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New PS3 and PSP Firmware Details

Over the weekend I received a interesting email from Sony outlining some of the new features to be included in upcoming firmware updates for both the PS3 and PSP. The PS3 v. 2.50 update will enhance voice chat for users of the new PS3 Official Bluetooth headset being released this week (also to be bundled with SOCOM: Confrontation), make the interface for PlayStation Trophies more intuitive, as well as FINALLY allow players to capture in-game screenshots.

On the PSP side of things, v. 5.00 brings with it direct access to the PlayStation store which is actually really exciting. No longer do I have to connect my PSP to a computer or PS3 to spend my hard earned coin. Thank you Sony!

Look for these firmware updates on the very specific date of “this month.”

Posted in News, PSP, PlayStation 3 | 3 Comments »

New DS slimmer, includes camera

File this one under “about stinking time.”

Nintendo has announced that it will be releasing an updated version of the DS, its hand-held system. And this time they’re taking a step in the right direction.

Announced Oct. 2 in Tokyo, the DSi will have a built-in camera and will be able to play music. The dual screens will also be a bit bigger and the body will be slimmer. The upgraded DS will go on sale in Japan Nov. 1 and will cost just under $200. But don’t expect to see the DSi in Canada before Christmas. It’s not scheduled for release here until next year.

Multimedia has always been the DS’s Achilles heel. The PSP has long been superior in media capability, able to play videos and music. Sony’s hand-held is also equipped with a built-in web browser and Skype. Crowding the portable gaming market, the iPod Touch and iPhone now have a slew of interesting games. With the addition of the camera and music player, the DS is beginnning to re-posture itself in the ongoing customer loyalty war between iPod, PSP, Zune and Nintendo

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Bungie keeps achievements up their sleeves

The developer behind the massively successful Halo series has always been good at wooing gamers into their fold and keeping them there. And that hasn’t changed with Halo 3.

To ensure its title stays at the top of Xbox Live’s most played list, Bungie released Title Update 2 Tuesday for Halo 3. The update adds 10 new achievements for a total of 250 points. All can be earned through online multiplayer.

However, leave it to Bungie to keep secrets.

Read the rest »

Posted in Awesome, News, Xbox 360 | No Comments »

Mega Man is Pretty in Pink

If you’ve got 1000 points burning a hole in your Wii, and if you can actually spare the storage space in your “fridge,” you might want to check out Mega Man 9. It’s a new game designed with old school 8-bit sensibilities. Pixel art, chip tunes, and simple controls are used to bring the series back it its roots. In your face, HD enthusiasts!

Of course, the counter argument is that Mega Man 9 is just a lazy attempt to cash in on the mad desire for classic gaming that’s been going strong since the last generation of consoles. How long did this game take to make, a week? Nevertheless, if you fancy yourself as a hardcore 2D gamer and haven’t beaten the game yet, you might want to keep at it. Additional content will be available starting October, and you will be nickel and dimed for it (and you will like it).

Keep those pea shooter fingers in shape!

Posted in Awesome, Awful, News | No Comments »

Buy LEGO Batman, Unless you don’t have a soul

The LEGO series of games has so far included two top-notch franchises: Star Wars and Indiana Jones. As of today, however, gamers can play what is arguably the most hilarious of the series (and yes, I’m saying this because Batman rules). LEGO Batman is apparently out on every system known to man, except the Sega Master System and a small handful of others.

Are you a fan of the LEGO games? Are you a fan of LEGO? Will you be getting LEGO Batman? If so, which version? I’m personally looking forward to finishing it on the Wii, a console I believe suits the mood of the game nicely because it’s fun and doesn’t take itself too seriously.

Posted in Awesome, News | 2 Comments »

Excellent Deal On Xbox 360 This Week

Future Shop has an excellent deal on Xbox 360 this week. You can grab a 60 GB model with Gears of War and Star Wars: The Force Unleashed for $299.99. Not only do you get a pretty cool console, but those are both very enjoyable games.

Hey, and if you’re one of the people who keeps writing us complaining about our public displays of Xbox affection, maybe you can buy one so you can see why we love it so much (seriously, we like all consoles). At $299.99 (a price which includes two games and a giant hard drive) it makes the 360 the cheapest of the current-generation consoles.

