that we put into the game - that's the loop we got caught in. Although at first, we didn't think it would take this long to make.
A lot of the delay, you have said in the past, is due to making all those cars as detailed as they are. How do you go about making a car in the game look and feel similar to the real thing?
Yamauchi: There are various ways that we do this. We sometimes use photographs, and there are also times when a designer carves out a car, as if he were doing a play model or a statue. And then there are times when we actually get the real car and make precise measurements of the car itself. We try to simulate the handling of the car as closely as possible. All of the movements of a car are based on computer calculations. It's fairly rare that we actually get into a car and do real life comparisons. It comes out close enough just from our simulations.
Have you been impressed by any other racing games in recent times? Yamauchi: When new games are released, of course we look at them. But it's not like I play them through thoroughly. So I can't really say... (Laughs) I just kind of look at it, play it a little bit and then pass it on.
Sony Shutting Down Online Servers For Many PS2, PSP Games
Boston (dbTechno) - Sony Computer Entertainment America has announced that they will begin to shut down the servers for many PS2 and PSP games. The games announced will all go offline as of June 30, 2008.
The full list of games is mostly made up of PS2 offerings, with the moret popular releases being Jak X, Amplitude, and Twisted Metal Black Online.\
The only two games which will not work after the servers are shut down include EyeToy Chat and Twisted Metal Black Online due to the fact that they have no offline modes.
The full list is below.
PS2 Games
Amplitude
Amplitude
Destruction Derby Arenas
Everybody’s Golf
EyeToy Chat
F1 ‘04
Jak X
Lemmings PS2
My Street
Syphon Filter Omega Strain
This is Football 2004
This is Football 2005
Twisted Metal: Black Online
PSP Games
Lemmings
PSP Games
Lemmings
World Tour Soccer 2
Thursday, April 3, 2008
The Eye of Judgement Review
Hey guys it is Nick here. As you probably have seen, I have a copy of The Eye of Judgement up for sale and am taking offers but I was thinking how do you know if this game is worth it? I have bought the game myself and am here to give a review for you. Please bear with me as this is my first game review so I will try my best.
REVIEW:
The Eye of Judgement is bringing something new to the gaming community. Sure there has been card videogames like Yu-Gi-Oh but not near as advanced as The Eye of Judgement. You actually have the real cards and you can make them come to life right before your guys on your TV.
This package is an unbeatable deal. For just $10 more than any normal PS3 ame you get the Game, the Playstation Eye, the Starter Deck, and a Pack of 8 cards as well as the things you need like the mat and camera stand. Just to point this out, the cards used for this game are very well constructed and made as they should be for the quality of this game. This has to be one of the best deals so far for the Playstation especially since you can use the Playstation Eye for many other things.
Now to the gameplay. When you start the game up and finish the easy set up for the camera and mat on the main menu there is a tutorial you can watch to help you get the basics of The Eye of Judgement. This video is very long (about 20 minutes) but is very informative and is reccomended before you start to play the game. Make sure you pay attention since you do not want to miss anything important that could affect your game. Now once you got the basics down if you have bought any extra packs like the one included or any more cards that were not in the starter deck, make sure to go to the card builder and register them in the deck you want to play with because if you do not do this, it will not allow you to use the cards that are unregistered in your current deck. So once your in your first game, don't expect to just go out and beat the computer everytime even on the beginner mode. I played on beginner mode about 7 times before I actually beat the computer. Now part of this could be because I am not very familiar with card games but I have read in many other places to that this game takes some practice. Once you get the hang of it you really start to get engaged in the game and once you become good enough you can try to take on online.
Now to the online. You better be ready to play good online because man their is some really skilled players online. I reccomend practicing offline until you can at least beat the computer at the hardest difficulty since most of the players online perform as good or better. Now we have all heard about people photo copying cards online and making the ultimate deck unfairly. Although this is true, from my experience out of maybe 25 games I think 5 of my games were played unfairly. Although this takes a little enjoyment out of it when someone is playing unfairly there is nothing like beating them when you do. Also, there is more fair games then unfair so you most likely will be playing more fair games. Other than this, it is basically the same thing online as it is offline.
