Sony E3 Announcements
There were a bunch of announcements from Sony recently at E3.
One of the most impressive is a movie and TV show download service, however we are hearing reports that it won't be for everyone.
Sites like Edge Online and the Register are reporting that movie downloads will not be available in Europe until sometime in 2009. When? according to the Register "individual launch dates for specific European countries will be confirmed later this year."
In addition, Gizmodo has just reported that movies will be region locked
That means if you want to watch the latest Japanese horror movie, you may not be able to because it may only be available in Japan.
This is different from supposed region locked games where in the past all you needed to play non-North American games was a non-North American account to play games from that region.
The good news? If you live in the US you can start downloading movies now!
25 years of "exergaming"
Boingboing has an excellent summary on 25 years of "exergaming."
from the Atari Joyboard released way back in 1982:
to the recently released Wii Fit:
And everything in between.
Now, we at CC remember a lot of these, from the Power Pad for the Nintendo, and the very cool Power Glove, also for the NES.
Sony forecasts Playstation profits
According to a recent release, Sony is finally expecting the PlayStation division to record a profit at the end of their fiscal year in March 2009.That "despite an expected decrease in game segment sales as a result of a decline in sales for the PlayStation 2 business."
The reason for the improved outlook is "due to hardware cost reductions and an enhanced line-up of software titles in the PS3 business."
During the year ended March 31, 2008, Sony says they've sold 9.24 million PS3s globally, 13.89 million PSPs and 13.73 million PS2s. On the software front, 57.9 million PS3 games were sold, as were 55.5 million PSP titles and 154 million PS2 games.
They are trying to read your mind......
Prepare the tin hats. Saw this in MAKE magazine.
Suffering from its exorbitant price point and a dearth of titles, Sony's PlayStation 3 isn't exactly the most popular gaming platform on the block. But while the console flounders in the commercial space, the PS3 may be finding a new calling in the realm of science and research.
Right now, a cluster of eight interlinked PS3s is busy solving a celestial mystery involving gravitational waves and what happens when a super-massive black hole, about a million times the mass of our own sun, swallows up a star or maybe the goverment is using one to tap your ISP right now.......
- iamlegend
Soldering Skills Not Required
You know we bring you all the underground shit. So take a look at this new PS2 mod. Has anyone used this yet? No Soldering needed it unlocks your PS2 via the use of a plug ‘n play advanced custom memory card! A new product is preparing to be launched within the next two weeks which gives PS2/PSTwo owners all the functions of an advanced PS2 mod chip but directly from an advanced memory card. That means no masses of wires to be soldered, no voiding of the warranty, just a simple insertion of a special memory card known as ‘Vast’ which will fully unlock ANY PS2 console just as would a hard wired mod chip would do so. The product essentially exploits a flaw in the PS2 memory card system and uses MagicGate technology which means that the totally innovative design will be 100% secure.
- IAMLEGEND
PS3 Update sneaks out.....
Is it a conspiracy? You tell us. According to posts on PS3 forums the update brings with it an improved internet browser, better support for PS1 and PS2 games and the ability to set flash wallpapers on the XMB, while the video section now features mini-clips. An auto-switch-off function is also said to turn off Sixaxis controllers after a period of inactivity.
Sony Halo 3 Conspiracy
Ouch looks like we got a good conspiracy today from one of our loyal readers. Looks like Sony got caught with their hand in the cookie jar. Not only were they caught editing the Halo 3 article on wikipedia they were also caught bashing Halo 3 in their editing according to Ars Technica:
The contributor claims that Halo 3's graphics won't look much better than Halo 2, citing a Time story from March. Page 52, if you'd like to look it up. For some crazy reason MaxConsole ran the IP itself and isolated the IP range to a particular place: SCEE's Liverpool offices. Someone at Sony isn't too happy with the state of Halo 3's graphics, and they want to talk about it.
And the best part was it wasn't just some random programmer expressing his opinon it was traced back to a computer in their PR dept. Makes you wonder what else are Videogame PR departments out their editing on Wikipedia????
