Home should not be shown at trade shows. Absolutely not. Not under any circumstances. Why? Because it is boring. Home is not a game. It's not even a user interface. It's a... thing.
Once Sony get around to deciding what that actually is will probably be the time they decide to release it, but until then - and especially in the state it was in for my TGS demonstration - it should be kept as far from prying eyes (and hands) as possible.
TGS is a games show. It's for games. Loud, exciting, playable things. But Home? So not a game. The build I was treated to yesterday went a little like this: I log on as "Ricky". Who was a girl, but hey, who am I to question someone else's naming conventions. Then I move around a bit. And I find, about three seconds into the experience, that I'm running around a near-perfect recreation of Sony's TGS booth.
Great! I think. Yeah, I'm already at TGS, and can play all these demos, but wouldn't it be awesome if people at ... More »
A new version of the multiplayer browser Battle.Net will debut with Starcraft II. How will it be superior to the previous version? Well, it'll be able to hit you up for money.
During a BlizzCon '08 panel discussion, Diablo 3 director Jay Wilson said, "We are looking to monetize Battle.Net so that we get to keep making these games and updating features. We kind of have to.” Blizzard wants to avoid putting in a subscription but yes, some as-yet-unknown features will cost money.
Apparently Activision really likes the word "monetize". They've been using it a lot lately, first with Guitar Hero: World Tour, then with Call of Duty: World At War, and now Battle.Net. Guess they've settled on a strategy for their top franchises from here on out.
Quite possible the paid content for Battle.Net is something superfluous, like custom avatars for the browser. If they tried to sell special items or some such, an angry mob with pitchforks would gather. ... More »
Just over two weeks ago there were reports of WipEout HD crashing/freezing and some partially-working DIY-style fixes.
The good news is, WipEout HD has now been patched in order to fix the common game freezing problem among PSN users with over 50 friends.
Currently this patch is available for the European version only, though it is expected to go live in America very soon. The patch notes, which can be retrieved from within the game, state that your save file needs to be deleted after the patch has been installed for the fix to take affect.
This means your lap times, team loyalties and other single-player stats and options will be lost. Your trophies and leaderboard scores, however, won't be lost.
If you've been sidestepping the issue by playing whilst signed out of the PSN, starting again is no doubt quite an annoyance. Don't... More »
Per Jeff Rubenstein (Social Media Manager) via PS Blog:
Just a few minutes ago, one of the most anticipated games of Tokyo Game Show was formally unveiled to the media: White Knight Chronicles (called Shirokishi here in Japan). I sat in on the session and, um, chronicled it for you here:
Kentaro Motomura, Producer of White Knight Chronicles, first runs down some key points – Level-5 created this RPG especially for the PLAYSTATION 3, with a key differentiating element of a transforming hero. They’re trying to do something new with this mechanic. You can play solo, or in a group of up to 4 online (more on that later).
Motomura-san gives a quick rundown of the story and then plays a trailer detailing these scenes: During the princess of Balandor’s coming of age ceremony, a group known as the “Wizard” raids the kingdom looking for the power of “Knight.”
A young man named Leonard escapes into a cellar and finds ... More »
GameKyo has made available a new Star Ocean: The Last Hope gameplay video from TGS 2008. The game has been slated for a February 19, 2009 release in Japan and March 3, 2008 in the US followed by Europe.
While the lack of information on a possible PS3 version of Star Ocean: The Last Hope was expected, Square has announced that the game also is being released on the Sony monolith.
Per Grace Chen (Senior Manager, PLAYSTATION Store) today:
Hey, everyone. It’s time again for the PLAYSTATION Store weekly update. Enjoy!
Qore
Qore Episode 5 ($2.99 for episode / $24.99 for Annual Subscription)
Episode 5 celebrates Halloween with a scary game roundup. It also includes exclusive access to SEGA’s Valkyria Chronicles demo, some spooky/creepy artwork and new shooting galleries.
File Size: 1.68 GB
Games
Linger in Shadows ($2.99)
Linger in Shadows is a unique interactive digital art experience that uses the SIXAXIS controller to manipulate the very fabric of time and reality. Groundbreaking graphics and interactivity raise the bar for what is possible on PlayStation 3. Download Linger in Shadows and experience a truly unique journey that will change the way you think about games and art.
File Size: 100 MB
Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords ($14.9... More »
On Friday, Microsoft gave computer makers a six-month extension for offering Windows XP on newly-shipped PCs. While this doesn’t impact enterprise IT — because volume licensing agreements will allow IT to keep installing Windows XP for many years to come — the move is another symbolic nail in Vista’s coffin.
The public reputation of Windows Vista is in shambles, as Microsoft itself tacitly acknowledged in its Mojave ad campaign.
IT departments are largely ignoring Vista. In June (18 months after Vista’s launch), Forrester Research reported that just 8.8% of enterprise PCs worldwide were running Vista. Meanwhile, Microsoft appears to have put Windows 7 on an accelerated schedule that could see it released in 2010. That will provide IT departments with all the justification they need to simply skip Vista and wait to eventually standardize on Windows 7 as the next OS for business.
After hearing that GTA IV was not going to be patched to recieve PS3 Trophies, it looks like the winds have changed and the final list of Trophies has been unveiled.
Hopefully this will encourage many of you to dig out the game and go get lost in Liberty City once more!
The list is as follows:
• Platinum
Taking A Liberty
Sorry for taking liberties with your time!
• Bronze
Off The Boat
You have completed the first mission.
• Bronze
One Hundred And Eighty
You scored 180 with 3 darts.
• Bronze
Pool Shark
You beat a friend at pool.
• Bronze
King of QUB3D
You beat the high score in QUB3D.
• Bronze
Finish Him
You completed 10 melee counters in 4 minutes.
• Bronze
Genetically Superior
You came first in 20 singleplayer street races.
(0) 
