gamescom-2009
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Turquoise, Lilac and Pink PSP-3000s hit Europe in November
At GamesCom 2009, Sony has announced that it plans to bring three new PSP-3000 colors to Europe. The new colors will be "Turquoise" blue, "Lilac" purple, and "Blossom" pink. We're already familiar with the lilac PSP, thanks to its Girlz Play Too campaign. The other two are brand new colors (and not to be confused with the carnival colors that were released in Asia earlier this year). The turquoise PSP will be bundled with LittleBigPlanet, while the lilac PSP will be bundled with Hannah Montana, just like the US version. European girlz can finally get their hands on one this November.
Digital Reader brings comics to the PSP this December
After trotting out a mess of new information about PlayStation Home earlier today in Germany, SCEE prez Andrew House announced Sony's upcoming digital comics initiative on the PSP, the Digital Reader. According to House, Sony has worked out plans with Marvel to launch with "hundreds available, including the Marvel Comics stable." Additionally, the service will give PSP-owning comic fans access to Archie and Image comics. Unfortunately, he didn't specify if the service will be a free firmware upgrade to the existing PSP software or pricing for the comics themselves. But alas, GamesCom has just started! We'll poke around and see if we can get some more information as soon as the Sony press conference ends.
PSN cards, Video Store available this fall in Europe
Sony's video download store will finally be available to European PlayStation owners later this year! According to announcements out of Sony's GamesCom presentation, the service will launch in the UK, France, Germany, and Spain in November, with more areas to follow in 2010. At first, the service will only offer movies (for rent or purchase, in HD or SD, on PS3 or PSP), but "local content" will be added in time. In other PSN catch-up news, PSN cards will be available in stores in September, in 20 and 50 euro denominations. Great news for people who like to be in stores when they buy things! This may not be a surprise, given that a retailer already revealed plans -- but then, even if that hadn't happened, you've all had several years to get used to the idea of PSN cards.
It's official: PlayStation 3 price drops to $299
As foreshadowed by retailers and called for by analysts (it's pretty nice for us lowly consumers, too), Sony has officially cut the US retail price of the PlayStation 3 by $100, effective tomorrow immediately. This new pricing affects all PS3 systems currently in the retail stream, and will carry over to the just-announced PS3 Slim.So, now that it's finally happened, the waiting game to see just how much the drop actually helps PS3 sales begins. Take our poll below if you've been sitting on the fence, waiting for Sony to lighten the load on your wallet.%Poll-33468%
Sony finally hacks $100 from 'old' PlayStation 3 price, starting today
After begging, pleading and imploring Sony for months on end to lower the barrier to entry on its PlayStation 3 console, the company has at long last relented. Starting today (supposedly, anyway), all existing PS3 consoles will retail for $100 less than they did yesterday, though it looks as if most e-tailers have yet to ratchet their tags down to reflect the change. Of course, you could wait just a few more days and snag a PS3 Slim for the low, low price of $299, but the question is -- will you? Do tell in comments below.
Sony announces 'snackable' 100MB Minis for PSN Store
Over in beautiful Cologne, Germany, Sony has just confirmed what we've suspected for months now. Exclusive to the PSN Store, loyal Sony gamers will soon have access to a new segment of titles, ones that'll be available anytime and anywhere that there's an internet connection. The 100MB (or less) selections -- which are being officially called Minis -- are designed to take advantage of the "smaller development cost on the PSP," and if all goes well, we'll see 15 games (such as Tetris, Hero of Sparta, MiniGore and Fieldrunners) launching on October 1st. There's been no mention yet of how expensive these "snackable" apps / games will be, but we're holding Sony to its promise of 50 by the end of 2009.Update: Press release after the break.
Live from Sony's GamesCom press conference
[12:14PM ET]: We're here, in Germany, waiting in a cocktail reception (read: holding pen) for Sony's much-anticipated GamesCom press conference to start. Keep this page live and we'll keep updating it. Ooh, snacks ... [12:33PM ET]: And we're inside the theater, have taken our seat, and are patiently waiting for things to start. We're sitting next to former Joystiqer Mr. Jem Alexander. He's asking, "Are you excited?" I'm saying, "I may be. Let's see the goods!"
