Eversince it has been confirmed that PS3 will be supporting Linux, the homebrew community rejoiced at the possibility of running 'brew on Sony's next-gen console. So when PS3 was launched and the Linux Addon CD (plus the OtherOS installer) was released, everybody knew that we are but just steps away from having Linux (and all that Linux represents, of course) on the PS3. And soon enough, we were able to provide PS3 users with full installation instructions for Fedora Core 5 (but take note that any PPC Linux distro can be installed) on the PS3. What everybody's been waiting for though is Yellow Dog Linux v5.0.

Yep, the latest version of Terra Soft's YDL has been confirmed for the PS3 and everybody's been on the lookout for its release. We already got details on what it's gonna offer and how it's gonna be installed. Now we're pretty sure not every PS3 user was lucky enough to have downloaded the distro (from YDL.net) last November 26 but we have here the next best thing - pictures!

Japanese site FIXSTARS has posted images of YDL v5.0 booted on a PS3. While it doesn't show much - just the welcome sign, terms of agreement, settings, and login windows - at least we can now all take a glimpse at what the hype is all about. Don't be shy, click on the thumbnails to get a better view...you just might find yourself itching for December 11 (when you can finally purchase the distro's DVD in stores) or the week of Christmas (when Install and Source ISOs can actually be downloaded via public mirrors) to go speeding by.

Click on "Full Article" to see YDL v5.0 in pictures!

We here at QJ try our best to heed to your clamor for the latest news on anything PlayStation 3 - screens, reviews, news, and other what-have yous. We do hope we are able to fulfill these fanboy needs...but we also admit that there are times when you are just miles away from internet connection and QJ is not accessible to give you your PS3 fill. That's why we're introducing you to Imagine Publishing's latest product: Next3.

The same makers of the PlayStation-dedicated UK magazine Play now presents you with a magazine that covers anything and everything about Sony's next-generation console. Next3, UK's first and only PS3-only mag, will offer in-depth news, previews and reviews of upcoming games plus a section that will highlight PS3’s multimedia and networking capabilities (i.e., Blu-ray movie reviews, online gaming and cutting edge technology).

Selling for £4 starting on August 10, Next3 will come out in 13 issues a year. Just take a good look at the cover for what you'll expect in the maiden issue. And you might also want to save another £4 for the next release, which will come with a free covermounted DVD containing high-quality PS3 video footage, features and trailers, interviews and reviews and other bonus materials. While waiting for the first issue to come out, remember to stay tuned to QJ...as we'll keep those PS3 news coming.

I think no one will disagree if I say that Final Fantasy is one of the most successful franchises ever made. To date, there are now 12 titles to the Final Fantasy numbered series, one successful MMO, a couple of games for mobile phones, three anime productions, and two full-length CGI films. Surely, such massive success is a collaboration of a few smart minds. 1UP gives us a good look at one of those minds - Yoshitaka Amano, character designer of the first six FF games.

Of course, this 53-year old (54 by July 28 - a few days from now) Japanese was not a FF designer all his life. He first spent 15 years at Tatsunoko Productions, which is famous for Speed Racer, Gatchaman, and Neon Genesis Evangelion. He landed a spot designing characters for Final Fantasy when, after leaving Tatsunoko, his exhibits in New York City, Los Angeles, Germany, and Switzerland displayed a unique, delicate, and ethereal distinction.

His talents were not limited to the Final Fantasy series though. He also worked with Neil Gaiman on some Sandman title and also did some work for Marvel and DC Comics. Yet even though he's considered one of the most talented and in demand artists nowadays, he remains a humble and generous person as reflected in this documentation of a day spent by 1UP's James Mielke with the famed Japanese artist.

Read Mielke's interview and view the three installment videos of the "A Day in the Life of Yoshitaka Amano" docu by clicking on the link below.

Good news for Sony fanboys and girls: production of the PlayStation 3 has begun! Apparently, Asustek Computers, considered one of the biggest computer components producer, has already shipped PS3 consoles to Sony. If this is true, it can only mean one thing: the November launch is pushing through (Yey!).

With the 200,000 component sets shipped to Asus in June, a small volume has already been assembled and shipped back to Sony early this month. The number of consoles to be built by Asus is said to increase as the launch date approaches, with September and October marking a shipment to Asus of more than one million component sets.

There have been no reports regarding Foxconn Electronics, which was also reported to help build Sony's next-generation console, receiving any PS3 component parts. Chinese newspaper Apple Daily writes that Foxconn will start assembly operations when demand rises.

Now this is something new. While some Xbox 360 fanatics will go through everything just to defend their console of choice, Microsoft fanboy (he said it himself!) Charles Husemann decided to run to Playstation 3's aid and present us with reasons why Playstation 3 is a good console. Take note, just "good" and not "better than Xbox 360". Apparently, Husemann is still a Microsoft fanboy through and through to not have taken pains putting the two next-gen consoles side-by-side.

Although there were points brought that may seem to be against the PS3, Husemann always had something to counter these. Of course, the issue with the PS3's price was put into consideration. Husemann's answer? Sony's upcoming console is expensive because "there a lot of brand new cutting edge technology in the device and we all know that bleeding edge technology does not come cheaply.... It is about creating an entertainment hub in your living room."

There was also a good comparison with PS3's controller and that of Wii's. Interestingly, Husemann does not think Sony copied Nintendo. He even pointed out that this controller idea of Wii may be "innovative, new or cool", the technology that came with it was not exactly new, adding that "the technology has been around in one form or another for years and that [Nintendo has] done a good job of taking existing tech and re-packaging it in a more consumer friendly way".

