A Warhawk expansion will be available to download this December. Dubbed Operation: Omega Dawn, the expansion pack will add a brand new map an­d a new aircraft to the game. The new map will be set at night for added impact and tension. The new aircraft, the KT-424 Combat Dropship, can transports 1 pilot, 6 soldiers and 1 ground vehicle, and is equipped with a deadly new weapon – the MBEC-3 Heavy Support Cannon.

Key features:

• Omega Factory battlefield includes 5 new map layouts featuring advanced building complexes and huge industrial towers.
• KT-424 Combat Dropship transports 1 pilot, 6 soldiers and 1 ground vehicle; and features a deadly new weapon – the MBEC-3 Heavy Support Cannon.
• The 5 large layouts from the original battlefields have been modified to include the KT-424 Combat Dropship.
• All this in one single download from PLAYSTATION Network this December

The European PlayStation Store has been updated today, while the US PlayStation Store was updated on Tuesday. The update for Europe isn’t as big as the US one, but at least there are two new playable demos: Uncharted and Blazing Angels 2, and a new PlayStation One title: G-Police. There are also a number of new game videos and trailers. Australia recieved the same update as Europe, but they also got a new music video.

European PSN Store:

• Playable Demos:
  • Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune
  • Blazing Angels 2
• PSOne Games:
  • G-Police (£3.49)
• Add-ons:
  • MotorStorm: Rascal & Governor (£1.49)
  • Folklore: The Alchemist Pack (£1.49)
• Wallpapers:
  • Tekken 5: DR Wallpaper (4)
• Game Videos and Trailers:
  • Ratchet & Clank Future Trailer
  • MotorStorm Devils Weekend Trailer
  • Uncharted: Lifelike Facial Animation Video
  • Uncharted: Hunting El Dorado Trailer
  • PSN Showcase Trailer
  • Blazing Angels 2 Trailers
  • Battlefield: Bad Company Trailer
  • Beowulf The Game Trailer

Australian PSN Store:

The Australian PlayStation Netwwork Store contains the same content above and the following new items:

• Music Videos:
  • Shannon Noll – Loud

Prior to firmware 2.01, gamers were complaining about problems with slowness in the XMB and frequent disconnects from the PlayStation Network cause by Firmware 2.00. These issues were addressed in the latest firmware release but it also introduced new problems to the system. Some players are complaing that Call of Duty 4 was running fine when playing online on Firmware 2.00, but it causing major headaches on firmware 2.01. Some gamers have been able to play for several hours before experiencing the same symptons.

Could the Sony firmware have cause these problems or does CoD4 need more servers in their current setup to support the growing number of players? If you are having problems, let us know through the comment section below. There has been no official word some Sony about the issue, but expect more details soon.

[Originally Posted On: 21/11/07 11:05 AM]

UPDATE (Nov 21st 2007, 4:00 PM):

Problems caused by Firmware 2.01 has now been fixed according to Infinity Ward’s community relations manager:

"You should no longer be receiving this error message or any other
issues related to the firmware update in the game. Thank you to everyone for giving us the heads up on this so we could start tracking down answers, and getting it resolved and please let us know if you have any additional issues."

It seems that the problem was on the server’s side and not related to firmware 2.01 directly. Anyway, the issue has now been fixed. A further patch is also on its way to the PS3 version of the game bringing optim­isation of some multiplayer aspects, host migration and a
‘player mute’ option.

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The PlayStation Network Store is now accessible from a PC, ealier than e­xpected. The PC version of the PSN Store allows you to download full games, demos, PlayStation One titles, videos, trailers and more to your PSP. There are already several full games available to download as well as a number of demos, wallpapers, themes and videos.

­

[PlayStation Network Store]

The US PlayStation Network Store has been updated earlier than usual this week because of Thanksgiving. The US store has received a massive update ­with two new PlayStation Eye titles and several other­ full games. In addition, there is a new demo for you to enjoy: MX vs ATV; and several add-on packs. There are 18 Rock Band add-on packs available to purchase and add-on packs for NFS: ProStreet and flOw. Check out the complete list below.

