http://www.ps3news.com PS3 NEWS - PlayStation 3 News - PS3News - PS3News.com - PS3 Games - PS3 Hacks - PS3 Homebrew - PS3 Linux Wed, 08 Oct 2008 03:52:39 CDT en http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/sony-shows-off-playstation-3-line-up-in-toronto/ http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/sony-shows-off-playstation-3-line-up-in-toronto/ Wed, 08 Oct 2008 03:52:39 CDT takavach PlayStation 3 http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/sony-shows-off-playstation-3-line-up-in-toronto/
Centre stage went to Sony exclusives like Resistance 2, the sequel to the PlayStation 3's top launch title. The second game in this popular sci-fi shooter series continues the story of WWII-era American trooper Nathan Hale as the fight against alien invaders moves from Europe to the United States.

There were half a dozen demo pods running the game, but a pack of excited reporters barred me from taking a turn at the stick. However, the detailed burnt out buildings and horrifically creepy aliens I managed to catch glimpses of over players' shoulders left me with the impression that Resistance 2 could be one of the most visually sophisticated console games of the season.

A first-party game that I did get some controller time on was MotorStorm: Pacific Rift. Disappointing A.I. spoiled the otherwise lovely first game in the series, so I was keen to see if the computer controlled drivers in the sequel exhibited more lifelike behavior than their predecessors. It seems as though they do, but I didn't race enough to know for sure.

And, truth be told, I was more fixated on the game's graphics than my opponents. This is one pretty racer. Its wonderfully mucky tracks and wildly authentic physics (wipeouts are a thing of bone-breaking beauty) have left me itching for more. Its October 28th release date seems too far away.

However, the Sony exclusive I'm most excited about this fall is, of course, LittleBigPlanet. I won't say too much about it here, but instead direct you to the post I wrote about it last week. Strangely, though, it wasn't attracting all that much attention at Sony's event. I hope it's just because most journalists had already spent plenty of time with the beta version and not because they refuse to give this peculiar but innovative game a chance.

I skipped past many of the third-party games on display, including Fallout 3, Guitar Hero: World Tour, and Prince of Persia, all of which I had already seen at Microsoft's fall showcase in August. However, there were a couple of titles developed by studios not under Sony's umbrella that I hadn't laid eyes on before.

The first was Mirror's Edge (pictured below). It's an original looking first-person...um...running game? A better way to describe it might be video game parkour. The action I saw involved jogging on walls, leaping over gaps between buildings, and sliding under obstacles. I was told this was merely a race mode.

Apparently there's also a story, which focuses on a protagonist named Faith who is trying to clear her sister of a murder she didn't commit. Awards are conferred for working through portions of the story MacGyver-style (for younger readers, that means without shooting anyone).

Electronic Arts' Aaron Krause told me that he hopes Mirror's Edge will attract not just hardcore gamers, but also the kind of people who enjoyed Valve's 3D puzzle game Portal. In other words, it might be a good bet for players who enjoy the first-person perspective but not all of the gunfighting that typically goes with it. To that end, Mirror's Edge offers not only the race mode, but also a series of parkour puzzles that require players to figure out how best to get from point A to point B.

The other third-party game that captured my attention was Valkyria Chronicles, a turn-based strategy game that drops in a dash of real-time action by allowing players to personally control the movement of their characters between turns. It has a wonderfully Japanese aesthetic and a slick presentation that lets players swoop in from a battlefield map to a ground level view of the fight in under a second. Think Fire Emblem, but with more action and fewer grids. It will be available only on the PlayStation 3 when it releases this November.

And that exclusivity is key. The thought bobbing around in my head as I left the event was that Sony really is trying to deliver the goods this fall. They've managed to procure plenty of fun looking PS3-only content while maintaining a strong stable of multi-platform games. What's more, PlayStation 3 hardware now costs more than $200 less than it did when the system first launched.

Assuming the global economic crisis hasn't put a pinch on your pocketbook, there's never been a better time to jump on the PlayStation 3 bandwagon.]]> http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/tekken-6-not-coming-to-ps3-but-bloodline-rebellion-is-1/ http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/tekken-6-not-coming-to-ps3-but-bloodline-rebellion-is-1/ Wed, 08 Oct 2008 03:42:17 CDT takavach PlayStation 3 http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/tekken-6-not-coming-to-ps3-but-bloodline-rebellion-is-1/ Namco Bandai held a special press conference yesterday (just a few days before the Tokyo Game Show), where they went over new and upcoming titles and other special announcements.

One of the announcements was that Tekken 6: Bloodline Rebellion will be heading to the PLAYSTATION 3 (no word when) and will have MORE content than the arcade version (big surprise!)

IGN was at the event and mentioned in their latest podcast that the PS3 will NOT be getting the regular version of Tekken 6, which was released late 2007 in arcades. More news as we get it!]]> http://www.ps3news.com/PS3Online/qore-episode-5-hits-psn-thursday-with-valkyria-chronicles-demo/ http://www.ps3news.com/PS3Online/qore-episode-5-hits-psn-thursday-with-valkyria-chronicles-demo/ Tue, 07 Oct 2008 22:21:39 CDT PS3 News PS3 Online http://www.ps3news.com/PS3Online/qore-episode-5-hits-psn-thursday-with-valkyria-chronicles-demo/
Hey everyone, my name is Kevin Furuichi and I’m the new Executive Producer here at the PlayStation Network.

The Qore team’s put together a spook-tacular, monster-themed Halloween Special for Episode 05 available in the PlayStation Store on Thursday, October 9, here’s a preview:

e6e20cc2

Fallout 3
Nuclear winter in Washington, D.C. and mutated humans and beasts are really not so happy about the way things turned out. Do you dare leave the bunker and confront their radiation-amplified personality issues?

Resident Evil 5
The series that invented the term "Survival Horror" is back and better than ever on PlayStation 3 - just don’t call them "zombies" - they HATE that!

Dead Space
Talk about creepy. Our "trio of terror" is complete with a game that’s banned in China, Germany, Japan. When you see the gameplay, words really fail to describe… well, actually, how about "Strategic Dismemberment." Also included is an exclusive graphic novel!

Shaun White Snowboarding
Well, it’s not exactly spooky, but Olympic Champion Shaun White is a monster on any mountain. Veronica meets "The Flying Tomato" in Park City, Utah for a personal tour of his new game.

New Downloadable Content:
Included in this episode is exclusive access to SEGA’s Valkyria Chronicles demo. Qore Episode 05 also contains three different shooting galleries. Clear the galleries to reveal a horrifying bonus video segment.]]> http://www.ps3news.com/XBox360/xcm-crystal-wireless-controller-shell-with-new-d-pad-arrives/ http://www.ps3news.com/XBox360/xcm-crystal-wireless-controller-shell-with-new-d-pad-arrives/ Tue, 07 Oct 2008 22:14:58 CDT PS3 News XBox 360 http://www.ps3news.com/XBox360/xcm-crystal-wireless-controller-shell-with-new-d-pad-arrives/ www.XCM.cc that their new XBox 360 XCM Crystal Wireless Controller Shell with New D-Pad has arrived.

As the name implies, the crystal wireless controller shell comes with the new D-Pad and LED kit set to light up all the controller buttons.

The XCM D-Pad has been redesigned and optimized as illustrated HERE. The new XCM wireless controller shell uses a much larger D-Pad with more room to allow movement when using it.

This helps ensure you don't accidentally hit another direction on the D-Pad while trying to access something else... for example, when switching weapons on most first-person shooters.

They have also made available some related guides as follows:

How to Install the Wireless Control Pad Shell

How to Install the XCM Controller Shell to New 360 Wireless Controller]]> http://www.ps3news.com/General_OffTopic/the-28-best-video-games-still-to-come-in-2008-1/ http://www.ps3news.com/General_OffTopic/the-28-best-video-games-still-to-come-in-2008-1/ Tue, 07 Oct 2008 22:14:51 CDT Starlight General/Off Topic http://www.ps3news.com/General_OffTopic/the-28-best-video-games-still-to-come-in-2008-1/
Remember though, most of these recommendations are based on previews, so wait until the final review verdict before picking any of them up.

1. Animal Crossing: City Folk - Wii, 16th Nov US, December EU

It might not be the great hardcore hope Reggie claims it to be, but the Wii version of Animal Crossing certainly promises to be the definitive entry in the series. It's got proper online play, mic and keyboard communications, Mii support, a new city area full of customisable gear to pick up and connectivity between Wii and DS. In other words, it's got everything Animal Crossing always needed. AC is one of those games you either love or just don't get at all, but if you're the former, this will be a must.

2. Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts - Xbox 360, 11th Nov US, 14th Nov EU

Part platformer, part puzzler, part driving game, part Garry's Mod, Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts is a quintessentially Rare reinvention of its classic bear and bird franchise. Some might miss the pure platforming of the original games, but the sheer level of customisation and experimentation to be done with N & B's vehicles means that this one should have a lifetime's worth of replayability.

3. Call of Duty: World At War - Xbox 360, PC, PS3, 11th Nov US, 14th Nov EU

So Treyarch steps up to the plate once again, and for a change, gamers everywhere aren't quaking in their boots. With a proper, two-year development run, the team that isn't Infinity Ward has finally been given a fair shot at making the game it wants, and from what we've played of that game so far, the combination of World War II's more unusual campaign locations with COD4's in your face brutality might well give the Hitler-bashing genre a much-needed freshen up.

4. Castlevania: Order Of Ecclesia - DS, 21st Oct US, November EU

Okay, so it's another one of the DS 'Metroidvania' action RPG entries, but is there a problem with that? No there isn't, because they've all been brilliant. You know what to expect. Platforming, monster-killing, upgrades, puzzling, and more Gothicism than an '80s rock club. This time round, there's also an interesting new 'glyph' based customisable magic system and around twenty different locations to explore. And you'll be getting the now-inevitable DS/Wii connectivity too, allowing you to unlock extra stuff if you have a copy of we-hope-it's-not-crap-but-so-far-it-looks-to-be Wii fighter Castlevania: Judgment.

5. Chrono Trigger - DS, 25th Nov US, January '09 EU

One of Square's finest ever games, one of the freshest and most involving RPGs of all time and one third of the holy SNES trinity along with Secret Of Mana and Final Fantasy VI. And now it's on the DS. If you didn't play it on the SNES, don't even consider not getting it. If you did, still consider getting it. That is all.

6. Dead Space - Xbox 360, PC, PS3, 14th Oct US, 24th Oct EU

From what we've played of it so far, this will fill in the gap until Resident Evil 5 just fine. It's a dirty, oppressive space horror with a pounding atmosphere and the kind of gore that would make '80s cinema proud. It's as if John Carpenter, Ridley Scott and David Cronenberg decided to make a sci-fi shooter. And decided to make it really horrible.

7. Disaster: Day of Crisis - Wii, Oct 24th EU, TBC US

A decent-looking third-person action game on the Wii? Heavens be praised! Disaster has been quietly milling along for a good while now, to the point where we thought it might even have been canceled a while back. Thankfully not, as it now looks like a very interesting blend of third-person adventure, cover-shooting, rescuing and puzzling, all set against the backdrop of some epic disaster movie set-pieces.

