Aug 18
Aug 18
Sony announces PS3 firmware 3.0, European PlayStation Video Store, Digital Reader comics viewer
Posted in: breaking news, BreakingNews, europe, firmware, germany, playstation 3, Playstation3, ps3, psp, sony, Today's Chili, uk
Sony just announced a bunch of tweaks and additions to the PS3, PSP, and PlayStation Network at GamesCom, chief among them the new PS3 firmware 3.0. The new code features animated themes with avatars, a new status indicator, a modified friends list, assorted interface changes, tweaks to trophies, and a What’s New section that replaces the Information Board. Sony’s also bringing the PlayStation Video store to the UK, France, Germany and Spain in November, with more planned expansion in 2010 — customers will be able to rent and buy films in SD and HD, and while it’ll open with just movies, other content will be added as time goes on. The PSP is also getting a Digital Reader comics viewer, with lots of heavy hitters like Marvel on board to provide content — Marvel says the PSP could become their biggest distribution outlet. We’ll see about that — for now, check a video of firmware 3.0 after the break.
Update: Digital Reader press release after the break.
Filed under: Gaming
Sony announces PS3 firmware 3.0, European PlayStation Video Store, Digital Reader comics viewer originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 18 Aug 2009 13:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Aug 18
Sony announces ‘snackable’ 100MB Minis for PSN Store
Posted in: apps, AppStore, breaking news, BreakingNews, Games, gaming, Mini, playstation, playstation 3, Playstation3, ps3, psp, sony, Today's Chili
Over in beautiful Cologne, Germany, Sony has just confirmed what we’ve suspected for months now. Exclusive to the PSN Store, loyal Sony gamers will soon have access to a new segment of titles, ones that’ll be available anytime and anywhere that there’s an internet connection. The 100MB (or less) selections — which are being officially called Minis — are designed to take advantage of the “smaller development cost on the PSP,” and if all goes well, we’ll see 15 games (such as Tetris, Hero of Sparta, MiniGore and Fieldrunners) launching on October 1st. There’s been no mention yet of how expensive these “snackable” apps / games will be, but we’re holding Sony to its promise of 50 by the end of 2009.
Update: Press release after the break.
Continue reading Sony announces ‘snackable’ 100MB Minis for PSN Store
Filed under: Gaming
Sony announces ‘snackable’ 100MB Minis for PSN Store originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 18 Aug 2009 13:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Aug 18
Sony’s GamesCom presser coverage live at Joystiq!
Posted in: breaking news, BreakingNews, playstation 3, Playstation3, ps3, sony, Today's Chili
Hey, Sony’s GamesCom press conference is just about to get underway, and our pals from Joystiq are there covering it live. We just got sent this leaked memo on Sony’s presentation, and it says there’ll be an “unannounced Playstation 3” on stage, so it seems like the PS3 slim is even more of a lock than before — but what are you waiting around here for? Go hit the liveblog!
Filed under: Gaming
Sony’s GamesCom presser coverage live at Joystiq! originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 18 Aug 2009 12:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Aug 18
PS3 Firmware 3.0 Brings Bigger Icons and Better Themes
Posted in: playstation 3, ps3, Today's Chili, top, video
I’m actually a big fan of Sony’s XMB, but if I didn’t own a large plasma, it would be pretty tough to read. Luckily, some interface tweaks are coming in Sony’s 3.0 firmware to address the problem.
Specifically, a new “What’s New” folder replaces the Information Board. Highlighting this folder produces large icon pop-ups that will link you straight to a recently played game or a spot on the web. This icon system is used in the PS Store as well, connecting you to video content and games with a bit more ease.
Themes, too, are seeing a bit of a revamp, including premium options with avatars and animated backdrops. Yeah, premium themes copy Microsoft a bit, but that’s not necessarily bad for anyone.
For a better picture of the new stuff than my words can paint, Sony has made this video for you. Enjoy it, friends.
Look for firmware 3.0 “soon.” [PlayStation Blog]
Aug 18
The sharp eyes over at Engadget have discovered that both Kmart and Sears (which are owned by the same company) have begun putting order pages up for a slimmer, cheaper Sony PlayStation 3, which has been rumored for some time now.
The price? $299.99. The ad states that customers can get their hands on the new console on August 24, and a (non-functional) pre-order link is provided.
The Kmart description reads: “PS3, SLIM High-Definition Blu-ray player for the best movie experience.
Free PLAYSTATION Network membership. 120GB HDD for downloading games,
music, videos, and photos. Includes DUAL SHOCK 3 controller. HDMI
output for 1080p resolution.”
The model is listed as ” Item# 018W014436760001 Model# PS3 SLIM PRESELL”.
Speculation had mounted that Sony might launch a slimmer, cheaper PS3 at the Gamescon show in Germany today; if you believe the two retailers, such an announcement seems to be on its way.
