Domino's Pizza Snaps Up In Game Ads Space On PS3

Pizza chain Domino's has made the brave step into the world of in-game advertising with the PS3 platform.


Apparently they will start serving pizza ads to PS3 users playing certain titles such as PES 2010, NBA 2k10 and Superstar racing.

Sony Investigating Factory Suicides

Chinese manufacturing giant Foxconn has been in the news for all the wrong reasons lately, a spate of suicides at its Shenzhen complex attracting worldwide media attention. It's also attracted the attention of Sony, for whom Foxconn manufacture consoles.

Like Nintendo, Sony has launched its own instigation into work practices at Foxconn's factories, issuing a statement which reads "In response to recent reports, Sony has begun taking steps to re-evaluate the working environment at Foxconn".

The Japanese company joins not only Nintendo but also Nokia, Apple, Dell and HP in probing Foxconn, whose time in the spotlight is serving as an untimely reminder to Western consumers that the electronic devices we demand at affordable prices often come with a human cost.

Foxconn stands accused of operating a "militarised" operation, with workers forced to stand, are banned from speaking and detained in factory dormitories.

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Many Favourite Characters Appear In Modnation Racers Daily

PAIN Goes 3D This Week

The PSN title PAIN will be getting some new add-ons this week. They just happen to be the first set of content that is playable in 3D on new 3D televisions. Older game modes are also being patched for 3D play.

Modnation Racers - Fat man gets modded, gets hot chick

A viral has been released for ModNation Racers in which a fat guy performs many mods on himself and attracts a hot chick into his bedroom. So the question here is if you could 'mod' one part of yourself, what would it be?

Leaked 'Killzone 3' Gameplay Footage

Sony Develops A Rollable OLED Screen

White Knight Chronicles 2 Trailer

3D And MOVE To Blame For Gran Turismo 5 Delays

A UK Trade publication is claiming that they have it on very good authority that Gran Turismo 5 will not only support 3D output but also Playstation MOVE.

A source close to Sony has confirmed to MCV that the reason behind the more recent of Gran Turismo 5’s delays is the implementation of both 3D and MOVE compatibility.
The news helps to explain the somewhat bewildering claim made by the game’s chief designer Kazunori Yamauchi earlier this month that the game, which has been in development for several years, is still only 90 per cent complete.

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PSN+ To Charge $9.99 A Month Apparently, Revealed At E3

A gaming blog is claimed they have been informed that Sony will soon roll out a PS3 paid for service called PSN+ at a rate of $9.99 a month. Apparently those who sign up to this will receive the following - auto patching for PS3 titles, exclusive in-game DLC, discounts to the Playstation Store, and 'first hour' demo access to full retail titles.

Joystiq has been informed that PSN+ subscribers will also have the ability to enable an auto-patching feature, which will detect, download and install updates for recently played PS3 titles on the system.

Pricing and a release for the PSN+ service is unknown, though one source speculates PSN+ may cost $9.99 per month. When contacted, a Sony representative said the company does not "comment on rumors or speculation".

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Killzone 3 Pre-E3 Reveal Reason Given

Killzone 3 is the kind of game you might expect to be dated with gusto at E3, but Sony Europe's content producer James Gallagher has explained why it just couldn't wait until then.

We reported that Killzone 3 will hit shelves on May 3 2011. Apparently the highly anticipated sequel has been dated early because of the amount that Sony has a lot in the pipeline already.

Gallagher commented on the EU PlayStation blog:

"Our PR team will have their reasons - we have a lot of games in the pipeline and it's logistically easier to space them out a bit, I suppose. Plus, it makes sure they get some good media coverage before the information avalanche of E3".

We don't think there was ever any doubt that Killzone 3 would get enough coverage.

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Sony Responds To Insomniac's Xbox Move

Sony Computer Entertainment has responded to Resistance developer Insomniac Games' new multiplatform partnership with EA.

Insomniac just announced this afternoon that it's signed a deal with EA Partners to create a franchise for both PS3 and Xbox 360.

The move represents the first time in Insomniac's 16-year history that it will create a game for any other system than PlayStation.

An SCE spokesperson told CVG: "Sony Computer Entertainment and Insomniac Games will continue to build upon a strong, successful 14-year partnership that has led to more than 35 million games sold and enjoyed by fans around the world.

"We look forward to unveiling Insomniac's next PS3 exclusive properties in the near future".

Insomniac's widely rumoured to be developing Resistance 3 under the Sony Computer Entertainment banner.

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PS3 Exclusives Rated Higher Than 360's On Average

Playstation 3 exclusives have a higher average review rating than those of the Xbox 360 - but the 360 has far more exclusives scoring above 80 per cent.

According to a list compiled by Industry Gamers, both consoles have nine exclusives scoring 90 percent or above, but the 360 has 36 scoring between 80 and 89 percent whereas the PS3 only has 18.

The 360, however, has far more exclusives than the PS3 overall with 218 to 60 respectively, as of 27 October 2009.

In terms of percentage, 35.78 percent of Xbox exclusives scored 75 and over to PS3's 63.33 percent.

Here's the full table for your own scrutiny and analysis:

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Killzone 3 Release Date - May 2011

Sony has internally set a release date for Killzone 3 of May 2011, CVG has learnt.

A source close to the platform holder's European HQ sneaked the news to CVG this morning.

They also reaffirmed that the title will be compatible with PlayStation Move - and revealed that the game will feature more than one online co-op mode.

"Guerilla is working on a standard two-player, co-op - as you'd expect - but there's also an objective-based separate four-player co-op mode in the works, too," said our source.

