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PS3 2.30 firmware to bring DTS-HD Master Audio to console, revamped PLAYSTATION Store
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Downloadable Content, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Network, Release Dates, Sony,
Okay, so first and foremost, the atrocious PLAYSTATION Store that the PS3 has been sporting is going to be replaced with PS3 firmware 2.30. That is a good thing, because compared to both the Xbox Live Marketplace and the Wii Shopping Channel, the PLAYSTATION Store just performs horrible in our opinion. So good on Sony for changing that up. You can get a look at the new interface in the video above, which Sony put together. It looks a lot better.
Second thing, which is even better than the store upgrade if you ask us, is that the 2.30 firmware update is going to finally bring DTS-HD Master Audio to the Playstation 3, alongside DTS-HD High Resolution Audio. If you are a Blu-ray fan, then this means the world to you if you have a compatible receiver. Be prepared for perfect lossless audio to be read at an “incredible high variable rate of 24.5 mega-bits per second” in 7.1 surround sound. This is the one thing the PS3 was missing as a Blu-ray player (well, this, and Dolby-HD), and now makes it pretty much future-proof.
You get all this goodness on April 15th.
Playstation Blog
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Sony Expands Blu-Ray Capability in PlayStation 3 with BD-Live
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Corporate News, Downloadable Content, Hardware, PlayStation 3,
Sony’s next PlayStation 3 software update, due out later this month, allows downloading of games, videos, and ring tones. The console is to be updated with Blu-ray Disc Profile 2.0 and BD-Live will be added to the PS3. The update includes “resume play” for both discs and DVD. You can also copy music and images on a PSP and use it as a remote for the PS3.
We certainly are not surprised at this news as we think that Sony has been silently screaming,”Goody, goody, goody!” since the end of the disc war. While this is the first Blu-ray player that can access the Net, Panasonic also plans to release one with BD-Live later in the spring.
Examiner
CES 2008: Sony Intros 16GB Memory Stick Pro Duo
Posted by Lolita Beckwith Categories: Accessories, PlayStation 3, Portable/Mobile, PSP, Sony,
Okay, PSP and PS3’ers, take note…and start saving your pennies now. Why? Because at CES, Sony announced that their 16GB Memory Stick Pro Duo will hit stores in March. That’s right, 16GB, four times more the highest capacity Pro Duo currently available. That’s way more photos, music, videos, ISOs,
movies and pure fun than ever. The downside? The storage card will cost a whopping $300 USD—more than a PSP itself. Worth it? You make the call.
Latest Gear Live Videos
Tversity Adds Entertainment Diversity to Your Wii, PS3 or Xbox 360
Posted by Lolita Beckwith Categories: PlayStation 3, Wii, Xbox 360,
We can’t wait to try Tversity, free software that will add even more entertainment options to your already multi-tasking PS3, Wii, or Xbox 360. Tversity allows you to stream just about any multimedia from your PC to your TV via your gaming console. Basically, if it can be played on Windows Media Player, it can be played on TV. The software also allows you to stream internet media—audio, video, RSS feeds, podcasts and images—for television viewing. This can be done by entering websites of your choice, or using Tversity’s audio and video guides. And that’s only some of this freeware’s features! Sounds like exactly what we’ve been looking for. We’ll report back after giving Tversity a test run…
TVersity
viaChip Chick
Assassin’s Creed Goes Gold
Posted by Steve Van Neil Categories: Action, Adventure, Corporate News, PlayStation 3, Ubisoft, Xbox 360,
The game that nobody thought would actually come out this year is officially done and on its way to be pressed, boxed, and shipped out to game stores. Yes, that’s right. Assassin’s Creed, the long-in-development Crusades sandbox epic has gone gold for production.
“We’ve been working very hard for nearly four years to make Assassin’s Creed a reality and now there is a confirmed date when players will get to experience the results of our efforts,” shared Jade Raymond, producer of Assassin’s Creed. “This is a huge event for the team. Our biggest reward will be everyone having a lot of good solid fun.”
Assassin’s Creed hits the Xbox 360 and PS3 on November 13th.
