Monday, January 7, 2008

Sony Boss Talks PlayStation Network Expansion

The PLAYSTATION 3 started off badly, but things are starting to pick up as this new year begins.

Sony Computer Entertainment boss and CEO Howard Stringer tells News.com that the PlayStation Network will soon be expanding with video distribution and other forms of multimedia for your console. Since Sony owns both music and movie companies, this should be a piece of cake t o them.

In two months, Sony will hold a press conference about this, let the waiting being.

[Via Kotaku]

CES 2008: LittleBigPlanet's Sackboy Emotions


It seems that LittleBigPlanet's Sackboy is full of emotions. The new features previewed at the Consumer Electronic Show 2008 allows the character to express his feelings now, whether it's angry, sad, happy, or overwhelmed, Sackboy can express it. Enjoy!

PSP Skype Demonstration from CES 2008


Yes people, Skype is on the PSP. Above, we have a video of a demonstration for the upcoming Skype program. This program allows you to call and chat with people using your PSP, like a cell phone. According to the demonstrator, Skype for PSP will be available in a firmware update for the PSP Slim "probably by the end of January".

Video: Unreal Tournament III Action Cam Mod


If you still haven't downloaded this mod by my friend Fall, then you are missing out. Take a look at what your missing out on with the Unreal Tournament III Action Cam Mod for the PLAYSTATION 3. Get it with details here.

The Agency: Five New Screenshots & Information


Sony Online Entertainment has released some new screenshots of their upcoming PC/PS3 title, The Agency, over at the Consumer Electronics Show 2008. The style of this game reminds me a lot of Team Fortress 2. Enjoy the screenshots!

Game Informer has a new interview with a developer of the game, you can read that here.

Madden 08 PLAYSTATION 3 Patch Arriving Tuesday Morning

The patch that the Xbox 360 version of Madden 08 received in November is finally coming to the PLAYSTATION 3 (little late, no?). The patch is arriving tomorrow morning (January 8, 2008), full details of the patch below.

Fumble Fix - Reduced fumble chances in certain situations. This has been tested thoroughly and we feel that people will be happy with a more realistic (and more fun!) number of fumbles. This was priority number 1 for us.

DB Reactions- changes to the way that DBs play man coverage. Defenders in man coverage won’t be able to react to passes that they cannot see. This should make it easier to throw against man coverage.

Favre “Moonwalk”- I love the names that you guys come up with for issues such as this one. You can rest assured that you won’t see Farve (or any QB) dancing toward the sideline anymore.

Hook Zone Flip Bug- I saw a post on a community forum talking about this bug and it turns out the fix was very minimal risk. You can now flip plays with hook zones without the players leaving their zones.

Franchise - Fixed NCAA import issue where players would turn 26

Franchise - Fixed bug where HOF Unlocked players cannot be released in Franchise.

Franchise - Fixed bug where the FA pool would run out of certain positions

Online Game Reporting- fixed a number of issues where games weren’t being reported correctly or people weren’t getting the right number of ranking points for a win. This will also make stats more accurate.

EA SPORTS World- Accomplishment ‘20 consecutive completions’ not awarded when completions ends up under 100%

[Via Pasta Padre]

CES 2008: Sony Confirms Blu-Ray Copying to PSP

At the Consumer Electronics Show 2008, Sony has today confirmed something they've been planning for about a year now.

That is, the ability to purchase a Blu-Ray movie, load it up on your PLAYSTATION 3, and download it on to your PSP, meaning two copies. Meaning, time to share movies. Thats just awesome.

[Via Kotaku]

Eternal Sonata: 24 New Japanese Screenshots & Artwork


Thanks to a NeoGAF member, we have some new screenshots and artwork (last few pictures) of the PLAYSTATION 3 version of Namco Bandai's Eternal Sonata (Trusty Bell in Japan). As you know, the PLAYSTATION 3 version comes loaded with extra content such as more playable characters. Enjoy the screens!

CES 2008: LittleBigPlanet Walthrough Demonstration


The Consumer Electronic Show 2008 featured a LittleBigPlanet demo in the Sony pavillion. In the video we see above, Kyle Shubel walks us through some new “Create” functions of the game.

In the video, Kyle builds a tree from some building blocks. Stay tuned for more on the planet thats little, but big.

[Via PlayStation.Blog]

CES 2008: Metal Gear Solid 4 Holding a Solid Frame Rate on the PS3

Sony Computer Entertainment showed off Konami's upcoming Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots at the Consumer Electronics Show 2008 in Las Vegas today.

Punch Jump reports that "The latest build of the next Metal Gear entry held a frame rate at 30 frames per second and 60 frames depending on the amount of action displayed on-screen. When the on-screen visuals held less action and focused on nearby buildings the action locked at 60 frames per second. However, when bullet fire, grenades, smoke, and debris filtered the screen, the action fell to 30 frames per second."

Good to see that the game is holding a good framerate level. Definitely a first day buy.

