Gizmodo: PS3

Lightning Review: Caps4Stix Thumstick Covers

Mark Wilson — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 17:00:00 EDT

The Gadget: Caps4Stix rubber thumbstick covers for Xbox 360 and PS3. They're meant to add more grip for better precision and control.

The Price: About $2 per pair.

The Verdict: Pretty good! I usually hate this rubbery add-on stuff that fattens up a sleekly designed gadget, but I have to admit, playing both the PS3 and Xbox 360 felt better with the caps than without. The texture isn't just more sticky, it also has a few nubs that support your thumbs as they push the sticks farther off center. (In picture above, left stick is capped, right is normal.) And the covers don't add too much bulk, either, even though the first few minutes of testing were definitely a strange sensation.

So do I play better with the Caps4Stix? No clue. But they aren't just a solution to a problem that doesn't exist. They are more like a subtle improvement on something that you'd never have realized was broken. Like a fix to a carbon monoxide leak if carbon monoxide just burned off a few brain cells instead of killing you.

Now if only you could buy them in a color other than black to match the 360 controller... [Caps4Stix]

Giz Explains: Dolby, DTS and Home Theater Audio Codec Confusion

matt buchanan — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 14:00:00 EDT

You actually know what some of the crazy doodles on the side of an HDTV means when it comes to video—720p, 1080i, 1080p. Congrats, you're ahead of most people, like my mother. But do you understand the alphabet soup of audio, the confounding constellation of logos on your Blu-ray player's box? While there are basically two rival home-theater audio encoders—Dolby and DTS—they each have several different quality levels and options for different scenarios. Yeah, it's a lot to keep up with, and it annoys us too. So we asked Dolby and DTS to put down their guns for a sec and help us sort it out.

We're assuming you know some of the basics—like that 5.1 audio is five channels of audio positioned at center, front right, front left, back right and back left, and then one subwoofer channel. And that a higher bit rate means more audio data is coming through, which, generally, means it's higher quality and gonna sound better, since you're losing less of the original studio sound.

The building block of digital audio is "pulse code modulation"—an old technology used for CDs and everything since. It can be rendered in several resolutions, from 16-bit stuff on CD to 24-bit on newer DVD and higher-res formats. It can also have varying frequency ranges, typically from 44.1KHz to 96KHz. Without going into more detail, you just need to know that PCM is bulky, and it is this PCM data that both DTS and Dolby work to encode into more manageable files. When audio tracks are decoded in a disc player, they are either sent out analog via multichannel RCA outputs, or they become PCM tracks that any digital receiver can easily interpret.

We're taking you through the major branded audio formats that you'll run into if you're dealing with a home theater, or hell, a Blu-ray player.

First up: Dolby. There are basically three tiers of audio: Dolby TrueHD at the top, then Dolby Digital Plus, then good old Dolby Digital.

Dolby TrueHD is a lossless compression format that is bit-for-bit identical to the studio masters. It can handle a bit rate of up to 18 megabits per second, and support as many as 14 channels of audio, though you're more likely to see it at 7.1. It's actually optional in the Blu-ray spec, but it's supported by the PS3 and most other new Blu-ray players. Some players decode the TrueHD internally, then stream out uncompressed PCM audio through HDMI, while others can send the TrueHD file itself out over HDMI in bitstream for the receiver to decode.

Dolby Digital Plus is the next step down. It still delivers 7.1 audio, but at a max bit rate of 3Mbps. It's a more efficient codec than the original Dolby Digital, and is a mandatory minimum in the Blu-ray 1.1 spec. Dolby Digital Plus can be used for Bonus View picture-in-picture audio tracks on a Blu-ray disc, with the main audio track encoded as TrueHD.

Dolby Digital is the lowest rung, at 5.1 audio channels, running at 448Kbps on DVD (though a richer 640Kbps on Blu-ray, used, again for special features or supplement language tracks).

DTS's offerings follow a similar tiered setup.

DTS-HD Master Audio is at the top. It's a lossless format that is also bit-for-bit identical to the studio master. It supports a bitrate up to 24Mbps (though the average Blu-ray flick's audio is only about 2-3Mbps, with 4-5Mbps spikes) and up to eight channels (like 7.1). (It too, is supported by the PS3.)

DTS High Resolution Audio is below that. It also supports eight channels at a constant bit rate of up to 6Mbps. It's for situations where a studio doesn't want to eat up disc space with a full lossless track (like bonus features or tracks), though DTS told us 95 percent of studios who use DTS use the full HD Master Audio.

DTS Digital Surround is down at the DVD end, with support for 5.1 channels and bandwidth up to 1.5Mbps, though post-2000 DVDs typically keep the track at 768Kbps to save disc space.

You may have heard a few things about Dolby ProLogic II or IIx, or maybe DTS Neo:6. These aren't digital codecs, so much as they are "matrix" programs that take stereo tracks and route it to to the different speakers in a surround system. A vestige from pre-digital days, people used to master stereo tracks deliberately for ProLogic—try watching The Simpsons opening credits through your receiver with ProLogic turned on.

Dolby and DTS also have virtual surround technologies that do the opposite of matrixing: They take 5.1 tracks and perform hocus pocus on them so that they sound surround-y, but play through stereo speakers or headphones. It's more subjective, and has a whole different science to it, so maybe we'll save it for another time.

That, in a nutshell, is what all of those Dolby and DTS logos on the back your Blu-ray player, A/V receiver or movie box means. If you want to know how "golden-eared" audiophiles feel about the highest qualities, and how well they fare against uncompressed PCM, check out this informative piece from Home Entertainment Magazine. As a rule, DTS HD Master Audio or Dolby TrueHD will kick ass, but unless you have a $50,000 sound system, you may not be able to tell the difference between the middle and top tiers anyway.

Something we missed, or you still wanna know? Send any questions about Dolby, DTS, Dubbly, Dobby or anything else to tips@gizmodo.com, with "Giz Explains" in the subject line.

Sony Putting the PS3 Xross Media Bar Into Vaio FW Laptops

Sean Fallon — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 13:58:00 EDT

The PS3 may be having its ups and downs, but one thing is for certain—Sony is loving the Xross Media Bar. They put it in some of their Bravia TVs, the PSP, some Cybershot cameras and now they are planning to integrate the interface into their new Vaio FW series laptops. Naturally, the goal here is to provide synergy between all sorts of devices to create that "digital living room" type experience that is all the rage these days. [Tech Radar]

Wii is Now the Number One Console in the U.S.

John Mahoney — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 10:30:00 EDT

After outselling the Xbox 360 3:1 in June (660,000 vs 219,800), the Wii eeked ahead in the total U.S. sales race by 500,000 consoles, despite the 360's one-year head start. NPD is also reporting a 53% increase in game and hardware sales across the industry compared to this time last year. [Information Week]

E3 Coverage Roundup: It's In the Posts

Jason Chen — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 23:10:12 EDT

E3's over, but that doesn't mean you've seen every bit of information that came out of the event. Oh no. Here's every single thing that came out of E3, starting with the liveblogs of Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo. What did Penny Arcade think of the event? Well, they weren't all too impressed with the big three's offerings. That might be a little harsh, but yeah, we could see that. Make the jump to decide for yourself.

