Sorry if this is old news -
Back in 2005, The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences added an award category to recognize original video content for computers, cellphones, and other devices like the video iPod and PSP. Unfortunately, the category is awarded during the Technology & Engineering Emmy Award ceremonies where mostly Hollywood D-Listers attend. Which explains why nobody really takes notice.

Anyway, the Academy recently announced winners of the 58th Annual Emmy Awards for geeks at the CES 2007. The PSP came out as the winner in the category "Outstanding Innovation and Achievement in Advanced Media Technology for the Best Use of Personal Media Display and Presentation Technology."

Specifically, it was the PSP's XMB that got the honors. Sony (in a tie with Nintendo) also won another one of them golden statuettes that look like car hood ornament for "Peripheral Development and Technological Impact of Video Game Controllers". ...

Source

Not sure if existing HD DVD players can read the new disc (I'm guessing they can). If so, this makes things interesting! ...

Electronic Arts have have announced that UEFA Champions League 2006-2007 will be released on March 23, 2007 in anticipation of the real-world tournament that culminates in the UEFA Champions League Final in May.


The Xbox 360 version of the title introduces a unique and collectable virtual card system in the Ultimate Team mode that enables you to develop your team. This complements the traditional way of playing as your favorite club team from qualification right through to a virtual reproduction of the championship final. Plus, UEFA Champions League 2006-2007 features new challenging game modes to test the most skillful players at the highest levels.

Using collectable cards in Ultimate Team Mode on the Xbox 360 system, players can hand-pick everything from your team and staff members to your match strategy and stadium. Now you can build your dream team by going online to collect or trade virtual player, staff and gameplay cards; effectively organize your squad to foster team chemistry; accumulate Staff, Training, Morale, Fitness and Healing cards to transform your squad into a European super power online. Collect dominant Gameplay cards, and then use them at key moments during a match to gain the tactical advantage over your opponent. Gameplay cards can be activated during a contest to boost the abilities of your players and team. For the greatest rewards, put your managerial ability and your playing skills to the test by trading or selling unwanted cards or trawling the market online for the ones you need to complete your title-winning team.

UEFA Champion League 2006-2007 will also be released on most platforms.



Pro Evolution Soccer 6 [s]£49.99[/s] £24.99 ...

Konami has announced that its forthcoming European versions of Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops title for PSP will benefit from a wealth exciting additions exclusive to European users.

Scheduled for release April, 2007, Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops is an all-new installment in Hideo Kojima’s legendary Metal Gear Solid series. Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops features a full stealth-action single player story mode and key wireless features allowing players to recruit and play as a unique squadron of battle-hardened mercenaries. The European versions of the game will also include a series of exclusive elements, including new game maps, characters and missions.

Set in 1970, Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops follows directly on from the events of Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, with the player assuming the role of series hero Snake (aka Big Boss), as he puts together the elite FOXHOUND unit made famous in earlier Metal Gear titles, and is instigating a bloody revolt with his treacherous FOX unit. Heralding the return of many notable characters from the Metal Gear series, Portable Ops acts as the climax to a major portion of the ongoing Metal Gear timeline, as players participate in the events that directly lead into later games in the series, including the great tragedy that determines Big Boss’ future path.

European users will enjoy 12 more characters than existing Japanese and US users, while the careers of the available characters have been expanded to highlight their key attributes – athleticism or physical strength, for instance.

The recruiting element is unique to Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops, with various possibilities to increase your number of team-mates. Making superb use of the wireless functionality of the PSP, Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops lets players scan access points (AP) by using the game’s AP SCAN function. Depending on the unique MAC address provided by the access point, players can access a specific wireless AP character and recruit them as a new team-mate. Certain rare and unique characters will be available only via access point scanning, giving users further incentives to play in different locations and add new members to their squads.

Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops also features support for online battles in ten areas specifically designed for multiplayer encounters – two more than the US and Japanese version of the game – letting up to six players take their custom squads online and battle in stealthy encounters across several different modes of play. Using a unique White Flag mechanic, players can choose to surrender and fight again or risk permanently losing one of their valuable comrades. Players can also wirelessly trade characters with others, building a squadron that is best suited to dominate the online competition. ...

The big winner is the DS (supprised? ), but next gen wise, its a important victory. Helped by Wii and PS3 shortages, the Xbox 360 finally breaks the 1 million sold a month, mark! (outselling the PS3 and the Wii combined) Shame for them it was still beaten by the old PS2.