[Via PunchJump]

PLAYSTATION 3 Overtakes Sales of Xbox 360 Since Launch

For all those that said the PLAYSTATION 3 was going to fail, lets do a comparison. The PLAYSTATION 3 has done better from it's launch in a year and two months then the Xbox 360 did from it's launch and a year and two months.

The Wii currently over takes them all, sadly. The PLAYSTATION 3 is generally approaching nine million units sold.

[Via Ruliweb]

Sony Online Developing New PSN Titles Using Gamebryo Engine

Sony Online Entertainment developers chose Gamebryo to produce certain future titles. The first games that are being developed by Gamebryo are based on gameshow IPs and should launch before the next GDC 2008 in February 2008.

"Our relationship with SOE aligns Emergent with the exploding casual, online games market and further demonstrates the range of leading entertainment properties and platforms that Gamebryo is capable of supporting. We are thrilled that SOE has chosen us as a technology provider for their studio," said Geoffrey Selzer, CEO of Emergent. "Gamebryo gives SOE's studio the flexibility to design a complete range of titles to address the millions of gamers currently active on the network."

"Gamebryo gives us a great deal of flexibility in creating downloadable titles for the PlayStation Network," said Shalom Mann, Senior Vice President, SOE. "The codebase provides a solid foundation for our Downloadable Games Framework that allows us to bring a variety of different types of games to the PlayStation Network in a fraction of the time had we coded the base engine ourselves."

Hopefully, we will see something good out of this.

[Via WorthPlaying]

Motorstorm Getting More Expansions

Motorstorm is getting een more expansions it seems. This Thursday, two more expansions are making it's way to the PLAYSTATION Store.

The first expansion track is Diamondback Speedway. This track puts players against the high banking of the natural amphiteatre Yei Bichei. The second expansion track is Eagle's Nest, a tight race set atop precarious cliff-edges.

These two are thitting the PLAYSTATION Store this Thursday with a double pack as well going for GBP 3.49.

[Via IGN]

Yakuza: Kenzan! Demo Videos


If you aren't one of the many who created a Japanese account to download the Yakuza: Kenzan! demo released on the Japanese PLAYSTATION Store yesterday, then take your time to enjoy these videos of the demo. More at the link below.

[Watch: Yakuza: Kenzan! Videos]

CES 2008: Sony Lists Metal Gear Solid 4 As 'Exclusive', We Aren't Shocked

At the Consumer Electronics Show 2008, the Sony grouns contained a demonstration of Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots. Running on a screen above the demo were a list of facts for the game.

One of the facts states "Exclusive title for the PlayStation 3 supporting the new DUALSHOCK 3 controller".

I don't know if this is news to you, but 1UP apparently doesn't know that this will remain a PLAYSTATION 3 exclusive.

[Via 1UP]

LittleBigPlanet: CES 2008 Update

At the Consumer Electronics Show 2008, Sony is showing off their cute LittleBigPlanet. They showed off some new features in the game and a look at how users will create new levels from scratch.

Some of the new features in the game include new emotions for our sacky little friends. Clicking up on the D-Pad will make Sackboy smile, down makes him sad. Sometimes he will stick up the peace sign, or punch up his fists.

Sackboy now has the ability to move front and back in the enviorment, rather than the 2D side to side shown before.

The currency in LittleBigPlanet was called Sponge before, now it's called Fluff which look like marshmallows.

"We got rid of Sponge because it could only look like one thing ... a sponge," says Shubel, indicating that the Fluff would change its appearance based on the level.

In order to create a level from scratch, a user must open up an empty room, and then turn it into a work of art with the many tools provided. Some sort of rating system will be on each level in order to prevent accidental R-Rated room visitings.

LittleBigPlanet is expected to hit the PLAYSTATION 3 by the end of 2008.

[Via GameDaily]

GPS for PSP Coming to the US

The GPS Receiver that has been on retail in Japan for a while now is finally coming to the United States. According to Sony's CES 2008 page, "Your PSP will provide 2D/3D locations, driving directions, POI's, and even downloadable city guides."

No release date or price was announced. In Japan though, these babies go for about $51.

[Via JoyStiq] [Thanks Langston!]

Skype for PSP: First Screenshots


The first images of the upcoming PlayStation Portable (slim only) version of Skype has surfaced on Famitsu. Although it's not much, at least it's something. Darn, this means now I have to pick up a slim. Below is a picture of the microphone used with Skype for PSP. Which is set to hit Japan on January 24 as a standalone peripheral for 2,500 yen ($23). A two-piece set will also be available on the same day for 4,000 yen ($46). Enjoy!



[Via Famitsu]

Yakuza: Kenzan! Demos Now on Japanese PLAYSTATION Network

For those of you that have Japanese accounts, you may want to head over to your PLAYSTATION Store, because the two Yakuza: Kenzan! demos we mentioned a few days back are now available for download.

The two demos come in sizes 839MB & 964MB. Give it a download and tell us what you think in the comments section.