It that’s time of the week again, and lets just say that for once, Europe got a pretty decent update to the PlayStation Store. Europe has received two new playable demos and three new PlayStation One titles. The US has received a new playable demo, plus the final add-on packs for Folklore. In addition, the­ US also got more add-on content for Rock Band and a number of new themes, wallpaper, videos and trailers. Check out what’s new below.

Europe Additions:

• Playable Demos
• Devil May Cry 4 Demo
• MX Vs ATV: Untamed Demo
• PSOne Titles
• Fade to Black
• Motorhead
• Theme Hospital
• Game Videos
• PixelJunk Mosters Trailer

US Additions:

• Playable Demos
• Conflict: Denied Ops Demo
• Game Add-on Content
• Folklore:
• Add-on Pack 5
• Add-on Pack 6
• Add-on Bundle 3
• Rock Band:
• Siva – Smashing Pumpkins
• Ten Speed – Coheed and Cambria
• Working Man – Rush
• Game Videos
• Battlefield: Bad Company: Haggard’s Blog
• Go! Sports Skydiving Trailer
• Movie Trailers and Videos
• Prince Caspian Trailer
• Prom Night Trailer
• Across the Universe Trailer
• Daddy Day Camp Trailer
• Themes
• PixelJunk Monsters 2
• Wallpaper
• PixelJunk (2)

­

The Internet has been alive this week with rumours of the 80GB PlayStation 3 model being discontinued. The rumours began with a leaked memo from Best Buy stating that the particular SKU would
b­e ph­ased out, then followed with the mysterious removal of the 80GB
PS3 from Best Buy’s website. However, new evidence has come in further
confirming the – what now seems like inevitable – discontinuation of
the 80GB SKU. A GameStop conference call was held today, which supposedly explained
that the system was no longer being produced, in favor of a 120 GB or
more model bundled with the Dual Shock 3 controller.

Sony denied the rumours last week regarding the discontinuation of the 80GB model, and as a result, they have not revealed any information to the contrary. There’s no official date for when this enhanced model will be ready for
purchase, or the price, for that matter, but it should be relatively
soon. SCEE has already confirmed that a new model will not be available in Europe in the near future. As for the US, they could be getter a 120GB or even a 160GB model.­

There is no surprise in this week’s update. The US PlayStation Store has had another major update compared to the European Store, and includes the highly anticipated Devil May Cry 4 demo. Europe has received a new downloadable game as a very limited number of other additions including a new PSOne game, a new game trailer, theme and some wallpapers. The US has received two new playable demos, add-on content for various games including two Stranglehold map packs, including other content. Check out the list below.

European Additions:

• Downloadable Games
  • PixelJunk Monsters
• PSOne Games:
  • Judge Dredd: Zoo Digital Publishing Limited
• Videos
  • Civilization Revolution Launch Trailer
• Themes
  • COD 4 Theme
• Wallpapers
  • COD4 Wallpaper (5)

US Additions:

• Demos
  
  • Devil May Cry 4 Demo
  • The Club Demo
• Downloadable Games
  • PixelJunk Monsters
• Add-on Content:
  
  • Folklore Create-a-Creature Winner Add-On
  • Rock Band
    • Wonderwall – Oasis
    • Live Forever – Oasis
    • Don t Look Back in Anger – Oasis
    • Oasis Pack 1
  • Stranglehold
    • Stranglehold Map Pack
      • 10 additional multiplayer maps including Kowloon Market, Wong s Estate Grounds and the Rooftops of Chicago.
      • 21 all-new multiplayer character skins.
    • Stranglehold CE Map Pack (US 14.99)
      • 10 additional multiplayer maps including Kowloon Market, Wong s Estate Grounds and the Rooftops of Chicago.
      • 21 all-new multiplayer character skins.
• PSOne Games
  
  • Jet Moto 2 (US 5.99)
• Game Videos
  
  • Tony Hawk s Proving Ground Stevie s Skater Story
• Movie and Blu-ray Disc Trailers
  
  • Step Up 2: The Streets Trailer
  • Dragon Wars Trailer
• PS3 Themes
  
  • PixelJunk Monsters Theme
  • Lemmings Theme

According to “Quarterly Global Next Generation DVD and Game Platform Hardware Shipment and Forecast Report,” high-definition DVD gaming hardware, such as the PlayStation 3 and the Xbox 360’s external HD DVD drive, had revenue growth of more than three times that of standalone Blu-Ray or HD DVD players from the second and third quarters of 2007. The PlayStation 3 accounts for 97% of all Blu-Ray device sales alone. Overall, game console-related hardware made up 85% of global next-gen DVD shipmentes between Q1 to Q3 in 2007.

Sony dominated the total Blu-Ray market, with 97% worldwide share thanks to the PlayStation 3. “It’s played a very important role,” says Andy Parsons, chair of the U.S. promotion committee for the Blu-ray Disc Association (BDA). “That’s certainly been a foundation of the Blu-ray format.”

Between Sony, Toshiba and Microsoft, which manufactures the external HD DVD drive for the Xbox 360, these three companies accounted for 98% of global next-gen DVD hardware.

[Via: SMARTHOUSE]

“Achievements” have become a major part of the Xbox 360 experience, with many games applauded purely because of how the system was implemented. Sony has seemingly taken due notice of the successful system and is currently adapting it for the PlayStation 3. Sony has already announced a "Trophy Room" for PlayStation Home last year, but Sony is working on more than just this. Achievements on the PlayStation platform will not be a mere figure easily displayed on an online card, but will be considerably more indepth and broad in information presented.

If Eric Lempel, director of the PlayStation Network, is to be believed, the PlayStation equivalent of achievements will, “recognize our consumers’ gaming skills and loyalty in new ways”. Could this mean that gamers will receive tangible rewards for playing games? Exact details are still unclear but hopefully Sony has something to share on the whole matter soon.

[Via: MyGen]

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]