PS3 firmware 3.00 revamps XMB, adds 'What's New'
As many of you predicted, Sony has announced a brand new firmware update for PS3. The big three point zero. Firmware 3.00 will offer support for animated XMB themes and a "What's New" section. At GamesCom, SCEE presented a theme with an animated Sackboy running on a globe. The redesigned XMB makes it easier to see what's updated in the PlayStation Store (both Video and Game content), so some comparisons to Xbox 360's NXE can be made. The firmware will also have some Euro-specific applications, with shortcuts appearing on the XMB for various video services from BBC, RTVe, Antena 3, LaSexta and other European channels. Check out all the official details after the break. Update: The firmware update will be available on September 1st.
Dante's Inferno escapes hell development in February
EA's jaunt into the underworld finally has a firm release date: February 9 in North America and February 12 in Europe. Dante's Inferno is set to release simultaneously on the PS3, PSP and Xbox 360, with an animated feature launching alongside the game and a comic arriving in December. If you're wondering what you should do with the months leading up to the game's release, might we suggest reading Divine Comedy to observe all of the differences between the game and the original work? We don't mean to nitpick, but we've already noticed a few here and there.
Sony's GamesCom presser coverage live at Joystiq!
Hey, Sony's GamesCom press conference is just about to get underway, and our pals from Joystiq are there covering it live. We just got sent this leaked memo on Sony's presentation, and it says there'll be an "unannounced Playstation 3" on stage, so it seems like the PS3 slim is even more of a lock than before -- but what are you waiting around here for? Go hit the liveblog!
Reminder: Sony GamesCom keynote today, 12:30pm Joystiq Time
[UPDATE: You'll want to direct your attention to this liveblog page, eager readers. There, you'll find all the info straight from Sony.] Just a reminder: Sony's GamesCom 2009 keynote is scheduled for today and, if the evidence – both the might-be-reals and the most-assuredly-fakes – is anything to go by, we're going to be treated to info on the PS3 Slim. But when's the last time you've known Sony to simply toss out a single news morsel, like raw meat to a roomful of lions? Even money says we'll be hearing more about PSP Go, and maybe some new games, some release dates (watch out, 2010!), and some motion control action. Join us at 12:30pm Eastern Time right here (this same post), where we'll be breaking off news as we get it. Honolulu: Tue 6:30 AM San Francisco: Tue 9:30 AM New York: Tue 12:30 PM London: Tue 5:30 PM Frankfurt: Tue 6:30 PM Johannesburg: Tue 6:30 PM Tokyo: Wed 1:30 AM Sydney: Wed 2:30 AM
Rumorang: Retailer promotes 'new exciting PlayStation 3'
Above: Front-page Kmart ad A banner ad on KMart's website has reportedly promoted a "new exciting Playstation 3," along with a price cut for old and boring models (see: millions of concurring rumors). The Kmart ad is sure to contribute to the ongoing frenzy of speculation surrounding Sony's upcoming press conference at GamesCom -- well, probably. That's just speculation on our part.In addition, Kotaku claims to have received a promotional poster meant for retailer FYE. It also suggests that the 80GB PlayStation 3 will have its price reduced to $299.99, while the Uncharted 160GB bundle will be trimmed to $399.99. Update: A slightly different promotional ad (seen above) is now up on Kmart's front page. Source - KotakuSource - Kmart[Via Engadget]
Seen@GamesCom: Hating expensive Sony products
In the shadow of Sony's hotel in Cologne, Germany, a street ad displays a rather good deal. Electronics retailer Saturn is urging passersby to pick up a PS3 and a PSP for €399 -- not a bad deal, considering the PS3 costs that much on its own. Now we understand Saturn's tag line! "Wir hassen teuer," as in, "We hate expensive."Of course, who knows if that deal will remain as hot within the next few hours, when Sony has its press conference on the eve of GamesCom. It's widely speculated that the company will announce a PS3 Slim and a possible price drop.
