http://www.ps3news.com PS3 NEWS - PlayStation 3 News - PS3News - PS3News.com - PS3 Games - PS3 Hacks - PS3 Homebrew - PS3 Linux Tue, 02 Dec 2008 03:06:44 CST en http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/heavy-rain-developer-interview-new-screens-for-playstation-3/ http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/heavy-rain-developer-interview-new-screens-for-playstation-3/ Tue, 02 Dec 2008 03:06:44 CST takavach PlayStation 3 http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/heavy-rain-developer-interview-new-screens-for-playstation-3/
Of course, screenshots have the ability to speak just fine for themselves. Make sure to visit the source (linked above) to see them all. Below is an excerpt from the interview:

1UP: You warned against reading too much into the taxidermist scene, but does that scene suggest Heavy Rain's themes might be more rooted in reality than Indigo Prophecy's?

DC: Definitely. We tend to believe in our industry that we need to tell simplistic or spectacular stories, where the hero saves the world, destroys evil, or has supernatural powers. This is because the videogame, as a medium, has been too immature to tell complex and subtle stories. I made this mistake myself at the end of [Indigo Prophecy], where I felt my story needed something spectacular because all I had so far was normal people leading a normal life.

I realized that the "normal" part was the one that worked the best, and that it wasn't necessary to save the world to tell something exciting anymore. Heavy Rain will be about normal people in real life, and I believe it'll be much more emotionally involving, as gamers will easily relate to the situations and characters. This is a new approach. In Heavy Rain, you won't be a superhero or a gangster. You'll just be someone real.

1UP: How do you determine which actions players will perform with the right analog stick and which they'll perform with physical controller movements?

DC: We use the Sixaxis motion controller for violent actions requiring you to push, hit, or kick in general. Our approach to interface is really based on emulating the character's moves on the controller. We want to make the player feel the same way as his character onscreen.

1UP: Will players use the PS3 controller's face buttons for anything?

DC: We don't use them for the moment, apart from action sequences. We don't feel we need them for the moment.

Finally, one of Heavy Rain's biggest mysteries is how the game handles death. Cage has said that it's possible for the game to continue after you die, but he's stopped short of saying how that works.

In our interview, he more or less confirmed part of one theory, however. When asked if there would be multiple playable characters in the game, he said, "I cannot answer this question at this stage... but if you know a little bit about my previous games, you can probably guess."]]> http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/marketing-head-to-share-how-sony-realized-new-revenue-routes/ http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/marketing-head-to-share-how-sony-realized-new-revenue-routes/ Mon, 01 Dec 2008 20:06:15 CST PS3 News PlayStation 3 http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/marketing-head-to-share-how-sony-realized-new-revenue-routes/
Press Release: PALO ALTO, CA--(Marketwire - December 1, 2008) - The Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) Council announced today that Peter Dille, Senior Vice President of Marketing and PLAYSTATION® Network for Sony Computer Entertainment America, will be a keynote speaker at its CMO Summit on December 10 and 11 in Monterey, California.

Dille will speak to the CMO Summit theme of "Routes to Revenue" drawing on his experience in creating new audiences, building deeper connections with core game players, developing digital channels and creating new sources of revenue in a highly competitive marketplace.

Dille is a 20-year marketing veteran with over 15 years in the gaming industry, including playing a pivotal role in the launch of the original PlayStation console in 1995. Dille is responsible for all facets of SCEA's marketing efforts in North America, including PlayStation® brand management, hardware and software marketing, advertising, channel marketing & events, corporate communications and promotions.

In addition, Dille oversees the PLAYSTATION® Network in North America, which is responsible for driving SCEA's online gaming strategy, including digital commerce and free online connectivity for online gaming and multiple modes of communication.

Dille joins an impressive line up of marketing gurus, experts and practitioners who will be addressing the attendees selected from marketing's elite. Keynote speakers include:

- Colin Shearer, Senior Vice President of Market Strategy, SPSS Inc.
- Dr. Ralf Strauss, Head of CRM Marketing & CRM Global Product Management, SAP Germany
- Deborah Holt, Vice President of Marketing, Ciao Bella Gelato
- Richard Owen, President and CEO, Satmetrix
- Murli Buluswar, Vice President, Insight And Innovation (I&I), Farmers Insurance
- Michael Tchong, Trend Analyst, Ubercool
- Mike Dee, COO, Boston Red Sox & President, Fenway Sports Group (FSG)

The CMO Council Summit (www.cmosummit.org) is the premier networking and thought leadership event in marketing and the official peer-to-peer networking event for the CMO Council (www.cmocouncil.org), an organization of more than 3,500 global marketers, controlling more than $100 billion in combined annual marketing spend.

Invitees across both the B-to-B and B-to-C market sectors will be invited to attend this exclusive retreat to network with peers and tap into this global network of insight, access and influence.]]> http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/in-game-advertiser-double-fusion-strengthens-its-ps3-portfolio/ http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/in-game-advertiser-double-fusion-strengthens-its-ps3-portfolio/ Mon, 01 Dec 2008 19:47:24 CST PS3 News PlayStation 3 http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/in-game-advertiser-double-fusion-strengthens-its-ps3-portfolio/
Press Release: SAN FRANCISCO- December 1, 2008- Leading independent in-game advertising company Double Fusion has strengthened its PLAYSTATION®3 portfolio by securing exclusive advertising opportunities with the world's top videogame publishers, including THQ, SEGA, Eidos and Midway.

The announcement comes during a record-breaking sales year for the videogames business, which propelled Double Fusion's high double-digit revenue growth. The company continues to pave the way for advertisers looking to reach young consumers in an increasingly challenged and fragmented media landscape by offering immersive in-game marketing programmes available nowhere else.

"One only has to look at the recent videogame sales figures to realise that games are the one form of entertainment consumers don't want to live without," states Jonathan Epstein, president and CEO, Double Fusion."We are pleased to partner with and provide incremental revenue opportunities to game publishers by offering advertisers a variety of hand-selected cross-genre games we know will be a hit with gamers and the marketers looking to reach them."

The partnerships underscore Double Fusion's commitment to offer advertisers and agency partners the broadest possible range of advertising opportunities across all demographics. Double Fusion's full-service solution, including sales, marketing, integration consulting, and enabling technology provides game publishers increased opportunities for revenue while strengthening their core business of game titles appealing to 18-34 year old male consumers.

Developers and publishers interested in learning more about increasing per-title revenues through integrated and dynamic ad placement opportunities on PLAYSTATION®3 should contact business@doublefusion.com.]]> http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/uncharted-2-among-thieves-video-teaser-and-ps3-details/ http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/uncharted-2-among-thieves-video-teaser-and-ps3-details/ Mon, 01 Dec 2008 18:43:53 CST wicked insanity PlayStation 3 http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/uncharted-2-among-thieves-video-teaser-and-ps3-details/
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves features Nathan Drake returning with a whole new adventure which revolves around the 13th century explorer Marco Polo and his voyages.

The new PlayStation 3 title will add a free climbing mechanic and stealth gameplay. Players can also expect all-new locations, characters and a focus on the game's story.

Check out the cool announcment video teaser below from VGA 2008, courtesy of GameTrailers. Enjoy!

43232]]> http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/global-playstation-3-releases-for-the-week-of-november-30-2008/ http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/global-playstation-3-releases-for-the-week-of-november-30-2008/ Sun, 30 Nov 2008 23:46:02 CST PS3 News PlayStation 3 http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/global-playstation-3-releases-for-the-week-of-november-30-2008/
We've been looking forward to this one for quite some time, so hopefully it'll live up to expectations. Here's the full release list:

US Games
- SingStar ABBA
- Prince of Persia (free Limited Edition upgrade)

EU Games
- Prince of Persia
- Brain Challenge

Asian Games
- Brain Challenge
- Prince of Persia
- Pro Yakyuu Spirits 5 Kanzenban
- Saints Row 2

PS3 games are region free, so go ahead and import any games you fancy. Try to keep in mind, however, that DLC is always region locked. So your US game will only read content downloaded from the US PSN Store.

Finally, Prince of Persia has been confirmed to have DLC coming in the future. Release dates are constantly subject to change, so check with your local retailer if you have any worries.]]> http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/is-blockbuster-video-the-playstation-3s-answer-to-netflix/ http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/is-blockbuster-video-the-playstation-3s-answer-to-netflix/ Sun, 30 Nov 2008 23:25:33 CST Starlight PlayStation 3 http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/is-blockbuster-video-the-playstation-3s-answer-to-netflix/
Sony and Blockbuster have some history together already. You may recall that Blockbuster was one of the first retailers in North America that they were going to be supporting Blu-ray on a much bigger scale than HD DVD. That announcement really got the ball rolling in Blu-ray's favor at the time.

Fast forward a year and we have Netflix signing streaming deals with every manufacturer they can find including an exclusive game console deal with Microsoft. Netflix has signed deals with TiVo Inc, Samsung, LG Electronics.

Now comes word from Blockbuster that, in the wake of their launch of Blockbuster OnDemand, they are actively seeking a partnership with Blu-ray player manufacturers. With Samsung and LG already in Netflix's corner, could this lead Blockbuster to seek out Sony as a BD player/game console entry into the market?

Unlike Netflix's "Watch Instantly" feature, the Blockbuster on-demand service will be open to customers who do not subscribe to its DVD-by-mail service.

Blockbuster Chairman and Chief Executive Jim Keyes said, "The service is essentially a rebranding and expansion of Blockbuster's Movielink.com Web site, which offers about 10,000 on-demand movies for download to personal computers. About 2,000 of those titles, such as recent DVD releases "Forgetting Sarah Marshall", "Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants 2" and "Get Smart", can be downloaded to TVs via Blockbuster OnDemand.

