PS3 Firmware (v2.80) Update Coming Very Soon

Hello, I just wanted to provide everyone with a head’s up that the next PLAYSTATION 3 system software update (v2.80) will be coming soon. The playback quality of some PLAYSTATION 3 format software has been improved.

[via Playstation Blog]

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Upcoming Free PS3 Firmware (v2.60) Update

The PS3 firmware update (v2.60) is designed primarily to enhance the system’s media capabilities. The key feature is a new Photo Gallery application, which delivers a suite of tools for sorting through and displaying your digital photo collection. Digital pictures can be organized in groups according to various criteria, including the camera used to take the photos, the event date and time, colors in the photos, as well as the number, ages, or facial expressions of the people pictured. You can also create slideshows set to music and build photo playlists with an easy-to-use interface. The Photo Gallery application will need to be installed separately from the XMB after you update your PS3’s firmware. To install the Photo Gallery application, go to the Photo section on the XMB, select Photo Gallery and press the X button.

Here’s a video walk-through of firmware 2.60 that shows off some of what the Photo Gallery can do.

As always, we look forward to hearing your feedback.

Read the whole article @ Playstation Blog

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Killzone 2 Street Date Announced, Two New Guns Revealed, and Preview Coverage!

In case you missed X-Play on G4 yesterday, we announced that Killzone 2 will officially be in stores on February 27th, 2009 in the United States. G4 also unveiled a new video revealing two brand new weapons, the Bolt Gun and the Flamethrower, which can be seen below.

Another video from developer Guerrilla Games sheds light on the multiplayer mode called “Warzone,” a mode that rotates through different gametypes until the match ends.

Read the whole article @ Playstation Blog

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Start your “Life with PlayStation”

If you’ve ever wished you could find everything you need to start your day on your PLAYSTATION 3, Life with PlayStation give you one more reason to do so. This free service delivers a new way for you to utilize your PS3 to instantly access real-time news and information like weather updates from over 60 cities around the world.

Life with PlayStation provides a stunning interactive globe, a 3D world map that you can twirl around to see live cloud movement courtesy of the University of Wisconsin, combined with up-to-date weather information from the Weather Channel, top news headlines provided by Google news, and live web cam images via the Earth Television Network — all localized to the select city. And why not have your favorite soundtrack playing in the background while you go through your morning ritual (just think, no TV commercials and teasers to find out if you need to bring an umbrella to work)? You’re on your own for your morning caffeine fix.

For those following the progress of Hurricane Ike throughout last week, we were able to track the storm’s real-time movement from Life with PlayStation. (See the screenshots below)

We’re also really excited to share that this new lifestyle service is running in parallel with our Folding@home project. Essentially, this means that while you’re taking a stroll on Life with PlayStation, you’re automatically helping Stanford University to work towards curing diseases such as Alzheimer’s and various types of cancers. For those familiar with Folding@home, we’ve made some enhancements for more advanced simulations of protein folding and support for wider variety of simulations, in addition to adding a unique ranking system showcasing top contributors from around the world.

Read the whole article @ Playstation Blog

Get a Free PS3! Yes, that is correct! Stay away from the hassles of earning enough to pay for it for you can get it the simple way .... straight to your doorstep! Free! Interested? Then find out how to get a Free PS3!

Free PS3 Games from PlayStation Store

Hey, everyone. It’s time again for the PLAYSTATION Store weekly update.

Price Promotion

Call of Duty 4 Map Pack 1-week price promotion @ $4.99 (from 9/18/ - 9/25)
Note from Infinity Ward: We’re kicking off a full week of promotions for Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare this week, starting on Thursday, Sept. 18 at 2pm (PT). We’ll kick it off by dropping the price of the #1 Add-on DLC on PSN, the Variety Map Pack, to the price of $4.99 all week long. Four new maps – Creek, Broadcast, Killhouse, and Chinatown will be great new locations to rank up when we switch on the Double XP this weekend. Some of the IW crew will be jumping on Friday between Noon – 4pm (PT) to rank up and take on any open challenges from the community. Be sure to add our PSN IDs and drop us an invite if you see us online.

