via Games Industry


Sony's Jamie MacDonald has told GamesIndustry.biz that the release of PS3 social networking service Home will be a low key affair, following an invite only public beta.

Home may have a profile similar to the biggest blockbuster games, but Sony is opting for a soft launch as it gradually rolls out the 3D user community for the PlayStation 3.


Home is central to Sony's network initiatives, with it initially acting as 3D community for like-minded PS3 users, bringing together multiple online services for the PlayStation 3.

The free service will launch from the PS3's Cross Media Bar, allowing users to interact, communicate, play online games, shop and build their own customised spaces.

But more than a first-party initiative, Home will open up to offer third-party partners space to conduct business, advertising and services in a controlled environment.

Although no definite date has been set, when unveiling the service at GDC earlier this year Sony pencilled in an autumn release.

"It's already out there in a closed beta and we're going to an open beta in the next couple of months and then it will be available on the Cross Media Bar soon after," said MacDonald, vice president of SCE worldwide studios.

When the beta does go public shortly, it's likely to be by invite only.


The full interview with Jamie MacDonald, where he discusses the challenges of creating Home, can be read here. ...

via Games Industry


SCEE has been recognised by the European Imaging and Sound Association, with the PS3 receiving an award for home entertainment.


The EISA has a membership comprised of nearly 50 audio, mobile electronics, video, and photo magazines spread throughout 19 countries. A judging panel consisting of journalists and independent technical experts selected the award winners. ...

via Eurogamer


Tony Hawk has finally finished work on the demo for his ninth game, and released it today on Xbox Live [it's possible you've misunderstood - Ed].

It drops in at just over a gigabyte, and will let you skate around a small portion of the Proving Ground world.

Things you might like to try out on your adventures are the new Nail the Grab controls, where clicking the analogue sticks lets you control your hands when your board is airborne - or maybe you want to cut your own skating video with the new capturing and editing controls.

But there's lots more than that to come. You'll be able to modify your own indoor skate park in a great big garage, then invite your friends over for a cup of tea, for example. Or mess around with the scenery of the world to make your own organic skate-rink.

Plus it's all much bigger than last time around, and developer Neversoft is promising some bizarre music-synchronising video editing system (a bit like Guitar Hero note-matching) in the final box.

Proving Ground has also managed to not only retain the back-to-basics feel of Tony Hawk's Project 8, but improve on it with a grittier, more urban feel.

John Walker of writing fame went to see the game very recently, and came out with a large smile on his face. With hot competition from EA and Skate, now looks like the perfect time for Tony Hawk's to pull off a real tour de force.

Tony Hawk's Proving Ground is due out on PS3, Xbox 360, PS2 and Wii on 9th October ...

via Eurogamer


EA has confirmed that the demo for FIFA 08 will go live on 360 and PS3 tomorrow.

It'll give you a chance to try out what the publisher is calling its most coherent football game to date. There's the new skill system to try out, the opportunity to play as just one member of the team and not mess it up, plus the usual better graphics, physics, and all that malarkey.

EA is also offering much more in the way of online support this time around. Following a post-release update you'll be able to play five against five, for instance, where you each control your player of choice on either side. The ultimate goal is to have 11 versus 11, although we're not sure who would really want to be centre-back or the goalie.

Interactive Leagues are back, too, so you and your chums can help your favourite team to victory, plus lots of other knick knacks. Sprint your way over to our first impressions of FIFA 08 for a closer look.

FIFA 08 is coming out on PC, PS3, 360, PS2, PSP, Wii and DS on 28th September. Look out for our thoughts soon. ...

via Eurogamer


Gran Turismo 5 Prologue's price is still to be decided, Sony said today, following a report on Dutch website Fok! which claimed the Blu-Ray edition would cost EUR 45.

In addition, Sony was also unable to narrow a date down for Polyphony's eagerly awaited PS3 sequel. Current expectations are that both the PSN and Blu-Ray versions will be available before the end of 2007.

GT5 Prologue is a demo version of what to expect when the full Gran Turismo 5 is released. It will feature more than 40 (incredibly shiny) cars, and tracks including the Eiger Nordwand course, the London City Track, and Suzuka. You can either race these the right way around, reverse them, or try alternative routes.

But perhaps the most exciting feature will be the ability to face-off against up to 15 others over the PlayStation Network, complete with global online rankings. ...

via Eurogamer


Sony Europe has told us this morning that the Blast Factor: Advanced Research add-on will be available sometime in October - not 20th September as ThreeSpeech suggests.

The expansion will revamp the visuals and audio of the PlayStation Network game, as well as add new bosses, enemies, specimens and special powers. There will be a monthly online high score table, too, and a practice mode so you won't look silly when your friends come round and watch.

Advanced Research was released in August in the US for USD 4.99. But unfortunately there's no word on what it will cost here.

The original Blast Factor game appeared here earlier this year, and impressed us with its tactical blast-'em-up action. Hopefully these new additions can turn it into a solid and positive recommendation. ...

via Eurogamer


Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction will be released in the US on 23rd October and in Europe this November, Insomniac's Ryan Schneider told Eurogamer today.

Separately, the game's product manager confirmed that a demo of the game will be released on PlayStation Network in the US and Europe on 4th October.

Although it's about the 78th game in the series, Tools of Destruction is something of an origins tale, which sees the popular PS2 heroes taking over Emperor Percival Tachyon's ship and journeying around the galaxy for their first PS3 adventure.

We'll be bringing you impressions of the latest builds and more details from the development team in the Ratchet & Clank Future. ...

via Eurogamer


Sony has rolled down our news hill and sung confirmation that LocoRoco Cocoreccho will be available next Thursday on the PlayStation Network.

It's the one that's an interactive screensaver rather than a fully-fledged game, remember - and will cost GBP 1.99 (EUR 2.92) to download.

So when you sit there not doing anything for a little while, your not-a-game will start - maybe you were looking out of the window at a passing squirrel or a talking hedgehog.

The idea is to wake up the LocoRoco using a little butterfly, then guide them around the map by titling scenery using the Sixaxis controller. See, it is used for something.

All-in-all we're told there will be more than 200 singing blobs to play around with, as well as baddies to stop you getting to the end of the level in one piece. ...

via Eurogamer


Sony has told us that Europe won't have to wait much longer than America for God of War on PSP.

The game is due out over there on 4th March, and apparently will follow here shortly after.

"God of War: Chains of Olympus is on-track to be released in PAL territories soon after its US release, during early 2008," a spokesperson for Sony told us.

Ready at Dawn is creating the handheld game, under close supervision from the critically acclaimed PS2 God of War team. ...