Blockbuster also is pursuing deals to package the new service with Blu-ray players and is considering alliances with video game console makers, but is not ready to disclose the details."

Unless the Wii comes out with a HDD in the new year, that can only mean they are thinking of the PS3.]]> http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/gran-turismo-5-for-playstation-3-to-have-christmas-2009-release/ http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/gran-turismo-5-for-playstation-3-to-have-christmas-2009-release/ Sun, 30 Nov 2008 05:17:30 CST wicked insanity PlayStation 3 http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/gran-turismo-5-for-playstation-3-to-have-christmas-2009-release/
Sony's chief executive in southern Europe, James Armstrong, revealed in a statement to Spanish newspaper El Financiero that we can expect the game to arrive (in Europe, at least) Christmas 2009.

Here's the full translated quote: "For next year, the chief executive of Sony Computer Entertainment for southern Europe said that they are developing a new game thriller, in which the player may be designing their own history, and the new version of Gran Turismo, which will arrive at Christmas."

This would provide for a late summer release in Japan, and late fall/early winter releases in the United States and Europe. From a sales perspective, it would also provide the PlayStation franchise with a major blockbuster release heading into next year's Christmas season. What do you think?]]> http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/destroy-all-humans-path-of-the-furon-coming-to-europe-after-all/ http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/destroy-all-humans-path-of-the-furon-coming-to-europe-after-all/ Sat, 29 Nov 2008 22:31:33 CST PS3 News PlayStation 3 http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/destroy-all-humans-path-of-the-furon-coming-to-europe-after-all/ reports of Destroy All Humans! Path of the Furon being cancelled for PlayStation 3, a THQ UK representative told Eurogamer (linked above) that it will indeed still be arriving to Europe as scheduled on February 13th of 2009.

To quote: THQ has clarified the situation with Destroy All Humans! Path of Furon - saying the PS3 version will be released in Europe after all.

Yesterday it was reported that the game will only be available for Xbox 360 in the US. Now a THQ UK representative has stated both versions are still on track for a European release.

"Destroy all Humans: Path of the Furon will be released on both the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 formats on February 13th 2009 across Europe," he stated.

"Due to the game being shipped earlier in North America on 2nd December a decision was made to proceed exclusively with the Xbox 360 format in that market."]]> http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/rumor-resistance-3-logos-details-appear-for-playstation-3/ http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/rumor-resistance-3-logos-details-appear-for-playstation-3/ Sat, 29 Nov 2008 22:10:34 CST PS3 News PlayStation 3 http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/rumor-resistance-3-logos-details-appear-for-playstation-3/
Resistance 3 rumors are already surfacing on the Internet. Apparently, the follow up will be announced in February 2009 along with the first bunch of screens and solid details on the game with a view to the game being released November 10th exclusively on the PlayStation 3.

To quote: Today I've received news on a new rumor, this time about Resistance 3, yes you heard me right, RESISTANCE 3. I know that Resistance 2 has just been released in UK/Europe today and this may seem premature, but this news comes from the same person who gave me the rumor on the MGS4 Expansion Pack, which became a hot topic of discussion.

This rumor suggests that SCEA and Insomniac Games will officially announce Resistance 3 in February 2009 along with the first collection of screenshots and the first details of the game, the rumor also suggests that you will play as Cappelli (Member of SRPA) and that Resistance 3 does indeed pick up exactly where Resistance 2 ended, the rumor also said that SCEA and Insomniac Games are planning on releasing Resistance 3 Exclusively for the PlayStation 3 in November 2010

If you've completed Resistance 2 then you'll remember that Cappelli shot Nathan Hale through the head when he finally turned into an advanced form of Chimera, well at this point Cappelli alerts SRPA and Nathan Hale's body is recovered but it turns out that Nathan Hale isn't dead, he is in fact just in a coma and he avoided dying because of his Chimeran healing abilities.

Then after being studied for 2 weeks Nathan Hale wakes up, breaks free and escapes from SRPA's custody, from here he uses the knowledge and memories he aqquired from Daedelus and he assumes control of the Chimeran forces. He intends to finish Daedelus's plan and launch a worldwide assault against the human population.

Now it's upto Cappelli and the last few members of SRPA to track Nathan Hale and stop him and the Chimeran threat for good.]]> http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/rumor-littlebigplanet-street-fighter-sackboys-surface/ http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/rumor-littlebigplanet-street-fighter-sackboys-surface/ Sat, 29 Nov 2008 21:53:38 CST PS3 News PlayStation 3 http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/rumor-littlebigplanet-street-fighter-sackboys-surface/ PSNow, Capcom will soon release a selection of Street Fighter gear.

When confirmed, players will be able to dress up as fan favorite brawlers Ryu, Chun Li, Guile, and Zangief.

To quote: Why not? It seems the best way to promote your game today is to dress up Media Molecule's lead character as that of your own.

If you're a fan of the Capcom fighting series, you will apparently be able to pick up the character costumes shown above individually and as a package deal.

No word on price or release date just yet. Sit tight.]]> http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/super-street-fighter-ii-turbo-hd-remix-soundtrack-released/ http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/super-street-fighter-ii-turbo-hd-remix-soundtrack-released/ Fri, 28 Nov 2008 22:57:43 CST PS3 News PlayStation 3 http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/super-street-fighter-ii-turbo-hd-remix-soundtrack-released/
While video game companies have worked with fans in the past, HD Remix is the first major video game with a completely fan-made soundtrack. You can grab it from ocremix.org.

Download: The official soundtrack is available for download free of charge at http://www.ocremix.org/hdremix/.

PRESS RELEASE: Capcom & OverClocked ReMix Make Video Game Soundtrack History

Fairfax, VA -- More than twenty gamers from around the world contributed remixes of the original Street Fighter games' music for inclusion in the updated game, in styles including jazz, hip-hop, reggaeton, spaghetti western, garage rock, big beat and electronica.

Over 2 million visitors a year download OverClocked ReMix's free, fan-made arrangements of music from both classic and modern video games, but HD Remix marks the community's first contribution to an official commercial title. Both the game and its soundtrack have received critical acclaim, with IGN's Ryan Clements describing the music as "a great tribute to the original soundtrack" and Tyler Nagata of GamesRadar writing that "Unlike so many remakes of classic fighters, Turbo HD has soul... You can hear it in the new remixed soundtrack, developed with the help of fans from OverClocked ReMix."

OverClocked ReMix was approached by Capcom in June of 2007 to provide HD Remix's score after the company discovered the OC ReMix Street Fighter II remix album, Blood on the Asphalt. Rey Jimenez, Associate Producer for Capcom, worked directly with the fan community to communicate requirements and feedback.

"Working with the OC ReMix crew has been one of the most rewarding aspects of working on SF HD Remix, truly making the game a community effort. These guys are part of the meat and potatoes of what makes the Street Fighter fanbase such a lasting part of the gaming industry," said Jimenez. "They worked above and beyond our expectations and I'm hoping that we'll be able to work together in the future."]]> http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/destroy-all-humans-path-of-the-furon-for-playstation-3-cancelled/ http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/destroy-all-humans-path-of-the-furon-for-playstation-3-cancelled/ Thu, 27 Nov 2008 22:24:18 CST PS3 News PlayStation 3 http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/destroy-all-humans-path-of-the-furon-for-playstation-3-cancelled/
The game is now an Xbox 360 exclusive and will ship to retailers in North America on December 1, 2008.

To quote: THQ has confirmed with Shacknews that the PlayStation 3 version of Destroy All Humans! Path of the Furon has indeed been cancelled, citing "development issues."

Now an Xbox 360 exclusive, Furon ships to North American retailers on December 1.

Furthermore, GameStop is no longer listing the PlayStation 3 version.]]> http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/playstation-3-firmware-2-53-update-details-mysteriously-vanish/ http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/playstation-3-firmware-2-53-update-details-mysteriously-vanish/ Thu, 27 Nov 2008 22:04:17 CST CyanCaze PlayStation 3 http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/playstation-3-firmware-2-53-update-details-mysteriously-vanish/ reported a few days ago, PlayStation.com is telling us that the latest firmware for the PlayStation 3 should be available to download. To quote:

"An update to the PS3™ system software was released on November 26, 2008. You can use this update to upgrade your system software to version 2.53."

Well, at least it was until a few hours ago - the info seems to have been mysteriously taken down now.

The PS3 firmware, version 2.53, is supposed to include fullscreen Flash support among other features, which could come in handy for streaming videos on your massive telly and stuff.]]> http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/video-sixense-truemotion-ps3mote-update-see-it-in-action-1/ http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/video-sixense-truemotion-ps3mote-update-see-it-in-action-1/ Wed, 26 Nov 2008 23:25:23 CST Starlight PlayStation 3 http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/video-sixense-truemotion-ps3mote-update-see-it-in-action-1/
A controller that is so user friendly, that even grandma, and grandpa can pick it up, not be intimidated, and have a blast. That's the appeal, everyone has used a remote for their TV, their VCR, their DVD player. The remote is an icon in American (and I am sure many other) culture.

Videos from NVISION08 can be seen below... Enjoy all.

Sixense TrueMotion Presentation Part 1
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Sixense TrueMotion Presentation Part 2
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Sixense Demo Highlights
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This "PS3mote" has been rumored many times, in the past. It has even had many different explanations of how it worked. Whether it was a waggle controller, an FPS controller, or a "break apart" controller, it never was released, or shown to the public. It has even been said that this "new" PS3 controller has made it to the hands of developers.

