Weird headline, but it seems that Sony has learned a few things from the Bush Administration about how to handle the press: If you don't like what it's doing, shut it down.

As you probably know from multiple reports, GDC founder Jamil Moledina let forth recently that PS3 owners will be "very happy" after hearing Phil Harrison's next week's conference keynote address.

This started a huge amount of crazy speculation. And why woudn't it? It was tantalizing. It was juicy. What, oh what, could make owners of the most expensive and generally underwhelming console ever made "very happy," short of sending each owner an extra-large pizza and a life's supply of beer?

We all want the PS3 to reach its full potenitality, and this sure sounded like Sony was finally going to pay off on the promises that its new console would rock our worlds!

Kotaku joined in the spec-u-thon, but being a large news site, it had enough mojo to get deeper and find more people to dish a little dirt on what exactly this great news will be. And they got wind of a a "rumor" from an anoymous source that it would be "PlayStation Home," a new graphical interface system.

As a responsible news site, Kotaku contacted Sony to comment on the rumor. That's what you do when you get a rumor. You ask for comment and expect that, at the very least, you get a "no comment."

But Kotaku got more than that. It got war.

In an email to Kotaku, David Karakker, senior director of Sony's corporate communications, wrote that Sony is "very disappointed that after trying to work with you as closely as possible and provide you and your team with access and information, you chose to report on this rumor. ... I can't defend outlets that can't work cooperatively with us."

And since then, according to Kotaku and reports in Joystiq, Sony has essentially frozen out Kotaku. Not just in this matter, but in all matters of news. It won't return Kotaku's phone calls. It won't offer any input or contact with one of the largest and most viewed gaming-news sites in the world.

Apparently, in Sonyworld (tm), "work cooperatively" means "take what we give you, print it, and don't ask questions."

Why is this reminicent of the Bush Adminstration? Because this most recent presidential adminstration has been charged with exactly the same thing for years. Reporters who are doing their job -- reporting news -- but not doing it in exactly the way that the admistration prefers pretty much get nothing from the Press Office. You lose access, and especially in the White House Press Corps, access is your lifeblood.

In fact, it's a pretty good way to control bad press. But it's also a really good way to make whatever entity you are -- be it the White House or an electronics company -- look pretty slimey. The press will distrust the hell out of you and resent the hell out of you, and that only makes the public who reads their articles distrust you, too.

There's been a growing culture of mistrust of and retaliation against those whose jobs it is to give you, the consumer, as much information as possible.

Maybe it's because my wife is a reporter, but since when did reporters who don't regurgitate press releases become the enemy? Since when is it a crime to actually research and try to get a "scoop," and then take the professional, responsible step to follow up to get the true and accurate story? And, worse yet, doesn't Sony's actions send a message to any gaming writer who gets a little dish on the company to not follow through and do the responsible thing: Give the subject a chance to comment?

What does an action like this say to me about Sony? They're not to be trusted. Do you see Steve Jobs freezing out the San Francisco Chronicle or New York Times because they -- accurately -- speculated that the big annoucment at this year's MacWorld was the iPhone?

No. Why? Because it only brought more excitement to the annoucement. When you leak "big news" information, you expect someone is actually going to try to figure out what the big news is.

If you don't want reporters asking questions, then keep your damn mouth shut.

Why is Sony being such dickheads? Because Sony likes complete and utter control. Rather than just offer a "no comment" and move on, Sony decided to retaliate against Kotaku for doing its job.

And what does it say about Sony? It says that it will only work with people who tow the party line and make no waves. So, pretty much, everything Sony says and anything Sony allows to be printed can be considered bullshit. Because if they won't talk to reporters who are being responsible and doing their jobs, then you have to ask yourself what kind of ass-kissing brown-nose do you have to be to get Sony to talk to you.

But beyond that, it also shows how amazing stupid Sony's public-relations department is. Much excitement churned when "big news" was rumored to be coming out at Phil's keynote. Now, that fun has been killed, or at least tinged with a edge of distaste. And suspicion.

Sony, how can we trust that your big, great, new feature is any good when you pretty much kill off anyone who commits the grevious crime of speculating and trying to confirm a "rumor."

