Hasta La Gadget!

Looks like Toshiba’s Cell processor ambitions didn’t quite pan out — Japanese news sources are reporting that the company’s selling its Nagasaki manufacturing plant back to Sony for 50 billion yen, or roughly $597 million in US money. Considering that Toshiba originally purchased the semiconductor facility for 100 90 billion yen (then $835 million) back in 2008, it seems like Sony’s making out like a bandit here — and it may have just found the perfect place to build more CMOS chips for its high-end camera lineup, too. Sony reportedly told the Nikkei Business Daily that it may repurpose the facility to produce HD image sensors for cameras and smartphones. What will happen to the chip that launched 40 million PS3s and a graphics co-processor or two? With any luck, we’ll find out at CES 2011 quite soon.

Sony buys back Toshiba’s Cell plant for 50 billion yen, makes a killing and plans a CMOS fab originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Dec 2010 14:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Andriasang, Reuters  |  NHK, Nikkei Shimbun  | Email this | Comments

Oh man, as if having 10 Neo Geo classics hitting the PS3 and PSP complete with online multiplayer wasn’t sweet enough, now SNK is doing one better by releasing an updated version of the classic Neo Geo gamepad. Sure, it isn’t as majestic as the giant, hulking arcade stick that came in a pair with the $650 Neo Geo Gold System. However, the system’s gamepad (released with the Neo Geo CD) would go on to be even more popular thanks to its much lower cost and novel floating 8-way d-pad. That controller is reborn (again) for the PS3 with USB connectivity the addition of a PS button in the middle, meaning you can even use it to pull up the XMB and taunt your friends into joining a King of Fighters match. Sadly this is only getting a release in Japan, where it sells for 3,129 yen (about $37), but Play-Asia will import you one for $45. Small price for such a lovely thing.

SNK continues to tickle retro gamers, releases Neo Geo gamepad for PS3 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 15 Dec 2010 16:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Oh Gizmo!  |  SNK Playmore  | Email this | Comments

This isn’t the first PlayStation Move peripheral to replicate a firearm, but the Sharpshooter is brought to you by Sony itself, so you expect a higher degree of quality than from the third-party deluge. And if you’re the sort who like to accessorize, it’s a pretty good offering. We had a chance to check it out this morning over a brief round of Killzone 3, which Sony says was the inspiration (along with the upcoming SOCOM). Overall, it’s pretty light and sturdy. The Move controller slides into the front, and the buttons then become mapped around the gun: RL is under the grip, the Move button is just under the trigger, start and select rest on opposite sides of the barrel, and Square / Triangle are mirrored above the trigger, making it easier to reach regardless whether you’re right- or left-handed. There’s a cradle under the stock for the Navigation Controller to rest, the butt is adjustable, and the top has a mount for a scope (no details on that peripheral of a peripheral). There’s additionally a lock button and what seems like burst-fire mode that won’t be used by Killzone 3; the reps told us they spoke with various other developers to make sure the accessory fit their needs as well but couldn’t elaborate more.

So, how did it handle? We’ll say the buttons were all easy to get to, but this accessory is fundamentally not for us. Having to move the entire submachine gun (or your whole body, as it were) to aim felt more unwieldy than simply twisting a wrist like you would with the first-party Shooting attachment (or the Move controller by its lonesome). Speaking of which, the Sharpshooter is lacking in retro aesthetic, something we really liked in the “1950s laser pistol” replica that came out last month. We get the feeling this wasn’t made with us in mind, anyway. Sharpshooter should hit store shelves in February (same month as Killzone 3) for a penny under $40. Looking for something more traditional? A jungle green DualShock 3 is also coming in February for $55. Press release after the break.

Continue reading PlayStation Move Sharpshooter hands-on: a first-party SMG peripheral coming in February

PlayStation Move Sharpshooter hands-on: a first-party SMG peripheral coming in February originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Dec 2010 17:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  US PlayStation blog  | Email this | Comments

Another day, another annoying distraction when you turn on your PlayStation 3. Prepare to be prompted to update your machine, version 3.55 hitting the internets and offering a single thing: “a security patch.” No word on exactly which holes are being spackled over or how long it’ll take for modders to drill them back out again, but be sure to pledge your allegiance and update today, so that you can be better prepared to update again tomorrow.

PS3 update v3.55 adds ‘a security patch,’ nothing else originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 07 Dec 2010 08:54:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Joystiq  |  PlayStation Blog  | Email this | Comments

Don’t go knockin’ Sony for resting on its laurels. The company that has spearheaded the 3D gaming push (NVIDIA notwithstanding) is apparently not even close to finished, with SCEE studio director Mick Hocking taking the time to get our juices flowing in an interview with Develop. The full spill is quite lengthy, and definitely a solid read for those interested, but a few key nuggets jumped out at us. For starters, Mike confessed that Sony has “techniques like holographics for the PS3 that [he thinks] will be very interesting for the future 3D games,” and continued with this: “In regards to that we have some new technology that we’ve shown to developers that uses 3D techniques, it allows two players to play full screen multi-player games but without each being able to see the others view, and they have been massively keen on them.” Of course, such a technique isn’t exactly new — we saw prototypes of the sort in use back at GDC — but bringing them to a market as vast as the PS3 owner pool would definitely be a monumental step. Now, if you’ll excuse us, we’ve got a Gran Turismo 5 disc laying here that needs our undivided attention for the time being.. .

Sony working on same-screen 3D multiplayer, holographics for PS3? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 24 Nov 2010 13:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Kotaku  |  Develop  | Email this | Comments