Now for my final thoughts. I think The Eye of Judgement is a great game for almost anyone because it is so unique and there is no other game like it. But if you are experienced with playing with cards then this game was made for you and you should go out and buy this game without questions. This game leaves you with hours and possibly days of entertainment and will keep you engaged in the gameplay. This game performs almost flawlessly with the cards and works very well. The only negative things I could say about this game is that it does take some practice and getting used to, to be able to win. Also, online there is those players that play unfairly which can take some of the enjoyment you have online. Although those two things are present in the game, it does not affect the game much because of the creativity and uniqueness of this game.
8.5/10
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Eye of Judgement For Sale
I have a brand new sealed copy of Eye of Judgement for sale. This includes the Playstation Eye, Starter Deck, Pack, the software, and the camera holder and mat. I do not have a set price but will just sell it at the highest price offered that I get that seems reasonable. This will also support me and my site that I am building http://www.sonyps3news.com/ so I thought that selling a copy of this game would help. What ever offers I get will include shipping so take that into consideration when giving an offer. If interested please email me admin@sonyps3news.com or post a comment to this post. Thank you for reading.
GT5 Prologue Sells 374,607 Copies in 48 Hours
The latest European sales numbers at VGChartz for “the week ending March 29, 2008″ show that exactly 374,607 Blu-Ray copies of Gran Turismo 5: Prologue have been sold. Considering that the game was released in Europe on March 28, those sales numbers could only apply to the two single days that it was available on store shelves. This, of course, is in addition to the one million European pre-orders and does not include the number of times the game has been purchased via PSN.
So, will you be making it 374,608 copies sold, or will you add your tally to the number of downloads? Vote in our official poll and share which version you intend to purchase.
So, will you be making it 374,608 copies sold, or will you add your tally to the number of downloads? Vote in our official poll and share which version you intend to purchase.
Warhawk Update v1.3 is Now Available for Download
The Warhawk servers have now gone down for maintenance until 4PM GMT. However they have now made the v1.3 update available for download. To download the new update just start up the game and it will ask you to download the new v1.3 update. Its as easy as that.
The new features that are in the new update are as follows:
- BIO-FIELD EMITTER (Creates a zone of healing for allies and a zone of damage for enemies)
- MECHANIC FIELD WRENCH (can be used to repair allied vehicles and turrets as well as damage enemy vehicles and turrets)
- Integration of Contest Winner Insignias and Paint Schemes
- .50cal turret targeting enhanced
- Point value update for CTF defend and flag-carrier kill
- CTF Sudden-Death trigger fix
- Disabled CTF Flag throw/drop functionality
- New VOIP Functionality
- HOME Game-Launching
Once you've downloaded the update you'll be ready to play when the servers go back up at 4PM GMT.What are you waiting for? Get downloading!
EDIT: A few features I have noticed:
- The music has changed! It sounds a lot better, its not as annoying as the one before
- You get a message above the respawn time telling you which team your on saying ECUDIAN or CHEVERON (sp) with their corresponding colours
- The wrench can only be used 400 times each time (until you pick up new ammo), and takes around 20/30 points away each time you fix something.
- The Biofield is in the same tab as the Land mines you press the d-pad up to select the different one
- The wrench replaces the knife when you pick it up
- I have 10 (20 all together, I think) new Paint jobs for my planes.
- The new Insignia's look nice, better than the other ones anyway.
Xbox 360 With Blu-ray to Spark Price War With Sony PS3?
DigiTimes is feeling pretty confident about the rumors they started yesterday regarding the Xbox 360 with integrated Blu-ray. They are so confident that they're predicting a price war as Microsoft takes on Sony's PS3 at its own game. Their sources claim that the Blu-ray Disc drive will cost Microsoft between $95 and $100 -- much higher than the $18 to $20 DVD drives already found in the Xbox 360. Microsoft is of course, expected to sell its new Blu-ray rig at a loss as is customary in the console market. Sony may then be forced to lower the cost of the PS3 and/or retaliate by increasing Lite-On's cost for the Blu-ray components (like the BD-ROM pick-up heads) purchased from Sony. Whatever the result, the competition would be nothing but good news for consumers of HD media... you know, if the rumor is true.
GT5 Prologue Tops Australian Sales
GT5 Prologue races into the charts. VROOM.