Sony's Lies
Check out this article from the folks over at Next Generation. Sony is claiming that they are now all out of Black 60GB PS3 from their internal supplies while game stores have tons laying on the shelf. Another attempt to up Sony's stock prices in the face of their failing sales and their flailing game console?
"We don't have visibility as to if that is on their store shelves or in their warehouses at this time. However, based on inventory reports from our retailers, there is ample supply still left in the channel," a Sony rep said. Which is of course a lie. Sony has computurized records showing sales by month if not at least by week.....
- iamlegend
Mod your PS2 via USB
Sweetness. The new chip, as of yet unnamed, works as a 32MB memory card and has a USB port so you can upload and download files. Full specs to come soon. Seeing as the PS3 has all of three playable games on it, this still could have quite a big audience. Quite a nice hack if it works out.
"That means no masses of wires to be soldered, no voiding of the warranty, just a simple insertion of a special memory card known as ‘Vast’ which will fully unlock ANY PS2 console just as would a hard wired mod chip would do so. The product essentially exploits a flaw in the PS2 memory card system and uses MagicGate technology which means that the totally innovative design will be 100% secure. When inserted, the following operating system will boot giving any PS2/Two access to a wealth of features."
- NT
PS3 as a Media Center Plus?
PS3 software engineers, SCE chief technology officer Kawanishi and AV manager Kanehide have been quoted as saying that the update potential via firmware updates for the PS3 is virtually unlimited (except of course by the hard drive space).
They even took a shot over the bow of the 360 hinting that the PS3 could be so much more including, I predict, a media center.
PS3: Development harder but is it worth it?
PS3 update now what? How about DIY 6axis Wireless Charger
PS3 with Bigger Hard Drive? It May be True
PS3 Firmware 1.60 to be Released Today!
Sony may get feedback. Gizmodo loses Sony but gets them back
PS3 supply to meet demand by May, or will it?
PS3 - What was updated? What Wasn't? After the Honeymoon
Get a Playstation 3 for a Dollar!
Time Magazine - 5 Things That Went From Buzz to Bust...Number 2 - the PS3!
What's more fun? The Wii or PS3? What does Sony think?
PS3 Countdown - 1 week and 1 day to go!
Hands-on with the PS3 plus why Monster is bad for the PS3
PS3 - the Power Hungry Money Pit
A Big 3 comparison - who has more games?
Wii and PS3 marketing plan leaked!
More Good and Bad News for Sony
How much are you willing to pay for PS3 games?
Some interesting PS3 news to share
Over 200 games planned for PS3
Which do you want? The Wii or the PS3?
King of Fighters for PS3 released....in 3 years!
Why buy a PS3? Play HD games on your PS2
Sony posts huge loss despite being "on track"
Want to pre-order a PS3? It's going to cost you!
PS3 could come in last...could?
Developers slam PS3 while Sony says "it's not too much"
More Slammin on the PS3 - Part 2
"Creative" ads - are they really that creative?
Creative Ads Meant to Sell Games
PS3 not out to grow market share
Interview with Sony Exec Phil Harrison
We didn't copy Nintendo says Sony
PS3 pricing a "non-issue": Sony
'Sony Just Copies Us' - Nintendo
Penguin and PS - together at last!
Motion sensing controllers coming to PS2 near you
PS3 will not support Dual Shock - Revisited
We may not see many PS3 titles at release date
PS3 will not support DualShock
PS3 Dev Units - First Pics Available!
PS3 to bring down Sony's bottom line
PS3 not totally backward compatible?
PS3 Getting Closer - Vendor confirms chip tests
Classic Capcom games on your PSP
Sony expected to reveal PS3 details at Pre-E3 Conference
PS3 will still lead the market
PlayStation 2 Computational Cluster
It's confirmed - The PS3 will ship with a hard drive
Finally - A Good Use for your PSP
The Bad News for Sony Just Doesn't Stop!!!
CEO of Sony confirms delay of PS3
Sony confirms existence of Blu-Ray in PS3
PS3 - To be or not to be in 2006?
Play Station Too Much?? Hardly!!
Preorder your PS3 now on Gamestop!
The PS3 - More than your average console
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