Even with all the different versions of this "new" PS3 controller, nothing has ever been seen or heard about it... until now.

Back in June, we reported on a "PS3mote" that was being tested by a focus group behind closed doors. NDA's were signed but we had an insider willing to tell us all about the focus group, and the products being tested. A controller was being tested for the PlayStation 3, that offered superior control to that of the Nintendo Wii's. The only drawback was that it involved the use of a tripod.

After all this time, still no controller has surfaced. However something of interest has. Back when we first broke the story of the focus group test, and the "PS3mote", there were some details we left out. We left it out well, because there was no evidence that such a name, company, technology, or entity existing under the name we were given. In fact, we originally thought it may have just been a mock-up name for the "ps3mote".

Since then, we haven't given up our search for information on the "new" PS3 controller. We have finally found what we believe was the technology being tested that day, by Sony. While it appears that Sony has decided against using this technology, we wanted everyone to see what could have been...

During the focus group testing, there was a name across the top of one of the laptops, which again we thought was just a mock-up name. The name was Sixense. Back in June we scoured the net in search of something related to Sixense, and nothing turned up. Well, after some serious sleuthing, we have finally found our Sixense.

If you head over to Sixense.com you will see the exactly what was tested that day, in the focus group. A quick whois.net search will reveal that the site was created "21 Sep 2008 11:14:00" which explains why we couldn't find anything on it back in June, and dismissed it as a mock-up name.]]> http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/full-list-of-changes-to-the-playstation-3-firmware-2-53-update/ http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/full-list-of-changes-to-the-playstation-3-firmware-2-53-update/ Wed, 26 Nov 2008 23:24:44 CST Starlight PlayStation 3 http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/full-list-of-changes-to-the-playstation-3-firmware-2-53-update/
Users

* You now have an option to set the PS3 to turn off automatically after a background download or installation of content. This option is available when you turn off the system while content is being downloaded or installed.

Settings

* BD/DVD has been renamed to Video Settings
* Sequential Playback has been added as an option under Video Settings
* Divx VOD Registration Code has been added under System Settings
* Power Save Settings have been added as an option for the system and controllers. They can now be set to shut off after a certain period of time
* The method for connecting Bluetooth devices has been changed
* You can now choose German, French (Canada) and French (Switzerland) keyboard types
* You can now select printers that support network connectivity including HP printers using the HP option

Music

* You can now select one of nine volume output levels using the control panel
* Scene Search has been added as an option on the control panel
* Mosquito Noise Reduction has been added for video content that is saved on the hard drive or storage media
* During BD and DVD playback, a technique known as chroma upsampling is now automatically selected based on the movement of objects within the video to enhance images

Game

* Playback quality of some PS3 format software has been improved
* Text entry issues that have occurred on screen with Bluetooth keyboard have been addressed
* Trophies can now be synced with the server
* Pressing the PS button now allows you, on most PS3 format software, to view information from the Settings and Connection Status List option under Netwrok Settings

Network

* Your Internet browser will now support Adobe Flash Player content
* Full screen support has been added to Adobe Flash Player 9

Playstation Network

* The way to disable the automatic sign-in option and sign out have been changed
* Button designs have been changed on the Playstation Store along with the addition of a Redeem Codes button

Friends

* You can now view information about the most recent sign-in for friends

With all of these additions, the PlayStation 3 is coming one step closer to being the only piece of equipment needed in an entertainment system. So fire up your PlayStation and get to downloading!]]> http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/update-on-wireless-keypad-and-ac-adaptor-for-playstation-3/ http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/update-on-wireless-keypad-and-ac-adaptor-for-playstation-3/ Wed, 26 Nov 2008 23:24:32 CST PS3 News PlayStation 3 http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/update-on-wireless-keypad-and-ac-adaptor-for-playstation-3/
Hey everyone, we wanted to provide an update on the new Peripherals we are launching this holiday. First, the Wireless Keypad for the PS3 will be available in stores starting the first week of December. Fans excited about PlayStation Home should definitely consider picking one of these up. The Wireless Keypad enables lightning quick chatting with other PlayStation Home community members. Plus, the unique touch pad mode allows for intuitive Internet browsing on the PS3 browser, and the short cut buttons will come in handy whenever you want to send a message or access your friend's list from in-game.

Check out this video that we put together to see it in action:

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The Wireless Keypad is a Bluetooth device that can be paired with the PS3 and charged seamlessly just by connecting them with a USB cable. You can use it with the PS3 system as well as any other Bluetooth enabled device, such as a smart phone, that has keyboard functionality.

Given all these user friendly features, no wonder the Keypad just received a Consumer Electronic Show (CES) Innovation Award. It will be available at retailers for $49.99 (MSRP).

Second, an AC Adaptor for charging the DUALSHOCK 3 wireless controller, SIXAXIS wireless controller, Bluetooth Headset and Wireless Keypad will be available for $24.99 (MSRP) starting the second week of December. The AC Adaptor can simultaneously charge two compatible hardware devices that have a USB connector without having to turn the PS3 system on. And, it charges both the PSP-2000 and PSP-3000.

Unlike the PS3 controller charging stations that are available in the market, we wanted to come out with an accessory enabling PS3 users to not only charge their controllers, but also other accessories, such as the new official Bluetooth Headset and Wireless Keypad. Enjoy!]]> http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/video-killzone-2-beta-for-playstation-3-weapons-montage/ http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/video-killzone-2-beta-for-playstation-3-weapons-montage/ Wed, 26 Nov 2008 23:24:11 CST wicked insanity PlayStation 3 http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/video-killzone-2-beta-for-playstation-3-weapons-montage/
Keep in mind, Guerrilla Games has yet to reveal all the weapons that will be available in the final game, so expect a few more surprises over the next few months.

The video below features guns from the beta, showcasing such weapons as the ISA M4 Revolver, ISA M82-G Assault Rifle, and ISA M13 Semi-automatic Combat Shotgun. Also included in the footage are some scene of environmental destructibility, displaying crumbling concrete columns and more. However the video is not very well synced with the audio.

3d73ac25

Killzone 2 is due out in February 2009.]]> http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/playstation-3-for-250-same-price-as-wii-but-includes-a-catch/ http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/playstation-3-for-250-same-price-as-wii-but-includes-a-catch/ Tue, 25 Nov 2008 22:11:21 CST Starlight PlayStation 3 http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/playstation-3-for-250-same-price-as-wii-but-includes-a-catch/
But though the entry-level 80GB PlayStation 3 usually clocks in at nearly twice that last price - with "no plans" for a March price cut - a new Sony offer will put the PS3 in a very close third-place finish with its rivals. If you're willing and able to sign up for the new Sony PlayStation credit card, you can get a PS3 shipped to your door for exactly $284.

While I would not advocate credit even if the US financial market wasn't currently in death throes due to its mismanagement (I avoid credit cards as a matter of principle) for those who don't feel similarly bound this actually appears to be a pretty good deal.

There's no annual fee, the standard APR is 11% variable, and there don't appear to be any unusually nasty penalties - aside from the standard 30% default rate should you fail to make a payment, or go over the credit limit.

As far as we can tell, the $150 isn't a credit that is applied to your card days or weeks after the purchase, either - Sony is touting this as an instant credit that translates directly into a reduced price for the PS3.

The offer expires December 31st, but is obviously timed to take advantage of the Black Friday spirits. Do you plan to take Sony up on this offer?]]> http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/sony-playstation-3-firmware-update-2-53-arrives-tomorrow/ http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/sony-playstation-3-firmware-update-2-53-arrives-tomorrow/ Tue, 25 Nov 2008 19:31:12 CST Starlight PlayStation 3 http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/sony-playstation-3-firmware-update-2-53-arrives-tomorrow/ US.PlayStation.com as follows:

The PLAYSTATION®3 system software update may include security patches, new or revised settings and features and other items, which will change your current operating system.

We encourage you to check this page from time to time for software updates and to always maintain your system to use the latest version of the system software.

An update to the PS3™ system software was released on November 26, 2008. You can use this update to upgrade your system software to version 2.53.

We just got a tip that PS3 FW 2.53 is coming on or before November 26, 2008. Our tipster told us it's a very minor update, below is the changelog:

Network:

* New for 2.53: The Internet browser now supports full-screen mode for Adobe® Flash® Player content.*
* Support for Adobe® Flash® Player 9 has been added to [Internet Browser].*
* "Adobe" and "Flash" are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Adobe Systems Incorporated in the United States and/or other countries.]]> http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/new-tomb-raider-underworld-sales-lead-on-playstation-3/ http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/new-tomb-raider-underworld-sales-lead-on-playstation-3/ Tue, 25 Nov 2008 15:54:53 CST takavach PlayStation 3 http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/new-tomb-raider-underworld-sales-lead-on-playstation-3/
The Xbox 360 accounted for 34 per cent of sales, with the remaining sales made up of Wii, PC and DS SKUs.

Earlier this year, Eidos announced that only the Xbox 360 version of the game will benefit from two exclusive digital episodes, amounting to around six extra hours of play.

Tomb Raider: Underworld only beat the first week performance of last year's Tomb Raider: Anniversary by 6,700 units.]]> http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/sony-no-plans-for-rumored-march-playstation-3-price-cut/ http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/sony-no-plans-for-rumored-march-playstation-3-price-cut/ Mon, 24 Nov 2008 21:28:28 CST PS3 News PlayStation 3 http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/sony-no-plans-for-rumored-march-playstation-3-price-cut/
Over the weekend, online magazine D+Pad cited an anonymous source who purportedly attended a Sony staff briefing in London where execs said the PS3 will have a more competitive price from March 2009 and beyond.

