Jun 02

Everything You Need to Know About the PSP Go!

Posted in: e3, gaming, psp, sony, Today's Chili, top

The PSP Go! is official and it looks great. Check out the features of what could potentially be a Nintendo DS—and iPod Touch—killer, along with the Playstation and Media Go store.


Technical features

• 3.8-inch LCD screen.
• Sliding control pad.
• 16GB internal flash storage.
• Wi-Fi.
• Bluetooth.
• M2 Memory Stick Micro port.
• No second analog joystick.
• No UMD drive.

• Sense Me application will allow you to playback music based on moods.
• Available in black and white models.

Physical features
• 50% smaller than the original PSP.
• 40% lighter than the original PSP.

Game and media distribution

• All PSP titles going forward will be digitally distributed through the PlayStation Store, but also on UMD for the regular PSP.
• The video delivery service will offer more than 9400 TV shows—Showtime, Anime Network, Manga, UFC, HDNet, E!, G4, Magnolia…—and 1900 movies.
• On the PC there will be an application called Media Go, which will access the PS Store—I guess this will be the equivalent of the iTunes Store.

Availability and pricing

• The PSP Go! will be available for $249 and 249 euros
• Launch date: October 1st in Europe and North America. November 1st in Japan.
• PSP toolkits will be reduced 80% in price for developers.

PSP(R)go PSP(R) (PlayStation(R)Portable) Evolves to Match the Digital Lifestyle

With an Ultra-Portable Design and Digital Content Focus, PSPgo to Hit the Worldwide Market This Fall, Further Enhancing the User Experience Along with PSP-3000

LOS ANGELES, June 2 /PRNewswire/ — Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCEI) today unveiled PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) go (PSP-N1000), a new evolution of PSP handheld entertainment system, specifically designed to suit the digital lifestyle of consumers who enjoy downloadable content on the go. PSPgo will become available in stores on October 1, 2009, in North America, Europe/ PAL territories and Asian countries and regions at a recommended retail price (RRP) of US$249 and euro 249, and on November 1, 2009, in Japan at a RRP of 26,800 yen (including tax). With both the existing PSP-3000 and new PSPgo, the company will further enhance the ultimate gaming and entertainment experiences on the go while providing consumers with the opportunity to choose the PSP system that’s right for them.

PSPgo is ideal for today’s on-the move consumers who prefer not to carry around disc-based content and are looking for on-demand entertainment. With the steady expansion of broadband network infrastructure, the number of users who download and enjoy digital entertainment content has been increasing remarkably. To address this growing trend, PSPgo replaces the UMD drive*1 with 16GB of flash memory to store a variety of digital entertainment content, offering users unlimited possibilities of portable digital entertainment delivered through PlayStation®Network. PSPgo, smaller and lighter than ever with a sophisticated design featuring an easy sliding display panel, is truly pocket-sized and can be taken everywhere. PSPgo will be available in Piano Black and Pearl White*2, two of the most popular colors since the launch of the PSP system in 2004. Along with PSP-3000, PSPgo will further enhance the unmatched portable gaming and entertainment experience by offering users more opportunity to enjoy their favorite entertainment content such as games, videos, music and photos anytime, anywhere.

In order to meet the needs of the growing number of PlayStation®Network users looking for digital entertainment content, SCE along with third party developers and publishers will continue to enhance the content line-up within PlayStation®Store for the launch of PSPgo, scheduled this fall. More and more new and attractive titles will become available for download from PlayStation®Store as well as on UMD. This broad content offering across all genres includes new games, free-demos, PS one® classics for PSP, add-on items for game titles, and trailers.

In addition to accessing PlayStation Store directly from PSP using the built-in wireless LAN (Wi-Fi) feature or through the PLAYSTATION®3 (PS3®) computer entertainment system, users will also be able to access and download a variety of entertainment content via their PCs using Media Go*3, a new software application. Media Go will enable users to access and download entertainment content on PlayStation Store via their PCs as well to easily manage PSP content on PCs, including games, videos, photos, and music. This easy to use software application will be available on a CD-ROM bundled with PSPgo.

Also this fall, a new music application specific to PSP that uses the “SensMe™ channels”*4 music recommendation feature, developed by Sony, also becomes available for download on PSP. With this music application, users will be able to enjoy their favorite music stored on their PSP through a rich user interface, designed exclusively for PSP. “SensMe channels” is a mood based music recommendation system that categorizes music content into channels such as “Relax,” “Dance” and “Upbeat,” and recommends music playlists for users.

