via Eurogamer


Konami has unveiled an online Metal Gear Solid title for PlayStation 3 at a media briefing in Japan.

Metal Gear Online will see up to 16 players sneaking around new environments in game modes not previously seen in the likes of MGS3: Subsistence.

The official website shows off a selection of screenshots.

(Update - and here's a bit more on it from Konami's subsequent press release: "The new game showcases the all-new proprietary SOP system: a cornerstone gameplay mechanic that encourages players to link together with team-mates' nanomachines to build a matrix of real-time information that includes compatriots' whereabouts, battle condition, and location of nearest enemy.")

Konami also said that a closed beta test would commence on 20th August and end on 3rd September, with 3,000 players set to get a look in. It's not clear if it's Japanese-only, so keep an eye on the Kojima Productions website for more.

Kotaku, live-blogging the event, said that no release date had been offered.

Series creator Hideo Kojima has previously hinted at the existence of an online Metal Gear for PS3, although it was never made clear whether to expect it as part of Metal Gear Solid 4 or separately. Until now, anyway.

Elsewhere at the Metal Gear event - celebrating the series' 20th anniversary - Konami unveiled Metal Gear Solid 2 Bande Dessinee, a new digital comic for PSP. ...

via Eurogamer


Developer Turn 10 has released a new patch for Forza 2 on Xbox Live.

It addresses a number of problems, noticeably Auction House bugs and some other issues currently being badly abused by naughty people getting no dinner tonight. You'll have to download it if you plan on playing over Xbox Live.

The only way you'll be able to sell or gift a car with a locked livery now is if you're the original owner, effectively stamping out duplicate designs whipped-up by cheeky copycats. And those of you asking for an unlocked camera while viewing potential purchases have had your prayers answered - and should now be able to ogle over the roof-job, too.

Turn 10 also pointed out that numerous "under-the-hood" Auction House bugs had been addressed, which could have potentially lost you all your dough and even your cars.

Scoreboards have had an overhaul thanks to various problems like AI not relinquishing control of the cars quick enough after a rolling-start, and more cheeky-monkeys exploiting more cheeky physics bugs - resulting in ridiculous lap times clearly impossible if you're playing by the rules.

That pesky Lotus Elan has been temporarily banned, too, because it was accidentally underrated due to a calculation error and is actually much better than the other cars in its class.

Hosts can't boot players mid-race any more, either, because yes - some sillies were exploiting it and hoofing people out if the stakes were high and they weren't going to win.

But it isn't all bug-fixes and patches, and Turn 10 expects more content to be available in the coming weeks.

"We definitely have DLC up our sleeves and will release a series of car packs and new tracks starting in August and running probably through a good chunk of fall," reads the post on the official website. "Forza Motorsport 2 is definitely here to stay." ...

via Eurogamer


F.E.A.R. gets another boost this week with the launch of the Synchronicity Pack on Xbox Live Marketplace.

Priced slightly oddly at 550 Microsoft points (GBP 4.68 / EUR 6.40), it consists of five new multiplayer arenas - three for Capture the Flag/Conquer All and two for Deathmatch/Control.

Of the former, Dead Wood sees players having to pick between high and low roads, while the other two are called Labs and Depot. DM and Control pal Stockpile is described as claustrophobic and joined by another called Waterworks.

All should be available on Live now, following on from the Nightmare Pack released earlier this month and June's Control and Conquer Map Pack. ...

via Games Industry


SCEA has announced that, based upon preliminary internal data, PS3 sales have increased by more than 135 per cent at the company's top five retailers over the past two weeks.

SCEA announced a new USD 499 retail price for the PlayStation 3 on July 9th.

"The new price on the 60 GB PS3, coupled with our very strong software showing from E3, is certainly paying dividends in terms of impressive sales across the board at retail," said Jack Tretton, SCEA president and CEO.

In the two weeks following the price drop, total PlayStation hardware sales have increased by 161 per cent, software sales by 15 per cent, and peripheral sales by 60 per cent.

