Japanese gamers will soon be able to view strategy guides through PlayStation Network, Sony has announced.

Andriasang reports that the PlayView for Games service will launch in Japan tomorrow, allowing users to download strategy guides, art books and other game-related printed material.

All content can be displayed in high resolution on PlayStation 3 and PSP. The service boasts zoom and search functions too.

The first game guide to go live will be for Monster Hunter Freedom Unite. It will retail for ¥600 (around £4.60). Although it's a re-release of a printed guide it will come enhanced with video clips and music from the game.

There's no word yet on whether the service will launch outside of Japan.

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Sony's high-profile PlayStation 3 exclusive racer Gran Turismo 5 will still enjoy spectacular sales despite suffering a delay, but could lose momentum if it's released after Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit, analysts have said.

This afternoon Sony announced that Polyphony Digital's game would miss its announced 5th November release date and instead be out "before Christmas".

In a statement Sony said "creator Kazunori Yamauchi and the team at Polyphony Digital want to make certain they are creating a racing experience of the highest quality".

Analysts have predicted the delay will have little impact on the game's success – and that of the PS3 this year.

"I don't believe a GT5 delay impacts Sony's current momentum," Capital Research's Jesse Divnich told Eurogamer.

"GT5 is such an anticipated title that delays are unlikely to impact consumer's purchase intent. Whether released a week later or the last week of December, sales will be astronomical."

Wedbush Securities' Michael Pachter suggested two possible outcomes.

"Without knowing the date, it's impossible to say," he said. "If it's a week, no impact. If after Need for Speed, they could lose some momentum."

EA's Criterion-developed racer Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit is due out on PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 on 19th November.

M2 Research analyst Billy Pidgeon told Eurogamer that Gran Turismo's long development period means this latest delay comes as no surprise.

"Another delay on Gran Turismo is disappointing, especially to the most enthusiastic fans of the franchise," Pidgeon said.

"Still, there have been so many delays that another one is not surprising. Obviously, there's not much time left in the holiday season so Yamauchi and Polyphony have got to go gold within two months."

He added: "I wouldn't revise PS3 uptake estimates on this news as it is still possible GT5 is released in Q4 2010 or Q1 2011 and is likely to spur new and upgrade console sales."

Pidgeon said Gran Turismo 5 is "crucial" to Sony's 3D telly push.

"Sony has set the visuals bar pretty high with Gran Turismo," he offered, "so it is crucial that the graphics (as seen on HDTV and in stereoscopic 3D with camera-based head tracking) impress the critics and the fans.

"Gran Turismo 5's timely release is perhaps even more crucial to Sony's 3D TV division than it is to PS3. In-store demos of GT5 may be the best case Sony can make to consumers for 3D TV."

Sony promised a new release date by the end of the month.

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A new entry in the Rune Factory franchise is heading to PlayStation 3 and Wii early next year, publisher Marvelous Entertainment has announced.

According to Siliconera, Rune Factory: Oceans is being developed by Shining Force mainstay Neverland Co. Unlike past Rune Factory games it sees you take to the high seas in search of adventure.

It's unclear how this new nautical theme will incorporate the series' traditional farming element. Lobster pots? Oyster farms? Algae harvesting? Who can say?

Battles will be in real-time and a giant beast called Ymir will feature prominently. You'll need to climb onto his back to explore your surroundings.

Marvelous has confirmed that there will be two playable characters: Azel and Sonia. You'll control both to begin with before choosing one for good later on in the game.

The PlayStation 3 version will be Move compatible.

The last game in the Harvest Moon spin-off franchise, Rune Factory Frontier, arrived on the Wii earlier this year. Eurogamer's Dan Pearson deemed it first-rate produce, awarding it 8/10.

Rune Factory: Oceans is out in Japan on 24th February 2011. We've asked UK publisher Rising Star Games for a UK date.

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Atari is plucking another franchise out of its deep archive bin for revival on modern platforms. Classic Atari 2600 space shooter Star Raiders is coming to PS3, 360 and PC early next year.

Star Raiders was, for its time, an ambitious first-person space quest that let players travel around a large space map shooting enemy aircraft.

