Hasta La Gadget!

Is there another PlayStation 3 on the horizon? A recent FCC filing reveals a listing for two new PlayStation models, the CECH-4000A and CECH-4000B. The current PlayStation 3 has a model number of CECH-3000, indicating that Sony may be ready to launch two new additions. There isn’t much information surrounding what the 4000 series might bring, but Eurogamer believes it could be an even slimmer console.

Eurogamer has heard from sources that a slimmer model of the PlayStation 3 is on the cards, with an announcement planned for Gamescom next month. Sony may already have the PS3 Slim, but Kotaku believes that it’s not implausible for the company to release yet another thinner model. The PS2 received such an update towards the end of its lifespan, so perhaps Sony wants to squeeze out the last few remaining dollar before its next-generation console launch.

Currently rumors indicate that the PlayStation 4 is known as “Orbis”, and will feature one of AMD’s x64 processors plus discrete Radeon graphics. The Orbis is said to be able to display a resolution of 4096×2160, and can play 3D games at 1080p. Select developers have reportedly already received test consoles,and beta units will be sent out towards the end of the year. Backwards compatibility with PS3 games is expected, although Orbis games allegedly feature an anti-used games system, presently second hand sales.

FCC filing tips new PlayStation 3 model is written by Ben Kersey & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

If you’re a fan of Sony’s products then there’s some good news out of Japan: the next software update for the PS Vita, 1.80, will add the ability to play classic PSOne titles. Around 700 titles will be available to play, which isn’t a bad haul at all, but they’ll see staggered releases. We imagine being able to play Tomb Raider or Final Fantasy VII on the go will appeal to quite a few gamers.

The other big news from Sony Japan is that the PlayStation 3 will gain the ability to download and play classic PS2 titles. That’s maybe a bit of a sore point for consumers, with the original PlayStation 3 featuring backwards compatibility with PS2 games while future versions removed the functionality. These new downloadable titles will work across any PS3 as well.

PS2 titles will launch in the PlayStation Store on July 25th, and games will include Biohazard Code: Veronica, Dragon Force, and Decisive Warfare. Titles will cost between ¥800 (~$10) and ¥1,500 (~$18.8), but there’s no word yet on if Sony plans to bring the the same functionality to consoles outside of Japan.

[via Engadget]

PS Vita gets old-school summer with PSOne gaming is written by Ben Kersey & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Traditional console makers have often sworn up and down that mobile doesn’t make money for game development. That might still be true for some developers, but you’ll get a very different answer if you ask Epic Games. Co-founders Tim Sweeney and Mark Rein have collectively described the currently iOS-only, Chair-developed Infinity Blade as the “most profitable game we’ve ever made” when considering the amount of money and time invested relative to the money coming back. Yes, that includes even the Gears of War series, which most consider Epic’s primary cash cow. Sweeney, like his long-time competitor Johh Carmack at id Software, is also taken aback by the power stuffed inside the latest generation of mobile devices — a 2012 iPad is nearer the performance of a PlayStation 3 or Xbox 360, he tells Gamasutra, and the pace is only picking up. Even more insights await in the interview with Sweeney; click below if you want a hint of what one of gaming’s pioneers has to say about where your tablets, phones and (yes) PCs are going.

Epic Games: Infinity Blade on iOS more profitable by the pound than any other game we’ve made originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 27 Jun 2012 19:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  Gamasutra, Mark Rein (Twitter)  | Email this | Comments