8. Fable 2 - Xbox 360, Oct 21st US, Oct 24th EU

We strongly suspect that Fable 2 is going to be far from just another RPG. It's vibrant, it's different, it's funny as hell and it's packed with personality. The franchise's much-vaunted reputation system is up and running on a terrifyingly deep level and despite Peter Molyneux's new-found humbleness, the whole game looks to be immensely more layered than its prequel was. All this, online co-op and Stephen Fry too!

9. Fallout 3 - Xbox 360, PC, PS3, Oct 28th US, Oct 31st EU

Forget any misgivings you might have had about the Fallout franchise's change of perspective. In Bethesda's hands the RPG elements are more than present and correct; just given a visceral boost by the new FPS mechanics. Exploring the vast world and its immense number of vibrant inhabitants and optional side-stories, it's clear that Fallout 3 is a game you're going to live in for a very long time.

10. Far Cry 2 - Xbox 360, PC, PS3, Oct 21st US, Oct 24th EU

Far Cry 2 is everything that a current-gen shooter should be. It's also everything that a current-gen sandbox game should be. Wandering through its beautifully-realised Africa, you'll have total control over the characters you interact with, how you work with or against them and exactly how you tackle each mission. It's not an easy game at first, but once you learn how to make the most of the freedom available to you, you won't be able to put it down.

11. Gears of War 2 - Xbox 360, 7th Nov Worldwide

Do we need to say much more about this one? The original Gears of War is a modern classic and its sequel is everything we loved about it taken to the next level. New weapons, new Locust, new gameplay elements and a deeper, more involving story are going to make Gears 2 one of the 360 games of this year. Or any year.

12. Grand Theft Auto IV - PC, 18th Nov US, 21st Nov EU

It's been a long wait for PC owners, but we reckon it's going to be worth it. GTA IV was already great on consoles, but Rockstar seems to be taking full advantage of the new hardware with this version. The already-impressive new Liberty City is going to look great with the new higher resolutions the PC can handle, but we're really excited about new video capture, editing and upload facilities that are going to be included. Ten points for embracing the community there, Rockstar.

13. Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars - DS, TBC

Okay, so we're not actually sure that this one is going to turn up this year. The best we can get out of a Rockstar is "winter", which could just as easily mean 2009 as 2008. But the sheer potential means that we wanted to squeeze it onto the list regardless. A brand new character, a brand new storyline, a brand new isometric perspective - just like the original top-down games gone polygon - new cel-shaded art and stylus-controlled smack dealing. What more could you want?

14. Guitar Hero World Tour - Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, 26th Oct US, 7th Nov EU

Our early impressions of this one as a "Me too!" Rock Band cash-in have now gone out of the window like a hotel room TV. Yes, there's a full band instrument set-up now, but the really amazing thing about Guitar Hero: World Tour is its integrated music studio. There's nowhere near enough room here to detail all of its features, but suffice to say it's so flexible that it'll be the next best thing to having a real recording facility in your house.

15. The Last Remnant - Xbox 360, PS3, 20th Nov Worldwide

Why is this one exciting? Well for a start, it's a brand new, home console IP from Square Enix. Secondly, it takes RPG combat to an epic level, making use of huge battlefields to allow fights on the scale of all-out war. It's also SE's first concerted effort to cater for both the Japanese and western markets simultaneously, and it'll be really cool to see how that cultural mash-up plays out. We've got high hopes for this being very interesting indeed when it's released.

16. Left 4 Dead - PC, Xbox 360, 19th Nov Steam, 19th Nov US, 21st Nov EU

Valve. Zombies. Online FPS co-op. Lots of zombies. An intelligent AI 'director' which changes the flow of the game depending on your own actions. Make no mistake about it, this is going to be a savagely good time. All of those hypothetical zombie massacre escape plans you've made - and you know you've thought about that stuff - will soon be a reality.

17. LittleBigPlanet - PS3, 21st Oct US, 22nd Oct EU

Leave your reservations at the door. LittleBigPlanet really is that good. It's fun, whimsical, intelligent and a powerful design tool, all at the same time, and it's been crafted with enough love and attention to detail to make its ambience utterly infectious. It's a great big, warm smile of a disc, and we're already utterly in love with it.

18. Mirror's Edge - Xbox 360, PC, PS3, 11th Nov US, 14th Nov EU

Ever wanted to know what it's like to be the Prince of Persia? It's an obvious comparison to make, but it's obvious for a very good reason. EA's blindingly fresh parkour FPS is the POP experience gone first-person, and it's every bit as thrilling as that description makes it sound. The initial learning curve is steep, but get past it and the simple but comprehensive control system will see you deftly flying around the environments like a natural born ninja. Good times. Very good times.

19. Mushroom Men - Wii/DS, Nov 11th/Oct 14th US, TBA EU

Who says the platformer is dead? And who says there's no creativity on the Wii? To whomever might say either of those things, Mushroom Men retorts with a nonchalant but authoritative "Pah!" Playing out at the level of the floorboards, the game is packed with detailed and inventive design, everywhere from it's skewed characters and off-kilter, dynamic soundtrack to its immensely explorable, adventure-playground environmental puzzles. There's a strong Earthworm Jim vibe about this one, and what other game lets you drop a spinning fan on top of an evil bunny rabbit? And the DS version holds all the same twisted wonders, but does them in glorious 2D. We want both now!

20. N+ - DS/PSP, 28th Nov EU

If you haven't played the Flash original, do so here right now. N is a fearsomely addictive, tightly-designed slice of genius, combining simple, clean, stylised graphics with fast, physics-based platforming and an infernal but totally fair level of challenge. It's an utter gem of a game on any format, and it's a perfect fit for handheld gaming. Put this on your list.

21. Quantum Of Solace - 360, PC, PS3, Wii, PS2, DS, 4th Nov US, 31st Oct EU

A movie-licensed game? Great heavens, what are we thinking? Well what we're thinking is that Treyarch's new Bond game could turn out to be a blinder. Gun fights, stealth kills, cover shooting and that bit from Casino Royale where he runs along the crane. All the important stuff is in there, and QoS is no slouch in the technical department either. Using an upgraded version of the Call of Duty 4 engine and featuring dynamic, reactive enemy AI, this could be the best Bond FPS since Goldeneye. Between this and COD: World At War, Treyarch really looks to be bursting through with the quality this year.

22. Rock Band 2 - Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, TBA EU

It's Rock Band with a big number 2 at the end, so we know what that means. It's more of the same, but tweaked and refined, but considering the small matter of the original being one of the best games ever, that's absolutely all we ever wanted. There are 100 songs out of the box, and with the ability to port over most of the original game's play-list and the obligatory, seemingly-endless DLC, you're never going to run out of things to do. And if you do, there are always the improved online modes and the option of actually learning to play real drums to get on with too.

23. Shaun White Snowboarding: Road Trip - Wii, Christmas Worldwide

All versions of Shaun White are looking good right now, but we wanted to draw particular attention to the Wii version. With the Balance Board enabled, it's a fantastically tactile and thrilling experience once you calibrate your feet. Controlling movement, jumps and tricks with tilts of your body and flicks of your feet is as close to a real snowboarding simulator you'll ever get in your living room, and although cartoonier than their high-def counterparts, the graphics and art design are crisp and endearing.

24. Skate it - DS, 17th Nov US, 20th Nov EU

We've only had brief hands-on time with the DS version of Skate, but we're already excited. Drawing movements across the deck illustration on the bottom screen to pull off tricks seems a strange concept before you try it, but in practice it's an incredibly instinctive experience. As long as the full game makes proper use of the control scheme's potential, we're going to lap this up when it arrives.

25. Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix - Xbox 360, PS3, TBA

The justified hype over Street Fighter IV has left its downloadable ancestor a little over-looked lately, but forget about it you certainly should not. SSFIIT is the pinnacle of the SFII series, but this newly rebalanced, hand-drawn HD edition is actually going to improve on it with new moves, pimped-out characters and artwork that makes it feel like playing a comic. It's late for release already - we originally expected it over summer - but earlier in the week we were told by Capcom that it's still "89% probably" coming out this year.

26. Tomb Raider: Underworld - Xbox 360, PC, PS3, 18th Nov US, 21st Nov EU

Yawn. Aren't we sick of Tomb Raider by now? Well no, no we're not. You see with Underworld, we look to have the most dynamic entry the series has seen in ages. Lara's movement and combat flows better than ever, and a concerted effort has been made to loosen up the rigidity the games have been maligned for in the past. This is a tooled-up, tricked-out Croft for the modern gaming era, and she's looking very slick indeed this time around.

27. Tom Clancy’s EndWar - Xbox 360, PC, PS3, 4th Nov US, 7th Nov EU

If it plays as well as the demos we've seen indicate, EndWar could do for console RTS what Halo did for FPS. The voice-activated control seems accurate and easy to use, and the way that the game combines it with a detailed third-person action game perspective makes EndWar seem an incredibly accessible and immersive experience. This is RTS with a friendly, familiar face. Hands-off strategy dressed up as hands-on action. We can't wait to mic up and give it a proper try.

28. World of Warcraft: Wrath Of The Lich King - PC, 13th Nov Worldwide

Every time that talk kicks up about leaving WoW, Blizzard throws up another reason to stay. And here we go again. There's a new level cap of 80, a new playable class in the form of the Death Knight, and a whole new continent to explore in the shape of Northrend. Blizzard hasn't exactly been lazy with the additions this time, and the obsession is going to be instant come launch day.]]> http://www.ps3news.com/NintendoWii/nintendo-points-wont-transfer-between-ds-and-wii/ http://www.ps3news.com/NintendoWii/nintendo-points-wont-transfer-between-ds-and-wii/ Tue, 07 Oct 2008 22:14:42 CDT PS3 News Nintendo Wii http://www.ps3news.com/NintendoWii/nintendo-points-wont-transfer-between-ds-and-wii/
In summary, you can not use the same Nintendo Points card to download both Wii Ware and DS Ware.

To quote: Nintendo Points will be activated for the Wii or DS and not shared between them, reports Siliconera. With the announcement of the Nintendo DSi, the company also gave word that Wii Points would be renamed Nintendo Points to include both Wii Ware and the new DS Ware.

One might have reasonably assumed the points would transfer between systems seamlessly, but that would also require Nintendo to have a unified account system in place to handle the distribution. Since it doesn't, the Points can only be linked to one system.

For example, purchase of a 2000 Nintendo Points card won't let you use 1000 for Wii and 1000 for DS, so be prepared to make a commitment of where your Points should go.]]> http://www.ps3news.com/General_OffTopic/confirmed-microsoft-paid-eidos-for-dlc-and-demo-exclusivity-1/ http://www.ps3news.com/General_OffTopic/confirmed-microsoft-paid-eidos-for-dlc-and-demo-exclusivity-1/ Tue, 07 Oct 2008 22:14:32 CDT Starlight General/Off Topic http://www.ps3news.com/General_OffTopic/confirmed-microsoft-paid-eidos-for-dlc-and-demo-exclusivity-1/ earlier today, it is now revealed that Microsoft paid Eidos for downloadable content and demo exclusivity.