Other features are:

> Easy Sliding Display Panel and Original Applications
PSPgo offers a variety of exciting entertainment options by taking
advantage of the sliding panel. When the panel is open, users will be
able to enjoy various entertainment content with the familiar button
control as PSP-3000, when closed, original applications for PSPgo, such
as a clock and calendar is displayed on the screen. Users can also
enjoy video and music when the panel is closed.

> Game sleep function
PSPgo has unique features such as game sleep function which enables
users to operate XMB(TM) (XrossMediaBar) while pausing gameplay
temporarily.

> Bluetooth(R) function
Bluetooth function will also allow users to connect Bluetooth
standard peripherals such as head-phones and head-set *5 as well
as PS3 wireless controller (DUALSHOCK(R)3 and SIXAXIS(R)) *6 to be
used when watching video content on TVs via PSP at home*7.

> Peripheral line-up
One of the products within PSPgo’s peripheral line-up is a new
Cradle (PSP-N340) *7 that will become available in stores worldwide
concurrently with the release of PSPgo. This new Cradle enables users
to charge the PSPgo battery and also enjoy watching video and listening
to music. Also included in the peripheral line-up are video-out port
cables that enable users to enjoy games and videos on their TVs at home.

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Jun 02

Sony’s E3 Keynote Liveblog Archive

Posted in: e3, LiveBlog, playstation, ps3, psp, sony, Today's Chili, top

Sony’s E3 press conference is about to start, and we’re here waiting to see what they’ll announce. PSP Go!? PS3 Slim? Who knows?! We’re starting now.

Archive below:

11:00 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
We just cabbed it across LA, and we’re at the Shrine Auditorium, ready to liveblog Sony’s press conference. Wow this was bad corporate planning. Anyone waiting on a bus from Nintendo won’t make it if Sony starts in time…one minute from now.

11:07 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
So what will we see from Sony. The PSP Go!? Yeah, seems like a sure thing. The PS3 Slim? Seems likely. A Sony motion controller? That’s anyone’s guess.

11:08 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Matt thinks PS3 Slim will show. I think it sort of needs to now, given that it’s already leaked.

11:08 AM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

11:10 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Sony’s three-part screen is epically wide.

11:11 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
I’m really enjoying this blockbuster presentation. Loud rock. Big images. It makes Nintendo’s modest presentation look so…quaint.

11:11 AM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

11:12 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Last year Sony used a boatload of LCDs, this year, they went all out projection. I want this in my house…but you know, playing movies and stuff, not just PS3/PSP game clips.

11:13 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
The intro clip is over. Crowd is louder now. And Jack Tretton, President and CEO struts to the stage.

11:13 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
HA, and he immediately refers to the leaks, thanking everyone for still showing up. “Press leaks are no exception, we’re not going to be outdone by anybody.”

11:15 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
His stage presence is better than Reggie’s. He reminds me of Peter Moore in his prime for Microsoft. Confident and swaggering.

11:15 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Peter Moore is still the man, btw.

11:16 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Jack, let’s not be formal about his name, it teasing a big lineup. Including Heavy Rain, a game I’m pretty excited about, from the makers of Indigo Prophecy.

11:16 AM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

11:17 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Now we’ve moved to the PS2. Jack’s talking about the $99 pricepoint, its global strength. Sony sees the PS2 as existing beyond 10 years, as long as consumers are interested.

11:18 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Now we’re on to the PS3. 22 million PS3s sold last year.

11:19 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
What about PlayStation Network? 24 million registered accounts (how many of them active?).

11:19 AM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

11:20 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Jack gives a shoutout to inFamous, a much-needed highly praised Sony exclusive.

11:21 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Naughty Dog comes to stage to show us Uncharted 2. Let’s see this thing so we can get on with the hardware!

11:21 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
The Uncharted 2 multiplayer beta launches tonight, but they’re gonna show us some of the game now.

11:22 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
We’re watching a realtime playthrough. The landscape is urban, and much bigger than the old Uncharted. The graphics are colorful, but they are tough to judge on this huge of a screen. “Holy shit!” It’s a helicopter. Be careful!