For the fourth consecutive week in a row, we have a brand new number one. It's the mega cash-in Gran Turismo 5 Prologue, apparently just sneaking into the full priced charts. You can read whether or not it's worth it right here. Can the series do no wrong in the eyes of the casual fan? Brain Training continued yet another resurgence, climbing a staggering eight places to end up in second place this week. Standing firm at number three is Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games for the Nintendo DS, as its Wii brother falls out of the charts. Taking fourth place is the Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock double pack on the Nintendo Wii. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare made a return to the top ten, taking fifth by force. After debuting to the top spot last week, Rainbow Six Vegas 2 has found itself in a rather disappointing sixth place - you can read Luke's generally positive thoughts on the game here. Climbing a spot to seven is Mario Party 8 on the Wii, while Super Mario Galaxy fell an unfortunate seven spots to end up at nine. Rounding out the charts is a new entry, God of War: Chains of Olympus, at ten. 
Feel the Shock Next Week!
Rumble is back with the DUALSHOCK 3 wireless controller for PLAYSTATION 3. These are shipping to store shelves as we speak, so be on the lookout for them next week. Now I know that the list of compatible games is the most important thing to you, so we’re including that at the bottom of this post. The titles with an asterisk in the list below will require a patch in order to activate the rumble feature. The patch will automatically download to your PS3 if your console is connected online. If you are not connected online, check our PlayStation Knowledge Center for more information.
We will be launching a web page on the PlayStation website later this morning dedicated to informing you of what titles use force feedback. This list will be expanding as new titles become compatible, so be sure to be sure to check back. You can also keep an eye out for this icon:
We will be launching a web page on the PlayStation website later this morning dedicated to informing you of what titles use force feedback. This list will be expanding as new titles become compatible, so be sure to be sure to check back. You can also keep an eye out for this icon:
This will be located on all new software releases that are DUALSHOCK 3 compatible.
Just to give you a small refresher course, the DUALSHOCK 3 wireless controller includes pressure sensors that rumble with each action. SIXAXIS technology is also included, so you can still use motion control, and the controller features Bluetooth technology for wireless gameplay. You can pick it up at any of the major retailers and at a cost $54.99 MSRP.
Here’s the complete list of titles supporting the DUALSHOCK 3 at launch:
SCEA - Formula One Championship Edition* (PS3)
SCEA - MotorStorm* (PS3)
SCEA - PAIN (PSN)
SCEA - High Velocity Bowling (PSN)
SCEA - MLB 08: The Show (PS3)
SCEA - Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune (PS3)
SCEA - Resistance: Fall of Man* (PS3)
SCEA - Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction (PS3)
SCEA - Go! Sports Ski* (PSN)
SCEA - Folklore* (PS3)
SCEA - Heavenly Sword* (PS3)
SCEA - Warhawk* (PSN / PS3)
SCEA - Super Stardust HD* (PSN)
SCEA - Snakeball (PSN)
SCEA - Toy Home (PSN)
SCEA - PSOne Emulation (PSN)
SCEA - Piyotama (PSN)
SCEA - PixelJunk Monsters (PSN)
SCEA - Blast Factor* (PSN)
Sega - Condemned 2: Bloodshot (PS3)
Ubisoft - Lost: Via Domus (PS3)
Ubisoft - Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Vegas 2* (PS3)
EA - Burnout Paradise (PS3)
KOEI - Dynasty Warriors 6 (PS3)
Capcom - Devil May Cry 4 (PS3)
Atari - Dragon Ball Z Burst Limit (PS3)
Disney Interactive - Turok (PS3)
http://blog.us.playstation.com/2008/04/02/feel-the-shock-next-week/
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Eye of Judgement For Sale
I have a brand new sealed copy of Eye of Judgement for sale. This includes the Playstation Eye, Starter Deck, Pack, the software, and the camera holder and mat. I do not have a set price but will just sell it at the highest price offered that I get that seems reasonable. This will also support me and my site that I am building http://www.sonyps3news.com/ so I thought that selling a copy of this game would help. What ever offers I get will include shipping so take that into consideration when giving an offer. If interested please email me admin@sonyps3news.com or post a comment to this post. Thank you for reading.
Microsoft Owns Patent for In-Game Custom Soundtracks
One of the most wanted features missing from the Playstation 3 is the ability to use a custom soundtrack during gameplay. Movement has been made in this area with some games beginning to offer support, notably Super Stardust HD and High Velocity Bowling, but it’s yet to be offered for all games.
Though many expect the inclusion to come when Sony supports an in-game version of Playstation 3’s cross media bar, the implementation of this feature might just stay with the developers, since Microsoft owns a patent for this very functionality.