So, nice job, Sony. You managed to take something I for one was looking forward to at this year's GDC and fuck it up.

You might want to consider the pizza/beer idea, because short of that, your big news won't be as earth-shattering now as it could have been if you hadn't been such assholes.

Giving us the final proof that videogaming is truly a deep, scary and toy-obsessed hobby, Konami have released some details of japanese toy company Medicom's forthcoming Solid Snake toy. And my word is it just a little too odd.

What scares me more than the grotesquely muscly physique is the mustache.
It haunts my dreams, with it's colourless, slug-like glory

So much stuff.

Weeks like this, the hardest part isn't finding the news, it's elevating the cool from the merely exciting.  Major announcements left and right, gargantuan displays of corporate might, spectacular screwups.

More after the break...

Continue reading "Josh Talks The News"

I'm beggining to become worried about Capcom. More and more this year, they have made choices which benefit their financial branch, and not their We will stay in the corner whilst you pummel us with another Street Fighter remake crowd. First Clover, creator of Capcom gems such as Viewtiful Joe and Okami, goes under the unscrupulous knife of fiscal surgery, now the games we know and love are preparing for ritual abuse at the hands of a film studio. Notably Sony Pictures. Whose second most popular franchise is the critically derided Resident Evil. Which, coincidentally, is a Capcom game.

The Cinematical article, while confusing in it's treating of Hollywood as some mythical, all-encompassing Film God ("Capcom has also hired a full-time liaison who will work closely with Hollywood and seek to develop as many ways to license, promote and exploit Capcom titles as possible" - Hollywood, Norse God of Cellulite), does lay some real information down. For instance, somebody liked the Resi films.

Rumoured are film translations of Devil May Cry, Dead Rising, Lost Planet (odd, considering it has been around for, ooh, 2 months?), and Onimusha. Intresting here, though, is not the game, but the film. These will be the first films produced by the company who designed the games (albeit in the loosest possible definition). it does lend some credibility to the upcoming Street Fighter film. Not starring a Van Damme man. Thank FSM.

Last night Sony released firmware update 1.31, which introduces support for PS2 games that utilized the PS2 hard drive (namely, Final Fantasy 11 and Nobunaga's Ambition). 

No doubt, this is a welcome relief for the gamers who bought Square's Final Fantasy MMO and still actually play.

Less appreciated, though, is dramatic evidence that suggests the PS3 is downgrading (or possibly over-upgrading to the point of distortion) the graphics of PS2 games compared to the original, with notable jaggies and artifacts in most games.

Sony has released no word on what it plans to do regarding this issue.

In the red corner, wearing aquamarine and white, the Wii.

In the blue corner, wearing black and.. uh, sometimes silver or occasionally white... and horfing down fistfulls of sour grapes, the PS3.

Actually, the fight is already over. Gaming site Spong noted this afternoon that the Wii has officially become the UK's fastest selling gaming console in history, with 100,000 units finding new homes over launch weekend.

This beats out the previous record holder, Microsoft, which sold 70,000 XBox 360 in its debut last year. And Sony with the amazing, phenominal, earth-shattering, mind-blowing, all-powerful PS3?

(Cue: The sound of crickets)

But why is this fight between Wii and the PS3?

Because despite the fact that the Wii is handing Sony a can of retail whoop-ass by selling nearly two times as many consoles in Europe than Sony, that Wiis are actually increasing in price on EBay, and that some PS3 owners on Craigslist saying they'll gladly trade their unopened PS3s for Wiis, Sony execs say they're not worried about Nintendo.

Why? Because the Wii -- according to Sony spokesman Dave Karraker -- is not a serious gaming console.

"We feel very confident that the PlayStation fan is going to wait until they can get a PlayStation 3...If they do pick up a Wii, it's as more of a novelty."

Wow. Does Sony provide the wheelbarrows necessary for its spokespeople to carry around their massive balls or do they have to buy their own?

Normally, if a huge, multi-national electronics firm offered such a passive-agressive statement about a smaller competing firm, I might consider it a sign of confidence.