Microsoft
Nintendo
Sony

Microsoft
How your current themes will look on the Xbox 360
Why Microsoft made a new Xbox Experience
Netflix on Xbox 360!
You can play games directly off the Xbox's hard drive
Xbox 360 is getting Avatars
Newly colored Xbox 360 controllers

Sony
Sony knows what went wrong with the PS3's development
How Sony being cheap hurts the PS3
The PlayStation video store is open
The PS3 80GB model gets a $399 price tag in September
PSN gets a simple sign-on
PS2 gets a LEGO Batman bundle

Nintendo
Hands-on With the Wii MotionPlus
Wii Sports Resort gets a price
The Wii ain't so cheap
The Wii finally gets a mic

Elsewhere
Rock Band 2's Instruments look great
EA upgrades its iPhone games
The DS is not as strong as the iPhone
The Dreamcast IS as strong as the iPhone
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed on iPhone
The official Rock Band 2 track list

Guitar Hero and Rock Band Controller Mod For Finicky Fingers

Matt Hickey — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 21:30:00 EDT

Guitar Hero fans usually hate the Rock Band guitar controller and vice versa. Instructables has a pretty good how-to that can solve the problem for Guitar Hero fans at the cost of a Rock Band controller. It's a way to mash up an old PS2 Guitar Hero controller with the Rock Band Fender guitar and make a perfect hybrid with raised keys a clicky strum. You could just use an Xbox 360 Guitar Hero controller for Rock Band if you're on an Xbox 360, but where's the fun in that? [Instructables]

How Sony's Cheapness Is Biting The PS3 In The Ass

Jason Chen — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 15:40:00 EDT

Sony's mantra of not writing checks for exclusives—or much of anything—seems to be biting them in the ass a couple times this week. There are at least four cases where the PlayStation 3 has suffered because of Sony's lack of willingness to open up the purse strings. We knew two of these before—backward compatibility and the DualShock 3—but we only found out about the other two during the roundtable session with Sony's Jack Tretton yesterday.

The first is exclusives. Final Fantasy 13 coming to the Xbox 360 was a pretty huge blow to the PlayStation brand seeing as they no longer having exclusivity to the main Final Fantasy line. This is just the latest in the line of Sony losing titles that were previously exclusive (or planned to be exclusive) to PlayStation. Grand Theft Auto, Devil May Cry are two more recent ones, but Wired also lists Assassin's Creed (could have been PS3-only), Virtua Fighter 5, Beautiful Katamari, and Fatal Inertia. What does Sony have of big third-party exclusives? Metal Gear Solid 4.

This, as we learned from Sony's Jack Tretton, is because they're "not in the business of writing checks for exclusives." Jack goes on to explain quite logically that in this day and age, it's just much more profitable for game publishers to put their titles on as many consoles as possible, and companies would have to throw out some big chunks of money to convince them otherwise. The kind of money Microsoft has been doling out.

The second is Home. Tretton called the current state of Home a "no man's land," a phrase which he immediately wished he didn't use. However, it's as accurate of one as we could come up with. The problem right now is that Sony's at an impasse. They've finished the shell of Home and much of the core functionality is done. However, there's no content for it.

PlayStation 3 Movies Are Region-Locked

Mark Wilson — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 09:22:00 EDT

If you're a US PS3 owner who wants to play some game that's only been released to Japan's PlayStation Network, you can simply sign up for a Japanese account and download the game. However, it appears that Sony will not allow the same exploit for movie downloads. Some of Kotaku's non-US contingent tried downloading a movie from the US store and found that, nope. Sony isn't having it. It's not a huge surprise, but at least a few of us were hoping that Sony would leave their easy regional purchasing exploit there for films. [Kotaku]

Sony Knows What Went Wrong With the PS3

Jason Chen — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 16:24:07 EDT

In a non-exclusive round table with various outlets like us, Kotaku and Engadget this morning, Sony Computer Entertainment America's CEO Jack Tretton gave us some great looks behind the public curtain of the PlayStation brand. In short, they know what's wrong with the way they made the PS3, and they know how to fix it. In Jack's words, "we know what we're doing," but it's going to take a long time to atone for past missteps.

As everyone knows, Sony is a hardware company. But when making the PlayStation(s), they've become a software company as well. The problem came from the fact that they didn't know whether they're a software company or a hardware company or even both, which influenced the way the PS3 was developed. In this case, the hardware guys developed the console fairly independently then dumped it onto the software guy's lap, effectively saying "do something with it." In essence, as Tretton says, the PS3 was not developed in collaboration between the two teams. As a result of this, the software team has been cleaning up the mess made by the hardware team for years.

This is one of the biggest problems with Sony as a whole. Their UI designs are not as good as they could be because much of the company still sees themselves as a hardware force first and a software firm second. Hopefully with previous boss Ken Kutaragi out and guys like Kaz Hirai and Jack Tretton influencing development on the sure-to-be-upcoming PlayStation 4, things will be better in the next generation.

Sony's BDP-S350 BD-Live Ready Blu-ray Player Shipping

John Mahoney — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 16:00:00 EDT

Sony's latest Blu-ray Live-ready (firmware 1.1 upgradeable to 2.0) deck, which we first saw in February, is now shipping. New facts coming out are that it's 55 percent smaller and sucks down 21 percent less power than its predecessor the BDP-S300, and boots in "approximately a few seconds." You can pick it up for $400, but since you can get a new 80GB PS3 that is also BD-Live ready for the same money, you've got a choice to make.

Also worth factoring in is the step-up S550 available this fall for $100 more, which adds on-board DTS-HD audio decoding and a bundled 1GB flash storage device for BD-Live. So what'll it be, the PS3's power consumption of 8 refrigerators or a sleek green dedicated Blu-ray deck that can't play games?

SONY’S NEXT-GENERATION BLU-RAY DISC PLAYER NOW AVAILABLE AT SONY STYLE STORES AND RETAILERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY
New BDP-S350 Delivers Full Promise of Blu-ray Disc with New Features, Technology

NEW YORK, JULY 16, 2008 – Sony’s next-generation Blu-ray Disc player, model BDP-S350, is now available across the country at Sony Style retail outlets, sonystyle.com and other authorized Sony retailers.
The BDP-S350 supports BonusView (picture-in-picture), which is featured on select new Blu-ray Disc home video releases, and is also BD-Live ready, with an Ethernet port for easy firmware updates and access to Internet-based interactive content features. A firmware update enabling BD-Live is planned later this year.
It also features quick start up mode improving the player’s boot up time to approximately a few seconds and offers an external port for local storage for BD-Live, allowing users to add an optional flash storage device (sold separately).
“We leveraged our expertise in film production and digital technology to build a machine that movie fans would truly love,” said Chris Fawcett, vice president of marketing for Sony Electronics’ Home Products Division. “An advanced Blu-ray Disc player like the BDP-S350 is a must for every HDTV owner because it delivers the ultimate video and sound quality, while unlocking features you can’t find on DVD, downloads or video on demand.”
Since many consumers own extensive DVD movie libraries, the BDP-S350 incorporates Sony’s new Precision Cinema HD Upscale technology that converts standard-definition signals (480i) to 1080p and outputs a full HD equivalent resolution signal to 1080p TVs via HDMI. Additionally, the model also adds Sony’s new Precision Drive HD, which helps to detect and correct wobbling discs from three directions, stabilizing playback of bent or scratched Blu-ray Discs and DVDs.
Not only does the new BDP-S350 model deliver enhanced performance, it is easier on the environment. Compared to Sony’s previous BDP-S300 Blu-ray Disc model, the new BDP-S350 model reduced the overall unit size by 55 percent, reduced packing material by 52 percent and reduced the unit’s total weight by 38 percent. The compact size of the finished package allows Sony to reduce the C02 emissions related to shipping by approximately 43 percent.
In addition, the unit features 21 percent less power consumption in playback mode and 43 percent reduced power consumption in stand-by mode. It also features lead-free solder, all-paper packing and the user guide is printed on 70 percent recycled paper with Volatile Organic Compound-free vegetable oil based ink.
The model offers 7.1 channel Dolby® TrueHD and Dolby® Digital Plus decoding and bit-stream output, as well as DTS®-HD High Resolution Audio and Master Audio bit-stream output.
The BDP-S350 supports AVCHD discs encoded with x.v.Color™ (xvYCC) technology, an international standard for wide color space reproduction. The standard expands the current data range of video by about 1.8 times, allowing the players to output more natural and vivid colors similar to what the human eye actually sees in the natural world. The players also feature compatibility with an array of video formats, including BD-R/RE (BDMV and BDAV modes), DVD+R/+RW, DVD-R/-RW, CD, CD-R/RW (CD-DA format), and JPEG on DVD/CD recordable media.
The new BDP-S350 is now available for about $400 at Sony Style stores, online at sonystyle.com, at military base exchanges, and at authorized retailers nationwide.

