Monthly Archives: March 2010

PlayStation 3 News

PS3 Firmware v3.21 eliminates Linux support‎

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PlayStation 2

Splinter Cell Conviction PS3 Listed On LinkedIn

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Just when you think that Splinter Cell: Conviction is a dead lock for Xbox 360 exclusivity, something has to pop up that throws all suspicion in the air again. The culprit this time is a recent discovery of a LinkedIn profile, of a Ubisoft developer that lists the PlayStation 3 as an intended platform for the game.

Marc Demers is the lead software engineer at Ubisoft Montréal, and his work for the publisher dates back to 2005. One of the listings in the ‘recently participated’ section of his profile read; “Splinter Cell Conviction 360, PS3, PC (2010)”. As of this moment, the mention of Sony’s console has been removed.

Is there something Ubisoft’s not telling us? Could Sam Fisher simply be holding off on a timed exclusive? It wouldn’t be the first time. The PS3 mention could have been the result of internal testing on the platform, which Ubisoft later dismissed when it announced the game would be a Microsoft exclusive back in 2007. Who knows?

PlayStation 3 News

Man Buying PS3 From Craigslist Gets Scammed

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As if there aren’t enough warnings against doing business in shady online deals, a rather sad story comes from the Daily Northwestern college newspaper about a man who lost $250 in a fake PlayStation 3 deal.

A man looked on Craigslist for a PlayStation 3 and set up a deal to meet in the parking lot of a Best Buy retail store. Upon meeting, the supposed seller took the $250 and drove off without exchanging any goods for the cash.

Police are said to be currently investigating.

While saving $50 on a PlayStation 3 may seem like an economical way to help buy your first new game, just remember to be careful when making deals involving parking lots.

PlayStation 3 News

Ninja Theory Made No Money on Heavenly Sword

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Sony’s PlayStation 3 may have plenty of good games these days, but that wasn’t the case once upon a time. In fact, there was a time when pretty much every game hyped as being the Big Game for the console (before MGS4, that is) – the game that would finally justify its existence and $600 price tag – ended up releasing to a big fat “eh.”

Heavenly Sword(s) was one of those games, a “martial arts drama” whose ambition overextended its execution, and whose one real distinction was having its demo as the very first Zero Punctuation review here on The Escapist.

But it was a high-profile PS3 title in the Premetalgearian eon, which is why it’s slightly surprising that developer Ninja Theory is going multiplatform with its next title, Enslaved. It wouldn’t be surprising if we had a look at the balance books, though – as Ninja Theory co-founder Tameem Antoniades told CVG, exclusivity can be very difficult for smaller developers.

“It’s difficult. Heavenly Sword came out pretty early on the PS3, and we sold, I think, a million and a half copies, and that’s still not enough as an independent studio to break even,” said Antoniades. “The publisher potentially breaks even at that point, but the developers don’t … It’s just that when so many people have Xbox – I mean over half the market or more has Xbox 360s – why limit yourself to one platform?”

It is a very good point – why intentionally limit yourself so heavily? Ignoring a potential audience should never be done without good reason. Hopefully the company will actually be able to turn a profit on its next game, because getting to pay your employees is probably really awesome.

PlayStation 3 News

PS3 hacker promises to undo Other OS block

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The Playstation3 maker recently announced that it would be removing the ability to install various flavours of Linux on the Darth Vader’s Toaster of a console, a policy no doubt inspired by a certain hacker’s regular boasts that he has very nearly opened up the innards of the PS3 for all.

Despite insisting that he has no interest in playing pirated games on the PS3, Hotz has continued to poke Sony’s security guards with his hacking stick, and is now being all indignant about them slamming shut -  or more accurately removing – the back door through which he has undoubtedly been gaining his forced entries.

Hotz has now promised to provide a way of updating the console’s system without hobbling the Other OS capability in order to prove to Sony that it can’t take away services which people have already paid for.