But fact is -- Sony's getting its ass handed to them by this "novelty." Which means that isn't confidence that's talking: It's either abject fear or supreme ignorance.

Is Sony trying to act like the fat chick in that Apple spoof video or is it just a weird coincidence?

I'm not sure.

What do you think?

Bloomberg is reporting of some new developments within the house that Sony built.

---

Nov. 30 (Bloomberg) -- Ken Kutaragi, the developer of Sony Corp.'s PlayStation game console, stepped aside from day-to-day management of the unit after production delays forced the company to slash shipment targets.

Kaz Hirai, head of the U.S. game division, will take over as president of Sony Computer Entertainment, the Tokyo-based company said in a statement today. Kutaragi, 56, will become chairman of the unit. Jack Tretton, now co-chief operating officer of the U.S. division, will replace Hirai.

Source (Bloomberg)

---

I would question promoting Jack Tretton (everybody remember his explanation of the creepy-crying-baby-doll-PS3-ad?) to anything beyond marketing lackey. However, if this means that we'll hear either less arrogant bullshit out of Sony -- or less in general (and therefore less bullshit) -- I'm all for it.

Play Beyond. Very probably a tagline that Sony will take to the grave and defend it up until the final moments. We've seen Riiiidge Racer come and go, 4D Gaming has left the building, and This Is Living is just a statement easily forgotten (to make it truthful, In Abject Poverty! could be added). Play Beyond, though, lives on. In your feet.

Nike, in its constant and sometimes odd determination to put is brand on your feet, has released a Playstation Shoe. According to PS3 Fanboy, bastion of unbiased PS3 news, the shoe features an awesome hologram "swoosh," if only awesome due to its rarity -- only 24 pairs are in existance (a substantial amount more than PS3s in Europe).

The shoes also feature the PS3 launch date slapped on the back and mechanical drawings of the PS3 inside the shoe. The part of the shoe that dissuades me from purchase (aside from its price -- $3,000 is a little steep for shoes) is the patent leather, which mimics the heat sinks on the PS3. Yes, leather mimicing a computer component. Smart Leather. My only fear is when this smart leather one day rises up against its stinky-footed master, automagically tying the shoelaces together, like in a Tex Avery cartoon.

I almost forgot to mention: Please do put a bid in. According to the auction site, all of the proceeds from the auction will go to a charity. Remember, theses are the most awesomest shoes of all time!

Auction HERE

Word of this comes from M3mnoch over at Addicting Entertainment, (a great place to find unconventional news and commentary).

He spotted an interesting trend on the official PS3 forums that was then backed up by the (I assume) EULA. Essentially it goes like this

While on the PlayStation3 forum, please keep all content related to the Playstation 3, its games and accessories, thanks.

Comparison threads about other consoles and their contents vs. PS3 aren't permitted on this board.

Thats right, every "comparison thread" (thread that mentions one of the other consoles somewhere in it) is being promptly deleted.

I haven't noticed this with Nintendo or Microsoft. Iis this a common practice? If so, what's up with that?

As many of you may already know, version 3 of the PSP's crippling (you can't play Doom on 2.8!) firmware has been awaiting release for quite a while now. PSP fanboys all over the world have been crying out for support of the (unreleased) camera and (just released, but PS3 necessary) PS1 games, as well as the (unreleased) GPS system.
It does, however, offer a much needed link up between the PSP and PS3, so now they can play nicely together just as Sony promised.
Joystiq has the full list of improvements, and I'll repeat it after the break.

Continue reading "PSP v3 Making Rounds"

After the death of Lik-Sang, the import site that had Sony worried about safety, it appears that "grey importing" is still alive and kicking off the faces of unwitting consumers.

I was coming home from Manchester earlier tonight, and on the way home I passed a billboard advetising the PS3. It was very, very poorly done. It was either the work of a monkey with a PS3 picture, some glue, and enough money to begin advertising, or it was shady goings-on. I'm not the only person to see this, though.