Add-on Game Content

Rock Band
Build your Rock Band library by purchasing these song game tracks. For song credits, visit www.RockBand.com.

• “The Conjuring” - Megadeth ($1.99)
• “Wake Up Dead” - Megadeth ($1.99)
• “Bad Omen” - Megadeth ($1.99)
• “Devil’s Island” - Megadeth ($1.99)
• “Good Mourning/Black Friday” - Megadeth ($1.99)
• “I Ain’t Superstitious” - Megadeth ($1.99)
• “My Last Words” - Megadeth ($1.99)
• Peace Sells…But Who’s Buying? Album ($10.99) - this album includes “Wake Up Dead, “The Conjuring,” “Devil’s Island,” “Good Mourning/Black Friday”, “Bad Omen,” “I Ain’t Superstitious,” and “My Last Words” - Megadeth.
• “Hands Down” - Dashboard Confessional ($0.99)
• “One of THOSE Nights”— The Cab ($0.99)
• “She’s a Handsome Woman”— Panic at the Disco ($0.99)
• “Natural Disaster”— Plain White T’s ($0.99)
• Rock Band Live 2008 Tour Pack 1 ($3.99) - includes “Natural Disaster” - Plain White T’s, “She’s a Handsome Woman”- Panic at the Disco, “One of THOSE Nights” - The Cab, and “Hands Down” - Dashboard Confessional.

File sizes: 22.4 MB - 52.1 MB (singles), 101 MB - 253 MB (track packs)

Game Demos (free)

Fracture Demo
Defend the world against a genetically modified enemy force and unleash the power of terrain-deforming weapons and technology. Download the Fracture demo now!!
ESRB Rated T
File size: 876 MB

Mercenaries 2 Demo
It’s Your Chance to Destroy Anything and Everything – Mercs Style! Check out the new Mercenaries 2 Demo!
ESRB Rated T
File size: 1.10 GB

Read the whole article @ Playstation Blog

Get a Free PS3! Yes, that is correct! Stay away from the hassles of earning enough to pay for it for you can get it the simple way .... straight to your doorstep! Free! Interested? Then find out how to get a Free PS3!

Free PS3 Firmware update (v2.43)

Hi, everyone, I wanted to give you a heads up about PS3 firmware update (v2.43). Unlike previous updates, firmware v2.43 is specific to the Japan region, and only PS3 users there will be required to install the update. PS3 users in all other regions will not be prompted to download v2.43. However, if you manually initiate a firmware update by clicking on “System Update” under the XMB’s Settings icon, the v2.43 update will be available, regardless of where you are located.

Users outside of Japan do not need to perform this update if your PS3 system software is on version v2.41 or later. However if you do perform the update, it will not cause any issues with your system or add any new functionality.

Read the whole article @ Playstation Blog

Get a Free PS3! Yes, that is correct! Stay away from the hassles of earning enough to pay for it for you can get it the simple way .... straight to your doorstep! Free! Interested? Then find out how to get a Free PS3!

Mega Man 9, Coming Soon to PLAYSTATION Network

New exclusive boss artwork.
New website : http://megaman.capcom.com

New game package.
Mega Man 9 coming soon to the PSN for $9.99.

‘Nuff said.

Read the whole article @ Playstation Blog

Get a Free PS3! Yes, that is correct! Stay away from the hassles of earning enough to pay for it for you can get it the simple way .... straight to your doorstep! Free! Interested? Then find out how to get a Free PS3!

PlayStation 3 Around the Web: What We Read

In just a few short hours, PAX 2008 will be but a distant, awesome memory. Next week, we’ll be posting the interviews we shot (featuring the questions you asked) with Insomniac, Sucker Punch, and Hothead Games. We’ll also shed a little more light on the gameplay of Resistance Retribution for PSP, and recap today’s Blog Reader Meet-up (spoiler: it was awesome).