StarPex Full-Size Wooden Guitar For the PS2 and PS3

Sean Fallon — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 14:32:00 EDT

Playing Guitar Hero or Rock Band might make the average Joe feel more like a rock star—but the fact that you are playing on a tiny plastic guitar kind of ruins the fantasy. That's where the StarPex comes in. It is the first full-sized wooden guitar for the PS2/PS3 and it features a 10-button design with solo-buttons and an Overdrive/Star Power button, chrome plated tuning pegs, a wired/wireless connectivity option and a modular design that will allow users to trick out their guitar. The StarPex will be available in late August for $179.95.

Peak Products Unleashes Starpex™, the First-Ever Full-Size, Wood, Playstation®2 and Playstation 3 Guitar Controller with the Authentic Look and Feel of a Real Guitar

For those about to rock…Peak salutes you!

Boston, MA– July 16th, 2008 - Peak Products, a gaming peripheral company dedicated to providing the best in instrument quality gaming controllers, announces Starpex, the first-ever full-size, wood, PS2™ / PS3™ Guitar controller with the look and feel of an actual guitar. Starpex boasts an instrument-quality, high-gloss lacquered finish with a hardwood body, neck, and headstock handcrafted by a leading guitar manufacturer giving the authentic guitar experience that Guitar Hero™ and Rock Band™ enthusiasts crave. Other unique features include…

* Full Guitar Hero and Rockband Functionality for PS2 and PS3 – Starpex is compatible with both PS2 and PS3, and allows users to experience the full list of game play features in both Guitar Hero and Rockband, including toggle effects switch and solo button functionality.

* Unique Speed Star Power / Overdrive Button provides the fastest and most accurate access to Star Power and Overdrive. Additionally, built in tilt sensor technology allows users to access Star Power and Overdrive in a more traditional way.

* Optimized Whammy Bar maximizes comfort, provides better feel, reduces fatigue and provides a higher level of durability.

* High Quality Ten Fret Button Design features optimal button travel for enhanced feel, reduced fatigue, and higher score potential. Ten fret buttons means that players have the option of using traditionally positioned fret buttons, or rock out with solo buttons high up on the neck which also provide critical soloing capabilities in Rockband.

* Enhanced Strum Bar gives the perfect balance of tactile and audible feedback to maximize enjoyment and scoring.

* Connectivity Options – Dual wired / wireless capabilities allow players to use a 15’ wired cable or a 2.4 Ghz wireless connection (both included).

* Forward - Thinking Compatibility – Starpex’s modular design allows users to easily separate the electronic components from the body of the guitar which will allow for further customization including new guitar bodies, pick guards, and more.

“With well over 11 million copies of Guitar Hero/Rock Band sold on the PlayStation consoles, we see a tremendous opportunity in bringing Starpex to market” says Jamie Leece, Vice President for Peak Products. “Never before have Guitar Hero/Rock Band enthusiasts been able to shred with a hardwood, handcrafted authentic guitar controller that’s built with the look and feel of a real guitar. This will change the way the games are played.”

The Starpex will be available in Circuit City and various retailers with an MSRP of $179.95 in late August. For more information on Peak Products, please visit www.Go-Peak.com coming on line in August

About Peak Products
Peak Products is a gaming peripheral company dedicated to providing gamers of the music genre with the very best in instrument quality gaming controllers. Evolving out of a passion for both music and gaming, Peak Products understands the level of precision and quality that both musicians and gamers demand from their equipment. By fusing together the style and craftsmanship of professional grade musical instruments with the comfort and performance of gaming controllers, Peak Products is able to provide the user with an enhanced musical gaming experience. Designed by leading engineers and tested by gamers, Peak Products delivers the look of authentic musical equipment, the feel expected out of any precision instrument, and the score demanded by any serious gamer. Peak Products: Look. Feel. Score.™

PlayStation Video Store Open For Business

Mark Wilson — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 01:06:00 EDT

As promised in a press conference not 24 hours ago, Sony's PlayStation video store is up and running. And the best news? It doesn't even require a firmware update. Just click the new "video" button in the PS Store and make your way to cool studio pages like this one pictured from Lionsgate.

PlayStation 3 80GB Core Pack Debuts in Sept. for $399

matt buchanan — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 15:53:08 EDT

The PS3 40GB model is getting pushed aside in September by a bigger, badder PS3—the 80GB is back in full swing. Dubbed Core Pack, it has "the same functionality" as the 40GB model, but you get double the storage for the same $399 price. Looks they'll stay ahead of the Xbox 360 storage-wise for the standard model. Update: Press release below, though it doesn't add a whole lot more info.

Sony Computer Entertainment America Announces New 80GB PLAYSTATION(R)3, Limited Edition PlayStation(R)2 Bundle, and PlayStation(R)Portable Entertainment Pack at E3 2008

Company Also Launches New PLAYSTATION(R)Network Video Delivery Service and Showcases More Than 140 First-Party and Third-Party Games Across All Platforms

LOS ANGELES, July 15 /PRNewswire/ — Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) held its annual press conference today at the E3 Media & Business Summit, making a series of announcements which demonstrated the strength of the PlayStation brand across all three of its platforms and further leveraged the heritage and momentum of PlayStation's family of products to provide consumers with more compelling entertainment options than anyone in the videogame industry.

Starting in September 2008, the newly announced PLAYSTATION(R)3 (PS3(TM)) 80GB model will become the mainstay of the company's hardware line-up. The 80GB model will retail for $399, and will offer all of the features and functionality of the 40GB model with double the storage to accommodate more movies, graphics, music, photos and other entertainment content — all for the same price. As with its predecessor, the new 80GB model will be a complete entertainment system comprising of a Blu-ray(TM) player, HDMI output, an integrated Wi-Fi connection, Cell Broadband Engine(TM) and a built-in 80GB hard-disk drive. The multi-functionality of the 80GB PS3, combined with more than 140 exclusive and third-party titles and the PLAYSTATION(R)Network, is a comprehensive entertainment value designed to appeal to a wide range of consumers from hard-core gamers to general entertainment enthusiasts.

Following the success of five PSP(R) (PlayStation(R)Portable) Entertainment Packs, SCEA announced the Ratchet and Clank(R) Size Matters PSP Entertainment Pack, a new bundle showcasing PSP's multi-functional feature set, targeted for holiday gift-giving. Launching in October 2008 for $199.99 MSRP, the bundle will include a limited-edition "Silver" PSP system with the highly acclaimed game, Ratchet and Clank(R) Size Matters; a blockbuster movie on UMD(R) (Universal Media Disc); a PLAYSTATION(R)Network voucher to download the innovative puzzle game, echochrome(TM) from PLAYSTATION(R)Store: and a 1GB Memory Stick PRO Duo(TM) for storing music, videos, photos and more.

In addition, SCEA introduced a new family entertainment bundle for the PlayStation(R)2 system, the most successful console in industry history. The limited-edition LEGO(R) Batman(TM): The Videogame PlayStation(R)2 Pack will feature the highly anticipated TT Games/Warner Bros Interactive Entertainment title LEGO(R) Batman(TM): The Videogame, Warner Home Video's Justice League: The New Frontier on DVD, and a PlayStation(R)2 system — all for $149.99 MSRP, which represents a $30 savings for consumers if the contents were purchased separately. SCEA will also launch more than 130 new titles for PlayStation(R)2 system this year, totaling 10,000 PlayStation(R)2 titles by end of the year.

"It's undeniable we have three successful platforms, the broadest and best line-up of some of the biggest exclusives in the business, and are continuing to deliver compelling and original content to our consumers," said Jack Tretton, president and CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment America. "Expect to see continued momentum this year as we remain focused on delivering products and services that extend the strength of our brand and reaffirms PlayStation's place at the center of consumers' homes."

