PlayStation 3

Burnout Paradise Bikes Pack also brings Day and Night gameplays

Mabie A. — 2008-08-29T18:30:54-07:00

"A big moment in Burnout history is just around the corner."

And we can't wait to round that corner, for sure. Criterion Games producer Jeremy Chubb has posted an update on the Bikes Pack of Burnout Paradise(PS3, Xbox 360), the next free content that's coming your way. But if you thought bikes are all there is to this new content, you're flat out wrong.

Apart from them roaring bikes, they'll also be introducing the Night gameplay to Paradise City, and you can bet it ain't no easy stroll in the park - or ride in a bike. Chubb says that when you select one of the bikes, it triggers the unlocking of truckloads of new gameplay: 70 new challenges, 38 new against-the-clock races (Burning Rides) and new "Road Rules record times for 64 streets.

That's not all (yes, there's more)! When the sun sets at 8PM, the game becomes a whole new kind of fun. Get ready and strap on tight your helmets cos the Midnight Rides are set to carouse through the empty streets. And the night continues on from 8PM to 8AM. Sweet time-warp, huh?

For online players, the game will automatically be set to the host time, fast forwarding through day and night. Really, this is looking to be such a sweet ride. Coming soon, guys. So just hang in there tight.

Related Burnout Paradise Bikes Pack Articles:

Buy: [Burnout Paradise (PS3)]
Buy: [Burnout Paradise (Xbox 360)]

Life with PlayStation coming very soon, supports Folding@home

Mabie A. — 2008-08-29T18:24:53-07:00

"The Life with PlayStation application is looking good," so says Senior Development Manager for SCEA R&D Noam Rimon. In a post on the PlayStation Blogs today, he confirmed that the application is indeed nearing its launch.

What's more, it's gonna be offered as a free service and will easily be accessible directly from the XMB. For those of you giving blank looks as to what Life with PlayStation is, then listen up. It will feed live content on to your PS3 with updates on news and weather, complete with stunning visuals and a global map that is interactive.

Apart from that, it will be combined with the highly successful Folding@home project. As you all know, leaving your PS3 running helps Stanford researchers continue their work on the discovery of cures to several diseases like Alzheimer's and cancers. Therefore, when you tune in to Life with PlayStation, you will essentially be continuing the Folding@home project as well.

Neat little package, huh? Anyhow, the only thing keeping them now from actually releasing the app are some paperworks. Hopefully that won't take too long now. Keep you posted on updates on this.

Peek-a-boo: Dead Space gets pre-Halloween release

Gino D. — 2008-08-29T14:28:24-07:00

Everyone previously thought that Dead Space would get a timely release for Halloween this year. October 31 - no better date than to release what could be this year's freakiest game on the market. We learn today via press release, however, that the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions of the game will be coming in a few days early.

Electronic Arts has announced that, due to speedy developments in producing the game, they're able to release it early on October 24. That's a full week right before its original assumed date of October 31.

The PC version is set to follow the PS3 and 360 releases though, and it's still clocked for an October 31 street date.

Buy: [Dead Space (Xbox 360)]
Buy: [Dead Space (PS3)]

PS3's PlayTV: you can record TV content while playing games

Isaac C. — 2008-08-29T13:04:30-07:00

Good news for PlayStation 3 gamers in the UK when PlayTV launches next month. According to Sony, the service will allow you to record TV content while playing video games.

Makes sense, right? An extremely useful feature If you feel like playing video games instead of watching shows, but your favorite show happens to be on.

The Guardian's Greg Howson explains in his review of the service:

There will be a message in the final build of the code that will ask you to reboot your PS3 to enable the background recording functionality. [...] Unfortunately you can't record two programmes at once - you can record one channel and watch Live TV on another though - which feels a little restrictive.

Also of note in Howson's review is that PSP transfer from the PlayStation 3 requires a conversion process of videos, which is "fiddly" enough to make most users feel that it's not worth it. Although he does note that remote play worked well.

PlayTV will launch September 19 in the UK, with the rest of the Europe, and Australia and New Zealand to follow.