"I've also been told that there will be vehicles in the online multiplayer - but I haven't seen that for myself yet."

We were told earlier this year that Killzone 3 would feature Stereoscopic 3D gameplay - something Sony finally confirmed yesterday.

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Sony Second Most Reputable Company In The World

Yeterday results came in from a study, making Sony the 2nd most reputable company in the world(right behind Google at No.1).

The study was conducted in two parts. In January 2010, Reputation Institute measured the reputations of the world’s 600 largest companies in their home countries. The highest rated companies in each of 32 countries were then selected as candidates for a second study that also rated the world’s most visible and valuable corporate brands provided they had above average home country reputations. The outcome of the second study was a final roster of 28 global companies that are well regarded at home but that have also successfully exported their reputations around the world.

Rank Company (Home Country) Global Reputation Pulse
1 Google (US) 78.62
2 Sony (Japan) 78.47
3 The Walt Disney Company (US) 77.97
4 BMW (Germany) 77.77
5 Daimler/Mercedes-Benz (Germany) 76.83
6 Apple (US) 76.29
7 Nokia (Finland) 76.00
8 IKEA (Sweden) 75.60
9 Volkswagen (Germany) 75.55
10 Intel (US) 75.39
11 Microsoft (US) 74.47
12 Johnson & Johnson (US) 74.12
13 Panasonic (Japan) 73.67
14 Singapore Airlines (Singapore) 73.54
15 Philips Electronics (The Netherlands) 73.31
16 L’Oreal (France) 73.17
17 IBM (US) 73.03
18 Hewlett-Packard (US) 72.67
19 Barilla (Italy) 72.45
20 Nestle (Switzerland) 72.37
21 Ferrero (Italy) 72.36
22 Samsung Electronics (Korea) 71.62
23 FedEx (US) 70.84
24 Honda Motor (Japan) 70.82
25 The Coca-Cola Company (US) 70.40
26 Carlsberg (Denmark) 70.31
27 Procter & Gamble (US) 70.21
28 UPS (US) 70.07

The rankings within regions are:

•Asia: 1) The Walt Disney Company, 2) Daimler/Mercedes Benz, 3) BMW, 4) Sony, and 5) Singapore Airlines.

•Central Europe: 1) Sony, 2) BMW, 3) Google, 4) Volkswagen, and 5) Daimler/Mercedes Benz.

•Central & South America: 1) Nestle, 2) Sony, 3) Google, 4) BMW, and 5) Johnson & Johnson.

•North America: 1) Johnson & Johnson, 2) Google, 3) Nestle, 4) The Walt Disney Company, and 5) Sony.

•Northern Europe: 1) Google, 2) IKEA, 3) Sony, 4) The Walt Disney Company, and 5) Singapore Airlines.

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FIFA 2010 World Cup Official Trailer

Brink Offical Trailer

Crysis 2 - The Wall Trailer

UFC Undisputed 2010 Trailer

3D Dot Game Heroes Official Launch Trailer

Naughty Dog Working On Killzone 3 - Report

Killzone 3 details hit the net last Friday. Early readers of US mag GamePro's expose suggested that certain sections of the title - including jetpack areas - would resemble Uncharted. We were as confused as you.

Today, on further inspection, the full truth has been revealed: Uncharted developer Naughty Dog is involved in the creation of the title.

The studio has reportedly co-created the 'graphics engine' of KZ3 - suggesting it will be built on the same development blocks as multi-award winning Uncharted 2.

It has been working on the game in collaboration with long-term Killzone dev, Amsterdam's Guerilla Games.

The 3D, jetpack-boasting title will largely take place in snowy locales, according to last Friday's report. New weapons will include a jetpack-mounted machine gun and The Wasp - which fires multiple rockets at once.

All eyes are on the official announcement at E3 next month. Sony's conference takes place on Tuesday, June 15th.

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Red Dead Redemption Official Trailer "My Name is John Marston"

Rumour: PS3 Firmware 3.40 Coming Soon

PS3 website 'TheSixthAxis' are investigating rumours that came in overnight suggesting that next firmware isn't too far away.

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PS3 Hardware Outsells 360 By 25% In Europe

According to the latest European sales data, Sony’s PlayStation 3 is outselling the Xbox 360 by approximately 25 per cent in the first four months of 2010.

Rumour: Sony To Announce Paid PSN 'Premium' Service At E3

According to reports, Sony will announce 'PSN Premium at E3 which will cost less than £50 per year in the UK. Apparently, this new service will take nothing away from the free option available to all at the moment.

Rumour: XMB Redesign To Be Revealed At E3

On the last episode of the CheapAssGamer podcast, CheapyD stated that he knows "for a fact" that Sony will show a PS3 XMB redesign at E3. He doesn't delve into what changes will be implemented or if it'll have new features like cross-game chat, but it's certainly something forward to. If true, they'll likely release the firmware the same night of the announcement.

Since Sony hasn't officially stated any such plans, this is considered a rumor for now. We'll know for certain in a month.

Qore May 2010 LittleBigPlanet 2 Gameplay Shown

Sony Shipping New PlayStation 3 Hardware

New model includes smaller graphics chipset.

A Sony spokesperson confirmed to IGN the company has now begun shipping new PlayStation 3 models to North America that include a 40nm RSX graphics chip.

The smaller chip allows the console to run cooler, consume less power, and, presumably, help Sony reduce manufacturing cost of the system. If you're on the lookout for the new unit, the model number is "CECH-2101A".

Sony's older PlayStation 3 models previously included 90mn and 65nm chip sizes. Last December, a report from research firm iSuppli noted Sony was close to breaking even with each PS3 sale. This new model may finally allow Sony to profit from its console.