Aug 18
Sony PS3 Slim shows up for pre-order at Kmart, $300
Posted in: breaking news, BreakingNews, console, gaming, playstation 3, Playstation3, ps3, sony, Today's Chili
Our suspicions about that earlier Kmart ad were spot-on. The link is now hot with specs showing a PS3 Slim priced at $300 which includes Blu-ray, a 120GB hard disk, DualShock3 controller, and HDMI output with 1080p support. It’s listed with an August 24 release date which seems a bit eager to us. The Kmart site is updating which means that some of these details could change (like the price and date) but this seems like a definite for announcement later today at Gamescon.
Update: Sears has the same offer and date.
Filed under: Gaming
Sony PS3 Slim shows up for pre-order at Kmart, $300 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 18 Aug 2009 08:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Aug 18
Survey finds Xbox 360 is played five times as often as Wii, five times more likely to fail than PS3
Posted in: nintendo, nintendo wii, NintendoWii, playstation 3, Playstation3, ps3, sony, Today's Chili, wii, xbox, xbox 360, Xbox360
Ready for some numbers this morning? Some scary, scary numbers for Xbox 360 gamers? Game Informer, current king of the smoldering ruins of the print gaming magazine empire, polled about 5,000 of its readers to get a feel for their gaming experiences, including just how many of them had unlocked the fabled “Red Ring of Death” achievement. We’d heard estimates ranging from 16 to 30 percent, but even the most pessimistic guesses don’t line up with the survey’s findings of a staggeringly high 54.2 percent failure rate. That’s five times higher than the PS3’s 10.6 percent, with the Wii coming in at 6.8 percent. Mind you, the Xbox 360 was the most played console, with over 40 percent of Xbox gamers button mashing for three to five hours a day, compared to 37 percent of PS3 gamers, and less than an hour’s worth of gaming per day for 41.4 percent of Wii owners. However, game consoles should be designed to shrug off marathon sessions and just keep on spewing polygons, something that the first revisions of Microsoft’s baby obviously couldn’t manage.That said, there are some problems with this survey; as far as we can tell there was no verification made that respondents actually own the consoles that they indicated they did, and we all know how people like having fun at Microsoft’s expense. Also, the survey was naturally only of readers of the magazine itself, who don’t necessarily line up with the gaming world at large. But, it’s impossible to deny there’s truth in these numbers. Indeed, it’s hard not to think they’re too low, as you’ll be hard-pressed to find an original Xbox 360 that hasn’t thrown up the three-light salute. Even so, there’s nothing to be proud of in Sony’s 10.6 percent failure rate, or even Nintendo’s 6.8, particularly given that system’s relative lack of attention. All are much higher than the three percent most consumer electronics companies strive for — and that Microsoft initially (incorrectly) claimed its console was managing.
[Via TG Daily, The Consumerist]
Filed under: Gaming
Survey finds Xbox 360 is played five times as often as Wii, five times more likely to fail than PS3 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 18 Aug 2009 07:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Aug 18
PS3 price cuts appear in print, must be real (update: ‘new exciting Playstation 3’)
Posted in: breaking news, BreakingNews, playstation 3, Playstation3, ps3, rumor, sony, Today's Chili
As the story goes, a Kotaku reader just received these PS3 posters (now posted after the break) into the FYE shop where he works. You’ll notice that the “new low price” is augmented with a “while supplies last” disclaimer indicating what could be a close-out on the 80GB (soon $300, reduced from $400) and 160GB ($400, reduced from $500) PlayStation 3 models. More evidence, perhaps, that a PS3 Slim announcement is imminent — even as soon as today’s Sony presser at the Cologne Gamescon Expo that kicks off at 12 noon ET or 1800 for those of you on Central Europe time.
Update: Kmart is now in on the action with a front-page ad (pictured above) that says the “rumors are reality” and then promises linked details about “new low price and a new exciting Playstation 3.” Unfortunately, the link isn’t populated with the new prices or the new model yet but we’ll keep digging.
[Thanks, Jeremy23j and Daniel]
Read — FYE poster
Read — Kmart ad
Read — Kmart home page (wait for ad to cycle)
Continue reading PS3 price cuts appear in print, must be real (update: ‘new exciting Playstation 3’)
Filed under: Gaming
PS3 price cuts appear in print, must be real (update: ‘new exciting Playstation 3’) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 18 Aug 2009 04:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Aug 17
PlayStation Network conveniently down for maintenance during Sony’s press conference today
Posted in: playstation, playstation 3, Playstation3, ps3, sony, Today's Chili
There’s something very peculiar about Sony bringing down the PlayStation Network for “maintenance” today from noon until 2:00PM ET. Not only is that timeframe somewhat prime gaming hours for North America and Europe — and arguably Asia, too — but it also happens to coincide perfectly with the company’s press conference at the gamescom expo in Cologne, Germany, the rumored site for the PS3 Slim‘s official debut and a price cut for the original. We’ve no doubt that Sony’s got a handful of major announcements lined up for the event, revised console or no, and we wouldn’t be surprised if the online store played into that somehow. Of course, the timing of the maintenance could all be some big coincidence, but if you ask us, the chances of that are pretty, well, slim. If we’re really lucky, maybe Sir Howard Stringer will come out and explain that laughter-tracking patent.
[Via Joystiq]
Filed under: Gaming
PlayStation Network conveniently down for maintenance during Sony’s press conference today originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 18 Aug 2009 00:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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