11:23 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Huge chase sequence. Lots of cheers…from people I’m assuming were planted by Sony. But the game still looks fun. That helicopter just isn’t giving up!

11:24 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
More on Uncharted 2 over at Kotaku, of course.

11:24 AM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

11:25 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
So now police types are chasing our hero through a building. And who knew that a wooden desk could block high caliber bullets.

11:25 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
The cip is over. Jack is back – where’s a TM symbol when you need one?

11:26 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
“I’m excited about this game for not just one reason, but 256 reasons.” He’s going to show us MAG, teased last year, a huge war MMO.

11:28 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
The graphics are not as nice as Uncharted, somewhere between PS2 and PS3, but what do you expect if they’re pulling off this many players on one map?

11:28 AM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

11:29 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
A soldier is on the ground. A jet flies idly overhead. The team needs to assault a bunker in this brown and tan landscape.

11:30 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
The most striking feature is actually the audio, or lack thereof. Despite the massive battle (of about 30 people in close proximity) you only hear a few audio tracks. I hope they beef this up a bit, but of course, too much audio would be pure cacophony.

11:31 AM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

11:31 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
I see no lag in any of the helicopters or ground troops, though who knows how this is all networked. An airstrike is called in. I want this louder! Otherwise, not looking bad. Also, it will be playable, with 256 players, on the show floor. Moving on…

11:32 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Jack’s mic went out for a moment. No bigs. He’s back, talking about the PSP.

11:33 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
He’s running through the small handful of excellent AAA titles on the PSP. Let’s hear about the Go!, Jack!

11:33 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
HANNAH MONTANA BUNDLE WITH LILAC PSP!

11:35 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Kaz Hirai comes to the stage.

11:35 AM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

11:35 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Sony asked “how could we make the PSP better.” The next step?

11:35 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
The PSP Go!

11:36 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
It’s identical to the leak, thicker than I imagined when spun in virtual 3D.

11:36 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
There is no second analog. It will not replace the 3000 or UMD.

11:37 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
“Great screen, same great operating system…plays great games.” The PSP Go is more than 50% smaller and 40% lighter than original PSP.

11:37 AM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

11:37 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
16GB internal flash, Wi-Fi…

11:37 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Sliding keyboard, Bluetooth, M2 memory port…just as leaked.

11:38 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Today, “we’re launching a new application to launch the PlayStation store on the PC.” It’s called Media Go.

11:38 AM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

11:38 AM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

11:39 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
A new application called Sense Me (for PSP) has 12-tone audio recognition system, plays playlist based upon moods you select. Coming this fall.

11:39 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
PSP toolkits will be reduced 80% in price for developers.

11:40 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
All PSP titles going forward will be digitally distributed in PS Store, and UMD.

11:40 AM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

11:40 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
All of the services and features are on PSP and PSP Go!

11:41 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
PSP Go! available at $249 and 249 euros October 1st in NA and Europe.

11:41 AM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

11:41 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
We get it a month earlier than Japan, who gets the hardware November 1st.

11:42 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Kaz is moving on to the video delivery service. It has more than 1900 and 9400 TV Shows. Starting today, it will be available natively on the PSP too.

11:42 AM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

11:42 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Showtime, G4, Magnolia, all these people are coming to the PS (Video) Store.

11:42 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
“But our news does not stop there…”

11:43 AM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

11:43 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Kazunouri Yamauchi comes to stage to promote Gran Turismo for PSP.

11:44 AM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

11:44 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
He’s explaining, through the help of a translator, his game that runs at 60fps on the PSP platform and will hold 800 cars along with 35 tracks.

11:46 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
More details over at Kotaku

11:48 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
So…what do you think about the PSP Go!? I understand (and respect) Sony’s need for a unified platform, but screw the PSP, I want a second analog so I can play FPSs.

11:49 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
The lights dim for a Gran Turismo video…that includes lots of pretty footage of the Go! UGH, why can’t this have one more analog?? I actually like the Mylo-esque design. Why Sony? Why?

11:50 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Kaz returns to the stage, reminding us that Gran Turismo titles have sold over 50 million units worldwide.

11:50 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
And now, Metal Gear Solid Peace Walker.

11:50 AM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

11:51 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
So…this is a different game than we saw at Microsoft the other day. But here’s Hideo Kojima, maker of MGS, again!

11:51 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Note: MGS Peace Walker is a PSP title, not PS3.

