Looking forward to see what’s new on the PlayStation Store this week? Well, here is your weekly update. For the US, there are two new demos available and a number of new videos and wallpaper. The demo of Juiced 2 and Folklore is now available to download. As for Europe, several new PSOne titles have been added and a new demon.

Europe Update List:

• Playable Demo
• Dynasty Warriors: Gundam
• PSOne Titles
• Crash Team Racing
• Everybody’s Golf 2
• Syphon Filter 3

US Update List:

• Playable Demos
• Juiced 2: Hot Import Nights
• Folklore
• Videos
• Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune Tech Dive Video
• Burnout Paradise Steel Wheels Trailer
• Turok Dino Luring Trailer
• Devil May Cry 4 TGS Short Trailer

Sony Computer Entertainment America has announced that it will be dropping the price of the 80GB PlayStation 3 by $100. This announcement comes shortly after SCEA officially announced the November 2nd launch date for the 40GB PS3 Model, which will not feature backwards compatible with PlayStation 2 games. The 80GB model will, however, retains BC via software software support.

Jack Tretton, SCEA CEO, stated:

“We’re pleased to offer the consumer a lower price point without sacrificing the core technology components that make PS3 the most advanced high-definition entertainment system available. Every PS3 comes with a Blu-ray drive, HDMI output, an integrated Wi-Fi connection, Cell Broadband Engine and a built-in hard-drive.”

Sony is planning a new firmware update for the PlayStation 3 that will increase Blu-Ray interactivity. The revelation came about from Don Eklund, Sony VP of advanced technologies, at the HDTV DisplaySearch conference in Universal City, California during a panel discussion about next-gen interactivity. The firmware is expected “soon”, but no exact date has been revealed.

The PlayStation Network store has been updated once again. For Europe, a lot of new content has been added including three new demos, the Speed Master add-on for Ninja Gaiden Sigma, and several videos and trailers. As for the US, they also received three new demos, a new downloadable game an lots of new videos and trailers.

Europe Update List

• Playable Demos
• Tiger Woods PGA Tour 08
• FIFA 2008
• The Simpsons
• Game Add-ons
• Ninja Gaiden Sigma Speed Master (GBP 2.99)

US Update List

• Playable Demos
• Ratchet and Clank Future
• NHL 2K8
• Conan
• Full Games
• Everyday Shooter (USD 9.99)

With the release of the new 40GB PlayStation 3 model, SCEE has confirmed that the price cut on the 60GB model is to help phase out the model. As a result, once stocks on the 60GB model are depleted, only the 40GB model will remain. SCEE has stated that stocks for the 60GB model should be available until Christmas, but that depends on how quickly the model sells.

“We announced our reduced offering on the 60GB model last week. We re looking to sell our remaining 60GB stock, after which the 40GB model will be the only SKU available in Europe.

We anticipate that the 60GB stock should be available until Christmas, but of course it depends on how quickly it sells.”

Sony has officially announced the release of the 40GB PlayStation 3 model. The new model will be available from October 10th and will retail for GBP 299. In addition, the current 60GB Starter Pack will be reduced to GBP 349. Apart from the smaller hard drive, the 40GB PS3 model will have a number of other modifications.

The 40GB model will come with only two USB ports and will not come with Memory Card slots. Also, the new model will not be backwards compatible with PlayStation 2 titles. The 60GB Starter Pack will continue to have backwards compatibility and will come a SIXAXIS controller and two PS3 titles.

UPDATE:

Following the announcement of the 40GB PS3 model, SCE Australia has stated that the 40GB model will be available in Australia from October 11th, retailing for AUS 699. The specifications for the 40GB model are same as above.

The European PlayStation Store has been updated with several new demos, including Jericho, Suntman, and Bladestorm. In addition to four new demos, new videos and wallpapers have also been added
to the store. The US gets Go!Sports Ski, a new downloadable game as well as two new demos and a number of new videos.

Europe Update List:

• Playable Demos
• • Clive Barker’s Jericho
  • Stuntman: Ignition
  • Bladestorm
  • Skate
• Videos
• • Snakeball Trailer
  • GRAW 2 Trailers
  • Haze Gameplay Trailer
• Wallpaper
• • Blast Factor Wallpapers
  • FlOw Wallpaper

US Update List:

• Playable Demos
• • The Simpsons
  • Bladestorm: The Hundred Years’ War
• Full Game
• • Go! Sports Ski
• Videos
• • NBA 08 key control play calling tutorial video
  • Eye of Judgment tutorial video
  • Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune BTS
  • Haze Dev interview
  • Tekkonkinkreet video
  • Surf’s Up Blu-Ray trailer

A new version of Team M33’s Custom Firmware has been released, however, Dark_AleX was responsible for the new version. 3.71 M33-2 corrects a few bugs and adds a few new features and
modifications. See below for the complete changelog.

Changelog:

• There was a bug that caused corruption when writing files of more than 32256 bytes using usb flash. The bug has been corrected, and now the implementation is as reliable as it was when it was
  based on 1.50 kernel. (tested with a full restauration of a dump)
• PSP Slim: a functionality to let the charge of battery when connecting a usb cable has been added. This feature is based on Noobz plugin code. By default is not enabled, you can enable it in recovery. Note that the charge of battery may be delayed some
  seconds since the moment you plug the cable.
• After installing this update, program at /PSP/GAME/UPDATE will always be executed on 3.71 kernel, despite configuration.
• VSHMenu: vshmenu will not be executed when onscreen keyboard is active, to avoid the lost of the select button function in the keyboard. An option to reset the PSP has been added.
• VSH plugins are not longer executed anymore in recovery mode, that was the cause of pseudo-bricks.

[Download Custom Firmware 3.71 M33-2]

Some of you are aware that the staff here at XTREME PSP are away visiting Australia. As a result, we don’t have a lot of time to work on the magazine, so the next issue has been prosponed until November. If you happen to live in Australia, we have included a short list of places we will be visiting.

Itinerary

• Oct 2nd to Oct 6th – Melbourne
• Oct 7th to Oct 11th – Canberra
• Oct 12th to Oct 15th – Sydney
• Oct 16th – Oct 19th – Brisbane
• Oct 20th – Oct 25th – Perth

If you are interested in meeting the team, send us an email using the contact form.

UPDATE (Posted on Oct 1st 2007 at 11:00 GMT +9:00):

Some of you have been asking why we are visiting Australia. There are two main reasons: firstly, we needed a much needed vacation, and secondly, to meet some of our fans downunder.

We will update the website as often as we can, however, you may notice some delay between news articles since will be on the road mostly, with limited Internet access. You may spot some of the staff in Oz wearing XTREME PSP and XTREME PS3 T-Shirts. We will also be giving away some freebies to anyone intetested.

As promised, Dark_AleX has released the 1.50 kernel add-on for Custom Firmware 3.71 M33. The add-on works only for the older PSP models (PSP-1000), and installation instructions are included in the zip package. The add-on allows you to run homebrew that runs on the 1.50 kernel, which was not included in 3.71 M33.

“The program will reject PSP Slim, due to the 1.50 kernel not working on it.” So, this is good news for those who are on the older PSP model who are craving some 1.50 homebrew.

[Download 1.50 Kernel Add-on]