Sony: future PSP and PS3 firmware updates will raise level of interconnectivity

PS3 and PSP connectivity has always been a priority to Sony, and it looks like they have some pretty exciting plans for the two platforms in future firmware updates.

One of those plans include having the PSP use some of the PS3's processing power. Says SCEJ's Matsui:

In future updates, there are thoughts of raising the level of interaction, in the sense of “interactive entertainment”.

Among those ideas are enabling the PSP to cope with more processing while using computational resources on the PS3 side for areas where the PSP lacks resources, so we think that interaction between the two systems will be possible by having them successfully complement each other .

Don't know how they can actually make practical use of this though, considering that the PSP is primarily a portable console. If you're stuck connected to the PS3 to use its processing power, it defeats the whole purpose of getting a handheld.

Matsui adds that future firmware updates of the PS3 will add more services. They won't necessarily be about gaming either, despite Kaz Hirai's strong words about video games being the PS3's main premise. Says Matsui:

In addition, as with Life with PlayStation, we take the approach of making the PS3 something people will use from when they wake up, like switching it on to watch the news in the morning.

Since we believe that there must still be many areas in with both the PS3 and PSP can be of use in people’s daily lives, we want to continue to make firmware updates with this perspective in mind.

Grand Theft Auto San Andreas comes to Xbox Live

Content: Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
Price: 1200 Microsoft Points
Availability: Austria, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom and United States
[ESRB: M (MATURE) ALCOHOL REFERENCE, USE OF DRUGS, BLOOD AND GORE, INTENSE VIOLENCE, STRONG SEXUAL CONTENT, STRONG LANGUAGE]
Local Multiplayer 2, 5.1
Surround Sound.
GAME-PLAY ALERT:
This game has been fully tested to successfully play on your Xbox 360 console. However, in some cases, you may see some minor irregularities with audio/video for brief periods. For more details, see www.xbox.com/xboxoriginals. Five years ago, Carl Johnson escaped from the pressures of life in Los Santos, San Andreas, a city tearing itself apart with gang trouble, drugs, and corruption. Now he’s back in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas™. But Carl's family is in dire straits and his friends are headed for disaster. To make matters worse, he's just been framed for homicide. Join Carl on his journey across the state of San Andreas as he fights to save his family and take back control of the streets. There are no refunds for this item. For more information, see www.xbox.com/live/accounts.


This is a great game for everyone who has completed GTA IV and hasnt yet played it. Its one of the best GTA's because of the wide variety of things you can do. Fly planes, buy your own houses, custom hair tattoos and more.
I won't be getting it because I already have the ps2 version.

Fallout 3 Best Buy? Maybe not, but presumed to be well worth it.

Who here loved playing Fallout 1 and 2? Ok... maybe I'm getting old. But nonetheless Fallout 3 has the hype, the background, and the backing of the entire industry. I wont try to explain the storyline or the world that Fallout 3 is presented in as other sites and the press release below can do it much better than I can. I will say one thing however, the initial two Fallout games did what few other games could do, offer variety and choice to the many types of gamers out there. The game offered a complex set of choices and builds that could accomodate any user. Did you wish to sway the entire game world through charisma? Or would you rather just brute force it through. Try playing the originals with near zero intelligence ^^ it changes the game.

Of course thats in the past. Whether or not Fallout 3 lives up to its predecessors or its fame will probably be decided in the new few times. There have been a few drastic changes such as the incorporation of the third person shooter aspect. This may irritate some of the true to the original fans but it may serve as a better method to get new players. Coming out soon with a midnight launch at Best Buy nationwide. Go forth! Make the brotherhood of steel proud!

Bethesda Softworks and Best Buy Bring Fallout 3 to Fans with Midnight Launch Events Across the Country

Fans to Help Usher in One of Year’s Biggest Videogame Launches

October 24, 2008 (ROCKVILLE, MD) – Bethesda Softworks®, a ZeniMax Media company, and Best Buy Co., Inc. have announced that in response to huge demand for Bethesda’s award-winning upcoming game, Fallout® 3, there will be midnight openings at Best Buy stores across the country the evening of October 27. Best Buy customers at select stores in the Washington, DC, New York, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Dallas and Chicago metropolitan areas will be among the first to play one of the most anticipated videogames of the year.

“Fallout 3 has been a labor of love for the team at Bethesda and we can’t wait to get the game into the hands of consumers,” said Todd Howard, Game Director for Fallout 3. “We’re looking forward to celebrating the launch of Fallout 3 with the fans.”

The Fallout 3 team’s hometown Best Buy in Rockville, MD will serve as the flagship location of the midnight events, with special festivities including game kiosks, giveaways, contests and a live broadcast from the event with DC 101 FM. Game director Todd Howard will be on-hand along with other key members of the development team to sign copies of the game and chat with fans. In addition to the Rockville event, 11 Best Buy stores across the country will be hosting special midnight sales events.

Midnight sales event lines will begin forming at 3 pm local time, October 27 at the following Best Buy locations:

Washington, DC area

· Rockville, MD - 1200 Rockville Pike

· Tysons Corner, VA – 8449 Leesburg Pike

New York Area

· New York, NY – 44th And 5th

· Westbury, NY – 1100 Old Country Rd.

Los Angeles area

· Glendale, CA – 2909 Los Feliz Blvd.

· Pasadena, CA – 3415 E. Foothill Blvd.

Chicago area

· Chicago, IL. – 1000 W. North Ave.

· Downers Grove, IL – 1432 Butterfield Rd

Dallas area

· Plano, TX – 2800 N. Central Expy.

· Fort Worth, TX – 6750 West Fwy.