11:52 AM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

11:53 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
I admit it, there is nothing more confusing to me in this whole world than the Metal Gear canon. Kojima is reminding us that it fits in with the MGS timeline, somehow, in a very legitimate way.

11:54 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Now we’re watching a Peace Walker trailer. There’s a lot of vintage-looking video paired with a mysterious, gravely voice over.

11:55 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Now some gamepla footage. It looks…like an MGS title on the PSP. The chroma’s been cranked a bit, but otherwise, still lotsa jaggies.

11:56 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
And incidentally, there are like 4 Snakes onscreen at once in multiplayer

11:57 AM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

11:57 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Haha, and as a kicker, Snake crawls behind a guard, whips out a box and hides. Then, ANOTHER snake crawls behind the guard, hides under the same box. Now Kaz returns.

11:57 AM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

11:57 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
We’re almost an hour in to the presser. Is there room left for more announcements?

11:58 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Nope, Kaz ends the press conference. That’s it! Wait…now Jack returned to stage. It may have been a fake-out. Yes, it seems Jack is continuing the press conference. Damn that Kaz and his authoritative presence.

11:59 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Resident Evil is coming to the PSP, Jack explains, along with a bunch of other titles…including HANNAH MONTANA! Big cheers for her. Jack responded, “Yeah, I knew I’d get you with that one.”

12:00 PM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

12:01 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
We’re watching a PSP promo video, btw. It’s alright I guess.

12:02 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
This is great. The sausage-dominated crowd keeps cheering for the pink/girly games.

12:03 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Ooh, white PSP Go!

12:03 PM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

12:04 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Jack is back, again. He’s explaining why PSN is great.

12:05 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Oh right, PlayStation Home. Now they’re talking about PlayStation Home. I’d literally forgotten that Sony might bring it up.

12:06 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Could Sony announced anything re:Home right now that would pique your interest?

12:07 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
We’re watching a Home promo video in which conservative people in suits walk through doors and magically transition into funky digital avatars. My personal favorite? A confident female CEO-type becoming Chun Li.

12:08 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
If “meh” manifested as an applause, I just heard it.

12:08 PM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

12:10 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Now onto a PS3 promo video. These videos become so monotonous, presented in the exact same style. No one can be paying attention at this point. Scratch that, someone is recording video in front of us.

12:10 PM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

12:11 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
I keep expecting the video to be over, then it’s not.

12:12 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Seriously, it’s as if the audio designer purposefully planted musical phrases to mislead the audience while Sony showed us every game that ever has been or will be on the PS3 platform.

12:13 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Maybe Kotaku has some insight as to the nature of Sony’s video editing.

12:14 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Alright, the full feature PS3 film has ended and Jack is Back talking about Rockstar, makers of Grand Theft Auto.

12:14 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Agent, made by Rockstar North, is an exclusive coming to PS3.

12:15 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
It’s a 70s-themed…logo, apparently. We aren’t hearing anything more about Agent right now. Instead, Ubisoft is going to show us Assassin’s Creed 2.

12:16 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Ubisoft is so French. I mean, so Freedom.

12:16 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Wow, the game looks good though. The crowd, fuller than before, is full of people wearing unique, individual garments.

12:18 PM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

12:18 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Ooh, da Vinci’s flying machine makes an appearance, flying around Venice fluidly. The game looks very pretty, implementing motion blur touched up with just the gentlest brush of bloom lighting.

12:18 PM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

12:20 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Now we’re seeing some battles. You know what this reminds me of? Heavenly Sword. Something about the new movement qualities of the game that I don’t think were deployed in the first version.

12:20 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
And that’s that for Assassin’s Creed 2.

12:21 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Look for the PS3 and PSP versions of Assassin’s this holiday season.

12:23 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Now for a Square Enix video. I was going to be sarcastic, but the techie art direction is actually pretty hot.

12:23 PM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

12:24 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
We’re watching footage from Final Fantasy XIII Versus, btw.

12:25 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Final Fantasy XIII. That’s 14! We’re about to see it.

12:26 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
It’s PlayStation exclusive in 2010.

12:27 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
What can I say? It looks like a new Final Fantasy game. And the crowd goes wild.

12:27 PM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

12:27 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Jack: “So there’s one that didn’t leak out, huh?”

12:27 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Jack is teasing motion control gaming.