To quote: The announcement by Eidos to produce extended chapters exclusively for owners of Microsoft's Xbox 360 video-games console has been met with mixed reaction, especially from those planning to steer Lara Croft through her latest adventure on one of the additional five platforms being catered for. We checked in with Eidos who shed some light on the decision.

"Microsoft asked us how we could extend the fantastic Tomb Raider: Underworld gameplay experience, exclusively, for their thriving Xbox Live community and these two new downloadable chapters were the result." says Eidos, who also confirm there are no plans for additional downloadable content for PS3.

Beneath The Ashes, the first extended chapter, will be released late December in time for Christmas. Lara's Shadow, the second installment, will debut in early 2009. The downloadable chapters will only work in conjunction with the retail 360 Tomb Raider Underworld disc.

On the decision to exclusive partner with Microsoft, Eidos says: "Microsoft asked us how we could extend the fantastic Tomb Raider: Underworld gameplay experience for their thriving Xbox Live community and this exclusive content was the result."

"Both extended chapters feature individual storylines, based in different environments and with very different mission objectives and gameplay. They are linked to Underworld, they take place following events that occur during Underworld."

On the subject of a forthcoming Tomb Raider Underworld demo, Eidos confirms the demo - for both Xbox 360 and PC owners - is "based upon the first section of the second level, Thailand."]]> http://www.ps3news.com/NintendoWii/wii-speak-channel-to-launch-in-europe-on-december-5-2008/ http://www.ps3news.com/NintendoWii/wii-speak-channel-to-launch-in-europe-on-december-5-2008/ Tue, 07 Oct 2008 22:14:20 CDT PS3 News Nintendo Wii http://www.ps3news.com/NintendoWii/wii-speak-channel-to-launch-in-europe-on-december-5-2008/
Press Release: Wii Speak Channel and Wii Speak accessory will connect friends and family and herald the next evolution of social gaming

Socialising and communicating with friends and family has just got easier - and more fun - as the new Wii Speak accessory and Wii Speak Channel are launched for Wii across Europe on 5 December 2008.

Wii Speak enables people to connect to and communicate with friends using the free-to-use Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection in a way that is very socially inclusive. Wii Speak can be connected directly to the console and pick up the conversations from an entire room of people, meaning friends and families can all get involved in conversations, sharing gaming and social experiences together. It’s just like using a phone to make a call and chat with other Wii-friends: but with Wii Speak, everyone in the room can get involved in the conversation.

The new Wii Speak Channel, accessed from the Wii’s main menu, allows up to four console users - who can be anywhere in the world - to connect together to chat, or to share pictures and text messages at no extra cost. Once connected, the Wii Speak Channel brings user’s Miis to life: as users’ Miis represent them on-screen during their conversations. When players are talking to each other, their Miis also ‘talk’ to match the sound that is being picked up by the Wii Speak accessory.

Users have to share their private Friend Codes to be able to communicate with each other, which makes the experience safe and fun.

As well as enabling people to connect together through the Wii Speak Channel, Wii Speak also opens up a new world of social gameplay. The first game to use the full capabilities of Wii Speak is Animal Crossing: Let’s Go to the City, in which players can create and share their personalised worlds.

For the first time, friends can chat in the game and, as the action happens in real time and creates a world in which players celebrate real festivals and events, sharing the gaming experience over the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection on Christmas Day will be a uniquely magical experience, with characters and other players in the game all joining in the festive fun! Animal Crossing: Let’s Go to the City and the Wii Speak microphone will be offered as a bundle at launch, making a perfect gift for friends and family this Christmas.

In the future, Wii Speak will be incorporated into other Wii games, meaning that new opportunities can be created for social gameplay amongst the console’s fans.

Enjoy a whole new use for your Wii with Wii Speak and enjoy the chance to create - and talk about - the perfect world that you create in Animal Crossing: Let’s Go to the City on 5th December 2008, when they launch across Europe both as a bundle and sold separately.

Note: There are no fees or subscriptions to pay (Usual broadband line rental and Internet Service Provider costs apply when accessing the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection at home)]]> http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/littlebigplanet-boss-mark-healey-annoyed-by-controls/ http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/littlebigplanet-boss-mark-healey-annoyed-by-controls/ Tue, 07 Oct 2008 21:21:49 CDT Starlight PlayStation 3 http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/littlebigplanet-boss-mark-healey-annoyed-by-controls/
With thousands of gamers currently getting an early experience of the much-hyped title via the beta, some have complained about the basic controls of Sackboy, specifically moving the character between planes in the "2.5D" perspective.

Speaking to Eurogamer TV last week, Healey acknowledged the issue, stating: "The Z [axis] movement is an incredibly hard thing for us to get right. There's times when it annoys me actually, but we can work on that if we want, and refine it. But on the whole, we got to a good place with it I think, because we wanted to cater for my mother and someone that's a hardcore player, so it was hard to get the balance there."

Healey added that the game had been designed so that changes could be made post-release, via a downloadable update.

"There's definitely room for improvement and we've got the channel to be able to do that as well," he said. "I'd really love to be able to do backflips and all kinds of things with my Sackboy, and there's no reason why we can't add that and refine that."

LittleBigPlanet is out exclusively on PlayStation 3 on 24th October.]]> http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/new-white-knight-playstation-3-details-emerge/ http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/new-white-knight-playstation-3-details-emerge/ Tue, 07 Oct 2008 21:19:51 CDT Starlight PlayStation 3 http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/new-white-knight-playstation-3-details-emerge/ Game-Star!

Here's the gist of the article:

- Story should last 100 hours +
- Graphics will be at 1080P
- Dynamic battle system, allowing you to chose from the regular sized characters or transforming into the colossal white knight
- Co-op gameplay over the PSN

With TGS right around the bend, expect a lot more from Level-5 on this Sony exclusive RPG.]]> http://www.ps3news.com/PS3Online/tomb-raider-underworld-for-ps3-wont-get-dlc-or-a-demo/ http://www.ps3news.com/PS3Online/tomb-raider-underworld-for-ps3-wont-get-dlc-or-a-demo/ Tue, 07 Oct 2008 19:09:15 CDT hunter316 PS3 Online http://www.ps3news.com/PS3Online/tomb-raider-underworld-for-ps3-wont-get-dlc-or-a-demo/
Yeah, if you're a PS3 gamer, don't count on it being a timed exclusive. Eidos has confirmed that the DLC will not - repeat, not - appear on other consoles.

What's more, the demo planned to come out for the game this month is also an XBox 360 exclusive. Called it.

So first it was Grand Theft Auto IV, and then it was Fallout 3. Now it's Lara Croft.

What's with all this PlayStation 3 deprivation? Is Microsoft dishing out money again to get these DLCs, or are Bethesda and Eidos just not PS3 fans?]]> http://www.ps3news.com/PS3Online/tom-clancys-endwar-playstation-3-trophy-list-available/ http://www.ps3news.com/PS3Online/tom-clancys-endwar-playstation-3-trophy-list-available/ Tue, 07 Oct 2008 19:06:08 CDT hunter316 PS3 Online http://www.ps3news.com/PS3Online/tom-clancys-endwar-playstation-3-trophy-list-available/
Huh, no gold, you ask? Actually, those two Secret Trophies are actually Gold Trophies.

Bronze Trophies (42):

* Communication Officer: Complete the Voice Command Trainer.
* First Command: Win the Warning Signs mission.
* Combat Chain Master: Defeat Tanks with Gunships, Gunships with Transports and Transports with Tanks.
* Veteran: Win one match in each game mode (Conquest, Assault, Siege, Raid).
* Road to War: Use Secondary Attack for the first time.
* World in Flames: Win 15 missions in the Solo Campaign.
* Weapon Master: Win a mission by deploying infantry units only.
* Hardened by War: Play 20 Single Player Skirmish matches.
* No Stone Unturned: Win 10 2 vs. 2 multiplayer Skirmish matches.
* Call of Booty: Win 3 missions in a row in Theatre of War.
* Lightning War: Win 30 missions without killing a unit in Theatre of War.
* Blitz: Play 30 missions in Theatre of War city maps.
* Tour of Duty: Disarm 10 minefields in Theatre of War.
* True Patriot: Have one unit fight and survive for 10 missions in Theatre of War.
* Training Simulator: Win 5 missions in a row on the same territory in Theatre of War.
* Together We Stand: Win a Conquest by securing all Uplinks on a map in Theatre of War.
* Always Attack: Win 40 missions as Attacker in Theatre of War.
* Role of Honor: Win a Theatre of War Phase as each Faction; you must have played as that Faction in 10 missions.
* Urban Operations: Intercept 5 incoming Air Strikes with Electronic Warfare.
* Breach and Clear: Win 5 missions in a row without losing health in Theatre of War.
* Survivor: Destroy 100 Critical Buildings in Theatre of War.
* BOOM: Win a mission within 5 minutes in Theatre of War.
* Mass Murderer: Play 100 2 vs. 2 Theatre of War missions.
* Spearhead: Kill 10 units with the Command Vehicle's sentry units.
* Strategist: Win a match after the enemy has triggered DEFCON in Conquest.
* Point of Attack: Upgrade 100 Uplinks in any game mode.
* Dog of War: Kill 15 enemy Command Vehicles.
* War is Heck: No Uplinks recaptured by hostiles for 10 consecutive Conquest victories.
* Destroyer: Retake a Critical Uplink within the 3-minute timer in a Siege match.
* Command from the Front: Win a Conquest mission by Annihilation after the DEFEAT counter was under 30 seconds.
* Turning Point: Win a Skirmish mission and lose no health.
* Field Intelligence: Kill 10 enemy Evacuation Helicopters.
* Assassin: Kill 30 enemy regular units.
* Total Warrior: Win 20 1 vs. 1 matches in Theatre of War.
* Adrenaline: Shake to SitRep 88 times.
* Sharpshooter: Browse your teams either right or left 88 times.
* Predator: Defeat 6 hostile units with a single unit.
* Do or Die: Win a Conquest mission by Annihilation after the DEFEAT counter was under 30 seconds.
* Angel of Death: Kill 10 enemy Evacuation Helicopters.
* Cleane: Kill 30 enemy regular units.
* Shake that thing: Shake to SitRep 88 times.
* Team Spirit: Browse your teams either right or left 88 times.

Silver Trophies (8):

* Impregnable: Win Finishing Move without any units being defeated.
* Ready for Theatre of War: Deploy 20 minefields which successfully damage enemies in Theatre of War.
* Fast and Furious: Kill an enemy troop without being spotted.
* Total War: Defeat 6 hostile units with a single unit.
* Command & Control: Achieve a 100% Command Rating in one mission in Theatre of War.
* Untouchable: Win a Skirmish mission and lose no health.
* Army of One: Win 20 1 vs. 1 matches in Theatre of War.
* Napoleon: Achieve a 100% Command Rating in one mission in Theatre of War.