New MGS4 passwords for in-game swag: iPod track, MK.II scanning plug

Gino D. — 2008-08-29T11:10:23-07:00

New Metal Gear Solid 4 passwords for in-game freebies have been revealed by Famitsu.

Those who've completed the game know the drill: just type in the password at the Extras menu that shows up after you finish the game, and it'll unlock the free swag. And the magic words, as revealed by Famitsu, are:

skynytktjp: unlocks Mk.II scanning plug
mgo2play: unlocks "Subsistence Action" track in Snake's iPod

There's a lot more passwords out there that you can search for. And with a game like MGS4, lots of interesting Easter Eggs too.

Some of them you might already have come across; some of them require a bit more effort. To get you started on a hunt, visit our forums via the link below to learn about a couple of Easter Eggs in MGS4 that you might have missed.

Visit: PS3 forum on MGS4 Secrets/Easter Eggs

Kojima-Raymond's Metal Creed Solid 4: Assassins of the Patriots

PSN US August 28 update: The Last Guy, SoulCalibur 4, NHL 09 demo, more

Gino D. — 2008-08-29T10:23:31-07:00

This week's PlayStation Network update had a full gamut of available free content to download. The PlayStation Store PC had little to offer for PSP users (just a couple of wallpapers and a theme), but content available for the PS3 has a lot to offer.

Hope you still have credit left after Ratchet & Clank: Quest for Booty last week, because the first guy on the list is The Last Guy, coming in for about 10 bucks - anything's worth it, if zombies are involved! And then there's also free demos for SoulCalibur 4 and NHL 09. Here's the full list.

PlayStation Network

Downloadable Games

The Last Guy ($9.99)

Add-on Game Content

Warhawk Fallen Star Pack ($7.99)
Warhawk Booster Combo ($15.99)
Rock Band

She Does - Locksley ($0.99)
Don t Make Me Wait - Locksley ($0.99)
Don t Make Me Wait - Locksley ($0.99)
All Over Again - Locksley ($0.99)
Locksley Pack 1 ($2.99) - includes: All Over Again, Don t Make Me Wait, and She Does by Locksley.

Game demos (free)

NHL 09 Demo
SOULCALIBUR IV Demo

Videos (free)

SOCOM Confrontation Extraction trailer
LittleBigPlanet Leipzig Sackzilla Trailer
Motorstorm Pacific Rift Leipzig Trailer
PAIN Trauma Mode Trailer
GT5 Prologue Play the Pros with Tanner Foust!
Brothers in Arms: Hell s Highway Machine Gun & Bazooka Video
Brothers in Arms: Hell s Highway Squad Gameplay Video
Facebreaker Audition Video #1
Facebreaker Audition Video #2
Facebreaker Audition Video #3
Madden NFL 09 Gameplay Trailer
Madden NFL 09 Madden Moments Trailer
Madden NFL 09 Play Call Trailer
Top Spin 3 Player Creator Trailer

Movies and Blu-ray trailers (free)

Quantum Of Solace Trailer
Prom Night Trailer

PS3 Wallpaper (free)

The Last Guy Wallpaper (x2)

PC Store

PSP Themes (free)

Cake Mania: Baker s Challenge theme

PSP Wallpaper (free)

PSP Wallpapers Series 1 wallpaper (x3)
Hot Shots Golf Open Tee 2 wallpaper (x2)
Cake Mania: Baker s Challenge wallpaper (x3)

PSN US August 21 update: Leipzig videos, golfer Kratos, and more

BD-J PS3Filer unofficial update/recode: image handling removed, file handling improved

Isaac C. — 2008-08-29T09:42:01-07:00

PS3Filer, the Playstation 3's first NES emulator, has been given an unofficial update by Dark-Show. Image handling is no longer supported, and directory handling has been temporarily taken out and replaced with better file handling, thanks to a new file scrolling feature to the menu system.

Sound has not been fixed yet, although Dark-Show is looking into it - although he does concede that the original author of the program might be able to address it first. A new mode has also been added. Here are the changes according to Dark-Show:

hey, i've spent that last day or so making the menu system and screen sections better on PS3Filer. i've also taken out image handeling as i see no need for it, and i never though this would be a public release. Directory hendeling has been removed for a short period but it is replaced with better file hendeling, as i've added file scrolling to the menu system.

hope you like it and you dont need to tell me about sound, im looking into it, unless the original author beats me to it.