Microsoft implemented the ability to play your own music during gameplay in their first gaming system, the Xbox. The functionality naturally moved over to the Xbox 360, where Microsoft was patiently waiting for a patent to go through.
The custom soundtrack patent was submitted well before the release of the 360, presumably with the intention to lock down the feature for the next generation. It wasn’t issued until mid-2006, luckily just before the US/Japan release of the Playstation 3.
The US patent named “Method and Apparatus for Creating and Playing Soundtracks in a Gaming System” appears to cover any application that allows users to create soundtracks using their own audio tracks, such that they can be played during the execution of the game instead of the game’s default soundtrack.
Comprising of a thorough list of points and diagrams, the patents stand out claim is outlined thus:
Though many expect the inclusion to come when Sony supports an in-game version of Playstation 3’s cross media bar, the implementation of this feature might just stay with the developers, since Microsoft owns a patent for this very functionality.
Microsoft implemented the ability to play your own music during gameplay in their first gaming system, the Xbox. The functionality naturally moved over to the Xbox 360, where Microsoft was patiently waiting for a patent to go through.
The custom soundtrack patent was submitted well before the release of the 360, presumably with the intention to lock down the feature for the next generation. It wasn’t issued until mid-2006, luckily just before the US/Japan release of the Playstation 3.
The US patent named “Method and Apparatus for Creating and Playing Soundtracks in a Gaming System” appears to cover any application that allows users to create soundtracks using their own audio tracks, such that they can be played during the execution of the game instead of the game’s default soundtrack.
Comprising of a thorough list of points and diagrams, the patents stand out claim is outlined thus:
1. A method comprising:
- receiving a request to launch a game in a gaming system;determining whether the game has a user-associated soundtrack;- if the game has a user-associated soundtrack:launching the game; andplaying the user-associated soundtrack;
- if the game does not have a user-associated soundtrack:allowing a user of the gaming system to select a soundtrack to play while the game is executed; andplaying a default soundtrack if the user of the gaming system does not select a soundtrack.
What does this mean for Microsoft’s competitors? Will this patent stop Sony from implementing the console-wide custom soundtrack functionality? This is possible, and could be the reason why it has been missing from the Playstaiton 3 for so long.
Sony may have already found a loophole in the patent to allow them to provide custom soundtracks for particular games, as long as the functionality is not system-wide. In this way they could avoid the patent. Microsoft could charge Sony for the privilege, but it would be a lot of wasted effort to patent this particular feature and then allow competitors to implement it.
Therefore, when Sony’s in-game XMB eventually comes around, custom soundtracks might be left on the cutting room floor. It will all depend on how constricting the patent actually is, and how kind Microsoft are feeling. Reasons for the in-game XMB delay may be found here - Sony are trying their best to get custom soundtracks installed legally.
Therefore, when Sony’s in-game XMB eventually comes around, custom soundtracks might be left on the cutting room floor. It will all depend on how constricting the patent actually is, and how kind Microsoft are feeling. Reasons for the in-game XMB delay may be found here - Sony are trying their best to get custom soundtracks installed legally.
Feature: PS3 vs Xbox 360: The release calendar showdown
Microsoft won 2007, but Sony may win the war with a bigger lineup of must-buy games. Read on for the full release calendar showdown!
While the Nintendo Wii is off and running in a different direction (quite successfully), the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 are left in a shootout for honor... and exclusive games. A few months ago, we began to notice a shift in the tides after Microsoft unloaded a volley of its biggest exclusive games: games like Halo 3, Mass Effect, and BioShock.
But now it's 2008, and Sony's poised to win the year with a huge list of compelling PlayStation 3 exclusives. Curious to see how the fight will pan out, we formulated a list of exclusive titles for the PS3 and Xbox 360 coming in 2008 and 2009. With Wikipedia and our own notes as sources, we've constructed the definitive release calendar comparison.
But first, a few ground rules. This list will not include multiplatform games, sports titles, or downloadable software; we're focused on exclusive retail games. That means Grand Theft Auto IV is not a factor on this list, so go read about it here.
The Games
Xbox 360:
1. Ninja Gaiden 2
But now it's 2008, and Sony's poised to win the year with a huge list of compelling PlayStation 3 exclusives. Curious to see how the fight will pan out, we formulated a list of exclusive titles for the PS3 and Xbox 360 coming in 2008 and 2009. With Wikipedia and our own notes as sources, we've constructed the definitive release calendar comparison.