Platinum Trophy (1):

* The War to End all Wars: Armchair Napoleon.

Secret Trophies (2):

* (Gold Trophy) OpFor: Finish "World War III" with all 3 Factions on Hardcore.
* (Gold Trophy) Air Defense: Intercept 5 incoming Air Strikes with Electronic Warfare.]]> http://www.ps3news.com/General_OffTopic/deus-ex-3-set-as-prequel-gameplay-changes-and-more/ http://www.ps3news.com/General_OffTopic/deus-ex-3-set-as-prequel-gameplay-changes-and-more/ Tue, 07 Oct 2008 18:58:17 CDT hunter316 General/Off Topic http://www.ps3news.com/General_OffTopic/deus-ex-3-set-as-prequel-gameplay-changes-and-more/
The latest issue of PC Zone reveals details on the game's story, protagonist, and gameplay, and it sounds like a worthy addition to the franchise. The story was drafted in consultation from the original writer Sheldon Pacotti, and with the blessing of the original creators, Harvey Smith and Warren Spector.

Deus Ex 3 promises a "powerful, layered" plot set in 2027, which sets the game as a prequel to the first game whose events were set in the 2050s. PCZ describes the dystopian future in which the story is set:

Deus Ex 3's vision of the future sees holographic screens flicker atop ferries moving back and forth in front of the Shanghai skyline, now split into two layers with the rich on the top and the poor in perpetual twilight below

The game will have you step into the shoes of Adam Jensen, an average joe private security officer at a technology lab. The lab specializes in biomechanical augmentations, the technology that eventually led to the nanotech in the first Deus Ex game.

His life spins out of his control when a team of black ops commandos breaks into the building, "and using a security plan from Jensen's own hand, a mass slaughter ensues and the conspiracy begins."

Lots of changes to the gameplay system as well. Ammo will no longer be limited to just one type, as it was in Invisible War. Experience points can either be plugged to yourself or through weapon augmentations. Stats will no longer influence combat, but will rely on marksmanship skills. Stats still play a role by influencing a "vast array of fully upgradeable and customizable weapons."

Stealth will now employ a cover system rather than shadows, and damage will take a Call-of Duty-style auto-heal system. Twenty augmentations have been promised for the final game.

They range from: 'bungee jump' tentacles that shoot from your back and anchor to a wall when you jump off a building, and the ability to punch through walls to grab enemies in neighbouring rooms.]]> http://www.ps3news.com/General_OffTopic/namco-bandai-tgs-2008-conference-revealing-titles-planned/ http://www.ps3news.com/General_OffTopic/namco-bandai-tgs-2008-conference-revealing-titles-planned/ Tue, 07 Oct 2008 00:25:52 CDT takavach General/Off Topic http://www.ps3news.com/General_OffTopic/namco-bandai-tgs-2008-conference-revealing-titles-planned/
What's exciting about this event is that 'secret and exclusive revealing titles' are scheduled, according to the invitation pictured below.

The press conference starts at 11:00 AM in Tokyo, Gamekyo.com will try to make a Live coverage if they can.

Note: Sadly, they are now reporting that there is an embargo...]]> http://www.ps3news.com/PS3Online/mtvs-playstation-home-impression-has-changed-for-the-better/ http://www.ps3news.com/PS3Online/mtvs-playstation-home-impression-has-changed-for-the-better/ Mon, 06 Oct 2008 21:59:51 CDT PS3 News PS3 Online http://www.ps3news.com/PS3Online/mtvs-playstation-home-impression-has-changed-for-the-better/
While Totilo has all sorts of of ways to talk to others about Games, for those who haven't found a way to connect with like-minded folk then Home should suit them just fine.

To quote: My impression has been changed. What I hadn’t seen or had explained to me when I entered "Home" on my own those few months ago, was the function and helpfulness of the community. "Home" will be pointless if no one’s in it, if its central plazas are empty. Buser said they won’t even launch "Home" - an event scheduled for this fall - until they meet their goal to "have a kind of community to show people around." The idea is it’s all social.

You go to an area of "Uncharted" to find out what people there think of the game or to ask for a hint. Yes, some of us would go to NeoGAF or Metacritic or GameFAQs for that kind of stuff. But perhaps the average PS3 owner wouldn’t. For them, perhaps "Home" is the answer to questions they barely knew they had: Where do they go to meet people just like them?

I could see Buser’s point about how socially empowering "Home" may be, even if his demonstration barely budged my sense that it will be meaningful "Home" will be for a PS3 user like myself. For a gamer like me who already has ways to talk to other people about games, "Home" still doesn’t seem terribly useful.

For all the gamers who haven’t found a way to connect to people just like them and would like a comfortable way to do so, "Home" may suit them fine.]]> http://www.ps3news.com/NintendoWii/nintendo-president-reggie-fils-aime-warns-of-wii-shortages/ http://www.ps3news.com/NintendoWii/nintendo-president-reggie-fils-aime-warns-of-wii-shortages/ Mon, 06 Oct 2008 21:59:45 CDT PS3 News Nintendo Wii http://www.ps3news.com/NintendoWii/nintendo-president-reggie-fils-aime-warns-of-wii-shortages/
To quote: Fils-Aime was cautious on whether the company would be able to meet demand again this holiday.

"I don’t know if we’ll be able to, but were we to get in a car right now and go to 100 retail locations in the San Francisco area, we would not be able to find a Wii in at least 60 of those stores," he says. "Our hope is that by next week, the Friday after Thanksgiving, and on Dec. 23, you’ll be able to find a Wii."

Analysts anticipate strong sales for the Wii despite predictions of a broad decline in spending on consumer electronics. "It will sell well," said Lazard Capital equity research analyst Colin Sebastian in an e-mail. "The console remain in high demand, and I expect retailers will be using Wii’s to attract store traffic throughout the shopping period."

The Kyoto-based company’s profits increased 48% to $2.6 billion in profits in its 2008 fiscal year, which ended in March. Nintendo reports its next quarterly earnings on Oct. 30.]]> http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/eternal-sonata-hitting-european-playstation-3s-in-february-2009/ http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/eternal-sonata-hitting-european-playstation-3s-in-february-2009/ Mon, 06 Oct 2008 21:49:19 CDT PS3 News PlayStation 3 http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/eternal-sonata-hitting-european-playstation-3s-in-february-2009/
Press Release: Atari and NAMCO BANDAI Games to Bring the Unique and Enchanting Role-playing Game to PLAYSTATION 3 in February 2009, with New Features and Content -

6 October 2008 - European PLAYSTATION®3 owners with a taste for authentic Japanese role-playing experiences can celebrate with the news that Atari and NAMCO BANDAI Games are bringing Eternal Sonata for PLAYSTATION 3 to European shores in February 2009, complete with new gameplay quests, a revitalised story, brand new costumes and additional playable characters.

With its vibrant visuals, innovative combat system and captivatingregional storyline, Eternal Sonata has already won the hearts of western fans of Japanese role-playing games following its release for Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft in October 2007. Selected media comments from reviews of the Xbox 360 game include:

"The battle system is addictively fun, the multifaceted story is riveting, and the graphics are amazing…a must-have for any 360 owner, RPG fan or not." - Gamesradar

"wonderful narrative, great cast, enjoyable battle system and stunningly beautiful music and artwork" - Eurogamer

"a smart, action-packed battle system and a dazzling world that will take your breath away." - Gamespot

The PLAYSTATION 3 game will feature everything that made the Xbox 360 game so unmissable, with the addition of exclusive brand new features and content exclusive to the PLAYSTATION 3 including:

* New adventures: exclusive quests, battles, events and multiple endings grow the story;
* Additional playable characters: now choose to play as Crescendo and Serenade;
* New Costumes: different costumes let players customise the appearance of their characters;
* Exclusive new music: even more of Frederic Chopin’s timeless classical music.

The game’s unique scenario is set in the fantasy world envisaged by composer Frederic Chopin during the last three hours of his life as he lies unconscious on his deathbed. The game presents a vivid universe populated with charming characters and strange creatures who move through the world accompanied by Chopin’s timeless music, as performed by Stanislav Bunin. The player voyages through this mesmerising dream world encountering a young girl who faces a terrible destiny and a boy who will fight to save her in an enduring tale of good and evil, love and betrayal.

Bringing an authentic Japanese role-playing experience to European gamers, Eternal Sonata takes full advantage of the power of PLAYSTATION 3 with high-definition, anime style cel-shading and high quality textures and models. The innovative battle system employs a unique combination of hybrid turn-based and action RPG elements. With its wealth of original and technically advanced features alongside a captivating, original storyline, Eternal Sonata sets new standards for RPG gaming.

For more information about Atari’s entire product line up, visit www.atari.com.]]> http://www.ps3news.com/NintendoDS/confirmed-nintendo-dsi-software-is-region-locked/ http://www.ps3news.com/NintendoDS/confirmed-nintendo-dsi-software-is-region-locked/ Mon, 06 Oct 2008 21:36:05 CDT PS3 News Nintendo DS http://www.ps3news.com/NintendoDS/confirmed-nintendo-dsi-software-is-region-locked/ rumors since it's initial announcement, today Nintendo has issued a statement to CVG to clarify the confusion over the region-based restrictions on the new DSi.

To quote: "DSi software (software that is only compatible with DSi) is region locked, eg: European DSi software can only be played on European DSi consoles," a Nintendo spokesperson has told CVG.

They confirmed that this means BOTH download-able games and future DSi-only cartridge-based games would be region locked.

"Nintendo DS software however is region free so you can play any DS software on DSi from any region. You can also browse the Internet on your DSi wherever you are in the world and exchange your photos with friends from around the world."

This follows a statement from NOA exec VP Cammie Dunanway saying: "I believe that just as you can currently buy a DS in Japan and use it here in the U.S., that you should be able to do that with DSi," as we reported this morning.

Nintendo went on to explain to CVG: "DSi is region locked because DSi embeds net communication functionality within itself and we are intending to provide net services specifically tailored for each region. Also because we are including parental control functionality for Nintendo DSi and each region has its unique age limit made by different independent."

So there you go - DSi-only titles will be locked. Standard DS software won't be. But how many of the DS' future games will be DSi-only? That's the next question...]]> http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStationPortable/psp-3000-includes-preloaded-firmware-4-20-usb-auto-connect/ http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStationPortable/psp-3000-includes-preloaded-firmware-4-20-usb-auto-connect/ Mon, 06 Oct 2008 21:30:44 CDT PS3 News PlayStation Portable http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStationPortable/psp-3000-includes-preloaded-firmware-4-20-usb-auto-connect/
In addition, the updated system software revision includes a "USB Auto-Connect" option that automatically begins charging the PSP within the XMB when a USB cable is inserted.

To quote: Elsewhere, our side-by-side comparison of the current PSP/PSP-2000 firmware, 4.05, and the new 4.20 firmware on the PSP-3000 reveals a "USB Auto-Connect" option, which promises to automatically switch the handheld to USB mode when a cable is connected.

