Source: videogamesblogger.com

Sony announced the PS3 system software update 2.50 will be released today, October 15th, 2008. This latest firmware finally adds an automatic console and controllers power off feature!

Building upon the foundation set by previous firmware upgrades, the 2.50 system software update will refine existing features while also adding new functionality.

New features delivered through PS3 2.50 include:

* Support for the PS3 Official Bluetooth Headset — The upcoming Bluetooth Headset bundled with SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Confrontation in combination with this latest firmware enables High-Quality (HQ) mode, which utilises advanced wireless technologies and the Headset’s dual-microphone design to enable clear and wide-band wireless online voice chat. On top of that, an added on-screen indicator shows battery status, volume level, mute functions, and use of HQ mode. HQ mode greatly improves the voice chat experience in multi-player titles such as Resistance 2, which launches in November.

* Power Save –- PS3 owners will have the option to automatically shut-off their console or controllers after pre-selected periods of inactivity. Go to Settings then Power Save Settings to turn on these features.

* Flash 9 Content — Flash 9 becomes supported on the Internet Browser.

* Video — Video scene search functionality will provide thumbnails to help you find a particular scene in a video more easily. Activating this feature while viewing a video on the PS3 will break the video up into scenes that you can quickly access by pressing the X button. You can break the videos into one, two or five minute intervals. In addition, you can now choose to have all of the videos under the video section of the XMB play in sequence. Go to Settings then Video Settings to turn this option on.

* PlayStation Trophies interface enhancements — This update makes sharing and comparing your trophies with your friends even easier. On 1st part of the profile page you’ll see a symbol under level that represents level and the actual percentage towards the next level along with the existing level meter. The level symbol carries over to the trophy comparison screen where you will now be able to see your level, your friend’s level and the percentage towards the next level for both users along with all of the game by game comparison information you see today. The Trophy system will continue to expand through future firmware updates, catering to the PS3 community and the competitive nature of the more than 12 million registered PlayStation Network users worldwide.

* In-game screenshots capture tool — Laying the groundwork for developers to add capture and sharing options to their games and allowing players to immortalise their favourite gaming moments and share them with friends. This will be supported on a game by game basis. Titles that support the feature will be announced in the future.

* Background Downloading — You now have the option to set the PS3 to turn off automatically after a background download or installation of content has completed. This option is available when you turn off the system from the button under [Users] while content is being downloaded or installed.

* Information Board — The Information Board will be able to include direct links to PlayStation Store, making it easier for PS3 owners to download content that they read about on the Information Board.

* Friend Status — Offline friends on your Friends list will have information below their avatars that will indicate how long it has been since they were last online.

* PlayStation Store — A redeem codes option has been added right on the store to make it easier to redeem your PlayStation Network Cards and promotion codes. In addition, PlayStation Network Sign Up and Account Management have been redesigned.

Source: videogamesblogger.com

“Star Wars: The Clone Wars - Lightsaber Duels” on the Nintendo Wii is based on the animated feature film, and come November 11th it aims to immerse you in the characters, locations, and epic duels from the Star Wars animated feature film and TV series. Built from the ground-up for Wii, Lightsaber Duels features an intuitive motion-controlled combat system that puts the Lightsaber weapon in your hand. Mastering the Jedi’s distinctive weapon is now within any player’s grasp.

Padawan, learn the ways of the Jedi and the lightsaber. Watch a developer from LucasArts giving a walkthrough, while getting owned by the dark side. Check out the “Star Wars: The Clone Wars - Lightsaber Duels” Wii gameplay demo here:

Dual lightsabers are no match for the power of the force.

Source: videogamesblogger.com

Xbox 360 Wireless Controller now comes in bright Red and Green colors, with newly designed black accents, Microsoft announced today. Each controller set includes a Play and Charge cable and Red (or Green) rechargeable battery. The Xbox 360 Limited Edition Red (or Green) Wireless Controller and Play & Charge Kit set costs $64.99.

The main features include:
* Limited Edition Red (or Green) finish, with newly designed black accents.
* Bundled with a Play & Charge Cable and matching Red (or Green) rechargeable battery pack.
* 2.4GHz wireless technology with 30-foot range.
* Use up to four controllers simultaneously on one console.
* Integrated headset port for Xbox Live play.
* Adjustable vibration feedback for longer battery life.
* New left and right shoulder buttons are designed for ease of use.
* Use the Xbox 360 Guide button to keep track of your friends, access your games and media, or power on and off your Xbox 360 console.

