Talk Playstation 3 News

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Part of of a interview with Gamedaily, John Smedley, President of Sony Entertainment Online told them that they are counting on the PlayStation 3 to bring in half of SOE’s future business.

SOE is known for games like Star Wars Galaxies, EverQuest, The Matrix Online and Vanguard Saga of Heroes to name a few.
And with upcoming titles like Free Realms, DC Universe Online and The Agency, Mr. Smedley is looking forward to the audience on the PlayStation Network.

I think PS3 will be close to half our business. There’s an audience now waiting for online games on the PS3. I believe PSN has over 15 million users today. It’s growing so quickly, we see a great user base potential there

He’s sure that MMO’s will bring a lot of new players to that genre. Mostly people that have played on consoles for years instead of the PC with games like Resistance, Metal Gear Solid and Killzone to name a few.

I think we can bring this kind of gaming to this audience and I think it’s going to be huge

Source

VG247 has got a list of upcoming release schedule for the PlayStation Network. VidZone is contained on that list and scheduled to be available for download on June 4th. VidZone is a service where you can stream music videos on the PlayStation 3 for free, and only available for Europe.

You’ll also be able to stream the music while playing your games. Which sounds to be a neat feature.

With accordance to VG247, they say that an Uncharted Among Thieves and God of War 3 trailers will be available for download beginning January 22nd. It’s unknown if it’ll be footage that we’ve already seen, or something entirely new.

The PlayStation Network has 17 million registered users. There are a total of 330 million things downloaded from the PlayStation Store. This is a great feat for the PlayStation Network. 

Originally launched back in October LittleBigPlanet sales weren’t spectacular. But new from todays CES keynote, Kaz Hirai says that LBP has a total sales number of 1.3 million to date. Over 300,000 levels have been published, and total game time of the community is over 2 years.

On January 6th Jeff Rubenstein announced that the official PlayStation Blog would under go chance. One of these would be to see directly if an official author has made a reply to post. And by clicking on the it, you will be brought to the first reply of this author.

The other most important feature is the implementation of the PSN login. In the near future you will be able to use you PSN ID to log onto the blog and post using your ID. So now you can more easily recognize that jerk who always shouts “first post” and shoot him down in Warhawk.

It was said that the author reply indicator would go live yesterday but it seems it has not happend. Our guess is, they will probably do it once the PSN implemention has been done.

Source

Elixor, Community Team Leader has made a post over on the European Playstation Forums and let everybody know that there will be a lot of PlayStation Network maintenance this month.

Here is a list of planned maintenance NSP during the month of January 2009.

* On 15 January 2009 from 05:00 to 08:00 (French time) on 15 January 2009 from 05:00 to 08:00 (French time)
* On 16 January 2009 from 05:00 to 08:00 (French time) On 16 January 2009 from 05:00 to 08:00 (French time)
* On 21 January 2009 from 05:00 to 08:00 (French time) on 21 January 2009 from 05:00 to 08:00 (French time)
* On 22 January 2009 from 05:00 to 08:00 (French time) On 22 January 2009 from 05:00 to 08:00 (French time)
* On 23 January 2009 from 05:00 to 08:00 (French time) On 23 January 2009 from 05:00 to 08:00 (French time)
* On 26 January 2009 from 05:00 to 08:00 (French time) on 26 January 2009 from 05:00 to 08:00 (French time)

During this maintenance you may be disconnected from the PSN for a period of about 20 minutes.

Thank you for your understanding.

TedTheDog posted some info about tomorrows release of Home Open Beta on the Official EU Playstation forum.

Home will be offline for a while so don’t try to hammer it. Once its back online we will be running version 1.03 and all those with the current version will be offered a patch. The patch simply supports the server changes being made to support Open Beta.
The age limit will be lowered from 18+ to 16+ (Sigh)
You will be able to download Home off the Playstation Store after you have opted to install it, you will find it under PlayStation®Network on the XMB.

Only one sad thing the Red Bull Air Race will not be included tomorrow, but will arrive a few days later.

And some last words from Ted

Please remember, this really is a Beta

Source

As Executive President of Playstation Network, Kevin Furuichi announced on the Playstation Blog that they have launched a new service called PULSE.

PULSE will give you the latest news and updates on the Playstation. You can expect to see the program to contain information about new Blu-ray disc and PlayStation Network releases from the PlayStation Store, including games, demos, movies and television series available for your PS3 and PSP.