Minneapolis area

· Roseville, MN – 1643 Country Rd. B2

· Richfield, MN – 1000 W. 78th St.

Fallout 3 will be available on store shelves and online in North America on October 28, in Europe and Australia on October 30 and in the UK on October 31. Developed at Bethesda Game Studios – creators of the 2006 Game of the Year, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion® – Fallout 3 is slated for release on the Xbox 360®video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system, and Games for Windows.

Fallout 3 features one of the most realized game worlds ever created. Set more than 200 years following a nuclear war, you can create any kind of character you want and explore the open wastes of Washington, D.C. however you choose. Every minute is a fight for survival as you encounter Super Mutants, Ghouls, Raiders, and other dangers of the Wasteland.

Hailed as one of the most anticipated games for 2008, Fallout 3 has already won numerous awards including Best of Show from the official Game Critics Awards at E3 2008 and a perfect 10 out of 10 from Official Xbox Magazine.

Fallout® 3 has been rated Mature by the ESRB. For more information on Fallout 3, visit www.BestBuy.com/Fallout3, http://fallout.bethsoft.com and www.prepareforthefuture.com.

The "Towel Trick"

source- http://www.gameolosophy.com/Consoles/Xbox/Xbox-360-Red-Ring-of-Death-Fix.285307

OK so say your beloved Xbox 360 has received the dreaded Red Ring of Death. So you ring up Microsoft and let them know and they say that you will receive a box to ship it back in about 1 week.

That’s all fine and dandy but wouldn't it be cool if you could get your Xbox to temporarily work until you had to ship it out?

Well there is a way, it is known as the "towel trick"

OK for this you will need 3 large bath towels

First unplug everything from your Xbox 360 including your hard drive leaving just the power cord plugged it. Turn your Xbox on and place it in the center of the first towel. Wrap it up so everything is covered. Repeat with the two other towels. Now leave your 360 on and let it get all warm and toasty for 25 minutes

After the 25 minutes is up unwrap your 360 and unplug the power cord

Allow your Xbox to cool for about 20 minutes, preferably by a fan or open window to speed up the process.

Once completely cooled hook everything back up and power up your 360. Amazingly the Red Ring of Death will be gone!

Now this fix will last about 1 - 1 1/2 weeks, just about the time it takes Microsoft to get you your shipping box

Hope this helped!

Wii Music Launch Party Unsuccessful

The recent Rockefeller Center launch party in for Wii Music didn't attract the large crowd we usually see at Nintendo events. 1UP user Anthony Parisi attended the party and blogged on the low turnout, complete with pictures. The difference between it and the midnight launch for Super Mario Galaxy was clear (pictured above). When Nintendo announced the music pantomime game at E3 2008, many core gamers felt it lacked depth despite assurances and the frequent invoking of Shigeru Miyamoto's name.

Our own preview and positive review suggested that it's good casual-focused fun, but the launch bust doesn't bode well. Maybe more casual gamers -- who are less likely to attend a launch party -- will snatch it up as they have other titles like Wii Play. Otherwise, we may be getting our first glimpse at a Wii game that didn't catch the core or casual markets.

source- http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3170773

Atari New Releases.

Alone in the Dark PS3 in November, Race Pro in January, Eternal Sonata PS3 in February.
Atari has today released an updated release schedule, featuring its announced titles for the end of 2008 and in 2009.

Big titles on the way include the werewolf infested FPS Legendary, confirmed to be releasing first on Xbox 360 (October 31), followed in November on PC and PS3. Also in November is the reworked Alone in the Dark: Inferno for PS3 and the second Neverwinter Nights 2 expansion, Storm of Zehir.

Moving into 2009 gamers can look forward to Race Pro in January and Eternal Sonata PS3 in February. Also set for some point during the year are Afro Samurai and Heroes Over Europe.

Atari European Release Schedule:

October 24, 2008 What's Cooking: Jamie Oliver (DS)

October 31, 2008 My Horse and Me 2 (Wii, Xbox 360, PS2, DS)Legendary (Xbox 360)

November 2008 Tamagotchi: Connection Cornershop 3 (DS), Legendary (PS3, PC), Alone in the Dark: Inferno (PS3), Neverwinter Nights 2: Storm of Zehir (PC)

November 7, 2008 Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm (PS3)

November 14, 2008 My Farm Around the World (DS)

December 5, 2008 Dragon Ball Z: Infinite World (PS2), Dragon Ball Z: Origins (DS)

January 2009 Race Pro (Xbox 360)

February 2009 Eternal Sonata (PS3)

Capcom Disses Xbox Live

Microsoft’s Xbox LIVE boasts an enormous user base, however, many of its users have been nothing short of vocal in criticizing the monthly subscription fee required to fully “jump in.”
Supporters of the service often cited the flexible in-game chat capability as its primary edge over the PlayStation Network, but recent updates on the part of Sony have bridged that gap.
The addition of online capabilities to consoles allowed gamers to remotely connect to each other, but more importantly, from a publishers perspective, it created a viable means for digital distribution of content. On that note, both the PS3 and 360 next-gen consoles have infrastructures capable of delivering digital content to consumers, but which format do publishers prefer?


In a recent interview, Capcom’s digital content product manager, John Diamonon, discussed the current digital distribution options available to publishers. Diamonon complimented the PSN service, and had the following to say about XBL:
“As far as Microsoft goes–how can I say this diplomatically–there are things I think they’d like to do to promote content in multiple ways, and I think they’ll get there eventually… but they’re not there yet.”


It should also be noted that Sony recently granted Capcom a branded PSN storefront (the first of its kind), allowing the publisher to pimp their wares and their brand.