Continue reading "Why Lik-Sang Should Live"

With precious few hours left for people to get their PS3s (precious many months for myself), SCEA is trying their little hearts out to make you feel. Feel anything at all, rather than the numb rage that many of us have been feeling in the recent months.
Its latest advertising stunt involves allowing you to watch a crying baby, and speaking to NewsWeek, senior VP of marketing at SCEA, Peter Dille, feels that whatever you feel, "those answers are true, if that's what it means to you." What?
Is he trying to say that what I feel about a baby, desperately in need of something, is at all similar to what I feel about the PS3? If I feel that the baby needs care and attention, it doesn't necessarily mean I want to give a PS3 a home. Man alive, PS3s are more expensive than children!
Mr. Dille goes on to criticize the blogging community surrounding the Xbox 360 (at least there is one), as well as the drip-feeding of demos to gold members and then silver members. They can start complaining when they stop drip-feeding Europeans PS3s.

Via QJ.net

Whoops! Sony releases PS3 firmware 1.10 a day after launch to enable its own online service, which was promised to users on day one. But more goodies do appear to be in store.

More after the jump...

Continue reading "Sony issues PS3 firmware update on Day 1 to enable launch promises, homebrew development."

When the week started, Sony was ever so slowly beginning to ramp up interst in its Playstation 2 launch less than a month away from launch.  "Certainly," one could reasonably begin to expect, "certainly this marks a turnaround, and we'll encounter a reinvigorated Sony showing us the best PS3 launch info we've seen yet."

Of course, that fails to take into account that Sony and logic seem to have a tenuous relationship at the best of times.

More after the jump.

Continue reading "Sony has a bad week."

When the suits say Easter, they mean Easter.
As many of you already know, the PS3 is said to arrive in Europe, the biggest videogaming market in the world, next year. After the furore over eBay sales of little printed receipts, you'd have thought Sony would know better to deprive people of the things they most desire - but oh no.
The haven of people like me has, for the past few years, been Lik-Sang, a "grey import" site which allows people to import their videogaming wares from abroad, usually Japan. I was one of the lucky ones who got a few 360 games (region free of course) for about £20. It won't be so for the PS3. Sony has explicitly banned all "grey importing" of Sony hardware into Europe. Europe only. Nowhere is it mentioned that you can't import into the US. Hell, you can send it to an island in the south pacific, but god forbid we in Europe get one!

Continue reading "PS3 to Europe - We meant what we said"

Ted Price, President and CEO of Insomniac Games, has revealed several interesting tidbits about Resistance: Fall of Man, the PlayStation 3's flagship launch title, on his IGN blog. Here are some of the highlights:

- Disc size has moved from over 20 to just over 16 gb.
- The game will in fact not be in 1080p, but will be displayed at 720p instead.
- 200 people in a clan (sweet).
- Games will be hosted on Sony servers.
- The "buddy" list will be specific to Resistance.
- Friendly fire is disabled in ranked games. What!?

Hello again, Video-Gaming enthusiasts!  George here with yet another upbeat nugget of Sony goodness as we all tremble with excitement for the imminent release of the future of gaming, the Playstation Three.

In a shockingly clever move, Warner Home Video last month dropped the price of their UMD movies in Japan to 980 yen (approx $8.50), resulting in a staggering 900% increase over the previous month’s sales.  That’s right, they moved ten times as many UMD movies after this price cut. 

And lo, another triumph for the UMD format has graced us!  As I have only my mortal tears to protect me from its radiance, I must sadly avert my gaze somewhat from this divine word.  With this mathematical juggernaut of sales supporting this medium, surely the golden age we Sony fans have long envisioned is finally upon us.

In this neo-utopia of high-mobility next-generation data formats, owners of less expensive, more compatible formats will be forced into a coliseum where, in the vein of Hades’ own Cerberus, a three-headed Kaz Hirai will viciously sodomize them with Betamax cassettes in an inexplicable melee that can only be loosely described as some kind of bloodthirsty Macarena.  

Continue reading "Japan UMD Sales Increase Tenfold! Truly, Everything is Coming Up Sony"

UPDATE:
it seems as though the pictures given by gearlog were indeed made to lead people into believing the wrong thing. there is no proof that Sony wasn't using a Blu-Ray disc, though there was no concrete proof that they were, either. it still stands, however, that Sony was using a bootlegged copy of their own movie, and to that I give a big "whiskey tango foxtrot?!?!"

