Via Gamesindustry

Sony's PlayStation 3 controller, a new version of the beloved DualShock, will not include a rumble function, the company has confirmed. The device will instead feature a full motion-sensing system.

The controller will sport a "six-axis sensing system" according to Sony - three for roll, pitch and yaw, and three for "3 dimension acceleration information" along the X, Y and Z axes.

DualShock 2's rumble feature has been dropped, says Sony, as the vibration "interferes with information detected by the sensor".

Other features of the controller include Bluetooth functionality for linking to the console itself. The L2 and R2 buttons have been enlarged, and now have "increased depth in stroke for more subtle control in games". The angle of the two joysticks has been slightly broadened.

The controller also features a USB port for wired control and charging. According to Sony, the cable can be attached and detached at any time, presumably during play.

The new DualShock incarnation replaces the "boomerang" prototype Sony showed at last year's E3 when first announcing PlayStation 3 itself.

The announcement of the controller last night was one in a lengthy series, which included prices and release dates for the console in all territories. The system will launch in Japan on November 11th, followed by US and European launches occurring simultaneously six days later on November 17th. The US Dollar and Euro prices correspond exactly with the 20GB model priced at USD 499 / EURO 499, while the 60GB model is USD 599 / EURO 599. ...

Via Gamesindustry

Sony has confirmed that the next instalment in the SingStar series will launch alongside the PS3, together with a new download service that will give players access to a huge back catalogue of songs.

Players will be able to visit the new in-game SingStore and purchase extras such as menu skins, new voice effects and artist images as well as music videos. It's not yet known how much each song will cost, but Sony is considering letting people who own existing SingStar titles use their discs to unlock relevant tracks in the back catalogue.

A new online feature, My SingStar, will let users upload and share audio feedback, performances recorded with the EyeToy camera, snapshots and high scores. Playlists can be stored on memory stick or the console's hard disk drive, and players will receive regular alerts when new material is released plus recommendations based on their previous purchase decisions.

There are no technical changes to the game other than an overhauled interface and the use of high definition videos where available, but new silver microphones will come bundled with the game.

SingStar for PS3 will launch in Europe alongside Sony's next-gen console on November 17th. It will also be the first SingStar game to get a release in the US, despite the series' huge success over here. ...

Via CVG

PSP will soon let you use voice-over-IP services, with a future upgrade adding voice chat support that'll let users cyber each other for free using the popular internet chat tool.

Sony is planning to launch 'RSS Video' for PSP too, letting you watch online video streams through the PSP browser. E3 will feature download pods where PSP owners can test this out by streaming a video of this very conference.

Finally, it also confirmed the much-rumoured PSP camera peripheral along with a GPS system, with Sony clearly copying the massively successful Gizmondo console's lead there.

PSP will not be seeing a redesign - these enhancements will be done via hardware and software upgrades. There is no "PSP2".

As for games to help counter the massive Nintendo DS popularity... Killzone Liberation was about the best of the bunch on show, bolstered by the announcement of a new budget range - for America at least - consisting of re-releases of Ape Escape, ATV Off-road Fury, Hot Shots Golf, Twisted Metal and Wipeout Pure.

Almost certainly in rubbish-looking boxes stamped "Greatest Hits". ...

Via Gamespot

At last year's E3, Sony displayed a prototype controller for its upcoming console, the PlayStation 3. The boomerang-shaped wireless device was something of a lightning rod, and didn't seem like it was terribly well-received. This year, Sony has unveiled the final controller, and it should look pretty familiar.

The PS3's controller now looks roughly like a Dual Shock 2. The size and button placement seems identical. But there are a handful of key differences. You'll feel right at home when you pick it up, but this controller has definitely evolved.

For starters, it's wireless and startlingly lightweight. The Bluetooth device has a mini-USB plug on it, presumably for charging. The L2 and R2 triggers are analog and feel quite nice. There's a new central button that has the PlayStation logo on it. It doesn't seem to be functional, but it seems like a likely spot for some sort of "home" or "menu' button.

The biggest change is inside the controller. There are motion-sensing gyroscopes inside the controller that will detect tilting as well as raising and lowering. We get the feeling that wii've seen this in another upcoming console, but we'll save that discussion for message boards or something. Warhawk is one of the games that supports the tilt sensor, and it feels surprisingly tight and easy to use. Flying the plane by tilting the controller is very intuitive.

