Articles posted by Niraj Shah

PS3 Firmware 2.70

The new PlayStation 3 firmware update is now available to download. Firmware 2.70 adds some great new features to the PlayStation 3 that will enhance your connected experience on the PS3. The 2.70 update brings a new Text Chat feature that enables you to communicate online with your PlayStation Network friends. Now, you’ll be able to chat with up to 15 online friends using the Wireless Keypad, on-screen keyboard, or other compatible keyboard peripherals. Not only can you chat with your friends instantly, but you can also access Text Chat while playing PS3 games and even participate in up to three chat rooms at once.

In addition to the above features, Sony has also added other changes. Here is the changelog:

Friends list on the XMB (XrossMediaBar)
- Sort your friends via their online status
- Attach larger files to the messages you send to your friends (file size will increase from 1MB to 3MB)
Video delivery service on PlayStation Store
- Video files you’ve purchased from the PlayStation Store can be backed up to an external storage device and then restored to PS3’s internal hard drive for playback – so you can clear up space on your hard drive and then restore the video anytime in the future
- Videos you’ve purchased for PSP (PlayStation Portable) system can now be transferred to PS3 for playback

Video Walkthrough for Text Chat:

PlayStation Store update for March 26th 2009

The last update for March, and its a huge one for the US. There are no new playable demos on either store this week, but there are two new downloadable games. Burn Zombie Burn is now available to purchase from both stores and a huge range of add-on game content for Resistance 2, Guitar Hero World Tour and Rock Band has also been added. For the US, the March 26th episode of PULSE is also available to download. Check out the complete list of new content below.

European Additions:

Downloadable Games
- Burn Zombie Burn (£6.29/?7.99)
- Magic Carpet (£4.79/?5.99)
Game Add-on Content
- LittleBigPlanet – Buzz! Costume £1.59/?1.99)
- Pain – Smack Pack (£3.19/?3.99)
- Pain – El Chile Grande (£0.69/?0.99)
- Call of Duty: World at War Map Pack 1 (£7.99/?9.99)
- Tom Clancy?s EndWar – Veteran Map Pack
- Unreal Tournament 3 – Titan Mutator Bonus Pack
- Guitar Hero World Tour
  - C-Lebrity? By Queen (£1.59/?1.99)
  - Fat Bottom Girls? By Queen (£1.59/?1.99)
  - We Are The Champions? By Queen (£1.59/?1.99)
  - James Bond Theme (£1.59/?1.99)
  - Queen Track Pack (£4.39/?5.49)
- Rock Band
  - Black (£0.99/?1.49)
  - Deep (£0.99/?1.49)
  - Even Flow (£0.99/?1.49)
  - Garden (£0.99/?1.49)
  - Jeremy (£0.99/?1.49)
  - Master/Slave £0.99/?1.49)
  - Oceans (£0.99/?1.49)
  - Once (£0.99/?1.49)
  - Porch (£0.99/?1.49)
  - Release (£0.99/?1.49)
  - Why Go (£0.99/?1.49)
- Resistance 2
  - Aftermath Multiplayer Map Pack (£3.99/?4.99)
  - Black Ops Variation Multiplayer Skin (£0.59/?0.75)
  - Cloven Multiplayer Skin (£0.59/?0.75)
  - Female Soldier Multiplayer Skin (£0.59/?0.75)
  - Rachael Parker Multiplayer Skin (£0.59/?0.75)
  - Ranger Variation Multiplayer Skin (£0.59/?0.75)
  - Ravager Multiplayer Skin (£0.59/?0.75)
  - Multiplayer Skin Bundle (£2.39/?2.99)
Videos
- God of War 3 Announcement Trailer
- inFamous High Voltage Trailer
Wallpapers
- Crash Commando War Wallpaper
- Rag Doll Kung Fu: Fists of Plastic Hip Wallpaper
- Red Alert 3 Allied Cryocopter Wallpaper
- Red Alert 3 Empire Tsunami Tank Wallpaper
- Red Alert 3 Soviet Apocalypse Tank
Theme
- Red Alert 3 Soviet Theme

US Additions:

Pulse 3/26 Edition
Downloadable Games
- Burn Zombie Burn ($9.99)
- Worms ($12.99)
Game Add-on Content
- LittleBigPlanet BUZZ! Mini-Pack ($1.99)
- PAIN: El Chile Grande Character ($0.99)
- Resistance 2
  - Aftermath Multiplayer Map Pack ($5.99)
  - Skin Bundle ($3.99)
  - Black Ops Variation Multiplayer Skin ($0.99)
  - Cloven Multiplayer Skin ($0.99)
  - Female Soldier Multiplayer Skin ($0.99)
  - Rachael Parker Multiplayer Skin ($0.99)
  - Ranger Variation Multiplayer Skin ($0.99)
  - Ravager Multiplayer Skin ($0.99)
- Disgaea 3
  - Absence of Justice Defender of Earth Character Pack ($5.99)
  - Absence of Justice Item World Command Attack Mode ($3.99)
  - Absence of Justice Character: Gordon ($1.99)
  - Absence of Justice Character: Jennifer ($1.99)
  - Absence of Justice Character: Thursday ($1.99)
- Tom Clancy?s EndWar Veteran Map Pack
- Karaoke Revolution Presents: American Idol Encore 2
  - (I?ve Had) The Time of My Life ($1.49)
  - Dance, Dance ($1.49)
  - I Love Rock N Roll ($1.49)
  - Irresistible ($1.49)
  - My Immortal ($1.49)
  - Put Your Records On ($1.49)
  - Spoonman ($1.49)
  - Sweet Caroline ($1.49)
  - The Joker and the Thief ($1.49)
  - The Spirit of Radio ($1.49)
  - Youth Gone Wild ($1.49)
- Rock Band
  - ?Black? – Pearl Jam ($1.99)
  - ?Deep? – Pearl Jam ($1.99)
  - ?Even Flow? – Pearl Jam ($1.99)
  - ?Garden? – Pearl Jam ($1.99)
  - ?Jeremy? – Pearl Jam ($1.99)
  - ?Master/Slave? – Pearl Jam ($1.99)
  - ?Oceans? – Pearl Jam ($1.99)
  - ?Once? – Pearl Jam ($1.99)
  - ?Porch? – Pearl Jam ($1.99)
  - ?Release? – Pearl Jam ($1.99)
  - ?Why Go? – Pearl Jam ($1.99)
  - Ten Album – Pearl Jam – ($17.99)
- Guitar Hero World Tour
  - ?The James Bond Theme? performed by Richard Fortus ($1.99)
  - ?C-Lebrity? by Queen + Paul Rodgers ($1.99)
  - ?Fat Bottomed Girls? by Queen ($1.99)
  - ?We Are The Champions? by Queen ($1.99)
  - Queen Track Pack ($5.49)
Game Videos
- Pulse 3/26 Edition
- F.E.A.R. to F.E.A.R. 2 Trailer
- Wanted: Weapons of Fate Trailer
- Meet the Red Alert 3: Ultimate Edition Dev Team
- Winter Dew Tour Videos (x8)
- Black Freighter Bonus Clip Video
Movie and Blu-ray Disc Trailers
- Seven Pounds Blu-ray Disc Trailer
PS3 Themes
- PAIN: El Chile Grande Theme
- MLB Team Themes – Pack 3 (x5) (includes Astros, Blue Jays, Cardinals, Dodgers and Marlins)
- Disgaea 3 – Defender of Earth Custom Theme ($0.99)
- Celtic Maidens ($1.49)
- Gamer Girlz ($1.49)
- Chinese Fighting Dragons ($1.49)
- Arctic Penguins ($1.49)
Wallpaper

Rag Doll Kung Fu: Fists of Plastic Hip Wallpaper
Tom Clancy?s EndWar European Federation Wallpaper (x4)

GDC 09: Multiple PSN Sign-in feature to be added to high profile games

Jon Webb, of the SCEA Developer Support Group, spoke at GDC 2009 about the PlayStation Network. Some interesting facts emerged about the network, detailing the nuts and bolts of the service as well as improments that have been added since launch. One of the mentioned features is multiple PSN sign-ins, which allows a second player to join a local multiplayer game using their own PSN ID. So far LittleBigPlanet and Resistance 2 (using patch 1.50) are the only games that allow this.

Webb mentioned that this feature will be added to other high profile games, though no titles were mentioned. The multiple sign-in feature will pull saved data from both accounts but making this work will be the responsibility of the developers of the games. Like LittleBigPlanet, any progress made in the game is saved to all PSN accounts used.

PS3 Firmware 2.70 out this week?