Also good news for the PSP, after months of "the PSP is dieing" comments and news posts, it sells just short of million mark, doubling its last months sales.

Pro Evolution Soccer 6 [s]£49.99[/s] £24.99 ...

“Gears of War” is an extremely popular game that has appeals to both genders. The online play is fun and offline many couples are playing through the game in co-op mode. To celebrate Valentine’s Day, we are hosting an online Gears of War tournament. Couples will play against other couples to earn the title of winner of the Love & War Tournament.

The contest: Multiplayer Gears of War
The contest will be random Gears of War multiplayer maps. The first round tournament matches will be set before play begins. Rooms are 2 x 2. The winner is best out of 5.

The breakdown:
The contest is open to all mature ages because the game is rated M.
The couples have to be male and female. The second person can be a friend/sister/cousin etc.
All microphones have to be on during play or couple will be disqualified.
There are 6 open slots for single players to be matched up if you do not have someone to play with.
If someone reports that a team is not playing by the rules, they will be disqualified.
The contest is limited to sixteen teams (could be expanded to max 24 if there are a lot of entries).
If any team is late by 10 minutes they are disqualified and the other team gets a win.
Email me at Trina if you would like to enter

Prizes:
Top 3 places get prizes. Top prize is a dinner for two for the winning couple. (If winners live in different states then dinner price will be split between the two and each winner will get one gift certificate).

Timeline:
January 10th open contest and start taking names.
February 2nd stop taking entries
February 5th Tournament bracket is posted and couples are emailed their matches.
February 17th 12pm pacific – first round of play
February 17th 4pm pacific – second round of play
February 18th 12pm pacific – third round of play
February 18th 4pm pacific – final round

head to GamingAngels.com to enter

Prey for [s]£49.99[/s] £24.97 ...

Apologises if this is in the wrong section but I need to say this, personally it will make me feel a little better about what has happened.

Karen W was one of my best friends and a member of my Jackass Uk team based in Stoke-On-Trent, England. Almost everything I did she was there or whatever. I introduced her to the PSP Scene last year and ever since then she has downloaded stuff on DCEMU using my account. From using DAX's Custom Firmware to playing Emulators made by ZX-81 she has loved the PSP and DCEMU. She loved this website because of the members mainly, if she ever needed help that I could not help her with, she got it of somebody else here and I would like to thank anybody that did help her.

Today at 4PM she died in a car crash on her way to get something to eat. The driver was sent to hospital with leg injuries. I would have been in the car at the time as well if it was not for a phone call from a friend of mine. Basically I would like to say thank you to anybody that made her feel welcome here and thank you to all of the coders that put their time and effort into creating such great PSP Programs, it was you that made her happy among other things.

Apologises for this going into the wrong section again. I didnt know where else to put it. ...

The last two years, Nintendo saw Gamecube software sales plummeting, and the general outlook for the Nintendo Gamecube itself has not seemed very bright, infact as of now the Gamecube is all about barren for any new releases, and as a console is effectively dead, now however the legacy of the Gamecube seems to be even stronger, and Gamecube games have gained an al new life expectancy because of this.

Consumers are now discovering several titles that they infact overlooked the past generation, purchasing Games Like Resident Evil 4, Eternal Darkness, Geist, and Several other AAA titles that they may have missed out on by overlooking what the Gamecube had to offer this last round. Many retailers (Such as EB Games and Gamestop) Offer several Games at prices less than 20 dollars new, and people are taking advantage of this.

Could this infact extend the production life of Gamecube games? or simply help solidify the Nintendo's position in the Market. Only time will tel where this leads.

via scp ...

via celebs and gadget

Has Sony gone mad? Prominent adult movie producer Digital Playground (site) says it is forced to use HD DVD instead of Blu-ray, because Sony does not allow XXX-rated movies to be released on Blu-ray.

It does not matter how you stand to porn. It is here and it is a massive business. It is also an industry that is an early adopter for new media technology. VHS might not have won with out the adult film industry adopting it.

German Heise has interviewed Joone the founder of Digital Playgrounds at the AVN 2007 show in Las Vegas. Joone says actually said last year he is committed to Blu-ray. Now they announced four HD DVD titles in the United States. In the interview Joone says he was forced to use HD DVD, because no Blu-ray disc manufacturer would make his discs, because Sony was against it and they would loose their license.

If this holds true, Blu-ray is at a major disadvantage and could fail. ...