PlayStation News Message Board

PlayStation 3 first to gave high definition movies for purchase from all major studios.

All the info you need to witness our inevitable downfall.

Odds are if you've been trying to track down a new PS3 lately, you're having one heck of a time. Well, if you wouldn't mind plunking down a bit of coin to get one in a few weeks' time, then you may be interested in what Dell's got going on right now.

The retailer has taken $30 off the standard price for the 120GB PS3 Slim, bringing it down to a pleasant $269 -- the caveat being that Dell won't actually ship the system until an estimated 10 days after you purchase it (details here).

For a bit of perspective, know that basically anywhere you try to purchase a PS3 online, you're going to be waiting a while -- unless you get one from a third-party merchant on Amazon, where you can replace "impatiently waiting" with "spending a lot more money."

[Thanks Joel]

In what's becoming a GDC tradition, Sony today announced an update concerning the PhyreEngine, a free, cross-platform middleware tool offered to developers interested in creating PS3 games. First introduced in 2008, the PhyreEngine has since been utilized in games like Critter Crunch, Shatter and Flower. Today, SCEA has announced the expansion of PhyreEngine compatibility to the PSP.

"We're very happy to see the continued popularity of PhyreEngine with the global game developer community," SCEI senior VP of technology Teiji Yutaka said. "PhyreEngine for PSP was developed in response to requests from the game developer community, and we hope that the release of the PSP version demonstrates our commitment and support for game developers on all our platforms." The engine will be demoed at GDC this week.

The PS3 version of PhyreEngine has been praised by studios like Capybara and Sidhe. Perhaps the PSP iteration will be met with an equal amount of enthusiasm and help bolster the portable development community.

New development tools for PSP.

Studio's first title to be an epic role-playing game.

The FINAL FANTASY franchise has long been synonymous with the PlayStation brand – who could forget FINAL FANTASY VII on PSone and FINAL FANTASY X proved to be a landmark achievement when it launched on PS2. And, now we have the highly-anticipated FINAL FANTASY XIII for PlayStation 3 hitting store shelves today.

For those of you headed out to pick up your copy, we’re happy to announce that FINAL FANTASY XIII for PS3 offers an exclusive bonus offer for FINAL FANTASTY XIV. Some of you may remember the announcement we made at our E3 press conference last June, but just a reminder that PS3 will be the only console you’ll be able to play FINAL FANTASTY XIV when it launches in 2010.

Players who purchase a copy of FINAL FANTASY XIII for PS3 will receive a FINAL FANTASY XIV secret in-game item and be able to enter for a potential opportunity to become a beta tester for FINAL FANTASY XIV for PS3.

Included inside copies of the initial production run of FINAL FANTASY XIII for PS3 are Campaign Codes printed on a special SQUARE ENIX MEMBERS Point Card. Players can register at SQUARE ENIX MEMBERS and receive a code to unlock the special FINAL FANTASY XIV limited offer.

For additional details on FINAL FANTASY XIV, check out the official website and be sure to stay tuned to the PlayStation Blog for much more to come on the game this year.

Win your way onto the NBA 2K11 soundtrack + the stage at Duck Down's Fall CMJ showcase in NYC.

Unless this is the first time you’ve ever visited this site* – you probably noticed that we’ve inverted the color palette on the Blog. The aim wasn’t to save your eyesight (though this configuration apparently is easier on your eyes), and we didn’t just make a change for change’s sake.

Rather, we “bleached” the Blog to match our big brother, us.PlayStation.com. In case you haven’t clicked over to the homepage (and you should right now), we’ve redesigned the site to make it easier for you to use.

There are lots of changes – this isn’t just a re-skinning:

• New navigation makes it easy to find games, TV series, movies, and original shows from any page and browse the entire site from one interface.
• New search is powered by Google and lets you find what you’re looking for, instantly.
• Interactive marquees give you video, screenshots and more info about our most exciting content.
• You can easily share anything from videos and screenshots to whole pages with your friends using the “Share” icons on each page.
• Our new Web platform is keeping everything running fast and smooth.
• Finally, and most importantly :-), the PlayStation.Blog is more prominent. You’ll spot new posts on the homepage and throughout the site.

This is our baby, so obviously we think it’s beautiful and perfect, but there might be some hiccups as we get everything up and running. Please be patient while we iron out the inevitable kinks.

Please note that this is just the first phase of improvements we’re planning to make the site easier to navigate, faster to use, and more interesting to visit. And right now we want your input – what do you love? What do you hate? What suggestions do you have?

As far as the Blog is concerned, we’re currently gathering ideas for a full-on redesign, but in the meantime we hope you enjoy the lighter, more readable PSB.

*If this is indeed the first time you’re visiting the PlayStation.Blog, welcome! We’re not always this self-referential.

If this isn’t the longest reading list in recent memory, please forgive me – we’ve been prepping like mad for GDC. Speaking of next week’s Game Developer’s Conference, I hope you’ll be joining us in-person; but if you can’t, we’ll have live coverage beginning at 3pm (Pacific Time) on Wednesday.