March 31, 2009 marks the end of Sony's fiscal year, during which the company expects to sell 10 million PS3 units, or about flat compared to the previous year.

Sony has repeatedly denied a PS3 price cut will take place before the holidays.

Currently, Xbox 360s retail from $199 to $399 and Wiis sell for $249 in the U.S. Standard 80GB PS3s sell for $399.

SCEA sales VP Ian Jackson recently told analysts at the BMO Capital Markets Interactive Entertainment Conference, "There is no product in the industry today on the videogame console market that delivers what a PlayStation 3 delivers for under $400, in the case of the 80GB."]]> http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/sony-announces-the-official-playstation-credit-card/ http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/sony-announces-the-official-playstation-credit-card/ Mon, 24 Nov 2008 21:15:16 CST PS3 News PlayStation 3 http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/sony-announces-the-official-playstation-credit-card/
You may have seen the mailers, and it's true. We've introduced our very own PlayStation credit card to offer fans a new way to show off their PlayStation pride and earn reward points towards the purchase of PlayStation and SONY products.

We've even sweetened the pot with a special introductory offer. Starting today until December 31, 2008, you could save $150 on the purchase of a PLAYSTATION 3 this holiday. There are a couple ways to do this. You can go to to www.sony.com/newpscard to get instant approval for your card, and an immediate $150 credit when you purchase a PS3 directly through the Web site.

Or you can go www.sony.com/getpscard to apply for the card and upon receipt of the card, use it at any authorized PlayStation retailer to purchase a PS3. The $150 credit will show up on your billing statement.

The holidays just got merrier. Happy shopping.]]> http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/video-ask-the-developer-prince-of-persia-for-playstation-3-1/ http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/video-ask-the-developer-prince-of-persia-for-playstation-3-1/ Mon, 24 Nov 2008 20:22:06 CST PS3 News PlayStation 3 http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/video-ask-the-developer-prince-of-persia-for-playstation-3-1/
Hi all, my name is Ben Mattes and I'm the producer for Ubisoft's Prince of Persia video game.

We're just about a week from the launch of Prince of Persia and all of us on the team are anxiously awaiting player feedback, monitoring all of the message boards and blogs we know of - we stay on top of the thoughts and questions going through the minds of the fans.

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To that end we wanted to extend a special invitation to all of you readers here at the PlayStation.Blog. We know there might be things about the game you are interested in knowing more about or having explained in more detail, and we're going to give you the chance to have those questions answered direct from the development team.

Any subject is open for discussion but of course we may not have the time to answer them all. Questions about Elika? The art style? Lessons learned during production? What sort of food we ate in the closing weeks on the project? Fire away in the comments below, and we'll answer as many as we can in a follow-up post next week.

And, of course, pick up your copy of Prince of Persia on launch day and let us know your first and lasting impressions. There is nothing more rewarding or important for a developer then hearing what the players think.]]> http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/david-jaffe-comments-on-god-of-war-iii-for-playstation-3/ http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/david-jaffe-comments-on-god-of-war-iii-for-playstation-3/ Mon, 24 Nov 2008 03:51:25 CST takavach PlayStation 3 http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/david-jaffe-comments-on-god-of-war-iii-for-playstation-3/ recent post on his blog, God of War I director David Jaffe comments on what's he's seen so far regarding God of War III.

Ok, so he doesn't say EXACTLY what he's seen (NDA), but he does have some quite "colorful" comments to describe what he saw.

Here is the comment at the end of David's post that somewhat confirms what has been the talk of the town regarding God of War III's visuals.

"ps. I saw GOD OF WAR III when I was in Santa Monica last week. I can and will not give away details. But I think it's ok for me to say two things:

a- HOLY HOLY HOLY F-ING HELL!
b- I thought GEARS OF WARS 2 looked about as good as a next-gen game could look... and that game is currently- and will probably remain- my game of the year.

And hell, I think I actually get to vote on that kind of stuff in some circles :) And unless I get blown away by POP or something else I missed, GEARS 2 is the SHIZ... this year. Dudes and dudettes, freaking WAIT till you see the amazing graphics... just wait. And yes, Xbots, accuse me all you want of being a Sony fanboy. Just remember two things:

#1- I just said GEARS 2 is the BEST playing and looking game of the year... better than any PS3 game. And there are some damn good PS3 games, I feel.

#2- F-YOU! I ain't no fan boy but this game looks like nothing you've ever played... and you can hold me to that when this thing hits and when they start showing gameplay footage. It looks like a painting come to life- it's THAT good looking.

David"

Although we can't necessarily agree with his views on Gears of War 2, what conclusion have we drawn from Dave's reaction?

Well, for starters, this game must look really REALLY good, although it's really too soon to tell since it hasn't been confirmed whether or not it will resemble any actual gameplay footage.]]> http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/global-playstation-3-releases-for-the-week-of-november-23-2008/ http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/global-playstation-3-releases-for-the-week-of-november-23-2008/ Sun, 23 Nov 2008 20:33:30 CST PS3 News PlayStation 3 http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/global-playstation-3-releases-for-the-week-of-november-23-2008/
Europe finally catches up with Resistance 2 alongside a few rubbish games no-one cares about. Here's the full release list:

US Games

- No new releases

EU Games

- Resistance 2
- Disney Sing It: High School Musical 3 (With microphones)
- Madagascar 2: Escape 2 Africa
- Armored Core: For Answer

Asian Games

- Brothers In Arms: Hell's Highway
- Winning Eleven 2009

Release dates are constantly subject to change, so be sure to check with your local retailer before you do anything rash.]]> http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/review-sony-wireless-keypad-for-playstation-3/ http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/review-sony-wireless-keypad-for-playstation-3/ Fri, 21 Nov 2008 21:45:52 CST PS3 News PlayStation 3 http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/review-sony-wireless-keypad-for-playstation-3/
They note that the biggest issue is the top mounted nature of it, but essentially QWERTY keypads for game controllers don't really work that well and its probably best to pick up a microphone and talk.

To quote: But regardless of the poor touch support and ill-advised key design, the biggest issue I had with the Wireless Keypad is that Sony opted to design it as a top mounted add-on. I don't want to seem partial one way or another, but I definitely think Microsoft had it right when they made their keypad attachable between the handles of the Xbox 360 remote.

The keys seem much easier to view and access when they are located just below your thumbs on the thumbsticks. To be fair, the choice in top versus bottom attachment may have been out of Sony's hands. It's possible that Microsoft had patented the bottom-mounted design or that Sony simply wanted to distinguish the Wireless Keypad from the Xbox 360 Chatpad.

Whatever the reasoning, the topside orientation of the keypad is, at least in the opinion of this humble critic, a deal breaker. I found that I had to physically tilt the keypad upwards and toward me in order to effectively use the keypad, which was as jarring as it was disruptive.

But the issues facing the Sony Wireless Keypad for PS3 are due only in part to poor design and performance; some blame could also be placed on the product type itself.

When it comes right down to it, QWERTY keypads for game controllers are completely counterintuitive. If gamers want to make quick, concise messages, they are more likely to pick up a microphone and talk than to enter the XMB menu, reach up to their keypad, type out a message, fix the inevitable typos, and then send it.

Even when out of a game, browsing the Internet or otherwise, user are more likely to turn to a USB mouse and keyboard than a compact keypad that seems better suited for the hands of an Oompa Loompa.]]> http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/conservationists-to-gamers-turn-off-your-ps3-after-use/ http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/conservationists-to-gamers-turn-off-your-ps3-after-use/ Fri, 21 Nov 2008 15:53:38 CST takavach PlayStation 3 http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/conservationists-to-gamers-turn-off-your-ps3-after-use/ Natural Resources Defense Council, a New York-based conservation group, has conducted a study of gaming machine energy use to raise awareness among gamers and pressure manufacturers into making more energy-efficient machines.

The NRDC's study found that Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and Wii machines in the U.S. use about as much electricity in a year as every home in San Diego combined. Much of the energy comes from machines that are left on, but not in use, the NRDC said.

Of the three consoles, Sony's PS3 was the biggest energy hog, followed by Microsoft's Xbox 360. Nintendo's Wii is by far the most energy efficient-and even uses less electricity than its predecessor, GameCube.

To quote: With more efficient devices and by utilizing existing power-saving features, consumers could save more than $1 billion a year on utility bills and reduce as much global warming pollution per year as the tailpipe emissions from all the cars in San Jose.

Specifically, automatic power-down features - which shut off devices if they are left idle for a certain amount of time - are big energy-savers. The feature exists in the Xbox 360 and was recently added to the PlayStation 3, but it is rarely used and leaves room for improvement.

Check out the full report.]]> http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/sonys-playstation-entertainment-unleashed-ad-campaign/ http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/sonys-playstation-entertainment-unleashed-ad-campaign/ Fri, 21 Nov 2008 00:07:40 CST PS3 News PlayStation 3 http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/sonys-playstation-entertainment-unleashed-ad-campaign/ reported on a few holiday adverts that are part of a "bigger campaign".

Today Sony's Senior Vice President of Marketing & PlayStation Network Peter Dille detailed their PlayStation: Entertainment Unleashed ad campaign officially via PS Blog as follows:

This is one of the fun parts of my job, when we get to unveil our TV commercials and give you, our loyal fans, a preview of our spots before they hit the airwaves. This year's campaign is dubbed "Entertainment Unleashed" and for good reason.

