Sony were apparently talking quite a lot about community websites at Sony's 'Pre-E3 Judge's Event in LA' and it seems many PS3 games will be getting Bungie.net style community sites. Those confirmed to be getting community sites include Motorstorm: Pacific Rim, Resistance 2 and SOCOM: Confrontation. Killzone 2 already has a site for Killzone: Liberation but will add "rankings and statistics" for Killzone 2. Also, LittleBigPlanet should be getting some kind of community site but Sony have not decided on how to integrate the game with such a site.

• LittleBigPlanet – While they're "not decided yet" on exactly how to integrate the game into a community website, if any mechanic seems ripe for such a project, rankings and stats for LBP's user-generated content seem like a sure bet.
• Killzone 2 – There already is a my.killzone.com site for Killzone: Liberation, but adding "rankings and statistics" for Killzone 2 is the plan.
• SOCOM: Confrontation – They plan on launching a community site – think "My SOCOM" – on SOCOM.com. There's nothing there now, and MySOCOM.com is taken.
• Motorstorm: Pacific Rim – The Motorstorm representative wasn't very interested in providing any details, but she told us that they would have a "community website" as well.
• Resistance 2 – Insomniac has perhaps the most ambitious plans for community content, dedicating an entire development team to the task. They're "overhauling" MyResistance.net, adding things along the lines of "facebook-like features."

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has published a patent application on April 10 by Microsoft for a gyroscopic-based input device for use on computers and games consoles such as the Xbox 360. According to the application: Described is a technology by which a computer pointing device (generally a mouse but alternatively a game controller or remote control device) may be worn on the hand and operated without needing to contact a mousing surface. The controller is apparently still at the research and design stage and it is unclear if it will ever be released. Check the forums for a more detailed description from a source at TXB.

We were told that the motion sensing controller that Microsoft was researching had the functionality of both the Nintendo Wii Remote and the Nunchuk packed into a single device, with a shape that is neither that of a banana, nor a remote controller, but more like a “pistol grip.” On top, it is supposed to have an analog stick (that could be replaced by a trackball) surrounded by the four action buttons.

The Japanese Playstation website has revealed that the Playstation Store will be reopened with its new look on April 25th. Firmware 2.30 will also be released on the same day to allow access to the store. To celebrate the launch of the store, Sony will be running a "PS treasure hunt" from April 15th to May 12 2008, giving every 50th member the chance to download a hidden application or game. It has been assumed that the new store will also launch in N.America and Europe on the same day too.

Sony PlayStation 3 online service will be renewed on April 15th, 2008 (Tuesday) evening. This will renew and expand the store by adding functionality described below:

* New interface and navigation improvements
* Preview video content using still images
* New download categories added

After the update, PS3 System Software 2.30 will be available.

To promote the new store, SCEJ will be offering a "PS treasure hunt" running from April 15th to May 12 2008. This will allow every 50th user to the store to download a "hidden" application or game, most likely for free. Maybe this is the suprise SCEE/SCEA mentioned upon release of the new store.

In the latest Iwata asks, a product developer talking about Mario Kart Wii revealed that there were 30 prototypes for the Wii Wheel. The prototypes meant Nintendo could make the Wii Wheel the perfect size, weight and color. They even made sure to put the Wii logo on the back so that everyone it could be seen by those not playing.


News Source: uk.wii.com

Scott Steinberg, VP of Product Marketing at SCEA, has said that they underestimated demand for the 80 GB PS3. He said Sony were wrong in thinking that the price of the 80 GB was a big factor and that consumers would prefer a cheaper 40 GB. Steinberg said that we will now see Sony replenish the 80 GB in the marketplace.

BIZ: Regarding the PS3 SKU strategy, there's been some talk about the 80 GB model possibly being phased out from some of the rumblings we've heard and that Sony is looking to possibly put some more distance between the 40 GB and some new model that might come out, maybe packed in with the Dual Shock 3... but it seems like there's been so much change over the last couple years; first you had the 20 GB and the 60 GB and the 40 GB and the 80 GB. Doesn't that lead to consumer confusion to have so many different SKUs out there?

SS: It hasn't hurt Apple. Our strategy at the end of the year was to offer up a $399 40 GB, which we thought was the magic price for a Blu-ray machine and then a $499 80 GB. What we were surprised to see is that $100 really didn't matter to a certain customer. Our sales were fairly equitable according to TRST and our internal numbers through the holidays and even into January; we're pretty dry on the 80 GB as a result of us underestimating the demand for the 80 GB and thinking that most folks, because the price message was such a big part of the pundits and the analysts decrying the differences between the 360 and the PS3, [would prefer the 40 GB]. Reality is the price wasn't that big of a deal and $499 sold a lot more than we thought, so the 80 GB got dry at retail not due to us artificially compressing it but the demand became greater than we thought. So you'll see us replenish these in the marketplace. We're still committed to our current strategy and there is much to do about nothing, I think is the way to think about it.

BIZ: So the 40 GB and the 80 GB... those are the two that are going to stay on the market, and there's no plans to swap one out for another?

SS: I don't know about the long term. We're looking at the marketplace and I think if the business can support two, we'll continue to do that but what we're seeing is that the hardcore guys have gone to the 80 GB and they value that extra hundred dollar worth of features and the more casual consumer, we think has gone to the $399 because they're a little bit more price conscious. We're still talking to our retail partners, we've got a big retail meeting next week in Scottsdale and we'll continue to take our learnings from the last couple months and we're formulating our strategy on how the hardware roadmap looks for the balance of the year.

MTV have found out that some Blu-ray games require installs to the hard drive because Blu-ray drives can only read at one speed. "When this is combined with the extremely large size of Blu-ray discs, and simply dumping existing DVD data onto a Blu-ray disc will inevitably result in longer load times."

