Dealing with all the wires with one console is bad enough, especially when you have other devices you attach to your TV set, but when you have more than one console, things can get crazy really fast if you're not careful. Here's an easy solution: use one component cable for all your consoles. XCM has released a new component cable that supports all platforms at once, including the PSP Slim. More details in the full article.

As some of you might have heard, Guitar Hero 3: Legends of Rock, will be sending in some new tracks from Linkin Park and The Used. Before that though, surprise! PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 gamers will be getting new updates for the game today, including co-op quickplay (which people have been waiting for for a while now). Go to the full article for more on the updates.

The details are a bit murky at the moment, but the concept is cool enough to warrant a report on. Apparently a Japanese retailer's listing of the PlayStation 3 Folks Soul details several things about it that are intriguing. Aside from things like 720p video output and Dolby Digital Live sound output, the game also has something called "PlayStation Portable Linkage."

Sadly, there is no word yet on how the link with the PSP is set to work or if it is even gameplay related.

Aside from the PSP connection, the game is also set to make use of the tilt-sensing capabilities of the SIXAXIS during ground based beat-em up combat. Famitsu reports have revealed that after you've grabbed opponents using the R1 button, shaking the SIXAXIS will allow you to toss and move around your foes.

We'll keep you updated as soon as more details on the game is made available. Folks Soul by Game Republic is set to be released in Japan on June 2007.

The PS3's launch in Europe, Australia, and other PAL territories just concluded. There's a lot of new PS3 owners out there, and to help them all familiarize themselves with their brand new next-gen videogame console, CVG has posted a rough guide to the PS3's ports.

Everything from the back of the console, the front, even the peripherals are covered in the article. Here's a short excerpt (all of these are found at the back of the console):

HDMI. High-Definition Multimedia Interface port capable of transporting you into a new era of quality visuals (but remember - a HDMI cable must be bought separately).

LAN. The Ethernet cable supplied with your PS3 connects you directly to the Internet provided you have a service provider. You can also connect wirelessly via a Wi-Fi USB dongle.

Optical Digital Out. For Dolby Digital Surround Sound, DTS and to connect to other audio devices that support digital out such as an AV Receiver.

AV Multi Out. For Composite, HD Ready, S-Video or Scart connections. The PS3 comes with a standard A/V composite cable but to get the most benefit from PS3's 1080p output you will need a HDMI cable and a HDTV that supports 1080p.

On/Off Switch. Standard switch for firing up your PS3. Obviously...

AC Power Cord. As the PS3 has an internal power supply the AC power cord bundled with your system is slim and discrete, unlike the python that's swallowed a brick you get with the Xbox 360.

For the full guide, click on the "read" link below. You guys might also want to give out a tips to new PS3 owners, so leave a comment below if you do.

Looks like Activision is going all out to improve the quality of games in its current and future roster. The other day, we reported that the publisher signed an agreement with Dolby Laboratories, Inc. involving Dolby Lab">Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound.

This time we heard that the company just acquired DemonWare. People might be hearing about DemonWare for so long, they didn't even bother to ask what the company is really all about.

FYI, it  is a maker of network middleware. Its most important products include high-performance state synchronization C++ programming framework The State Engine and Matchmaking+, which provide services for multiplayer games such as matchmaking, user profiling, and gaming statistics.

Now, online sites Electric News and Games Industry are both reporting that Activision has indeed acquired DemonWare for an estimated sum of no less than EUR 15 million or roughly around US$ 19.5 million.

An official announcement is expected to be released soon.

Dolby Laboratories, Inc. and Activision announced today that they've come to a musical agreement of sorts to work hand in hand to bring realistic surround sound to video games.

The new partnership means that from this day onwards, all the games that go through Activison's audio production facilities in North America will be optimized by Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound.

Last year, Activision already worked with Dolby to enhance the sounds in Call of Duty 2 for the Xbox360. And with this newly inked deal, Activision says that most of their games for the PS3 and Xbox360 will also feature Dolby Digital 5.1.

Douglas Greenfield, Senior Director of Dolby Labs says,

We are glad to be working so closely with a major publisher like Activision to help the company deliver more vivid and engaging surround sound experiences to gamers. In the high-definition era, games need to sound as good as they look. By optimizing its audio production facilities for Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound, Activision can bring gamers more of the great sound they demand.

