PlayStation Day 2008: Conference Videos Including Summary

Here are three new PlayStation Day 2008 videos showing the conference they've held in crystal clear HD. The same conference were Hirai delays Home and KILLZONE 2 once more. The summary can be seen above, other videos are below.

Microsoft's Greenberg Says Sony Fails on Promises

Microsoft's Aaron Greenbeg, Director of Product Management for the Xbox 360 and Live, spoke today on promises made by Sony that they've failed to keep. Read his "speech" below.

"I know a lot of folks enjoy watching the console wars and we would never underestimate our competition. But answer to your question specifically, didn't Sony promise all of this last year including Home as well? We have been fighting Sony's promises from the day we entered the market and if you remember at that time it was all about PS2 being an online cybercity with partner announcements from the likes of RealNetworks and AOL. Then three years ago at E3 they showed what PS3 games would supposedly look like with the Killzone 2 video, that we are now learning will ship four years later. That means that we will have shipped Gears of War and Gears of War 2 before they can even get Killzone out the door," he said. "Think back to GDC 2007 when Sony promised to leap ahead in online with the Sony Home unveil. Here we are two years later and multiple delays for a product that appears to have little to no buzz. Where are the achievements? The friends list integration across all games? Where is the long-promised video store? Where are all the other products using and networking with their CELL chip? How come Blu-ray did not result in better games? What happened with Sixaxis and rumble? Where is the complete 1080p game library we were promised? If Blu-ray as they said would be such a catalyst to PS3 console sales, then why have PS3 sales over the past couple months not seen any lift since the format victory?"

The regular PlayStation 3 owner will probably agree with the statements of Greenberg. He makes a valid point, as we still have not received our in-game XMB, Home, or any of the other stuff he mentioned. Games continue to come with required installation even though Blu-Ray is available. Can Sony turn this all around?

[Exclusive Destructoid interview: Microsoft's Aaron Greenberg on GTA IV]

Metal Gear Solid 4: European Bundle Image

Here is the first image of the upcoming Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots bundle for Europe. It will include a 40GB PLAYSTATION 3, a SIXAXIS controller, and of course a Kojima Productions masterpiece titled Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots.

[LusoPlay]

PlayStation Day 2008 Keynote Breakdown

PlayStation Day 2008 came with a keynote with Kaz Hirai and David Reeves from Sony Computer Entertainment. They started the keynote opening wtih showcases of LittleBigPlanet, Go!Explore, PlayTV, Secret Agent Clank, echochrome and Buzz! Quiz TV. Then they went into showing SingStar, Elefunk, KILLZONE 2, Siren, Home, Hot Shots Golf, SOCOM, and Resistance 2.

Kaz Hirai stated that he realized the PlayStation Home delay announcement at TGS 2007 was disappointing, but Home will be open ONLY when it is ready.

David Reeves came on to talk about Buzz! Quiz TV speaking on wireless buzzers, user created quizes and downloadable quiz packs. All forms of user generated content.

Insomniac's Ted Price steps on stage speaking on Resistance 2. They are focusing on Community, Campaign, Cooperative, and Competitive, the four C's. They want to redesign Resistance.net more like Facebook including website matcmaking and such. They are going to have "battles within battles" for the game's online. 5 different squads with different objectives, dynamic objectives. Every squad must go against rival squad with same objectives. With 60 players there are always 5 or 6 players for whom you develop a "really intense hatred."

After Price left the stage, Evolution's Paul Hollywood took the stage saying that Motorstorm: Pacific Rift promises "brutal offroad racing" and ""Not just updated the graphics and added a "2" to the title." The game will have twice as many tracks as the original and include monster trucks as well as 4-player split-screen as well.

DICE's Sean Decker comes on stage to talk about Mirror's Edge, a game about a girl name Faith who is on the run. "We're going to put you in the shoes of Faith" he says. Expect to see this video on the PlayStation Network this week.

They also announced PlayTV will be releasing in September 2008 in Europe for 99 euros. Thats just about it, day is over. I'm happy but sad no mention of in-game XMB.

[Liveblog from PlayStation Day 2008]

SCEE PlayStation Day Starts Today at 4pm BST

Today is finally the day. Sony Computer Entertainment Europe will be holding their PlayStation Day 2008 today starting at 4PM BST. From what we've heard, today's revelations will be quite significant, including a new trailer for Motorstorm 2 along with the first English trailer of Siren. Details below.

- 15.30 - Venue open
- 16:00 - Press conference
- 17:30 - Play time with games

Kaz Hirai and European boss David Reeves will be giving their own keynotes at the event, hopefully telling us more about Sony's 2008. Stick to onAXIS as we update you as the event starts.