It seems as though Gearlog discovered that Sony can't even get its hands on its own BRDs lately, as they had to fake the Blu-Ray playback ability of their latest Vaio laptop - touted as being the first with built-in Blu-Ray player - by using a DVD+R of HD content from House of Flying Daggers instead of the actual BRD. It's fairly well known that the PS3 was pushed back because of this new technology having to be integrated, but this story leaves one to wonder if Sony can still make the holiday rush this year when they can't even get a BRD working in a laptop now. Things seem even more grim for Sony according to that picture, seeing as how Sony can't/doesn't even use their own blank media ;-D

-Matt

Hey all,
     Just thought I would give you all a run down of the time I got to spend with Capcom's latest "artsy" project, "Okami".
I was surprised Okami didn't have more of a spotlight at E3 considering how close to release it is and how truly stunning it looks.

So if you don't know, you soon will.
follow me after the jump to find out more!

Continue reading "Okami Biznatch!"

After a three-hour car ride, I’m finally home after my harrowing experience at E3. Xbox 360 continued a strong presence, Playstation 3 made fanboys cry in a bad way while Nintendo Wii made fanboys cry in a good way. After having a day to organize my thoughts, I’d like to share my personal highlights from the show floor, things that pleasantly surprised me and of course my disappointments.

 

Continue reading "Reflection"

If you cannot handle Sony being bashed, don't follow the jump. If you cannot handle Nintendo recieving some criticism, go away. If you cannot handle Microsoft... umm... eh... being complimented? This is going to be extremely opinionated and in no way represents the opinions of the GamerAndy team... except I think most would agree with me... Yeah, just follow the jump.

Continue reading "The Xbot Speaks Out #1: E3"

Here it comes... Outward linkage...

Look to this post later on today for the list of XBLM's new E3 content.

First: Use your wireless controller on your Windows PC!
Second: 360's Memory Unit: From 64mb to 256mb? Yay!
Third: The Microsoft Wii Division: Moore and Nelson lead.
Fourth: Multiple downloads for Xbox Live at the same time! Finally...
Fifth: Microsoft gives IGN another console comparison with latest stats.
Sixth: Rockstar Vienna, responsible for Rockstar ports, shut down.
Seventh: Wii WiFi to stick to Friend Codes.
Eight: Wii peripherals, they look good...
Ninth: Kotaku makes Miyamoto justify the "Wii" name in 15 seconds!
Tenth: eBayer selling a PlayStation 3 for $2,000... Woo!
Eleventh: Kotaku puts Miyamoto in a torture chamber and gets results.
Twelfth: Miyamoto says maybe to Super Mario Bros. Galaxy as a launch title.
Thirteenth: Rainbow Six: Vegas E3 Demo footage. Amazing.
Fourteenth: Full Auto 2 E3 gameplay footage.
Fifteenth: Super Mario Galaxy E3 gameplay footage.
Sixteenth: Lost Planet E3 trailer: The true beginning to next generation. I promise.
Seventeenth: MGS4 + 360? Maybe.
Eighteenth: Gates' daughter will test Viva Pinata!
Nineteenth: Rumors say EGM says Nintendo Wii is $249!
Twentieth: Frame City Killer, cancelled! Noooo! Unnamed RPG taking its place.
Twenty-first: Incognito had 10 days, count 'em: 10, to make Warhawk tilt-compatible.
Twenty-second: Lovely Heavenly Sword footage.
Twenty-third: Robin Williams makes a Spore creature that can slap its own... well, you'll see.

Also read on for some interesting information about upcoming editorials about E3!

Full stories about everything and anything ahead...

Continue reading "Day 5: Tons of Stuff!"

Edie, here, with my first online dispatch from the craziness that is known as e3.

And the title here? No, it's not a game, and yet it has been pretty much the most exciting thing I've encountered at e3 so far.

Yes, the morgue -- as in, I see dead people.

