156w ago - This weekend TheSixthAxis.com (linked above) reports that Red Dead Redemption (released on May 18 in North America and May 21 in Europe) requires updating your PlayStation 3 entertainment system to PS3 Firmware 3.21 or higher, which also removes the OtherOS functionality along with the ability to use the PS3 Exploit and likely PS3 Custom Firmware.

However, according to several Forum members (including blood911, Chivafighter and IanJ) it may actually require up to PS3 Firmware 3.30 depending on your region.

Additionally, IanJ...

156w ago - Today Gamasutra.com (linked above) have posted an extensive interview with Sony Computer Entertainment of America's Rob Dyer, who stated that SCEA is working on implementing code to make new PSP games unhackable for up to 60 days from release.

This news comes just months after Sony's recent effort to combat PlayStation Portable piracy through online registration requirements.

To quote: "A lot of the stuff that will be announced at E3 we're very excited about, because they are huge titles. And we also believe that there's a way that you will be able to, not stop, but slow down the piracy in the first 30 to 60 days from a tech perspective.

There's some code that you can embed that we've been helping developers implement in order to get people at least to see a 60-day shelf life before it gets hacked and it shows up on BitTorrent.

That's been the biggest problem, no question about it. It's become a very difficult proposition to be profitable, given the piracy right now. And the fact that the category shrunk inside of retail."

157w ago - PlayStation Home Online Community Specialist Locust_Star has revealed news of both Red Dead Redemption reward unlocks and mall updates beginning today in PS Home.

To quote: As you make your way through Red Dead Redemption's dusty terrain, pumping lead into lawmen, lawless men, and even a few not-so-cuddly members of the wildlife community, while grabbing Trophies left and right, keep your eye out for a few mile marker accomplishments that will grant you the kind of highly sought-after PlayStation Home rewards that will make you the envy of your entire posse.

To give you leg up this week, here are the instructions to unlock two of the many PlayStation Home rewards that can be found in the killing fields of Red Dead Redemption: Complete the Rockstar Games Social Club "Skin it to Win It Challenge", and unlock the "Gentlemen's Attire" and "Lady's Finest" virtual items.

In other news, the PlayStation Home Mall will be updated this week with new items for your avatars and personal spaces, including additional Red Dead Redemption items (such as the John Marston outfit).

Other updates include new Irem cowboy and cowgirl items (are you sensing a loose theme...

157w ago - Sony's Creative Director Ed Byrne has introduced the SOCOM 4 PlayStation 3 character squad today to fans, as follows:

Hey SOCOM fans. Back in March, we announced SOCOM 4: U.S. Navy SEALs and shed some light on the single-player campaign, storyline and central characters.

Today, we'd like to provide some intel on the key members of your squad...

Cullen Gray ("OpsCom")
Force: NATO ISF
Age: 36
Leading the charge is Operations Commander, Cullen Gray. Born the son of a naval analyst and a civilian geologist, Cullen Gray's service record is the stuff of legends. While renowned for quickly and quietly resolving some of NATO's most tenuous situations, psychologically his profile is still something of a mystery.

Routine profiling shows that he is withdrawn and cynical, choosing to socialize little with colleagues and showing a distinct lack of empathy for those unwilling to comply with his directives.

Park Yoon-Hee ("Forty-Five")
Force: South Korean 707th Special Missions Battalion
Age: 30
Park Yoon-Hee got her start in the Southern Korean 707th Special Mission Battalion. Within eighteen months she was attached to the 45th Special Forces Brigade after the Korean military relaxed restrictions for female...

157w ago - Yesterday we saw the launch trailer for Red Dead Redemption on PS3, and today Examiner.com (linked above) has revealed that the PlayStation 3 version will be getting some exclusive content similar to what was done in Batman: Arkham Asylum.

Additionally, the rear box art indicates Red Dead Redemption will require 600MB of PS3 HDD space for the installation.

To quote: "Very similar to Batman: Arkham Asylum, which had the exclusive feature of playing as the Joker, Red Dead Redemption will also feature some exclusive to hopefully sway the consumers mind towards the PS3 version.

It did work with Batman and the title ended up outselling the Xbox 360 likely due to that reason.

The exclusive content will be Solomon's Folly Gang Hideout and Walton Gang Outfit - according to the retail box. The content is included for free and packed in the game's casing."