PAX isn’t really a “news generator” in the way E3 and Leipzig were, but if you read anything you’d like to share with the class, link out below.

In the meantime, I hope you have a good, relaxing Labor Day (if applicable). See you Tuesday.

The PS Blog weekly reading list (Week of 8/25)

• Ferrari Challenge out now, Trophy patch in September - PS3 Fanboy
• Sony likes keeping things free: We like things being kept free, incidentally - Destructoid
• Jenova Chen recognized as top young innovator by Technology Review - PS3 Fanboy
• Guillerrmo Del Toro calls Team Ico’s games masterpieces - Destructoid
• PSP breaks 10 million sold mark in Japan - Destructoid
• Games Convention 2008: Here’s How Heavy Rain’s Controls Work - Kotaku
• Athlete proves fanboyism, brings PSP to Olympics - PSP Fanboy
• Pick the Cover for Resistance 2: Collector’s Edition - IGN
• Joystiq hands-on: Killzone 2 multiplayer - Joystiq
• Red Baron Arcade brings air combat to PSN in September - PS3 Fanboy
• Games Convention 2008: Wipeout HD One-Year Anniversary Impressions - Kotaku
• Ratchet & Clank Quest for Booty review - Destructoid
• MTV Multiplayer » Inside The Biggest Small Game Of The Year
• Warhawk Fallen Star expansion Aug. 28, $7.99 - Joystiq
• ‘Best of Leipzig’ looks a lot like ‘Best of E3′ - PS3 Fanboy
• IGN: GC 2008: Sony Booth Report
• Three Speech » 160GB PS3 coming to Europe…
• LittleBigPlanet confirmed region free by SCEE rep - PS3 Fanboy
• Heavy Rain: You’re Soaking In it - Kotaku
• Unlock two new weapons with latest MGS4 passwords - PS3 Fanboy
• The Last Guy Priced for U.S. - Game | Life
• PSP 2000 vs PSP 3000: new screen kicks ass - Destructoid
• Killzone 2 Multiplayer Hands On - Five Good Things - Kotaku

Read the whole article @ Playstation Blog

Get a Free PS3! Yes, that is correct! Stay away from the hassles of earning enough to pay for it for you can get it the simple way .... straight to your doorstep! Free! Interested? Then find out how to get a Free PS3!

Warhawk Operation: Fallen Star

So I’ve been dropping hints for a few months now on the blog and finally, at Leipzig Games Conference this week, we unveiled our third expansion for the Warhawk Universe — Operation: Fallen Star.

The sweet, sweet hotness that is the Icarus Mk.1 Rocket pack and once you’ve played it, you wonder how you ever played Warhawk without it!

Normally we announce stuff here in the States but we thought since Warhawk has a global player base, lets show it at Leipzig first this time.

Before I answer some of the questions that I’ve seen from the past couple of days, let me give you all a rundown of what’s included in Operation: Fallen Star.

Read the whole article @ Playstation Blog

Get a Free PS3! Yes, that is correct! Stay away from the hassles of earning enough to pay for it for you can get it the simple way .... straight to your doorstep! Free! Interested? Then find out how to get a Free PS3!

LittleBigPlanet: Pre-order Goodness

Hey all,

We’ve been working with our North American retailers to promote the release of LittleBigPlanet in October 2008. And now that the “planning dust” has settled, we wanted to share early details of our pre-order campaign for you to decide which item you’d like. Stay tuned for much more detail on which retailer will have what pre-order item and when to go to your favorite retailer to reserve your copy.

Here’s the master list:

The Official “LittleBigPlanet Creator” MiniGuide by Brady Games - This exclusive digital guide is a primer for LittleBIGPlanet’s CREATE tools and provides users with a quick tutorial to begin developing their own levels.”