Sony's annual fiscal results from this past week show the company has sold 35 million PlayStation 3 units since launch in 2006.

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XCM Cyberbot Replacement Clear Case For PlayStation 3 PS3 Slim

XCM's new replacement case, Cyberbot, for the PS3 Slim. It's a clear case with crystal BD-ROM cover that even shows you how the Blu-ray drive is working and the Blu-ray disc spinning.

Looks cool, do you agree?

Gran Turismo® 5 Night Racing Trailer

Introducing the PlayStation®Move

LittleBigPlanet 2 Trailer

The PS3 Has A New And Beautiful Mech Game In The pipeline

Volcanic Ash Hits The Games Industry Too

Despite the gaming industry going ever more digital, the volcanic ash clouds have managed to cause quite a bit of trouble to those industry. Not only are we hearing that game shipments have come to a halt in certain regions, but also game preview events have had to be pushed back as developers are stranded in Europe.

Quote from GamePro:

"Many flights are still delayed until later this week and beyond. The travel complications left our features editor Patrick Shaw here instead of in Europe for a super-secret game reveal; and now I'm told that Polish developer People Can Fly (ironic much?) is stranded in Europe so they're pushing back a Bulletstorm preview event that was scheduled for this Friday. Bummer.

The silver lining, though, is that we can all blame the dead period between the Game Developers Conference and E3 on the volcano this year".

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Rumour: Sony's LittleBigSecret May Have Been Exposed.

Sony hasn't announced LittleBigPlanet 2, yet, but it is apparently on the way. Electronic musician Ochre announced on his Twitter feed today that he has licensed a song called "Infotain Me" to Sony for LittleBigPlanet 2. 

The sequel is being developed for PlayStation 3.

MAG v.1.05 Patch Arrives Monday April 19th

Today Zipper announced the next Patch for its 256 player game MAG, which is coming Monday which improves leadership and weapons, Also Zipper revealed that the DLC info will be next week. What to except from the DLC is probably more Maps, new weapons and Modes hopefully.


"We'll have details on our next DLC soon as well (sometime next week", Jeremy Dunham

Sr. Community Manager, Zipper Interactive

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The Fight: Lights Out - PlayStation Move Developer Diary

PS3 Won't Get 3D Blu-ray Support This Summer

Sony has announced that its 3D firmware update which is being piped to its latest range of Blu-ray players and the PlayStation 3 will not make the PS3 compatible with upcoming 3D Blu-rays.

Instead, the update will ready the console for 3D games, of which there will be four in June.

The four titles coming out in a 3D flavour are: Wipeout HD, Motorstorm Pacific Rift, PAIN and Super Stardust HD.

The PlayStation 3 will eventually get 3D Blu-ray compatibility but this is to come in the form of another firmware update later in the year.

Sony Refuses To Sanction PS3 Refunds

Did you think that Sony may have a change of heart and start issuing refunds due to the removal of OtherOS? Wrong! Instead they have said that there is no legal basis for PS3 refunds and what went on between Amazon and a customer is entirely their business. So in conclusion they have no plans to compensate consumers or retailers over the removal of OtherOS in the PS3.

"The provision in the Sale of Goods Act which requires an item to be fit for a purpose made known by the consumer to the retailer prior to purchase and confirmed by the retailer applies only to the contract between the retailer and the consumer," Sony told us.


"The decision by Amazon to give a consumer a partial refund is clearly between Amazon and the consumer, but we do not expect the decision to have a legal basis and we have no plans to compensate retailers".

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Crysis 2 PS3 'Performs Better Than 360 Version'

Crytek has been discussing developing Crysis 2 on consoles. And they reveal that they have been able to get better performance from the PS3 system in comparison to the Xbox 360.

"We haven't found it more difficult to develop for PS3," he told CVG sister magazine PSM3.


"We're lucky in the fact that we've come to the generation slightly later than other people - the ones who were trying to build the first technology and games were surprised at how different the PS3 was. We took our time and worked out the right way to approach it.


"At the moment, we're getting slightly more performance from PS3 compared to 360. I'm very confident that products using CryEngine 3 are going to come out as the best looking, or at least in the top three, on every platform".

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PS3 Firmware v3.21 Firmware Bypass Blocked

New reports indicate that the PS3 Firmware v3.21 bypass methods have been blocked!

Playstation MOVE Sub Controller To Be Named 'Navigation Controller'

If you were wondering what Sony's going to call that PlayStation MOVE sub-controller Wonder no more. Sony part number CECH-ZCS1U just hit the FCC's database, and "Navigation Controller" is written in nice bold letters right there on the label. It's looking like this is official, as the Sony US website has been quietly updated with the change, and we think it makes a certain amount of sense, as most 3D games let you aim the camera with your dominant hand and relegate navigation to the other.

What do you think? Smart name choice or should they have gone with something else?

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Sony Hires New Game Tester From Reality Show

Following their hit reality show 'The Tester', Sony has finally crowned Will Powers as its new 'quality assurance tester' for its video games. During the reality show, entrants were asked to perform a variety of silly asks which apparently related to the skills required by a tester.

For his efforts, Will Powers receives a low paying job as well as $5,000 signing bonus!

Sony: 3D Will Be The Biggest Gaming Revolution

Sony has expressed just how important 3D will become to their plans by revealing that 3D is part of a long term strategy. A spokesperson noted that 3D is possibly going to be the biggest revolution in years to come. Likewise, he drew reference to Avatar at the movies and how big of an impact that had.

"3D gaming is very important to us and we see this as a significant long term strategy," he said.


