PlayBeyond
Latest
PSP January Content Pack now available
Every month, Sony offers an EXE file they call the "Content Pack" which contains a variety of files, like videos, music and wallpapers for your PSP. This month's pack contains an extensive eight-minute video preview of the upcoming Ratchet & Clank game. You'll also get to keep those creepy PLAY B3YOND ads for the PLAYSTATION 3, and see the "Gran Turismo Awards."This video-heavy package clocks in at a hefty 178MB. Feel free to visit Sony's official US website to download.[Thanks, Lucas Caruana!]
PS3 viral web code cracked
A few days ago, Sony launched the PlayB3yond web site with a picture of a melting clock and minimal fanfare. Yesterday, the site updated to a feature a mysterious assortment of 26 clickable symbols that bear a passing resemblance to the PlayStation controller buttons. Mere hours later, the mystery has been solved by intrepid Joystiq reader Zelda X (who either has an inside source or way too much free time). Using the alphabet key and codes in the image above, PS3 fans can use the PlayB3yond site to unlock wallpapers, soundtracks, videos and behind-the-scenes interviews for some big name PS3 launch games. Try not to get too excited.It's not clear whether this list is complete or if other words and phrases will also unlock content. Some common PS3-related phrases returned nothing when tried by Joystiq, and the codes found on recent PS3 billboards were similarly useless. Perhaps something more interesting will come out of the site in the weeks leading up to the PS3 launch, but as of now, this attempt at a viral ad campaign doesn't really hold a candle to a major multimedia marketing event like ilovebees.
Gran Turismo producer flatters -- PS3 blushes, overheats
A new site has opened up in Japan called PlayBeyond. Think of it as a site for the PS3, where some of the biggest game talents have lengthy interviews about the new console and pretty much flatter the heck out of it. While IGN did a good job of summing up the interview with Gran Turismo producer Kazunori Yamauchi, we can at least tell you what each nine-minute segment is about. Graphics (resolution jump, HD) will surprise gamers with finished products Real life physics can be worked into games, along with hundreds of bystanders watching a race Online network or networking... will turn into something new the whole world can understand and get in on Viewable distance -- able to see hundreds of meters ahead in a race now instead of thirty or so Gran Turismo will change and evolve, sending new car data across the network almost daily Not only able to race against others over the network, a community of sorts will form PS3 as a television revolution, changing what is meant when we ask "what's on tv?" Games and movies are on equal ground with the PS3 -- no more excuses of "it's just a game"... finer details and programming are necessary. (So this weeds out the shoddy games? Hmm.) Yamauchi closes by saying he wishes to change the world with his games and the PS3 is the tool to cause such a revolution Wow! Now that's flattery. We'll have to see how Gran Turismo's latest incarnation turns out and if any of these points are realized. Surely some will, but a revolution? Wasn't there another system claiming to be a "Revolution"? That's different, but hey. Check out the story on IGN if you want a little more detail on any of the points, though there's not too much else to scrape from it unless you understand Japanese and watch the PlayBeyond interview.
Sony's Play Beyond campaign played up at E3
You're not gonna get far at E3 without running into Sony's new "Play Beyond" campaign. They've spared no expense: stairs are stickered with it, buildings covered in it, and banners waving with it. There is a marked difference between Sony's brand assault and Microsoft and Nintendo's relatively staid advertising presence.