The new game is said to retain much of the same core gameplay elements, albeit with 20+ years of technical advancement thrown in. Galactic tactical maps and space warps will return, and be enhanced by customisable ships and "radical battle transformations," according to GameSpot.

The new game will also boast an episode storyline to tie the whole thing together, plus online co-op for the main campaign and competitive team-based multiplayer.

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Crytek has begun sending out invites to the Crysis 2 multiplayer beta, which apparently kicks off "very soon".

There are no details on exactly what will be in the beta, Crytek only confirming that it'll be exclusive to Xbox 360 players "this time around", according to an email which lets members of the MyCrysis website stick their names on the list. But only "valued community" will be let in, so if you fall into the 'worthless community' sector, don't even bother.

"As part of our continuing Crysis 2 development we will be performing a multiplayer test starting very soon," reads the email. "For this test we will be inviting various community members to take part and help us push the game to its limits so we can make any adjustments necessary and ensure that we deliver the gameplay experience we know everyone wants to see!"

Exciting times.

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Much-delayed PlayStation 3 racing simulator Gran Turismo 5 has seen its release date go back again, just three weeks before its planned US launch on November 2.

Sony has yet to specify a new date for Polyphony Digital's one-time platform ambassador, but claims it will still arrive 'this holiday season.'

Spokespeople have confirmed the delay applies to Europe as well as the US, with the Japanese website revealing the same issue there.

No reason has been given, bar a statement on the PlayStation US blog hinting at late-in-the-day polish:

"We sincerely apologise to GT fans for the delay, however, creator Kazunori Yamauchi and the team at Polyphony Digital want to make certain they are creating the perfect racing experience, and we are confident that this ambitious game will exceed expectations when it launches."

Gran Turismo 5 has been in development for six years, and was originally revealed at E3 2006. Last year, Polyphony claimed the budget had hit $60 million.

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More fuel for the CDMA iPhone fire today. The Wall Street Journal says that Apple is in talks with both Reliance Communications and Tata Teleservices to bring a CDMA version of its iPhone -- the one it again says will be on sale at Verizon early next year -- to India. The discussions have apparently been ongoing for four or five months according to one WSJ source.

This comes out as news of iPhone exclusivity arrangements are ending in both Germany and The Netherlands. In Germany, Deutsche Telekom loses its exclusive now that both O2 and Vodafone will be offering Apple's finest before the holidays. In Holland, T-Mobile just lost its exclusive arrangement as both KPN and Vodafone have announced plans to carry the iPhone -- no specific dates were mentioned though, like Germany, in time for the holidays is a pretty good guess.

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There's plenty on the PlayStation Store today. Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 1 justifies its £10 price with a great big 9/10 kiss from Eurogamer's Ellie Gibson, and Dead Space 2 prequel Dead Space Ignition is available in free trial form before you splash the £4 required.

Demos are just as attractive - Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II and God of War: Ghost of Sparta (PSP) in particular. Among the others is a taster for Dragon Ball: Raging Blast 2, which should be handy for anyone wondering what these Dragon Ball games are and why they keep coming back.

PlayStation Plus subscribers are getting three lots of Fallout 3 DLC free this month, plus that exclusive Killzone 3 beta - the theme of which needs downloading quick-smart in order to enter. The beta kicks off tonight at 8pm.

Deals of note are permanent reductions for 8/10 multiplayer shooter Section 8 (half-price) and recent 8/10 hack-and-slash game Blade Kitten (down to £7.20). Plus, Hideo Kojima's Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops has been discounted to £5.19 until 27th October.

There's new content this week for Red Dead Redemption, Dead Rising 2, HAWX 2, Split/Second and WRC.