But first, a few ground rules. This list will not include multiplatform games, sports titles, or downloadable software; we're focused on exclusive retail games. That means Grand Theft Auto IV is not a factor on this list, so go read about it here.
The Games
Xbox 360:
1. Ninja Gaiden 2
2. Left 4 Dead
3. Too Human
4. Gears of War 2 (SYSTEM SELLER)
5. Fable 2 (SYSTEM SELLER)
6. Halo Wars
7. Splinter Cell Conviction
8. Alan Wake
9. Banjo Kazooie
10. Halo Chronicles
PS3:
1. Gran Turismo 5 (SYSTEM SELLER)
PS3:
1. Gran Turismo 5 (SYSTEM SELLER)
2. Haze
3. Metal Gear Solid 4 (SYSTEM SELLER)
4. Metal Gear Online
5. Singstar
6. LittleBigPlanet
7. Resistance 2
8. Killzone 2
9. Motorstorm 2
10. SOCOM Confrontation
11. InFamous
12. The Agency
13. Final Fantasy XIII (SYSTEM SELLER)
14. God of War III (SYSTEM SELLER)
15. Tekken 6
16. Twisted Metal
SCEE quiet on 2.30 details, how new PS Store will be “deployed”
SCEE refused to be drawn on details of details of Firmware 2.30 this morning, following yesterday’s confirmation that the PS3 software update would be needed to use the new version of PlayStation Store, to be released in mid-April in both the US and Europe.
“We have made no official announcement of the details of Firmware 2.30 or exactly how the new Store will be deployed,” a rep told videogaming247.
If the information released yesterday was correct, there should be a full Firmware release in the next two weeks, straight off the back of 2.20, which added BD-Live functionality only last week.
It’s all go, isn’t it?
“We have made no official announcement of the details of Firmware 2.30 or exactly how the new Store will be deployed,” a rep told videogaming247.
If the information released yesterday was correct, there should be a full Firmware release in the next two weeks, straight off the back of 2.20, which added BD-Live functionality only last week.
It’s all go, isn’t it?
GT5 Prologue Becomes the Fastest-Selling PS3 Title
Sony's budget PlayStation 3 racing title becomes the systems fastest-selling title.
According to Chart-Track, Gran Turismo 5 Prologue has debuted at the top of the All Formats All Prices video game chart, knocking Rainbow Six Vegas 2 down a place to No.2.
GT5 Prologue becomes the fastest-selling PS3 title in a single week and the 19th overall best-selling title on the console.
SEGA's Mario and Sonic drops a place to No.3, while Konami's PES 2008 is up seven places to No.4 thanks to the newly released Wii version. Guitar Hero III falls a single place to No.5 and last week's new entry, SEGA Superstars Tennis, is up four places to No.6.
There are also new entries for SEGA, with Viking: Battle for Asgard at No.8 and House of the Dead 2 & 3 Return at No.21. EA takes the No.16 spot with C&C3 Kane's Wrath and Sony's God of War: Chains of Olympus only manages a disappointing No. 29..
There's not a great deal out this Friday, but expect strong new entries from Condemned 2 and Dark Sector.
GT5 Prologue becomes the fastest-selling PS3 title in a single week and the 19th overall best-selling title on the console.
SEGA's Mario and Sonic drops a place to No.3, while Konami's PES 2008 is up seven places to No.4 thanks to the newly released Wii version. Guitar Hero III falls a single place to No.5 and last week's new entry, SEGA Superstars Tennis, is up four places to No.6.
There are also new entries for SEGA, with Viking: Battle for Asgard at No.8 and House of the Dead 2 & 3 Return at No.21. EA takes the No.16 spot with C&C3 Kane's Wrath and Sony's God of War: Chains of Olympus only manages a disappointing No. 29..
There's not a great deal out this Friday, but expect strong new entries from Condemned 2 and Dark Sector.
Blu-ray Adoption Rising Fast, Thanks to PS3
With the confusion of Blu-ray Disc's format war with HD DVD now gone, 29.4 million homes worldwide will adopt Blu-ray by the end of 2008, new research claims.
Sony's PlayStation 3 (PS3) game consoles are driving the adoption of Blu-ray and will continue to do so through 2009, when stand-alone players finally become the dominant form factor, according to research released last week by the Strategy Analytics connected Home Devices service.