Also, bit of housekeeping: we know the blog login system has been jacked up over the past several days. Everyone should be able to log in, but if you’re still appearing as the wrong name, let us know in the comments (also, let us know what your real PSN ID is if you’re appearing incorrectly). I want this thing gone forever by this time tomorrow :-)

Oh, and God of War III reviews hit soon. Keep an eye out for those (we’ll be linking out on the right rail of the Blog).

The PS Blog weekly reading list (Week of March 1, 2010)

• Insomniac’s Ted Price On Mistakes, Having Limits, Learning From The Competition – G4tv.com
• Platinum Developing Vanquish on PS3 and 360; PS3 Lead SKU – 1UP
• VU Meters and psp’s – Tailor Made Toys
• Amazon Slashes Prices On Blu-Ray Anime Box Sets – Siliconera
• Swag Sunday: Age of Zombies eats your braaaaaaains (PSP Minis) – Joystiq
• ModNation Racers Deep Dive – IGN
• MLB 10 The Show cover athlete Joe Mauer’s all-time favorite sports video games – USATODAY.com
• MLB 10: The Show Review – IGN
• Naughty Dog’s Wells: GoWIII Is Worth A PS3 Purchase – PSXextreme
• Interview: Adam Puhl, Lead Combat Designer, God of War III – Gamervision
• Interview: Yakuza 3 – Gamervision
• ModNation Racers trailer introduces devastating props – Joystiq
• The PS2’s First Ten Years: A Timeline – Kotaku
• Report: FFXIII on 360 “Isn’t Anywhere Near As Impressive” As PS3 Version – Kotaku
• PS3 is the lead platform for Vanquish – Destructoid
• God of War III contest series – Week 2 – Destructoid
• Get your free God of War III track here! – Destructoid
• Final Fantasy XIII Producer Had A Hard Time Hunting Mission Monsters – Siliconera
• PSP Pro-Tips – IGN
• UNCHARTED 2 DLC – Drake’s Fortune Multiplayer Pack Review – Pads & Panels
• ‘Heavy Rain’ tips from the developers – USATODAY.com

If this isn’t the longest reading list in recent memory, please forgive me – we’ve been prepping like mad for GDC. Speaking of next week’s Game Developer’s Conference, I hope you’ll be joining us in-person; but if you can’t, we’ll have live coverage beginning at 3pm (Pacific Time) on Wednesday.

Also, bit of housekeeping: we know the blog login system has been jacked up over the past several days. Everyone should be able to log in, but if you’re still appearing as the wrong name, let us know in the comments (also, let us know what your real PSN ID is if you’re appearing incorrectly). I want this thing gone forever by this time tomorrow :-)

Oh, and God of War III reviews hit soon. Keep an eye out for those (we’ll be linking out on the right rail of the Blog).

The PS Blog weekly reading list (Week of March 1, 2010)

• Insomniac’s Ted Price On Mistakes, Having Limits, Learning From The Competition – G4tv.com
• Platinum Developing Vanquish on PS3 and 360; PS3 Lead SKU – 1UP
• VU Meters and psp’s – Tailor Made Toys
• Amazon Slashes Prices On Blu-Ray Anime Box Sets – Siliconera
• Swag Sunday: Age of Zombies eats your braaaaaaains (PSP Minis) – Joystiq
• ModNation Racers Deep Dive – IGN
• MLB 10 The Show cover athlete Joe Mauer’s all-time favorite sports video games – USATODAY.com
• MLB 10: The Show Review – IGN
• Naughty Dog’s Wells: GoWIII Is Worth A PS3 Purchase – PSXextreme
• Interview: Adam Puhl, Lead Combat Designer, God of War III – Gamervision
• Interview: Yakuza 3 – Gamervision
• ModNation Racers trailer introduces devastating props – Joystiq
• The PS2’s First Ten Years: A Timeline – Kotaku
• Report: FFXIII on 360 “Isn’t Anywhere Near As Impressive” As PS3 Version – Kotaku
• PS3 is the lead platform for Vanquish – Destructoid
• God of War III contest series – Week 2 – Destructoid
• Get your free God of War III track here! – Destructoid
• Final Fantasy XIII Producer Had A Hard Time Hunting Mission Monsters – Siliconera
• PSP Pro-Tips – IGN
• UNCHARTED 2 DLC – Drake’s Fortune Multiplayer Pack Review – Pads & Panels
• ‘Heavy Rain’ tips from the developers – USATODAY.com

A patent dug up by Siliconera details a new system conceived by Sony for limiting the content found in game demos. "Degradable" game demos, as described in a patent filed by SCEA, would initially include either a full game or a large amount of content, but that content would gradually disappear over playtime, to unlock again once the full game is purchased. Examples in the patent document include a weapon that becomes less effective over time, and race tracks that become unavailable one at a time.

Essentially, it's the DIVX rental system, but downloadable and for games. You know, DIVX, the system in which you "bought" a cheap disc that would only work for a short time unless you paid a fee to "unlock" it. That lasted less than a year because it was too popular, right?

Catch up on the ongoing legal war between Infinity Ward and Activision.

Could Jason West and Vince Zampella re-join Electronic Arts?