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The campaign actually began quietly a few weeks back with three fifteen second "tease" executions. Hopefully, you've seen these by now. These initial ads depicted various people catching glimpses and reflections of beautiful PS3 game footage magically appearing on building facades across a city.

This weekend, we're excited to reveal what triggered the excitement. The spot begins with a guy creating a LittleBigPlanet level on a building wall and from there, the PS3 takes on a momentum all its own, spreading amazing entertainment content uncontrollably from building to building throughout the city.

The ad prominently features not just LittleBigPlanet but also two other PLAYSTATION 3 exclusive titles - Resistance 2 and MotorStorm: Pacific Rift. And we've also highlighted PS3's Blu-ray capability by featuring Blu-ray movies like The Dark Knight, showcasing PS3's unrivaled leadership as both a gaming and multimedia entertainment experience.

PLAYSTATION 3 offers unrivaled game content, with not just one platform-defining game, but an array of groundbreaking games across virtually every genre throughout the year that are pushing the envelope of creativity and sheer gameplay.

And at the end of the spot, you'll see that all this great exclusive content has literally been unleashed on the city and its residents. I know our fans will appreciate spotting some of your favorite games across the cityscape.

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This week marks an important milestone for the PS3. And one of the things we're most excited about as we head into year three is the tremendous adoption and excitement found on PlayStation Network.

This year alone, we've added great new features you guys have been asking for like a service to deliver High Def movies and TV shows that you can rent or buy and store directly on the PS3's hard drive; a robust trophy system that lets you compare your gaming prowess with others as well as help you discover everything about the great PS3 games you're playing; and of course, the groundbreaking Home service, which is just around the corner for all.

All of this and a lot more has resulted in more than 14 million active PlayStation Network accounts - a very rapid expansion of a service that we have equally aggressive plans for in the future.

So with its tremendous growth and adoption, we thought it was time to give the PlayStation Network its own moment in the sun with a TV spot that sings its praises. This PlayStation Network ad will also make its debut this weekend. The ad is a metaphor and itself depicts the relentless spread of the PlayStation message from user to user.

We've featured various ways you can "Download/Play/Connect." Great downloadable games like Ratchet & Clank: Quest for Booty, PAIN, Wipeout HD and Echochrome. Free online gaming and downloadable levels with games like LittleBigPlanet. Human connection and community via Home. And downloading great movies like Hancock directly to your PS3 and then sharing it with your PSP.

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When we launched the PS3 two years ago, we said we would deliver on the most advanced next generation console that would offer ten years of entertainment value. We are committed to that promise and remain confident that we're now just scratching the surface on PS3's potential.

We hope you like these new ads and look forward to your feedback and continued support for PlayStation.

Enjoy!

Peter

PS: Killzone 2 is real and it's spectacular...]]> http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/gran-turismo-in-four-times-the-resolution-of-full-hd-at-2160p/ http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/gran-turismo-in-four-times-the-resolution-of-full-hd-at-2160p/ Thu, 20 Nov 2008 23:37:42 CST PS3 News PlayStation 3 http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/gran-turismo-in-four-times-the-resolution-of-full-hd-at-2160p/
Both of the presentations were founded on the philosophy of "achieving the highest possible quality" held over the years by Gran Turismo... showing it off that at 2160p.

It was all part of a time trial showcasing Sony's latest SRX-S110 projector technology, which can support resolutions of 4096 x 2160 pixels.

To quote: One of these, was a time trial competition using Sony's newest digital cinema projector, the "SRX-S110". Gran Turismo 5 prologue is already in Full HD resolution at 1920 x 1080 pixels, providing the highest resolution possible in today's TV content.

However in this time trial, the Full HD image was increased to twice the resolution both vertically and horizontally (4x the surface area), enabling game play at an ultra high resolution of 3840 x 2160 pixels.

This was performed by connecting and synchronizing four Playstation 3's outputting a quarter of the image each at 1920x1080 pixels, but you must remember this demands an extremely high quality image from the source that can withstand the ultra high resolution.

It can be said that this demonstration was only made possible, because the source image was Gran Turismo.]]> http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/video-street-fighter-littlebigplanet-turbo-wonky-edition/ http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/video-street-fighter-littlebigplanet-turbo-wonky-edition/ Wed, 19 Nov 2008 22:49:18 CST PS3 News PlayStation 3 http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/video-street-fighter-littlebigplanet-turbo-wonky-edition/ Capcom Blog has praised today.

To quote: I stumbled onto this awesome creation right here in our own creative forums!

RelentlessRolento is the master artist and level designer. He's designed it in a way that allows player to control Ryu and Ken by jumping on the buttons. They do all sorts of awesome moves!

You can find and try out this level by putting in his PSN username, Rolento. Check it out! Seth and I will be duking it out on this level later today, and this may be the only Street Fighter I can actually have a hope of beating him in... Nice work Rolento!

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Video's caption: A Street Fighter themed level I made in Little Big Planet. If you want to play it as well as unlock templates to make your own fights look up within the game either "Street Fighter Wonky" or my PSN Rolento.]]> http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/sony-littlebigplanet-a-clear-number-one-any-other-time-of-year/ http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/sony-littlebigplanet-a-clear-number-one-any-other-time-of-year/ Wed, 19 Nov 2008 22:40:15 CST PS3 News PlayStation 3 http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/sony-littlebigplanet-a-clear-number-one-any-other-time-of-year/
He added that in any other time of year it would be a clear number one, so the chart which says otherwise must be put into context.

To quote: "We're really pleased with the initial reaction to LittleBigPlanet - it has been our highest scoring game ever I believe with a Metacritic score of 95 and a huge list of 10/10s or 100 per cent scores," explained Wilson.

"We are also pleased with its commercial performance. In other times of the year it would be a clear number one - so you have to put the chart in context.

This is an incredibly volatile time of year and the chart reflects that - November 7 saw 47 titles released on that one day alone including many big hitters with Christmas number one aspirations. Look at the chart this week - the top four are all brand new entries."]]> http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/review-80gb-playstation-3-is-a-superb-gaming-console/ http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/review-80gb-playstation-3-is-a-superb-gaming-console/ Wed, 19 Nov 2008 20:20:16 CST Starlight PlayStation 3 http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/review-80gb-playstation-3-is-a-superb-gaming-console/
Even worse, the PS3 didn't initially have any real must-have exclusive titles, and despite the power of its vaunted Cell processor, multiplatform games from third-party developers didn't look appreciably better than the respective titles on the Xbox 360.

Since then, the company's been modifying the PlayStation product line to better fit the competitive market landscape. As of August 2008, a new "bargain" PS3 is available with a larger, 80GB hard drive, and a "deluxe" model is due in November, doubling the capacity to 160GB.

Both, however, lack backward compatibility with PS2 games and do not come with flash card readers. If those features are a must, it might be best to pick up the 80GB "Metal Gear" bundle version on eBay while they're still out there.

If you don't want to opt for the new 160GB (that will also ship with "Uncharted: Drakes Fortune"), the 80GB version reviewed here might short you on space. Now that you can fill up that hard drive more easily with TV shows and movies from the PlayStation Store, it's much easier to do so.

Still, for those on a budget, the $400 PS3 ups the hard-drive capacity from the older "budget" model and delivers nearly all the same gaming and home theater features as its more expensive sibling. The PS3's game drought has largely evaporated, with popular titles such as "Grand Theft Auto IV," "Rock Band," "Call of Duty 4," and "BioShock" all making their way to the console.

While these titles are also available on the Xbox 360, the PS3 has exclusive dibs on "Metal Gear," "Uncharted," and "MLB 08: The Show," as well as the hotly anticipated "Resistance 2" and "Killzone 2" due to hit in upcoming months.

Yes, the Xbox 360 and Nintendo Wii also have their own handful of exclusive titles ("Halo" and "Gears of War" on the former, and all of the "Mario," "Metroid," and "Zelda" games on the latter), but the PS3's HD graphics go far beyond those of the low-resolution Wii, and its stable hardware doesn't suffer from the Xbox 360's notorious red ring of death.

Plus, now that Blu-ray Discs have become the de facto standard for high-def media, the PS3 is still the only console available to play back that format, and consequently is the best performing and affordable Blu-ray player on the market--a great option if you want to introduce yourself to high-def content.

Design
Like the Xbox 360 and Nintendo Wii, the PlayStation 3 can stand vertically or lie horizontally in an AV rack, though because of its curved top, it's not meant to have any other components resting on top of it. Early prototypes were shown in white and silver, but currently the PS3 is only available in black.

The 20GB version (now discontinued) was all black, but the larger capacity (and all current models) are highlighted with chrome trim--and there's no way to customize its look as you can with the Xbox 360's interchangeable, if overpriced, faceplates. Judging from Sony's recent decision to bring out the PSP in more colors, we don't expect the company to stick to the black-only option for too long, especially since this system, like the PSP, is a fingerprint and smudge-magnet.

As for its dimensions, the PS3 measures 12.8 inches wide by 3.8 inches high by 10.8 inches long, which is roughly in line with the overall volume of the Xbox 360. That said, the PS3 does weigh a bit more--11 pounds to the 360's 9.9 pounds including power supply--so if you're going by heft alone, you're getting almost 10 percent more console.

Most impressively, there's no external power supply for the PS3; you just plug the included power cable--it's the same standard three-prong style you'll find on most desktop PCs--into the back of the unit and you're good to go. For those of us who own an Xbox 360, and have had to struggle with its massive brick of a power supply, this seems like a remarkable feat on Sony's part.