Additionally, the company previewed more than 140 first and third-party games at E3 2008 proving its content line-up this year is unmatched in the industry due to its depth, breadth, and diversity. Throughout the holiday season and this fiscal year, SCEA and its third-party partners plan to release more than 140 software titles for the PS3 available on Blu-ray Disc(TM) (BD).

SCEA is also developing more than 50 games, game packs, and add-ons downloadable via PLAYSTATION(R)Network in North America this year, offering something for every taste, lifestyle and budget. Also, to continue offering greater value to PlayStation fans, SCEA will launch PS3 Greatest Hits program on July 28 with 10 first and third party titles at a reduced price of $29.99. The PS3 Greatest Hits titles include Warhawk(TM), Motorstorm(TM) and Resistance: Fall of Man(R) from SCEA; Call of Duty(R) 3, Activision(R); Need for Speed: Carbon, Electronic Arts; The Elder Scrolls(R) IV: Oblivion(TM), Bethesda(R) Softworks; Ninja Gaiden(R) Sigma, Tecmo(R); Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six(R) Vegas and Assassin's Creed(TM), Ubisoft(R).

SCEA also reiterated its commitment to make PLAYSTATION(R)Network the best entertainment experience in the industry, by announcing a new video delivery service on PLAYSTATION(R)Store for PS3 and PSP systems in the United States. The new video service, available today, allows U.S. consumers to download full-length TV shows and movies to both their PS3 and PSP through the PlayStation Store for rental or purchase.

In addition, SCEA further outlined progress against its revolutionary online experience, PlayStation Home. Highlighting new first party high definition virtual environments for hit PlayStation titles including, Unchartered: Drake's Fortune and Warhawk. With significant third party support already on board, Sony Computer Entertainment will be expanding the beta in Summer 2008 and commence the open beta service by Fall 2008.

About Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc.
Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. continues to redefine the entertainment lifestyle with its PlayStation(R) and PS one(R) game console, the PlayStation(R)2 computer entertainment system, the PSP(R) (PlayStation(R)Portable) system, the ground-breaking PLAYSTATION(R)3 (PS3(TM)) computer entertainment system and its online and network services PLAYSTATION(R)Network and PLAYSTATION(R)Store.
Recognized as the undisputed industry leader, Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. markets the PlayStation family of products and develops, publishes, markets and distributes software for the PS one game console, the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system, PLAYSTATION 3 and the PSP system for the North American market. Based in Foster City, Calif., Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. serves as headquarters for all North American operations and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.

Visit us on the Web at http://www.us.playstation.com

PlayStation, PSP and the PlayStation logo are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners. "PlayStation", "PLAYSTATION", "PSP", "PS one" and the PlayStation logo are registered trademarks and "PS3" is a trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.

[Sony]

PS3 Gets Video Store and Rentals Tonight

matt buchanan — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 15:33:31 EDT

Unveiling the new Home, Sony revealed that video rentals and purchases are finally coming to the PS3. Video will be fully integrated into the PlayStation Store, which will have a new video section. And you can transfer them to your PSP via USB, and have them on multiple devices at once! Standard and high def, with rentals running $3-$6 and $10-$15 for purchases. It takes about an hour to download a two-hour movie. Most of the major studios are on board (Kotaku has a partial list in their liveblog), and it goes live tonight!

PlayStation Network Finally Gets Single Sign On for All Platforms

matt buchanan — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 15:19:40 EDT

A small, but happy change in the PlayStation Network: Starting this fall all PlayStation users will have a single sign on that works across PS3, PC and PSP. One. That works across all three platforms. Simplicity and logic, meet Sony.

LEGO Batman PS2 Bundle Comes With Game and Justice League: New Frontiers for $149 (But No Bat Logo)

matt buchanan — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 15:12:30 EDT

Coming this Fall to North America is the LEGO Batman PS2 bundle, which includes the LEGO Batman game and the Justice League: New Frontiers flick for $149. I would buy this machine if it had a Batman logo on it, especially if it was released in the next two days as my Batman slobbering becomes fully torrential leading up to Thursday night. Still, not too bad.

Sony E3 Liveblog

Jason Chen — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 14:31:56 EDT

We're here at Sony's E3 press event, preparing for the onslaught of hardware and software news they've got planned for today. Could there be a price cut? A new WiiMote-like peripheral? Just new games? Just old games? Whatever it is, it's going to be shown on the giant stage full of Sony's TVs. It's about to start, so keep refreshing so you can see the exciting Sony-ness. Sony-osity. Sony-manium. Update: It's started!

11:32: Sony's pumping electronic music between audio feeds of the six games people are playing on stage. Metal Gear Solid 4, Pixeljunk Eden, GT5 Prologue, GRAW2, Ecochrome and Star Wars: The Force Unleashed.

11:33: What could Sony pull out to top Wii Music? It's going to be pretty difficult, if you know what I mean. Seriously, it's the epitome of gaming and developer should just go home at this point.

11:35: It's starting! A bunch of Sony PlayStation shapes are scrolling across the six screens.

11:37: The excitement level is definitely higher than Nintendo's which was laid back and totally casual-oriented.

11:38: The stage is definitely very well designed. Very pretty. Jack Tretton, Emperor of Sony, is coming on stage.

11:39: Jack is talking about all the stars that have been on this stage, including Jack Bauer and Jack Pallance. And then he made a crack about how Jack Pallance is dead, followed by slight shock and boos from the crowd.

11:41: It was 10 years ago that Sony introduced the PlayStation, and they're taking the crowd on a journey through the PlayStation brand—including all the more notable games.

11:43: Now Sony is talking about other features, like videos and photos, plus the @home research program that helps to cure diseases.

11:44: They're talking about how the Blu-ray won the next-gen disc format war against the HD DVD. And part of that is because of the PS3. A big part.

11:45: Grand Theft Auto 4, Metal Gear Solid 4 and Gran Turismo 5 Prologue are three examples of great games (sequels) on the platform, says Jack.

11:47: A five second video just went up showing an image of the PS3.

11:48: Jack Tretton is much better this year than last, where he was fairly awkward. He played off his awkwardness well this time.

11:48: Here comes Resistance 2 being demoed in real time.

11:48: There's a gigantic ugly alien stomping around a city like the Cloverfield monster.

11:50: It's definitely very cinematic, but the environment graphics don't seem all THAT fantastic. Definitely a good looking game though.

11:52: The game is set in Chicago in the 1950s.

11:53: There's eight-player online co-op and 60 player online-multiplayer.

11:55: They're playing a trailer with a Kennedy-esque president making a speech about how aliens are winning the war. Kotaku will have more on this later.

11:56: Next up is Little Big Planet. It's a game with pretty large social networking and user-created content.

11:58: Jack's using Little Big Planet to talk about the business updates. Very clever. Using the little guy (Sack Boy) to illustrate what would otherwise be Powerpoint slides. Woo!

11:59: A lot of $29 discount titles are announced as well.

12:02: Little Big Planet is coming October 2008.

12:02: Hats off to Sony for making a dry business presentation interesting with Little Big Planet.

12:03: Now, the PlayStation 2.

12:03: There are still 130 titles coming to the old system, in case you still haven't updated to a next-gen system yet.

12:06: Buzz, the quiz show, is coming to PS2 and PS3.

12:06: Singstar, the karaoke game, is still going strong on the PS2.

12:07: Later this year, a Lego Batman PS2 bundle will be $149 and also include a DC movie DVD.

12:08: Next up, the PlayStation Network. All PlayStation users will have a single sign-on over PC, PS3 and PSP.

12:09: Jack is talking about the amount of downloads on the PSN, which is up to 180 million pieces of content downloaded since Nov. 2006.

12:11: New game announcement: Rachet & Clank Future: Quest For Booty. It's a shorter game with a lower price, and was rumored before. It's a continuation of the Rachet & Clank game that's already out now.

12:12: It's darker than the original R&C, and he's got a new wrench tool.

12:13: $14.99 later this summer. See Kotaku for more.

12:13: Here's a dig at Xbox Live Arcade: "We're not interested in filling up our store with games nobody wants to play just so we can say we have more games."