Then he touched on Sony's online service. Reading about a Microsoft fanboy defending the Hub against Xbox Live was really interesting. Husemann said that instead of "copying" Microsoft, Sony just "evolved" the service. There were also points that explained how Sony's Hub may actually fare better than XBL.

The whole article was pretty interesting. So whether you're a Sony fanatic or a Microsoft fanboy, I suggest you head over to the full article and try seeing an Xbox 360 fan's positive take on Sony's next-gen console.

After almost being shot down before it even gets out of the gates, God of War is starting to prove that it was worth a risk for Sony with the possibility of reaching a third installment. Sony Santa Monica creative director and first God of War director David Jaffe has just hinted that God of War may indeed be a trilogy.

"As Cory [Barlog, God of War 2 director] and I have said to the press, [God of War 2]  is the second act of a bigger story. And when you are making a game, you never really know if the game will turn out good enough to merit another one in the series. But after last week, I can say I am very confident of our chances to be able to complete the GOD OF WAR trilogy. You never know, but that's me just putting it out there," says Jaffe.

If indeed a third God of War game is in the works, will it be safe to assume that it will be for Sony's next gen console? After all, Playstation 3 is set to be launched late this year and it will be pretty much logical. But that's just me -- what do you think? Meanwhile God of War 2 will be out for Playstation 2 in 2007.

Thanks loudninja for the tip!

For months now, there were talks that software developers are shying away from the PlayStation 3 due to the difficulty and high-costs of developing for Sony's console entails. But Sony frontman Phil Harrison says this is not really the case.

Harrison even pointed out that compared to PS2, their next-gen console will not only be easier to develop for - it will also be cheaper. As he explains, the PS2 heeded to developer's clamor to be able to "write direct to the metal" as opposed to the PS1 where there were software resource libraries available for developers to program with. And since the techniques for developing for the PS2 was a "bit hard", there were mixed reactions from developers.

With the PS3 cell chip, however, things will be "completely different". This time out, developers will no longer need to develop specialized skills, they only need to know of "general-purpose programming languages" to create games for the PS3. Since this will entail a smoother, less demanding coding process, Harrison concludes that "The PlayStation 3 is, definitely, easier and cheaper to develop for, relative to the same period on the PS2".

The PlayStation 3 has been causing waves eversince it was first introduced last year. And Sony has caused fanboys to even be more excited with their next-gen console when they officially announced it in this year's E3.

Official specs have been announced but this didn't stop the video gaming public from speculating that there may still be some PS3 features Sony hasn't announced and that more can still be expected from the upcoming console. Sean Nunan was one of them.

Looking at the PS3 and seeing a trunk-like flap (highlighted in red in the image above) at the front of the console, he became curious about a couple of things: Does it open? If yes, how? And what lies beneath? Sean Nunan may be one creative genius because his questions led him to come up with a few mock-ups of what must be underneath that trunk.

See Sean Nunan's suggestions on what may be underneath the PS3 trunk after the jump!

Eventhough the only next-gen console available right now is Microsoft's Xbox 360, the announcements of Sony PlayStation 3 and Nintendo Wii have officially started the next-gen wars. And while fans of the different consoles defend their consoles of choice, Yahoo! tries to decipher which console will eventually emerge as the winner.

Yahoo's Adam Pavska, who "beyond the hype to see how Sony's upcoming PlayStation 3 stacks up against Microsoft's big white box", started his analysis by looking into the official specs of both the Xbox 360 and the PS3. Then he moved on to reviewing the games lined-up for both sides. Here, he states that "the Xbox 360 already has an advantage", noting that Microsoft's bet "has already seen a few standouts and as the summer presses on, more are sure to come". The last things in Pavska's examination was both console's high-definition offerings and movie formats.

If you think Pavska ended the review siding with one of the consoles, you're wrong. Ha still played it safe, trying not to ignite the ire of Microsoft and Sony fanboys. He concluded his article with, "Unlike the last generation, where Sony clearly held a commanding lead, the next generation of gaming is going to be a much closer race between the behemoths of Microsoft and Sony. Though there were many skeptics last fall, the past eight months have shown the Xbox 360 to be a very capable system and more than powerful enough to challenge the PlayStation 3."

If you want to see how the two consoles compete with each other, Adam Pavska's full analysis can be found here. For Wii lovers, don't worry, Pavska included a mention of Nintendo's console, "there's the cost-conscious consumer that simply wants to play games and doesn't really care about media center features or hi-def movies. If you fall into this category, there's always the Wii! Nintendo's unique platform is the only one coming in at a confirmed sub-$250 point, with a sophisticated motion-sensing controller, and a proven track record of being inventive with new technology."

Now this is new. Sony has done its best recently to prove that they will remain the leader in the next-gen console war; they even went as far as saying that their upcoming console, the much-awaited PlayStation 3, will manage to contribute $5M to Sony sales even if launched without games. This time out, Sony Computer Entertainment Ireland MD Niall O'Hanrahan says some words that borders humility and pessimism.

Instead of expressing full confidence in their next-gen console, O'Hanharan says, "We would never say we cannot fail." He pointed out that until launch date, nothing is a done deal and that Sony needs to give maximum effort to remain on top.

O'Hanharan's concern come from his observations during E3, stating that Sony has to worry about things beyond Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii. "Competition is now not limited to direct competition. We compete with MP3 players. We noticed at E3 that games for PCs are back."

Well you know what the good book says, "All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted." Let's just wish this one applies for Mr. O'Hanharan come PS3's launch.