P.S. now that i think of it, i've also added a new mode, its activated by pressing the green button in the dvd menu, its better to do it in the menu as it can leave (very annoying) garbage behind.

Download: PS3Filer unofficial update/recode
Visit: QJ.NET PS3 Forums

PlayStation 3 homebrew gets NES emulator: Filer v0.0.3

Square Enix - Tecmo takeover: Square Enix willing to pay a premium for Tecmo shares

Victor B. — 2008-08-29T08:13:43-07:00

More incoming on the Square Enix - Tecmo talks. Square Enix recently sent out a statement explaining what they're willing to give for Tecmo. Apparently, Square Enix is willing to pay a premium for controlling interest in Tecmo.

According to the arrangement being offered by Square Enix, the company is willing to pay a 30 premium on the shares they'd like to buy from Tecmo.

The actual yen value fluctuates, but essentially, instead of paying approximately 710 yen (US 6.50) per share, Square Enix is willing to pay approximately 923 yen (US 8.50) per share to acquire a controlling interest in Tecmo.

Tecmo's board of directors have until September 4 to respond to Square Enix's offer. If the offer is rejected, Square Enix has stated that it will withdraw its offer.

Those of you who have an understanding of Japanese can check out the actual statement offered by Square Enix via the source link below. In the meantime, feel free to voice your opinions on the deal in the comments below.

Square Enix reveals plans of taking over Tecmo

Square Enix reveals plans of taking over Tecmo

Mabie A. — 2008-08-28T18:56:22-07:00

The take-over business is sure the in thing nowadays, isn't it? Apart from the whole Electronic Arts-Take Two hullaballoo, there's another one in the works, this time concerning Square Enix and Tecmo.

At 1PM today in Japan, Square Enix unveiled its plans of taking over game developer company Tecmo. The developer, responsible for bringing us solid hits like Ninja Gaiden and Dead or Alive, has been in quite some trouble for a while now, having Tomonobu Itagaki filing a lawsuit against them, and with employees resigning and grumbling about unfair business practices. Just last week, president Yoshimi Yasuda resigned, who will then be replaced by the board of directors chair, Yasuharu Kakihara, starting September 1st.

The acquisition gameplan of Squeenix is in line with the publisher's strategy of get a stronger grasp in the U.S. market, as well as to improve and further strengthen Squeenix' portfolio.

More details are sure to roll out on this acquisition in the following days, so be sure to stay tuned for that. In the meantime, we're hoping that things really do pick up for Tecmo if the takeover does happen, and that it goes smoothly, unlike with the long-drawn EA-T2 issue.

Play Fallout 3 at the Penny Arcade Expo 2008

Victor B. — 2008-08-28T09:47:12-07:00

Yes folks, you read that right. It seems that this year's Penny Arcade Expo will be the public's first chance to try out Fallout 3 (Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC), among other things.

Bethesda recently announced that they will have six kiosks at their booth that will allow the gaming populace to try out Fallout 3. We're assuming that those will be two kiosks each for each version of the game, but we could be wrong.

Moving on... Bethesda also announced that they would be handing out Vault Dweller Survival Guides to the folks that stop by the booth.

A Fallout 3 demo will also be given at the Main Theatre on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. According to the blog post they made, it'll be a "pretty lengthy demo" and they also hinted at the possibility of more freebies at the end of the demonstration. For those who won't be able to go to PAX though, Bethesda also said that they would come out with a new gameplay video on Friday that acts as a condensed version of the PAX demo.

Lastly, 9 p.m. at the Raven Theatre signals the beginning of Bethesda's Post-Apocalyptic Movie Night, where the movies that'll be shown are voted on by the public. From the looks of things though, 12 Monkeys and The Road Warrior are going to be shown, so you can watch them at PAX if you feel like it.

In any event, that's all the Bethesda goodness we have for you today. Keep checking QJ for more updates as they happen.