12:14: And now a montage of upcoming PlayStation Network games. Hit up Kotaku for details on these.

12:15: A bunch of car TV content is coming to Gran Turismo 5 Prologue in October, including car shows like Top Gear and various Japanese racing events.

12:20: Now, PlayStation Home. Jack assures people that their patience will be rewarded when Home finally expands to wide beta.

12:21: He's talking about various game companies and their promise to provide content for PlayStation Home and utilize it in their games.

12:22: They're showing a bunch of game spaces like Warhawk and Resistance 2, which are basically like command-rooms that you can view some decorations based on the game and even launch it.

12:23: The PlayStation Network video network will have various content providers like MGM, Warner, and a bunch of others (including Sony Pictures.) Both standard def and high def TV, and pricing will be $2.99-$5.99 for rentals and $9.99-$14.99 for purchases. We've posted on Sony's PSN video before, but the pricing seems new. Once you purchase it for the PS3, you can load it on your PSP as well.

12:25: Eric Lempel of Sony is showing how the video store will work. It's located inside the PSN store now and looks pretty much like a video store would.

12:26: Downloading an SD movie takes an hour to get a two-hour movie, but you can start watching it after you've downloaded about a minute's worth.

12:28: HD rentals are more expensive (usually about $5.99).

12:28: There are two ways to get content onto the PSP. One way is going through the PS3 and transferring via USB cable, another is through the PC.

12:30: The video service is going up tonight, July 15.

12:30: Rachel & Clank Size Matters Entertainment Pack is coming soon at $199, with a Memory Stick and National Treasure 2.

12:33: Now, they're showing off a Resistance game for the PSP. It's called Resistance Retribution.

12:35: And now a highlights reel of PSP games. Hit Kotaku if you want a list of them.

12:37: Jack is talking about Google, with uploading clips onto YouTube automatically (only in some games).

12:40: Jim Lee, executive creator of DC Universe Online, is coming on stage. He's doing some one-arm pushups. Nice!

12:42: They've been working for three years building DC Universe Online, which includes Superman and BATMAN, of course.

12:42: You can HELP Batman, but not BE Batman. You can also be a villain and be beat up by Batman too.

12:46: Price drop! 80GB PS3 goes to $399 later this year. It's got the same functionality as the 40GB one now, but with a larger hard drive.

12:50: Sony's showing a montage of developers talking about how powerful the console is and how they're getting used to programming for it.

12:53: Another montage of upcoming and already-released PS3 games.

12:56: Yes, another montage is coming. This time including God Of War 3.

12:58: And Infamous, where you play a good or bad superhero.

12:59: Andy Beaudoin from Zipper Interactive is up on stage, talking about an as-of-yet unannounced multiplayer game. Wait, it's called MAG (Massive Action Game). Battles of up to 256 players at a time.

It's a combination of small, squad-based gaming with the numbers of an MMO.

1:05: And that's it for Sony! Thanks for reading. Let us know what you think in the comments.

Logitech Rolls Out Driving Force Wireless Gaming Wheel for Playstation

John Mahoney — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 09:24:29 EDT

It's missing the built-in shifter and faux-carbon of the Driving Force GT, but it does offer force feedback and, of course, the ability to play Gran Turismo unencumbered by realism-killing wires—a first for Logitech. It'll work with both PS2 and PS3 for $100. [Product Page]

Toshiba Qosmio G55 is First Laptop With Cell Processor Aboard

Kit Eaton — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 04:24:00 EDT

Toshiba's Qosmio G55 has popped up on Giz over the last couple of months, talking about its advanced gesture controls which rely on its use of the PS3's Cell processor tech, and now it's official. Toshiba's calling it the "world's first laptop with cell processor tech inside," and concentrates on four functions it gives the machine. Upconvert/upconversion (basically 1080i upscaling,) transcoding of video formats, face-based video indexing and gesture control. The laptop will have a starting price of $1,299.99. Press release below.

Jul 15, 2008 00:01

Toshiba Qosmio World's First Laptop with Cell Processor Technology

¶ TOSHIBA Quad Core HD Cell Processor Provides Revolutionary Multimedia Experience Through Enhanced Speed and Control
IRVINE, Calif. —(Business Wire)— Jul. 15, 2008 Toshiba's Digital Products Division (DPD), a division of Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc., today announced the world's first laptop PC to feature Cell processor technology. This computing advancement, called the TOSHIBA Quad Core HD Processor(1), is available on Toshiba's Qosmio(R) G55-Q802 laptop PC and delivers a revolutionary high-definition, multimedia user experience.

"In terms of the Qosmio laptop brand, innovation is the key ingredient," said Jeff Barney, vice president and general manager, Digital Products Division, Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc. "The addition of the TOSHIBA Quad Core HD Processor marks a watershed moment in the multimedia and HD segments. Qosmio G55-Q802 laptop PC users now have the power and ability to control and manipulate their personal content with unmatched precision and speed while also enjoying their full DVD collections at resolutions up to 1080i."

The TOSHIBA Quad Core HD Processor was designed to better serve the creative process by alleviating the intense burden that's placed on the CPU while handling a wide range of multimedia tasks, such as video transcoding. The complex task of transcoding and encoding a personal video project monopolizes a majority of the processing power of today's advanced computer systems. Through the addition of the TOSHIBA Quad Core HD Processor, along with the combined strength of Intel's latest Core(TM) 2 Duo processor(1) technology and the NVIDIA GeForce(R) 9600M(2) GT graphics card, tasks that once took hours to complete now are accomplished in a fraction of the time with Toshiba's Qosmio(R) G55-Q802 laptop PC.

This revolutionary Cell processor technology was co-developed by Toshiba, Sony and IBM, and is best known for its use within the popular Sony PlayStation(R) 3 and various supercomputers. Branded the TOSHIBA Quad Core HD Processor, it currently consists of four cutting-edge, distinctive proprietary features:

— Upconvert/Upconversion - Through "Upconvert/Upconversion," standard-definition video files, such as home videos and DVDs, are upscaled in real time to 720p high-definition. Combined with the use of the Qosmio's HDMI-CEC port, users can output today's standard DVDs in stunning clarity up to 1080i on an HDTV.

— Transcoding - The included Ulead(R) DVD MovieFactory(R) 5 for TOSHIBA has been optimized to take advantage of the Toshiba Quad Core HD Processor to dramatically reduce the time needed in high-definition video editing. Transcoding video between high-definition formats or converting high-definition video into standard definition for burning to DVD can be completed up to 10 times(3) faster on the Qosmio(R) G55-Q802 laptop PC.

— Video Indexing - "Video Indexing" provides the power to catalog video clips based on an individual's face in a scene. This unique technology enables quick and easy scene access by eliminating the need to manually search through hours of video content.

— Gesture Control - Using a remote to control DVDs, CDs and PowerPoint is a thing of the past. Through the use of "Gesture Control" and the Qosmio's Webcam, physical motions, such as extending an arm and simple hand gestures, users can control the play, pause, rewind and fast-forward functions of their movies, music and slides.

The Qosmio G55 series laptop is also available without the TOSHIBA Quad Core HD Processor, but the series was collectively designed to enhance the digital lifestyle by providing cutting-edge innovations that are built upon the backbone of sharp picture quality and pristine sound reproduction. In addition to the technological advancement of the TOSHIBA Quad Core HD Processor, the Qosmio is built around an expansive 18.4-inch diagonal widescreen TruBrite(R) high-definition display that sports a true 16:9 aspect ratio. Users can take advantage of more of the display and enjoy their widescreen movies with less of the black bar letterboxing, which frames a picture on other displays. To further enhance the visual experience, the Qosmio G55 laptop PC sports two premium Harman Kardon(R) stereo speakers, a sub-woofer and Dolby Home Theater(TM) technology, which allows users to experience their content in surround sound. The Qosmio can be seamlessly integrated into a user's home theater system for a complete surround sound experience thanks to its REGZA LINK(TM) HDMI technology while empowering users with simultaneous instant device configuration and the ability to control REGZA LINK enabled devices, such as Toshiba's REGZA(TM) HDTVs and a Qosmio laptop, with a single remote.