NCsoft announces Aion has gone gold, now being manufactured
Aion, NCsoft's latest MMO that is due to launch in the US and Europe next month, has just gone gold, the company has announced. For those not in the know, this means the game has been completed and is now being manufactured for release. Yes, that's it, the game is done. This comes after Aion has topped Steam's weekly sales chart and the Collector's Edition has almost sold out in the UK. The announcement hits just a few days before GamesCom 2009 in Cologne, Germany where NCsoft will be demoing version 1.5 of the game, which includes The Shadow of the Balaur content patch that was released in Korea on August 5th. NCsoft will also be demoing this latest version of the game at this year's Penny Arcade Expo in Seattle and it will also be included with the North American and European versions of the game when Aion is released on September 22nd/25th. The Shadow of the Balaur promises new zones, instances, quests and some specially created Western looks within the expansive character customisation system.
Remedy's Sam Lake shows off Remedy's Alan Wake
Remedy writer Sam Lake narrated a video presentation of Alan Wake at gamesCOM, providing the most detailed look we've seen yet at the psychological thriller. We see Wake realize that his wife is missing, and begin the undertaking of piecing together the manuscript that he doesn't remember writing, and whose events are coming true. Lake discusses the role of the game's light sources, which act as shelter and weapons against the shadowy, possessed townspeople. We're delighted to see this much of Alan Wake. By revealing this much footage, Remedy seems to be treating it like a real game that, in fact, "is done." %Gallery-64691%
Crytek road map has next generation starting in 2012, next engine will be ready
A running theme through Crytek CEO Cevat Yerli's presentation at GDC Europe today was the number 2012. Sure, he mentioned 2013 also, but the next Year of the Tiger showed up nearly a dozen-plus times in the executive's presentation about "the future of gaming graphics." Yerli tells Joystiq that the reason for the number is that it's the company's internal "road map" of when the next generation will begin. "We will have our next engine ready by that, independently whether there will be hardware or not. We are assuming based on the cycle -- the Moore's Law -- and everything," Yerli told us. "If you predict the computational power and trend. You kinda know how much CPU and GPU will be there and trend. If you take those things into account you can sort of predict where things are going." Yerli explained that the more console-centric CryEngine 3 will have more updates in the meantime, but its next "major architectural version" of the CryEngine should be ready by 2012. He wasn't sure if they'll call it the CryEngine 4 (our money says: they will). [Image: Dennis Stachel]
Crytek CEO asks GDC audience to kill 'killerspiel' law, won't leave Germany unless forced out
During his keynote address at GDC Europe in Cologne, Germany, Crytek CEO Cevat Yerli requested the audience support the petition against the host-country's bill, which is seeking to ban any games in the region "where the main part is to realistically play the killing of people or other cruel or un-human acts of violence against humans or manlike characters." Yerli told the audience toward the conclusion of his presentation: "[This law] means that Crytek will be literally forced out of the country." Yerli's tone about the German law was more serious than his previous statement on the subject, so we caught up with him after the keynote. We asked if he's threatening to leave the country if the law passes, or if he thinks the company will be pushed out. He told us, "This is the point, two or three years ago we were thinking 'What is this?' This is like disrespecting our company.' We said we will not change our strategy. Today we think we are literally forced to make a change." It appears that Yerli still isn't looking to change Crytek's direction, despite the government threats. And it appears he really doesn't want to move, telling us, "If you move a company, you think of it as: let's move the company strategically, so we get more benefit out of this country. But moving it because a law comes in is too reactive for us. We're not thinking of moving unless the law happens." [Image: Dennis Stachel]
Capcom reveals GamesCom 2009 lineup, safety hazard
Capcom has dropped word on the titles it plans to feature at the GamesCom Conference in Cologne later this month, and (for the most part) the games feature a hearty scoop of violence. Kicking things off with the oft-delayed Dark Void, Capcom will feature Tatsunoko vs. Capcom: Ultimate All Stars, Monster Hunter Tri and Spyborgs for the Wii, along with Lost Planet 2 and MotoGP 09/10 for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. To promote the Rocketeer/alien battle simulator Dark Void, Capcom is hosting an event in which attendees can take flight in the Dark Void Body Flying Machine, a rigged, vertically-oriented airstream shooting gamers into the air at speeds of up to 180km/h. Luckily, Capcom is also sponsoring taxis throughout Cologne, so if something goes wrong during its "sounds like a tremendous idea on paper" gamer cannon event, attendees can make their way safely to the emergency room. GamesCom runs from August 19-23 in Cologne, Germany.
