Here's something that would perk up people hungry for gaming news: according to a Xtreme PS3 source, Sony Computer Entertainment of Europe (SCEE) is planning to hold a Sony Gamers Day in London on May 6. But before you get all excited, you should know that the event is supposed to be an invite-only affair. More details in the full article.

Midway Games has recently revealed that Mortal Kombat is still right on schedule for its next-gen revival. It seems the gears are in motion. A mysterious website with the Mortal Kombat logo has just emerged with a countdown. What could it mean? More details over at the full article.

What we have below is one of those developer diary videos for the upcoming video game Haze. It features Free Radical Creative Director Derek Littlewood along with the development studio's other staff members and Haze demo which was released during the recently concluded Ubisoft's Gamers Day.

Basically, the video clip is about how Free Radical is polishing the said demo and how Haze is coming along in terms of development. Quite curiously, there was a portion in the video clip (around the 10-minute mark) where one of the coders was shown holding a PlayStation 3 controller that is blurred out.

Now, this then gave rise to rumors that the controller at the coder's hand is no other than the much-talked about rumble-enabled SIXAXIS. Despite this, however, we have to keep in mind that the video clip we're talking about was taken back in May so we honestly doubt it.

We're sharing you the video now just in case you want to have a look for yourself. It would be nice though if the rumors turn out to be true.

Sony has upped their target title output for their next gen PS3 video game console. Earlier reports from last month's Gamers Day have pegged Sony's target at 90 third-party titles and 15 exclusives for the PS3.

According to a report from Reuters, Sony Computer Entertainment (SCE) President Kazuo Hirai was quoted by the Nikkei business daily as saying that Sony is now looking to release 200 software titles and 180 download-only titles for the PS3 from now until March of next year.

There are currently around 130 software and download-only titles available for the PS3. Sony is hoping that an influx of new titles will help pull up PS3 sales. Sony Chief Executive Howard Stringer also stressed the importance of attractive game software as "the key to accelerate PS3 growth over the next year" during the annual shareholders' meeting Thursday.

In the Nikkei interview, Hirai reportedly said that Sony would also be working with video game publishers on marketing their titles to help ensure good sales. This would include events and in-store promos.

We've got another video from Sony's Gamers day (SGD), and it's about the widely anticipated Uncharted: Drake's Fortune. Some guy believes it's one of the games that will "murder" the Wii, some just want their treasure hunting action.

In this video, president Evan Wells of Naughty Dog talks about their upcoming title for the PS3. Our hero, Drake, is trying to find the treasure of Sir Francis Drake who he believes to be a part of his family tree, yadda yadda. You've also got some sort of female sidekick in the form of a documentary reporter but enough of that - most of us want to hear about the juicy parts, the gameplay elements.

Wells mentioned the focus of the game: gunplay, hand-to-hand combat, and traversal. The gunplay will have over-the-shoulder camera mode, a sophisticated covering mechanic, and the ability to just run in and go guns ablazing for trigger happy fans. Drake's movements look convincingly real, which would add to a more enjoyable game.

Puzzle solving will be there, but not mind-numbingly hard because focus will be on the action (sounds like what Resident Evil 4 did). Environments will be diverse (and downright eye-candy) as you work your way to different clues in finding the treasure. Use of SIXAXIS is still in development, but Wells revealed that the motion-sensing will be involved in balancing Drake on a log, throwing grenades, and steering vehicles.

It's slated for the holiday season, but those who can't wait can feast their eyes on the video below for now.

 

PlayStation Universe reports that at Sony Gamers Day it was announced that over 1.5 million users have created accounts for the still growing PlayStation Network.

It was noted that of the 1.5 million, 775,000 are people from North America. However, it wasn't made clear if these were for individual a PS3s, as some people could have multiple accounts for differing regions. It was also noted that an impressive 6 million pieces of content have been acquired from the PlayStation Store. Again, it wasn't provided what ratio of this was free content or paid content.

Lastly, 1.5 million users have logged in a total of 115 million times. This means that there's an average of 77 log-ins per PS3 owner. That means that there's either a lot of people on Resistance: Fall of Man multiplayer, or a lot of people really like flOw.

We'd like to include the noted 6 month comparison with Xbox Live, but that's just flame-bait. Anyhow, with numbers like these, and the promise of Home come fall, and more big multiplayer only games like WarHawk and small casual shooters like Bacterius, things look good for the network.

Oh, and two reasons why this is included in PSP: 1st you can can PS1 games for your PSP on the PSN, and 2nd, we all hope PSN incorporates the PSP more, don't we?

It can be recalled that during Sony's Spring Gamers Day 2007, it was announced that Slant Six games (the people responsible for the PSP title, SOCOM Tactical Strike) will be developing a multiplayer-only game called SOCOM: Confrontation. Well, apparently that isn't the only SOCOM game headed for the Sony PlayStation 3.