The Qosmio G55 laptop PC has several design features that magnify its cutting edge nature, such as its striking Fusion(TM) finish with Vibe design, white-LED FeatherTouch multimedia buttons and a flush-mounted Touchpad. These external features do much to enhance the overall quality and premium feel of the new Qosmio, which has a starting price of $1,299.99(4).

For the first time, Toshiba will offer users the option of configuring their laptop to run either a 32-bit or 64-bit(5) version of Windows Vista, depending on a user's preference and intended computer use.

The Qosmio G55 laptop PC is available from a variety of major consumer electronic and computer stores nationwide or directly from Toshiba at http://www.toshibadirect.com. Detailed product information is available at http://www.explore.toshiba.com/G55.

The Qosmio G55 series is available in the following configurations: -0-

Qosmio G55-Q802 Unique Specifications (MSRP $1,549.99(4))
—OS selection at first boot:
- Genuine Windows Vista(R) Home Premium (SP1, 64-bit5
version)(default)
- Genuine Windows Vista(R) Home Premium (SP1, 32-bit version)
—Intel(R) Core(TM) 2 Duo Processor T7350(1)
- 2.0 GHz, 3MB L2 Cache, 1066MHz FSB
—TOSHIBA Quad Core HD Processor(1)
—4096MB PC2-6400 DDR2 800MHz SDRAM memory(6)
—500GB using two 5400 RPM Serial ATA hard disk drives(7)
—DVD SuperMulti (+/- double layer) drive with Labelflash(TM)
supporting 11 formats
—NVIDIA(R) GeForce(TM) 9600M GT with 512MB GDDR2 discrete graphics(2)
memory,
—Atheros(R) 802.11 b/g/n wireless-LAN(8)

-0-

Qosmio G55-Q801 Unique Specifications (MSRP $1,299.99(4))
—OS selection at first boot:
- Genuine Windows Vista(R) Home Premium (SP1, 64-bit(5)
version)(default)
- Genuine Windows Vista(R) Home Premium (SP1, 32-bit version)
—Intel(R) Core(TM) 2 Duo Processor T7350(1)
- 2.0 GHz, 3MB L2 Cache, 1066MHz FSB
—4096MB PC2-6400 DDR2 800MHz SDRAM memory(6)
—320GB (5400 RPM) Serial ATA hard disk drive(7)
—DVD SuperMulti (+/- double layer) drive with Labelflash(TM)
supporting 11 formats
—NVIDIA(R) GeForce(TM) 9200M GS with 256MB GDDR2 discrete graphics(2)
memory
—Atheros(R) 802.11 b/g/n wireless-LAN(8)

Multimedia: Qosmio G55 Series

Official Rock Band 2 Track List (Plus Carry Over "Most" of Rock Band's Disc Tracks!)

matt buchanan — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 15:55:01 EDT

Harmonix has officially unveiled the track list for Rock Band 2. Besides being packed with rock gods like AC/DC exclusively, GNR's Chinese Democracy's official debut, Alice in Chains and Rage Against the Machine (I'm a child of the 90's), and full backwards compatibility with all DLC songs, you can "export most of the Rock Band disc tracks and upgrade them into Rock Band 2 gameplay," giving real teeth to EA's claim that it's the "largest music catalogue" of any music game ever. One disc, all your songs, truly amazing—thanks for not screwing gamers, Harmonix. Every track and all the details below.

HARMONIX AND MTV GAMES UNVEIL SETLIST FOR ROCK BANDTM2 - THE ULTIMATE MUSIC GAME

Game to Feature Unrivaled Blend of Classic, Developing and New Artists

Rock Band Platform to Encompass More Than 500 Songs by End of 2008

Los Angeles, Calif. – July 14, 2008 – Harmonix, the world’s premier music video game company, and MTV Games, a division of Viacom’s MTV Networks (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), along with marketing and distribution partner Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS), today revealed at the 2008 E3 Media & Business Summit the song set list for Rock Band™ 2, the next evolution of the groundbreaking Rock Band music platform. The Rock Band 2 soundtrack will feature over 100 songs with over 80 songs on disc plus an additional 20 bonus tracks which will be made available for free download this fall. This builds upon the unparalleled depth and diversity of Rock Band’s original set list and its ever-expanding library of downloadable tracks. Comprised entirely of master recordings from some of rock’s most prolific and untouchable artists, including AC/DC, Guns N’ Roses, Bob Dylan, Metallica, Pearl Jam and more, Rock Band 2 will deliver the most impressive and largest music catalogue of any music-based videogame ever.

• After 14 years since Guns N’ Roses last official music release, Axl Rose selects Rock Band 2 to debut official new track “Shackler's Revenge” from the highly-anticipated album Chinese Democracy.

• Rock Band 2 is the first and only video game to feature the music of AC/DC. It includes their epic rock anthem, "Let There Be Rock.”

• For the first time ever, music from American music icon, Bob Dylan, is featured in a video game with “Tangled Up In Blue.”

• Rock Band 2 will feature backwards compatibility with all Rock Band downloadable music content released to date.

• Owners of the original Rock Band will have the ability to export most of the Rock Band disc tracks and upgrade them into Rock Band 2 gameplay-the first time ever in videogame history! [1]

• With ongoing weekly DLC releases including individual tracks, track packs and full albums, the Rock Band music library will feature more than 500 songs by year’s end!

“With Rock Band, Harmonix and MTV Games set out to create a powerful music platform for music fans, their friends and families to discover music in a way unlike ever before,” said Paul DeGooyer, SVP Electronic Games and Music, MTV. “We are honored that such legendary artists as AC/DC, Guns N’ Roses, Bob Dylan and more have chosen Rock Band 2 as a new platform for fans to experience their music. As our catalog of disc and downloadable songs continues to grow, we are determined to continue to provide the Rock Band community an unmatched ability to customize their musical experience with the artists and songs they love.”

