Sony Store Sexified!

Sony have finally unveiled the first OFFICIAL shots of what the new PSN store will look like when it is launched mid April.

"This April, PLAYSTATIONStore, the online content store on PLAYSTATION Network, is getting a whole new look and feel - and it's in response to feedback from the millions of PSN registrants in the PAL region. The revamp comes in response to a survey last year which showed that many PLAYSTATION Store users wanted a better interface and easier navigation. The new design will deliver a hugely improved navigation system, much greater scope for categorisation and a dynamic new user interface".

Unfortunately, between now and its launch there will be no further updates or additions content wise to the store, not that anyone with a European account isn't already used to this.

"Content will be suspended for two weeks while the improvements are carried out but users can look forward to a special update in mid-April.

There will be no weekly content updates between now and the re-launch, although users can still download content from the back catalogue, such as Warhawk and Gran Turismo 5 Prologue. The PLAYSTATION Store revamp will not affect PLAYSTATION Network accounts or the virtual wallet system".

Several screenshots (below) have also been released. Whilst sticking to the current "Blue" theme the store does look easier to navigate, content is currently all over the place on the PSN store so hopefully that disorganisation will be a thing of the past, now if sony could speed the download speeds up on the store then Sony could have a real contender to compete against Microsoft's Xbox Live Marketplace

Source: CVG

Wii bomber-man

We've all heard of Wii control gimmicks but this one is surely the winner. It has emerged that the United States military has adapted the motion-sensitive Wii Remotes to operate bomb-defusing robots in war-zone situations, talk about needing a steady hand.

"The Packbot, which looks a lot like Johnny-5 in Short Circuit and is made by iRobot in Burlington, Massachusetts, disposes of bombs, finds explosives and locates landmines for soldiers in the field.

It's also controlled by the Wii Remote. "Wiimotes are more instinctive, allowing users to focus on data processing,".

Here's hoping that the controls actually work, unlike those for a few Wii games out there.

Source: CVG

Blu ray

Sony have confirmed that the firmware update 2.20 will release in March, which will upgrade the ps3's Blu Ray movie playback to the new 2.0 standard.

So what ? .... Well here's what it offers:

"BD-Live, which adds interactive features such as downloadable video content, ringtones, games and more to Blu-ray film discs.

The first films with BD-Live features are scheduled for release next month. BD-Live Titles apparently give you access to "a variety of downloadable content, including bonus scenes, shorts, trailers, subtitles, ringtones that can be sent to mobile phones, images, and more."

Sony says you can also look forward to playing "interactive movie-based games [that] can pit players who are sitting in the same room, or are across the world and online, against each other."

The update will also add the ability to easily transfer music and photo media to be passed directly back and forth between the PS3 and PSP.

Here's a checklist of other features to be added in firmware 2.20:

• "Resume play" will enable PS3 to start playing a BD and DVD video at the point it was stopped, even if the disc had been removed.
  
  
• "Audio Output Device" will be a new Remote Play setting, enabling PSP to serve as a remote control for music played through PS3.
  
  
• PS3's Internet browser will be enhanced: Video files directly linked from a Web page will be able to be streamed, and the browser's view speed will be improved.
  
  
• DivX and WMV format videos that are larger than 2GB will be playable.
  
  
• "Mosquito Noise Reduction" will be added as an AV setting in the control panel of the DVD/BD player for improved movie playback".

Although this may not be Game related it does sound like it could have some serious advantages in the long run, just as long as we don't have to update it every other week.

Source: CVG

Halo DLC info

Bungie has revealed that one of the new maps featured in the "Legendary map pack" (expected to release next month for 800 ms points) will be based on the classic map "sidewinder" from Halo: Combat Evolved.

"Numerous changes have been made, including the removal of the back infantry hallways and the addition of vehicles from Halo 3, but the screenshots show the arena takes more than a fistful of inspiration from the original".

Speaking in an interview on Bungie's website, designer Niles Sankey stated why the company decided to recreate this particular map:

"Two reasons: Sidewinder is one the most requested remakes and we also needed another big vehicle map. And maybe this isn't the only classic we're remaking. There's always hope for said Internet Halo fan."