Valhalla recruitment page reveals plans for HD console support.

School thugs win the fight against super robots.

The DS has been gifted with games that force players to hold the system in all sorts of weird ways: upside down, to the side, and sometimes even completely closed. PSP is joining the play-your-system-the-wrong-way trend with the newly announced Advance! Protect! Fight!. According to Andriasang, you hold the system vertically. The analog stick is used to move the cursor, with the R button used to click. Essentially, it's meant to simulate a mouse.

Advance! Protect! Fight! is one of the few games that can function properly in the closed mode of the PSP Go. In fact, you could probably play the game with just one hand with the Go. Too bad Tecmo couldn't think of this control scheme first, right?

If you like the film, here's what you should be playing.

Pretend to be your favorite LucasArts character in Home.

Yesterday, Zipper Interactive announced its return to the SOCOM franchise with the sequel to the sequel's sequel, SOCOM 4. This first trailer reveals a bit more about the project, including -- spoiler! -- confirmation that there will be at least one Irish lady and a burning boat at some point in the campaign. Thankfully, the trailer seems to indicate that the game will still focus on shooting dudes with guns and telling other dudes to do the same.

Just tell us one thing, Sony: is it just "SOCOM" or is it SOCOM 4?

The Red Star never had its chance to reach an audience. Originally in development by Acclaim for Xbox, the game was delayed when Acclaim ceased to exist, and didn't make it into stores until 2007 (well after the PS3 launch), when XS Games published the PS2 version to generally positive (and occasionally effusive) reviews.

XS just announced that it's giving the alternate-universe Soviet shooter-brawler game another shot at success, by releasing downloadable versions of The Red Star on PSP and iPhone. We have no idea how the game will play on an iPhone, but the PSP has buttons very much like a PS2 controller! The publisher offered an "early spring 2010" release date for both versions, which sounds like soon.

Even if you caught last night’s world premiere of the SOCOM 4 teaser video on Game Trailers TV, we still have a nice little treat for you. Zipper’s resident uber-scribe and Creative Director, Ed Byrne, sat down in front of a microphone yesterday to record a few tidbits of info to provide a little more background on what the first SOCOM video is showing off.

Though it’s just a smidge past the 60-second mark, the “Director’s Commentary” version of the SOCOM 4 teaser still has a few morsels of key information that make it worth watching – so be sure to invest a good minute of your time to check it out. Of course, if you’d rather just see the teaser video in its original form, or just want to watch both versions for the heck of it, we have the standard edition of the video ready to watch as well.

Either way, do yourself a favor and click the play button of your choice for the maximum amount of tactical video game candy. Enjoy!

Even if you caught last night’s world premiere of the SOCOM 4 teaser video on Game Trailers TV, we still have a nice little treat for you. Zipper’s resident uber-scribe and Creative Director, Ed Byrne, sat down in front of a microphone yesterday to record a few tidbits of info to provide a little more background on what the first SOCOM video is showing off.

Though it’s just a smidge past the 60-second mark, the “Director’s Commentary” version of the SOCOM 4 teaser still has a few morsels of key information that make it worth watching – so be sure to invest a good minute of your time to check it out. Of course, if you’d rather just see the teaser video in its original form, or just want to watch both versions for the heck of it, we have the standard edition of the video ready to watch as well.

Either way, do yourself a favor and click the play button of your choice for the maximum amount of tactical video game candy. Enjoy!

The last throes of youth.

View the entire 16-page document.

The PSN update this week is casual. You know, nothing big, but not bad. There are some deals, like the seriously reduced Penny Arcade Adventures bundle. It has a couple neat demos, like Just Cause 2. Oh, oh, and there's a new episode of The Tester. We know you're loving that, but not as much as you're loving Ru Paul's Drag Race (confess!). It's a T-shirt and jeans kind of update this week. Check out the full PSN update after the break.

Choose your platform to view the corresponding release list:
(Note: Continue past the break to view both release lists.)

The week in Aussie news, reviews and opinions – in video form!

Suit details harsh relationship between companies.

Here's what we're hoping to see at next week's Game Developer's Conference.

In what it says is a reaction to Apple's growing footprint in portable gaming, the Wall Street Journal reports that Sony is prepping a 2010 launch of a smartphone and an iPad competitor -- said to be "a portable device that blurs distinctions among a netbook, an e-reader and a PlayStation Portable" -- both capable of running PS1 games. The paper cites "people familiar with the matter" as its sources, which have also told it that the devices will work with Sony's iTunes Store challenger, the Sony Online Service, that launches this month.

The WSJ also reports that the phone is being developed in conjunction with Sony Ericsson, with Sony proper being much more involved in the design of the device over past projects, due to the company's growing focus on smartphones and other mobile platforms. Development is said to be under the direction of Senior Vice President Kunimasa Suzuki, who acts as a deputy to PlayStation boss Kaz Hirai in Sony's gaming and Network Products & Services divisions.

Of course, this isn't the first time we've heard talk of a fabled "PlayStation Phone," and likely won't be the last -- hopefully the next time there's news, it will come in the form of an official product announcement by Sony.

[Via VG247]