October PlayStation Plus

Full Game: Trial Hustle Kings
PS3 Game Content: Fallout 3 Packs Point Lookout, Mothership Zeta and Operation Anchorage
PS3 Theme: Killzone 3 Beta (goes live at 8pm in the UK, 9pm CET and 6am tomorrow in Sydney, Australia)
PS3 Special Offers (available until 27th October)

Topatoi: The Great Tree Story (was £4.79/€5.99 now £2.39/€2.99)
Topatoi Bundle (Contains full game, Pillar of Skies and Arcade Style Packs) (was £7.99/€9.99 now £4.79/€5.99)
Blue Toad Murder Files: Episodes 4-6 (was £9.99/€4.99 now £12.99/€6.19)
Smash Cars: Virus Run (was £2.39/€2.99 now £0.79/€0.99)
Hyperballoid: Original World Pack (was £1.59/€1.99 now £1.25/€1.59)
Permanent reduction: Section 8 (was £19.99/€24.99 now £9.99/€12.99)
Permanent reduction: Blade Kitten (was £9.99/€12.99 now £7.19/€8.99)
PS3 Demos

Star Wars The Force Unleashed II
Dragon Ball Raging Blast 2
Sky Fighter
Legend of the Guardians
PS3 Games

Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 1 (£9.99/€12.99)
Dead Space Ignition (Trial free, Unlock Key £3.99/€4.99)
PS3 Game Content

Dead Rising 2: Skills Pack Psycho (£1.59/€1.99)
Red Dead Redemption: Hunting & Trading Outfits Pack (free)
Tom Clancy's H.A.W.X. 2: Cold War Pack (£3.19/€3.99), MIG Alley Pack (£3.19/€3.99),
Split/Second: Survival at the Rock Pack (£5.49/€6.99)
WRC: Group B Cars (£3.99/€4.99)
Moto GP 10: Twin Track Pack (£3.99/€4.99)
PAIN: Alpine Ski Slope (£3.99/€4.99)
EyePet: Halloween Styling Pack (£2.39/€2.99), Soccer Fan Styling Pack (£2.39/€2.99),
Rock Band: Are You Experienced: Rock Band Edition (album) (£9.99/€14.99) (contains: '3rd Stone From the Sun', 'Fire (Live)', 'Foxy Lady', 'Hey Joe (Live)', 'Highway Chile', 'Love or Confusion', 'Manic Depression', 'May This Be Love', 'Purple Haze', 'Stone Free', 'The Wind Cries Mary')
Rock Band Network: 'America Underwater' by LoveHateHero, 'Death Metal Guys' by Reverend Horton Heat, 'Incubus' by Amberian Dawn, 'No One's Gonna Love You' by Band of Horses, 'Parhelia' by Heaven Ablaze (£0.59/€0.79)
Minis

Crime Spree (£2.49/€2.99)
PSP Special Offers (available until 27th October)

Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops (PSP) (was £8.79/€10.99 now £5.19/€6.59)
Disney's Tarzan (PSone) (was £3.99/€4.99 now £3.19/€3.99)
Permanent reduction: Half Minute Hero (PSP) (was £15.99/€19.99 now £11.99/€14.99)
Permanent reduction: R-Type Tactics (PSP) (was £11.99/€14.99 now £7.99/€9.99)
PSP Demos

God of War: Ghost of Sparta
PSP Games

Tom Clancy Ghost Recon Predator (£23.99/€29.99)
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (£7.99/€9.99)
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (£7.99/€9.99)
PSP Game Content

LittleBigPlanet: Uncharted Costume (£0.79/€0.99)

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The Dead Space 2 Collector's Edition will contain a replica Plasma Cutter gun, "art cell", soundtrack, downloadable armour and a copy of the game.

Amazon - an official pre-order destination - provided the listing before EA presumably intervened and had it torn down. Luckily, Examiner saved a picture of the Collector's Edition before that happened.

Dead Space 2 will be released on 28th January 2011. The game was playable at the recent Eurogamer Expo 2010.

The new story follows heroic spaceship engineer Isaac Clarke as he attempts to rid space station Scrawl of the Necromoprh. He was successful on overrun ship USG Ishimura, and so he's expected to succeed again. But like John Rambo, he's a bit shaken up.

EA is building up to release with Dead Space Ignition, a downloadable Choose Your Own Adventure-style blend of comic and puzzle that's available on PSN and XBLA today. Ignition costs either £4.99 or 400 Microsoft Points.

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