So check out PULSE every other week for their program.

The European Playstation Store has updated, December 04 2008 and the following has been added:-

PS3 Add On’s

Kabuki Actor Costume – LBP – Free

Force Unleashed Character Pack – £3.99

Force Unleashed Jedi Temple Pack – £7.99

Guitar Hero WT Tracks (Various) – £1.39 – £4.39

Naturo Ultimate Ninja Storm Pack 2 – Free

Race Driver Grid: 8 Ball Pack – £6.29

Rock Band Tracks (Various) £0.59 – £0.99

Soul Calibur IV Xmas Set – £0.79

PS3 Demos

Lego Batman – Free

PS3 Games

Brain Challenge – £3.99

GTI Club+ – £9.99

PSP Games

Red Alert Retaliation – £3.99

Jet Rider – £3.99

PS Themes/Wallpaper (All Free Unless Stated)

GTI Club+ Theme

Need for Speed Undercover Wallpapers x 2

Ratchet & Clank: Quest for Booty Theme

Soul Calibur Wallpaper 07 & 08

Tom Clancy EndWar Wallpapers x3

PS3 Trailers/Videos

Skate 2 Trailers x 2

Source.

It sounds weird, but Sony is coming out with a similar idea as the XNA only giving it an own twist. Northwest Vision and Media have set up a project named ‘Get in the Game’ which will offer five developers the change to receive GBP 10,000 to prototype new content for the PlayStation Network.

At a workshop in December visitors will be able to bring their idea’s to a panel of Sony execs and producers. Then five of those will be given 10,000 pounds to bring their idea to live in the first three months of 2009.

These prototypes will then be shown to SCEE who will decide if they will bring any of them into production in effort to support the games industry in the Northwest region of Great Britain.

Source

SCEE was quicker then SCEA on the forum integration with the PSN. But then overtaken again with the homepage integration. From today you’ll able to display your own gamercard from EU side (rather then state side)

The SCEE version of the gamer card will look like this.

Upon logging in on the secure website of eu.playstation.com you will be prompted to merge your website account with your PSN account. Making everything one whole.

At the moment the favourite game list is very very limited to only 6 games which include one game that was just released and one that was pushed back. You also have the ability to set a mood.

A few good things are that you are able to see you friends list from the page and an events calendar.

Go take a look for yourself if you life in europe.

Source

The European Playstation Store has updated, November 27 2008 and the following has been added:-

PS3 Games

Age of Booty

Demos

DEAD SPACE Dismemberment Demo
GTI CLUB+ DEMO
Age of Booty Trial

Video

Tomb Raider – BENEATH THE SURFACE 5
Resistance 2 Action Trailer – English speaking only
SHOOT! ’CITIZEN HERO’ CHRISTOPHE PERIE 1 MIN PITCH
SHOOT! ’CITIZEN HERO’ CHRISTOPHE PERIE BTS
SHOOT! ’CITIZEN HERO’ CHRISTOPHE PERIE INTERVIEW
SHOOT! ’CITIZEN HERO’ CHRISTOPHE PERIE SHORT FILM
NARUTO: ULTIMATE NINJA STORM TRAILER FINAL

Resistance 2 TV Ad-English speaking only

Packs

LittleBigPlanet Chimera (Resistance) costume
LittleBigPlanet Turkey Head (Thanksgiving) costume
G1 JOCKEY 4 2008 ADDITIONAL DATA (HORSES 2)
FAR CRY 2 FORTUNES PACK

Rock Band

’CAPRICI DI DIABLO’
’DAMNATION GAME’
’JESUS CHRIST POSE’
’LAID TO REST’
’MR. BRIGHTSIDE’
’PRETTY NOOSE’
’RED DEVIL’
’SMILE LIKE YOU MEAN IT’
’SPACEMAN’
THE KILLERS PACK 01
YNGWIE MALMSTEEN PACK 01
’HUMAN’ BY THE KILLERS
’LOSING TOUCH’ BY THE KILLERS
’MR. BRIGHTSIDE’ BY THE KILLERS
THE KILLERS TRACK PACK

Guitar Hero World Tour

THE RACONTEURS TRACK PACK
HOLD UP’ BY THE RACONTEURS
CONSOLER OF THE LONELY’ BY THE RACONTEURS
SALUTE YOUR SOLUTION’ BY THE RACONTEURS