Ubisoft
E for All: Metal Gear Solid 4 Demo Impressions
Posted by Steve Van Neil Categories: Action, Konami, PlayStation 3,
My mission was clear. Behind a barbed wire facade and slew of No Camera signs lurked one of the few worthwhile E for All offerings: a playable Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots demo. The official word was that this short demo was the only taste we Americans would get of the latest Solid Snake outing before its release next year, so Konami’s booth was naturally my first stop at the show. The line snaked around the entire booth. I queued up and waited. And waited some more. Finally, we were led into a makeshift theater (appropriately outfitted with sandbags and cargo netting) where a company representative gave us a crash course on the game’s controls. Afterwards, the door opened and we were unleashed upon the demo kiosks.
Click to continue reading E for All: Metal Gear Solid 4 Demo Impressions
Brutal Legend Debut Trailer
Posted by Steve Van Neil Categories: Action, PlayStation 3, Trailers, Xbox 360,
Sometimes you see a game trailer that just renews your faith in the industry. Such is the case with this teaser for Brutal Legend, the latest from Tim Schafer and his Double Fine Productions. Yes, I know it’s a CG trailer, but the insane genius on display here cannot be denied. Equal parts God of War, Guitar Hero, and Heavy Metal, Brutal Legend promises to be one of the most hilarious and imaginative games of next year. Toss in the voice talents of actor/comedian Jack Black and a horde of heavy metal rockers, remind yourself that Schafer is the guy behind PC classics Full Throttle and Grim Fandango, as well as last generation’s underplayed platforming gem, Psychonauts, and you have the recipe for a truly special gaming experience.
Brutal Legend is slated to hit the Xbox 360 and PS3 next year. Inexplicably, the game’s Wikipedia entry is the only place online that has some solid info on the game, so check out the link below.
Read More 
| Brutal Legend's Wikipedia entry
Bionic Commando Returns!
Posted by Steve Van Neil Categories: Action, CAPCOM, PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360,
Remember Bionic Commando? The classic NES side scroller, which introduced a grappling gun to the system’s action-adventure slate, blew us all away with its sheer difficulty when it debuted in 1988. Popular with gamers and critics, Bionic Commando pretty much disappeared, only to resurface as a GameBoy and GameBoy color game. Gamers were left to pray to the Capcom gods for a sequel.
Well, Capcom has answered, announcing that a new Bionic Commando is on the way to the Xbox 360, PS3, and PC. Little is known about the game except that it will be developed internationally; indeed this new iteration is being produced by Capcom America, creatively advised upon by Capcom Japan, and actually developed by a Swedish studio called GRIN. Oh, and fear not…the game’s storyline will be as ridiculous as ever.
Read More | GameSpot
New Assassin’s Creed Video
Posted by Steve Van Neil Categories: Action, Adventure, PC, PlayStation 3, Trailers, Ubisoft, Xbox 360,
The developers of Assassin’s Creed have always boasted of their game’s high level of environmental interaction. They claim that every wall, object, or person in their highly anticipated Xbox 360/PS3/PC action-adventure game can be scaled, moved, or shoved. And now here’s the video to prove it. Watch Altair (the game’s featured assassin) try to escape the city’s guards by running, climbing, and jumping all over this Middle Aged playground, and kindly ignore the futuristic glitches and flashes that hint at a more mysterious storyline that Ubisoft will not divulge. Gape at the mind-boggling geometry that for once actually does permit the level of interaction promised by its enthusiastic creators. Raise an eyebrow at the anachronistic Hans Zimmer-esque musical score. Breathe a sigh of relief that this long in development game looks like it could conceivably hit that once nigh-unhittable November release date.
Read More | IGN
Unreal Tournament 3 For PlayStation 3 Delayed Until 2008
Posted by Paul Hamilton Categories: First Person Shooters, PC, PlayStation 3, Release Dates,
Midway announced today in a press release that the PlayStation 3 version of Unreal Tournament 3, originally scheduled to release with the PC version this November as a timed console exclusive, isn’t expected to be released until the first quarter of 2008. David F. Zucker, president and CEO of Midway, said he regretted having to lose the holiday sales from the delays but said, “[W]e remain confident that our technology strategy and product plan position us to grow both revenue and market share as we move into the heart of this console cycle.”
Developer Epic Games’ Mark Rein said in a forum post that the press release included UT3 as an obligation to investors and said that he was still optimistic about a 2007 release, but that they wouldn’t ship until the game was ready and “the best game (they could) deliver.” He also confirmed that the PC version, due out in November, was still on schedule to ship as planned.
Read More | Midway Press Release via Joystiq
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