It will do this from anywhere on the XMB, but it won't interrupt gameplay. Nor does the PSP charge from USB during gameplay, although - as of the original Slim & Lite revision - it will do so while in USB mode.]]> http://www.ps3news.com/General_OffTopic/ps3-to-be-lead-format-for-skate-2-due-to-skate-1-criticisms/ http://www.ps3news.com/General_OffTopic/ps3-to-be-lead-format-for-skate-2-due-to-skate-1-criticisms/ Mon, 06 Oct 2008 21:17:37 CDT Starlight General/Off Topic http://www.ps3news.com/General_OffTopic/ps3-to-be-lead-format-for-skate-2-due-to-skate-1-criticisms/
Speaking to GAMER.tm recently, Black Box producer Jason DeLong confirmed that the PS3 version of Skate 2 would be the lead version of the game, after the PS3 version of Skate 1 was criticised for not being as good as its 360 counterpart.

"The PS3 has been our lead platform," DeLong confirmed. According to DeLong, this was due to "the PS3 version Skate not being as good as the 360 version," adding that it "was something we learned very quickly that we had to remedy on the second one."

Despite this, DeLong reckons gamers will be hard pushed to tell the difference. On the topic of whether there’ll be any noticeable differences between the two versions, DeLong said "not so much."

"We’re definitely been developing [both versions] in parity. The goal is that if you put both versions side-by-side, you will not be able to tell the difference."

So in a nutshell then, followers of both consoles will benefit. Skate 2 is due out sometime next year.]]> http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStationPortable/unofficial-fba4psp-wip-20081005-emulator-for-psp-released/ http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStationPortable/unofficial-fba4psp-wip-20081005-emulator-for-psp-released/ Mon, 06 Oct 2008 21:13:13 CDT Belenger PlayStation Portable http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStationPortable/unofficial-fba4psp-wip-20081005-emulator-for-psp-released/
Download: UnOfficial FBA4PSP 20081005 [Click Bar Button]

Here's the changelist:

- added wide screen support (SF3, SF3 - 2nd);
- added game region and screen mode saving into .ini file;
- since eeprom setting saving occurs only after reset, added reset option into emulator's menu.]]> http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/square-enix-set-to-underwhelm-ps3-owners-at-tgs-2008-1/ http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/square-enix-set-to-underwhelm-ps3-owners-at-tgs-2008-1/ Mon, 06 Oct 2008 21:07:29 CDT Starlight PlayStation 3 http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/square-enix-set-to-underwhelm-ps3-owners-at-tgs-2008-1/
Well, before the hype and anticipation starts, we'd like to say: nah.

Final Fantasy Union recently ran an article about what to expect, and as far as we can see, we'll have to look elsewhere for any super big announcements. While Square-Enix is bringing 25 titles to the show, only 6 of them have anything to do with the revered Final Fantasy franchise, and only 9 of the total 25 games on display will be playable.

One bit of good news is that this includes the upcoming Dissidia: Final Fantasy for the PSP, so handheld fans should be anticipating some new gameplay footage.

But beyond that, we likely won't see much in the way of new details or information concerning either Final Fantasy XIII or the still-PS3-exclusive, Final Fantasy Versus XIII. We also don't expect any new titles to be revealed, and to be brutally frank, this isn't what we wanted from Square-Enix at TGS 2008. Sure, PSP owners might be satisfied with Dissidia and Final Fantasy Agito XIII, but PS3 owners are going to be disappointed. Again.

So far in this generation, we've noticed a growing trend: PS3 fans haven't been happy with the news that typically comes from the Square-Enix camp, and RPG fans are starting to turn more towards other Japanese developers/publishers like Atlus and Level 5. We had really hoped Square-Enix would have something special for us at TGS 2008, to help restore a little faith... sadly, it seems we're going home empty-handed. Again.]]> http://www.ps3news.com/XBox360/will-the-xbox-360-survive-past-christmas-1/ http://www.ps3news.com/XBox360/will-the-xbox-360-survive-past-christmas-1/ Mon, 06 Oct 2008 21:01:57 CDT Starlight XBox 360 http://www.ps3news.com/XBox360/will-the-xbox-360-survive-past-christmas-1/
I guess that the headline should have read 'Will my Xbox 360 survive past Christmas?' given that I intend to use my own experience of Xbox 360 ownership to highlight that, no matter how hard Microsoft tries to convince the public differently, it just cannot seem to fix the hardware problems users of the Xbox 360 face.

Are you sitting comfortably? Great, then I will begin. My story starts almost exactly a year ago in October 2007, with a badgered father giving in to the requests of his son to buy an Xbox 360.

After doing some research, the newly released Xbox 360 Elite seemed to be the perfect choice as it was meant to have fixed the dreaded red rings of death problem. It was also black, and I like black gadgets when it comes to audio-visual stuff.

So it was that the considerable investment in the Xbox 360 took hold. There was the inevitable Halo 3, followed by Guitar Heroes in various flavours, some karaoke affairs, and ultimately a Rock Band. Along the way I fell into a serious GTA IV habit, I confess.

All was well in the Winder household. Even 'the wife' who never plays console games found herself absorbed in some CSI forensics fantasy or other. There can be no doubting that when it comes to game play, the Xbox 360 has it all.

Unfortunately, game play stumbles a tad when you have no console to play upon. And with just a couple of weeks of the original warranty left, the almost inevitable happened: three red rings of death.

Xbox support is called, collection of the dead device arranged and eventually the console is shipped off to Microsoft in Frankfurt, Germany for repair. In fact, having talked to a few people who had experienced the red rings problem, I was expecting a replacement with some other refurbished 360 Elite.

I wasn't expecting what I got, a couple of weeks later, when my original Xbox 360 was returned.

Just how badly had Microsoft screwed up, and what did their spokesman have to say about it when I revealed my journalist credentials and asked for an explanation?

The UPS man arrives with a big box, all seals intact, and I hurry away to open it and get the repaired Xbox 360 installed and running ready for the kids when they get back from school.

We have repaired your Xbox" the letter from Microsoft that accompanies it assures me. We are returning the system to you "so that you can continue to enjoy the exciting video game experience that Xbox offers" it says.

Apparently, so the letter tells me, the problem was associated with the motherboard and the "failing component has now been replaced and your Xbox game console has been tested extensively using both manual and computer diagnostics."

So far so good, indeed I am reassured by the fact that my console has "passed a rigorous two hour computer generated and monitored final test" to be sure it is in 100 percent working order.

What a shame that it rattles like someone has released a bag of marbles inside then. What a shame that when I connect it up and switch it on the Xbox 360 very quickly dies once more, this time with only two red rings. Perhaps I should be grateful that I am a red ring down?

I look it up, two red rings is an overheating problem. Not too surprising seeing as the fans do not fire up and it sounds as if something has come seriously adrift inside the box. The console is well and truly broken, so I must applaud it for passing that 'rigorous two hour test' before it came back.

OK, you might argue that it was UPS at fault. Perhaps they played football with it on the way back? But this left Microsoft encased within Microsoft approved packaging, firmly held inside the box in order to withstand the international journey.

Either the packaging is not sufficient for the journey, or the quality control at the Frankfurt repair centre is pants. Either way, Microsoft loses.

So where is the Xbox 360 now, how painful was my next support call and what did Microsoft have to say about all this?

There follows what can only be described as a painful call to Xbox support once more. Painful as the customer service chap refuses to believe it was sent back broken, and insists it is a power supply problem.

This despite the power supply working just fine, and the Xbox 360 console itself doing a great impression of a pair of maracas. This despite my surprisingly calm explanation of events explaining how it arrived back broken.

I then have to wait for another box to be sent for the return of both the console and the 'broken' power supply. As I write, I note that my Xbox was delivered to the Frankfurt repair centre this morning so I await the next exciting installment in the 'how to annoy customers and upset children' drama with interest.

Luckily for my kids, being a tech journalist and self-confessed hopeless early adopter, I had got hold of a Sony PS3 on launch day and funnily enough it has never as much as hiccuped with regards to technical troubles.

At least the kids can still play games while Microsoft plays games with their console.

Of course, I placed my journalist hat firmly on at this point and requested some answers to questions such as "What are you doing to resolve the red rings of death problem, beyond the
'we will repair it for three years' sticking plaster, considering it has been a known factor for so long now?" and "How can you explain a 'repaired' console arriving direct from Microsoft in a broken condition? Exactly what quality control processes are involved?"

Perhaps my favourite, though, was "Can you convince families that they should spend hard earned money on the Xbox 360, given the likelihood it will break within a year, when neither the
Wii nor PS3 suffer from similar problems?"

Want to know what Microsoft has to say about broken Xbox 360 consoles?

In response to my questioning, here is the official comment from a Microsoft spokesperson, received this very morning:

Prompted by what Microsoft viewed as an unacceptable number of repairs to Xbox 360 consoles, a year ago Microsoft announced an expansion of its Xbox 360 warranty."

"Effective July 5, 2007, any original retail Xbox 360 customer who experiences a general hardware failure indicated by three flashing red lights is covered by a three year warranty from date of purchase, with all other issues remaining covered by the standard one-year warranty."

The spokesperson continues "The company conducted extensive investigations into potential sources of general hardware failures and after identifying a number of factors which can cause the general hardware failures, Microsoft has made improvements to the console."

Apparently, Microsoft insists, "The three flashing red lights error message does not signal a single issue and can be caused by a combination of factors."

And concludes "We encourage anyone who is experiencing issues with their Xbox 360 console to call the customer support centre. Our customer service team is well equipped to ensure that all Xbox 360 repairs go smoothly."

I did point out that suggesting that "all Xbox 360 repairs go smoothly" when I was asking specifically about one that had not would appear to be a bit on the bizarre side, as far as sweeping statements go.

Microsoft may have made improvements to the console, all I can say is that they have not worked as far as this one year old Xbox 360 Elite is concerned.

To answer my original question, right now my Xbox 360 is most definitely not fit for purpose and I have huge doubts as to if it ever can be in the current hardware incarnation.

Perhaps the Xbox 720 will truly solve the problems. I will not find out, as my father always told me never to throw good money after bad. So with Christmas coming up, it looks like Santa will have a Nintendo Wii in his sack for me... !]]> http://www.ps3news.com/PC_Tech/sanity-check-five-reasons-why-windows-vista-failed-1/ http://www.ps3news.com/PC_Tech/sanity-check-five-reasons-why-windows-vista-failed-1/ Mon, 06 Oct 2008 20:59:06 CDT Starlight PC/Tech http://www.ps3news.com/PC_Tech/sanity-check-five-reasons-why-windows-vista-failed-1/
The public reputation of Windows Vista is in shambles, as Microsoft itself tacitly acknowledged in its Mojave ad campaign.

IT departments are largely ignoring Vista. In June (18 months after Vista’s launch), Forrester Research reported that just 8.8% of enterprise PCs worldwide were running Vista. Meanwhile, Microsoft appears to have put Windows 7 on an accelerated schedule that could see it released in 2010. That will provide IT departments with all the justification they need to simply skip Vista and wait to eventually standardize on Windows 7 as the next OS for business.