One thing you won't find in this new controller is force feedback. The rumble feature was said to interfere with the motion sensing devices. Sony's Phil Harrison even went so far as to tell us that "rumble was last generation, movement is this generation."

We also managed to bump into Criterion's Alex Ward at Sony's grand unveiling, and he said he was really excited about the controller, saying that he "can really see how it fits in his games." We imagine a Burnout game can't be too far behind.

So if you wanted to be a cynic, you could say that this is a wireless PS2 controller with analog triggers like the Xbox, a central guide button like the Xbox 360, and internal motion sensors like the Wii. But what's probably most important is that the controller feels pretty nice and already seems to work well.

Screens of Controller via Comments ...

Via Gamespot

When Sony announced the PlayStation 3 at last year's E3, one of the most impressive parts of the machine was its specs. The console was a gearhead's dream with three Ethernet parts, two HDMI ports, six USB ports, and a host of other features. Many wondered how Sony could pack so much into a sleek box and still price the system competitively.

How things have changed in a year.

According to the latest specifications released by Sony, the PS3 now only comes with one Ethernet port and four USB ports. Also, the lack of a second HDMI port means that the dual-screen setup running 1080p function that was shown off last year is no longer a possibility.

The PlayStation 3 will come in two configurations, one will have a 20GB hard drive and the other will have a 60GB hard drive. However, losing 40GB isn't the only downgrade with the 20GB version. The 20GB version, priced at $499, will not have Memory Stick, SD, or Compact Flash inputs, Wi-Fi capabilities, or any HDMI output.

The new motion-sensitive controller, included standard in both the 20GB and 60GB models, will lack a feature that was present in the PlayStation 2's DualShock 2 controller--vibration. Citing the new "six-degree," a statement from Sony says "vibration itself interferes with information detected by the sensor."

The removal of vibration could also have something to do with the lawsuit won by Immersion Technologies, which sued Sony for copyright infringement based on the rumble feature in PlayStation controllers. Microsoft faced a similar suit, but settled out of court. ...

Via Gamespot

At today's pre-E3 conference held at Sony Pictures Studios, two questions that have been on gamers minds were answered. Sony president Kaz Hirai revealed the PlayStation 3's price and launch date. The PS3 will be released in Japan on November 11, and the United States on November 17, 2006. Like the Xbox 360, the PS3 will come in two configurations, one with a 20GB hard drive and one with a 60GB hard drive.

The 20GB will retail for $499 in the US (59800 yen in Japan, 499 euros in Europe), and the 60GB model will retail for $549 (open price in Japan, 599 euros in Europe). Sony expects to ship two million units in its first month of launch, four million by the end of the year, and six million by the end of its fiscal year, which ends in March 31. ...

Not going to clog the PSP site up with the goings on at Sonys E3 Event until its better sumarised later, but you read what went off over at this thread --> http://www.dcemu.co.uk/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=24235 ...

Via Engadget

Heres Live Coverage of the Sony Event at E3

Still waiting in line. We are still making our way over, stay tuned ...

4:36 - The line is moving. According to Euro Gamer, Hideo Kojima is "stuck in the queue." Should have something for ya soon ...

4:42 - We are sitting down, getting ready to go.

4:49 - Everyone's still filing in to Stage 15 on the Sony backlot. Everyone's expectant and the mood is generally upbeat. The house lights are on full, so it'll still be a few minutes before anything official starts. In the background, Sony's been playing some hardcore gangsta rap: we note this because Nintendo would never, ever play that music. The rap song (which we failed to identify) was followed by Michael Jackson's "Billy Jean." The music is eclectic, we're hoping the games line up is similarly so.

4:52 - Sony's only playing the music out of a few front speakers. it fills the cavernous stage, but we know that once the actual presentation starts they'll switch on the hidden speakers and crank the bass to 11 for chest-thumping, hair-raising 5.1 sound that'll move this audience whether they want to be moved or not. Lights have been dimmed! As predicted, the music's been taken from 5 to 7.

4:54 - First up on stage, Kaz Hirai. President & CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment America. "Please accept my apologies for the delay in getting started this afternoon. Just one year ago we unveiled plans for PS3. PS3 is not an incremental upgrade. PS3 is a very powerful machine ... In essence the real power rests in the hands of the content consumer. We want freedom. We want choice. We wanted to be entertained in new and unique ways."