John and I have spent the morning in the emergency room at Kaiser Hollywood due to an infection in his throat that erupted at 6:30 a.m. this morning. I was his nursemaid so we could get him quickly discharged and registered at the convention center.

So, pretty much I've missed every press conference but the cluster-fart that was Sony's last night.

Everything else about Nintendo and Microsoft I've had to catch via phone calls made in hospital hallways.

Thank gawd we have Hawkes, Kyle and Sherveen who have access to internet and live-streaming video until the event officially gets underway.

But so far, here's my take on what's been said so far:

Continue reading "Booth 1206: The Local Morgue"

Hey everybody, Sherveen here... coming to you from a place that is totally not E3... Time to crank out the roundup machine in today's special edition of GNR: E3 edition! It's going to be a bit short, just because in all the Sony mess I lost all the links I had packed up for a huge missed-E3-news roundup. Here it comes...

Hate to link outwards for E3, but ya gotta do what ya gotta do...

First: Joystiq has hands-on with the PlayStation 3, my impressions of their impressions...
Second: For those who haven't seen it yet, the new games interface that Sony has shown...
Third: Exclusive E3 Rainbow Six: Vegas trailer over at TeamXbox.
[UPDATE]: Exclusive E3 Xbox 360 Rainbow Six: Vegas gameplay at IGN!
Fourth: A bit old, not E3, but still looks kind of cool. Call of Duty 3 trailer.
Fifth: Nintendo says something or another about the PS3 controller.
[Two (1 and 2) small updates about the PS3...]: Ken says that the PS3 is "Too Cheap", and GameSpot points out, Sony did not steal from Nintendo! They stole from Microsoft! Full stories after the jump...

But wait, that isn't all... after the jump, full stories as well as what to expect from Microsoft and Nintendo at today's conferences!

Continue reading "Day 2: What we missed for Day 1..."

Grain of salt folks, grain of salt.  Via Gaming Age:

"Today, a leaked release list from Bethesda revealed the existence of Oblivion for PS3 and PSP. The Xbox 360 exclusive RPG is reportedly slated for a port and a portable version, both due on November 6, 2006. No details on either version are available now, but it leaves the question of whether or not either of the ports will have microtransactions."

The first big question is, Oblivion on the PSP how?  Obviously though, it wouldn't be a straight port of the game, it would be a dumbed down version with its own engine.  It seems like there may be a trend of PS3/PSP games with special features if you have both versions.  Way to suck your money huh?  All in all, if both games are fun, then it's worth it.  To me, it seems like they 'could' do something worthwhile on the PSP, but will they put forth the effort?

Another question that the Gaming Age post asks is if it will have microtransactions.  If Oblivion does in fact come out for the PS3 and PSP, I can guarantee it will have microtransactions.  Why?  Because Sony is pushing their XBL-esque download service, and why not for a game with already successful downloads?  Guess we'll find out in just less than two weeks when E3 begins.

Adios Esposito!

That's right folks, you can chat it up on AIM with your PSP thanks to www.aimonpsp.com. Sure, it takes quite a long time to type due to the absence of a keyboard, but its still pretty darn neat if you ask me. Don't use it to carry out long conversations (you'll be typing for a very long time my friend), but if you're just saying "hi" or seeing what someone is up to, then this is for you. It's a beta version, so it could bug out on you, but I have yet to experience this.

Adios Esposito!

Merrill Lynch reported recently that the PS3 could be delayed to 2007 due to the system specs not being finalized, and it being a difficult piece of hardware to manufacture. Sony then deined these statements, saying they are still on track for a spring launch.

I personally think they still have a chance to launch in Japan in the spring (spring ends on June 21 folks, so you can't assume that if they aren't able to ship by May, it is impossible to ship in spring). Any other region, however, most likely won't see a PS3 in their homes until this fall or later...

Reports lately are apparently leaning towards a spring 2007 release for Europe. Is Sony stupid enough to ignore one of their most important markets? I once met a person from London, and he spoke about how much the English like Playstation. I don't know if its the same way throughout all of Europe, but Sony seems to be putting off too large of a chunk of potential customers if their launch doesn't fabricate until 2007.