PC vendors such as Dell are already trying to grab their slice of the Blu-ray pie. Dell last week said it is offering an Inspiron 1525 notebook with an optional Blu-ray drive for under $900.
Blu-ray device sales in 2008 are predicted to hit 18.8 million units, including 4 million stand-alone players, 13 million game consoles and nearly 2 million PCs, the research shows.
This year, 10 percent of U.S. households are predicted to own at least one Blu-ray device, a figure that is expected to jump to 20 percent in 2009 and 44 percent by 2012, according to the research. That's up from 4 percent of U.S. households in 2007.
More than 132 million homes worldwide are expected to own at least one Blu-ray device by 2012.
Sony's PlayStation 3 (PS3) game consoles are driving the adoption of Blu-ray and will continue to do so through 2009, when stand-alone players finally become the dominant form factor, according to research released last week by the Strategy Analytics connected Home Devices service.
PC vendors such as Dell are already trying to grab their slice of the Blu-ray pie. Dell last week said it is offering an Inspiron 1525 notebook with an optional Blu-ray drive for under $900.
Blu-ray device sales in 2008 are predicted to hit 18.8 million units, including 4 million stand-alone players, 13 million game consoles and nearly 2 million PCs, the research shows.
This year, 10 percent of U.S. households are predicted to own at least one Blu-ray device, a figure that is expected to jump to 20 percent in 2009 and 44 percent by 2012, according to the research. That's up from 4 percent of U.S. households in 2007.
More than 132 million homes worldwide are expected to own at least one Blu-ray device by 2012.
Metal Gear Solid 4 Soundtrack available for pre-order
The Official Soundtrack for Metal Gear Solid 4 is available for pre-order from Konamistyle. Retailing at about $30, the soundtrack will be released on the 28th of May. No details on how many CDs or tracks will be on the collection, but guessing from the previous OST releases, you're getting a quality item no matter what.
Monday, March 31, 2008
Eye of Judgement For Sale
I have a brand new sealed copy of Eye of Judgement for sale. This includes the Playstation Eye, Starter Deck, Pack, the software, and the camera holder and mat. I do not have a set price but will just sell it at the highest price offered that I get that seems reasonable. This will also support me and my site that I am building http://www.sonyps3news.com/ so I thought that selling a copy of this game would help. What ever offers I get will include shipping so take that into consideration when giving an offer. If interested please email me admin@sonyps3news.com or post a comment to this post. Thank you for reading.
SCEA: Portable Copy Hitting PSP Later This Year
After posting the PC World rumour earlier this month saying Portable Copy was going to be hitting the PS3 and PSP last week (and then finding out that, no it wasn't) I got a hold of Sony to find out what the time frame looked like.
I'm still pretty psyched about the ability to download my Blu-ray movies to the PSP for watching on the go.
Sony told me that according to Sony Pictures they expect to release the first Blu-ray disc movies with Portable Copy "later this year", but that they don't have a specific timeframe yet.
The technology, they told me, is currently under development, so Sony is also unclear on whether a PSP firmware update will be required to get it to work.
I'm still pretty psyched about the ability to download my Blu-ray movies to the PSP for watching on the go.
Sony told me that according to Sony Pictures they expect to release the first Blu-ray disc movies with Portable Copy "later this year", but that they don't have a specific timeframe yet.
The technology, they told me, is currently under development, so Sony is also unclear on whether a PSP firmware update will be required to get it to work.
Signs Suggest a Mid-life Crisis for PSP
As our loyal readers know, every month here at PVG we keep a running list of the most promising upcoming games on both the PSP and DS. For the first time this month, the unexpected happened: there are absolutely no upcoming games worth getting excited about for the PSP in April. For the record, fanatical PSP owners in North America have a poker sim and a somewhat promising arcade compilation from SNK to look forward to this month (but nothing else!). Granted, the release of blockbuster games God of War and Final Fantasy: Crisis Core last month may help to explain the drought, as publishers are unwilling to go up against — or fall under the shadow of — those two monolithic franchises. However, looking down the pipeline, there are a few potential surprises, but otherwise very little to get genuinely excited about. So, what does this current situation mean? Are we simply in the midst of mid-life doldrums, or does this actually signify the beginning of the end for Sony’s impressive handheld? Instead of the usual rundown of hotly-anticipated games, we have compiled a list of signs that we may be entering the twilight years of the PSP’s existence.
