news via tombraider



The tombraider anniversary official website has finally opened. Those who have been anticipating to see more tombraider action will be very anxious to see whats in store. Tombraider anniversary trailers can now be downloaded via the link provided. Lora has never looked better. The visuals look great.

Download trailer via link provided
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new release via Kingsquitter

PSX2PSP v.1.2 info:
* Fixed bugs in popstation.dll.
* Added effects to customized icons. Check theme pic below.

I've attached pics.zip. It contains Theme_white.psd and cIcon0.psd.
I've also attached Theme_editor.zip. It contains a simple theme editor and src for the theme editor. (When using the theme editor, save often and take backup of layout.ini)

This is the final version. I will only update to fix bugs!
Src might be released some time in the future.

v.1.1 info:
* Added batch mode. Check pic below.
* Added command line support. Info below.
* Added a new Customized image for icon0.
* Fixed "The application failed to initialze properly (0xc0150002)" bug.
* Fixed bug that made prog check for snd file instead of a at3 file.

To start batch mode run "Batch mode.lnk". (Only available after PSX2PSP.exe have been started at least once)
When converting in batch mode, all .iso, .bin, .img and .pbp files will ben converted. The program will check in every subfolder for theese files.

Command line:

PSX2PSP.exe /theme Opens program in theme mode.
PSX2PSP.exe /clasic Opens program in clasic mode.
PSX2PSP.exe /batch Opens program in batch mode.
PSX2PSP.exe "c:\file.iso" Opens c:\file.iso.

con pack and design of icons courtesy of matriculated: (Original torrent by l337h4l)
If you download and extract files to ".\pics\pic1\" most games from USA will show the game cover as shown below.
Megaupload link: http://www.megaupload.com/?d=XMJE8ZWN
The icon pack contains 1400 icons and is about 150MB.


v.1.0 info:
* Source code have been rewritten from scratch.
* Added theme support. (Check pic below)
* Using popstrip and popstation in one DLL file so converting files is much faster .
* Program can create custom images. Check Default Icon0 profile for a example.
* Supports cdda from both .cue and .ccd files.
* Can save toc to both .cue and .cdd when extracting iso from pbp.
* Can use any type of pictures (.jpg,.bmp...) for icon0, pic0, pic1 and boot.
* Converting PBP files in one pass. (Can even PAL fix already converted PBP files)
* And some other stuff...

Place base.pbp in files folder. If you are using 3.03 OE-B or below, you will also need keys.bin in the files folder.

Theme mode: (Icon0 in below image was automatically generated by the program. The pic was also automatically resized to fit the screen. Pic from: http://www.ps2vicio.com/imagenes1/PS...hildren_20.jpg)





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news via spong

Now, here at SPOnG we’ve got to admit that we don’t watch a lot of the glory-hunting, bandwagon-jumping glamour-puss nonsense that is the ‘Champions League’. But we do play a hell of a lot of footy games on any platform we possibly can (we’re also bloody good at them).

So, when the latest screens for the PSP version of UEFA Champions League 2006-2007 we all came over a bit Francis Lee† about it.

The game is due out on March 23rd – which as you’ll all no doubt be aware is the day before the massive six-pointer between Brighton and the mighty Huddersfield Town.

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news via hexus

Wing Commander Arena is a fast-paced space combat game where players can team up to attack other teams of ships. The game introduces the classic franchise to an arcade-style experience that allows up to 16 players online in battle at once. Players can propel their customized ship through space, fire torpedoes and unleash deadly gravity bombs as they try to climb the leader board. Online players will compete for Frag count, high score and dueling stats.

“We’re really excited to deliver unparalleled multi-player arcade action,” said Chip Lange, EA Vice President. “The design for Wing Commander will appeal to both long-time fans of the franchise and immediately engage anyone who wants the melee style action of an arcade shooter.”

Wing Commander Arena will feature four styles of play: single player, multi-team, multi-player free for all and multi-player duel. Within the game there are eight game maps that include team maps, free for all maps and dueling maps, so Wing Commander Arena offers a gameplay experience for every Arcade gamer, whether they want a quick ten minutes of action or a longer more immersive game.

Wing Commander Arena is produced and published by Electronic Arts and cooperatively developed with Gaia Industries. This is the second EA title for Xbox LIVE Arcade with EA’s first title Boom Boom Rocket set to launch this Spring.

