Metal Gear Solid 4: Final Boxart Revealed

Konami today revealed the standard and limited edition boxarts for their upcoming Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots. It also comes with a press release, which you can read below. Enjoy!

METAL GEAR SOLID® 4: GUNS OF THE PATRIOTS STANDARD AND LIMITED EDITIONS
El Segundo, Calif. April 10, 2008 - Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. announced today that the limited edition of the highly-anticipated release of Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots for the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system will be available in North America on June 12 exclusively at GameStop, the world's largest video game and entertainment software retailer. Additionally, Konami has revealed pricing and the first images of the final packaging for both the Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots Standard Edition and Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots Limited Edition.

NeoGAF Moderator Confirms Grand Theft Auto IV PS3 Bundle

NeoGAF moderator Jim today confirmed that the PlayStation 3 Grand Theft Auto IV bundle is indeed hitting. The bundle is, according to Jim, "150% exclusive" to the PlayStation 3. He does state that the bundle will most likely not be available on Grand Theft Auto IV's launch day, but it is possible. He also confirms that as of now, all he knows is that the bundle is coming to Europe, and has no information on whether a North American bundle will hit.

[GTAIV PS3 Bundlein Europe?]

Update: Retailer Shopto in Europe has confirmed it as well.

PlayStation Store Revamped Walkthrough

Instead of a PlayStation Store update today, Sony gave us the video walkthrough of the revamped PlayStation Store. A new video from Grace Chen shows us the demo. The store looks fantastic if you ask me.

She also reveals that firmware 2.30 will include a DTS-HD Master Audio output for Blu-ray videos, meaning that the high-definition visuals of Blu-Ray will now be matched with the highest quality audio for the best movie watching experience possible on the PlayStaiton 3.

[PS3 Firmware v.2.30 Details and Store Walkthrough]

PlayStation Store Revamp: Japanese Screenshots

We were able to get some new screenshots of the Japanese version of the upcoming PlayStation Store revamp. The new store will include a preview functionality as you can see below, along with other new features as well. Enjoy!

LAIR Analog Patch Coming April 17, 2008

Yes people, it seems Factor 5's (terribly controlled) LAIR will finally be getting that rare analog control patch this April 17, 2008 (for Japan at least). We are hoping to expect the same for the North American and European versions of the game as well.

The new update adds analog stick control, better aim function, and two new dragons (Poison and Wind Dragons).

[PlayStation JP]

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]

Buzz! Quiz TV Debut Trailer

The semi-official Three Speech has today posted the debut trailer for Sony Computer Entertainment's upcoming Buzz! Quiz TV for the PlayStation 3. I own Buzz! The Mega Quiz, and I must say, when you have people around such as family, and you need something to do, Buzz will keep you occupied. This PlayStation 3 version is looking super sharp, and I think I just might pick a copy up. Now, lets switch the talking over to Buzz, he will tell you what it is all about. Enjoy!

Enemy Territory: Quake Wars: New Screens of PlayStation 3 Version & Trailer

Thanks to LusoPlay, we have some screenshots of the PlayStation 3 version of Activision's upcoming Enemy Territory: Quake Wars. The game is looking fantastic and we cannot wait to see more. You can see a new trailer after the images. Enjoy!

Sony Wants to Know Why You Hack Your PSP

A new survey released by Sony Computer Entertainment asks "Why do you hack your PSP?". As you may or may not know, many of the firmware updates were released in attempts to stop PSP hackers from custom firmware, emulators, homebrew applications, and such.

The Sony Representatives call the survey a part of the "ongoing PSP consumer research". Some of the questions are good ones too like "Hacking a PSP makes me feel like a rebel". I laughed.

[Sony Wants To Know Why You're Hacking Your PSP]

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]

More Evidence of PlayStation 3 Grand Theft Auto IV Europe Bundle

The PlayStation 3 Grand Theft Auto IV bundle that Sony Computer Entertainment Europe said was just "rumor and speculation" has appeared once more. This time it is on the GAME retailers website. Doesn't seem like much "rumor and speculation" anymore.

[GAME]

Sonic Unleashed Began as Sonic Adventure 3

A new interview with Sonic Team's Yoshihisa Hashimoto in the latest Official Nintendo Magazine, he revealed that Sonic Unleashed is going to feel more like a Sonic Adventure game rather than the horrible Sonic the Hedgehog (PlayStation 3) or Sonic and the Secret Rings titles.

"As a development team, we originally started off this project planning to create Sonic Adventure 3", Hashimoto told the magazine. "In our minds, this game will have more in common with the older Sonic Adventure series. It has no relation to Sonic the Hedgehog or Sonic and the Secret Rings".

