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Sony Japan is set to release the 2.7 firmware for the PSP soon, and Maxconsole.net has a (badly) machine translated changelog file. Most interesting are the new features: Macromedia Flash support, and AAC media decoding. Macromedia Flash should allow web content producers for the PSP more flexibility in their page design, and may also offer some simple games tailored for the platform. AAC is the audio codec of choice for Apple’s iTunes player, though users should not expect DRM-encoded, purchased songs from Apple’s store to work. For those users that have ripped their CDs to the AAC format, however, this may be a welcome addition. The updated firmware should hit the US soon.
Read More 
| Maxconsole.net
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Playstation HUB, PS3 Backwards Compatibility Progressing
Posted by Christopher Sasaki Categories: PlayStation 3, Rumors,
According to a report on Gamesindustry.biz, certain areas of the PS3 technologies are being built in Sony’s UK development arm. The Playstation Network Platform is currently under development with the code name “Playstation HUB.” Other teams are working on PS3 backward compatibility — this will apparently be achieved through software emulation, rather than including the core PS2 hardware. The PS2’s high level of compatibility with the original Playstation was achieved by including the original Playstation hardware as a support chip. Gamers have seen the difficulties Microsoft has had in providing backwards compatibility through an emulation layer on the Xbox 360, so this could be a challenge for Sony, but Gamesindustry’s source indicates that the software is already working well, and that a number of original PS2 titles are already supported on the preliminary PS3 hardware.
Read More | Gamesindustry.biz
Sony, Nintendo, Then Microsoft: Pre-E3 Schedule Set
Posted by Christopher Sasaki Categories: Corporate News, E3, PlayStation 3, Wii, Xbox 360,
If all goes as scheduled, Sony, then Nintendo, and finally Microsoft will let the gaming world know their plans for the upcoming year. It looks like Sony will lead the pack on Monday, May 8th. At 2:00 PM in the Sony Picture Studios in Culver City, California. Sony should be playing up the PS3, possibly playing up themes like realistic gaming experiences and convergence. The day after Sony’s announcements brings Nintendo to the plate.
May 9, 2006, at 9:30 AM in the Kodak Theater in Hollywood will hopefully bring all Nintendo devotees the answers they are looking for in the Revolution. Nintendo will most likely be stumping for its unique game line-up, and continue to drill into the concept of games for everyone. The Revolution will take center stage, but also expect to hear about the DS Lite, and Nintendo will tout the success of their non-traditional content like Brain Age.
The last of the major pre-E3 conferences will be Microsoft’s. Microsoft will hold court at 11:30 AM at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre. Microsoft will certainly claim their successes in the Xbox 360 launch, and talk about Xbox Live adoption numbers. It should be expected that Microsoft will hammer home the fact that they have their console on the market now, and that there is strong content available now, and there will be great content in the future. It is possible that the HD-DVD add-on will be announced, but this certainly will not be the focus. Microsoft’s story in the upcoming year should be community, content, and availability.
It will be interesting to see how the announcements play out, especially in how each company addresses the others.
Read More | Gamasutra
MLB 2K6 Freezing Issue Fix in Test
Posted by Christopher Sasaki Categories: Sports, Xbox 360, Xbox Live,
2K Sports has posted yet another update in their forums, and they currently have a fix for the MLB 2K6 freezing issue on the Xbox 360 in compliance testing at Microsoft. When the update passes acceptance testing, it should become available as an auto update for all Xbox Live Silver and Gold customers. Other methods of obtaining the patch have not yet been announced, so those users without network-connected Xbox 360 consoles may have to wait a bit longer for an official fix.
Read More | Official 2K Sports Forums
Digitimes is reporting that the IC testing company that currently tests the GPUs for the PSP and the southbridge chipsets for the Xbox 360 may also recently have started testing on the PS3 chipsets. Digitimes is basing this information on reports from analysts within the IC community and other industry players. The King Yuan Electronics Company, or KYEC, had no direct comment other than to say that game console chip testing is not a significant portion of its regular business. While KYEC doesn’t confirm the information directly, it would seem that with only seven months before Sony’s worldwide launch of the PS3, testing should either already have started or be starting soon for Sony to meet their goals.