Fallout 3 coming in October

Buy: [Fallout 3 Survival Edition (PlayStation 3)]
Buy: [Fallout 3 Survival Edition (Windows)]
Buy: [Fallout 3 Survival Edition (Xbox 360)]

Live from the Himalayas: The Last Guy 'developer interview' trailer

Victor B. — 2008-08-28T07:47:32-07:00

If the world were about to be overrun by zombie hordes, the best place for any person to be in would probably be the Himalayas. That said, it takes a pretty strange threesome of developers to make a game about zombie hordes invading the earth when they're stuck way up in the mountains, and that's exactly what this The Last Guy developer video is all about.

This nearly seven-minute video chronicles the development process of The Last Guy from the three (presumably) Indian fellows who built the game from their little shack in the Himalayas. Assisted by their goat (and said goat's milk), they go on to explain the basic functions of their game.

As you can probably guess, the whole thing sounds fishy. For those of you who haven't picked up on it yet, It's a spoof of the developer videos most companies come out with these days, complete with one developer going insane and thinking he's the actual "Last Guy" from the videogame they're making. Sigh... those nutty Sony people and their trailers.

In any event, feel free to watch the vid and enjoy this humble primer for The Last Guy straight from the HImalayas.

The Last Guy gameplay video, details

Red Line replaces Transmission Games as Sin City developer

Charles D. — 2008-08-27T22:35:57-07:00

While fans of Frank Miller's Sin City still have a long wait before they see their favorite comic book heroes' (or anti-heroes in this case) debut on consoles, publisher Red Line has decided to replace Transmission Games as the developer for the said video game title.

Red Mile recently confirmed this statement to GameSpot, when the company announced that it will be replacing Transmission with a so far unnamed development house. The reason behind this is that Transmission will be very busy for the rest of the year porting Heroes Over Europe to the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.

Details regarding the Sin City game has been rather spare, however. Aside from making use of Unreal Engine 3, reports earlier this year indicated that the game will go live by Christmas of 2009 for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and Wii.

Quartermann: Max Payne 3, a new Rockstar PS3 exclusive title, more

Charles D. — 2008-08-27T18:52:15-07:00

The Qmann is back in the latest issue of EGM and has a lot of juicy tidbits to grind in the old rumor mill. Some of these include updates on the rumored Max Payne 3 game that is currently in the works, and word of a new PlayStation 3 exclusive title from none other than the developers of the Grand Theft Auto series, Rockstar.

Quartermann explained that the original developers of Max Payne, Remedy Entertainment, is too busy to work on the supposed sequel, concentrating all of their efforts on Alan Wake(Xbox 360, PC) instead. However, this doesn't mean Max Payne 3 is destined to end up in a vapory grave. The internal Rockstar team that created The Warriors will be picking up the project and will continue development on it.

Speaking of Rockstar, the team behind Grand Theft Auto 4 (Xbox 360, PlayStation 3) seems to be working on an unnamed PS3 exclusive title. As to what this new game will be about or when it will be revealed was unfortunately left out of Quartermann's predictions.

One thing that Qmann was sure about was that the upcoming Star Wars: The Clone Wars - Lightsaber Duels will not utilize the new WiiMotion Plus technology Nintendo featured during E3. Publisher LucasArts was upset about not being able to implement the new motion sensing technology into their game. The good news is that talks are already underway for developing another Wii lightsaber game which will make use WiiMotion Plus for sometime next year.

That's about all the juicy info Quartermann had to share with everyone. We'll have to wait and see just how valid his latest set of revelations will be in the near future. Drop by again here at QJ.NET as we pick up any new updates regarding these rumors as soon as we get them.

Yoshinori Ono: Street Fighter IV not an entertainment video game; don't know about simultaneous release with movie

Mabie A. — 2008-08-27T18:04:32-07:00

There's much to talk about Street Fighter IV (PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PC). And why not? The game's sure to be a hit with loyal fans eagerly awaiting its release. That's why it sure was heaven-sent when Yoshinori Ono had a sit-down chat with OXM to talk about several aspects of the game that are sure to pique the interests of gamers all around.

The interview was rather comprehensive, with Ono-san dishing out details on the game's online play, balance and parrying skills. However, what probably stood out the most would be the bit on parrying. You do know they've taken it out, right?