So how did Vista get left holding the bag? Let’s look at the five most important reasons why Vista failed.

5. Apple successfully demonized Vista

Apple’s clever I’m a Mac ads have successfully driven home the perception that Windows Vista is buggy, boring, and difficult to use. After taking two years of merciless pummeling from Apple, Microsoft recently responded with it’s I’m a PC campaign in order to defend the honor of Windows. This will likely restore some mojo to the PC and Windows brands overall, but it’s too late to save Vista’s perception as a dud.

4. Windows XP is too entrenched

In 2001, when Windows XP was released, there were about 600 million computers in use worldwide. Over 80% of them were running Windows but it was split between two code bases: Windows 95/98 (65%) and Windows NT/2000 (26%), according to IDC. One of the big goals of Windows XP was to unite the Windows 9x and Windows NT code bases, and it eventually accomplished that.

In 2008, there are now over 1.1 billion PCs in use worldwide and over 70% of them are running Windows XP. That means almost 800 million computers are running XP, which makes it the most widely installed operating system of all time. That’s a lot of inertia to overcome, especially for IT departments that have consolidated their deployments and applications around Windows XP.

And, believe it or not, Windows XP could actually increase its market share over the next couple years. How? Low-cost netbooks and nettops are going to be flooding the market. While these inexpensive machines are powerful enough to provide a solid Internet experience for most users, they don’t have enough resources to run Windows Vista, so they all run either Windows XP or Linux. Intel expects this market to explode in the years ahead. (For more on netbooks and nettops, see this fact sheet and this presentation - both are PDFs from Intel.)

3. Vista is too slow

For years Microsoft has been criticized by developers and IT professionals for "software bloat" - adding so many changes and features to its programs that the code gets huge and unwieldy. However, this never seemed to have enough of an effect to impact software sales. With Windows Vista, software bloat appears to have finally caught up with Microsoft.

Vista has over 50 million lines of code. XP had 35 million when it was released, and since then it has grown to about 40 million. This software bloat has had the effect of slowing down Windows Vista, especially when it’s running on anything but the latest and fastest hardware. Even then, the latest version of Windows XP soundly outperforms the latest version of Microsoft Vista. No one wants to use a new computer that is slower than their old one.

2. There wasn’t supposed to be a Vista

It’s easy to forget that when Microsoft launched Windows XP it was actually trying to change its OS business model to move away from shrink-wrapped software and convert customers to software subscribers. That’s why it abandoned the naming convention of Windows 95, Windows 98, and Windows 2000, and instead chose Windows XP.

The XP stood for "experience" and was part of Microsoft’s .NET Web services strategy at the time. The master plan was to get users and businesses to pay a yearly subscription fee for the Windows experience - XP would essentially be the on-going product name but would include all software upgrades and updates, as long as you paid for your subscription. Of course, it would disable Windows on your PC if you didn’t pay. That’s why product activation was coupled with Windows XP.

Microsoft released Windows XP and Office XP simultaneously in 2001 and both included product activation and the plan to eventually migrate to subscription products. However, by the end of 2001 Microsoft had already abandoned the subscription concept with Office, and quickly returned to the shrink-wrapped business model and the old product development model with both products.

The idea of doing incremental releases and upgrades of its software - rather than a major shrink-wrapped release every 3-5 years - was a good concept. Microsoft just couldn’t figure out how to make the business model work, but instead of figuring out how to get it right, it took the easy route and went back to an old model that was simply not very well suited to the economic and technical realities of today’s IT world.

1. It broke too much stuff

One of the big reasons that Windows XP caught on was because it had the hardware, software, and driver compatibility of the Windows 9x line plus the stability and industrial strength of the Windows NT line. The compatibility issue was huge. Having a single, highly-compatible Windows platform simplified the computing experience for users, IT departments, and software and hardware vendors.

Microsoft either forgot or disregarded that fact when it released Windows Vista, because, despite a long beta period, a lot of existing software and hardware were not compatible with Vista when it was released in January 2007. Since many important programs and peripherals were unusable in Vista, that made it impossible for a lot of IT departments to adopt it. Many of the incompatibilities were the result of tighter security.

After Windows was targeted by a nasty string of viruses, worms, and malware in the early 2000s, Microsoft embarked on the Trustworthy Computing initiative to make its products more secure. One of the results was Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2), which won over IT and paved the way for XP to become the world’s mostly widely deployed OS.

The other big piece of Trustworthy Computing was the even-further-locked-down version of Windows that Microsoft released in Vista. This was definitely the most secure OS that Microsoft had ever released but the price was user-hostile features such as UAC, a far more complicated set of security prompts that accompanied many basic tasks, and a host of software incompatibility issues. In order words, Vista broke a lot of the things that users were used to doing in XP.

Bottom line

There are some who argue that Vista is actually more widely adopted than XP was at this stage after its release, and that it’s highly likely that Vista will eventually replace XP in the enterprise. I don’t agree. With XP, there were clear motivations to migrate: bring Windows 9x machines to a more stable and secure OS and bring Windows NT/2000 machines to an OS with much better hardware and software compatibility. And, you also had the advantage of consolidating all of those machines on a single OS in order to simplify support.

With Vista, there are simply no major incentives for IT to use it over XP. Security isn’t even that big of an issue because XP SP2 (and above) are solid and most IT departments have it locked down quite well. As I wrote in the article Prediction: Microsoft will leapfrog Vista, release Windows 7 early, and change its OS business, Microsoft needs to abandon the strategy of releasing a new OS every 3-5 years and simply stick with a single version of Windows and release updates, patches, and new features on a regular basis. Most IT departments are essentially already on a subscription model with Microsoft so the business strategy is already in place there.

As far as the subscription model goes for small businesses and consumers, instead of disabling Windows on a user’s PC if they don’t renew their subscription, just don’t allow that machine to get any more updates until they renew. Microsoft could also work with OEMs to sell something like a three-year subscription to Windows with every a new PC. Then users would have the choice of renewing on their own after that.]]> http://www.ps3news.com/PS3Online/far-cry-2-playstation-3-trophies-announced/ http://www.ps3news.com/PS3Online/far-cry-2-playstation-3-trophies-announced/ Mon, 06 Oct 2008 20:54:03 CDT wicked insanity PS3 Online http://www.ps3news.com/PS3Online/far-cry-2-playstation-3-trophies-announced/
• Stickin it to the man: Kill a Faction Captain in Leboa-Sako - the Northern Territory
• Wages of Conflict: Aquire all conflict diamonds in the game available through payment or exploration
• Making friends: Save a Buddy from captivity
• The best laid plans: Work with a Buddy to subvert a mission offered by a faction
• Wanderer: Find all the Safe Houses in Leboa-Sako - the Northern Territory
• Orienteer: Find all the Safe Houses in Bowa-Seko - the Southern Territory
• Investigative Reporter: Turn over the first set of the Jackal's audio logs to the Journalist
• Messenger: Complete all the available Underground side-quests in both the North and the South
• Supply: Unlock new weapons by hitting a Convoy
• On the run: Escape the Town
• Down but not out: Escape to Bowa-Seko - the Southern Territory
• Weapon Specialist: Purchase the manuals and acquire the bandolier for one weapon
• Bagman: Deliver stamped travel documents to the Underground in exchange for medicine
• Lineman: Complete a Mission intercepted from a cellular tower signal
• Dawa ya moto ni moto: Break the ceasefire and reignite the conflict
• Lent a hand: Complete a Buddy side quest
• Out of the frying pan: Get rescued by a Buddy
• Dr Livingston, I presume: Enter every 1 square kilometer map region of the world
• Pulitzer material: Turn over all of the Jackal's audio logs to the Journalist
• Weapons Expert: Purchase the manuals and acquire the bandoliers for every weapon
• Playing both sides: Switch sides in Leboa-Sako - the Northern Territory
• ...against the middle: Switch sides in Bowa-Seko - the Southern Territory
• ...and demand: Unlock all weapons by hitting every Convoy
• Prison escape: Escape torture at the old slave outpost
• Last man standing: Wipe out the senior leadership of both Factions and determine who will be the new Warlords
• Into the fire: Save a Buddy from a mortal wound
• The third faction: Rescue all the Buddies from their respective predicaments
• Ruthless: Subvert all the main faction missions in Leboa-Sako - the
Northern Territory
• Cold Blooded: Subvert all the main faction missions in Bowa-Seko - the Southern Territory
• Utility Man: Complete all Missions intercepted from cellular tower signals
• Good night sweet prince: Comfort a Buddy and ease his passing
• Heart of Darkness: Enter the Heart of Darkness
• The horror... the horror...: Resolve your conflict with the Jackal to facilitate the exodus
• First Response Team: Get highest revives count in a ranked match
• Hired Gun: Reach Rank 5 (Ranked Match)
• Superior Captain: Win a round as the Captain in Uprising mode (Ranked Match)
• Best in Class: Get highest xp total in one match (Ranked Match
• War Party: Win a match with 16 players (Ranked Match)
• Upgraded Player: Upgrade one class 3 times (Ranked Match)
• Safari Tour: Play at least one full round in every Official Map (Ranked Match)
• Battle Hardened: Play at least one full round in every Game Mode (Ranked Match)
• Professional: Reach Rank 10 (Ranked Match)
• Mercenary: Reach Rank 20 (Ranked Match)
• Field Hospital: Get 500 revives (Ranked Match)
• Warlord: Achieve Rank 30 (Ranked Match)
• Soldier of Misfortune: Unlock field manuals for all weapons (Ranked match)
• Mapper: Create a map and get it validated in all game modes
• Adventurer: Download and rate 25 usermaps
• Iron-guts: Earn the highest honors

Looking forward to it! :)]]> http://www.ps3news.com/PS3Online/grand-theft-auto-iv-trophy-list-finally-available/ http://www.ps3news.com/PS3Online/grand-theft-auto-iv-trophy-list-finally-available/ Mon, 06 Oct 2008 20:43:49 CDT wicked insanity PS3 Online http://www.ps3news.com/PS3Online/grand-theft-auto-iv-trophy-list-finally-available/
Hopefully this will encourage many of you to dig out the game and go get lost in Liberty City once more!

The list is as follows:

• Platinum
Taking A Liberty
Sorry for taking liberties with your time!

• Bronze
Off The Boat
You have completed the first mission.

• Bronze
One Hundred And Eighty
You scored 180 with 3 darts.

• Bronze
Pool Shark
You beat a friend at pool.

• Bronze
King of QUB3D
You beat the high score in QUB3D.

• Bronze
Finish Him
You completed 10 melee counters in 4 minutes.

• Bronze
Genetically Superior
You came first in 20 singleplayer street races.

• Bronze
Wheelie Rider
You completed a 500 foot wheelie on a motorbike.

• Bronze
Gobble Gobble
You got a turkey in 10-pin bowling.

• Bronze
Driving Mr. Bellic
You unlocked the special ability of Roman's taxi.