One obvious difference between the Xbox 360 and the PS3 is the way you load media. As opposed to the more typical tray loader, the PS3 has a front-slot-loading, Blu-ray Disc drive, which contributes to the unit's slicker appearance. Discs slide in and eject smoothly enough, so chalk one up for the PS3 here.

On the front, you'll find two USB ports for connecting (and charging) controllers and other accessories, including USB keyboards, thumbdrives, and the PSP. Unfortunately if you need more than two ports, you're out of luck as only the older versions of the PS3 came with four.

This will certainly become an issue particularly if you want to charge your controllers as well as use an accessory like the PS Eye). The PS3 still doesn't come with USB ports on the back of the unit--something we've desired for a while. Both new versions of the PS3 also now lack multiple flash card readers. While we could see this feature being dropped for a reduced price, even the "deluxe" 160GB model, priced still at $500, will not come with it.

Around back is where you'll find ports for Ethernet, HDMI output, optical digital audio output (SPDIF), and the proprietary PlayStation AV output for analog audio and video. A composite AV cable ships with the unit, and because it uses the same connector as the PlayStation 2, that system's S-Video and component cables should work with it, as well (to get HD video, you'll need component or HDMI).

This, once again, leaves us asking why Sony does not ship the console HD-ready out-of-the-box. Unlike the proprietary snap-on hard drive of the Xbox 360, the PS3's internal hard drive is user replaceable with any off-the-shelf laptop drive. The only caveat: it uses the smaller 2.5-inch drive size, which are twice, or even close to three times as expensive as the larger 3.5-inch hard drive that go into a desktop computer.

The Sixaxis DualShock 3 Controller
When the PS3 was first released in the fall of 2006, gamers gave Sony a lot of grief that the included Sixaxis controller lacked rumble (vibration) support--a feature found on the controllers for the Xbox 360, Wii, and even the older PlayStation 2. Sony has since corrected that with the DualShock 3 controller, which is basically just the Sixaxis with rumble. Starting with the new 80GB core system, all new PS3 versions will include a DualShock 3 controller by default.

With the exception of its included rumble support--and a bit more weight as a result--the Dual Shock 3 is otherwise pretty much identical to the Sixaxis. Fans of the older Sony game consoles will note that it even looks identical to the older PlayStation controllers, but there are some differences.

For starters, it's wireless. You can connect as many as seven controllers via the system's built-in Bluetooth, which Sony claims offers a 20-meter range (about 65 feet). Recharging the built-in battery simply requires connecting the included USB cable between the console and the controller. You can continue to play as the battery juices up (Sony pledges 30 hours of gameplay between charges), but the cable's somewhat short 5-foot length will put you right on top of the TV.

That said, the controller has a standard mini USB port similar to the one found on many digital cameras and PC peripherals, so swapping in a longer cable--or using a USB extender--shouldn't be a problem. We should also note that we had some success charging the DualShock 3 on a number of PC USB ports and even the port on a cable box.

Unfortunately, the battery isn't removable, which means that if it dies--as inevitably it will some day--you'll have to replace the entire controller ($50) if you want to play wirelessly. By comparison, the Xbox 360 and Nintendo Wii controllers offer user-replaceable batteries: AAs or proprietary rechargeables for the 360, and AAs for the Wii.

As for the controller's design, Sony has made a few tweaks versus the old PS2 version. The L2 and R2 trigger buttons are a bit bigger, and the increased depth in stroke offers players more subtle game control. Sony has also increased the tilting angle of the analog joysticks to give you more precise control and a wider range of motion.

Those analog sticks are more sensitive as well. The PS2's Dual Shock 2 controller had 8-bit sensitivity, while the PS3's controller has 10-bit motion detection. The Sixaxis and DualShock 3 controllers also have a centered Home button, which functions much like its counterpart on the Xbox 360 controller. You use it to return to the console's main menu screen, as well as to sync the controller to the console and start it up or shut it down wirelessly. In game, the Home button will now bring up the cross-media-bar (XMB).

The other big upgrade on the DualShock 3 (and Sixaxis) from its predecessors is its motion sensitivity. As the name indicates, the controller is capable of sensing motion in six directions: up, down, left, right, forward, and backward. Game developers have incorporated this technology in many of the new games in one form or another.

For example, in "Call of Duty 3," you can arm explosives with a twist of the controller. 2K's "NBA 2K8" also makes interesting use of the tilt feature, allowing you shoot free throws by motioning a shot with your controller.

After almost two years of titles, some implementations of the tilt sensitivity are better than others. Some games' use of it are optional and can be switched off, as we can certainly see some folks not wanting to bother with it at all. Clearly, Sony wanted to steal some of Nintendo's interactive thunder, and there's no denying that the Wii's motion-sensitive controllers are more central to that console's DNA.

The Wii controllers are also more sophisticated, including the capability to measure actual motion (spatial movement) and acceleration, rather than just tilting. But unlike the Wii, the PS3 doesn't require a motion-sensor bar in front of the TV. (The current Xbox 360 controllers offer no motion sensitivity at all.)

It's safe to say we'll see more innovative uses of the tilting sensitivity feature in future games as it definitely adds an extra level of control when flying the eponymous attack vehicle in "Warhawk" or controlling the trajectory of an arrow in "Heavenly Sword." On the other hand, the highly touted "Lair" is widely considered unplayable thanks to a poorly implemented Sixaxis control scheme.

Familiar interface
If you own a Sony PSP, you'll immediately notice the similarities between the PS3's interface and the PSP's cross media bar-style (XMB) graphical user interface. You navigate horizontally through top-level selection categories such as users, system settings, and media options such as photos, music, videos, games, network, and friends.

When you select a top-level category, a vertical list of suboptions appears, and you can navigate down that list until you find the option you want. The interface is polished and generally easy to use, but you do have to drill down a few levels to reach certain features, and getting to some functions isn't quite as intuitive as it should be. Still, the overall design is slick enough to be called Mac-like, and--at least from an aesthetic standpoint--is more appealing than the Xbox 360's Dashboard and Nintendo Wii's Channels interfaces.

Since the release of the PlayStation 3, Sony has continued to release newer versions of the embedded firmware. These updates usually address bugs and other glitches and even add features such as DVD upscaling, Blu-ray improvements, and an improved interface for the PlayStation Store. These updates are always free, but unlike the Xbox 360 and Wii, they take quite some time to download and then install. Just recently, force vibration capability was added with the release of the DualShock 3 controller on previous titles.

Digital Media Hub
Before we delve into the PS3's HD movie prowess (see Movie Watching, below), let's take a holistic look at the console's multimedia functionality.

With the new 80GB and 160GB versions, the PS3 drops the flash card reader--a major blow for shutterbugs out there. It also skimps out on available USB slots, limiting them to two, but it does support importing images from a full array of USB-attached devices, including most digital cameras, the PSP, USB flash drives, and home-burned CD-Rs. (One caveat: the images may need to be placed in a special directory, such as DCIM or Picture, if they're not already there.)

A few slide-show styles are available, including a unique "photo album" view that displays the images across a white work surface as if you'd dumped them there and spread them out. When stored internally on the hard drive (copying back and forth is easy), photos appear rapidly, and in the basic slide-show mode, you can advance your slides forward by simply pressing on the top-right shoulder button (the left shoulder takes you back a slide).

Most JPEG, TIFF, BMP, GIF, and PNG images should work just fine. By contrast, the Xbox 360 lacks the impressive photo album viewer, and the Wii--while including some cool and fun photo-viewing and manipulation functionality--includes only a built-in SD card reader.

As for music, the PS3 supports most of the major music-file types, including MP3, ATRAC, AAC, and WAV, and like the Xbox 360, has a built-in music visualizer. As with the photos, you can import songs from the flash card reader, a USB thumbdrive--again, you'll have to create a special Music folder--or rip songs directly to the hard drive from a CD. (Yes, unlike some Blu-ray players on the market, the PS3 can actually recognize and play CDs).

It cannot play back music from attached iPods, nor can it stream from other music players that incorporate copy-protected music formats. Here, the 360 has a leg up: it offers some iPod compatibility, and it can play back WMA music files, as well. In addition, the Xbox 360 allows you to customize your in-game music, while the experience with this on the PS3 is somewhat of a mixed bag.

On the video front, the PS3 plays Profile 2.0 Blu-ray Discs in full high-definition as well as DVD movies. It also supports MPEG-1, MPEG-2, and MPEG-4/h.264 video files from USB or disc-based media (reading from the "video" directory). If you transfer the videos to the PS3's hard drive, thumbnails on the video menu are shown as 15-second video clips, rather than just as still images of the first frame of the video. Like the Xbox 360, the PS3 can act as a digital media hub, with the ability to stream content from any DLNA-compatible network device, including PCs and network attached hard drives.

PSP owners will find increasingly close integration between Sony's portable and the PS3. Users now have the ability to control their PS3 anywhere in the world using a Wi-Fi connection, thanks to the Remote Play feature. Digital media, including photos, music, and video can be streamed to the PSP, as well.

Sony's version of Web TV Taking a page out of the PSP's book, the PS3 also has a built-in Web browser, but the nice thing about the PS3 is that if you connect a USB keyboard, you don't have to type in URL addresses using the system's tedious virtual keyboard. Likewise, a USB mouse lets you point and click your way through a Web page, just as if you were on a PC.

Not all Bluetooth keyboards will pair with the PS3--the Logitech Cordless MediaBoard requires a USB dongle, for instance. But our favorite keyboard for light text entry is the Logitech diNovo Mini, which interfaces directly via the console without monopolizing one of the precious USB ports. (Likewise, most Bluetooth phone headsets should work fine, allowing you to chat with fellow players during online gaming sessions.)