Here's his explanation on why they decided to scrap it:

I didn't want to create an entertainment videogame as such. I wanted Street Fighter IV to be a tool for the people to use and enjoy themselves.

I often use the analogy of a chess game. Chess can be played by the American or Russian champion, if you like. We can see them playing chess on live TV and so on. The parrying system is that level. It's quite hard for the vast majority to master but chess can be played by grandpa and grand kids on a Sunday afternoon.

I want Street Fighter IV to be a tool for everyone to enjoy. Therefore I deliberately didn't include the parrying system. But, you know, we carried on with the focus attack and such. Basically we used the rule book from Street Fighter II because that was the most popular.

So it's not gonna be an entertainment game, it's gonna be tool for enjoyment. That should be interesting to see how it turns out. Yoshinori Ono also took the interview as an opportunity to clear up the air regarding some "confirmed news", particularly on the release date of Street Fighter IV.

Here's where it kinda gets confusing. A couple of weeks back, the movie producer for the Street Fighter big-screen adaptation, Patrick Aiello, confirmed that both the game and the flick will be coming out March 2009. HOWEVER. And yes, that's really in all caps. When Yoshinori Ono - Lead Producer for the game - was asked if this indeed was true, he gave an answer that was meant to throw us all off course, and successfully does.

According to him t their R&D team didn't know much about this timing. Yes, there is pressure, but their main concern is to balance the game and pull off the add-on features for the console versions.

We're just working on it, we still don't know... However, our producer also attended Comic-Con in San Diego. A lot of users expressed their frustration that the arcade version is only released in Asia and they still can't get their hands on Street Fighter IV. I'm thinking as long as the game has the basic tool function for everyone to enjoy, we may be able to release it on the early side. We still don't know.

I don't know about you guys, but I think I'd place my bet with Ono-san. Between the movie producer and the game producer, I think it's fairly easier to see who is in better standing to divulge information about the game's release date, yes?

The interview runs further and more answers are given to questions everybody wants to get some clear answers to. Here's your chance to be somewhat enlightened. Source link below leads to the full transcript of the interview.

Austin GDC 08 to help charity

Mabie A. — 2008-08-27T17:15:59-07:00

This year's Austin Game Developers Conference is adding a nice twist to their event. It's not just gonna be about games, it's also gonna be about charity.

Yep, gamers who'd like to participate in the Austin GDC will not only be having fun by testing their skills as gamers, but will also contribute to a good cause by making a charitable donation. How? Simple. There's a US 20 entry fee for the Level Up Charity Games Competition, and everything will be donated to the ESA Foundation.

Marc Mencher, CEO of competition sponsor GameRecruiter, says this about their charitable deed:

We have a long-standing commitment to supporting the educational needs of minority and female students who are interested in being part of the video game industry. By providing this support to the ESA Foundation's Scholarship Program, we hope to allow deserving individuals to further their education and expand workplace diversity within our industry.

Scheduled for the September 17 competition feature titles such as:

Rock Band 2
Madden 08
Super Smash Bros. Brawl
I-Play Bowling

The Austin Game Developers Conference will be running from September 15 to 17 at the Four Seasons Hotel in Austin, Texas.

Blockbuster, Riteaid, 7-Eleven to carry PSN cards by September

Karl B. — 2008-08-27T16:50:53-07:00

GameStop may not be getting its share of PlayStation Network cards until next year, but PS3 owners in North America will be able to get the cards from three more retail outlets next month.

According to the official US PlayStation website, three new retail outlets will start carrying PSN cards in September: Blockbuster, 7-Eleven, and Riteaid.

Some reports are also saying that Blockbuster and 7-Eleven stores all over the world will start carrying the cards in September. More good news for PS3 owners who don't have a credit card handy.

The cards are already available at Speedway, Pamida, Meijer, and other locations.

Thanks to PolishPride212 for the tip!

Blizzard: WoW for PS3, 360 is a 'square peg, round hole thing'

Gino D. — 2008-08-27T14:21:36-07:00

Apparently, some people are still thinking of the viability of having World of Warcraft on the PS3 and Xbox 360. Well, it's one of the most successful MMORPGs of all-time, so maybe porting it over to other platforms is a good thing, for financial reasons (if you're following Square Enix's line of thought).

