via Computer and Video Games


We've got HD TVs now, so what's next from the world of TV tech? Well Toshiba has few ideas for screens powered by PS3's Cell processor.

Toshiba contributed to the development of the PS3's Cell chip along with Sony and IBM, and its new flat-panel TV is the first fruit of its investment.

These new uber-screens use the raw grunt of the Cell chip to provide some sweet new features.

Gone will be the days of having to flick through channels one-by-one - Toshiba's TV has enough processing power to render and display 48 standard-definition thumbnail videos simultaneously.

Click on one thumbnail and it'll be displayed on the bottom half of the screen for you to check out in more detail, while 16 thumbnails remain streaming on the top half. Clicking the same channel again makes it full screen.

With HD video, it can render six streams at once, said Toshiba spokesperson, Hiroaki Komaki, at the CES demonstration.

The Cell chip would also provide more powerful upscalling opportunities. It could upscale standard-def video extensively, in real-time, to achieve a picture quality that's far closer to HD than current sets do.

It could also offer a zoom feature that would upscale the portion of the video you zoom in to, resulting in minimal loss of quality.

So, 48 streams at once, and ultra-zooming features - that's a porn fan's dream.

The sets shown were just for demo purposes, and the final features of a Cell-based TV are yet to be finalised, but they certainly they won't include PS3 gaming integration, says Toshiba. ...

via Eurogamer


Konami says that Metal Gear Solid 4 is "on the eve of entering bug-checking phase" and that the developer is still committed to the game's Q2 release date.

"The next few months are going to be hell," assistant producer Ryan Payton said in the latest Kojima Productions podcast, confirming that it's the "big push". "Yeah, and we're committed to this quarter-two release date, or release timeframe."

"We're committed. Mr Kojima of all people is committed to it because he really hates to disappoint people, and I know that he is embarrassed by what happened with the 2007 slip into 2008, because we even put it in our trailer with Raiden slashing away '2008' and when you go that far you put a seal on it and then he has to delay it - that really hurt."

Payton expects the game to see a "simultaneous worldwide release" - albeit not exactly the same day - and dismisses any specific dates from retailers. "Any date that you're seeing is just speculation," he says. Apparently as recently as last Sunday they were "going back and forward with marketing" about when to do the release.

Asked about the specifics of current development, Payton said that it is possible to play the game from start to finish, although certain elements such as the opening cinematic aren't finished yet.

Indeed, the way Kojima Productions works means that they may continue adding small features throughout testing. "We could be adding stuff two weeks before gold submission," he said, which is apparently what happened on MGS3. But, he explained, "For the majority of the team, this is the end."

But is it the end for Hideo Kojima? Who knows. What we do know is that we were quite impressed with the playable demo at Tokyo Game Show last September and that we'll be bringing you more impressions very soon. ...

via Games Industry


Sony plans to give PSP titles a new lease of life by making them available digitally over the PlayStation Network.

Games that have been dropped by retail but are still in demand by consumers will head to Sony's online store, as well as short "bite-size" titles, according Sony's senior product manager John Koller.

Speaking to Kotaku, Koller said that PSP titles which "retailers aren't interested in carrying at this stage, games that we hear a lot of demand from PSP owners," will be re-released over the service.

Sony has already released a handful of retail PSP titles via the newly re-launched PlayStation Store, most notably first-party releases B-Boy and Fired Up.

Demos, trailers and classic PSone titles are already part of the offering, but Koller said the company is keen to experiment with shorter, more immediate gaming experiences.

"We have an opportunity to bring bite-size experiences to the system, ten minute, pick up and play content that can be downloaded from the store," said Koller.

Movies on the UMD format are likely to benefit from a price reduction, and Koller also said Sony was happy to see Blu-ray movies come with an embedded PSP-formated version of the title, as recently announced at CES.

"Any way we can help get that multimedia content onto the PSP, we're going to take it," he said. ...

via Kotaku


Could Nintendo's highly anticipated Super Smash Bros. Brawl be pushed back a month? According to the swirling mists of internet rumor the hot title could be slipping from it's current early February North American release window to sometime in March. I've received at several reports from different sources, including one video game store owner who claims to have received an email blast from his distributor alerting him to the delay. I contacted Nintendo earlier to see if I could obtain any sort of official word on the game's release, and of course received the usual reply. All together now: "Nintendo does not comment on rumors and speculation."

So far the game stores in my area are standing by the February release date, but then again I am a notorious preorder canceler, having once canceled 20 at a time in order to pick up a new DS, so they tend to walk on eggshells around me. If the rumor does wind up being true, it is only just another month. I'll just be in my bunker hiding from rabid Smash Bros. fans if anyone needs me. ...

via Computer and Video Games


Here's a ton of media from Mistwalker's second Xbxo 360 RPG, Lost Odyssey.

Hironobu Sakaguchi's next 360-exclusive RPG is due for release at the end of February here in the UK. And in honour of that fact Microsoft has painted the internet a new colour with Lost Odyssey concept art, so you don't forget. Take a look.


Screenshots ...

via Computer and Video Games


Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker will be available for the DS on UK shores as from March 14, Square Enix has confirmed.

Wildly dubbed as Square Enix's answer to Pokemon, Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker is the latest in the Dragon Quest Monsters series and the first to be featured in full 3D.

In Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker (one of the most unwieldy titles seen in quite a few months) players must rise to the top of the ranks by gradually collecting and fighting over 200 monsters.

In this latest iteration, a number of new changes have been made to the game play. The random dungeons have been jettisoned, and instead the game is built upon predefined levels and a world full of quests to complete.

For those who are so inclined, you can also take your monster teams online and participate in the Wildcard World Cup, available via the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. ...

via Computer and Video Games


Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker will be available for the DS on UK shores as from March 14, Square Enix has confirmed.

Wildly dubbed as Square Enix's answer to Pokemon, Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker is the latest in the Dragon Quest Monsters series and the first to be featured in full 3D.

In Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker (one of the most unwieldy titles seen in quite a few months) players must rise to the top of the ranks by gradually collecting and fighting over 200 monsters.

In this latest iteration, a number of new changes have been made to the game play. The random dungeons have been jettisoned, and instead the game is built upon predefined levels and a world full of quests to complete.

For those who are so inclined, you can also take your monster teams online and participate in the Wildcard World Cup, available via the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. ...

via Eurogamer


Rare has rather predictably refused to say anything about GoldenEye making its way to Live Arcade.

Rumours swept from an Xbox Evolved piece claiming Microsoft, Rare, and Bond licence holders Activision had agreed to offer it on the service.

Evidence was, well, sketchy - based upon "very reliable sources" and promises the site had seen it with its own eyes.

If this does all turn out to be true, then you should apparently expect polished presentation and Live multiplayer from the N64 classic.

Speculation also suggests Rare will unleash more of its back catalogue after GoldenEye, pointing at hits like Perfect Dark and Banjo-Kazooie.

Or they could make another Viva Pinata! That's what we'd do! Listen to us, Rare! ...

via Joystiq


The United States Army is working with Microsoft to sponsor the first Halo 3 tournament to be held over Xbox Live. The tournament -- which is sadly limited to U.S. gamers only -- begins in April, and will feature prizes for top players.

Leading up to the tournament, the US Army will sponsor a series of "Basic Combat Training" mini-contests through Xbox Live, where players register and play Halo 3 on certain days in order to win. Registration has already begun for the first contest, entitled "Sniper School," and gameplay will begin on January 19. Registration for the main tournament will begin in March. ...