"Games need to sound as good as they look." -- Well said, Douglas. And we definitely won't even try to argue with that. *winks*

Dolby, a company famous among gamers for Dolby Digital 5.1, a technology used to deliver vivid sound on the Sony PlayStation 3, and the Microsoft Xbox 360 (don't forget Dolby Pro Logic II for the Nintendo Wii),  presented several technologies at the ICES that should deliver expansive sound experiences in consumer devices. The technologies demonstrated included the following:

Dolby Headphone – a technology that is set to offer virtual 5.1 surround over regular stereo headphones
Dolby Virtual Speaker – a technology that should provide compelling surround sound experience using any regular pair of stereo speakers
Audistry – a technology that offers a suite of audio enhancements that give a big boost to TV sound
Dolby Volume – a technology that promises to allow television makers to address to problem of having inconsistent loudness in broadcast TV.

Perhaps what is most pertinent to gamers though is that Dolby announced that it is collaborating with Freescale Semiconductor, Inc., to create and market a new category of game peripherals designed to deliver superior audio. At CES 2007, Dolby and Freescale demonstrated a new reference design for an Xbox 360 accessory cable that supports Dolby Headphone and Dolby Virtual Speaker.

Too much attention has been given to the visual department in the HD-DVD vs. Blu-Ray battle, and not enough to the audio department. Well, it ain't hooray for the sounds of silence - any movie buff will tell you that Clark Gable may have looked dang hot for his day, but what really nails his look is his classic "Frankly, my dear, I don't give a d**n" line. So it's time to pump up the volume.

A blogger at the IGN Blogs dropped an analysis post on Uncompressed PCM 5.1-7.1 audio off of the PS3. And while the debate on HD-DVD vs. Blu-Ray visuals continues to rage on, there are at least clear differences in the audio department here. Blu-Ray supports PCM - as does the PS3. HD-DVD supports Dolby TrueHD, but it cannot contain PCM 5.1.

So what are the benefits of doing PCM 5.1? The blogger reports that PCM 5.1, with the proper audio setup, "is a joy to hear." He cites a number of testimonies of excellent audio presentations, like you could hear every detailed and subtle sound. One comment, though, noted (or claimed) that the difference between TrueHD and Uncompressed PCM isn't "as much as (the blogger) think(s)." Theoretically, TrueHD has "everything" in the track, this dissenter says - lossless - it's just compressed data. This might all simply be personal opinion until someone finally does a proper TrueHD vs. PCM 5.1-7.1 comparison (and even then it'll be in the ears of the beholder). Then there's also the sound resolution of the soundtrack and effects to consider.

Eh, there's more to hear at the full, uncompressed PCM 5.1 article. See, there's one benefit of uncompressed already.

When you read the specs for Tritton's TRI-GA600 AX360 Gaming Headphones, you're going to wonder if your ears can take it. Dolby Digital and Pro Logic compliant with the Xbox, Xbox 360, PS2, PS3, PC, Mac, and DVD players, the AX360 features no less than FOUR different speakers in each cup. If you think that's overkill, those speakers are labelled "Front," "Rear," Center," and "Subwoofer" and can be individually adjusted through an external 5.1 audio controller. And finally, Tritton claims an "integrated rumble effect" built into the headphones.

The net effect of these seems to be akin to bolting a couple of subwoofers to your ear and then playing J-kwon's "Tipsy" at max volume. The rumble effect is not really a gimmick - it's meant to help amplify, or more accurately, to simulate the deep bass from a quality subwoofer. The AX360 will vibrate in reaction to low-frequency sounds. "The effect is surprisingly successful at mimicking the aftershock of big woofer moving lots of air," says TeamXbox in their appraisal of the product.

The headset would not be complete without a quality microphone (Xbox Live-compatible). This bolt-subs-to-your-ears will set you back a total of, on average, US$ 130.00, but that includes the Audio Controller box and its power adapter, and a bunch of other important cables. That box can support additional "secondary" headsets, each a still rather whopping US$ 59.99, but that's the price of "Tipsy" turning your ears to mush.

PS3 will feature interactive Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound for games, Dolby Digital, and Dolby TrueHD for decoding up to 7.1 channels for Blu-ray movie playback. Sony says the Dolby-PS3 combination will kick open the next chapter of gaming and entertainment. Dolby Laboratories returned the love by saying people will be amazed  once they connect their PS3 to an audio/video receiver or home theater system. This makes the PS3 a real eye-and-ear candy!

The PS3 with Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound and Dolby TrueHD will be available in Japan on November 11 and November 17 for North America.