"The fact that we have a team entirely dedicated to stereoscopic 3D gaming shows that we are taking this very seriously and we aim to lead the way wherever we can".

Heavy Rain Sells 1 Million, 700k Above Estimates

David Cage has revealed that the PS3 exclusive Heavy Rain has sold 1 million units worldwide. Apparently this shocked many as the game was expected to sell just between 200,000 and 300,000 units. Cage is confident mood now and expects the title to move over 1.5 million units before the year is out!

The PS3 Slim Goes Portable

The PS3 Slim isn't just slim, it's also lighter than the previous model of the console. Which means it's slightly easier to take the thing on the road. Hence this portable gaming rig.

Built by Japanese peripheral specialists Hori, it's an LCD screen that attaches to the top of the console, and is able to display games in high definition (720p).

Sounds slightly stupid, but then, it doesn't just give you a portable PS3, it gives you a portable Blu-Ray player as well (and, for the Japanese, it's even compatible with the torne digital TV peripheral). One that can display stuff in HD, for those times you're stuck at Gran's house on her old 28" SDTV.

It'll go on sale May 27 in Japan, for USD$275.

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Sony E3 Presser Confirmed For June 15th

Sony’s E3 press conference will take place on June 15th, the company said today.

The event will be held at the Shrine Audutorium from 11:30am PST. That’s 7:30pm BST and 8:30pm CET, as seen here in the invite sent out to press.

Last year’s event saw formal reveals of Gran Turismo 5, Team ICO’s Last Guardian, the gigaton that was Final Fantasy XIV and the debut of ModNation Racers, as well as "the worst kept secret of E3" last year, according to Sony’s Kaz Hirai, PSP go.

The news arrives after Microsoft confirmed it’s set to hold its press conference on June 14th at the Wiltern Theater: a day after holding a special Natal-only event at the USC Galen Center on June 13th.

Nintendo hasn’t formally announced the date for its press conference yet, but is expected to be the same day as Sony’s, June 15th.

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Talk Of PS3 Lawsuits Rubbish

Last week, owners of older PS3 model found that the latest update removed a feature most had never used, the Install OtherOS feature. This action by Sony was a direct result of the hacking attempts by hacker George Hotz who had previously gained notoriety for creating exploits for the Iphone shortly after launch. Since the update was announced some PS3 owners have threatened litigation against Sony for the removal of this feature. I suggest that any lawsuits going forward should address the cause of the problem, the ego of Mr. Hotz himself.

Sony’s newly released PS3 update among other things removed the relatively unused ability of older PS3 models to install and run the Linux operation on their console’s harddrives. This feature had already been removed on new 'slim' models of Sony’s PS3 console. Due to concerns of hackers using the other OS feature as an exploit to crack the PS3 console, opening up the possibility of the type of rampant software piracy that plagues the PS3’s main rival, the Xbox 360, the Install OtherOS feature is now gone.

Sony’s fears proved well founded when George Hotz announced he had broken the PS3’s security settings in late January of this year and intended to release his hack to the general public. According to Hotz, "Sony may have difficulty patching the exploit".

Sony’s response was to remove the OtherOS feature entirely. "Disabling the ‘Other OS’ feature will help ensure that PS3 owners will continue to have access to the broad range of gaming and entertainment content from SCE and its content partners on a more secure system," says SCEA corporate communications director Patrick Seybold.

While Sony’s move to protect its platform from hackers and pirates may seem like common sense to most, there is a vocal minority voicing concern over the removal of this relatively unused feature and they’re already threatening lawsuits and lodging complaints as reported by an article on examiner.com posted here.

First off, users upset with the removal of the OtherOS option need to redirect their anger at the real culprit, George Hotz. Blaming Sony for the removal of the OtherOS option is like blaming the bank for the inconvenience of having to enter in a PIN code when using our bank cards to withdraw money from our accounts. Obviously, the problem doesn’t lie with the bank for implementing security measures but lies squarely on the shoulders of those who would steal from us. If these people didn’t exist we wouldn’t have need of the security measures in the first place.

George Hotz has claimed that he has no interest in aiding PS3 hackers and pirates but that’s hardly a defense for his selfish actions. The man who opens up the bank vault for criminals to wander in and steal the contents isn’t somehow immune from prosecution because he didn’t take anything himself. This matter is no different and George Hotz needs to be held accountable for the consequences of his actions. Now he’s promising a custom firmware available to PS3 owners to use the OtherOS feature and still be able to connect to the PSN network. George, if you didn’t meddle around in the first place PS3 owners wouldn’t be in this mess to start with. Thanks but no thanks.

Secondly, Sony is well within their rights to protect their system from security breaches. By using Sony’s software you agreed to the update provisions within the PS3’s user agreement. "Without limitation, services may include the provision of the latest update or download of new release that may include security patches, new technology or revised settings and features which may prevent access to unauthorized or pirated content, or use of unauthorized hardware or software in connection with the PS3 system".

I suggest all those talking lawsuit might want to read up on the agreement here. If you don’t agree with the user agreement set up by Sony, no one held a gun to your head and forced you to purchase their product. If you wish to game online you do so under the understanding that Sony will attempt to make the environment safe and secure for all PS3 owners. If you don’t like it, don’t play online.

Users don’t have to update their systems and lose this feature. Users only have to update if they wish to continue connecting to the PSN network and if they want to take advantage of new updates. Given that choice, there isn’t a court out there that is going to rule against Sony when it comes to how they implement security patches on their own service.

