138w ago - Update: Several users have confirmed that Sony's PlayStation Rewards invites are indeed going out and the program is now live!

Sony PlayStation Network Sr. Director Susan Panico has introduced PlayStation Rewards today, where PlayStation fans can earn exclusive status and recognition.

To quote: Today, we're excited to share news of the launch of PlayStation Rewards, a new program that recognizes and rewards our users for simply doing what they love - playing games and interacting with the entertainment content that PlayStation has to offer.

We really wanted to create something that says, "thank you" for being a loyal PlayStation fan.

In its initial launch tomorrow (Oct. 28th), PlayStation Rewards will be an invitation-only beta to all eligible PlayStation Plus and Gamer Advisory Panel (GAP) members. We're kicking things off as a beta so that we can get feedback from our most loyal fans in order to make it the best possible rewards program it can be.

It's also worth noting that during the beta phase, the program will be focused on PlayStation 3 owners, but we hope to include PSP users as well not too far down the road. Oh, and one more thing: PlayStation Rewards will be free...

179w ago - SCEA Marketing Manager Mark Valledor has announced news today on the PlayStation Blog that Sony is seeking LittleBigPlanet 'Game Changers' who can earn up to $50,000!

To quote: Calling all LittleBigPlanet CREATORS! Now's your chance to create fun levels, better the community and be awarded some money - all at the same time.

A few weeks ago, we teamed up with the MacArthur Foundation, HASTAC, and The Entertainment Software Association with support from our nation's capital, to host a unique competition to help the youth of America learn more about science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).

Now we're back with more details and looking for members of the LittleBigPlanet community to step up and be a "Game Changer." If you're interested, read on and you can earn up to $50,000 and help teach LittleBigPlanet gamers a thing or two about STEM while they play your level(s).

You can head on over to the updated Game Changers Competition details page to get the full download, but in a nutshell:

201w ago - Today GamesIndustry.biz (linked above) is reporting news that digital developers are being offered the opportunity to compete for grants of 10,000 GBP to create content for Sony's PlayStation Network.

Sony Computer Entertainment Europe will host a three-day pitching event in October, in conjunction with Pixel-Lab and Northwest Vision, with successful companies awarded the grant, executive production and mentoring with SCEE, as well as the chance to take the project further and pitch to XDev Studio Europe.

To quote: "It was reassuring to see a commitment of public funding like this from Northwest Vision & Media and it's clearly helped the teams involved strengthen their skills in many areas," offered Phil Gaskell, senior producer at XDev Studio Europe. "I'm confident we'll be taking some of the ideas generated through this initiative to market."

Toby Barnes, managing director of Pixel-Lab added: "We were really pleased with the final quality of the pitches last year, the teams had made huge leaps in terms of understanding the commissioning process, their audiences, and what was expected of them.

We are really looking forward to this year's new entrants and are expecting the bar to be even higher."

253w ago - Former Sony boss Chris Deering has put up word that right now just 3 out of 10 games earn back their development budgets.

In addition to this he expects a greater inflex of game companies outside the video game industry to move into the market.

To quote: The gaming industry is still high on its rampant success even in the face of declining economies.

Even so, Deering warned that "traditional revenue sources will not be sufficient to fund games development" as the market continues to grow, and studios need to explore new business models in order to support themselves.

He claims that as of now, only 3 in 10 games earn back their development budgets, and soon companies outside the video game industry will be moving in on its markets.