The browser is fairly robust, and even offers limited Flash support. For instance, YouTube videos work fine, but those on ABC.com and Hulu do not. Overall, the browser is a nice convenience for those who want to browse from their living room couch. That said, the sharpness of Web pages' appearance--and how readable they are--will depend on the quality of your TV and its size.

For example, viewing Web pages on a 60-inch DLP set is going to be more of a challenge than, say, looking at those same pages over a 20-inch computer monitor. And viewing Web pages on anything less than an HDTV at full resolution (720p, 1080i, or 1080p) will be decidedly eye-straining.

The PlayStation Network
While the PlayStation Network did not launch simultaneously with the PlayStation 3, it has since opened up to the public and with it, many games and services are now available. Connecting to the PlayStation Network is free, as is multiplayer gaming, although downloadable games and other content come at a cost. You can, however, get free demos to most games so that you can try-before-you-buy.

In fall 2008, the PlayStation Network will launch PlayStation Home. Home is an online virtual world, somewhat in the vein of Second Life, where gamers can have their avatars interact with one another in addition to the ability to virtually create your own "home." From Home's interface, you can set up game matches and communicate with friends as well as other gamers. The service also promises to integrate the recently-debuted Trophy System, the PS3 equivalent of Xbox Achievements.

The PSN allows all gamers to play online in multiplayer matches for free. By contrast, Xbox Live Silver, Microsoft's free entry-level service, gives you access to some community options but to play online multiplayer games, you have to upgrade to Xbox Live Gold service, which runs $50 per year.

Free online play is obviously a big plus in Sony's favor. That said, Xbox Live has been around for years and has had time to mature, plus the majority of Xbox 360 games offer some form of online play. Microsoft also has its Xbox Live Marketplace, where you can download games, demos, video content, full-length movies, and TV shows in high-definition, as well as game themes and additional game content.

As the PSN matures, Sony has been moving more in that direction, as well: there are now plenty of free demos for download, as well as dozens of original mini-games and classic PlayStation One games available for purchase. Sony also recently debuted an entire video section to the PlayStation Store, allowing PS3 owners the same content-on-demand experience Xbox Live users have had for some time now.

Instead of the points-based payment system found on Microsoft and Nintendo's networks, the PlayStation Store sticks to dollars and cents--users can simply transfer cash to their PlayStation 3 Wallet via credit card or with prepaid gift cards. (International locations will likewise be denominated in their home currency--yen, euros, pounds, sterling, Canadian dollars, and so forth.)

Overall, there's a strong and growing list of titles with solid online play primarily composed of first-person-shooters, action games ("Resistance: Fall of Man," "Warhawk," "Call of Duty 4," "Unreal Tournament 3," and "Grand Theft Auto IV") and sports titles. Pairing a Bluetooth headset will give you chat support in most games as well.

While the online multiplayer support isn't quite as robust and widespread on the PS3 as it is on Xbox Live, it's a big notch up from the Nintendo Wii--the few online games the console offers are burdened with Nintendo's friend 16-digit code system, which must be activated on a title-by-title basis.

Cell Inside
When final specifications were released for the Xbox 360 and the PlayStation 3, not surprisingly, there was a big debate over which system was technically more powerful. The 360 uses more off-the-shelf PC components, while the PlayStation 3's 3.2GHz Cell processor was built from the ground up just for the console.

It consists of a single PowerPC-based core with seven synergistic processing units and is the result of a joint effort between IBM, Sony, and Toshiba, which was ironic, considering that Sony and Toshiba were in a deathmatch over Blu-ray and HD DVD.

From the get-go, we were told that the Cell has the juice to run a new class of gameplay physics that will allow developers to create spectacular effects and eventually provide a whole new depth of realism to games. Paired with PlayStation 3's RSX Reality Synthesizer graphics-processing unit, a gargantuan 550MHz, 300-million-transistor graphics chip based on Nvidia's GeForce 7800 GTX graphics technology, and you're looking at a very high-end PC.

The only problem, of course, is that it has taken developers years to learn how to take full advantage of all that processing power and truly deliver on the graphical promise of the system. Titles such as Heavenly Sword and Metal Gear Solid 4 (as well as previews of 2009's Killzone 2) have shown that developers are finally beginning to tap the full potential of the PS3's power.

That said, the hope that the PS3's graphics would run circles around those of the Xbox 360 has yet to be realized. To date, the vast majority of games that appear on both systems look roughly indistinguishable.

As with the graphics chip, the PS3's Blu-ray drive--which allows for games of 25GB to 50GB in size--has yet to show a big advantage over the 8.5GB limit of the Xbox 360's DVD media.

Presumably, as games become larger and more complex (Xbox titles could eventually spread to two or three discs, all of which should have no problem fitting on a single Blu-ray), the PS3 still has one annoyance: its Blu-ray drive has a comparatively slow transfer time, which requires most games to utilize a PC-style hard-disk installation. Installs can take up to 20 minutes but only usually need to be done once, but it doesn't exactly scream "next-generation" from a convenience standpoint.

Those minor gripes notwithstanding, the PS3 delivers an overall level of excellence when it comes to engineering and performance. What's impressive about the PS3, in fact, is that with all this power under the hood, the system runs as quietly as it does. (Some have complained about fan noise, but those problems seem to be few and far between--contact Sony's customer support if your PS3's fan is excessively loud.)

After running for several hours straight, we found that we could still place a hand over the back of the unit and not get scorched--the system runs pretty warm, but not blazingly hot. Meanwhile, the Xbox 360 cooling fan and DVD drive are comparatively far noisier, often to the point of distraction. Also, the PS3 hasn't had any widespread reliability problems, unlike the "red ring of death" problem that continues to plague the 360.

The console's high failure rate--at least on models produced early on in its life cycle--has made for customer service headaches and a billion-dollar liability for Microsoft as frustrated Xbox gamers exchange dead consoles.

Play time
As mentioned above, despite all of the vaunted "power" of the PS3's unique Cell processor, games appearing on both the Xbox 360 and the PS3 tend to look all but identical on both consoles. The PS3 clearly measures up to the Xbox 360 in terms of its graphics prowess, but there are few games available that are unique enough to declare them as a "system-seller," while the argument can be made that "Metal Gear Solid 4" is that game.

However, other exclusive titles such as "Heavenly Sword," "Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction," and "Uncharted: Drake's Fortune" have finally given PlayStation 3 owners something to cheer about. Simply put: Sony needs to deliver still more compelling exclusives, as well as multiplatform titles that look and play better on the PS3.

That said, 2008 has certainly seen things looking much better for the console than ever before as sales have gone up, most likely because of the decision to cut the price of the console and the end of the high-def format war.

At first, the PS3 came with backward support for a wide range of PS2 games (with the 20GB and 60GB models), utilizing the "Emotion Engine" chip to provide hardware support. When the updated versions shipped in March and August 2007, the company stripped the console of this chip to reduce costs and in its place added a software emulation solution for PS2 playback.

This became a precarious situation for long-time PlayStation fans as backward compatibility with PS2 games was slightly deteriorated. However, this has gradually improved with periodic software updates. All along Sony has stated that it wanted to eventually shift to developing content exclusively for the PS3, and with the total omission of PS2 support in the new 2008 PS3 models, this is the first indication of that focus.

Movie watching
Since the PS3's debut, we've seen several Blu-ray players from Samsung, Panasonic, LG, and Sony itself. None of them generally perform any better than the PS3, even though they cost more (twice as much or more in some cases). HD movies look superb on the PS3, which can output video at full 1080p resolution via its HDMI 1.3 port.

Audio support is also top notch as the PS3 decodes Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio soundtracks internally, outputting them as linear PCM, which should deliver impeccable lossless surround when connected to most HDMI-equipped AV receivers.

Sticklers may lament the lack of "bit stream" audio output or multichannel analog connectors--if either is an issue for you, then you're in the small minority who should opt for one of those more expensive standalone Blu-ray players.

With Blu-ray having soundly defeated HD-DVD in the high-def format war (thanks, in large part, to the popularity of the PS3), all major Hollywood studios are now supporting the format, and Blu-ray releases are ramping up as the format slowly but surely becomes more prevalent. In the meantime, the PS3 also plays (and upconverts) standard DVDs (see detailed analysis).

As of now, the PS3 is the only console available with the best Blu-ray player on the market. This is yet another reason to consider it not only a gaming console but a fully featured, high-def media hub that can easily compete with the Xbox 360 in terms of video quality. The PS3 will once again have its hands full when the Xbox 360 begins to offer Netflix streaming with the much anticipated November 2008 dashboard update.

Our only real complaint with the PS3's movie playback is the remote control issue. Accessing Blu-ray and DVD menus with the PS3 controller is functional, yet a bit awkward. Unfortunately, you won't be able to program a standard universal remote to control your PS3 as it lacks an infrared port. Thus, it needs to receive commands via Bluetooth. Not coincidentally, Sony offers a Bluetooth compatible remote for $25.

Other options have surfaced to combat this issue, such as the Nyko Blu-Wave Infrared Remote and the USBIRX3 from Schmartz.com. But we just wish Sony would've spent a few extra pennies and added a standard infrared receiver to the console. Also, with the console now only offering two USB ports, you'll be down to one should you choose a USB IR solution.]]> http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/fumito-ueda-on-famitsu-ico-3-is-based-on-contact/ http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/fumito-ueda-on-famitsu-ico-3-is-based-on-contact/ Wed, 19 Nov 2008 20:06:50 CST takavach PlayStation 3 http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/fumito-ueda-on-famitsu-ico-3-is-based-on-contact/
ICO was based on two characters holding hands and the core mechanic in Shadow of the Colossus was holding onto a colossus. Both of these functions were executed by pressing and holding a button. A similar form of contact will be present in his new game.