Talks of lawsuits against Sony are a complete waste of time, perpetrated by sue-monkeys with an overactive sense of entitlement. You want to sue someone for Sony having their hand forced in this matter; I suggest you look no further than one George Hotz. While it could have been any hacker it just so happened to be George Hotz flexing his ego that ruined this feature for PS3 owners and then took to his blog to crow about it. By targeting the party responsible for these actions instead of the company looking to secure their systems, the sue-happy among us might actually have a case.

George has since tried to apologize via his blog while casting Sony as the villain. Despite his efforts to break the PS3’s security, he doesn’t see how that could ever lead to anything untoward happening.

"Hacking isn’t about getting what you didn’t pay for, it’s about making sure you do get what you did".

How about you do us all a favour, George, and stop pretending this isn’t your fault. People were getting what they paid for out of the PS3. Its hackers that have put a stop to that because they didn’t think their actions through. At the very least perhaps criminal charges are in order.

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Firmware 3.21 Now Live; Goodbye Other OS

Say goodbye to the “other OS” option featured in original “fat” PS3s as firmware 3.21 is now live. PS3 firmware updates normally bring new features, but this time around it’s removing a feature.

The ability to install another OS is a feature that was unique to the PS3. Keyword being was. You once were able to install Linux onto your PS3 to use it as a super computer.

Thanks to Geohot, the hacker responsible for first cracking the iPhone and now the PS3, this option has been removed. Geohot aka George Hotz found an exploit in the PS3’s “Other OS” feature which prompted Sony to remove the feature.

This is yet another case of hackers and pirates ruining the fun for others who legitimately wanted to use another OS on their PS3.

Fire up your PS3 right now to download the mandatory firmware 3.21 update.

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PS3 Firmware 3.21 Coming April 1st

Posted on 29 March by Charlotte Panther – Head of PR, SCEE

PS3 Firmware 3.21 will be available this Thursday. It will disable the “Install Other OS” feature that was available on the PS3 systems prior to the current slimmer models, launched in September 2009. This feature enabled users to install an operating system, but due to security concerns, we’re now removing this feature.

For most of you, this won’t have any impact on how you use your PS3. If you are one of the few who use the “Other OS” feature, or if you belong to an organisation that does, then you can choose not to upgrade your system. However, doing so will mean that the following features will not be available:

• Ability to sign in to PlayStation Network and use network features that require signing in to PlayStation Network, such as online features of PS3 games and chat.
• Playback of PS3 software titles or Blu-ray Disc videos that require PS3 system software version 3.21 or later.
• Playback of copyright-protected videos that are stored on a media server (when DTCP-IP is enabled under Settings).
• Use of new features and improvements that are available on PS3 system software 3.21 or later.

If you currently use the “Other OS” feature and you wish to update to system software 3.21, make sure you back-up any data stored within the hard drive partition used by the “Other OS,” as they will not be able to access that data following the update.

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PS3 Hacker 'GeoHot' Gives Out Flawed Advice, Rendering Game Playing Useless

Self proclaimed PS3 hacker has stated that 60Gb Phat owners that want to keep the 'OTHER OS' feature, NOT to update firmware to 3.21. Next update is expected on April 1st, and will remove the OTHER OS feature that allowed the Linux to be installed and the expolit to be used. The feature is been removed cause Sony fear a security breach, that could lead to PS3 Piracy.

Taking Geohot advice and NOT upgrading would render your PS3 useless. As Sony stated that update 3.21 is required to play games, Blu-ray's and use PSN features. I personally wouldn't hold my breath that a 'Custom Firmware' comes anytime soon.

Whilst it's annoying that Sony has to resort to removing features, I understand Sony are only protecting it's interests from Piracy brought on by Geohots illegal hacking of the PS3.

FirstPlay For PlayStation To Launch April 8th

Europe's first on-console show FirstPlay will launch its first weekly episode on Thursday April 8 on the PlayStation, bringing high definition video reviews and previews every week, plus exclusive downloadable content and much more.

Brought about by TechRadar's publisher Future, FirstPlay will be available to UK gamers through Sony's PlayStation 3 console from the PlayStation Network for 99p an episode or £8.99 for a 90-day subscription.

Tim Clark, Editor-in-Chief of FirstPlay, said: "We're tremendously excited to be finally launching FirstPlay, and to be bringing our brand of editorial direct to PS3 owners on their consoles.

Evolving

"It will be an evolving service, but our focus will always be showing gamers the most exciting things on PlayStation systems," he added.

Highlights in the first episode include a review of Just Cause 2 – rewarding viewers with an exclusive in-game item for use by Rico Rodriquez as well as Sony's God of War III – and a first-look at EA's Fifa World Cup 2010.

Plus, there's an interactive gallery function, including screenshots and artwork from Formula One 2010, Ghost Recon: Future Soldier and Red Dead Redemption.

"Gamers can use each image as an XMB background wallpaper and also find out more about the games thanks to the accompanying audio captions," add the press release.

"With a vast variety of content available through the PlayStation Network, FirstPlay's Network Highlights section brings a round-up of the latest PlayStation Minis, films and digital comics in a weekly package".

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God of War 3 Update 1.01 Patch Released

Next time you play God Of War 3 you will be prompted to download patch, weighing in at 5377KB it fixes issues with wireless controllers that many users were having.

Fat Princess Patch 1.05 hits today!

Patch 1.05 adds two new maps for all to enjoy; 'Candy Mountain' and 'Frostbite'. The patchalso fixes a handful of issues, including the infamous “Warrior Shield Glitch” among others.

Playlogic Working To Develop Motion-Enabled Products For PS3

Playlogic Entertainment, an independent worldwide publisher of entertainment software, announced today that its internal development studio, Playlogic Game Factory, is already hard at work developing new motion control enabled products with Sony Computer Entertainment for the Playstation 3 and Move.