Themes
High Velocity Bowling – Chastity and Foxy Theme

PSP content available to download via PS3 Store

Game
Syndicate Wars

LocoRoco 2 Full Game

Kazook

Carol Vorderman’s Sudoku

PSP Store

Game
LocoRoco 2 Full Game
Syndicate Wars
Kazook

Carol Vorderman’s Sudoku

Video
SHOOT! ’CITIZEN HERO’ CHRISTOPHE PERIE SHORT FILM #2
SHOOT! ’CITIZEN HERO’ CHRISTOPHE PERIE 1 MIN PITCH #2
SHOOT! ’CITIZEN HERO’ CHRISTOPHE PERIE BTS #2
SHOOT! ’CITIZEN HERO2 CHRISTOPHE PERIE INTERVIEW

In Game

Age Of Booty In-game Upgrade

Source.

With this very subtle hint Jeff Rubenstein let a reader know that he didn’t have to worry about getting avatar up on his blog profile.

This sounds like a possible integration of your PSN account with the Playstation Blog. This would be great. It would not require separate accounts anymore.

What more do we want to see if this is true. Well first to ability to add a person straight from there (the blog) to your friendlist or even better ignore list. Checking out a persons profile would also fit in there.

Anymore things you want to see made possible when the Playstation Blog gets it’s next update? Let us know.

As Black Friday approaches, Sony has decided that the Playstation Store should play a role in this too.

Until December 4th you’ll be able to purchase select games from the store for very low prices. The following games will be discounted:

echochrome
Novastrike
Pixeljunk
The Last Guy
Wolf of the Battlefield: Commando 3

Source, via Playstation Lifestyle

There’s a good variety of content to purchase for this weeks store update. Here’s the list:

Add-on Game Content

LittleBigPlanet Sack in the Box Costume (free)
A community costume for SackBoy!

LittleBigPlanet LocoRoco Costumes ($2.99)
A costume kit for SackBoy!  Contains 5 different costumes.

BioShock PS3 Challenge Rooms  ($9.99)
Experience the intense, terrifying world of Rapture like never before with the all-new PLAYSTATION 3 exclusive Add-On Game Content featuring three unique Challenge Rooms and some very cool extras. In “A Shocking Turn of Events,” rescue a trapped Little Sister in a disturbing carnival in Rapture. In “The I in Team”, defeat a Big Daddy using only your wits. In “Worlds of Hurt” plow through eight rooms filled with the worst Rapture has to offer.

Dead Space

• Dead Space Astronaut Pack ($2.99)
  Download the Astronaut Suit and Weapon Skin Pack, featuring an amazing 26th Century Astronaut Suit and new skins for the Plasma Cutter, Pulse Rifle, and Ripper!
• Dead Space Big Gun Pack ($0.99)
  Download the Steam Punk Force Gun, the ultimate in Necromorph-killing destruction.
• Dead Space Heavy Damage Pack ($2.99)
  Download the Heavy Damage Weapon pack featuring a cool new look and massive firepower for the Plasma Cutter, Contact Beam, Pulse Rifle, and Ripper.
• Dead Space Hot Rod Pack ($0.99)
  Download the Hot Rod Weapon Skin Pack, featuring awesome flame graphics for the Flamethrower and Pulse Rifle.
• Dead Space Military Pack ($3.99)
  Download the Military Weapon Pack for a new look and enhanced power for all 7 Dead Space weapons.
• Dead Space Obsidian Pack ($1.49)
  Download the exclusive Obsidian Suit and Weapon Skin Pack now, available only for the PLAYSTATION 3! Includes an upgraded Level 5 suit, and weapon skins for the Line Gun, Plasma Cutter, and Pulse Rifle, all in jet-black PLAYSTATION 3 colors.
• Dead Space Obsidian Weapon Skin Pack ($1.49)
  Download the exclusive Obsidian Weapon Skin Pack now, available only for the PLAYSTATION 3 Includes weapon skins in jet-black Playstation 3 colors for the Line Gun, Plasma Cutter, and Pulse Rifle.
• Dead Space Pedestrian Pack ($1.49)
  Download the Pedestrian Weapon Skin Pack, featuring a fresh new look for the Contact Beam, Plasma Cutter, and Ripper.
• Dead Space Scorpion Pack ($3.99)
  Download the Scorpion Pack featuring an upgraded Level 5 Suit and three powered up weapons, all decorated in an awesome red Scorpion Skin.
• Dead Space Scorpion Weapon Pack ($2.25)
  Download the Scorpion Weapon Pack featuring a faster death-dealing Plasma Cutter, Line Gun, and Force Gun in awesome red skins.
• Dead Space Speed Kills Pack ($2.25)
  Download the Speed Kills Weapon Pack! Includes faster-firing Force Gun, Line Gun, and Plasma Cutter.
• Dead Space Tank Pack ($3.99)
  Download the Tank Pack featuring an upgraded Level 5 Suit and powered up Flamethrower, Force Gun, and Line Gun, all covered in Unitology script.

