At the risk of sounding like a forum troll, I have to say, I'm not too impressed with the implementation of Netflix on Xbox 360.
The service, which is available to Xbox Live and Netflix -subscribers, allows you to stream movies to your TV via your Xbox 360, and on paper, it sounds ingenious.
Indeed, that's why I -- along with many others -- was so excited when Microsoft announced this forthcoming feature way back at E3 in July. Unfortunately, Netflix for Xbox Live users is now here, and it's not all it was cracked up to be.
For starters, the selection of streamable movies is lackluster. Netflix users who have used the service's "Instantly Watch" section know that there aren't an incredible variety of movies to pick from. There are few new releases available. Instead, the selection is composed mainly of films like Mission to Mars, The Abyss, Superman: The Movie, Batman Forever and Scarface.
There's nothing necessarily wrong with th... More »
IGN (linked above) has posted its review of the official Sony wireless keypad for the PlayStation 3, and seems to have a problem with its general design more than anything.
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 Mi... More »
To quote via PlayStation Underground: Tomorrow, we are releasing a new version of PlayStation Home called PlayStation Home 1.0. This version will add some exciting new features and fix several known bugs, preparing us for launch into Open Beta. You can find the full list of new features below.
Highlights include new emotes and dance moves for avatars, new arcade games, new ways to launch into games from PlayStation Home, a new game rewards system, and much, much more! We think you’ll enjoy these many changes and improvements.
Home will be down for a period of time tomorrow to prepare for the launch of Version 1.0. I will let you know in the forums when it is back up.
We will be inviting a tremendous number of new beta testers soon, and conducting a massive load test this Friday night, November 21st. We will have an event to celebrate the moment. Stay tuned for further information as your assistance with this event is greatly appreciated.
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There's general agreement that Sony stumbled out of the gate with the PlayStation 3. Months of intense hype were followed by a late launch (fully a year after the Xbox 360) and a staggering $600 price tag for the deluxe model.
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 w... More »
2008 has been full of ups and downs for the PlayStation 3. Whether or not Sony delivered on all their promises is questionable.
However, if there is one thing that can't be taken from Sony's next-gen console is the tremendous growth its software library has undergone over the past year.
In 2007, critics of the PS3 lambasted the console's software catalog. The system was victim of numerous shoddy ports, and lacked any defining title it could call its own. Then, early in the new year, Sony made the eyebrow raising announcement that they intended to drive sales not by slashing the price again, but by delivering quality software.
And, to the disbelief of even the most devout Sony fanatics, things did begin to change. The PS3 became the lead platform for many multiplatform projects, ironically, not because it was the most powerful platform, but because it was the most infuriating to develop for. Starting with Burnout Paradise in January, the differen... More »
Two years after the initial release of Resistance: Fall of Man Insomniac Games brings us the second installment of Resistance.
The game has been hyped as being bigger and better in every way. Now that the game is finally out, does it stand up to the hype machine or leave players aching for just a little bit more?
Resistance 2 picks up right where the first game left off. Nathan Hale is rescued and brought back to the states where the Chimera has refocused their attacks in huge numbers. In a sense HUGE is the word to describe Resistance 2.
Everything about it is huge. From the bosses, to the levels, to the multiplayer etc. Everything really is that much bigger, but not necessarily better. For starters the story is simply not all that good. While the first game had a narrator filling in the gaps between levels.
Resistance 2 relies solely on short cut scenes. They are animated well and make for good eye candy, but in the end they jus... More »
In just a few days Mirror's Edge will arrive for PS3 (Nov 11) and XBox 360 (Nov 14), which contains many other game tunes as part of the soundtrack.. and EA has made available five of these from the entire soundtrack for download.
You can grab these five tracks for free by downloading them HERE. (29.4MB)
Based on reviews from the demo, it appears many gamers are quite excited about Mirror's Edge thus far. We can not wait until the retail version arrives!
Today Sony's semi-official blog ThreeSpeech has made available a LittleBigPlanet review by a 'regular' there who goes by Apnomis.
In tune with many other recent LBP reviews, it appears Media Molecule's hit is still winning fans over in a big way.
To quote: Apnomis gave us his thoughts on LBP in a thread earlier today as follows:
“I was scared that LBP wouldn’t live up to the hype, I needn’t have worried - it’s absolutely brilliant!!!
It’s one of the best designed and most enjoyable FUN experience I’ve had on a console in years! There’s just a charm about it that you can’t help to be drawn too!
The story mode can be fun for the kids, but at the same time is incredibly challenging for a serious gamer that wants to unlock everything (the Gold trophy for completing all levels without dying should be tough), and the side unlockable levels are a great edition to keep things fresh.
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