US PlayStation Store:

• Playable Demos:
  • MX vs ATV: Untamed
• Full Games:
  • Aquatopia ($1.99)
  • Operation Creature Feature ($4.99)
• Full Games (Discounted until Nov 29th 2007):
• Calling All Cars ($4.99)
• flOw ($4.99)
• Everyday Shooter ($4.99)
• PixelJunk Racers ($4.99)
• Add-ons:
  • Rock Band Add-ons (18 in total, from $1.99 to $5.49)
  • flOw Expansion Pack ($2.99)
  • NFS: ProStreet Collector’s Upgrade ($9.99)
• Videos:
  • Snakeball Trailer
  • Ratchet Behinds the Scenes: Story
  • Ratchet Behinds the Scenes: Design
  • Battlefield: Bad Company Trailer 2
  • Superbad Trailer

The latest firmware update for the PlayStation 3 is now available to download. Firmware update 2.01 improves the stability of the PlayStation 3 system, and eliminates the problems encountered by some users after updating to firmware 2.00. In addition, the Internet Browser and Information Board stability has been improved, as well as the stability of the PS2 game upscaler. You can check out the changelog below:

Firmware 2.01 Changelog:

• Stability during playing some PLAYSTATION 3 format software has been improved.
• Stability of System Software including Internet Browser and Information Board has been improved.
• Stability of the upscaler for PlayStation 2 format software has been improved. (Playability of PlayStation 2 depends on model)
• [Remote Start] feature is changed to avoid unintended power on.

Sony is trying to get more game developers interested in the PlayStation 3, and has recently cut the price of the Software Development Kit (or SDK) by 50% to convince any developers having second thoughts on developing for the PlayStation 3. The SDK is essential to making games for the PS3. Without it, developers cannot take advantage of the features of the PS3, such as the Cell Processor and Blu-Ray.­

If this strategy works, we should see several new third-party software titles emerging soon, and hopefully boost PS3 sales in the long run. The new prices for the SDK are as follows:

• $10,250 in North America
• ¥950,000 ($8,600) in Japan
• €7,500 ($11,250) in Europe

Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE) has been sending out email messages informing people that the Europe PC-browsable PlayStation Network Store will be launching some time after Christmas. What’s more, to celebrate its launch, Sony will be giving away a free downloadable game to every member of the PlayStation community – call it a late Christmas present!

The new PlayStation Store will replace the current PSP Store found on the European PlayStation Website, and will offer the same content as the PlayStation 3 Network Store including games, wallpapers, videos, trailers and more. This means that those who downloaded some content from the old site will have to store their downloads on their memory stick duo to avoid losing any of it.

Access to the new store will only be given to those who have a PlayStation Network Account. Sony said that they would be sending out info to members of the existing PSP store with instructions on how to set up their accounts.

The PlayStation 3 is going to get an update to its firmware that will allow it to play Blu-ray profile 1.1 movies much sooner than expected. On the 2nd January 2008 Sony will be releasing Resident Evil: Extinction, it’s first Blu-ray movie t­o use profile 1.1. It is promising to be the most technologically advanced blu-ray movie ever as it will feature true picture in picture and ‘Blu-Wizard 2’ which will allow your player to ‘remember’ your viewing preferences for the movie, even after you have ejected it.

High-Def Digest report the movie will also feature PlayStation 3 high-definition trailers of Devil May Cry 4 and
the new Resident Evil game and not demos as was first thought. ­Sony are going to want to be sure that the biggest market of Blu-ray consumers, PlayStation 3 owners, will be able to take advantage of these features. So expect a firmware update by the end of 2007.

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[Via: High-Def Digest]

A new system update is in the works according to Eric Lempel, Director of PlayStation Network Operations. The minor update will improve the stability of the PlayStation 3 and most likely fix the problems encountered by some users with Firmware 2.00. No specific details about the update have been revealed, but expect more information closer to the time of release.

The PlayStation Blog post reads:

Hey everyone. We know you like to hear about updates a few days in advance, so here’s a quick heads up that we have a new System Software update in the works.

Firmware v2.01 is a minor update that will improve the stability of PLAYSTATION 3.

We’ll provide more specifics as the update is abou­t to go live, but we thought we’d give loyal blog readers advance notice!

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[Via: PlayStation.Blog]