However, running parallel to Hideo Kojima's statement yesterday (about MGS4 being impossible for the Xbox 360 because the game wasn't designed for the 360 in the first place), J. Allen Brack and Tom Chilton of Blizzard both agree that WoW was always intended to be played on the PC.

In a recent interview with Videogamer, they both reiterated the fact that WoW won't be heading for consoles.

Brack says that WoW was "designed to have a keyboard and a mouse" and that the controls are really - to use Kojima's word from yesterday - optimized for a PC control scheme. Brack continues: "If you think about mapping those controls and all those different type of buttons that you have to a console without a keyboard for chatting, it's a very challenging proposition."

Chilton, likewise, explained that it's not a worthwhile endeavor to bring WoW to consoles;

It's really not that we have anything against consoles," Chilton said. "I mean we love console games also. And I'm sure there will be a successful MMO sometime on a console. So it has nothing to do with that. It's just more like a square peg round hole thing for our game. It just wasn't designed with that in mind.

But then... when Videogamer raised the point that Funcom will be bringing their Age of Conan to the Xbox 360 - and that they've got some technology to map the keyboard buttons to a 360 controller - Chilton simply replies that he thinks that WoW wouldn't be "a very good experience playing like that."

While the PS3 has the upcoming Wireless Keypad, and the 360 its Chatpad, they aren't all that big, y'know. As Brack said, it'll be a very challenging experience indeed.

PixelJunk on 'roids: Savage Moon first details, screens

Gino D. — 2008-08-27T12:52:51-07:00

A new title from SCEA has been revealed for the PlayStation Network today. Going live sometime this fall, Savage Moon looks like another grade-A downloadable title. Specific details of its release haven't been released yet, but we've got some screens and gameplay details to tide you over.

I'd call it PixelJunk Monsters on steroids - Savage Moon is a tower defense game that's been given a Starship Troopers feel. Instead of having you defend your tower, the game will have you defending your mining factilities located in a living asteroid called an Imoon.

Enter the invading bug armies - the Insectocytes - intent on pillaging your resources. You've got an arsenal of weapons at your disposal to push back the buggy threat: machine gun towers and other heavy artillery.

As these tower defense games go, the invading hodes come in all shapes and sizes, and it's up to you on how to strategically wipe them out with your weaponry. Prove your worth and you might end up claiming the top ranks of the Harvest Savage Moon leaderboards.

Gundam Musou 2 announced

Victor B. — 2008-08-27T08:06:31-07:00

Good news for those folks who love themselves some Gundam goodness. Via Kotaku, we've found out that Koei and Bandai have teamed up once again to bring gamers Gundam Musou 2, and it's coming to the PS2, PS3 and Xbox 360.

According to the news that's been announced, the game will come out on December 4 in Japan, and will feature an expanded roster, including mecha from Char's Counterattack and mobile armors.

Not much else has been revealed about the title, so keep checking QJ for updates. In the meantime, you may want to grab your copy of the first game, just to practice your killing moves.

EA, Activision Blizzard take up 75 percent of console releases in Q3

Charles D. — 2008-08-26T21:58:03-07:00

We all know the notorious reputation that Activision Blizzard and Electronic Arts both have regarding multi-platform releases, but just how far does the marketing reach of both publishers stretch? According to a report from Screen Digest, both companies will collectively publish 40 percent by the holidays and as much as 75 percent of console releases in the western region from July to September.

As expected, EA is pegged as the busiest publisher by the third quarter of the year, with its usual range of annual sports games. These include multiple Madden and Tiger Woods SKUs, with around 21 to be released around that time.

Activision Blizzard isn't far behind either, with 19 SKU releases during the period. Combined, both companies will generate around 40 percent during the Q4 (October to December) and 75 percent by the Q3 (July to September) for video game title releases on the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and Wii.

Screen Digest's Ed Barton noted that while most other publishers concentrate on ramping up their releases by the Christmas holidays, EA and Activision Blizzard appear to focus their attention equally for both the third and fourth quarter periods of the year.

The report also states that Nintendo's Wii will have the largest selection of titles among all the other consoles by the latter half of the year.