Rock Band 2 On-Disc Track List:
Artist Song Title Decade
1. AC/DC “Let There Be Rock” 1970s
2. AFI “Girl’s Gone Grey” 2000’s
3. Alanis Morissette “You Oughta Know” 1990’s
4. Alice in Chains “Man in the Box” 1990’s
5. Allman Brothers “Ramblin’ Man” 1970’s
6. Avenged Sevenfold “Almost Easy” 2000’s
7. Bad Company “Shooting Star” 1970’s
8. Beastie Boys “So Whatcha Want” 1990’s
9. Beck “E-Pro” 2000’s
10. Bikini Kill “Rebel Girl” 1990’s
11. Billy Idol “White Wedding Pt. I” 1980’s
12. Blondie “One Way or Another” 1970’s
13. Bob Dylan “Tangled Up in Blue” 1970’s
14. Bon Jovi “Livin’ on a Prayer” 1980’s
15. Cheap Trick “Hello There” 1970’s
16. Devo “Uncontrollable Urge” 1980’s
17. Dinosaur Jr. “Feel the Pain” 1990’s
18. Disturbed “Down with the Sickness” 2000’s
19. Dream Theater “Panic Attack” 2000’s
20. Duran Duran “Hungry Like the Wolf” 1980’s
21. Elvis Costello “Pump It Up” 1970’s
22. Fleetwood Mac “Go Your Own Way” 1970’s
23. Foo Fighters “Everlong” 1990’s
24. Guns N’ Roses “Shackler’s Revenge” 2000’s
25. Interpol “PDA” 2000’s
26. Jane’s Addiction “Mountain Song” 1980’s
27. Jethro Tull “Aqualung” 1970’s
28. Jimmy Eat World “The Middle” 2000’s
29. Joan Jett “Bad Reputation” 1980’s
30. Journey “Anyway You Want It” 1970’s
31. Judas Priest “Painkiller” 1990’s
32. Kansas “Carry On Wayward Son” 1970’s
33. L7 “Pretend We’re Dead” 1990’s
34. Lacuna Coil “Our Truth” 2000’s
35. Linkin Park “One Step Closer” 2000’s
36. Lit “My Own Worst Enemy” 1990’s
37. Lush “De-Luxe” 1990’s
38. Mastodon “Colony of Birchmen” 2000’s
39. Megadeth “Peace Sells” 1980’s
40. Metallica “Battery” 1980’s
41. Mighty Mighty Bosstones “Where’d You Go” 1990’s
42. Modest Mouse “Float On” 2000’s
43. Motorhead “Ace of Spades” 1980’s
44. Nirvana “Drain You” 1990’s
45. Norman Greenbaum “Spirit in the Sky” 1960’s
46. Panic at the Disco “Nine in the Afternoon” 2000’s
47. Paramore “That’s What You Get” 2000’s
48. Pearl Jam “Alive” 1990’s
49. Presidents of the USA “Lump” 1990’s
50. Rage Against the Machine “Testify” 1990’s
51. Ratt “Round & Round” 1980’s
52. Red Hot Chili Peppers “Give it Away” 1990’s
53. Rise Against “Give it All” 2000’s
54. Rush “The Trees” 1970’s
55. Silversun Pickups “Lazy Eye” 2000’s
56. Smashing Pumpkins “Today” 1990’s
57. Social Distortion “I Was Wrong” 1990’s
58. Sonic Youth “Teenage Riot” 1980’s
59. Soundgarden “Spoonman” 1990’s
60. Squeeze “Cool for Cats” 1970’s
61. Steely Dan “Bodhitsattva” 1970’s
62. Steve Miller Band “Rock’n Me” 1970’s
63. Survivor “Eye of the Tiger” 1980’s
64. System of a Down “Chop Suey” 2000’s
65. Talking Heads “Psycho Killer” 1970’s
66. Tenacious D “Master Exploder” 2000’s
67. Testament “Souls of Black” 1990’s
68. The Donnas “New Kid in School” 2000’s
69. The Go-Go’s “We Got the Beat” 1980’s
70. The Grateful Dead “Alabama Getaway” 1980’s
71. The Guess Who “American Woman” 1970’s
72. The Muffs “Kids in America” 1990’s
73. The Offspring “Come Out & Play (Keep ‘em Separated)” 1990’s
74. The Replacements “Alex Chilton” 1980’s
75. The Who “Pinball Wizard” 1960’s
Bonus Artist Bonus Song Title Decade
76. Abnormality “Visions” 2000’s
77. Anarchy Club “Get Clean” 2000’s
78. Bang Camaro “Night Lies” 2000’s
79. Breaking Wheel “Shoulder to the Plow” 2000’s
80. The Libyans “Neighborhood” 2000’s
81. The Main Drag “A Jagged Gorgeous Winter” 2000’s
82. Speck “Conventional Lover” 2000’s
83. The Sterns “Supreme Girl” 2000’s
84. That Handsome Devil “Rob the Prez-O-Dent” 2000’s

** The Rock Band 2 on-disc track list is comprised entirely of master recordings.

More news about music on the Rock Band platform will be announced during the coming months.

Rock Band 2 will make its debut on Xbox 360™ video game and entertainment system from Microsoft this September and have an exclusive launch window in North America. Rock Band 2 will be available for the PLAYSTATION® 3 and PlayStation® 2 computer entertainment systems and Wii™ later this year.

The Rock Band online Music Store recently surpassed 16 million paid downloads since the game’s launch in late November 2007.With more than 200 tracks available to date on disc and via download purchase (complete list of tracks at http://www.rockband.com/dlc), the massive Rock Band Music Store allows players to preview and purchase downloadable individual music tracks, packs and albums from the vast selection of offerings available as they build their own custom Rock Band library.

Rock Band 2 is rated “T” for Teen (lyrics, suggestive themes) by the ESRB.

[Kotaku]

Wal-Mart Memo: PS3 to be "Replaced" in August

Mark Wilson — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 12:30:00 EDT

According to an internal Wal-Mart document (that gaming blog Joystiq scored from a reliable source), the current 40GB PS3 will be replaced "with a new model in early August." Of course, "new model" could mean a lot of things, including a slightly altered 40GB SKU including an extra game, different controller or, who knows, even an Xbox 360! Hopefully we'll hear more about this alleged Sony/Microsoft partnership at E3 next week. [joystiq]

Sony Explains What Went Wrong with Firmware 2.4

Mark Wilson — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 11:08:00 EDT

PlayStation 3 firmware 2.4 bricked a few systems, was eventually pulled and then, today, got rereleased as firmware 2.41. Hooray!! But wait a second...what exactly went wrong with 2.4 in the first place? Sony has gone on the record with an official explanation:

The PLAYSTATION®3 (PS3™) system software version 2.41 is now available for update from July 8, 2008. With this update, we have fixed the problem that prevented a limited number of PS3s from activating properly after updating to version 2.40, when certain system administrative data were contained on the HDD...

...We apologise for any inconvenience this may have caused you and appreciate your understanding and continued support.

Damn that system administrative data! It gets us every time. [ThreeSpeech]

PlayStation 3 Firmware 2.41 Available Now

Kit Eaton — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 03:57:00 EDT

It's not quite midweek, but according to readers at Sony's PlayStation blog, the new firmware update 2.41 for PlayStation3 is now available for download. Hopefully when you fire up your update it'll be a smoother process than for some 2.40 users. Update: the new, improved update has brought a nice new, improved platinum trophy with it—photo below.

[Kotaku and Playstation Blog—Thanks Eric]

PlayStation 3 Firmware 2.41 Coming "Midweek"

Mark Wilson — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 08:48:00 EDT

Sony's firmware 2.40 for the PS3 was pulled from servers after bricking several systems. Now at least one customer support service is reporting that firmware 2.41 will be released later this week. While Sony has yet to send out an official press release on the topic, it's looking like those who didn't download their in-game XMB fix fast enough will indeed get it soon. As for the bricking problem, it can be solved with solutions anywhere from a simple reboot to yanking the hard drive and formatting it on a PC. Oh, and crying to Sony like a baby probably helps, too. [CVG]

10 Things We Still Want in PlayStation 3 Firmware (i.e. NOT In-Game XMB)

Mark Wilson — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 11:00:00 EDT

Sony's latest PlayStation 3 firmware update 2.4 brought what the fanboys have been crying about since the console's inception—in-game access to the console's Cross Media Bar (XMB). But I'll tell you something, in-game XMB is fine and dandy, yes, but there were more pressing issues that Sony should have fixed first. In fact, I count 10 of 'em (because a list of nine would get me fired).

Smarter Firmware Updates
Let me agree to terms and conditions—a tiny 1K file transfer—before downloading the whole software update. Then once the update downloads it can roll into an install without me having to push some stupid buttons on the controller.

Automatic Downloaded-Game Installation
We're really still manually installing downloads, background or otherwise? Seriously? No, seriously? We shouldn't be dealing with installs at all, frankly.

Real Keyboard Support
The PS3 "supports" a mouse and keyboard. But keyboard support is still not functional or assignable in most games. Some middleware solutions would be nice here, Sony. I should be able to play anything on a mouse and keyboard by mapping SIXAXIS/DualShock3 buttons.

In-Game Web Browsing
OK, so here's an instance where we can access the XMB while in a game, but we can't really access it. Because you can't browse the web while in a game. I'd love the option to look up walkthroughs...err...hints and tips without going to the computer.

Controllers Don't Charge Without PS3 "On"
Why do I need to leave on my entire PS3 to charge one controller? A firmware update could program the USB portion of the console to stay powered on while charging like, say, the Xbox 360.

PS Home
Oh, I haven't forgotten. Though I'm becoming more bored by this once novel concept every day it doesn't appear.

Account Management
Let's just stick all those account management menus into the PlayStation Store. That way if I need to make changes to my account (something that would probably be prompted by a transaction at the PS Store), I don't need to revisit dead gray screen land.