This aspect was already suggested in a previous interview Ueda had with Game Watch, just after finishing Shadow of the Colossus.

You can read more about it, and all the other things we know about 'ICO 3', in this interview here, which was put together by piecing all bits of information we have on the new game.]]> http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/analyst-recession-could-affect-playstation-3-sales-the-most/ http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/analyst-recession-could-affect-playstation-3-sales-the-most/ Tue, 18 Nov 2008 22:45:14 CST PS3 News PlayStation 3 http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/analyst-recession-could-affect-playstation-3-sales-the-most/
Blu-ray predictions are down due to the struggling economy. PS3 sales should also be affected, an obvious conclusion made by analyst Piers Harding-Rolls.

"At the top end, the PS3 with its high price is arguably more likely to be impacted by a recession than the other platforms. This may prompt consumers to consider other consoles or wait for the PS3 price to drop."

But, sluggish sales of the PS3 won't be the only outcome of a recession economy. Credit has dried up in many areas, meaning developers of games may be forced to cancel or stall projects, before funds become more readily available.

"Where I do see an impact is with regards to access to credit for publishers that look to borrow to invest in content production. Obviously credit is less available generally so this may result in cost cutting and some projects being canceled and put on hold."

Of course, when developers and publishers can't try something new, you know what they turn to: less original IPs as investors become increasingly wary of games with ambiguous potential.]]> http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/ps3-is-now-two-years-old-happy-second-birthday-playstation-3/ http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/ps3-is-now-two-years-old-happy-second-birthday-playstation-3/ Mon, 17 Nov 2008 23:18:34 CST PS3 News PlayStation 3 http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/ps3-is-now-two-years-old-happy-second-birthday-playstation-3/
November 17 is a special date for us at SCEA because, as many of you fans know, it's when we launched PLAYSTATION 3.

Two years ago today, we delivered our next-generation console, providing consumers with a gaming and home entertainment system unlike anything in the market - the power of the Cell Broadband Engine, out-of-the-box HDMI support for 1080p resolution, and a Blu-ray drive for high-definition movies and expansive games.

The PS3's launch was also when the Resistance franchise was born, and the original title's success has spawned a blockbuster sequel with Resistance 2 and a unique PSP installment with the upcoming Resistance: Retribution.

But that's just what we started with, and PS3 has come a long way since November 17, 2006. If you stood in line the night before launch, the PS3 that you took out of the box when you got home isn't the same system that it is today.

We've added new features and enhancements that you all have asked for, such as Trophies, XMB access in-game, Remote Play with PSP, DLNA Media Server capability, and BD-Live support, to name just a few.

Along the way, we became the first gaming system to be recognized by Guinness World Records for Folding@Home and, because of the strong PS3 install base, helped Blu-ray win the format war.

PlayStation Network has truly hit its stride with unique downloadable games and a video delivery service featuring movies, TV shows, and original programming that you can watch in HD with your PS3, or bring with you on your PSP. And with 14 million active accounts and 273 million pieces of content downloaded, we know that you're thirsting for this digital entertainment.

Of course, most important to all of you is the game library, and we've seen exclusive titles launch that showcase the PS3's capabilities, from Metal Gear Solid IV: Guns of the Patriots, which takes full advantage of Blu-ray's massive 50GB capacity to deliver the best installment in the storied franchise, to LittleBigPlanet, whose infectious charm and user-generated content make it a genre-defying experience.

There's something for every type of gamer on PS3, and the efforts of SCE's first-party development studios (the industry's largest ) along with our third-party partners will continue to deliver knock-out titles.

Thanks to all of you, PS3's momentum is stronger than ever. There are nearly 17 million PS3 systems around the world, and in the United States, PS3 hardware sales are up nearly 100 percent from where we were at this time last year.

Software sales have tripled from a year ago. Yes, we're proud about everything we've accomplished, and we're even more psyched about where we're going with our holiday software lineup (our best to date) and the new Uncharted: Drake's Fortune PLAYSTATION 3 Bundle, which features a 160GB PS3 and is available now.

We wouldn't be where we are today without your continued support and all of the feedback you've provided here on this blog. We don't have a crystal ball, but we know that you can look forward to many great games and PS3 enhancements over the next 12 months, starting with the upcoming launch of PlayStation Home's open beta, which will bring the PS3 community closer together.

Then, just around the corner, you'll have Killzone 2, inFAMOUS, and tons more. So please join me in wishing a happy second birthday to PS3!]]> http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/rumor-sony-signs-media-molecule-to-a-3-game-contract/ http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/rumor-sony-signs-media-molecule-to-a-3-game-contract/ Mon, 17 Nov 2008 22:06:14 CST Starlight PlayStation 3 http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/rumor-sony-signs-media-molecule-to-a-3-game-contract/
The ex-Lionhead ragtag group of developers is a third party studio and could make titles for any system.

However, rumors are pouring in that Sony, enjoying the commercial and critical reception of MM's LittleBigPlanet, has just offered them an exclusive 3 game contract and the guys over at Media Molecule have graciously accepted.

Though its too early to expect to see anything substantial from them any time soon, expect some sort of announcement over the course of 2009.]]> http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/playstation-3s-million-seller-video-game-titles/ http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/playstation-3s-million-seller-video-game-titles/ Mon, 17 Nov 2008 22:02:41 CST Starlight PlayStation 3 http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/playstation-3s-million-seller-video-game-titles/
Games listed in order of sales (in millions):

1. Grand Theft Auto IV, Take-Two Interactive - 4.8
2. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, Activision - 3.7
3. Motorstorm, Sony Computer Entertainment - 3.6
4. Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, Konami - 3.4
5. Resistance: Fall of Man, Sony Computer Entertainment - 3.2
6. Assassin's Creed, Ubisoft - 2.9
7. Gran Turismo 5 Prologue, Sony Computer Entertainment - 2.2
8. Uncharted: Drake's Fortune, Sony Computer Entertainment - 1.9
9. Pro Evolution Soccer 2008, Konami - 1.6
10. Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock, RedOctane - 1.6
11. FIFA 08, Electronic Arts - 1.6
12. Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction, Sony Computer Entertainment - 1.4
13. Need for Speed: ProStreet, Electronic Arts - 1.4
14. Devil May Cry 4, Capcom - 1.3
15. Heavenly Sword, Sony Computer Entertainment - 1.2
16. FIFA 09, Electronic Arts - 1.1
17. WWE Smackdown vs Raw 2008, THQ - 1.0

Hope that helps.

Notice: There are other titles, such as Madden 09, that I could not find solid numbers on, but Wikipedia lists total sales across all platforms at 4.5 million, so one could assume it sold at least a million on PS3.]]> http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/global-playstation-3-releases-for-the-week-of-november-16-2008/ http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/global-playstation-3-releases-for-the-week-of-november-16-2008/ Sun, 16 Nov 2008 22:38:39 CST PS3 News PlayStation 3 http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/global-playstation-3-releases-for-the-week-of-november-16-2008/
US Games
- Mortal Kombat Vs DC Universe ("Kollector's" edition)
- Shaun White Snowboarding
- NPPL Championship Paintball 2009
- Tomb Raider Underworld
- Disney's Bolt
- Karaoke Revolution: American Idol
- Alone In The Dark: Inferno

European Games
- Tomb Raider Underworld
- Need For Speed: Undercover
- Mortal Kombat Vs DC Universe (Collector's Edition)
- The Legend of Spyro: Dawn of the Dragon
- Rise of the Argonauts
- Rapala Fishing Frenzy 2009
- World Championship Off Road Racing

Asian Games
- Aquanaut's Holiday (English/Chinese version)
- Mercenaries 2
- MotorStorm Pacific Rift
- Shaun White Snowboarding

Don't forget that PS3 games are region free, so go ahead and import any games you fancy (Aquanaut's Holiday maybe, now it's in English?) Be aware that downloadable content is region-specific, however, so if you do import any games you'll need to buy your DLC from the appropriate PSN Store.]]> http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/eight-days-looked-insanely-good-so-why-was-it-cancelled/ http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/eight-days-looked-insanely-good-so-why-was-it-cancelled/ Sun, 16 Nov 2008 22:21:22 CST Starlight PlayStation 3 http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/eight-days-looked-insanely-good-so-why-was-it-cancelled/
Jim Jagger, 3D animator for the game, has released a demo reel containing footage of Eight Days, and boy did it look good.

There's some footage of EyePet and Looney Toons in there, but most of it consists of Eight Days gameplay footage.

The cover manuvers looked fantastic and I could not see exactly why SCEE would stop production on this. Even if it lacked multiplayer, they could of just, you know, added it. So take a look see for yourself, what Eight Days could have been.

Video can be seen below. Enjoy!

0YeV61aD2Dw]]> http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/first-killzone-2-box-cover-revealed-for-playstation-3/ http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/first-killzone-2-box-cover-revealed-for-playstation-3/ Sun, 16 Nov 2008 10:12:12 CST wicked insanity PlayStation 3 http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/first-killzone-2-box-cover-revealed-for-playstation-3/
Please note that this design is intended for Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE) territories, and that the age rating applies to all PAL markets that adopt the PEGI system for rating games.

Designs for other territories and rating systems will be unveiled soon.

Expect those trademark Helghast goggles to glare at you from the shelves of your local game store in February 2009!]]>