LittleBigStickerBook - For those of you who love to customize - this item is for you! This exclusive sticker book contains some of our favorite LBP imagery for you to apply your own ‘mash-up’ to your favorite possessions. Or take something else you own and make it your favorite!

LittleBigPouch - Keep your LBP game safe and protected from the elements with this exclusive burlap pouch. Its so unique and stylish, it would make a SackMother proud.

Exclusive Nariko SackGirl - SackBoy’s beware! Nariko SackGirl has been known to keep other SackBoys (and SackGirls) in check. This exclusive downloadable costume features our favorite heroine on the PS3.

Exclusive Kratos SackBoy - Nuff’ said. Yes…the forum rumors were true - but the biggest question remains “why didn’t this guy smile?” Seriously, this is another exclusive downloadable costume that will elevate your SackBoy status to godlike proportions.

Keep an eye out for more LittleBigNews in a few days…

Read the whole article @ Playstation Blog

Get a Free PS3! Yes, that is correct! Stay away from the hassles of earning enough to pay for it for you can get it the simple way .... straight to your doorstep! Free! Interested? Then find out how to get a Free PS3!

Set Course for Booty this August

We’re incredibly excited to announce that Ratchet & Clank Future: Quest For Booty will be available for download on the PlayStation Network Store on August 21st for $14.99. Even better news: Q4B will also be available in Europe on the 21st, and in Japan on August 22nd.

For those of you who don’t know much about Quest for Booty, Ratchet continues the search for his missing mate, Clank, in this pirate-themed sequel to Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction. Even though Q4B is a downloadable game, it packs all of the AAA-production punch you’ve come to expect from every Insomniac Games title.

As for the gameplay, Q4B focuses heavily on exploration and platforming, along with some of new experimental action for the franchise. For example, Ratchet will use the new kinetic tether on his Wrench to manipulate the environment, and he’ll use elements such as light and shadows to his advantage.

We think Quest for Booty is perfect for existing Ratchet & Clank fans and players new to the franchise. If you’ve been a fan over the years, you’ll be compelled to help solve the mystery of Clank’s kidnapping and if you’re just getting started, Quest for Booty offers a great entry point with and action-packed 3-4 hour experience for almost the same price as a movie ticket. Plus, Q4B has pirates… and booty… and it’s really fun to say “Quest for Booty” out loud with a pirate accent.

Read the whole article @ Playstation Blog

Get a Free PS3! Yes, that is correct! Stay away from the hassles of earning enough to pay for it for you can get it the simple way .... straight to your doorstep! Free! Interested? Then find out how to get a Free PS3!

PS3 2.41 firmware out now

Sony's 2.41 firmware update for the PS3 is apparently out and riding the network updates. This according to our readers and those of the official PlayStation Blog. Now deep breath, install, and hope your system doesn't hang like it did for the few 2.40 unfortunates.

Read the whole article @ Engadget

Get a Free PS3! Yes, that is correct! Stay away from the hassles of waiting in long lineups for you can get it the simple way .... straight to your doorstep! Free! Interested? Then find out how to get a Free PS3!

Gran Turismo 5 Prologue - April 17th / $40

It’s official - SCEA announced today the April 17 North American release date for Gran Turismo 5 Prologue, available exclusively for PS3. Developed by famed Polyphony Digital, Gran Turismo 5 Prologue will be available for $39.99 on Blu-ray Disc (BD) and as a download via the PLAYSTATION Store.

The BD version will offer added value with an exclusive behind-the-scenes High Definition (HD) video feature called “Beyond the Apex”. 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. We’ll have more information on GT5 Prologue leading up to its launch in April.

Read the whole article @ the Official Playstation Blog

Get a Free Playstation 3! Yes, that is correct! Stay away from the hassles of waiting in long lineups for you can get it the simple way .... straight to your doorstep! Free! Interested? Then find out how to get a Free PS3!