12:28 PM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

12:28 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
“We’re working to create an experience that is much closer to real life than anything you have ever seen.”

12:28 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
He invited the creative forces behind the “PlayStation Motion Controller” to the stage.

12:29 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
“It far surpasses anything on the market now.”

12:29 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
They are holding an engineering prototype that has a bright purple flowing sphere, trackable by the PS Eye.

12:30 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
And they’re going to show us 100% live tech demos, no precut videos.

12:30 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
We’re watching a virtual Motion Controller tracked onscreen. The controller is moving VERY fluidly on the screen. It’s perfect. Like 60fps.

12:31 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Wow, now it’s a tennis racket onscreen.

12:31 PM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

12:31 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
And now a bat. And now a club. And now a stop sign…that hit a tennis ball. This is a great demo.

12:31 PM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

12:32 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
And now a mace. This is like perfect 1:1. And the virtual objects are very tight. I’m impressed. Very impressed.

12:32 PM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

12:32 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Then they switched the perspective of the virtual object to an FPS. AWESOME.

12:34 PM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

12:34 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
And the device has a trigger, just for FPSs.
12:34 PM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

12:34 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
They’re showing a ton of virtual objects. This is a tech demo, but it’s robust.

12:34 PM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

12:34 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
But what about drawing? Hell, what about writing? The device is tracked with “sub millimeter accuracy.”

12:35 PM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

12:35 PM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

12:35 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
This is the best motion control demo I’ve ever seen. It works perfectly. I’m just not spotting flaws.

12:36 PM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

12:36 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
I want to play with this right now. Now they’re showing an RTS tank game. Then, they cut to an FPS perspective putting the viewer into a tank. So cool.

12:37 PM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

12:37 PM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

12:38 PM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

12:39 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Now for something more complex. What about a full model holding a sword and shield? The swipes and thrusts as it cuts up a skeleton. This character is ever so less fluid than the other demos, but still excellent. Oh, and now ninja stars are being thrown. And now archery! This archery demo pwns what Nintendo showed off earlier. From the first person focus shift to the camera, to the smooth animation, it’s the best arrow simulation I’ve ever seen. Once again, “perfect” comes to mind.

12:39 PM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

12:39 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
“We’re looking forward to sharing more about the motion controller with you in the near future.”

12:40 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Spring 2010 release on motion controller.

12:41 PM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

12:42 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
While Jack talks about LittleBigPlanet, I’m going to fanboy out a bit more about the motion controller. Maybe it’s not the 1:1 tracking technology, maybe it’s just the HD and physics capabilities of the PS3. But it looked at least a generation better than Wii MotionPlus. Then again, not coming until Spring 2010, it probably should be.

12:43 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Matt on PS3 motion controls: “It’s Wii to the max.” That’s gonna end up on a Sony poster somewhere, but I can’t disagree with him.

12:43 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
BTW, more on ModNation Racers, which I’m not covering at the moment, at Kotaku.

12:46 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
They’re still talking about this ModNation Racers game.

12:46 PM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

12:49 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
STILL watching the damn ModNation Racers.

12:50 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
ModNation has gotten more face time than any other thing Sony’s presented today.

12:51 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Jack is now about to offer us a “sneak peek” at a new title, from the maker of Shadow of the Colossus.

12:52 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
It’s called The Last Guardian.

12:53 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
A little boy is running from something. And now we see it, a huge feathered cat. It grabs the boy from a ledge, saving him from death. Maybe this cat isn’t so bad!

12:53 PM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

12:54 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Interesting art design: The boy is a textureless cartoon, while the world around him is more realistic.

12:54 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
The relationship between the boy and this beast is remarkably touching, even in a short clip. The crowd doesn’t clap all at once. They need a moment.

12:57 PM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

12:57 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Now for some Gran Turismo promo video action. There is either a lot of prerendering going on, or the game is photorealistic at 60fps.

12:59 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Next up? A live demo of God of War III.

1:00 PM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

1:00 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Kratos is running around, doing his thing in a nice looking but not so surprisingly detailed environment.

1:01 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Uh oh…a Titan has crawled out of lava. This can’t be good.

1:04 PM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

1:05 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Anyway, GoW III is OK. It’ll be fun. I’m sure fans will like it. But it’s pretty similar to the scale of GoW II. It doesn’t feel like much more than a graphical boost.

1:06 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
March 2010 on God of War III.