• Bronze
Rolled Over
You managed 5 car rolls in a row from one crash.

• Bronze
Walk Free
You successfully lost a 4 star wanted rating.

• Bronze
Courier Service
You completed all 10 package delivery jobs.

• Bronze
Retail Therapy
You unlocked the special ability of buying guns from Little Jacob.

• Bronze
Chain Reaction
You exploded 10 vehicles in 10 seconds.

• Silver
One Man Army
You survived a 6 star wanted level for a full 5 minutes.

• Bronze
Lowest Point
You completed the mission "Roman's Sorrow".

• Bronze
Order Fulfilled
You completed all 10 Exotic Export orders.

• Bronze
Manhunt
You completed the most wanted side mission.

• Bronze
Cleaned The Mean Streets
You caught 20 criminals through the police computer.

• Bronze
Fed The Fish
You completed the mission "Uncle Vlad".

• Bronze
It'll Cost Ya
You made a taxi trip from one island to another without skipping.

• Bronze
Sightseer
You have taken all variations of the helicopter tours of Liberty City.

• Bronze
Warm Coffee
You were invited into your girlfriend's house.

• Bronze
That's How We Roll!
You unlocked the special ability of Brucie's helicopter ride.

• Bronze
Half Million
You have amassed a fortune of $500,000.

• Bronze
Impossible Trinity
You completed the mission "Museum Piece".

• Bronze
Full Exploration
You unlocked all the islands.

• Bronze
You Got The Message
You delivered all 30 cars ordered through text message.

• Silver
Dare Devil
You completed all the unique stunt jumps.

• Bronze
Assassin's Greed
You completed all 9 assassin missions.

• Silver
Endangered Species
You collected every hidden package in the game.

• Bronze
Under The Radar
You flew under all the main bridges in the game.

• Bronze
Dial B For Bomb
You unlocked the special ability of Packie's car bomb placement.

• Bronze
Gracefully Taken
You completed the mission "I'll Take Her".

• Silver
Liberty City (5)
Your friends all like you above 90%.

• Bronze
No More Strangers
You've met all the random characters.

• Bronze
That Special Someone
You completed the mission "That Special Someone".

• Silver
You Won!
You have completed the story.

• Gold
Liberty City Minute
You finished the story in less than 30 hours.

• Gold
Key To The City
You completed GTA IV to 100%.

• Bronze
Teamplayer
You killed 5 opposing team members.

• Bronze
Cut Your Teeth
You were successfully promoted up a rank in multiplayer.

• Bronze
Join The Midnight Club
You won a multiplayer race without damaging your vehicle too much.

• Bronze
Fly The Co-op
You completed "Deal Breaker", "Hangman's NOOSE" and "Bomb da Base II" in time.

• Bronze
Taking It For The Team
You were on the winning team in all multiplayer team games.

• Bronze
Top Of The Food Chain
You successfully killed 20 players with a pistol in a deathmatch.

• Bronze
Top The Midnight Club
You won 20 different multiplayer standard races.

• Gold
Wanted
You achieved the highest personal rank possible in multiplayer.

• Bronze
Auf Wiedersehen Petrovic
You won in all variations of multiplayer games.

• Bronze
Let Sleeping Rockstars Lie
You killed a Rockstar in multiplayer.

Rumor has it they will be available sometime in December.]]> http://www.ps3news.com/PS3Online/next-killzone-2-beta-to-be-even-more-open-to-the-public-1/ http://www.ps3news.com/PS3Online/next-killzone-2-beta-to-be-even-more-open-to-the-public-1/ Mon, 06 Oct 2008 20:37:09 CDT wicked insanity PS3 Online http://www.ps3news.com/PS3Online/next-killzone-2-beta-to-be-even-more-open-to-the-public-1/
Her response wasn't what I hoped for, but I found out some important info regarding the third phase of the games BETA testing. Yvonne Says:

"Good Morning Paddy,

The current beta testing phase, is the second of three and is not open to the public; phase three will be a lot more open so please keep an eye on our forums and www.killzone.com for news,

Kind regards,

Yvonne Von Berg"

So keep active on Killzone.com and their forums to have a chance at getting into the third phase of the BETA, and hopefully an opportunity to destroy the Helghast menace before the games release in 2009.

More info soon on Killzone 2's trophys and gameplay features as it develops.]]> http://www.ps3news.com/PS3Online/more-burnout-paradise-trophies-in-upcoming-eastwood-update/ http://www.ps3news.com/PS3Online/more-burnout-paradise-trophies-in-upcoming-eastwood-update/ Mon, 06 Oct 2008 20:32:27 CDT wicked insanity PS3 Online http://www.ps3news.com/PS3Online/more-burnout-paradise-trophies-in-upcoming-eastwood-update/
Also if you look closely you'll notice they say "Packs".. does that mean there will be more updates after Eastwood? How much more can Criterion add to this game?!

To quote: In a spectacular week of support for PlayStation 3 Paradise fans, we released our highly anticipated Burnout Bikes Pack (bringing a stack of new gameplay to Paradise City), the PSN version of the game (that's right, you can now buy Burnout Paradise on the PlayStation Store) and our PlayStation 3 Trophy Support Pack.

Here on the team, we're playing through Paradise picking up the wealth of trophies, and we know plenty of our fans have already blasted through and collected everything. How many have you got?

For all the detail, check out our comprehensive trophy list, and look out for announcements of new Burnout Paradise Gameplay Packs coming soon. All our packs will give you the chance to collect more Trophies.]]> http://www.ps3news.com/PS3Online/mirrors-edge-playstation-network-demo-delayed/ http://www.ps3news.com/PS3Online/mirrors-edge-playstation-network-demo-delayed/ Mon, 06 Oct 2008 20:25:27 CDT wicked insanity PS3 Online http://www.ps3news.com/PS3Online/mirrors-edge-playstation-network-demo-delayed/
However, being fed up with doing the same old thing, they've been hard at developing cyberpunk FPR, (First Person Runner), Mirrors Edge for PS3, Xbox 360 and P.C.

Last week rumors on the net began to surface, regarding the release of a Mirror's Edge demo onto the PSN. We were all quite disappointed last Thursday when this turned out to be nothing more than open speculation.

BUT... There is a demo of Mirrors Edge... And it is coming to you...

On November 2nd unfortunately, just one week prior to the game's North American release date of November 11th. Still it's better to at least know that it is on the way, than to be endlessly wondering.

Gives me a bit more time to get back into shape if i'm gonna be running everywhere!]]> http://www.ps3news.com/PS3Online/resistance-2-trophies-list-revealed-1/ http://www.ps3news.com/PS3Online/resistance-2-trophies-list-revealed-1/ Mon, 06 Oct 2008 20:21:46 CDT wicked insanity PS3 Online http://www.ps3news.com/PS3Online/resistance-2-trophies-list-revealed-1/
• Rampage!
Kill 40 hybrids in the Single Player Campaign.

• Covert Ops
Collect 5 pieces of Intel in the Single Player Campaign.

• Secret: Recycler
Defeat the Goliath in the Single Player Campaign.

• Secret: Fried Calamari
Defeat the Kraken in the Single Player Campaign.

• Secret: Exterminator
Defeat the Mother Spinner in the Single Player Campaign.

• Secret: Flyswatter
Defeat the Swarm in the Single Player Campaign.

• Secret: The Bigger They Are
Defeat the Leviathan in the Single Player Campaign.

• Secret: Big Game Hunter
Defeat the Marauder in the Single Player Campaign.

• Nowhere to Hide
Tag and kill 30 enemies with the Bullseye in the Single Player Campaign.

• Sharpshooter
Get 30 headshots while scoped in with the Fareye or Marksman in the Single Player Campaign.

• Explosives Expert
Get 150 kills with the Carbine 40mm, LAARK, or Frag Grenade in the Single Player Campaign.

• They Go "Boom"
Get 30 kills with the Magnum secondary fire in the Single Player Campaign.

• Pyromaniac
Set 100 enemies of fire with the Bellock Semi-Automic, Air-Fuel Grenade, Spider Grenade, or environmental hazard in the Single Player Campaign.

• Spitting Lead
Kill 50 enemies using the Wraith with the force barrier engaged in the Single Player Campaign.

• I See You
Kill 50 enemies through solid matter with the Auger in the Single Player Campaign.

• Talk To The Hand
Use the Auger force barrier to stop 150 incoming enemy shots in the single player Campaign.

• For Close Encounters
Get 10 one-hit head-shot kills with the Shotgun in the Single Player Campaign.

• Pincushion
Get 50 kills with the Hedgehog in the Single Player Campaign.

• Up Close and Personal
Get 50 melee kills with any weapon in the Single Player Campaign.

• Wrecking Machine
Destroy 40 vehicles in the Single Player Campaign.

• Mind Your Surroundings
Get 50 indirect kills using explosive objects in levels in the Single Player Campaign.

• Salute Me
Achieve the rank of Lieutenant.

• Exotic Weapon Collector
Get 20 kills with each weapon in the Single Player Campaign.

• Master Spy
Collect all the Intel documents in the Single Player Campaign.

• Snipe Hunt
Kill 30 Spinners in the Single Player Campaign.

• Xenocide
Kill 1000 enemies in the Single Player Campaign.

• Secret: R.I.P. Jordan Shepherd
Defeat Daedalus, Complete the Single Player Campaign.

• Secret: OMGWTFBBQ
Complete the Single Player Campaign on Superhuman.

• Berserker
Use every berserk at least once in Online Competitive Multiplayer.

• Point Man
Earn 1 million XP from ranked games in online Competitive mode.

• Killing Machine
Score 10,000 kills in ranked matches in Online Competitive Multiplayer.

• Specter Recon
Collect 50 pieces of gray tech in the Cooperative Campaign.

• Specter Initiate
Complete 20 missions in the Cooperative Campaign.

• Team Player
Complete 5 missions with a full party of 8 in the Cooperative Campaign.

• Tour of Duty
Complete one mission on each region in the Cooperative Campaign.

• Specter Officer
Reach max level (35) with one class in the Cooperative Campaign.

• Primarch Hunter
Kill 200 Elite Chimerans in the Cooperative Campaign.

• Specter Intel
Collect all Intel in the Cooperative Campaign.

• Secret: Platinum Trophy
Obtain all Gold, Silver, and Bronze Trophies for Resistance 2™

• Secret: Recycler (bronze)
Defeat the Goliath in the Single Player Campaign.

• Secret: Fried Calamari (bronze)
Defeat the Kraken in the Single Player Campaign.

• Secret: Exterminator (bronze)
Defeat the Mother Spinner in the Single Player Campaign.

• Secret: Flyswatter (bronze)
Defeat the Swarm in the Single Player Campaign.

• Secret: The Bigger They Are (bronze)
Defeat the Leviathan in the Single Player Campaign.

• Secret: Big Game Hunter (bronze)
Defeat the Marauder in the Single Player Campaign.

• Secret: R.I.P. Jordan Shepherd (Silver)
Defeat Daedalus, Complete the Single Player Campaign.