A lack of highly-anticipated games
What PSP games are you most looking forward to as we slowly approach the 2008 holiday season? If you find yourself scratching your head with difficulty trying to come up with a single title, you can understand why this is worrying. Some of our favorite games around the office happen to be the kind of under-appreciated gems that continue to populate the PSP catalogue, so there will be plenty of titles for us to play (and review) this coming year. However, it is less certain whether Joe gamer is as excited as we are about upcoming cult hits like R-Type Command from Atlus, or Atari’s quirky ninja platformer, N+.
Murmurs of a hardware revision/update
There have been unsubstantiated but steady rumors that Sony is considering the release of a new hardware revision, a Sony-Ericsson branded gaming phone, or an entirely brand new handheld. We are not sure what improvements Sony might make in order to breathe new life into the current PSP platform (it already has GPS, for goodness sake) but certainly the prospect of a PSP 2 might make developers reluctant to pour resources into a costly PSP title. If Sony has something new in the works that they are not telling us about, it would help to explain the reaction of developers such as Ready at Dawn, who recently stated that they will not be working on another PSP game any time soon.
Touching is good
Nintendo has a winner on its hands with the DS, and their handheld has handily won in every possible category during the current round of portable console wars. That said, Nintendo’s success in no way diminishes the very real gains made by Sony in the handheld gaming market, which have been significant (it is estimated that Sony has sold 32 million PSP systems worldwide, to Nintendo’s 68 million). With the addition of a third contender, Apple, the field is now dominated by machines that make touch input the primary interface for playing games. That means that important third-party developers are more likely to invest in touch-screen gameplay mechanics for future titles, leaving Sony’s current console out in the cold as we move toward a touchy-feely world.
Very few original IPs
This has been a problem since day one, as third party developers have struggled to find the perfect fit for the PSP. Sony has perhaps fared the best at creating original content for their handheld, as the excellent Pursuit Force franchise has proven. In the coming months, however, the number of anticipated original titles has dwindled. It seems as if the preferred formula for most companies has been to take a successful franchise and then come up with some way to port it over to the PSP. It is telling that the two games fans are most excited about looking ahead in 2008 are Final Fantasy: Dissidia and Kingdom Hearts, both sequels spun off of more popular console titles.
A lack of highly-anticipated games
What PSP games are you most looking forward to as we slowly approach the 2008 holiday season? If you find yourself scratching your head with difficulty trying to come up with a single title, you can understand why this is worrying. Some of our favorite games around the office happen to be the kind of under-appreciated gems that continue to populate the PSP catalogue, so there will be plenty of titles for us to play (and review) this coming year. However, it is less certain whether Joe gamer is as excited as we are about upcoming cult hits like R-Type Command from Atlus, or Atari’s quirky ninja platformer, N+.
Murmurs of a hardware revision/update
There have been unsubstantiated but steady rumors that Sony is considering the release of a new hardware revision, a Sony-Ericsson branded gaming phone, or an entirely brand new handheld. We are not sure what improvements Sony might make in order to breathe new life into the current PSP platform (it already has GPS, for goodness sake) but certainly the prospect of a PSP 2 might make developers reluctant to pour resources into a costly PSP title. If Sony has something new in the works that they are not telling us about, it would help to explain the reaction of developers such as Ready at Dawn, who recently stated that they will not be working on another PSP game any time soon.
Touching is good
Nintendo has a winner on its hands with the DS, and their handheld has handily won in every possible category during the current round of portable console wars. That said, Nintendo’s success in no way diminishes the very real gains made by Sony in the handheld gaming market, which have been significant (it is estimated that Sony has sold 32 million PSP systems worldwide, to Nintendo’s 68 million). With the addition of a third contender, Apple, the field is now dominated by machines that make touch input the primary interface for playing games. That means that important third-party developers are more likely to invest in touch-screen gameplay mechanics for future titles, leaving Sony’s current console out in the cold as we move toward a touchy-feely world.
Very few original IPs
This has been a problem since day one, as third party developers have struggled to find the perfect fit for the PSP. Sony has perhaps fared the best at creating original content for their handheld, as the excellent Pursuit Force franchise has proven. In the coming months, however, the number of anticipated original titles has dwindled. It seems as if the preferred formula for most companies has been to take a successful franchise and then come up with some way to port it over to the PSP. It is telling that the two games fans are most excited about looking ahead in 2008 are Final Fantasy: Dissidia and Kingdom Hearts, both sequels spun off of more popular console titles.