PS: Last year Microsoft announced Xbox 360 Wireless Controller in Pink and Blue colors to offer a bit of variation to the White and Black colors.

Source: videogamesblogger.com

Sony has announced that its Dualshock 3 wireless (rumble) controller will be made available for PlayStation 3 in most of Europe on July 2nd for €49.99 (estimate) and in the UK on July 4th for £39.99.

The wireless controller with vibration function will put truly responsive gaming power into players’ hands, shaking up gaming experiences when it arrives on PS3 this summer. According to Sony, “Dualshock 3 also retains the high-precision, high-response motion-sensitive aspects that have made Sixaxis so popular.”

Previously the DualShock 3 controller was relased in America & Canada on April 15th, in Australia on April 24th, and in New Zealand on May 9th.

Source: videogamesblogger.com

A Wii-esque white edition GameCube controller will be released by Nintendo in Japan for Wii games that offer GameCube controller compatibility. Considering that many big first- and third-party Wii games offer GameCube controller compatibility for more classic gameplay, this move comes as no surprise.

The GameCube controller re-release with a new white color will be out later in April 2008 at a price of 2,000 Yen (that’s $20 / £10 / €12.50 / AU$21.50) and comes with an extra long 3 meter (10 feet) cord. No word yet on whether or not the controller will be in stores elsewhere in the world. Personally I’d rather see a white wireless Wavebird GameCube controller re-released with rumble added.

Source: videogamesblogger.com

Sony has confirmed they are shipping the PlayStation 3 DualShock 3 wireless controllers to U.S. stores right now and that the rumble controllers will be shocking gamers next week. This is sooner than the previously announced April 15th date. The controller includes pressure sensors that rumble with each action. Sixaxis technology is also included, so you can still use motion control. And the controller features Bluetooth technology for wireless gameplay. You can pick it up at any of the major retailers and at a price of $54.99.

What follows is an incomplete list of PlayStation 3 games compatible with the new rumble controller. The titles with an asterisk next to them in the list will require a patch in order to activate the rumble feature. The patch will automatically download to your PS3 if your console is connected online. If you are not connected online, check out Sony’s PlayStation Knowledge Center for more information.

The list of games supporting DualShock 3 right away:
SCEA - Formula One Championship Edition* (PS3)
SCEA - MotorStorm* (PS3) SCEA - PAIN (PSN)
SCEA - High Velocity Bowling (PSN)
SCEA - MLB 08: The Show (PS3)
SCEA - Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune (PS3)
SCEA - Resistance: Fall of Man* (PS3)
SCEA - Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction (PS3)
SCEA - Go! Sports Ski* (PSN) SCEA - Folklore* (PS3)
SCEA - Heavenly Sword* (PS3)
SCEA - Warhawk* (PSN / PS3)
SCEA - Super Stardust HD* (PSN)
SCEA - Snakeball (PSN)
SCEA - Toy Home (PSN)
SCEA - PSOne Emulation (PSN)
SCEA - Piyotama (PSN)
SCEA - PixelJunk Monsters (PSN)
SCEA - Blast Factor* (PSN)
Sega - Condemned 2: Bloodshot (PS3)
Ubisoft - Lost: Via Domus (PS3)
Ubisoft - Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Vegas 2* (PS3)
EA - Burnout Paradise (PS3)
KOEI - Dynasty Warriors 6 (PS3)
Capcom - Devil May Cry 4 (PS3)
Atari - Dragon Ball Z Burst Limit (PS3)
Disney Interactive - Turok (PS3)

Source: videogamesblogger.com

SCEA will introduce the DualShock 3 wireless controller for the first time in North America on a April 15th, 2008, release date for $54.99 (MSRP). DualShock 3, incorporates both rumble and motion sensing Sixaxis technologies, maintains the award-winning design and precise, responsive features of previous PlayStation controllers. The added rumble feature, combined with the Sixaxis system, enhances the gamer experience with more interactive, intuitive and immersive game play experience and will work with more than 100 current PS3 titles.

To coincide with the much-anticipated North American launch of Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots in late Q2 2008 (retailers claim the game’s release date is June 12th, 2008), SCEA will introduce a PS3 bundle, which will include an 80GB PS3, the upcoming blockbuster Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots and a DualShock 3 wireless controller for $499.

