Want some more Portal loving on your PS3? Well, it seems that you won't have it. Valve has dismissed rumors of a PS3 version of Portal: Still Alive, at least for now. Learn more about it after the jump!

With an embargo still in place for Treyarch's Call of Duty: World at War (PC, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii), several screenshots were recently leaked from the German official Xbox magazine and a couple of European sites. Judging from the screenshots alone, the latest iteration in the  series is definitely shaping up to be another great installment in the long-standing CoD legacy. You can view the images by clicking on the "read more" link below.

Those who managed to get hold of the February issue of Official Xbox Magazine got something that set them apart from their peers who played Rock Band (Xbox 360, PlayStation 3): the HMX song pack that was exclusive to the magazine. But it's no longer exclusive, now that the pack will become available soon. More details in the full article.

Though the original source of this news tidbit has disappeared at press time, an article posted up at the Czech portal of Tiscali's gaming news had a scan of the latest issue of the nation's Official Xbox Magazine. And it sported a cover story revolving around Sierra's expansion pack to Massive Entertainment's World in Conflict (PC, Xbox 360) - World in Conflict: Soviet Assault. Plenty of new features were revealed, but they're currently focused on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions of the alternate-history RTS.

Sony recently passed on an offer made by the Official Xbox Magazine to review the Sony Bravia HDTV. It seems the reason the Sony rep gave was that OXM is a Microsoft-focused publication, a point that is an area of conflict for them since Sony manufactures the competing PlayStation brand. More in the full article.

More face-melting goodness will be arriving in the next few months, as OXM reveals part of the downloadable content expected to complement Harmonix's Rock Band (PS3, PS2, Xbox 360). Picks include three additional tracks from the Police, and three to six from Metallica. For the punk rock fans, there will also be Buzzcocks' cover song "Ever Fallen in Love" and "Rockaway Beach" by the Ramones. The complete downloadable pack lists can be viewed over in the full article.

We get all these news about games getting delayed, but we're just glad that the much-awaited Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and the PC) managed to pull off top-notch content with nary a setback, even scoring a a 10/10 score from Official Xbox Magazine. So what's Infinity Ward's secret? Infinity Ward's studio head and president Grant Collier tells about their secret: platform-agnostic development philosophy.

Read more about platform-agnostic development in the full article!


Buy: [ Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (PS3) ]
Buy: [ Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (PC) ]
Buy: [ Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (Xbox 360) ]

After Electronic Art's prediction of one standard gaming platform within the next 15 years, Silicon Knights' Denis Dyack believes that not only will the standardized console happen within 15 years, it will be inevitable. "It will happen," said Dyack in an interview with Official Xbox Magazine.

He explains that the standardized console will be brought about not by console wars but because of a phenomenon he coined as "performance oversupply", where all major consoles have already fulfilled their purpose of providing a competent gaming platform so well that the gaming market is suffering a split condition.

Split condition? In Dyack's terms, the gaming market is currently split due to the fact that third-party game developers are having a hard time choosing which platform to develop games for. Conversely, first-party manufacturers are also having a hard time perfecting their software AND their hardware in order to get more third-party developers to make games for them.

The result? Dyack said:

Despite all this, it's still not enough. The economics of the proprietary models seem to point toward spending more money and receiving fewer returns with each generation, with no clear winner.

A consortium of game makers will push through with the idea of a standard console, said Dyack, which would lead to a price drop benefiting consumers as well as an increase in quality. Third-party developers may also benefit the most in the "one console to rule them all" scenario, as it will mean 100% market penetration.

Future US, Inc. has struck a deal with Sony Computer Entertainment America to publish the official sounding new publication: PlayStation: The Official Magazine. Future US already publishes numerous special interest magazines, including the Official Xbox Magazine, PC Gamer and Nintendo Power so readers needn't worry if they're up to the task of managing a gaming mag.

Future US will be overseeing the editorial and advertising sales for the magazine and their first issue will be the Holiday 2007 edition that will be released in late November. The company already had a long standing relationship with Sony prior to the arrangement: its parent company, Future plc, already publishes the Official Sony PlayStation Magazine for the UK.

To top off Future US's credentials with the gaming industry, we must remember that they also published the official show magazine for the E for All Expo last month. Rob Smith, the former editor-in-chief of PSM-Independent PlayStation Magazine, will be taking over the same position in Playstation: The Official Magazine. The magazine will start their circulation with 300,000 copies and will be delivering 13 issues per year.

Despite hitting some snags in the form of Sega, SCEA, Capcom, and Microsoft backouts, it appears E for All is gaining steam after getting big boosts from dozens of other movers in the gaming industry who have confirmed participation. To prove that E for All is going smoothly as planned, IDG World Expo is now announcing that Future US, Inc. will be publishing the official show magazine for the said event.

This is big news especially for those who are familiar in the ins and outs of attending conventions like this. Why? Event magazines not only provide attendees with a good source of show floor guide, exhibitor and product information, special features and interviews, it's also a great souvenir - it goes right beside event press IDs and pictures with booth babes. Anyway, IDG World Expo CEO Mary Dolaher expressed the same enthusiasm after saying:

We're thrilled to team up with Future to create "E for All Magazine," the event’s official show publication. Given Future’s experience producing publications such as Official Xbox Magazine, PSM: Independent PlayStation Magazine, PC Gamer, Maximum PC and Next Gen, we’re greatly anticipating the creation of a top-notch magazine and commemorative keepsake for this inaugural event.

The magazine will be a 64-page collector's edition in support of the inaugural E for All. Contents will include feature stories, game reviews, product highlights, a full expo schedule, floor plan and exclusive features, interviews with acclaimed game developers, and a user-generated car art from Forza 2. E for All magazine will also carry a commemorative cover to give spice to the said event which will take place October 18-21 at the Los Angeles Convention Center - told you it's a keeper.