• Secret: OMGWTFBBQ (Silver)
Complete the Single Player Campaign on Superhuman.]]> http://www.ps3news.com/PS3Dev/newer-ps3s-go-to-128mb-flash-from-512mb-hdd-storage-used/ http://www.ps3news.com/PS3Dev/newer-ps3s-go-to-128mb-flash-from-512mb-hdd-storage-used/ Sun, 05 Oct 2008 22:01:39 CDT CJPC PS3 Dev http://www.ps3news.com/PS3Dev/newer-ps3s-go-to-128mb-flash-from-512mb-hdd-storage-used/
The item that peaked his interest the most was that it had one single 56-pin Flash chip, the S29GL128N90TFIR2, and was 128MB in size in contrast to older PS3 consoles utilizing dual (2x256MB) 48-pin chips totaling 512MB. So, he bought a new adapter, and some blank chips and proceeded to pull the 56-pin flash, and dumped it.

To our surprise, he was unable to dump more than 16MB of it! At first, we believed that the other blocks in the flash were protected via password, however there was something else brewing.

He took the 16MB dump that was made and flashed it onto a completly blank chip, and reinstalled it in the PS3.

To our surprise, it worked!

Now, if you recall, newer version PS3 Firmwares have asked for a PUP file after formatting/inserting a larger HDD - This may be why! After flashing back just the 16MB of data, it also asked for a PUP file. So, the PUP was given, it installed the missing files fine, and then booted.

Basically, the system is now storing the majority of the flash contents on the hard disk drive, away from prying eyes. Even on a PS3 TEST console, the areas where the files would be are protected, so they can not be accessed.

This was also true when we wiped the 80GB's HDD, it again asked for the PUP. So, it would seem that the base system is now stored on the flash, and all of the SPRX's, XMB files, and other data is now fully stored on the HDD.

So the question is, why?

Was it just cheaper to replace the flash with a smaller one, or was it a security decision? Were we getting too close to uncovering something on the flash that could lead to a hack in the system?

We don't know yet, but we are still working at it - more to come, including details on the PS3's Service Mode!]]> http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/worldwide-ps3-releases-for-the-week-of-october-5th-2008/ http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/worldwide-ps3-releases-for-the-week-of-october-5th-2008/ Sun, 05 Oct 2008 20:54:38 CDT Starlight PlayStation 3 http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/worldwide-ps3-releases-for-the-week-of-october-5th-2008/
Well the full game is out this week in both the US and Europe and, unless you're a European lego fan with vigilante tendencies, that's pretty much it. Oh, except for basketball. Lots of basketball. Here's the full release list:

US Games
Fracture
NBA 2K9
NBA Live 2009
NBA 09: The Inside

EU Games
Lego Batman
Fracture
NBA 2K9
NBA Live 09

Asian Games
NBA 09: The Inside
NBA Live 09
Guitar Hero III
Guitar Hero Aerosmith

Release dates are constantly subject to change, so be sure to check with your local retailer before making any sudden moves. Your PS3 will play games from any region, so go ahead and import anything you see above.

Do be aware that DLC is locked to specific regions, though, so European games will require DLC from the Euro PSN Store. You may also be interested to know that NBA 09: The Inside is the only NBA game to support trophies.]]> http://www.ps3news.com/PS3Online/win-one-of-500-resistance-2-premier-beta-codes-1/ http://www.ps3news.com/PS3Online/win-one-of-500-resistance-2-premier-beta-codes-1/ Sun, 05 Oct 2008 20:52:57 CDT Starlight PS3 Online http://www.ps3news.com/PS3Online/win-one-of-500-resistance-2-premier-beta-codes-1/
As a special bonus to GamePro's August Resistance 2 issue, starting this Monday, October 6, users will have a special chance to win access into the Resistance 2 Public BETA.

We'll be giving away 500 Premier passes to the Resistance 2 BETA, which provides you the chance to try out the new online multiplayer features in Resistance 2 (including the 8-player class-based online co-op and up-to-60-players competitive multiplayer features).

Watch this page on Monday morning because we'll open up the contest page, where you can enter for your chance to win. And as promised, readers and subscribers who hung onto the Resistance 2 August GamePro magazine will have an extra chance to win.

More details to come on Monday. Only registered 18-years or older GamePro.com users are eligible to enter and win.

New users can register here.

See you on Monday!]]> http://www.ps3news.com/XBox360/video-halo-wars-world-exclusive-beasley-gameplay/ http://www.ps3news.com/XBox360/video-halo-wars-world-exclusive-beasley-gameplay/ Sun, 05 Oct 2008 20:48:39 CDT PS3 News XBox 360 http://www.ps3news.com/XBox360/video-halo-wars-world-exclusive-beasley-gameplay/
The caption simply reads as follows:

"Beasley Plateau calls--conquer it."

Video is below, enjoy!

40808]]> http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/forget-the-ps4-rumors-playstation-3-will-keep-us-busy-for-years-1/ http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/forget-the-ps4-rumors-playstation-3-will-keep-us-busy-for-years-1/ Sun, 05 Oct 2008 20:48:26 CDT Starlight PlayStation 3 http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/forget-the-ps4-rumors-playstation-3-will-keep-us-busy-for-years-1/ PlayStation 4 coming out soon and all the mind blowing possibilities of the theoretically new console.

I could barely afford the PS3 much less worry about what its going to cost for a PS4. But, based on what Paul Holman (Sony Vice President of Technology) told TechEBlog in 2006, the PS4 will not be out until at least 2010.

Then there’s the rumor that the future PS4 will use the same existing cell processor that the current PS3 uses, according to a Japanese tech news site PC Watch. I’m not sure about that because if this rumor does prove to be true, I’d be sorely disappointed.

For the most part, why invest in all these upgrades for the PS3 coming out soon only to purchase a PS4 which as we experienced with the PS3, having limited to no backwards playability again?

They just came out with a PS3 Bluetooth headset for the console, not to mention a possible controller that will function like the controllers of a Wii.

Sony is still upgrading the PS3, and making it more backwards compatible for those of us still clinging to our PS2 to play our favorites.]]> http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/2k-games-bioshock-demo-texture-an-exception-full-game-fine/ http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/2k-games-bioshock-demo-texture-an-exception-full-game-fine/ Sun, 05 Oct 2008 20:32:40 CDT PS3 News PlayStation 3 http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/2k-games-bioshock-demo-texture-an-exception-full-game-fine/
2K Elizabeth, a 2K Community Manager has commented on the matter by stating that there is an instance where the demo's texture doesn't look too good at all, but this is just an exception and the full game does look amazing on the PS3.

To quote: Hey guys,

First, I want to thank you for the acute attention to detail and the Spartan level of expectation our most devoted BioShock fans hold us to, and how excited you are and attentive to the BioShock PS3 demo. When we saw a post asking about issues found in the demo, we jumped on it immediately. And you know what, you're right.

The texture in the PS3 demo of the downed Big Daddy does not match our level of quality either. This slipped by. We admit it.

However, I want to assure you that this is an exception, and not a rule, and while I regret this oversight, we put a lot of love into making this game look amazing for the PS3 and I'm sure that when you play the rest of the demo you will agree that the textures are not all like this one instance.

As for the other issues and concerns, we are currently diligently working to replicate any bugs, and will report back to you with what we find. Thank you for your vigilance here and moving forward.]]> http://www.ps3news.com/NintendoWii/rumor-world-favorite-nintendo-wii-is-going-hd-1/ http://www.ps3news.com/NintendoWii/rumor-world-favorite-nintendo-wii-is-going-hd-1/ Sun, 05 Oct 2008 20:32:40 CDT Starlight Nintendo Wii http://www.ps3news.com/NintendoWii/rumor-world-favorite-nintendo-wii-is-going-hd-1/
Though no official announcement has yet been made despite numerous rumors, games developers in Japan have been given top secret briefings on the next-generation console, thought to be named Wii HD.

The new console will support high-definition graphics, bringing it in line with Sony's PS3 and Microsoft's Xbox 360 and will likely debut in late 2011.

The Wii HD is also rumored to feature a high-capacity hard drive for the storage and streaming of digital content such as music and video. Meanwhile, Nintendo has unveiled its new hand-held games machine, the DSi.

A successor to the company's hit Nintendo DS portable games unit (pictured left), the new DSi has two cameras and can play digital music.

It is 12 per cent slimmer than the current model DS and has a slightly bigger screen at 3.25 inches. An SD slot has also been added for storage of photos and, potentially, games. The DSi will be released in Japan on November 1 and cost about $225, but it will not be in shops here until late next year.

The current model DS is the best-selling portable games console on the market, with more than 50 million units sold globally (one million in Australia).]]> http://www.ps3news.com/XBox360/sainsburys-drops-xbox-360-arcade-price-sadly-not-for-usa/ http://www.ps3news.com/XBox360/sainsburys-drops-xbox-360-arcade-price-sadly-not-for-usa/ Sun, 05 Oct 2008 19:32:41 CDT kinglewis XBox 360 http://www.ps3news.com/XBox360/sainsburys-drops-xbox-360-arcade-price-sadly-not-for-usa/
The Supermarket chain is also selling the 60GB version of the console for £139.97, but does not stock the Elite 360.

The company is offering a similar deal on its Nintendo Wiis, pricing the console at £149.97, a reduction of £30, until next Sunday.

Hopefully similar US pricedrops will follow soon.]]> http://www.ps3news.com/PS3Online/bioshock-on-psn-full-version-scheduled-for-october-21-2008/ http://www.ps3news.com/PS3Online/bioshock-on-psn-full-version-scheduled-for-october-21-2008/ Sun, 05 Oct 2008 19:24:13 CDT kinglewis PS3 Online http://www.ps3news.com/PS3Online/bioshock-on-psn-full-version-scheduled-for-october-21-2008/ earlier this week.

The full version of the game is scheduled for release in retail stores and online October 21, that’s only 17 days away!

Bioshock for PS3 has supposedly been improved from the Xbox 360 version, although according to 2k senior producer Melissa Miller not on the graphics level. Some additions include a new "Survivor" mode where enemies are more difficult to defeat, PS3 Trophy support, and new plasmid powers.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with BioShock, it was designed by Ken Levine of 2K Games and released for XBox 360 and PC in August ‘07.

The game is set in 1960 and follows plane crash survivor Jack who explores the underwater world of Rapture. There he must face attacks by mutants and mechanical drones.

Have you tried it yet? If so, share your comments below!]]> http://www.ps3news.com/XBox360/gears-of-war-2-they-want-you-dead-horde-gameplay-video/ http://www.ps3news.com/XBox360/gears-of-war-2-they-want-you-dead-horde-gameplay-video/ Sun, 05 Oct 2008 18:55:14 CDT takavach XBox 360 http://www.ps3news.com/XBox360/gears-of-war-2-they-want-you-dead-horde-gameplay-video/
Those baddies want you dead, and they will stop at nothing to get to you. One of the attendees at E for All captured some amateur footage of the horde gameplay, and I must say that this November I will be one busy gamer. Be sure to watch some juicy four player horde co-op below!

274399]]>