Background Folding@Home
I'm as lazily, unconsciously altruistic as the next guy, so work with Stanford to make Folding @ Home even better. Let me use it as a background process for when I'm just hanging out on the dashboard, or browsing the PS Store. I know that playing some MP3s doesn't use all of the PlayStation 3's power, so let's use some of that extra number crunching to cure the world, or whatever.

Screengrabs
Any game, any time, I want to be able to perform a screengrab. I want to then be able to save the screengrab to my photo library or message it to a friend. This software technology has long been figured out, and it'd be nice to have for showing everyone how awesome I am all the time.

Lower Power Standby
The PS3's primary standby mode is super low energy. But if you want to access Remote Play (XMB, pictures, etc) through the PSP, it's suddenly sucking as much power as five refrigerators just sitting there. Surely there is a clever way that the PS3 can be activated through an SMS or email system that would make it more eco-friendly than just being on all the time. Remote Play is not something I'll use every day. And because of that, I've turned off the function completely—which is a shame because it's a pretty incredible idea.

It's not that the latest firmware update is bad; it's that the whole interface is so pleasurable to use and packing so much customization (for a console) that the rough spots can stand out even more. Come on, Sony, let's make the PS3 unbelievable.

Sony Pulls PS3 2.40 Update To Fix Bricking Issues

Jason Chen — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 16:52:16 EDT

Sony's just pulled the 2.40 PS3 firmware update due to reports of it bricking and causing various other problems. If you're unlucky enough to already have installed it and ran into issues, Kotaku has a few solutions up. If not, just hold off until the fixed release is available soon. UPDATE: Sony has issued an official statement acknowledging the situation, below.

[Kotaku, Playstation Blog]

As has been reported on many gaming blogs and websites, we have temporarily taken Firmware v2.40 offline. We’ve received a limited number of calls from consumers experiencing an issue with installing the system software update on their PS3. While our consumer services department has seen a low volume of calls on this topic, we are committed to providing the PS3 community with XMB access features delivered in the v2.40 update. We are working diligently to isolate the problem for those few consumers and to identify a solution before we put the firmware back up.

We’ll provide further information as necessary here on the Blog.

Nyko Media Hub Beefs Up Newer, Wimpier PS3s

Mark Wilson — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 10:32:00 EDT

Those who threw down the extra cash for a first gen PlayStation 3 got a few bonuses in return—the newer 40GB version is shy a few USB ports, a memory card reader and hardware-based backwards compatibility. Nyko is solving two of these problems with their Media Hub, a 3-port USB hub with media card reader (SD and Memory Stick). Compatible with all available PS3s, the Media Hub snaps seamlessly onto consoles and works from a horizontal or vertical position. Expect the Media Hub to hit stores this August for $20. Sorry you're still jacked with the backwards compatibility stuff. [Nyko]

PlayStation 3 Firmware 2.4 Bricking Some PS3s

Mark Wilson — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 09:39:00 EDT

It's not uncommon for firmware updates to go wonky, and apparently Sony's 2.4 PS3 update is no exception. The PlayStation forums are scattered with various reports of bricked PS3s—users report that upon booting their system, the SIXAXIS controller will not sync and the video signal is blank with no sound. Unfortunately, you can never tell how widespread these issues are when the sampling is just one messageboard. And I've updated my 60GB launch unit without issue. Suckers.

Seriously though, any problems to report? (Suckers?) [PlayStation Forums via Maxconsole]

PlayStation 3 2.40 Firmware Now Live (Trophies, In-Game XMB)

Jason Chen — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 01:11:01 EDT

Go download that 2.40 firmware update now for your PS3! It's got trophies, in-game XMB as well as a Google Search Bar. The trophies (achievements from Xbox 360) will be great for hardcore gamers, and the in-game XMB, which allows you to access various settings and send messages to your friends while inside games, makes for a very convenient gaming experience. We've got a video walkthrough as well as photos here. Seriously, go get it now or else you're going to have to spend 15 minutes doing it later when you actually want to play something online.

Dealzmodo: DualShock 3 For $41

Jason Chen — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 13:00:00 EDT

The incredibly expensive DualShock 3 for the PS3 costs $54 normally, but you can get it now for 25% off over at GoGamer. This brings it down to the to wireless Xbox 360 controller's $39 and is a lot easier to stomach. The most egregious pricing has to be from Nintendo, where the Wiimote and Nunchuck alone add up to $59. But yes, pick one of these DualShocks up if only for the incredibly hilarious joke they pull off with it in Metal Gear Solid 4—which you should pick up as well. [GoGamer via PS3 Fanboy]

PlayStation 3 Firmware 2.4 in Photographs

Mark Wilson — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 10:45:00 EDT

We've already seen two videos of Sony's latest 2.4 firmware for the PS3 (that hits July 2nd, incidentally), but sometimes the story is easily told in good old fashioned photography. So here are some direct feed shots of the new firmware, including plenty of material on the new ~~achievements~~ trophies. There's nothing jaw-dropping going on here, but the integration looks simple and clean. And that's certainly worth something. [GameLife and PS3Fanboy via Kotaku]

PS3 New Firmware In-Game XMB Demonstrated, Coming July 2

Jesus Diaz — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 05:00:00 EDT

At last it's here: in-game crossbar menubar in the PlayStation 3. Sony's Eric Lempel says it's coming ~~"very soon"~~ on July 2 as part of PS3 Firmware v.2.40, and in the meantime he teases PS3 fans with its features, as well as the other new functions like the Google Search Bar or the new Trophy system, which looks great in the following video.

It is pretty easy to work with: click at any time on the PlayStation button and XMB will pop up on top of the game you are playing. From there you can do anything you can normally do in the main crossbar: read and send messages online, change games, activate your Bluetooth set, or change the game music soundtrack to your favorite music playlist. According to Eric, it will work in "the majority of games." [Playstation Blog and PS3 Fanboy]

Sony Playstation 3 Graphics Chips Going More Energy Efficient 65nm This Fall

Brian Lam — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 22:06:22 EDT

The Cell processor in ye old PS3 has been getting the 65nm treatment since the holiday, but the RSX graphics chips inside should get the same in the fall, resulting in slightly more reliable, more energy efficient chips. [Kotaku]

Life With PlayStation: Wii-like Weather and News on PS3

Mark Wilson — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 10:09:00 EDT

At today's Sony press conference, SCE president Kaz Hirai revealed new software on the way to all PS3s. Dubbed "Life With PlayStation," it's a virtual globe that can be explored to reveal weather and news. And while, sure, it sounds a lot like Nintendo's forecast and news channels (almost identical in theory, really), it also could be a lot better.

The key difference is that while Nintendo's globe is fun enough to use, it's essentially just spinning around a cartoon. The PS3's globe will not only be displayed in a far higher resolution (1080p we're guessing), but it will feature a global weather satellite image. So instead of just seeing the forecast, users will be able to see the weather.

In addition, clicking on regional news will load up a webpage, which some are interpreting to mean that Sony is more open to their news content partners than Nintendo's closed system.

And then the globe will go one step further into the future. According to Hirai:

For the primary version the application sticks to the present time but in the future we plan to build a system that can visually present stored photos and movies according to their recorded time and place, allowing users with their friends and family to enjoy the visuals in chronological order.

As usual, I'm sure it makes for a beautiful tech demo. But until we get a firm release date, it's just another PlayStation Home. [Kotaku and PCWorld]

PlayStation Network Factoids (Now With Eco Preaching!)

Mark Wilson — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 08:24:00 EDT

Sony revealed some new numbers about their PlayStation Network today. There are 9.8 million registrants worldwide and they've downloaded 170 million files. All in all, PSN has distributed 86 peta bytes of data worth something like 17 million (single layer) DVDs (read: not Blu-ray discs). Now think about those 17 million DVDs stacked in a big, stinky pile and tell us with a straight face that digital distribution, despite how much we love our pretentious vinyl collection and ripping our own CDs, is not progress that will make for a better world. [Kotaku]