Playlogic Game Factory, located in Breda, The Netherlands has worked on a great number of SCEE licenses in the past such as EyeToy Play: PomPom Party for PlayStation 2, Aqua Vita, Tori Emaki, Mesmerise, and most recently EyePet for PlayStation 3.

Executive Vice President of Playlogic, Rogier Smit said: “We have increased the team size dedicated to these new projects to accommodate the extension of our partnership with Sony Computer Entertainment Europe. We have proved to Sony over the past 5 years that our team has the skills they require and we will continue to deliver the quality Playlogic Game Factory is known for”.

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Who Would You Choose To Play 'Kratos' In A God Of War Movie?

In a rececent interview, God of War III devs were asked who they would choose to play Kratos in a God of War movie. They suggested Ed Norton (if he could bulk up again) and Russel Crowe. Senior designer, Jonathan Hawkins, pointed out that the actor would need to understand the inner workings of the Kratos as a character.

Who do you think would be most suited to the role?

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Rumor: PS3 To Get ManHunt 3 Exclusive For Playstation MOVE

There's been a lot of speculation over the last couple days about an upcoming announcement from Sony at this year's E3 conference regarding a major exclusive. While we doubt the news others are getting from TakeTwo and Rockstar Games is the "big exclusive", it's still pretty interesting news.

There have been murmurs about ManHunt 3 since the highly controversial release of ManHunt 2 for the Wii and PS2. Now it appears the most recent rumor out of Rockstar's parent company TakeTwo is that we can expect an announcement this summer.

From what is been reported on the net, the game will be PS3 exclusive and utilize the Playstation 3's upcoming Move add-on. It definitely makes sense since the PS3 would be a perfect fit for the ManHunt sequel. And with the rumored plan to use the Move hardware, the latest version could give PS3 gamer's more functionality than was available in the Wii version of ManHunt 2.

Even though this is coming from a trusted source, we're not going to start practicing our air strangling just yet. It all makes sense, but for now we're going to file this under rumors until something more concrete comes to light.

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UK Game Industry To Get Tax Relief

The UK Government is to adopt a tax relief plan put forward by games developer association TIGA.

The plan will offer financial incentives to companies making games that fit certain cultural criteria. Developers who make profitable games will pay less tax on their profits, and the studios behind unsuccessful games will get a tax credit to reduce losses.

"Games tax relief will increase employment, investment and innovation in the UK videogames sector," said TIGA boss Richard Wilson.

"Our research shows that games tax relief over a five year period should create or protect 3550 graduate level jobs, increase or safeguard £457 million in development expenditure and encourage developers to adopt new business models and create new intellectual property".

To qualify, companies must fall within the scope of UK corporation tax. They must also pass a cultural test scoring against a criteria that looks at European heritage, languages, game locations, innovation, narrative and the location of the development and development staff.

The news was announced yesterday by Chancellor Alistair Darling. The Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association welcomed the news, with chairman Andy Payne stating, "It is absolutely heartening news to hear that the Chancellor has offered support for one of the country’s leading creative digital businesses. This is a very significant day for the computer and videogames business in the UK".

"Videogames are the Hollywood of the 21st century," added Wilson. "With games tax relief in place, the UK is guaranteed a leading and successful role".

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Rumour: Michael Jackson Video Game Coming To PS3

The King Of Pop may be coming to PS3 - after Sony snapped up the rights to a Michael Jackson video game.

Video game rights were included in Sony's $200m purchase of MJ's estate last week.

According to reports, the deal gives Sony free reign to use Michael Jackson's released and unreleased material. The Independent reports it includes the right to release ten new Michael Jackson albums, video games and DVDs between now and 2017.

Of course, the most likely release is an MJ Singstar - but PS3 Move could well come into the equation.

Following the deal, Rob Stringer, chairman of the Columbia Epic division of Sony said: "There may be theatre. There may be films and movies. There may be computer games".

Jacko's no stranger to video games - with his own Moonwalker becoming a particular cult hit.

Sony released an no stranger to video gamesMJ PS3 bundle in Japan in January.

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Custom Soundtracks Confirmed For ModNation Racers

Chuck Lacson, the Associate Product Marketing Manager of SCEA, confirms that the upcoming Playstation 3 racing game 'ModNation Racers' will support custom soundtracks.

LittleBigPlanet 2 Is In Development And Supports MOVE

Sony Computer Entertainment Benelux, in person of Marketing Manager Folkert Langeveld, has confirmed that SCE has LittleBigPlanet 2 in development. On top of that, Langeveld confirms that the game will feature Move-support.

In the same interview, a few other Move-support games are mentioned, Flower and SOCOM 4 amongst them.

Rumour: New Gran Turismo 5 Demo Incoming........

According to NeoGAF poster, a new demo is on PSN but it's not available currently to the public audience.

This member has impeccable credibility and this demo is definitely available on PSN, though it may only be available for a select group of people at the current time. He later states that this demo may be used for media events only, but that is speculation on his part, as of now.

CBS And Sony Open 3D Consumer Research Center

Sony continues to evolve and further their research towards 3-D technology.Together with CBS, Sony has unveiled the Sony 3D Experience, showing the seriousness of 3D for the future of home entertainment.

The research center aims to be an educational experience not only for consumers, but Sony themselves who will get feedback from visitors.

Sony is promoting 3D not only in cinemas and home theaters, but also with BluRay, and yes, the PS3.

