125w ago - SCEE's Ross McGrath of the PlayStation Store Team is here with this weeks European PSN updates today, as follows:

The mighty Dead Space 2 launches this week, bringing with it a new standard in survival horror, but let's not forget that the PS3 version takes it up a notch with the inclusion of Dead Space: Extraction, the semi on-rails shooter prequel to Dead Space and one of the best Nintendo Wii games of 2009.

Re-mastered in HD, Move compatible (but also supports the Dual Shock) and complete with co-op, this is a game no Dead Space fan should be without - for the time being, new copies of Dead Space 2 will have Extraction included in the box, but for all you thrifty second-hand purchasers or those who wait to get Dead Space 2 and miss out on the Limited Edition, you can always snag Extraction direct from the Store.

What else is on offer this week? Well, this update is small but perfectly formed and we have a little bit of everything.

We've got the demo for BulletStorm, the surprisingly awesome new shooter from Epic Games - the demo gives you a chance to run through one level and attempt to get the best score possible - online leaderboards are implemented too.

PSP get two new RPGs in the form of Spectral Souls II, strategy RPGing at its finest and another...

125w ago - Treyarch Developer JD_2020 has announced that the Call of Duty: Black Ops PS3 v1.06 update went live today and includes the following patch details, to quote:

We are listening to you and we've been busy working on updates based on feedback from the community. We have already deployed a number of updates, and there will be many more to come. Stay tuned right here for all the latest info.

Patch 1.06 released at 2AM PST on 1/25/11. Treyarch is dedicated to ensuring the best gaming experience for the fans, and we've been actively working with you to continue to improve the game based on your feedback. As always, keep the feedback coming through the community forums.

1/25/11 (Patch 1.06)

New Features:
• New contracts added to the rotation.
• Added optional pre-match timer for LAN / System-Link games.

Issues Addressed:
• Fixed freeze associated with larger games.
• Improved reliability of players connections to one another.
• Improved ability to bring parties to the game lobby. Late party joiners would try to connect to previous lobby host and be denied if new joiners trigger a lobby host migration.
• Addressed an issue where the Host encounters and infinite spinning loading circle after a Host migration.

125w ago - Today trueicecold has released a PC application formerly dubbed PS3 Game Detector which is now called PS3 Game Updater and allows users to identify and grab updates for their PlayStation 3 game backups.

It fetches the list of the game names in your specified backups directories with an option of finding the latest update to the those games.

Download: PS3 Game Updater v1.11 / PS3 Game Updater v1.2 / PS3 Game Updater v1.3 / PS3 Game Updater v1.4 / PS3 Game Updater v1.41 / PS3 Game Updater v1.41 (Mirror)

To quote: A small program I created, to make it easier for users download updates for their games.

This program will scan you backed up games folder (On your computer, not PS3), show details about each game, and give you the option to download updates for your games, all at once by your choice (deselect the checkboxes on the left to remove a game from the update list).

Version 1.41

+ Added "Collapse/Expand" button to expand all updates.
+ Downloading an update will also show progress in the game column itself, so no need to expand it
+ Added new file format for...

125w ago - Today the MultiMAN v01.14.00 OBM PS3 Mod update has arrived, which now includes a stable syscall36 functionality among the changed detailed below.

Download: multiMAN 01.14.00 for PS3

First post updated with links for all packs for all PlayStation 3 firmwares - version 01.14.00 with the following changes includes:

• Implemented stable syscall36 function (thanks to they know who)
  
• Fixed file manager default character mode
  
• Fixed network icon/text when no network is available
  
• More user friendly messages when problem appears
  
• New update/cover server (thanks to shaj)
  
• Option to download updates without USB stick
  
• New 'options.ini' format (thanks to SiGMAniac)
  
• [Last Game] updated (separate application)
  
• A lot of other stability fixes
  

Dean

125w ago - Since the previous PSP2 Dev Kit picture leak, Kotaku (linked above) has now posted what may be the first leaked official retail picture of Sony's PSP2 handheld console while VG247.com reports that Sony will reveal the PSP2 on January 27th in Tokyo.

To quote: This art work surfaced online today on 2CH, Japan's largest online forum.

The photo features a handheld believed to be the PSP2, which has a PSPgo style sliding shell. There is a 32 GB SD memory card as well, plus a "PSP2" Memory Stick. There is a long, thin stylus as well. According to Japan's Nikkei newspaper, the PSP2 will have a touch screen.

Unlike the current PSP, there are two analog nubs, giving this handheld a controller layout similar to the PS3.

What is fishy about the picture is that it appears to be a photograph of a handout of some kind. While handouts may be present at the January 27 press conference, it's also a good way for a Photoshopper to hide their work, as it masks any differences in resolution you'd be able to detect in an online image.

Going by the codename VITA, PSP2 has been in the...