[SCEE PlayStation Day kicks of at 4pm BST - all the news here]

Sony Computer Entertainment to be at The Bamboozle 2008

The Sony Computer Entertainment family are coming to this weekend's upcoming Bamboozle in East Rutherford, NJ. The music festival will be taking place on Saturday and Sunday featuring the likes of Snoop Dogg, Paramore, and more great artists.

SCEA is going to be rolling out their PlayStation trucks packed with PlayStation 3 games SingStar, Gran Turismo 5 Prologue, and MLB 08: The Show along with PSP titles Secret Agent Clank and God of War: Chains of Olympus.

Game well playing on the PlayStation trucks because it might earn you a chance to meet the various artists at the event. View the press release below.

Sony Computer Entertainment America Gets Its Game On at the Bamboozle Festival 2008

Sizzling Spring PlayStation(R) Lineup Showcased at the East Coast's Hottest Music Festival

FOSTER CITY, Calif., May 2 /PRNewswire/ -- Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) announced today that it will take the stage at The Bamboozle Festival 2008 (Bamboozle). The two-day alternative music festival spanning from May 3rd to May 4th is expected to draw a crowd of over 85,000 fans to the Meadowlands Sports Complex in East Rutherford, NJ and SCEA will be on hand to enhance their concert experiences as well as shine the spotlight on exciting new PlayStation(R) products.

"Bamboozle draws a young and independent-thinking audience that truly resonates with the PlayStation consumer," said Ginger Kraus, senior director, brand alliances and promotions, SCEA. "Being a part of Bamboozle will allow us to provide this shared demographic with VIP access to our current and upcoming titles as well as the chance to be rewarded with opportunities to take their event experiences to the next level."

Those attending the festival will be granted access to an interactive showcase of the best and brightest the PlayStation brand has to offer. Headlining the showcase will be the PlayStation(R) Patrol Truck featuring the newly designed "Player Lounge." This social gaming area will provide up to 16 attendees with the opportunity to test drive titles for the PLAYSTATION(R)3(PS3(TM)) system such as Gran Turismo(TM) 5 Prologue, SingStar(TM) and MLB(R) 08 THE SHOW(TM).

The showcase will also feature several PSP(R)(PlayStation(R)Portable) Zones which will allow attendees to experience the gameplay function of PSP(R)(PlayStation(R)Portable) system with titles such as Secret Agent Clank(TM) and God of War(R): Chains of Olympus. These displays will also highlight a few of the multifunctional capabilities of PSP system, such as storing and playing music, videos and photos, listening to Internet Radio and accessing PS3 system through Remote Play.

Racking up high scores at the PlayStation Patrol Truck could win attendees the once in a lifetime opportunity to meet their favorite Bamboozle artists. Twice daily, top scorers will have the chance to challenge artists such as Armor For Sleep, Chiodos, Circa Survive, The Color Fred, The Audition and All Time Low to compete in a SingStar, MLB 08 THE SHOW or Gran Turismo 5 Prologue showdown. Winners will receive VIP access to the show.

When they are not competing at the PlayStation Patrol Truck or onstage, festival artists will be able to party like the rock stars that they are in the Red Bull Artist Lounge. SCEA will bring the music backstage by stocking the lounge with two gaming stations of Rock Band(TM) for the PS3 system. Bands such as Cobra Starship, The Academy Is, Circa Survive, Jack's Mannequin, Chiodos and My American Heart will be able to play with their fellow band mates and even mix and match members to create their own Rock Band

super-groups. The groups will then be able to perform head-to-head in a battle of the bands.

Single Day, 2 Day Passes and VIP Passes to the event are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased at http://www.thebamboozle.com, http://www.livenation.com and http://www.ticketmaster.com. For press information regarding The Bamboozle Festival 2008, please contact Rebecca Novak RebeccaNovak@livenation.com or Tom Wojcik tom@heavyhitterinc.com. For updates and more festival information visit: http://www.thebamboozle.com.

Japan Gets Another Metal Gear Solid 4 Bundle

Sony Computer Entertainment Japan announced today that they will be releasing a new PlayStation 3 bundle called the "Metal Gear Solid 4 Welcome Box" for the release of the game next month. The bundle will be released on June 12, 2008 (same day as the game's release), retailing for ¥49,800. The bundle includes a 40GB PlayStation 3, a SIXAXIS controller, Metal Gear Solid 4 (the game), and a DUALSHOCK 3 controller. The bundle will come in three colors: black, white, and silver. View the press release below.

Tokyo, May 2, 2008 - Sony Computer Entertainment Japan (SCEJ), a division of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCEI) responsible for business operations in Japan, today announced that it would release "PLAYSTATION®3 METAL GEAR SOLID 4 GUNS OF THE PATRIOTS WELCOME BOX with DUALSHOCK®3"on June 12th, 2008, as a limited offer, at a recommended retail price of 49,800yen (including tax). It will become available concurrently with the release of the software title, Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, from Konami Digital Entertainment Co., Ltd. (Konami).