The future of gaming is evolving right before our eyes and Sony has shown a constant effort to lead this technological push. If you are planning to go to Las Vegas anytime soon be sure to check out this Research Center.

Infinty Ward: Double XP Weekend Confirmed For PS3 Modern Warfare 2, Date Unknown

Robert Bowling, Community Relations Manager for Infinity Ward, writes via Twitter:

"Yeah, PS3 will also get Double XP when DLC hits PSN, although that comes later. When it's dated, I'll let you know".

Final Fantasy XIII Officially Confirmed As UK's Fastest-Selling Game In 2010

Square Enix Europe has announced that Final Fantasy XIII has officially become the fastest selling UK game of 2010 so far, according to GFK Chart-track. The news comes on the heels of the announcement last week that the sell-in shipment of the game has exceeded the five million unit milestone worldwide.

Sony annouces 'God Of War Collection' For Europe

Sony’s just announced that the God Of War Collection – a single PS3 blu-ray containing remastered versions of God Of War I & II – will launch in the UK on April 30th (28th for mainland Europe).

Very strange for SCEE to release the game so late after God Of War III but, better late than never, right?

Sony also confirmed that a 'Trilogy Boxset' will launch in the same window, containing the Collection and God Of War III.

Sony: We Won't Charge For PSN Until We Can Justify It

Sony has revealed some good news. This is that it will NOT charge for PSN until it can actually justify charging for the service.

So Sony's going to have to add some more compelling features before they even bring such a plan to action.

Kratos Is God Of UK Charts

God of War III has released in the UK this past week to claim the top spot on Chart Track’s Software Sales chart for the region, crushing the likes of Battlefield: Bad Company 2 and Final Fantasy XIII ‘neath its boot.

It marks Sony's second top-spot victory in as many months, with Heavy Rain achieving the same in February. Kratos' latest adventure outsold God of War II's launch by a ratio of 2.65 to 1.

The Top Ten All Format UK Software Sales Chart follows below:

•1.) God of War III (SCE)
•2.) Battlefield: Bad Company 2 (EA)
•3.) Final Fantasy XIII (Square Enix)
•4.) Just Dance (Ubisoft)
•5.) Metro 2033 (THQ)
•6.) Wii Fit Plus (Nintendo)
•7.) Heavy Rain (SCE)
•8.) Wii Sports Resort (Nintendo)
•9.) Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing (SEGA)
•10.) Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (Activision Blizzard)

PS3 Central: God Of War 3 Review

The story starts off directly where God Of War 2 left off, which Kratos on Gaia, who is climbing Mount Olympus with the rest of the Titans. The goal, to destroy Zeus, quickly takes a different turn though and Kratos is forced to jump through more loops to have his vengeance. While the overall scheme of things works well, the plot can become a bit muddled during the last quarter of the game. I will state though, that the ending is a hit or miss. Some will hate it, others will love it. I personally felt it was done right, maybe not good, but proper. It was the ending the series needed I believe. Just make sure you watch all of the credits.

Character interaction is vastly improved. Kratos is developed surprisingly well in this title, and shows he still retains a piece of humanity at his core. There are also conversations and chats between him and other characters, rather than Kratos expressing his rage then blindly killing everything. Overall, the plot and characters are a huge improvement over the previous titles of the series.

The game boasts a lot of replayability, especially in comparison to God of War 1 and 2. You can now collect items in the game, which are carried over to other saves, that give you abilities. Abilities such as unlimited magic, a third of received damage not being received, and gaining 10X the amount of red orbs. For fans of hack and slashers, or just most gamers in general, between the fantastic campaign and the unlockables, there is a great amount of replayability.

-Extra Notes-
The game runs at a very smooth framerate from between 30 and 60FPS. I can safely say I’ve seen seen a framerate drop of any kind. The loading screens are also fairly minimal, and there are no loading screens when transitioning between scenes and areas of the game. There are times when the screen will fade to black for a spare moment, but it shouldn’t bother anyone.

The animations in come parts could have been polished a lot more, but overall they are fine. I also wish there were more challenge rooms and unlockables, but it’s a small complaint.

~Final Thoughts~
One of the best games of this generation, or of all games. The campaign will blow you away, and it offers good amounts of replayability. Far better than the previous GoW titles, and it pretty much prefects everything about the series. Well worth the 60$$. Go buy the game. Now.

If I was forced to give it an overall score (I detest the score system), I’d rate it a very solid 9.5.

Credit goes to Nerevar

Thank you

PlayStation MOVE Minority Report Tech Demo

Uncharted 2 Picks Up FOUR Awards At BAFTA's

So the Brits recently held the Games BAFTA's and Uncharted 2 was a big winner scoring a total of four awards. However the best game award went to Batman as well as best gameplay. The latter awards are arguably the best ones, so Naughty Dog may be a bit disappointed with their offerings.

Check out the full list below:



Best Game:
Batman: Arkham Asylum

Action:
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

Family and Social:
Wii Sports Resort

Use of Online:
FIFA 10

Use of Audio:
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

Handheld:
LittleBigPlanet

GAME Award of 2010:
Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

Strategy:
Empire: Total War

Original score:
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

Multiplayer:
Left 4 Dead 2

Gameplay:
Batman: Arkham Asylum

Sports:
FIFA 10

Story:
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

BAFTA one’s to watch award, in association with Dare to Be Digital:
Shrunk

Artistic achievement:
Flower

Sony Europe Request GTA IV DLC Changes, Suffers Delay

Due to a request by Sony Europe to make some minor content changes to the PAL PS3 version of the game, Rockstar Games has moved the release dates of Grand Theft Auto: Episodes From Liberty City (PC/PS3) and the two downloadable episodes Grand Theft Auto: The Lost & Damned and Grand Theft Auto: The Ballad of Gay Tony (GFWL / PSN) to April 13 for North America and April 16 for all other countries.

