121w ago - Update: Today WirelessGoodness.com has spotted the new PS3 model CECH-3001A/B via the FCC site further confirming the previous report.

The new PlayStation 3 slim model will cut power consumption from 230W to 200W and weigh in at 2.6kg down from 3.0kg, however, it will not include PS2 compatibility.

According to StingyGamer.com Sony is preparing a sizeable PS3 price drop soon which will coincide with Nintendo's 3DS console release in March (although IndustryGamers.com states Wedbush Securities analyst Michael Pachter predicts June) followed by a new hack-proof PlayStation 3 console in development.

To quote: "My source, who also told me the NGP's price will be £250 in the UK, stated Sony has been preparing a price...

122w ago - I found this over on NextGen Update (linked above) and it seems promising regarding unbanning PS3 consoles and also anti-ban methods for the PlayStation 3 Console ID and PSN Sign-In.

Here are the details from their site: ANTI BAN+maybe unban: YOU CAN COMPLETELY REMOVE YOUR CONSOLE ID AND SIGN IN.

To do this simply leave second value blank not tested on a banned ps3 yet but it should work+you can hide your console id which can prevent you from getting banned.

First do the PSN Bypass Method: In charles there is a request for a file called auth what it contains is your username, password and console id.

This is what the request file looks like:

x's are just me protecting my info

type=0&
serviceid=IV0001-xxxxxxxxx_00&
loginid=xxxxxxxxxxxx%40yahoo.com&
password=xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx&
first=true&
consoleid=0000000xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx00000000 000000000000000000000000

To get your console id have Charles running with the ssl and all that stuff

Sign in and on charles you will see two new files

Click on https://auth.np.ac.playstation.net

Then /nav

And lastly auth

When you click auth, info should appear on the right click...

125w ago - Previously the possibility of PSN bans was rumored for PlayStation 3 hackers, and today Ripten.com (linked above) has confirmed that CoD: Black Ops PS3 hackers are now being hit with the PS3 Firmware 3.56 ban hammer.

To quote: Explained by Sony as a "security update" its effects are being felt by accused modders/hackers. CoD: BlOps hackers are getting hit hardest with a permanent console ban - many of whom have expressed their "innocence" on the official PS3 CoD: Black Ops Forums.

It's not limited to a few. There are dozens of threads about this topic. Here are just a few of their posts:

CaStR0_21: How long am I banned for? "This console has been permanently banned from the Black Ops servers....." Does this mean forever? Or will I be unbanned after awhile?

IssY_I : When i want to play black ops it says my console is banned permanently???i have payed 150$ for the Ps3 (i bought it yesterday (used) and just came home with a new copy...

128w ago - After many hours and sleepless nights we present to you a Beta release of Rebug 3.41E for PS3! This has been the hard work of Cyberskunk and this project is his baby.

Rebug beta WILL NOT have the 'PSN Quick Signup' enabled.

The only thing it does at the moment is connect and enable chat and console activation (Console activation is useless without access to PSN content).. It would be a waste for the feature to be shot down before it was actually useful to anyone by everyone creating and signing in and out of Quick Signup and getting noticed...

This is a direct quote from Cyberskunk:

Q) What is 'Rebug 3.41E'?
A) An attempt to build a Debug/Retail PS3 firmware with the full features of both

Q) Does it need to be 'Jailbroken'
A) Yes. It has it's own payload. But not to use the 'Debug Settings' menu. That is always available.

I have finally decided that 'Rebug 3.41E' is in good enough shape for a beta release so here it is.

At the moment it has all 'Retail PS3' features running except PSN. So installing 'Rebug 3.41E' will not break anything infact you can play...

135w ago - NIS America Marketing Coordinator Ryan Phillips has shared details on Hyperdimension Neptunia for PlayStation 3 today, describing the upcoming PS3 title as console gaming personified.

To quote: I just wanted to stop by to provide you with some tasty tidbits about Hyperdimension Neptunia for PS3. The epic tale of the meek Neptune, Compa, and IF on their search for Histoire is headed to the U.S. and I wanted to talk more in-depth about the game.

The battle system in Hyperdimension Neptunia provides customizable, varied approaches to gameplay. Each character is able to build combos against mobs and bosses, and depending on how you decide to link or structure your four-command combo, some really powerful abilities and really long chains can be created.

For example, you can use an ability called "Skill Link" as the final hit in your combo chain that will allow combinations to string together and restore some AP (action points) and create higher hit and damage counts.

In other words, if you create a combo as X, X, O, O, with the final O using "Skill Link," you will begin a new combo with O as the first command. Then, you can chain your second combo like, say O, X, X, X, with the final X using "Skill Link,"...