Even before the price drop, PS3 sales in June were up 21 per cent over May sales according to NPD data.

Sony sold 290,108 PSP units in June, a 31 per cent increase year-over-year. The PlayStation 2 continued to sell strong, with sales of 270,763 for the month of June. ...

via Xbox 360 Fanboy


You're in for a treat this week, because Jason Bourne, Prince, and Sherman Klump all make an appearance on HD DVD this week as well as a bunch of those Live at Montreux performances. Seriously, that Montreux must be one crazy amazing place seeing that it can hold the power that is Deep Purple, Santana and Yes. Below is a list of this week's new HD DVD releases, but be sure to save up a few dollars for next week's highly anticipated 300 release. We're oh so excited.


HD DVD Movie Releases: July 24th

• The Bourne Identity
• The Contract
• Deep Purple: Live at Montreux 2006
• The Host
• In Good Company
• The Nutty Professor 2: The Klumps
• Out for Justice
• Purple Rain
• Santana: Hymns for Peace - Live at Montreux 2004
• Scent of a Woman
• Streets of Fire
• Yes: Live at Montreux

...

via PS3 Fanboy


Not a lot happening this week. Nor, really, for the next couple of weeks. You could call this period of time "The calm before the Storm." The "Storm", in this case, being Lair. Here are this week's PlayStation 3 offerings.

US Games

• Nascar 08

EU Games

• No new releases

Asian Games

• Minna no Golf 5
• Wangan Midnight
• Major League Baseball 2K7

Oh yeah. How could we forget. This week sees the release of Minna no Golf 5 (you might know it better as Hot Shots Golf 5} and its bundle pack. Interestingly, this game currently resides at number 7 on Famitsu's top 20 most wanted list, with over 300,000 preorders of the title in stores. Could we be seeing a huge surge in PS3 sales in Japan over the next few weeks?

If you fancy playing some Minna no Golf 5 this week, then feel free to order it from Japan to play on your US/EU PS3. It won't mind. Release dates are fickle and subject to change at a moment's notice. Contact your local shop before potentially wasting a trip into town. ...

via PSP Fanboy


Every week, PSP Fanboy gives you the release list of what's coming out for the PSP worldwide. If a game is listed as coming out in a different country from where you live, don't worry. Your PSP can play games from any region. Looks like the US and EU regions have a slow week, though I'm sure plenty of PSP owners will be picking up Final Fantasy II. In Japan there is a good variety this week. From apes to gangsters, a lot of different interests will meet.

US Games

• Alien Syndrome
• Final Fantasy II

EU Games

• (nothing)

Asian Games

• For Symphony: With All One's Heart Portable
• Grand Theft Auto Liberty City Stories
• Idol Janshi Suchi-Pai III Remix
• Metal Gear Solid 20th Anniversary: Metal Gear Solid Portable Ops
• Sarugetchu: SaruSaru Daisakusen
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Release dates may always change, so you may want to call before heading to your local game shop. ...

via PSP Fanboy


Ubisoft is developing a game based on the upcoming Robert Zemeckis film adaptation of Beowulf. Not much has been revealed about this Ubi title, but while browsing EB Games website, we noticed a listing for a PSP version of the game. The listing could just be a mistake on EB's part (they do have incorrect listings from time to time), but it's more likely a sign that the demon killer is hitting Sony's portable.

For those that don't know the story of Beowulf, it involves a warrior slaying the mighty demon Grendel. After doing so though, he incurs the wrath of the Grendel's mother in a battle that will turn him into a legend. Demon slaying and games are old drinking buddies, so Beowulf may stand a chance of being a movie tie-in worth playing. ...

via Nintendo Wii Fanboy


Unlike last week and the week before it, we're actually able to report on game releases this week. Well, actually it's only a game release, but that's still better than nothing. Releasing on both the PSP and Wii this week, gamers will be able to pick up:

• Alien Syndrome

Are you looking forward to picking up Sega's shooter this week? ...