1:06 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Jack is back on stage, wrapping things up.

1:07 PM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

1:07 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Jack: “I promise we will not become complacent no matter what we have accomplished.” And with that, the event is over. Later guys.

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Jun 02

Nyko launches Type Pad Pro for Wii, gonzo Zoom Case for DSi

Posted in: case, DS, e3, Microsoft, nintendo, psp, sony, Today's Chili, xbox 360, Xbox360

Oh, Nyko — always keeping us on our toes. After showcasing the Wii Pistol Grip at CeBIT, the company is swinging big at E3 with a few new accessories. Starting things off is the abomination you see above, which sure looks an awful lot like some janky knockoff cellphone we peeked back in August. Officially, the Zoom Case for DSi protects your handheld and provides an 8x zoom for magnifying the external camera; never mind the fact that it makes your DSi infinitely less portable. Moving on, there’s the Charge Grip Flex, a accessory for the PSP-2000 and PSP-3000 that sports a built-in rechargeable battery and a bonus gripping surface. For the Xbox 360, there’s the SpeakerCom 360, which enables your parents to hear all those whining tweens brag in fantastically high tones about how they just “pwned you.” Lastly, there’s the Type Pad Pro for Wii, a wireless keypad (via USB) that makes typing in Opera or messaging your pals a heck of a lot simpler. Mum’s the word on pricing and availability right now, but all that should change soon enough.

Gallery: Nyko launches Type Pad Pro for Wii, gonzo Zoom Case for DSi

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Nyko launches Type Pad Pro for Wii, gonzo Zoom Case for DSi originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 02 Jun 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jun 01

Sony PSP Go Leaked on Video, Official Photos Emerge

Posted in: leak, Media Players, psp, Today's Chili

psp-go

This is the PSP Go, the new mini PSP from Sony. And these are official Sony publicity shots, although they don’t come straight from Sony PR. Rather, they were leaked after the new console was spotted in a prematurely showing of the June 2009 Qore video (Qore is an online PlayStation magazine). It’s no quick mention, either. The new Go is the subject of a full-on piece by the first lady of podcasting, Veronica Belmont.

It’s cute, and it will sell alongside the current PSP 3000. The specs:

  • 16GB flash storage
  • Less than half the weight of the current PSP
  • Bluetooth
  • No UMD drive
  • Memory Stick Micro

Price is as yet undisclosed, but we’d hope that its cheaper than the PSP 3000. Likewise, there is no shipping date. But there’s one thing we do know. The PSP will no longer look ridiculously large and brick-like next to the Nintendo DS or the iPod Touch. Or a brick.

GCN Exclusive: Say hello to the PSP Go+BOX PICS+ offical pics [PlayStation Forums]
Screenshots & Images [Eurogamer]
Video: Sony’s PSP Go leaks out before E3, is obviously a go [Engadget]


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May 30

PSP Go Leaked: Slider With 16GB of Flash Storage and Bluetooth

Posted in: gaming, psp, sony, Today's Chili, top

Live images have leaked of Sony’s PSP Go, set to launch at next week’s E3. Looks like those rumors were true: It’s a UMD-less slider with 16GB of memory, and it’ll ship this fall. No price yet, but that should come with the official announcement next week. Update with video:

All this leakage stems from the June issue of Qore, which is a bit of a slip-up on Sony’s part. The Go looks to keep the single analog joystick, though the overall design is quite a bit more playful and, well, circular than previous iterations of the PSP. Notice we didn’t say “attractive”: the circle section that houses the start and select buttons especially has kind of a late-90s feel to it, but we’ll have to see how it looks in the hand. It should be packing Bluetooth and a memory card slot (probably MemoryStick, grah) in addition to the 16GB of internal memory.

Also lining up with the previous rumors is that the new PSP Go will not replace the PSP 3000, but instead try to live peacefully with the older device on store shelves. And that hefty 16GB of storage space makes sense considering what we’ve heard about possible digital game rentals and a music store. [Gaming Console Network (site currently down) via PlayStation Forums via Engadget]

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May 21

Developers reportedly briefed on PSP rental service at GDC

Posted in: e3, psp, sony, Today's Chili

Well, if today’s batch of rumors are true, it looks like the PSP could be in for quite a few changes beyond the seemingly inevitable hardware revision. As Develop is now reporting, in addition to those rumored music downloads, the PSP could soon also be getting a full-fledged game rental service, which would, of course, be one more means of making a UMD-less PSP a more appealing device (for game developers and consumers alike). Apparently, the service was first pitched to developers at GDC back in March, and was again mentioned in a consumer survey that just surfaced yesterday. What’s more, while complete details are expectedly a bit light, the service would apparently charge PSP owners a monthly fee that would allow them to download “a fixed number of games” during their subscription period, although it’s not clear if you’d also be able to simply rent ’em one at a time.

