Gran Turismo 5: Prologue will be available in the US from April 17 in shops or as a download. We're sitting tight about a European release date though...

Sony has sent word that the long awaited GT5 will be out in the US mid-April. Or a few weeks before GTA IV to be more precise. "It's official - SCEA announced today the April 17 North American ship date for Gran Turismo 5 Prologue" beams the official PlayStation blog.

Sony UK told us, "April 17 is a US date only. We have yet to confirm a release date for GT5 Prologue in Europe, and will do so in due course."

The title will be available for $39.99 [£20] on Blu-ray Disc or as a download via the PlayStation Store. Curiously Sony hasn't said how much cheaper the download version will be, if at all.

But if you opt for the Blu-ray version you'll also get an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the making of the game dubbed, Beyond the Apex, which translated into UK English means Round The Bend.

"This video will offer some awesome access to the folks at Polyphony and give some background on how they are able to create such a realistic and beautiful driving simulator," says Sony.

We're promised more in the run up, but if you can't wait that long take a look at our recent GT5 movies, taken straight from the Japanese version, which went on sale the other side of Christmas. It's all good.


Screenshots ...

via Games Industry


Sony is currently facing legal proceedings over the trademark Buzz, which it uses for the quiz series developed by UK team Relentless Software.

Buzztime Entertainment in the US had filed a suit against SCEE alleging the Buzz line of games violate a number of the company's trademarks while demanding that all infringing products be recalled and destroyed, along with a payment of damages, reports GameSpot.

The US company also alleges Sony Computer Entertainment Europe is guilty of "malicious, fraudulent, wilful and deliberate" violation of trademarks.

SCEE has acknowledged the lawsuit to GamesIndustry.biz, stating: "We are aware that a complaint has been made against Buzz in the United States, but as is our normal procedure in matters like these we will not be making any public statement."

Buzztime Entertainment makes electronic trivia games usually found in bars and restaurants, as well as running quiz events over mobile phones, through cable TV and plug-and-play devices.

Sony's trademark applications for Buzz are currently pending in North America, but Buzztime Entertainment wants the US Patent and Trademark Office to reject the applications. ...

via Eurogamer


2K Games has announced that the Wii version of Civilization Revolution has been put on hold indefinitely.

A spokesperson told Eurogamer developer Firaxis wants to put all of its efforts into building the "next-generation" versions.

Which means PS3 and 360 outings, plus a DS game, are still due out this spring.

Civilization Revolution is a fully-fledged instalment in the series - no worries about a quickly cobbled together and dumbed down port here. 2K Games is also keen to emphasise it is spending hours and hours on getting the interface right for consoles, believing few have nailed it so far.

Specifically it will have a strong online component, with streamlined games for fewer day-long head-to-head matches. On top of that will be voice and vision chat so you can see the effect of your plans on your opponent, and 16 civilizations to test your tactical tenacity with. ...

via Eurogamer


Nintendo has told Eurogamer the latest rumours to emerge about Mario Kart Wii are nothing more than speculation.

As reported by Aussie-Nintendo, Nmag Gamepro magazine claims the game will feature 32 courses - half of which will be brand new, half old favourites.

The mag also claims Baby Peach and Boo will appear as drivers, snaking will make a comeback, Battle mode will be playable online and the controls will be similar to those in Excite Truck.

Or not. According to a spokesperson, "Nintendo has not announced any further information on Mario Kart. We've spoken to the magazine and it's just pure rumour and speculation on their part."

So what do we know about MK Wii? It'll work with the new Wii steering wheel, and up to 12 players will be able to race online. Plus it's got motorbikes. For more info, visit the gamepage. Mario Kart Wii is due out in the first half of this year. ...

via Games Industry


NanaOn-Sha's Masaya Matsuura has said that developers in Japan are beginning to question the longevity of the DS format and its appeal to a gaming audience.

The respected Japanese developer observed that the younger consumer is very conservative when it comes to new software, and that titles aimed at a more mature market are not having the impact they did when the format first launched in the region.

"Some people have said already that the DS software's bubble has burst," commented Matsuura to Gamasutra.

"We have to keep increasing the chance to make more unique titles, but for us it's getting much more difficult because the game market - especially in Japan - is still very conservative.

"Many people know that the DS has very unique titles, like Brain Training, or something like that, but it's not for younger-aged market. It's kind of older people, like me."

With multiple developers and publishers jumping on the bandwagon to create 'training' style games, Matsuura said that sales of such titles have inevitably tanked.

"[One company I know has] some kind of learning type of game. The first one sold over 200,000, but the second one is 8,000. So these kind of things are going to happen," he said. ...

via Games Industry


NanaOn-Sha's Masaya Matsuura has said that developers in Japan are beginning to question the longevity of the DS format and its appeal to a gaming audience.

The respected Japanese developer observed that the younger consumer is very conservative when it comes to new software, and that titles aimed at a more mature market are not having the impact they did when the format first launched in the region.

"Some people have said already that the DS software's bubble has burst," commented Matsuura to Gamasutra.

"We have to keep increasing the chance to make more unique titles, but for us it's getting much more difficult because the game market - especially in Japan - is still very conservative.

"Many people know that the DS has very unique titles, like Brain Training, or something like that, but it's not for younger-aged market. It's kind of older people, like me."

With multiple developers and publishers jumping on the bandwagon to create 'training' style games, Matsuura said that sales of such titles have inevitably tanked.

"[One company I know has] some kind of learning type of game. The first one sold over 200,000, but the second one is 8,000. So these kind of things are going to happen," he said. ...

via Games Industry


Sony Computer Entertainment Europe has told GamesIndustry.biz that there are currently no plans to introduce a 120GB PlayStation 3 in the region.

Rumours are circulating that Sony America is due to launch a new model PlayStation 3 in the US, as stocks of the 80GB model begin to disappear from shelves.

Gaming blog Ars Technica has reported that a 120GB sku is due shortly – complete with DualShock 3 controller and retailing for the same price as the 80GB Spider-Man 3 bundle – although Sony has made no comment to confirm this.

However, if any 120GB unit is to be launched in North America, there's no such roll-out on the cards for Europe.

"We do not currently have any plans to release a 120GB PlayStation 3 in the UK," said a spokesperson for SCEE.

Sony has hinted in the past that it could release PS3 units with larger hard-drives if consumers demanded it, to take advantage of the increasing supply of digitally delivered content via services such as the PlayStation Network.

Sony has constantly chopped and changed prices and hardware configurations in all three of its key territories, most recently discontinuing the 20GB and 60GB skus in Japan. ...

Hey guys and gals im sure a few of you out there feel the original xbox was dropped before it's time it still has alot to offer (gfx etc easily if not better than wii's) and we feel it could do with a little more support so me and a freind have formed a petion to try to achive just this please sign we are hoping to get 50000 signitures...

Regards The Eggman & Spectroplasm
it can be found here

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/petition/978700100 ...

Source: NekoMimi

SofiyaCat released an updated version of the video-streaming application known as PSPTube.


Changelog:

- Works on PSP-1000 (20080129) now. However, no video out.
- Shh also fall and more of adults only, please use at your own risk.
- D (20080129) Less terminal interface components and the corresponding output.


Download and Give Feedback Via Comments ...