According to VG247, a "prominent PS3 developer" said that firmware 2.70 will go live this week. The unnamed developer made the assertion during GDC. The dev also said that developers got the update yesterday. The update also supposedly went live for a brief time, before Sony pulled it down. The release of Firmware 2.70 hasn’t been confirmed by Sony yet, so you should hold off until an official announcement is made. We speculate that the new firmware will likely be release tomorrow when the new Resistance 2 patch goes live.

The new Resistance 2 patch will let a second local player to log in using his own PSN profile and save his progress. Insomniac devs have stated before that this needed a firmware feature not available during the game’s launch, so the fact that they’ve already managed to implement it is a good indication that Firmware 2.70 will launch tomorrow.

Xi has begun

The world’s first console-based Alternate Reality Game starts today in PlayStation Home. Called Xi , the adventure takes place in a series of secret areas in Home – and beyond – changing day by day, week by week, in real time. Anyone with a PlayStation 3 can join in the fun for free. Over the past few weeks, notices of Xi have been showing up in home for some time, and now we finally know what it is.

To discover the mystery of Xi, simply log on to PlayStation Home and look for the graffiti on the wall in the main square. Find that, and all will be revealed…

PlayStation Store update for March 19th 2009

A big update to the PlayStation Store this week with lots of game add-on content for both stores. In addition, SOCOM Confrontation is finally available to purchase in Europe along with two other downloadable games. The Command and Conquer Red Alert 3 demo is now available to dowload on the US Store. The Killzone Costume Pack is now available for LittleBigPlanet as well as new content for Call of Duty, Guitar Hero, Rock Band, FIFA ’09, Midnight Club LA and other games. Check out the complete list below.

European Additions:

Downloadable Games
- SOCOM Confrontation
- PowerUp Forever
- Silent Hill
Game Add-on Content
- Call of Duty: World at War Map Pack 1
- High Velocity Bowling – Jill’s Totally Straight Pack
- LittleBigPlanet – Killzone Costume Kit
- Street Fighter IV – Shadaloo Pack
- Midnight Club LA
  - South Central Map Expansion
  - South Central Premium Upgrade
- Guitar Hero World Tour
  - Carolina By M Chan
  - Hier Kommt Alex By Die Toten Hosen
  - What Have You Done By Within Temptation
  - European Track Pack 04
  - Jimi Hendrix Track Pack 02
- Rock Band
  - All The Things That Go To Make Heaven And Earth
  - Get Up (I Feel Like Being A) Sex Machine
  - Last Resort
  - Lifeline
  - Pick Up The Pieces
  - Shining Star
  - Thrash Unreal
  - Use It
  - Get The Funk Out Pack 01
- FIFA 09 Ultimate Team
  - FIFA 09 Ultimate Team Trial
    - English
    - French
    - Italian
    - German
    - Spanish
Game Videos
- God Of War III Trailer
- FIFA 09 Ultimate Team Tutorial Trailer
- FIFA 09 Ultimate Team Trailer
- Midnight Club Los Angeles South Central Trailer
Wallpaper
- Crash Commando Battle
PS3 Themes
- FIFA 09 Ultimate Team Theme
- MotorStorm PR – Island Theme
- MotorStorm PR – Festival Theme

US Additions:

Playable Demos
- Red Alert 3: Ultimate Edition Demo
Downloadable Games
- Wheel of Fortune ($14.99)
Game Add-on Content
- LittleBigPlanet Killzone Mini-Pack ($2.99)
- High Velocity Bowling: Jill’s Totally Straight Trick Shot Pack
- PAIN: Smack Pack ($2.99)
- Call of Duty: World at War Map Pack 1 ($9.99)
- Midnight Club: Los Angeles – South Central Map Expansion
- Midnight Club: Los Angeles – South Central Premium Upgrade ($9.99)
- NCAA Basketball 09 Bracket Pack
- Street Fighter IV Classic Pack ($3.99)
- Trivial Pursuit Movies Pack
- Unreal Tournament 3 Titan Pack
- FIFA 09 Ultimate Team – English
- FIFA 09 Ultimate Team – French
- FIFA 09 Ultimate Team – Spanish
- Karaoke Revolution Presents: American Idol Encore 2
  - Black Velvet ($1.49)
  - Brick House ($1.49)
  - Call Me ($1.49)
  - Hemorrhage (In My Hands) ($1.49)
  - More Than A Feeling ($1.49)
  - Rio ($1.49)
  - Saving All My Love For You ($1.49)
  - Smooth Criminal ($1.49)
  - Stickwitu ($1.49)
  - Tainted Love ($1.49)
  - These Words (I Love You, I Love You) ($1.49)
  - Toxic ($1.49)
  - Unchained Melody ($1.49)
  - Unforgettable ($1.49)
  - Waiting For A Girl Like You ($1.49)
  - What I Like About You ($1.49)
  - You Can’t Hurry Love ($1.49)
  - You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling ($1.49)
- Rock Band
  - "Lifeline" – Papa Roach ($1.99)
  - "Last Resort" – Papa Roach ($1.99)
  - "Thrash Unreal" – Against Me! ($1.99)
  - "Use It" – The New Pornographers ($1.99)
  - "All the Things That Go to Make Heaven and Earth" – The New Pornographers ($1.99)
  - "Shining Star" – Earth, Wind & Fire ($1.99)
  - "Get Up (I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine – Pt. 1? – James Brown ($1.99)
  - Get the Funk Out Pack 01 ($5.49)
- Guitar Hero World Tour
  - "Carolina" by M-Clan ($1.99)
  - "Hier kommt Alex" by Die Toten Hosen ($1.99)
  - "What Have You Done" By Within Temptation ($1.99)
  - European Track Pack 04 ($5.49)
  - Jimi Hendrix Track Pack 02 ($5.49)
Game Videos
- inFamous Poisoned Water
- inFamous Powers Trailer
- inFamous Prison Battle Trailer
- inFamous Superpowers Trailer
- Patapon 2 Teaser Trailer
- Resistance: Retribution – Cutscenes
- Resistance: Retribution – Gameplay
- Resistance: Retribution – Motion Capture
- Resistance: Retribution – Music
- Resistance: Retribution – The Story
- F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin Alma Vignette
- Monster vs. Aliens Teaser Trailer
- Red Alert 3 Battlecast Primetime Special Edition
- Unreal Tournament 3 Titan Pack Trailer
- Red Faction: Guerrilla Declaration of independence Trailer
- Red Faction: Guerrilla Story Trailer
- Wheel of Fortune Trailer
Movie and Blu-ray Disc Trailers

MTV See You Sunday: The CollegeHumor Show Promo 2
MTV See You Sunday: Rob Dyrdek’s Fantasy Factory Promo 2
MTV See You Sunday: Nitro Circus Promo 2

PS3 Themes
- MLB 09 The Show Team Themes Pack 3 (x5)
- Wheel of Fortune Theme
- Azmodeus Dark Angels Theme 2 ($0.99)
- FIFA 09 Ultimate Team Theme

Command and Conquer Red Alert 3 Demo Available

The single player C&C Red Alert 3 demo is now available to download from the US PlayStation Store. The demo contains 2 campaign missions and a tutorial that will get you accustomed to playing RA3 on your PS3. The first campaign mission comes from the Soviet campaign; mission ?Krasna 45,? the second mission of the Soviet campaign. The other mission is ?Heidelberg,?the third mission in the Allied campaign. Both these missions feature co-op gameplay with an A.I. co-commander who will support you as well as follow your orders.

The game ships to stores next week in both the US and Europe so this is a good chance to see what the game is like. The full game will have 27 campaign missions, which can be played co-op with a buddy over the PlayStation Network. It will also feature skirmish and multiplayer modes.

Video:

PlayStation Store update for Mar 12th 2009

A huge update to the PlayStation Store this week. The US has received four new playable demos and three downloadable games, while Europe has received two new demos and three new downloadable games. Episode 10 of Qore is now available purchase too, and the new episode of PULSE is out too. There is new game add-on content for Street Fighter IV, Buzz!, Everybody’s Golf World Tour, Burnout Paradise, LittleBigPlanet and other games. Check out the complete list of new content for both stores below.