Read More | Digitimes.com
Nintendo, AOL Announce “First to Play” Sweepstakes
Posted by Christopher Sasaki Categories: Corporate News, Wii,
Nintendo and AOL have announced that the two companies are co-sponsoring the Nintendo First To Play Sweepstakes. Starting April 21, at 9AM Pacific Time, gamers interested in becoming the first consumer to play the Nintendo Revolution during the Nintendo Media Briefing on May 9th will get their shot. Three winners will receive a trip for two to Los Angeles, passes for the Media Briefing, $200, a Nintendo Shirt, and a DS Lite with Mario Bros. DS. One of the three will get the chance to become one of the first people to play the Nintendo Revolution. The Mario Bros. and DS Lite prize pack might indicate that Nintendo will release the DS Lite in the US when the game ships on May 15th…
Read More | Nintendo First to Play Sweepstakes
Microsoft to Update Xbox 360 CPU
Posted by Christopher Sasaki Categories: Corporate News, Hardware, Xbox 360,
Microsoft, working with its CPU manufacturing partner, Chartered Semiconductor, looks to move the Xbox 360 CPU die-size to a 65nm process. The current Xbox 360 CPU is manufactured on a 90nm die, and through this reduction, Microsoft hopes to reduce heat expenditure, power utilization, and manufacturing cost. These kinds of moves will be important in the future to keep the costs of producing the Xbox 360 competitive, and is the kind of hardware change that never happened on the original Xbox. Microsoft needs to have better ownership of the hardware platform for the Xbox 360 so that they can continue to produce newer iterations of the hardware, similar to the way Sony has approached the PS2, and Nintendo has continued to tweak and update the Gameboy Advance.
Read More | Gamesindustry.biz
Madden 2007 Cover To Feature Shaun Alexander
Posted by Christopher Sasaki Categories: Corporate News, Nintendo DS, Nintendo Gamecube, PC, PlayStation 2, PSP, Sports, Xbox 360,
EA Sports has just announced that they have selected Shaun Alexander of the NFC Champion Seattle Seahawks to be on the cover of Madden 2007. Responding to the selection, Alexander was reported as saying “To be on the cover of Madden NFL 07 is a big milestone in my career since I have always been a huge fan of this franchise…EA SPORTS is focusing on the running game in this year’s version, so I was honored when I was chosen to be on the cover to represent the improved running game.” Alexander was selected as NFL MVP, and holds the single-season rushing touchdown record (28). Seahawks fans are praying that Alexander manages to avoid the Madden Curse.
Read More | Press Release
Sony Drops New God of War II Screenshots
Posted by Christopher Sasaki Categories: Action, Adventure, PlayStation 2, Screenshots,
Sony has dropped four new screenshots of God of War II on the official game site. The sequel takes place with Kratos having replaces Ares as the God of War. The new screens show of some of the new environments and creatures that Kratos will have to fight in the upcoming game, and the models and detail look extremely good, and look to be a great follow-up to the original game. Gamers can look forward to some more Kratos-style evisceration in 2007 on the PS2.
Read More | Official God of War II
PS2 Price Drop Official: $129.99
Posted by Christopher Sasaki Categories: Corporate News, Hot Deals, PlayStation 2,
Sony has officially announced that the price of the Playstation 2 will drop to $129.99 US / $139.99 CDN starting today. Sony hopes the reduction in price will drive more consumers to pick up the PS2 and add to its huge lead in the console market. The Playstation 2 currently holds a lion share of the marketplace, with about 55% of the total consoles sold bearing the PS2 label.
It will be interesting to see if Microsoft matches the price drop, but one gets the feeling that Microsoft is going to let the Xbox basically fade away while they focus their energy on the Xbox 360. Where Sony has done particularly well is managing a console’s sales throughout its lifecycle; when the PS2 launched on the market, Sony seemed to have a plan for the original Playstation, both in ongoing price reductions, and the introduction of the small PSOne. Sony seems to have a similar plan in mind for the PS2: continue to drive sales of the PS2 through and after the PS3 launch. This makes Sony’s focus on backwards-compatibility more salient. While backwards-compatibility may not be a huge factor for early-adopters, being able to play previous generation games may be more of a concern for late adopters to the cycle.
Read More | Press Release
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