"PLAYSTATION®3 METAL GEAR SOLID 4 GUNS OF THE PATRIOTS WELCOME BOX with DUALSHOCK®3" comprises 40GB model of the PLAYSTATION®3 (PS3®) computer entertainment system (CECHH00 Series), Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots for PS3 (You Got This From Kotaku), and a special bundled item of DUALSHOCK 3 wireless controller in addition to the SIXAXIS™ wireless controller that comes together with PS3. Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots is scheduled to be released from Konami on June 12th, 2008, as the final chapter of the highly popular Metal Gear Solid franchise, which has sold more than 22 million units to date worldwide.

The PS3 system for this bundle pack will be available in three different colors of "Clear Black", "Ceramic White" and "Satin Silver", and users will be able to choose the color of their preference.

With this offering, SCEJ will continue to further expand the PS3 platform and create a new world of computer entertainment with innovative and exciting new titles and an enhanced line-up of the PS3 systems.

Grand Theft Auto IV Drove PlayStation 3 Sales

Sony Computer Entertainment America announced today that, as expected, Grand Theft Auto IV sales on the PlayStation 3 have been very strong and have drove sales of the console itself within the first 24-hours of launch.

“From our position, the launch of Grand Theft Auto IV has been tremendous in driving traffic to our stores, as well as providing a vigorous lift in PS3 console sales over this time last week. We attribute the growth to a huge fan base of PS2 owners who see this title as the trigger for the PS3 upgrade they’ve been planning,” said Bob McKenzie, Senior Vice President, Merchandising, GameStop Corp.

“I think brand loyalty is going to kick in for Sony, starting today,” said Wedbush Morgan industry analyst Michael Pachter. “There is a huge installed base of loyal PlayStation 2 owners who have been looking for a reason to upgrade, and they have strong previous ties to the Grand Theft Auto franchise on PlayStation platforms. Add to that a number of other big exclusive games for PS3, including Gran Turismo 5 Prologue, Metal Gear Solid 4, LittleBigPlanet, and SOCOM: Confrontation, to name a few, and it seems like Sony’s in a great position right now.”

“Grand Theft Auto fans who love the game grew up on PlayStation and we believe that rich heritage will be a deciding factor for many gamers at retail,” said Peter Dille, Senior Vice President, Marketing & PLAYSTATION Network. “This enthusiasm for Grand Theft Auto IV, combined with the excitement behind Gran Turismo 5 Prologue, Metal Gear Solid 4, LittleBigPlanet, and Resistance 2 will further drive PS3 hardware sales.”

With this and so many other AAA games coming out this year, you can't go wrong purchasing Grand Theft Auto IV on the PlayStation 3, or even getting the console for the game.

PlayStation Day Details Revealed

Today, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe revealed information on PlayStation Day 2008 in Europe.

The press day will be in early May 2008 in London showcasing some new games for the PlayStation 3, Network, PSP, and PS2. SCEI President Kaz Hirai and SCEE President David Reeves will be holding keynotes at the event as well.

We will keep you update as the event approaches.

[The Way Ahead]

Hip-Hop Producer Just Blaze Shows His Love for PlayStation 3, Final Fantasy

In a new video recording, hip-hop producer Just Blaze gives us a tour of his room. The fact that it is so crappy is beyond us since he is CEO of Fort Knocks Entertainment, but he does express his love for PlayStation 3 and Final Fantasy. "How many rappers you know got this" he says as he holds a copy of Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children. Enjoy!

Sony To Launch PlayStation Network Video Service

Sony Computer Entertainment studio executives tell us that they will be launching an online video service for the PlayStation 3 through the PlayStation Network as early as summer.

Sony has been in licensing talks with studios recently, about obtaining material for the service. The launch of the service will include movies and television shows.

Patrick Seybold, a PlayStation spokesman declined to comment on the service. However, a PlayStation marketing chief said that they would show more details in a post on Tuesday on the PlayStation.Blog.

"Many of you have been hearing rumblings about a video service that will allow you to download full-length TV shows and movies via PlayStation Network for North America," wrote Peter Dille, senior vice president of marketing for Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. "While I don't have any new announcements . . . it's already been confirmed that we'll be offering a video service for PS3 in a way that separates the service from others you've seen or used."

We will update you when Sony updates us. Yes, we are excited.

[Sony to launch online video service for PlayStation 3]

Our DualShock 3 Arrives Today

Sony Computer Entertainment was generous enough to toss us a DualShock 3 remote along with a DualShock 2. We have no idea why they would send a DualShock 2 along with the 3, however. Possibly for comparison?