[Via Joystiq]

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Developers reportedly briefed on PSP rental service at GDC originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 21 May 2009 15:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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May 21

Music downloads coming to PSN, PSP?

Posted in: Music, playstation, psp, sony, Today's Chili

Ready for some more PSP rumors? CNET’s got it on good word that Sony’s been talking to some of the big recording labels about putting their music on the PlayStation Network for download, specifically with the PSP in mind. It really isn’t much of a stretch, especially when you think about the service’s ever-growing library of movies and TV shows. And of course, Sony itself is one of the four largest music companies in the world, so if it really had to go on its own for a bit, it should be able to muster a few good artists. It’s just a rumor for now, but this definitely feels like the natural progression for PSN and the company’s do-everything device. You know what would go great with a PSP music download service? A slide-out gamepad and a Memory Stick HG-Micro slot to replace UMDs… Just sayin’.

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Music downloads coming to PSN, PSP? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 21 May 2009 02:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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May 20

ORP beta released, brings PS3 Remote Play experience to your PC or Mac

Posted in: hack, Hacks, mod, mods, playstation 3, Playstation3, ps3, psp, sony, Today's Chili

Sure, the catalog of compatible games hasn’t been as hefty as we’d like, but Sony has done quite a bit right with its PlayStation 3 / PSP Remote Play feature. Modder Dashhacker (with special thanks to noted PSP hacker Dark_AleX, among others) has released Open Remote Play v1.1 beta, which lets you take that same Remote Play experience onto your Windows PC or Intel-based Mac. The caveat here is that you’ll still need a PSP handy to set up the application, so don’t go thinking you can bypass the portable altogether. The OS X version apparently works well, but Windows users may ample bugs — it is beta, after all. We haven’t had a chance to try it ourselves yet, but don’t let that stop you from beating us to the punch — just let us know what you think. Alternatively, you can peruse video of it in action after the break.

Read – ORP v1.1 Beta
Read – Google Code project page

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ORP beta released, brings PS3 Remote Play experience to your PC or Mac originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 20 May 2009 04:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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May 08

Sony Ericsson president: PlayStation phone “could happen”

Posted in: cellphones, gaming, playstation, psp, rumor, sony, Sony Ericsson, SonyEricsson, speculation, Today's Chili, VideoGames

Well, this is certainly one rumor that just won’t die — nor is it likely to, not as long as the company has its hands in both manufacturing handsets and game consoles. According to an article in the Financial Times, Sony Ericsson president Hideki “Handsome Dick” Komiyama discusses his struggle to reposition the company as one the world’s top three phone makers. Among bright ideas and desperate measures mulled over, the man in charge lets slip that no plan is too crazy or far-fetched to consider. Even a PlayStation-branded phone? “Could happen,” he is quoted as saying. And there you have it! Begin warrantless speculation: now.

[Via Unwired View]

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Sony Ericsson president: PlayStation phone “could happen” originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 08 May 2009 16:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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May 07

PSP 3000 hacked, with homebrew soon to follow

Posted in: hack, homebrew, mod, psp, sony, Today's Chili

The intersection of PSP 3000 and Hack St. has thus far been a pretty lonely little place, so we’re pleased to announce that the ChickHEN project is definitely gaining some momentum. According to one extra special YouTube video, hacksters are now able to run the TIFF exploit and boot into a homebrew enabler environment on a PSP 2003 and a PSP 3000 running 5.03 firmware. The code is seen surviving a reboot, and both the system software and MAC address can be changed. While not ready for prime time yet, this does pave the way for emulators, PSP uCLinux, and all of those other things that keep all you homebrew fans happy at night. Video after the break, if you dare.

[Via Technabob]

Continue reading PSP 3000 hacked, with homebrew soon to follow

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PSP 3000 hacked, with homebrew soon to follow originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 07 May 2009 11:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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