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via IGN


Sony Computer Entertainment Japan has announced plans to gradually phase out services for registered users of its PlayStation.com website. The operation will begin this December with an end to the site's e-commerce services. Its mail news service will come to a halt in February 2008.

Don't take this to be doom and gloom for the PlayStation brand. The PlayStation.com service was originally started with the goal of providing downloadable content for the PS2. This mission has since been transferred to the PlayStation Network, which you can access from your PS3 and, now, PC.

Those who amassed "PlayStation Points" at the site will be able to transfer these to either the PlayStation Network, where they'll be charged to your wallet, or switch them to Sony Points, which are used by Sony as a whole.

The Japanese PlayStation.com site will continue to exist as Sony's official source for Japanese PlayStation news and information. ...

via IGN


The latest update to the Japanese side of Sony's Game Archives download service has a bunch of games you've probably never heard of, but a couple any seasoned PlayStation veteran should recognize.

Nine new games made the cut for this latest update. Of those, one game is PS3 only. In addition to these, Sony has updated one current title to make it playable on the PS3.

Here's what the full update list looks like.

Playable on PSP/PS3 starting 9/27
Ganbare Goemon Uchuu Kaizou (Konami)
Memorial Series Sunsoft Vol.3 (Sun Denshi)
Crash Bandicoot 3 (Sony)
Popolocrois Monogatari (Sony)
Blue Breaker (Hamster)
Ajito (Hamster
Michi no Hisou Koi Monogatari Kai (Fog)
Shadow Tower (From Software)

Playable on PS3 only starting 9/27
Armored Core Project Phantasma (From Software)

Already released title now playable on the PS3
JumpingFlash! (Sony) ...

via Kotaku


Several weeks ago we reported on the rumor that Sony would release a new model of the PS3 in time for the holidays, with a smaller, 40GB hard drive and a price point of $399.99 [£197]. Now an FCC filing has been discovered for a new PlayStation model number, the CECHG01.

While technical details and pictures are not present, the FCC report shows a diagram on pages 8 and 9, showing what had been tested on the system. As DailyTech has pointed out, the unit shows only two USB ports instead of the normal form, and no card reader is present, which could certainly indicate a trimmed down system for a trimmed down price point. We still don't have a hard disk size, though 40GB sounds like a reasonable bet. Personally I liked it better back when you bought a console and it was the same one everyone else had, but that's just me.


...

via Games Industry


Nintendo's senior director of public relations, Beth Llewelyn, has officially announced that she is leaving the company.

When Nintendo decided to move its sales and marketing division from Seattle to San Francisco, it was rumored that George Harrison, Perrin Kaplan, and Beth Llewelyn would not be making the move, instead deciding to remain with their families.

Harison officially announced his departure a few weeks ago. Kaplan has not yet made an official announcement.

In a written statement, Llewelyn said that she would be "taking some time off to be a full-time mom for a bit." Her last day with Nintendo will be September 28.

No successors have yet been named. ...

via Eurogamer


Microsoft has popped on its shades and refused to comment over rumours that a new Core 360 SKU will arrive in time for Christmas.

The Internet started talking after Opposable Thumbs claimed to have inside information about it from the platform holder, as well as dirt on new game bundles for the Premium and Elite models.

The new Core will apparently feature an HDMI port, wireless controller, 256MB memory card and five Live Arcade games on a disc: Boom Boom Rocket, Pac-Man, Uno, Feeding Frenzy and Luxor 2. Opposable Thumbs claims it will be released "at the end of October" for USD 279.95 [£138].

But before that, we'll apparently be treated to Elite and Premium bundles with two free games: Forza 2 and Marvel Alliance. Premium will come first on 9th October, followed by the Elite on 23rd.