European Additions:

Playable Demos
- Watchmen: The End is Nigh Trial
- Wheelman Demo
Downloadable Games
- Hi-Octane (£3.99/?4.99)
- Street Skater 2 (£3.99/?4.99)
- Watchmen: The End is Nigh Unlock (£12.99/?14.99)
Game Add-on Content
- Trivial Pursuit Movie Pack
- Street Fighter IV – Shoryuken Pack (£3.19/?3.99)
- Buzz! National Geographic Prehistoric (£6.29/?7.99)
- Everybody’s Golf World Tour – Sackboy Character (£0.79/?0.99)
- LittleBigPlanet – St Patrick’s Day Costume
- Guitar Hero World Tour
  - Death Blossoms By Rise Against (£1.59/?1.99)
  - Ready To Fall By Rise Against (£1.59/?1.99)
  - Rise Against Track Pack (£4.39/?5.49)
  - Audience Of One By Rise Against (£1.59/?1.99)
- Rock Band
  - All I Want (£0.99/?1.49)
  - Losing My Religion (£0.99/?1.49)
  - The Kids Aren’t Alright (£0.99/?1.49)
  - The Way That It Shows (£0.99/?1.49)
- Burnout Paradise
  - Boost Specials Collection (£6.29/?7.99)
  - Carson Extreme Hot Rod (£3.99/?4.99)
  - Hawker Mech (£3.99/?4.99 )
Videos
- Pain Fortress Trailer
- Rag Doll Kung Fu Trailer
- Watchmen: The End Is Nigh Night Owl Trailer
- Watchmen: The End Is Nigh Rorschach Trailer
- inFamous High Voltage Trailer
- Prince Of Persia Epilogue
- Flower Remember Trailer
Wallpapers
- Crash Commando Airbourne
- Crash Commando Mayhem
Themes
- Crash Commando Maps Theme

US Additions:

Qore Episode 10: March, 2009 ($2.99)
PULSE 3/12 Edition (free)
Playable Demos
- Red Baron Arcade Demo
- Wheelman Demo
- The Chronicles of Riddick Demo
- WWE Legends of Wrestlemania Demo
Downloadable Games
- Red Baron Arcade ($9.99)
- BUZZ! Junior: Jungle Party ($4.99)
- Astro Tripper ($4.99)
Game Add-on Content
- Hot Shots Golf Out Of Bounds: Playable Sackboy ($1.99)
- BUZZ! Quiz TV National Geographic: Prehistoric Pack ($7.99)
- Burnout Paradise
  - Burnout Paradise: Boost Specials Collection ($7.99)
  - Burnout Paradise: Carson Extreme Hot Rod ($4.99)
  - Burnout Paradise: Burnout Paradise Hawker Mech ($4.99)
- Street Fighter IV Shadaloo Pack ($3.99)
- Rock Band
  - "All I Want" – The Offspring ($1.99)
  - "Losing My Religion" – R.E.M. ($1.99)
  - "The Kids Aren’t Alright" – The Offspring ($1.99)
  - "Way That it Shows" – Richard Thompson ($1.99)
- Guitar Hero World Tour
  - "Audience of One" by Rise Against ($1.99)
  - "Death Blossoms" by Rise Against ($1.99)
  - "Ready to Fall" by Rise Against ($1.99)
  - Rise Against Track Pack ($5.49)
Game Videos
- Rag Doll Kung Fu Preview Trailer
- Flower Fan Trailer
- Tom Clancy’s HAWX Launch Video
- FIFA 09 Ultimate Team Trailer
- FIFA 09 Ultimate Team Tutorial
- F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin Alma Vignette
- PULSE 3/12 Edition
TV, Movie and Blu-Ray Trailers
- Australia: A Passionate Feast
PS3 Themes
- MLB 09 The Show Team Themes (x5) (includes Braves, Giants, Reds, Rockies and Tigers) (free)
- University of Arizona Theme ($1.99)
- University of Colorado Theme ($1.99)
- University of Connecticut Theme ($1.99)
- University of Illinois Theme ($1.99)
- University of Kansas Theme ($1.99)
- University of Kentucky Theme ($1.99)
- University of Memphis Theme ($1.99)
- University of Missouri Theme ($1.99)
- University of Pittsburgh Theme ($1.99)
- University of Washington Theme ($1.99)
- Brigham Young University Theme ($1.99)
- Georgetown University Theme ($1.99)
- Gonzaga University Theme ($1.99)
- Louisiana State University Theme ($1.99)

Crystal Defenders Trophies

Crystal Defenders is a defensive strategy game in which players deploy skilled soldiers to fend off encroaching enemy hordes. This title has 12 unlockable trophies, most of which are easy to obtain.

New PSN functionality coming to EU PlayStation Website

Since PlayStation Network integrations first went live on the European PlayStation website last year, the web team at Sony have been working hard to bring more functionality. During the next few days, Sony will be launching new PlayStation Network-integrated features. The “PSN Dashboard”, Friends List, Trophies and other features will now be available to users. See below for details on the aforementioned features.

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