Based on the anecdotal evidence presented above, it may seem like the best the PSP has to offer is actually already behind us. All is not doom and gloom for Sony fans, however. First of all, there are a number of ways that Sony could breathe new life into the current system, either by taking a different marketing approach aimed at different demographics, developing some strong first-party titles that take advantage of the exciting new GPS and camera peripherals, or by lowering the price and beefing up the downloadable content available from the Playstation Store. On the other hand, Sony may be happy with the results they have received so far, and may be getting ready to slowly phase out the current hardware in favor of a different, next-generation handheld. If the number of big game announcements begins to dwindle in 2008, we can expect to hear rumors of new hardware as early as holiday 2009. Of course this is just idle speculation, but remember that you heard it here first, folks!
FCC Approves New PS3 SKU
While it's based on the 80GB architecture (CECHE01), Sony has apparently given a new PS3 SKU to the Federal Communications Commission for approval. The short-term confidentiality will expire on May 14th of this year, but hopefully Sony will provide an official statement before then. As of this writing it's still unknown whether this new model is part of an upcoming bundle (MGS4 perhaps?), the introduction of a new color (eg, a white 80GB PS3), or simply an updated version of the internal hardware (new Bluetooth module, WLAN antenna, etc).
SCEE announces "mid-April" revamp for PS Store
SCEE has officially announced a revamp for the PlayStation Store for mid-April in the PAL territories.
“The new design will deliver a hugely improved navigation system, much greater scope for categorisation and a dynamic new user interface,” said the company in a statement.
There will now be no content updates for the Store until it relaunches.
No mention was made of a US Store relaunch in the press release, which you can read after the link.
PLAYSTATION®Store to undergo April revamp
Customer feedback drives new design, interface and navigationUpdates on hold for two weeks; new-look Store launches mid-April
This April, PLAYSTATION®Store, the online content store on PLAYSTATION®Network, is getting a whole new look and feel – and it’s in response to feedback from the millions of PSN registrants in the PAL region.
The revamp comes in response to a survey last year which showed that many PLAYSTATION Store users wanted a better interface and easier navigation. The new design will deliver a hugely improved navigation system, much greater scope for categorisation and a dynamic new user interface.
Content will be suspended for two weeks while the improvements are carried out but users can look forward to a special update in mid-April.
There will be no weekly content updates between now and the re-launch, although users can still download content from the back catalogue, such as Warhawk™ and Gran Turismo™ 5 Prologue.
The PLAYSTATION Store revamp will not affect PLAYSTATION Network accounts or the virtual wallet system.
“The new design will deliver a hugely improved navigation system, much greater scope for categorisation and a dynamic new user interface,” said the company in a statement.
There will now be no content updates for the Store until it relaunches.
No mention was made of a US Store relaunch in the press release, which you can read after the link.
PLAYSTATION®Store to undergo April revamp
Customer feedback drives new design, interface and navigationUpdates on hold for two weeks; new-look Store launches mid-April
This April, PLAYSTATION®Store, the online content store on PLAYSTATION®Network, is getting a whole new look and feel – and it’s in response to feedback from the millions of PSN registrants in the PAL region.
The revamp comes in response to a survey last year which showed that many PLAYSTATION Store users wanted a better interface and easier navigation. The new design will deliver a hugely improved navigation system, much greater scope for categorisation and a dynamic new user interface.
Content will be suspended for two weeks while the improvements are carried out but users can look forward to a special update in mid-April.
There will be no weekly content updates between now and the re-launch, although users can still download content from the back catalogue, such as Warhawk™ and Gran Turismo™ 5 Prologue.
The PLAYSTATION Store revamp will not affect PLAYSTATION Network accounts or the virtual wallet system.
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Eye of Judgement For Sale
I have a brand new sealed copy of Eye of Judgement for sale. This includes the Playstation Eye, Starter Deck, Pack, the software, and the camera holder and mat. I do not have a set price but will just sell it at the highest price offered that I get that seems reasonable. This will also support me and my site that I am building http://www.sonyps3news.com/ so I thought that selling a copy of this game would help. What ever offers I get will include shipping so take that into consideration when giving an offer. If interested please email me admin@sonyps3news.com or post a comment to this post. Thank you for reading.
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