* Players must have an Xbox LIVE marketplace account to play Wing Commander Arena

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news via sportsgamer

A demo for EA Sports UEFA Champions League is expected to hit the Xbox Live Marketplace in the near future. 360monster.com reports that the demo will feature an in-game video that details the Ultimate Team Mode.

From the description it doesn't sound like a playable demo but more along the lines of a tutorial, however we'll see when it makes its way out for soon.

UEFA Champions League 2006-2007 is currently to be released on March 20th for the Xbox 360, PS2, and PSP.

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news via agencyfaqs

Microsoft Xbox 360 will roll out its signature campaign ‘Good Luck India’ to wish luck to the Indian cricket team for the biggest extravaganza in cricket- World Cup 2007. Under this campaign, a larger than life Xbox 360 console will be taken across the country for cricket fans and enthusiasts to sign their good luck messages. This campaign is a critical element of run-up to the soon-to-be launched Xbox 360 exclusive gaming title for India, ‘Yuvraj Singh International Cricket 2007’. The campaign is all set to roll out from 23 February, 2007 to 02 March, 2007 covering New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkatta, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Ahmedabad, and Pune.

Elated about the campaign, Ashim Mathur, Marketing Head, Entertainment and Devices Division, Microsoft India said, “For a country like India which is so passionate about cricket, the ‘Good Luck India’ campaign will serve as an ideal opportunity for cricket lovers to wish the Indian team for the world cup. These signed Xbox 360 consoles will be handed over to the Indian cricket team in West Indies before the start of the tournament”.

The exclusive gaming title ‘Yuvraj Singh International Cricket 2007’ is the most awaited game on Xbox 360 and to extend the euphoria around the same, this mega console would cover historical landmarks like Victoria Memorial in Kolkatta, Necklace in Hyderabad, Palace Grounds in Bangalore, Marina Beach in Chennai, India gate in Delhi, Gandhi Ashram in Ahmedabad, Gateway of India in Mumbai and Shanivar Peth in Pune.

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news via hexus

I've had my Xbox 360 since day one and have never had an issue with hardware failure. I must be one of the lucky ones, because across Xbox forums and over Xbox live we've all heard numerous reports from frustrated gamers who've had to send their consoles in for repair due to overheating issues and freezing problems after the comprehensive Autumn update.

The huge Fall update, which consisted of 85 new features and enhancements,was released on October 31st adding a host of system upgrades including HD 1080p video mode support over VGA and component cables and Xbox 360 Wireless Headset support. Every since the update, the Microsoft help-desk was apparently inundated with callers who have been experiencing problems with their consoles. The console problems weren't exclusively related to the update and there are still reports of consoles failing that were produced in one of the first 2005 batches.

I know plenty of people who've sent their consoles back, but normally they've been returned in full working order and they haven't experienced any further problems. But, if you think you've had it bad, spare a thought for Rob and Mindy Cassingham who despite considering themselves to be loyal 'fan boys' of the console are now at the end of their tether with the numerous problems and the failure from Microsoft customer services to replace their machines; instead they've been refurbishing them and sending the same console back.

The couple bought 4 Xbox 360's from the Zero Hour launch event in the US, where Microsoft debuted the console and afterwards bought a further two consoles from their local store. After a short period, the four consoles that were bought at Zero Hour died and were sent back to Microsoft to be refurbished. Nearly a year and a half later and the couple have now had to send back their seventh unit. Talking to Mercury News, Rob Cassingham said, "When it comes back, I'm going to sell it. I have 12,000 achievement points (rewards for exploits in games). That's a hard thing to give up. I gave up cigarette smoking, so I've been through worse. I've had game systems since the Coleco machine. Intellivision. The first machine I had was the Magnavox Odyssey in 1972. I have never had to send any of them back. The gaming experience has been wonderful. And Xbox Live is great. But the reliability of this thing . . .Why spend money for rims on a car that spends 90 percent of its time in the shop?''

The Cassinghams were urged to contact Peter Moore, the Corporate Vice President, who sped up the complaint and as a result the couple have finally been promised a brand new Xbox 360. "A new 360 was all I really wanted in the first place, but after two failed attempts dealing with Microsoft's overseas call centers, I am very annoyed that it took an e-mail directly to P. Moore to get results -- assuming that they do, in fact, ship me a new 360," said Rob.

