In a short demonstration at the Tokyo Games Show 2007, Sony showed a Windows laptop sporting a PlayStation Store interface created for PC users. Of course, Hirai couldn’t help but boast virtual shelf numbers during the process: 30 PlayStation 3 games, 300 add-on items, 100 game titles on archive, and a slew of game demos all underline what’s served at the portal currently. Details about how the store can be accessed is still unclear.

Hirai failed to mention if the store can be accessed via a standard web browser or via a special application. This news is expecially exciting for those who can only access the Internet via their PCs.

Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCEI) today announced that it would release DUALSHOCK 3 Wireless Controller, a new controller for PLAYSTATION 3 incorporating a rumble feature, in Japan in November as a separately sold accessory. It inherits the basic design and functionality of the popular PlayStation controller, while keeping the high-precision, high response motion sensitive six-axis sensing system. Introduction to North American and European markets is expected in spring 2008.

There have been manu rumors suggesting this functionality, but now Sony has finally confirmed the news. According to the Sony press release, rumble functionality can be added to existing games through a software update. The DualShock 3 controller will include SIXAXIS motion sensing functionality.

[Via: SCEE Press]

In case you have been too busy playing Warhawk, you might be happy to know that a new patch is now available to download for Resistance: Fall of Man. A post by James Stevenson on the MyResistance.net forums indicates that that patch fixes “collision bugs and also has some other general clean-up and housekeeping.”

Other than bug fixes, nothing new is added to the online component of the game. We will keep you updated on any more updates as we receive them.

The European PlayStation Network Store has recieved its weekly update. The store has a number of new additions including three new playable demos, the first addon to Ninja Gaiden Sigma and a new addon for MotorStorm. As usual, several new videos have also been added to the store including the fifth edition of the "making of" and Anime for Heavenly Sword. The US PSN Store has had a bigger update as usual. The US has recieved two new full games as well as 5 new playable demos. Check out the lists below.

European PSN Update List

• Playable Demos
  • FIFA 2008
  • Harry Potter
  • NBA Live 2008
• Game Addons:
  • Ninja Gaiden Sigma Weapon Master (GBP 2.99)
  • MotorStorm Rally Car and Bus (GBP 1.49)
• Videos
  • Heavenly Sword "Making of" and Anime No.5
  • Cocoreccho Trailer

US PSN Update List

• Playable Demos
  • PixelJunk Racers
  • Tony Hawk’s Proving Ground
  • NHL 08
  • Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
  • FIFA 08
• Full Games
  • PixelJunk Racers ($6.99)
  • High Stakes on the Vegas Strip: Poker Edition ($9.99)
• Videos
  • Everyday Shooter trailer
  • Warhawk trailer
  • Lair Behind the Scenes video
  • Feel the Noise trailer
  • Juiced 2 trailer
  • High Stakes on the Vegas Strip: Poker Edition trailer
  • Soul Calibur IV trailer
• Wallpaper
  • High Stakes: Poker wallpaper
  • 2 PixelJunk Racer wallpapers
  • Folklore wallpaper
• Music
  • Music track from Lair

The latest firmware update to the PlayStation 3 is now available to download. The release of the update was mentioned earlier this week by Eric Lampel, Director of PSN Operations. The update is designed to fix some of the network errors experienced by users since the last update. In addition, the PSP also got a new firmware update today.

According to the Japanese PlayStation 3 website, the changelog contains a single line:

• Stability of network connection was improved.

According to a post over at the PlayStation Blog, a new firmware update for both the PlayStation 3 and PSP will be available within the next few days. Eric Lampel, Director of PSN Operations, has revealed that the PS3 update will fix the network error encountered by some users while the PSP update will add a few new requested features.

Lampel’s post reads:

"Taking into account customer feedback and some internal testing, we will be making available in the next few days a firmware update for the PS3 (1.93) that fixes the network disconnect issue that some of you have experienced as a result of downloading Firmware 1.92. In addition, we are adding a new firmware update for PSP (3.71) as well, which adds many features that readers of this blog have requested.

The main feature we’ve added with the recent updates for PSP is the ability to set themes on your PSP. Over time we will be providing themes on PlayStation.com, our official PSP site and through PLAYSTATION Store. You can download themes based on some of our popular titles."

Lampel has not revealed the changelog for the new PSP update, however we should expect more details in the next few days.

Sony has informed IGN that a playable demo of Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction will be available to download from the PlayStation Network Store on October 4th 2007. After hearing the news, IGN checked with SCEE who confirmed that this was indeed true. News of a demo first surfaced during an interview with the Insomniac team on website TheDaily.com.au.

An unhelpfully nameless Insomniac employee commented, “We essentially flat-out demolish the symbol of PlayStation 2 Ratchet & Clank: the city of Metropolis [in Tools of Destruction]. Players will get a sneak peek of this level via a downloadable demo that should hit the PlayStation Network Store in the not-too-distant future.” The demo will allow gamers to play the opening level of the upcoming game.

[Via: IGN]

The European release dates released yesterday are incorrect according to SCEE. A SCEE spokesperson has commented on the dates stating “That’s not an official release schedule. None of the dates on the list have been confirmed at this time.” Among the release dates list was a provisional date for PlayStation Home, the spokesperson revealed that Sony will be “making more announcements about Home at this year’s Tokyo Game Show.”

Games are sure to be disappointed regarding this bit of news, however, we hope the release dates are somewhat close to those stated in the earlier report. Look out for the actual release dates once they have officially been released by SCEE.

Sony have finally set a release date for PlayStation Home, although it is only provisional at this time. Nonetheless, it is still good news for PlayStation 3 owners in Europe. SCEE have revealed the release date for Home as well as a number of other titles. Home is provisionally set to be released on October 11th 2007. See below for other release dates.

The date for Gran Turismo 5 Prologue has not been set yet, but it is expected for release sometime before December. The other game release dates are as follows:

• October 4th – SnakeBall and Pixel Junk Racers
• October 11th – Home (provisional)
• October 18th – High Velocity Bowling
• October 25th – Aqua Vita, Operation C.F, Trials of Topoq and Eye Create
• November 8th – Tori Emaki
• November 15th – Mesmerize
• December 6th – Sky Diving and Elefunk
• December 13th – Pain
• December 20th – Dark Mist

[Via: TheSixthAxis]