Either way, expect to see some impressions up soon. I can already feel my hands shaking.

SCEE Holding Press Event on May 6, 2008

Sony Computer Entertainment Europe will be holding an invite-only media event in London on Tuesday, May 6th 2008. We have no idea where the event will be taking place, but a source did say that "many of your questions will be answered at that event, so keep an eye on the games press the following day."

SCEE will be releasing a number of press releases after the event, and the event itself can be streamed live from the Virtual Press Office. Could we be seeing PlayStation Home, Eight Days, and The Getaway finally?

[NeoGAF] [VG247]

Mysterious Countdown on Official JP PlayStation Site (Siren 3?)

A mysterious countdown has appeared on a web page on the Official Japanese PlayStation Site. The countdown seems to show a puddle of blood, with drippings constantly. There are voices in the audio, we just cannot understand what they are saying.

What could this mystery be?

[Mysterious Countdown] [UltimatePS3]

Update 4/15/08 6:15PM: onAXIS Reader BigJImBO has sent in a video from YouTube from Forbidden Siren (just Siren in the US) for the PS2. The video shows in the very beginning a countdown very similar to that on the site. Could this be that Project Siren rumored a bit back?

Coder Launches BBC PlayStation 3 iPlayer

BBC may have not made the iPlayer functional with the PlayStation 3, but a coder known as Ixalon has. Going to the below link allows the PlayStation 3 to access iPlayer content right on their TV. However, it does not allow full-screen, but some zooming can get it almost right.

[PS3 iPlayer] [BBC iPlayer comes to the PS3 with PS3iPlayer.com]

Ben Heck's PlayStation 3 Portable Laptop

Benjamin J Heckendorn (aka Ben Heck), the guy who made the Xbox 360 Elite laptop, has come back with a new PlayStation 3 laptop, displaying at a gorgeous 720p. Looking at this makes me want to rip apart my PlayStation 3 and attempt one.

Then I'll realize I just ruined my console.

[Ben Heck's Latest Wonder Project: PS3 Laptop]

PlayStation 3 Firmware 2.30 Arriving on April 15, 2008

According to the Japanese PlayStation site, the firmware update 2.30 which includes the PlayStation Store revamp, will be hitting our console on April 15, 2008, meaning this upcoming Tuesday. These updates are usually worldwide, so expect the same for North America and Europe. Look below for the rough Japanese translation.

Sony PlayStation 3 online service will be renewed on April 15th, 2008 (Tuesday) evening. This will renew and expand the store by adding functionality described below:

• New interface and navigation improvements
• Preview video content using still images
• New download categories added

After the update, PS3 System Software 2.30 will be available.

New download categories add? Oh really. Could this be movies? I guess we will find out the 15th. Also, SCEJ will be offering a "PlayStation Treasure Hunt" from April 15, 2008 to May 12, 2007. This will allow every 50th user to the store to download a "hidden" piece of content (game, application, demo, etc.), but we have no idea what it is.

[PS3 Firmware 2.30 available April 15th 2008]

PlayStation 3 Thief Beaten Up by Female Professional Boxer

Here is one for the stupid news. A thief recently broke into the house of female boxer Derdre Rodriguez and tried to steal hear PlayStation 3, PSP, and videogames while she was sleeping.

She woke up to find the robber crawling out the window, so she chased him down and smashed his head in with an ice chipper, then she made him pick up the PlayStation 3, PSP, and videogames he stole that he dropped while running away from her. To top that off, she made him wait in the house until the cops came in and arrested him.

I think I'm a new fan. View the video here.

[PS3 Thief Beaten Up By Girl]

Something New Discovered in XMB in SCE Engineers Interview

A recent interview with Game Watch Japan (translation) with the Engineers of Sony Computer Entertainment discusses recently released features such as Blu-Ray LIVE. However, one of the pictures taken during the interview of the crew standing by the PlayStation 3 kiosk shows a new icon under the "Settings" icon on the PlayStation 3. You can view that image on the left (click for max size). What can it be? Perhaps we will find out next Thursday during the 2.30 firmware update.

[Something new on the PS3 Settings menu coming soon?]

Update: Thanks to our first commenter, we can debunk this saying that it is the Japanese EdyViewer used to buy content in the PlayStation Store. Video here.

PlayStation 3 Outsells Everything in Europe this Week

The latest weekly sales report from VGChartz shows a nice growth in sales for the PlayStation 3 this week. With the recent release of Gran Turismo 5 Prologue in Europe, the PlayStation 3 has sold more than the Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii, DS, PSP, and PS2 this week, topping the charts with 150,420 sales.

[VGChartz]