“Hacking isn’t about getting what you didn’t pay for, it’s about making sure you do get what you did [pay for],” he says in his blog. “And this is about more than this feature right now. It’s about whether these companies have the right to take away advertised features from a product you purchased.

“Imagine if an exploit were found in Safari on the iPhone, but instead of fixing it, Apple decided to pull web browsing altogether. Legally, they may be within their right to do so, but we have to show them it’s the wrong move for the future of the product and the company.”

PlayStation 3 News

LittleBigPlanet2 PS3: Sony comment on rumored release

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You know how we always say Sony never comment on speculation and rumors? Well, this looks like to be a rare exception as they have just commented on the rumors surrounding LittleBigPlanet 2.

The news comes after yesterday’s story, in which a Sony marketing rep confirmed that LBP2 is coming, and would even have support for Playstation Move.

However, as VG247 reports, Sony had this to say on the matter: ”This is not a confirmation of LittleBigPlanet 2, and we do not have any announcements to make about the LittleBigPlanet franchise.”

PlayStation 3 News

Michael Jackson video game coming to PS3?

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The King Of Pop may be coming to PS3 – after Sony snapped up the rights to a Michael Jackson video game.

Video game rights were included in Sony’s $200m purchase of MJ’s estate last week.

According to reports, the deal gives Sony free reign to use Michael Jackson’s released and unreleased material. The Independent reports it includes the right to release ten new Michael Jackson albums, video games and DVDs between now and 2017.

Of course, the most likely release is an MJ Singstar – but PS3 Move could well come into the equation.

Following the deal, Rob Stringer, chairman of the Columbia Epic division of Sony said: “There may be theatre. There may be films and movies. There may be computer games.”

PlayStation 3 News

Are Bungie Considering Playstation 3 Development?

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Bungie are a studio traditionally associated with Microsoft. But speaking about the companies’ next move after Halo: Reach, they’ve hinted at the possibility of supporting Playstation 3.

“All options are open right now,” Bungie’s community manager Brian Jarrard told IndustryGamers. “So long as we find the best possible fit for our creative vision and what this project is going to be.”

Asked specifically about Playstation 3 development, Jarrard noted that specific platforms hadn’t yet been decided, but that the company were remaining open-minded.

“We definitely have plans in the works, and I think we’re really close to understanding of what is next and who, what, when, where, that’s all going to land.”

Jarrard was coy about what Bungie’s next game will be. What type of game would you like to see Bungie bring to Sony’s system?

PlayStation 3 News

Section 8 PS3 launches on PSN today

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Section 8, previously available on Xbox 360 and PC, has finally made its way to the PS3. The game will be launching as a PlayStation Network download later today. Here are some screenshots and footage to get your interested.

Unlike the Xbox 360 and PC versions, SouthPeak is not publishing on the PS3. The game is being distributed directly by developer TimeGate. The original game was pretty good for what it was, its only issue of course being that not too many people heard of it, which isn’t great for a game so reliant on multiplayer. It’ll probably do better on the PS3, where online gaming seems to work better for smaller titles with Halo distracting everybody.

We are going to be giving some Section 8 PS3 vouchers away later to boost that player count as well! Stay tuned to Dtoid for that.

PlayStation 3 News

PSN Spring Fever 2010 sale starts today

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Sony is once again saying goodbye to the winter season with the return of their Spring Fever sale.  PS3 and PSP owners will be able to save money on select content starting today

Kicking off the sale is Gravity Crash and the PS3 and PSP versions of Everyday Shooter all going for $4.99 each.  The discounts only last a week so just keep checking in every Thursday to see a new batch of deals.

As a bonus incentive, anyone who purchases discounted items during the sale will also receive a piece of bee and flower-themed costumes for their PlayStation Home avatars.  There’s five pieces in all so you’ll have to do a little spending over the next few weeks but at least you’ll be getting some content on the cheap.