Guitar Hero World Tour
For all song credits please visit www.guitarhero.com.

• “Consoler of the Lonely” by The Raconteurs ($1.99)
• “Hold Up” by The Raconteurs ($1.99)
• “Salute Your Solution” by The Raconteurs  ($1.99)
• The Raconteurs Track Pack ($5.49) – Downloadable Track Pack for Guitar Hero World Tour featuring “Consoler of the Lonely”, “Hold Up”, and “Salute Your Solution” by The Raconteurs. Please Note: Many songs are available both as singles and as a part of a Track Pack, so please carefully consider your purchases before downloading.

Karaoke Revolution Presents: American Idol Encore 2
Expand your Karaoke Revolution Presents: American Idol Encore 2 library by purchasing these tracks.

• (I Just) Died In Your Arms ($1.49)
• All You Wanted ($1.49)
• Black Hole Sun ($1.49)
• It’s Not Unusual ($1.49)
• September ($1.49)

Rock Band
Build your Rock Band library by purchasing these song game tracks. For song credits, visitwww.RockBand.com.

• “That’s When I Reach for my Revolver” – Mission of Burma ($1.99)
• “That’s How I Escaped My Certain Fate” – Mission of Burma ($1.99)
• “Mica” – Mission of Burma ($1.99)
• Mission of Burma Pack 01  ($5.49) – this track pack includes all of the above Mission of Burma singles.
• “Police Truck” – Dead Kennedys ($1.99)
• “Holiday in Cambodia” – Dead Kennedys ($1.99)
• “California Über Alles” – Dead Kennedys ($1.99)
• Dead Kennedys Pack 01 ($5.49) – this track pack includes all of the above Dead Kennedys singles.
• “Gone” – Crooked X ($0.99)
• “Swamped” – Lacuna Coil ($1.99)
• “Forever” – In This Moment ($1.99)
• “Closer” – Lacuna Coil ($1.99)
• Century Media Girls of Metal Pack 01 ($5.49) – this track pack includes

Game Demos (free)

MotoGP 08 Demo
MotoGP 08 brings the premiere motorcycling championship to your home console! Speed down 18 official tracks in 15 countries and challenge others in online races, alone or with friends. Featuring easy-to-learn controls, MotoGP 08 is the most accessible motorcycle racing game to date.

Game Videos (free)

MotorStorm Pacific Rift Features and Strategy Trailer

Mortal Kombat vs DC Universe: Kreating the Comic Trailer

Lord of the Rings: Conquest Trailer

NBA 2K9 Momentous #1 Trailer

NBA 2K9 Momentous Trailer 2

Tom Clancy’s EndWar Launch Trailer 

FIFA 09 “In The Game” Part 8 – Online Team Play

Dew Tour: Orlando – Chad Kagy

Dew Tour: Orlando – Adam Jones

Dew Tour: Orlando – From Flow to Pro

Dew Tour: Orlando – BMX Dirt Dew Cup Race

Movie and Blu-ray Disc Trailers

Hancock Trailer

This Christmas Trailer (Blu-ray)

Tenacious D – The Complete Masterworks Trailer

Sara Bareilles – Between The Lines Trailer

Incubus “Look Alive” Trailer

PS3 Themes

NBA 2K9 Theme (free)

Hancock Theme (free)

Timea Mojorova Theme ($1.99)

University of California Theme ($1.99)

Shadowy Graves Theme ($1.49)

Darklight Fractais Theme ($1.49)

Mrs. Claus Theme ($1.49)

GunGirls Theme ($0.99)

Source