Rumors and speculation have been going around the internet the past couple of weeks about PS3 Firmware 2.40, which reportedly added in-game XMB, custom soundtracks and trophy support. All the reports have been classified as rumors...until now. The PlayStation Blog has officially confirmed that this new update will be going live this Wednesday, July 2nd. Read more for the details of the update.
Metal Gear Solid 4:
Guns of the Patriots has been a game 21 years in the making, ever since Snake’s
original adventure. Solid Snake, or should I say Old Snake now, embarks on his
final mission to assassinate his long time nemesis and brother Liquid Ocelot. But
does Hideo Kojima’s final installment raise the bar for the future of video
games, or is it another overhyped sequel?
Someone at C&V got their hands on the full feature list of the new PS3 firmware update. Accourding to their source, its comming around E3 (which is in 3 weeks). We already know that in-game XMB and Trophies are included, but now we know the details. As
expected full 2D trophy support will be in the XMB update (3d in Home)
and there will be four types: Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum.
Platinum is only awarded when you have collected all other trophies in
a game.
Here's the following list of XMB features that you'll be able to access in-game:
It looks like you won't be able to play your ps3 games online tomorrow
(the same day Battlefield hits), is this a sign that 2.40 is on the way this
week?
"The PLAYSTATION®Network will be taken offline during the following times for a scheduled maintenance:
Starting on June 24, 2008, at 8:00 a.m., Pacific Time
Ending on June 24, 2008, at 2:00 p.m., Pacific Time
During this time, access to the PLAYSTATION Network will be restricted, including:
* No access to the PLAYSTATION®Store
* No access to play online games on the PLAYSTATION Network"
Remember this little guy? He's a real life Sackboy plushie. It first appeared earlier this year when it was knitted by the mother of one Media Molecule employee. The overall reaction to it consisted of two phases: 1) "Aww" and 2) "I want one!" Well it looks like out wishes are going to come true...
Here was yesterday'splaystation store update. Overall it is a good week, the free mgs4 database is a really good thing to have if you need understanding about the game. And if you didn't finsh the game yet, don't worry about spoilers since it will lock the spoiler pages until you finsh the game. Hit more for the other regions around the world.
North America
GAME DEMOS
Fatal Inertia EX
Hail to the Chimp
NCAA Football 09
War of the Battlefield: Commando 3
FULL GAMES
Fatal Inertia EX
GAME CONTENT
Guitar Hero III
○ Coldplay Pack
♪ God Put a Smile Upon Your Face
♪ Violet Hill
♪ Yellow
Hot Shots Golf: Out of Bounds
○ Oceania Course
PAIN
- Jukebox Play (in-game music)
- new Downtown configurations "Demolition" and "Block Party"
- multiple character selection in two player games
- skip logo sequence when loading the game
Rock Band
♪ "Afterlife" - Avenged Sevenfold
♪ "Critical Acclaim" - Avenged Sevenfold
♪ "Hammerhead" - The Offspring
♪ "Rock N Roll Dream" - Crooked X
The Incredible Hulk
- six competitive two-player mission types
- online leaderboards
- online matchmaking features
PSP GAME DEMOS
Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror
PSP GAMES
Gurumin: A Monstrous Adventure
GAME VIDEOS
Fatal Inertia EX
○ Titan Trailer
Golden Axe: Beast Rider
○ Teaser Trailer
Hail to the Chimp
○ Campaign Trailer Madness
Linger in Shadows
○ Trailer
PAIN
○ Character Intro Trailer
Prince of Persia
○ Debut Trailer
OTHER
Metal Gear Solid 4
○ Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots Database
With the release of MGS4 just hours away, some of us might need to catch up on the rest of the series before we venture in its latest edition. Thanks to Joystiq, there is a chance to do that. You don't have to get lost when you watch the 40-min cutscene just because you forgot what happened in MGS2 7 years ago. Also, if you are more into video formats, Gametrailers has a very informative retrospective. Even though Gametrailers goes more into depth, both get the job done right and are worth checking out.
Eurogamer recently posted a chat session that they had with Insomniac's head honcho, Ted Price. The topics covered ranged from the initial idea for Resistance, to some new technical details about the game, and even Price's thoughs on Killzone 2. Here are some highlights from the Q&A:
There will be new weapons in R2, though only two of them have been revealed so far
Insomniac has an "unnaturally strong aversion" to graphical issues. Price describes the people at his company as "tech freaks" who do their best to avoid things like screen tearing.
They are aiming for no loading screens in R2, and the levels and chapters will be bigger than the original.
No word yet on a mandatory install
Resistance will run at 720p, 30 fps
R2 will feature Home and trophy support
There should be more of a "bang", or "hook", at the beginning of the game. One of the complainsts about R1 was that it took a while for the game to really get going.
There are a lot of great improvements coming to PSN
R2's campaign should be as long or even longer than R1's campaign
Sixaxis functionality will be similar to that of R1
SCEE revealed today that it had stopped production on two titles that were being developed by the Sony London Studios, Eight Days and The Getaway. They cited a "redistribution of resources and budget" as the reason after an internal review of all first party games. Earlier thoughts were that these titles would just be put on hold until a later date, but a Sony rep has confirmed that they are "completely cancelled."