But it isn't the first we've heard about this. Back in August keen-eyed Internet hounds unearthed holiday bundles featuring the two free games, as well as an "Arcade: Just Play" Core system with a 256MB memory card and five free Live Arcade titles. ...

via Computer and Video Games


Such a fuss hasn't been made out of a rumbling controller since Nintendo pioneered the whole idea with the N64 Rumble Pak back in 1997, but the shaking SixAxis, or DualShock 3 as it will be known, flew in straight from TGS.

Sony strolled into the CVG office this week with one of the new pads for us to put under a magnifying glass for an in-depth look. We even got to play with it.

Much has been made of the DualShock 3 featuring some form of ultra-advanced rumbling technology superior to that of existing pads: location-specific rumbling, 'touch-sense' analogue sticks and all sorts.

We're surprised someone hasn't claimed the pad gets hot and cold, or emits smells from games. If it does, Ratchet and Clank Future: Tools of Destruction did a bad job of showing it.

No, boys and girls, there's no alien-like rumble tech here; it just shakes, most likely using a small metal weight attached to the spinning pin of a little electrical motor, just like all other rumbling controllers (Sony wouldn't let us break out the screwdrivers to confirm that, however).

The newly-added motor inside must be quite small though because the pad really isn't as heavy as we expected. It's only slightly heavier than the original SixAxis; not as weighty as the 360 wireless controller, but just enough to abolish that cheap hollow-feeling of the SixAxis 'pauper's edition' (as we'll now think of the old pad).

As you'll know the DualShock 3 is shaped identically to the original pad, although press shots reveal one visual difference: the word 'DualShock 3' written in blue on the top of the pad's central bridge, opposite the word 'SixAxis'.

After a quick inspection we noticed the sample unit handed to us lacked the 'DualShock 3' branding. We mention this because pre-production versions (and press shots) of the original SixAxis featured a red light that illuminated the PS button, whereas retail versions don't.

There is one other subtle, unmentioned change on the new pad, too: the analogue sticks have been made slightly more resistant (emphasis on the word 'slightly'). It's barely noticeable but they definitely feel a little tighter. It's not 360-controller-perfect, but it's good to see Sony making small tweaks wherever it can, even if the pad has hardly changed shape since the first DualShock pad was released ages ago for PSone.

So there you have it; no mysteries - it's a SixAxis that shakes, but it just goes to show that you don't realise how much of a difference something makes until you lose it, and we're pleased Sony has its rumble back.

It really will make all the difference in games like Motorstorm and Heavenly Sword when they're updated with rumble support.

It's just a shame we'll have to wait until spring next year to get our hands on them. What is Sony doing, waiting for Father Christmas to deliver them?


A few shots of the Dualshock 3 Sixaxis controller, if one has not seen them, viewable here ...

News from my blog

Hey all, I've made a little WIP of Halo 2D DS. It just loads the first map and you can walk around, there's no AI yet so there are no enemies, or weapons. I'm about 16% or so done. I'll add another map very soon as well as AI.


Have fun!

Download and Give Feedback Via Comments ...

via Eurogamer


2K Games has slid a demo for NHL 2K8 onto Xbox Live.

It slams into the net at 1GB, and will give you a frozen taste of what to expect from the yearly update to one of the most consistently acclaimed ice-hockey series out there.

This year developer Kush is all about new bits and pieces. It has finally taken the plunge and mapped stick commands and movement to the right analogue stick, and added famous Superstar Moves that you can pull-off to impress your friends. Goalies have been revamped too, following criticism from 2K7, and should now behave more realistically than ever.

You can also get your hands on the new video capturing Reelmaker feature for NHL 2K8, which is currently being offered as a Live download costing 400 points (GBP 3.40 / EUR 4.65).

It all adds up to what 2K Games is rather unsurprisingly promising to be the best game in the series to date. NHL 2K7 scored highly with us because of its safe and polished approach, earning 9/10. We can only hope for more of the same, and that the glitzy new analogue stick controls don't fluff up a good thing.

NHL 2K8 will be released on PS3, 360 and PS2 in October. ...