He continued by saying, "How do I feel it is turning out? Frankly, I'm conflicted. I am just so gun-shy about the reliability issue. One part of me wishes, when my 360 arrives(?), to immediately sell it and all of my 360-related schwag and put the money into a gaming PC. Another part of me wants to keep the 360 (and absolutely get the extended warranty) and I don't want to turn my back on my LIVE arcade titles I've purchased. I still feel like a chump.''

So, the bottom line is, if you're having no luck with Xbox customer services, email Peter Moore..oh and don't buy a console from the unlucky Cassinghams if you can help it.

Microsoft still claim that the Xbox 360 failures are within industry averages and Peter Moore maintains that he shouldn't be contacted for Xbox 360 issues, phone Xbox support instead!

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news via playfuls

With no ending in sight to Microsoft's denials of any future Xbox 360 price cut, retailers from the United Kingdom decided to take matters into their own hands and offer their customers what Microsoft wouldn't: cheaper Xbox 360s. Way cheaper! As reported by several websites over the last couple of days, including Gamasutra, some UK retailers have initiated an unexpected, unseasonal, and unofficial series of price cuts for the Xbox 360, as well as for the old PlayStation 2.

In particular, the "Core" package of Microsoft's next-gen console is currently enjoying the most consistent promotions, with price cuts of up to £50 (€75 / $98). So instead of the suggested retail price of £199.99 ($390), the Core Xbox 360 is now being sold for £149.99 ($292) in some places. As a side-effect, this means that Microsoft's console is now actually cheaper than Nintendo's Wii, priced at £179.99 ($351), despite it packing way more computing power.

The "Premium" bundle, however, remains at pretty much the same price point, with negligible reductions observed so far. The reason for these marketing manoeuvres is not yet clear, but there are some speculations floating around already, involving the previously-rumoured hardware upgrade for the Xbox 360 (with a larger hard drive and HDMI port). But until Microsoft responds to any of these issues, speculation is all we have.

At the same time, Gamasutra reports on another major price cut for the PlayStation 2, ahead of the European release of Square's Final Fantasy XII today:

"At the same time as the Xbox 360 price cut, Wal-Mart owned supermarket chain Asda, the second largest in the UK, has cut the price of the PlayStation 2 from £69.99 ($136) to just £50 ($98) for a limited period. As with the Xbox 360, the price cut is not official, the only apparent reason for the move being the recent release of prominent exclusives Okami and Final Fantasy XII in the UK."

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news via redherring

Latest Sony PlayStation in Europe won’t play as many PS2 games as models in Japan and U.S.

AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - The European version of PlayStation 3 will play fewer PlayStation 2 video games when it launches on March 23 compared with models launched earlier in Japan and America, Sony said on Friday.

“The backwards compatibility is not going to be as good as the U.S. and Japan models,” a Sony spokesman said.

PlayStation 3 (PS3) was first launched in Japan and North America in November and the model that will be introduced in Europe will be designed differently.

Software will take over some of the functionality that was originally taken care of by dedicated chips, which means far fewer PlayStation 2 (PS2) games can be played on a European PS3 compared with the Japanese and American PS3 models, which play 98 percent of old games.

“Sony is managing expectations by saying now that the new console will play fewer of the old games, and that’s a good thing,” said analyst Alex Kwiatowski at British market research group Vertical Market Technologies.

‘I’m as disappointed as the next game player about the reduced backward compatibility, but even the most nostalgic, misty-eyed gamers will have their steely hearts impressed by the new features that PS3 games provide.’

Over the last 18 months Sony has had a series of public relations disasters, including a recall of nearly 10 million of its computer batteries, PS3 delays, and a software program on Sony Entertainment music CDs that breached computer security.

Hold onto Your PS2

Mr. Kwiatowski said gamers with a PS2 would have to hold onto their device to play their current collection.

The PS3’s graphics and sound capabilities are much improved over the PS2.

“Rather than concentrate on PS2 backwards compatibility, in the future, company resources will be increasingly focused on developing new games and entertainment features exclusively for PS3,” Sony Computer Entertainment said in a statement.

About 1 million units will be available at the European launch next month, as many as were made available in the United States during the first six weeks after the launch last year.

Sony loses money at first on each PS3 sale due to high production costs.

But Nobuyuki Oneda, Sony’s chief financial officer, said in January the company aims to bring the negative PS3 margin to break even toward the second half of the next business year, which starts in April, by component cost savings on chips driving the PS3.

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