Take the jump for the whole story.

Continue reading "Could the PS3 be delayed? Is Sony scared of Microsoft?"

Hello everyone, time to shed some knowledge.

Well, so far this week we've definitely been getting our hands on some PS3 info, although not much is really that significant. We've still got a couple days until my source's time frame for a "surprise from Sony" expires. Maybe what he was speaking of has already happened, could it be one of these?

Not a Good Time to start Marketing?

Tetsuhiko Yasuda, the Managing director of Sony Computer Entertainment Asia, said this to reporters:

"We want to be completely prepared when we bring PlayStation 3 to the marketplace," Yasuda said. "Our No. 1 competition is not other companies but counterfeiters. We want to work with governments to stop this."

So, they are basically saying, "bah, they've waited this long, what's another month?" You know what I have to say about that? Screw you Sony; give us something to chew on you dopes.

Phil Harrison to talk PS3 at GDC

Phil will be talking at the Game Developer Conference about the PS3, not the PS2 or PSP. GDC is being held at the San Jose Convention Center. It starts on March 20, and ends the 24. Will our own Andy be able to catch his speech on March 22 at 10:30 a.m.? Sure hope so :)

Recently an article was posted that dubbed Playstation 3's online service "HUB". Basically, its the same thing that was talked about in the PSM article, except it made a mention (read: rumor) that the PS3 will be released in Japan and the United States this September. Not too out of reach really, seems logical.

That's about it for now; time for some rest before the storm of events this coming months hold.

Adios Esposito!

Hello everyone, time to shed some knowledge.

For a while there we were getting nervous as to whether the PS3 would come out in 2006 or not. With very little news to cover since the Tokyo Game Show, we've been a little dry with the PS3 info. The month of February has come, and the info is finally starting to peek its proverbial head out of the womb.

First, we have WA! PS3 Online. What's that you may be asking? It's not perfectly clear due to it being in either Japanese or Korean, but I've got a good idea. A Korean online development team is working with SCE World Wide Studios to bring online games to the PS3.

Whether this means they will develop full on games, or help Sony with the PS3's actual online service is yet to be determined. Why WA! you ask? In Japanese, "wa" means "harmony." So, thus it translates to Harmony PS3 Online. I can see their adverts now: "Live in Your World, Play in Harmony."

Next up, we have some news on the Cell processor (for those who have been living under a rock, that's the PS3's processor). Coming from the senior Vice President of IBM's Systems and Technology Group, the Cell has had the best chip yield of any new processor they've ever created. What this means? A good sign as to the number of PS3's we'll see at launch. However, there is always a chance of bugs, especially with new electronics, and the PS3 is made of a plethora of components. I'd like to know what their production numbers are on the Blu-ray drive; this is another new and important component in the PS3.

More after the jump

Continue reading "Sony News: 02/9/2006"

Hi folks, Cooper Hawkes here with some news from Pro-g.Co.uk, via Joystiq.com:

Sony Computer Entertainment acquires Guerrilla Games

Guerrilla Games, a developer based in Amsterdam, is the award winning studio behind Killzone on the PlayStation 2, a game which has shipped around 2 million copies worldwide. The studio is currently working on a new Killzone title the PlayStation 3, which has already received much attention following the breathtaking presentation of the game at E3 2005. A new Killzone title is also in development for the PSP.

Sony's acquisition of the development studio was on the cards after Guerrilla signed an exclusive development agreement with Sony Computer Entertainment Europe in March 2004. Today's announcement is said to be "a strategic move to secure long term excellence in game development for current and future PlayStation platforms."

Continue reading "Sony Computer Entertainment acquires Guerrilla Games"

Hi folks, Cooper Hawkes here with Sony news for Wednesday, December 1st, 2005.

Normally I would itemize the news, but I'm gong to do something a bit different. PlayStation news has been, for lack of a better word, scarce. There are many rumors for why they are keeping quiet, but the biggest, (and probably the most accurate) is that because of the Rootkit fiasco, Sony is trying to keep a low profile.

Continue reading "Sony News: 12/01/2005"