1UP reports that the developers of the original SOCOM franchise, Zipper Interactive, is still working on its own new SOCOM game for the PS3. 1UP's understanding of it is that this one will feature single-player and multiplayer gameplay, and an extra long development window will allow Zipper to do new things for the franchise.

It is speculated that the game could be released around fall 2008.

PlayStation Home became a point of contention between Kotaku and Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) prior to its unveiling at GDC 2007. Even Peter Dille admitted in this interview with Game Informer during Gamers Day that Sony tends to "keep our cards a little close to the vest behind everything". Well, coy Sony aside, Dille was willing to talk about the paradigm of the PlayStation Network.

Let's start at Home.

I think Home really demonstrates the creativity and unique approach that we have to this business. When we were preparing to launch PS3 a lot of people said, "Okay, I guess they’re going to match Live feature by feature and we’ll just expect a derivative approach." That’s not Sony’s way of doing things.

Based on Dille's comments in this interview, one could take the impression that Sony will (take on the challenge to) prove that PlayStation Network could deliver unique, play-worthy, or otherwise attention-snapping content on the PS3. As Dille sees it, Sony first-party games will be the first to exploit some of PlayStation Home's features like the Hall of Fame and trophies, but he hopes that third-parties can implement those features "as soon as possible."

The other advantage of getting first-party titles up to speed with Network and Home: tech transfers. Dille calls it a "rolling approach." "We’ve got to build it first and make sure they know how to do it," he said. As he points out, you need a first-gen to get to second-gen and experiences and tools earned through the launch titles will benefit both first and third-party second-gen titles. Initiatives like PlayStation EDGE will help spread the wealth, Dille points out.

Dille can't answer if Hall of Fame will be a requirement for third-party PS3 titles to meet - he's not in charge of third-party requirements. He still believes that the big push for Hall of Fame will come from the third party. He thinks there's "a lot of self-motivation to do it because it's a great way to keep people interested in their games."

 

In Gamers Day at San Diego, Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) Marketing VP Peter Dille gives Game Informer the definitive explanation as to why Warhawk will be available via both PlayStation Network and Blu-ray SKUs. It is the same reason why Disney insists your favorite Disney Channel Original Movie is made available on iTunes and on DVD (and now Blu-ray).

One way offers convenience, the other offers bonus features. Not too hard to guess which distribution model offers which. Peter Dille in fact gives hints of what's to come when you choose physical over the convenience of ethereal - er, digital.

Warhawk will be available as a download from the PlayStation Network, but we’ll also have a retail SKU. There will be differences between the two. The game will be the same, but in the retail SKU we’re able to take advantage of that Blu-ray disc and pack that disc with behind-the-scenes information, developer interviews, demos of other games and again, if you’ve got Blu-ray why not take advantage of that. On top of that, we’ll have a Bluetooth wireless headset so that you can jump into the fray day one and start trash-talking.

Bonus videos and a Bluetooth wireless headset. And if you're not on PSN (not exactly a suggested condition, but it happens), you do need the physical. Of course PS3's Blu-ray retails to US$ 60.00 (MSRP, emphasis on the S for "suggested"), but Dille could not announce any definitive pricing schemes for the two Warhawk SKUs. Dille also admits that this model of distribution won't be common, since "there’s not that many games that we’ll do this for."

But for Warhawk, it is.

In Gamers Day, Sony unveiled the trailer to a new PlayStation Network title they've developed, High Velocity Bowling (here via GameTrailers). If you were thinking "Bowling... SIXAXIS... motion-sensing" upon hearing this, yes, you just collected the spare for this frame. (Please hold all temptation of comparisons between this game... and another game. At least until later.)

According to IGN, motion-control will be fully implemented in the game, such that they say that the SIXAXIS "can get you through ten frames of glory without touching any button other than X"... oh, fraksticks, there goes the promise of no comparisons until later. But it seems that the motion-sensing usage here, while similar to that other game, still comes off completely different.

First off, there is a swing meter implemented in this game that tracks your swinging and thus the accuracy of your shot. In fact, HVB also implements pressure sensitivity as well as motion-sensing, using the shoulder buttons to add varying amounts of spin to your hook post-release (with another meter to show you just how much). Yes, it kind of contradicts IGN's earlier assertion (their oversight, maybe?), but that's if you want to hook the ball.

Second, there's a bit of role-playing involved here, as there are ten bowling characters in-game that differ in various bowling stats, and have their strengths and weaknesses. Many of them have to be unlocked in trick shot competitions, tournaments, and head-to-head challenges.

Third, it's ten bucks to download. Beyond that, we don't know if this has anything to do with PlayStation Home's bowling alley. And we'd rather hold off predictions of SIXAXISes busting up plasma TVs.