It’s that time of the week once again. The PlayStation Network Store updates are in and as usual, the US have a lot more new content than the European Store. The European PSN store has received two new playable demos and some new game add-on content for Guitar Hero III and Folklore. As the for the US, there are two new playable demos to download and three new full PSN games available for purchase. In addition, there are several videos and trailers, game add-on content and six new XMB themes. Check out the list below.

European Additions:

• Playable Demos:
  • NBA 08
  • FIFA Street 3
• Game Add-on Content:
  • Guitar Hero III "Warner track pack" (GBP 3.99/EUR 5.99)
    • Die Fantastischen Vier’s "Ernten Was Wir Saen" (GBP 1.49/EUR 1.99)
    • Extremoduro’s "So Payaso" (GBP 1.49/EUR 1.99)
    • Trust’s "Antisocial" (GBP 1.49/EUR 1.99)
  • Folklore "Visions of the Tower" add-on pack (GBP 1.49/EUR 1.99)
• Videos and Trailers:
  • Gran Turismo 5 Prologue trailer
  • Borderlands "debut" trailer
  • Brothers in Arms trailer
  • Cloverfield movie trailer

US Additions:

• Playable Demos:
  
  • Turok
  • FIFA Street 3
• Downloadable Games
  
  • Tori-Emaki ($1.99)
  • Mesmerize: Trace ($1.99)
  • Blast Factor Bundle ($12.99
• Add-on Game Content
  
  • MotorStorm Double Track Pack – Eagle’s Nest and Diamondback Speedway ($2.99)
  • Rock Band
  • Last Train to Clarksville The Monkees ($1.99)
  • All the Small Things – Blink-182 ($1.99)
  • Action Sweet ($1.99)
• Videos and Trailers
  
  • PixelJunk Monsters Trailer
  • Borderlands Debut Trailer
  • Dynasty Warriors 6 Trailer
  • Brothers In Arms Hell s Highway Trailer
  • Lost Planet Trailer
  • Syphon Filter: Combat Ops Trailer
• PS3 Themes
  
  • PAIN Ice Tea Theme
  • PAIN Ed T-Bone Theme
  • Mesmerize Theme
  • Tori-Emaki Theme
  • Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare Theme

The PlayStation Store updates for this week are in and it’s still a disappointment for European PS3 Owners, with no new playable demos. But, Europe did get two new PlayStation One titles and a new game addon for Folklore. As for the US, there are two new playable demos and several new game addons, in addition to a new PlayStation One title. Both PSN Stores got their share of videos and trailers too. More details below.

European Update:

• PSOne Games:
• Hardcore 4×4
• N20
• Game Addons:
• Folklore: Pigly Pack
• MotorStorm: Eagle’s Nest and Diamondback Speedway track pack
• Trailers:
• Bionic Commando
• DMC4 – "TGS 2007 2"
• PixelJunk Monsters
• Other:
• DMC wallpapers (4)

US Update:

• Downloadable Demo
• Kane & Lynch: Dead Men
• Super Stardust HD
• Game Addons:
• Folklore:
  • The Alchemist Pack
  • The Origin of Belgae
• Rock Band songs
• Number of the Beast – Iron Maiden
• Interstate Love Song – Stone Temple Pilots
• Die, All Right! – The Hives
• Need for Speed ProStreet:
  • McLaren F1
  • Bugatti Veyron 16.4
• PSOne Games:
• Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back
• Videos/Trailers
• Burnout Paradise Guns N Roses Network
• Spiderwick Chronicles Trailer 2
• First Sunday Trailer
• PS3 Themes
• PAIN Jarvis Theme
• PAIN The Dude Theme

In-game XMB access tops everyone’s list when it comes to new firmware features, since it will allow messaging and possibly music playback. Sony has finally answered everyone’s prayers and will added it to the PS3 sometime this year. Sony’s Paul Purdy confirmed the long-requested feature but didn’t give away any information on what it would allow users to do.

As most of you know the PS3 Operating System, known as the XMB or Cross Media Bar, is not available when playing games, which means you cannot read or send messages when playing games. In-game XMB access will mean you will be able to access the XMB from in-game to access some of its features while in-game, so you can read and send messages and even edit settings, play music and add new buddies. The release date for in-game XMB access has not been revealed but it will be released this year.