This news should excite fans everywhere, with Halo 3 being one of the Biggest online games on any games console this will surely create a storm amongst gamers worldwide. The only question left for gamers to answer is whether they will pay the 800 points to have the maps on launch or wait a few months and get them for free.

Source: CVG

F1 ferrari in GT5 prologue

It has been confirmed that the Ferrari Formula 1 car that guided Kimi Raikkonen to Championship success last year will appear in the PAL version of Gran Tourismo 5 Prologue.

"The Scuderia Ferrari F2007 will appear in the Ferrari dealership in the game for two million game credits and the first official shots of it in action are below.

If you're thinking that using an F1 car in a race against normal cars is outright cheating, you'd be right - it's so fast Sony dubs it "God Mode within Gran Turismo".

Hopefully this car will be limited to F1 races only as it will destroy just about any other car in the game.

Source: CVG

Still playing Forza 2? Have some DLC

Microsoft have announced that some new Downloadable Content will appear for Forza 2 this week, for the price of 400 ms points (about £3.00).

The new pack will feature 13 new motors including Ferraris and Lamborghini's, although im sure many fans of the game would agree that a few more tracks wouldn't have gone a miss either.

"Turn 10 will also be taking to the Xbox Live track this weekend, with lots of lovely racing wheels and signed games up for grabs. So, if you're not in a beer garden somewhere drinking your weight in cider, it might be a nice way to spend your four-day weekend".

Source: CVG

Xbox marketplace bursting at the seams with new content.

Considering that the most prolific thing rolling around the PSN store is the virtual tumbleweed you would be forgiven for thinking that Microsoft would be inclined to slow down the Xbox Marketplace a bit. Clearly this isn’t the case with this week’s rather large update showing Sony what a decent online store needs (Content).

The update sees the release of 5 new games (see below) as well as the news that both Doom and Assault heroes will be added to the Bargain bin section of the store, priced at a wallet pleasing 400n points apiece.

The 5 games mentioned set for release this week are:

"Rocky and Bullwinkle (Zen Studios)Based on the highly popular US cartoon series of the same name, Rocky and Bullwinkle on Xbox LIVE Arcade is a fast and fun party experience packed with over 100 micro-games and decked out in authentic retro art style. Plus, players with an Xbox LIVE Vision camera can control 25 of these games using fun gestures.

Shotest Shogi (AI Factory and Rubicon Development) Experience a new kind of shogi, Japan's top board game, which encourages complex tactical play and strategic sacrifices. Set in an elegant Japanese room, this beautifully rendered game features 16 challenging artificial intelligence opponents as well as an online multiplayer mode. For beginners, "Shotest Shogi" on Xbox LIVE Arcade also offers an advanced tutorial that guides and tests players as they progress through the game.

TiQal" (Slapdash Games) An addictive new puzzler, TiQal takes players on an epic journey to save an ancient Mayan village. Players demolish enemy block walls by matching squares of the same colour and building them up to unleash massive combo points and mind-blowing power-ups. Partner with a friend over local or Xbox LIVE* co-op play to rescue the village, while enjoying sumptuous graphics, exciting sound effects and an awe-inspiring musical score.

Wits & Wagers (Hidden Path Entertainment) Party and trivia fun! Even if trivia isn't your thing, the first trivia and party game to hit Xbox LIVE Arcade is one in which players can win by making educated guesses, playing the odds or just knowing the interests of other players, whether they are local or online. Break out the Big Button Pad controllers or play couch vs. couch on Xbox LIVE for a trivia party extravaganza.

Wolf of the Battlefield: Commando 3 (Capcom) Xbox LIVE Arcade's Wolf of the Battlefield: Commando 3 revives one of the most popular arcade shooters with an all-new adventure. Battle solo or recruit two other specialised commandos to conquer the evil tyrant, General Ratiev. Players can play as Codename Wolf, Coyote or Fox to take on waves of soldiers, rescue POWs and blow up armoured vehicles through a variety of dangerous battlefields".