SCEA also announced the June 2008 availability of the limited-edition God of War PSP Entertainment Pack for $199.99 (MSRP). The God of War Entertainment Pack will include a “Deep Red” PSP with God of War himself, Kratos, silk-screened on the back of the unit, a copy of the highly anticipated upcoming God of War: Chains of Olympus game for PSP, the hit comedy movie from Columbia Pictures, “Superbad,” on UMD (Universal Media Disc), and a PlayStation Network voucher to download Syphon Filter: Combat Ops from PlayStation Store. The stand-alone version of God of War: Chains of Olympus launches on March 4, 2008.

Source: videogamesblogger.com

Sony has announced an all-new PS3 color . . . for Japan. “Satin Silver” will be released on March 6th for consumers in the Land of the Rising Sun and will retail for ¥39,980 (USD $374).

The console is the standard 40GB edition and will be bundled with a normal SIXAXIS controller (sorry folks, no DualShock 3 love for you!). As you can see in the pic above, the system looks quite nice.

Japan already has a white PS3 in addition to the black color . . . now when are Westerners going to get the chance to choose their own color scheme? Huh Sony? — Via Kotaku

Source: videogamesblogger.com

Ever wondered which of the next-gen consoles has the greatest battery life? Is it the Nintendo Wii? The Playstation 3? Or Microsoft’s Xbox 360?

Well Gamepro but all these consoles to the test and came out with some surprising results. But first here is the criteria they used:
* Used straight out-of-the-box hardware only
* No charger packs were used for neither 360 or Wii
* A wide variety of games tested on each system, including lengthy single-player adventures and shallow downloadable games, both online & off.
* Played a variety of time intervals, from fifteen minutes to upward of 8-hours
* The specific batteries used for Wii & Xbox 360 were Duracell’s “coppertops” that most people will use.
* Batteries were considered dead if they failed to reconnect the controller for a third consecutive time.

So what were the results? Check them out!

PlayStation 3
Sony’s Sixaxis is light in both weight and battery performance. If it weren’t for its ability to recharge via USB, we’d call it a show-stopper. But its internal battery does recharge, which is more than either the Xbox 360 or the Wii controllers are capable of, resulting in big savings over the life of the console. Like any good Blu-ray player, our PS3 was used to watch a handful of high-definition movies in addition to games. But due to the lack of an auto-off feature like the Wii and 360, Sixaxis lasted a meager 18 hours and 41 minutes; the first controller to die on us. ProTip: Get in the habit of turning your controller off when not in use (via the PlayStation button menu), or invest $20 bucks in the lovely Bluetooth remote.

Xbox 360
Microsoft’s Xbox 360 controllers are the most weighted when compared to either Wii or PS3 — by far. They also pack the most rumble punch, shaking profusely during intense gaming moments. So it would make sense to think the added density and tactile feedback would drain batteries with haste, but our lab results proved quite the contrary. The Xbox 360 controller endured an impressive 56 hours and 56 minutes, the most of any wireless controller we tested. Fittingly, our second to last play session went 360 minutes on the dot. The dashboard battery meter isn’t as accurate as PS3 or Wii, but for maximum gaming on a single battery charge, the Xbox 360 can’t be beat. ProTip: Consider an Xbox 360 Quick Charge Kit or alternative to avoid disposable batteries, though you’ll get a bit less mileage between charges.

So which battery setup works best? That, like the consoles themselves, is entirely subjective. The PS3 controller is rechargeable, the Wii Remote customizable, and the Xbox 360 long-lasting. Now that’s playing with power.

Wii
The Wii Remote and Nunchuck are the most technologically advanced controllers on the market. Given that the pair include speakers, gyroscopes, and other motion-sensing doohickery, we assumed the waggle pads would be the first to cave when it came to battery performance. Surprisingly, Wii controllers lasted almost 20 hours longer than the PS3 controller when playing games, watching YouTube videos, or admiring handsome Miis. At the end of the day, the Wii CopperTops tarried for a solid 36 hours and 43 minutes on default controller settings. It should be noted, however, that battery results may vary on Wii, for better or for worse. Given the level of customization, players can forgo both rumble and remote audio for improved battery life, or rely heavily on them for a quicker death. ProTip: Consider a reusable third-party battery pack, though it likely won’t last as long.

WINNER: Xbox 360 — Via GamePro

Source: thexboxdomain.com