Paramount is poised to drop its support of HD DVD after Warner Brothers’ recent backing of Sony’s Blu-ray technology, in a move that could kill HD DVD and bring the home entertainment format war to a definitive end. Paramount and DreamWorks Animation came out in support of HD DVD last sum­mer, joining Universal Studios as the main backers of the Toshiba format. However, Paramount is understood to have a clause in its contract with the HD DVD camp that would allow it to switch sides in the event of Warner Bros backing Blu-ray, according to people familiar with the situation.

Paramount is set to have a bumper 2008 with several likely blockbusters, including the latest instalment in the Indiana Jones franchise. Paramount joining the Blu-ray camp would leave HD DVD likely to suffer the same fate as Sony’s now obsolete Betamax video technology, which lost out to VHS in a similar format war in the 1980s.
Warners decision last week to throw its weight behind Blu-ray saw it join Walt Disney, 20th Century Fox and MGM as backers of the Sony format. The Warners move gives Blu-ray about 70 per cent of Hollywood’s output, although the format’s grip on film content will increase further when Paramount comes aboard.

[Via: FT.com]

HD DVD loses out yet again in the high-definition DVD format war as Warner Bros. goes Blu-Ray exclusive. The company will continue to release titles in both HD DVD format and Blu-ray until the end of May 2008m after which it is believed that all high-d­ef titles will be released in Blu-ray format exclusively. HD DVD still has the backing of Paramount, DreamWorks and Universal, but this announcement does give Blu-Ray a better advantage in the high-def format war.

Barry Meyer, Chairman & CEO of Warner Bros, says:

"The window of opportunity for high-definition DVD could be missed if format confusion continues to linger. We believe that exclusively distributing in Blu-ray will further the potential for mass market success and ultimately benefit retailers, producers, and most importantly, consumers."

Jeff Bewkes, President and Chief Executive Officer, Time Warner Inc., the parent company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, says:

"Warner Bros. has produced in both high-definition formats in an effort to provide consumer choice, foster mainstream adoption and drive down hardware prices. Warner Bros decision. to distribute in a single format comes at the right time and is the best decision both for consumers and Time Warner."

Today marks the first update for the New Year and Sony hasn’t done a very good job. Europe has received the worst update ever with only two new items added to the store. What was Sony thinking? The last US update featured more content than the last three European PlayStation Store updates put together. The US Store has received a much larger update consisting of several new game add-ons and one new playable demo. Check out the list of additions below.

EU Additions:­

• Game Add-ons:
  • Folklore: Fear in the Night Pack
• Game Videos and Trailers:
  • Devil May Cry 4 Final Trailer

US Additions:

• Playable Demos:
  • NFL Tour ‘09 Network Demo
• Add-on Game Content:
  • Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock
    • Die Fantastischen Vier "Ernten Was Wir S?" – Single Track ($2.49)
    • Trust "Antisocial" – Single Track ($2.49)
    • Extremoduro "So Payaso" – Single Track ($2.49)
    • Warner/Reprise Track Pack ($6.25)
  • Rock Band
    • "Attack" – 30 Seconds to Mars ($0.99)
    • "The Kill" – 30 Seconds to Mars ($0.99)
    • "Dirty Little Secret" – All-American Rejects ($0.99)
    • "Move Along" – All-American Rejects ($0.99)
    • "Song With a Mission" – The Sounds ($0.99)
    • "Limelight" – Rush ($1.99)
    • "Hard to Handle" – The Black Crowes ($1.99)
    • "Gimme Three Steps" – Lynyrd Skynyrd ($1.99)
  • Need for Speed ProStreet
    • Shelby GT500 ($1.99)
    • Chevrolet Corvette Z06 ($2.49)
    • Lancer Evolution ($2.49)
    • BMW M3 E92 ($2.49)
    • Ford GT ($2.49)
    • Chevrolet Camaro Concept ($2.49)
    • Dodge Viper SRT10 ($2.99
• Game Videos:
  • Gran Turismo 5 Prologue Japanese Launch Trailer (free)

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