A PR associate from Rockstar continued to tell us the following:

"Despite our best efforts to work through this quickly, the two weeks were needed to complete submission. We understand and sympathise with the fans that will be upset by this delay. We want to assure our fans that the minor changes made to the game will not affect the gamers enjoyment of the games, these will not affect any gameplay elements and were not related to any local ratings requirements".

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Crytek: Crysis 2 Will Look Beautiful On PS3

According to reports, Crytek has told the OPM that Crysis 2 will look beautiful on the PS3. And of course we wouldn't expect anything less from this franchise that looked so pretty on the PC platform.

Sony Launches 'PlayStation MOVE' Website

Sony Corp. this week launched a new website division for the Playstation Move motion controller to be released for the Playstation 3.

The Playstation Move website includes a basic overview of the product, game lineup, and video developer diaries.

Molyneux On Heavy Rain: "Absolutely Brilliant"

Many will agree that Quantic Dream's Heavy Rain is an example of the future of gaming; that it represents a mature, intelligent, innovative step forward for the industry.

Well, designer Peter Molyneux certainly agrees. PlayStation fans aren't always on board with this guy, as he typically spearheads games that simply don't arrive for Sony's consoles, but his experience is undeniable. In regards to Heavy Rain, Molyneux says the game is "absolutely brilliant." He even admits to being so emotionally affected by the experience that he simply couldn't continue. As summarized by Joystiq, Molyneux offered these candid thoughts in an interview with Frank Rose at SXSW this week:

"I recommend anyone who wants to start to see the first glimpses of the future of video games to go out and buy it. But, personally, I could not bring myself to play more than 90 minutes, because the world that was there was so dark and so emotionally involving I felt emotionally beaten up.

But there's no question in my mind that games like Heavy Rain -- games that have a new fidelity in the way that they present their experiences; obviously made with cinematography and motion capture in mind -- can really show the way forward to a new form of entertainment, which is evolving the story and choices and consequences".

We couldn't have said it better ourselves. And this only proves that excellent entertainment experiences can have a profound impact on just about everyone, and something like Heavy Rain will continue to influence developers for quite some time. Molyneux also complimented Quantic Dream on the design of the game in question, saying the QTEs "really meant that you had to pay attention all the time because you didn't know whether these quick-time events were going to come up." He also says that what the team does with Heavy Rain is "really revolutionary".

We may not get Fable on the PS3 but an exclusive title certainly managed to impress a guy who routinely embraces the Xbox 360. Platforms are irrelevant in the face of brilliance.

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video: Friends Really Against Grenade Spam

New Video Walkthrough Of '3D Dot Game Heroes'

3D Dot Game Heroes is an interesting take on the retro revival as it's more of a retro roast. It's a mash-up of classic adventure and RPG games (mostly The Legend of Zelda and Dragon Quest) and pokes fun at several other franchises. You don't have to be a big retro fan to get all the jokes though, as half of them are sword-as-penis jokes, which never go out of fashion.

In his new video walkthrough of the game, Atlus PR Manager Aram Jabbari says it has over 100 loading screens that all parody classic games. "If it's an 8 or 16-bit classic that you grew up on, odds are that this game lampoons it and pays dear respect to it." He also spends a good amount of the video talking about the amazing graphics and how it takes full power and full advantage of the PlayStation 3.

3D Dot Game Heroes will be available on May 11th in North America for what Jabbari calls "the super-duper awesome price of $39.99". It will be available in Europe on May 14th.

Sony: "Several Bundles" Coming For PlayStation Move

At their GDC press conference, Sony announced that they will be selling a bundle consisting of a PlayStation Eye, a PlayStation Move and a motion-controlled game. Kyle Shubel, managing producer at Sony has now clarified what was meant by that stating that there will be "several bundles."

"We are going to have several bundles that encompass the major tiers. For example, if you're looking at SOCOM being a hardcore game, and Eyepet being a family game, and Move party being a social game, those may be the three bundles," said Shubel.

He was quick to note that these were not the exact details regarding the bundles, but that there will be bundles which appeal to different audiences, and no one will be forced to buy a bundled game that they do not like.

PS3 Sold Out In Europe Too, Not Just North America

Ahh, the power of God of War III! It looks like there are PS3 shortages in Europe as well as the US.

A number of online retailers in the UK including GAME, Gameplay and ARGOS are indicating they have no stock of the console right now!

Bug Or feature? Complete God of War Trilogy Soundtrack Is Available For Free Download

Either it is a nice feature, or someone at Sony has just created a very big bug.

The full soundtrack of God of War can be downloaded directly (and free) via the official GOW III website!

God of War Trilogy Soundtrack

God of War – Blood & Metal EP

Grab it while you can............

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Aliens vs Predator Console Versions Getting Patched

Patches for Aliens vs Predator's home console versions are on the way, Rebellion confirmed yesterday. No date yet, but the studio did provide a few details.

Along with the numerous balancing and weapon tweaks being introduced in the patch is the removal of long waiting times reported by some Xbox 360 players when searching for a ranked match. There's also improved support for southpaw players, improved team balancing logic for applicable modes, and a fix for XP being incorrectly affected by offline play.

"We’ve been overwhelmed with the response to AVP and want our fans to know if it’s within our power to keep them happy through on-going support then we shall do so," said Rebellion CEO Jason Kingsley.

"Some things just can’t be foreseen and it’s great that we are able to respond to requests for modifications in this way".

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