Posted in News, Xbox 360 | 5 Comments »

Get a Life With PlayStation

That’s right, the not really all that anticipated “lifestyle” service by Sony has been released to PS3s all over the world.  Those of you with networked PS3s can now get all the news and weather you can handle from some of the largest providers in their respective areas.  News headlines will be delivered by Google News and The Weather Network will be providing you with the updated forecast.

Sony has also promised that Life With PlayStation will “continually deliver a wide variety of interactive content and channels to living rooms through network connected PS3s to further enhance the world of entertainment made possible by PS3,” which actually makes me feel a little better about the introduction to the service. I mean really, Wii introduced console accessible news and weather to gamers from the beginning, so Sony better be working on some other things to enhance the service.

Perhaps the most interesting part of this all is the rolled-in update to Folding@Home, which will apparently perform more advanced simulation of protein fold, as well as introduce a ranking system for users to see exactly where they stand in the fight against cancer.

Posted in News, PlayStation 3 | 1 Comment »

Get in the Hockey Hall of Fame with NHL 2K9

Say there, have you ever wanted to be in the Hockey Hall of Fame but can’t play hockey, or even skate? Well you might be in luck if you can at least play video game hockey. Canadian gamers have been given the chance to be honoured in the 2K Sports NHL 2K9 Zone at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto! By competing in matches over Xbox Live over the next three months, players will vie for their turn in the spotlight.

Here’s how it works – register by downloading the official tournament entry gamer pic from the LIVE Arcade Marketplace. Then, play NHL 2K9 as much as possible starting October 7 because only the top 256 players will be placed into the single-elimination tournament, which starts in November.

From xbox.com:

Participants will have a number of opportunities to get into the Hockey Hall of Fame through three different individual awards designed after their real NHL counterparts including the 2K Sports HHOF Championship Award, 2K Sports All-Around Offense Award, & 2K Sports All-Around Defense Award. All the trophies will live at the Hockey Hall of Fame in the exclusive NHL 2K Sports interactive area, and each winner will have their name engraved on their respective individual trophy, along with the honor of also getting their names on virtual versions of the above trophies in next year’s NHL 2K10.

Yes, looks like there will be an NHL 2K10. They’re saving no characters with that “K” from here till 3K.

Posted in Canada, News, Xbox 360 | 1 Comment »

Resistance 2 Beta: Apply Now!

You read it right, applications are now being accepted for the much anticipated Resistance 2 beta. All you need is your PSN ID, about a minute to answer to a few simple questions, and voila! Head over to the beta sign up page HERE. I am particularly excited about this as I have been enjoying my recently purchased copy of Resistance: Fall of Man at its Greatest Hits price-point of $29.99. I urge anyone with a PS3 that hasn’t checked out Insomniac’s offering to the FPS gods to do so.

Look for more information on Resistance 2, including our initial hands-on impressions (assuming I get accepted) as we edge ever closer to the November 4th release date.

Posted in News, PlayStation 3 | 4 Comments »

PS2 Gets More Cowbell

As you all know by now I’m kind of a Karaoke nut, and especially enjoy Sony’s SingStar series of games (look HERE and HERE to see what I’ve had to say about them in the past).  I was shocked and more than a little pleased when my inbox told me that SingStar Country was going to be released exclusively for the PS2 on October 28, 2008.

Now I’m not the biggest fan of country, but I will admit I’m not completely adverse to the genre.  Regardless, Country music is very singable in general, and I’m looking forward to bolstering my SingStar library of music with another 30 tracks.  Some of the reported artists to make appearances are  Rascal Flatts, Keith Urban, Taylor Swift, Faith Hill, Jessica Simpson, and even American Idol’s Kellie Pickler.

Buried deep within Sony’s press release, I also found it very interesting that another 2 SingStar releases for the PS2 were in the works: SingStar Pop vol. 2 and SingStar Legends.  Legends sounds particularly intriguing as artists such as Tina Turner and Nirvana will have tracks for me to butcher upon release this fall.

Posted in News, PlayStation 2 | 5 Comments »