We should be seeing this title hit sometime around the holidays, and for the sake of Sonic, we hope it is good.

[Sonic Unleashed began as Sonic Adventure 3]

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.

PSM3's Insider Talk for Issue 100: Godfather II, New KILLZONE 2 Footage, More

The latest issue of UK's PSM3 contains a bunch of new insider information (remember: that equals rumors) discussing games such as a new Shellshock, The Godfather II, and more. Lets take a look.

• Guerilla's Vietnam Shooter Shellshock is set to get a sequel. The sequel will be more of a psychological horror than action.
• The Godfather II is very much 'go', and is rumored to contain 'investigation' segments.
• Iron Man is set to appear in Sega's Incredible Hulk, with the big green guy returning the favor in Iron Man.
• Activision have trademarked the name DJ Hero, this could mean a Guitar Hero style game but with a DJ Deck.
• Free Radical are working on a new LucasArts Game which is rumored to be Star Wars Battlefront 3.
• Midways game adaptation on the film The Wheelman is still on its way. Details for the game are due late April.
• Midway are working on a sequel to Stranglehold. More than likely starring Chow Yun-fat.
• SEGA is supposedly making a Alien RPG. The guys working on it are Obsidian, the same people who are also making the spy game Alpha Protocol.
• THQ have retired the game series Juiced after cutbacks.
• More KILLZONE 2 footage will be shown to a select audience (including PSM3) to prove that the E3 2005 footage featuring the breathless rocket launcher sequence as you squad barks orders in real time, can actually be done on the PS3.
• Konami will be making Metal Gear merchandise. This will include a duck egg-timer that will feature in Metal Gear Solid 4 and Metal Gear T-shirts.

I'm definitely excited about The Godfather II and seeing this new KILLZONE 2 footage. The DJ Hero game sounds interesting as well.

[PSM3: DJ Hero, Stranglehold 2, Upcoming Killzone 2 Footage & MGS4 Duck Egg-timers]

Official PlayStation Magazine UK to Have First Grand Theft Auto IV Review, TimeSplitters 4 Latest

According to e-mails subscribers of the Official PlayStation Magazine UK are receiving, the next issue is delayed until April 22, 2008 (around there) due to the exclusive first review they will be having of Rockstar's Grand Theft Auto IV.

The issue will also feature a Mirror's Edge hands-on, and first looks at Tom Clancy's H.A.W.X, Alpha Protocol, and Sonic Unleashed. Out of no where, they will also have the latest on TimeSplitters 4. PlayStation 3 confirmed?

We will keep you updated when the issue releases.

[First GTA review in OPM on 22nd April]

Grand Theft Auto IV Biggest Selling Title on PlayStation 3 Ever in Europe

In Europe, pre-order sales are doing quite well for Rockstar's upcoming Grand Theft Auto IV. The game is becoming a system seller on the PlayStation 3, and they are running in low supply due to the incredible demand. Play.com's head of games Gian Luzio told MCV that Grand Theft Auto IV is "far and away the biggest selling title" he'd ever seen on the PlayStation 3. It's "already proving a real hardware driver ... I've been really blown away by how quickly it's sold on PS3."

Blown away, huh? Lets see how good it does in the States now.

[GTA IV is 'biggest ever title' for PS3 in Europe]

Image Metrics Reveals Facial Capture in Grand Theft Auto IV, Metal Gear Solid 4, More

Image Metrics has revealed today their new facial capture technology. They show in a video of how the tecnology works in games such as Grand Theft Auto IV, KILLZONE 2, Metal Gear Solid 4, LAIR, and Unreal Tournament III. The brief KILLZONE 2 footage they show seems to be new, and looks the best of all the games demoed.

"Image Metrics has bridged the Uncanny Valley, developing a superior facial capture and animation system that creates facial animation with far greater accuracy, as much as seven times faster than key framing, and they only need video files and a facial rig and 3D model to get started."

Check it out at the link.

[CGSociety - Image Metrics]

Capcom Producer: Making Devil May Cry 4 on the PlayStation 3 Was Tricky

Capcom did a good job making sure that Devil May Cry 4 looked the same on all consoles. According to Producer Hiroyuki Kobayashi, doing that was a bit tricky.

"The Xbox 360 and the PC are close in structure, so it was easy to switch over. The PS3, the CPU and the design are unique... our programmer is extremely talented, and was able to figure it out. I think after repeated meetings with Sony that we were able to tap into the PS3."

Yes, they did tap into the PlayStation 3, into about 5GB of my hard drive. Other than that, the game is great.

[Making Devil May Cry 4 PS3 Was Tricky]