So what is QORE? It is described as "a highly interactive, monthly lifestyle gaming program covering the world inside PLAYSTATION", which will include exclusive news, developer interviews, previews, and even access to betas and demos.
The first episode will be available this Thursday on the Playstation Store. Users can opt to pay $2.99 per episode, or $24.99 for an annual subscription.
Wedbush Morgan Securities analyst Edward Woo (associate of Michael
Pachter) has undercoved something big while looking through a SEC
filing of Activision's. One curtain thing stuck out.
"In fiscal 2009, we plan to publish Guitar Hero: On Tour for the NDS;
Guitar Hero: Aerosmith, Guitar Hero: Metallica, and Guitar Hero IV
across multiple platforms,"
Guitar Hero: Metallica, thats new. Activision's fiscal
year ends on March 31, 2009,so that means its not to far off. I wonder
what the next band to get a Guitar Hero make over will be?
It's been rumored for quite some time now, but it
finally seems to be official. Developers and some members of the media
have recieved a list detailing the next firmware update. A thread has
been started on NeoGAF and developers have chimed in, stating that the
list is indeed real.
The meat of the new firmware seems to be in-game
XMB and trophy support. The trophy support is speculation for now, but
those in the know have been teasing that whatever else is added will
have us PS3 owners pleased for a while.
There is no official word from Sony yet about this
new firmware, so the big question once again is: When?
With Metal Gear Solid 4 just around
the corner, are you still on the fence about buying a PS3? If so,
Walmart is sweetening the deal for you by offering a free $100 gift
card with the purchase of a 40 GB PS3. Now you can't actually use this
gift card to pay for the PS3, but you can use it to pick up a nice
DualShock 3 or a copy of Metal Gear Solid 4. Not a bad deal if you ask
us.
Bioshock is on its way to Sonys system. Everyone knew that. But now its more offcial than it could possibly get. Below is theri pres release. Finally PS3 owners can see what all the hoopla was about.
2K Games Injects PLAYSTATION®3 System Owners with Genetically Enhanced Version of BioShock®
New York, NY – May 28, 2008 – 2K Games, a publishing label of
Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO), announced today
that BioShock®, the "genetically enhanced" story-driven action game, is
in development for the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system at
2K Marin. The PLAYSTATION 3 system title will be released in October
2008 with new features and content that heighten the award-winning
experience.
BioShock for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from
Microsoft and Games for Windows® was released in 2007 and received
numerous Game of the Year honors from prestigious organizations
including Associated Press, the British Academy of Film and Television
Arts (BAFTA), Game Informer, Spike TV's VGAs and Paste Magazine.
BioShock's extension to the PLAYSTATION 3 system will bring exciting
new content to this amazing title and reach many new players, while
giving the title the opportunity to once again be named Game of the
Year.
"Since BioShock for Xbox 360 and Games for Windows won countless
2007 Game of the Year awards, we are excited to see the impact of this
stellar title for the PLAYSTATION 3 system when it debuts this fall,"
said Christoph Hartmann, president of 2K. "Over the coming months we
look forward to revealing the new features and content that will make
this a must-have game for its new audience, as well as for those who
enjoyed it on the other platforms."
BioShock is a narrative-driven action experience that allows players
to do the impossible as they journey through an amazing, immersive and
terrifying world. Caught between powerful forces and hunted down by
genetically mutated citizens, the player will come to grips with the
mysterious and fascinating world of Rapture, a distinct Art Deco
underwater utopia gone mad. BioShock not only challenges the players'
capacity to adapt and survive, but brings to question their values and
commitment to the inhabitants of Rapture. With smart and adaptive AI,
no encounter ever plays out the same, while numerous customization
options provide gamers with an experience that adapts to their playing
style.
As one of the highest-rated titles of 2007, BioShock was unanimously praised by the editorial industry's top critics:
"While delivering a level of intrigue you rarely see in games, its
most captivating element is its gameplay – which I can easily say
delivers the most rewarding and adrenaline-filled experience I have
ever had with an FPS." – Game Informer Magazine, 10 out of 10, Game of
the Year
"There's ample flexibility in the game's linear storyline that makes
a second run through Rapture's unique brand of madness an exciting
prospect." – Associated Press, 4 stars out of 4
"Why settle for watching the hero in a film have a thrilling
adventure when you can all but live a narrative this masterfully
woven." – Paste Magazine, Game of the Year
"BioShock stands as a monolithic example of the convergence of
entertaining gameplay and an irresistibly sinister, engrossing
storyline that encompasses a host of multifaceted characters. This is
an essential gaming experience." – IGN.com, 9.7 out of 10, Editor's
Choice Award
"More so than any other game in recent memory, BioShock is dripping
with atmosphere and intrigue, and it's one of those rare titles where
story, dialogue and character development are just as important as the
action sequences." – USA Today, 9 stars out of 10
BioShock for the PLAYSTATION 3 system will be available in October
2008 and is not yet rated by the ESRB. For more information on
BioShock, visit www.bioshockgame.com.
