In attendance at the Sony Computer Entertainment Staff Annual Briefing held yesterday in London, an anonymous source going by the alias of ‘Legends’ has just tipped us off on all manner of huge PlayStation news. We must make it clear that D+PAD weren’t in attendance, but we have no reason to doubt the validity of Legends’ claims.
Price cuts coming in March, PS3 performing better in Europe than 360
Our source tells us that SCEE President David Reeves took to the stage to discuss the current economic climate and how it shouldn’t affect PlayStation business, though was quick to mention that SCEE will be getting more competitive on price from March 2009 onwards. Our guess is that we’ll be seeing price cuts to PS3 around Easter to tie in with the release of Killzone 2…
Reeves then went on to say that the PS3 has a bigger install base than the 360 in PAL territories, and that the install base gap will significantly increase ... More »
Sony has announced that an additional 32 PlayStation Portable titles now support Ad-Hoc Party.
Most games seem to be working with no problem, but there a quite a few that are suffering from issues such as slowdown when using voice chat.
To quote: Games that have no reported problems include:
* Derby Stallion P (Enterbrain)
* Dragon Quest & Final Fantasy in Itadaki Street Portable (Square Enix)
* Initial D Street Stage (Sega)
* Nouryoku Trainer Portable 2 (sega)
* Sarugetchu P! (SCEJ)
* Dokodemo Issyo (SCEJ)
* Piposaru Academia (SCEJ)
* Bleach Heat the Soul (SCEJ)
* Bleach Heat the Soul 4 (SCEJ)
* Boku no Natsuyasumi (SCEJ)
* Minna no Golf Portable (SCEJ)
* Minna no Golf Portable 2 (SCEJ)
* Ratchet & Clank 5 (SCEJ)
* LocoRoco (SCEJ)
* Gundam Battle Royal (Bandai Namco)
* Gundam SEED Federation VS Z.A.F.T. Portable (Bandai Namco)
* Taiko no Tatsujin Port... More »
A new update to the official Japanese White Knight Chronicles Web site shows us a brand new area in the game as well as a new character.
The new area is rather woodsy, it seems, as we see nothing but log-cabins, wood, and grass.
The new character, who's name we do not know in English, has a Knight just as the main character does, and it's pretty freakin' cool too.
Check out the updates at the official site HERE.
Sony Computer Entertainment Japan has confirmed that the PS Store for PSP will officially launch on October 15, 2008 coinciding with PSP Firmware Update 5.0.
The update will add an XMB icon which will allow users to access the PlayStation Store directly from their PSP consoles. Sony will then begin offering downloadable UMD-based titles on the same day as their retail release.
In related news, IGN has made available the first PlayStation Store for PSP screens along with a description on how you use the store.
To quote: Users will need to connect directly to PlayStation Network from PSP via Wi-Fi connection, and then register for a PlayStation Network account to access the PlayStation Store on the XMBTM (XrossMediaBar) of PSP. PlayStation Network account for PS3/ PC can also be used.
Press Release: PLAYSTATION®STORE FOR PSP® (PLAYSTATION®PORTABLE)
TO BECOME AVA... More »
At the TGS, Sony has revealed that all future UMD PSP title releases will be accompanied by a downloadable version for the PSP store. Destroy All Heros 2 will be the first dual-release game when the PSP store hits Japan on October 15.
To quote: Destroy All Heros 2 is the first SCEJ game to be effected by the new dual-release policy, hitting Japanese stores as UMD and the PS Store as a download on October 15.
Other titles currently currently on SCEJ's list include:
* Bleach Soul CARNIVAL - October 23
* Secret Agent Clank - November 20
* PATAPON2 DonChaka - November 27
* LocoRoco2 - December 4
* ENKAKU SOUSA -23 days for the "Truth" - Winter 2008
* APE QUEST - TBC
* Gunshot and the Diamonds (working title) - Spring 2009
* RESISTANCE: Retribution - Spring 2009
According to the official Japanese SCEJ site, the current closed PlayStation 3 Home BETA is due to end in a matter of weeks, presumably then opening up the final 1.0 version to a wider public.
Additionally, here’s a list of companies that have signed up as partners for Home, providing content, spaces etc:
- IREM
- Activision
- Acquire
- Atlus
- Walt Disney Japan
- SNK
- EA
- Capcom
- Q Entertainment
- Game Republic
- Genki
- Koei
- Konami
- Spike
- Sega
- D3 Publisher
- Tecmo
- Nippon Ichi Software
- Hudson
- Bandai Namco Games
- Ubisoft
Finally, Home has a major presence at TGS this year, as can be seen by these photographs from the show.
Kurosaki Ichigo of NeoGAF (linked above) has shared Sony's TGS 2008 lineup, as follows:
PS3 Playable Games Announced:
- Guitar Hero 3 Legends of Rock (Activision)
- FIFA 09 (EA)
- Street Fighter IV (Capcom)
- Biohazard 5 (Capcom)
- Lumines Supernova (Q Entertainment)
- Metal Gear Online (Konami)
- Way of the Samurai 3 (Spike)
- Sonic World Adventure (Sega)
- Socom: Confrontation (Zipper)
- PlayStation Home (Sony)
- Doko Demo Issyo (Sony)
- Motor Storm 2 (Sony)
- LittleBigPlanet (Sony)
- Resistance 2 (Sony)
- WWE 2009 SmackDown vs RAW (THQ)
- Gundam Musou 2 (Bandai Namco)
- Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm (Bandai Namco)
Not Announced:
1 Irem
1 Konami
9 SCEJ
PSP Playable Games Announced:
- Sengoku Basara: Battle Heroes (Capcom)
- Shin Sangoku Musou: Multi Raid (Koei)
- Musou Orochi: Maou S... More »
The press release below says it all...
PRESS RELEASE: SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT JAPAN TO RELEASE NEW WIRELESS HEADSET FOR PLAYSTATION®3
Bluetooth® Supported Wireless Headset to Enjoy Voice Chat on PS3®
Wireless HeadsetWireless Headset
Tokyo, September 2, 2008 – Sony Computer Entertainment Japan (SCEJ), a division of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. responsible for business operations in Japan, today announced that it would release Bluetooth® installed Wireless Headset for PLAYSTATION®3 (PS3®) on October 30th, 2008, in Japan at a recommended retail price of 5,000 yen (including tax).
With this new Wireless Headset, users will be able to enjoy the most immersive on-line communication on new software titles supporting on-line chat feature, such as SOCOM: CONFRONTATION*1 available on October 30th, Resistance™ 2 available on November 13th, and MotorStorm™: Pacific Rift available this autumn, all from Sony Computer Ente... More »
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