The issue arises from differences in the reading techniques of DVD and Blu-ray. By nature, the outer and inner parts of a disc move at different speeds while a disc is spinning, regardless of format (CD, DVD, Blu-ray, HD-DVD, etc.). While DVD drives can read data at those differing speeds, Blu-ray reads at one speed. Combine that with the extremely large size of Blu-ray discs, and simply dumping existing DVD data onto a Blu-ray disc will inevitably result in longer load times.

Installations are a way around this issue.

When a publisher asks you to install a game on PS3, it’s because they’re moving some of the disc data to an area of your console that has much faster read access: the hard drive. You get vastly reduced loading times, but have to sit through an installation.

Microsoft will be resetting the the entire Gamerscore for an account to zero if the user has violated the Xbox LIVE Terms of Use by tampering with their Gamerscore and Achievements. The account will be unable to regain all previously obtained achievements and Gamerscore, however, the players will have the ability to gain future Achievements by earning them fairly, like the majority of the Xbox LIVE community does. You will also be labeled as a cheater for the community to see on Xbox.com and you will see it on your gamer card.

I wanted to follow up and let you know where we are on the post I made a few months ago on Gamesave Tampering. Today we took action on some of the accounts we have identified as the most serious offenders who have violated the Xbox LIVE Terms of Use by tampering with their Gamerscore and Achievements.

The steps today takes the form of the following:

• Resetting the entire Gamerscore for an account to zero
• The account will be unable to regain all previously obtained achievements and Gamerscore, however, the players will have the ability to gain future Achievements by earning them fairly, like the majority of the Xbox LIVE community does.
• The account will be clearly labeled as a cheater for the community to view on xbox.com. You can see an example here. In dash, the personal view of the gamercard will be labeled as well.

Xbox LIVE remains committed to keeping the service free of cheating in order to maintain a fair and level playing field for everyone.

To read more about Gamerscore corrections read the FAQ on Xbox.com

According to PC World, the PS3 firmware update v. 2.20 that is expected to be released in late March, will expose the ability to "Portable Copy." The say that "Portable Copy" will enable PS3 users to copy a standard-definition version of a Blu-ray movie to a PlayStation Portable (PSP). This is not mentioned in the firmware update v. 2.20 press release, only that you can you can transfer music and photo playlists from the PS3 to the PSP.

Original Press Release
Press Release

PS3(TM) Owners Will Soon Enjoy Downloadable Movie Content, Games And More With Blu-ray Disc(TM) Profile 2.0; PS3's Interoperability With PSP(R) Will Also Be Enhanced

Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) today announced that the next system software update for PLAYSTATION®3 (PS3(TM)) computer entertainment system, slated for release in late March, will add Blu-ray Disc(TM) (BD) Profile 2.0 or BD-LIVE, enabling PS3 owners to experience interactive features, such as downloadable video content, ringtones, games, and more. In addition to BD-LIVE, the system software update (v. 2.20) will enable photo and music playlists on PS3 to be copied to PSP®(PlayStation®Portable) handheld entertainment system, among other new features. These updates demonstrate how PS3 continues to evolve as a home entertainment hub with the flexibility to deliver the newest technology innovations that benefit PS3 owners.

"With Blu-ray established as the high-definition optical disc standard, more consumers are ready to jump in and take advantage of everything the format offers," said Scott A. Steinberg, vice president, product marketing, SCEA. "Whether you want to download movie extras, send ringtones to your phone, or play interactive games, BD-LIVE will offer exciting new ways to enjoy a Blu-ray movie. With these regular firmware updates and future-proofed technology, SCEA is making the 10-year lifecycle of PS3 possible."

BD Profile 2.0 requires an Internet connection and at least 1GB of local storage. The following features have all been demonstrated as possibilities with BD-Live and will vary by movie title.

-- A variety of downloadable content can be offered, including bonus scenes, shorts, trailers, subtitles, ringtones that can be sent to mobile phones, images, and more.
-- Interactive movie-based games can pit players who are sitting in the same room, or are across the world and online, against each other.


In conjunction with the PS3 firmware update, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (SPHE) is pleased to announce two BD-LIVE enabled titles to be released on April 8 - Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story and The 6th Day. Both titles will include exclusive downloadable content that goes beyond what is available on the actual Blu-ray discs. These initial releases preview some of the exciting new developments that will soon be available from BD-LIVE on Blu- ray disc.

Beyond BD-LIVE, the new system software update enhances PS3 system's interoperability with PSP system, enabling users to take their favorite music and photo playlists with them on-the-go with their PSP. To copy a playlist, PSP and PS3 must first be connected with a USB cable, and the PSP must be in USB mode. Then, on PS3, select "Copy" in the option menu of each music or photo playlist, and choose PSP as the destination. Now the playlist order, and the songs or photos themselves, will be accessible on the PSP's Memory stick PRO Duo anytime, anywhere. This new functionality makes it easer than ever to share media content between the two systems.

The following new features will also be included in the system software update.

-- "Resume play" will enable PS3 system to start playing a Blu-ray disc and DVD at the point it was stopped, even if the disc had been removed.(*1)
-- "Audio Output Device" will be a new Remote Play setting, enabling PSP to serve as a remote control for music played through PS3.
-- PS3 system's Internet browser will be enhanced: Video files directly linked from a Web page will be able to be streamed, and the browser's view speed will be improved.
-- DivX and WMV format videos that are larger than 2GB will be playable.
-- "Mosquito Noise Reduction" will be added as an AV setting in the
control panel of the DVD/BD player for improved movie playback.(*2)

*1 BD-J format disc is not supported.
2 BD discs recorded with BDMV format are not supported.