Source: CVG

Xbox 360 hits 1000 games

Microsoft is clearly confident that a large variety of games is the way to beat the competition, after all it worked for the ps2. According to European Xbox VP Chris Lewis, the Xbox 360 will have over 1000 games available by this summer (that is of course including XBLA games).

"We'll have north of 1,000 games on 360 by the summer, across Live and boxed product," Lewis said. "Titles such as our sports games, Scene It! and Guitar Hero - which has become a preferential experience on Xbox 360 - has already proved that, and we have lot more coming in that space this year.
"The number of people that have signed up to the Live service so far is testament to the fact that there are a broad spectrum of consumers enjoying the service," he added.

"That can only grow as we expand the likes of Live Arcade and Live Video Store. We're listening hard to what casual consumers want as you see us release more and more content that appeals to a broad audience."

Microsoft is proving to everyone that you can have both quality and quantity.

Source: CVG

Motorstorm 2

Sony have finally announced Motor storm 2, the sequel to what they believe is the biggest selling PS3 game to date. Little has been said about the new game, however they seem to have replaced the Desert setting of the last game with a Jungle experience for the sequel, as can be seen in the screen shot attached, we should be able to expect blisteringly fast races with a lot of twisted metal on the track. The game will also include:

Via , the PlayStation Network up to 16 players can race head-to-head and you can even go for it in a new four-player split-screen mode. You can thank 'feedback' for that option, we reckon.

All vehicle classes from the first game are back (ATVs, rally cars, buggies, motorbikes, race trucks, mudpluggers and big rigs) as well as monster trucks.

The game has been tipped for an Autumn release date, although no exact date has been announced.

You can check the trailer out here for a preview of things to come.

Source: CVG

GT5 dated.

Gran Tourismo 5 Prologue has been confirmed for a UK release date of March 27th, a whole 3 weeks before the US release date. March 27th will see a downloadable version released on PSN and the Blu Ray disk version will release on the 28th. Both the download and disk versions are priced at £24.99, although as you can pre-order from play, Amazon, game and gameplay for £17.99 the PSN version is looking a tad expensive.

"In case you missed the good news last week, the Euro version of GT5P will have heaps of content not in the Japanese version, including new modes, 30 more cars, another track and tons of other stuff.

As well as that, you will also be able to buy the game with a PS3 in a new hardware bundle that packs a 40GB console with the Blu-ray disc for £299 on March 28".

GT5 prologue is the first game in what looks like a very prosperous couple of months for ps3 owners, with GTA4, MGS4, Rainbow 6 Vegas 2 and several others launching soon peoples wallets around the country will be left very light indeed.

Source: CVG

Xbox 360 Price droped in Europe

After growing speculation, Europe has received a price drop on all Xbox 360 packages. The financial times in Germany reported that the Europe price drop would look like this:

The Xbox 360 Arcade will be slashed 80 Euros to 199.99 (£150!) and the Core console will be reduced to 299.99 Euros (£230), reports the FT.

The Wii currently retails (we say retail - eBay prices are a bit more unreasonable) for 250 Euros in Europe - 50 Euros more than the Xbox 360 Arcade pack, if these price slash details are indeed accurate.

According to the FT, the price cut will come into effect across Europe today.

CVG have then gone on to report that Amazon.co.uk have altered their prices of Xbox 360 packages accordingly, delivering the Core pack at £149.99, Premiums £189.99 and Elites £249.99. This puts Microsoft in direct competition (price wise) with the Wii and furthers the gap between itself and the PS3. Whether this has anything to do with the imminent release of GTA4 or the cancellation of HD DVD has not been clarified, all we know is that the 360 is cheaper now than it was yesterday, which is great news for all.

Source: CVG

The first proper screens from the new Alien game; "Aliens: Colonial Marines" have been released. If it looks this good in game then we are surely all in for a might treat.

"The Aliens look awesome, with that Doom III-like slimy sheen, and in one screen you can see the player using a motion tracker while two other marines search the dark, moody corridors ahead with their flashlights. It looks tense.

You also see them barricading doors, and hiding in air vents from roaming aliens, which suggest the game will stick faithfully to the film's notion of the aliens being a major threat that should be avoided (as oppose to giving you a big and sending you into hives like Rambo)."

Source: CVG