4:55 - Kaz looks so darn tiny down there on the stage. We're up here in nosebleed territory. "Seemless interats with PlayStation family with products. PS3 is the best of breed of computer entertainment platform ... It requires hunge finicial investments. But we must take risks to reap rewards. The essence of P{S3 is real change and comsumers are ready. The next generation deosn't start until we say its time."

4:57 - Did Kaz just say that PlayStation 3 is the "best of breed" computer entertainment platform? Will gamers really react to businessy terms? Well, no matter, they're just tossing out buzzwords to see which ones will stick to the wall. "We would not be able to achive greetness without a strong foundation. PS2 install base continues to grow worldwide ... Global total of 103.69 million units." Kaz's presentation is typical: we're covering all of the PlayStation 2 performance records: 23.3 million hardware shipped in Japan/Asia. North amercia 42m. europe 38.6m units. Total 103.7 units. additional 10m units to be shipped.

4:59 - "We have ammassed more than 3 million registered [online] users ... We want to remind everyone that PS2 will continue to make significant contributions. We have an amazing linuep of titles." Lists ATV Offroad Fury 4, Destroy All Human 2, Dirge of Cerberus, Dragon Ball Z, Final Fantasy XII, etc.

5:00 - "Outisde of E3 consumers can look forawrd to 216 new PS2 titles by year end ... Why did you wait so long to enter [portable market]? And why now? ... It's about the ability to offer the right product structure and the right time. We delivered on the process." Looking out over the audience, there's a sea of video camera LCDs flickering back at us -- videos of this event should be plentiful on the net afterwards. PSP Hardware shipments: Japan/Asia 4.7m, North America 6.4 m. europe/pal 5.94m. total 17.03m. FY06 forecast 12 million units to ship.

5:01 - PSP is fastseeling platform in companies history. That's lamost 1 million units for each month of its life. We are closing in on 50 million units of software shipped worldwide. We estimate an additional 155 titles will be added"

5:02 - Trailer: World Soccer 2, Planet PSP: Interactive City Guide (working title), Gangs of London, Ape Academy 2. "Let Planet PSP be your guide." Killzone Liberation, B-Boy (breakdancing game), Loco Roco (of course ...).

5:04 - TalkMan trailer shows multinational folks talking into a PSP -- ti's almost as if it's translating for them. Greatest hits announced for PSP - Ape Escape: On the Loose, ATV, Hot Shots Open Tee, Wipeout. The PSP trailer is impressive, generating some polite applause from the audience, but we get the feeling that we're being set up for some 1080p videos that make the PSP trailer look, like, so last-gen. It's a classic sales setup. Wait for it... wait for it...

5:05 - "More than 670 non-game UMD titles have been produced." So Kaz is still covering the PSP: talking about UMD titles produced, firmware upgrades, the web browser, video, audio, and "improved content protection." "The most recent update 2.7 added 2 great new features. The RSS channel and Macromedia Flash support. Later we plan to add RSS video, GPS, and VoIP." PSP will include "Memory Stick Boot," voice over IP, network support this winter via firmware updates.

5:07 - We're being shown a video now with a bunch of young, cool folks filmed on the streets of New York City, London, Sidney, Cape Town, Tokyo, Mexico City, etc. A british dude in New York City waxes excited about the "hard plastic" and "knobby bits" on the PS2 controller. The Tokyo video includes subtitled shots of Japanese people, one who says, "When I play games, I become a monkey!"

5:10 - Light applause after the man-on-the-street trailer. ...

danabnormal has released a new game written in Lua for the PSP, heres the info:

This game is based on the *nix game GnoBots.

RobotsEngine is designed to allow custom artwork, text and sounds to be loaded as Packs to form the basis of a Robots-type game. The included, default game is drac-o-bots.

Although much of the engine is complete, it still does not support an easy way of loading custom tilesets, etc for your own game - please be patient, or failing that, you can have a look at the source and it should be pretty straightforward to figure out.

This is my first Lua app, and is the first game I've ever actually tried to code - I'm still learning, but if you're thinking about trying to code in Lua I can recommend this type of game as your first steps. Its not complex, has no AI, but you'll get used to the language and the way it works.

Download and Give Feedback Via Comments ...