It's that time again - the PS Store is updated and ready to roll.

So what tasty morsels do we find within the pages of the store today? Mostly the US store's sloppy seconds I'm afraid.

As stated on the PS3 Attitude PlayStation 3 Events Calendar, the Devil May Cry 4 demo makes its appearance in Europe today. Of course, you may have already played the Japanese or US versions by now, but it has arrived nevertheless.

We also get the MX vs ATV Untamed demo that appeared in the US all the way back on November 20th!

You do get three nice PS1 games today though, which goes some way to catching up on the massive amount of retro titles available in Japan. The fact that Theme Hospital is available does make up a little for a generally lacklustre update.

Here's the complete (and very short) list:

PS1 Games (for PSP and PS3)

Fade to Black (£3.49)
Motorhead (£3.49)
Theme Hospital (£3.49)

Demos (all free)

Devil May Cry 4
MX vs. ATV Untamed

Trailers (all free)

PixelJunk Monsters

Pretty grim I'm afraid. I wonder what the US store will come up with later today in comparison.

Labels: Devil May Cry, Playstation 3, PS Store, PS3, PSN, PSP

Labels: news, Playstation 3, PlayTV, PS3, PSP

Sony have launched a PC based PlayStation Store primarily for PSP owners so they can download demos, games, PS1 titles, videos and all the other content you'd expect without the need for the PS3.

This store links with your current PS3 Store account which means you can log in using the email address and password you use for your Master Account. You can then click on 'Account Management' and access your full details.

This means you can administer your wallet preferences, add funds and generally make sure everything is ok with your account via your PC.

You can also gain access to your download list any time in case you need to audit your PS Store purchases. It will list all purchases across platforms but you can, of course, only download PS3 content via the black monolith. PSP downloads you've paid for can be re-downloaded to the same PSP any time.

I've tried the Store out and found that initially it was not obvious you had to download an extra application in order to follow any of the links. You'll find the application you need in the 'instructions' area. Silly me - when do I ever read any instructions?!

Labels: news, Playstation 3, PS Store, PS3, PSN, PSP

New features always make us happy at PS3 Attitude, and today sees the launch of PS3 Attitude Mobile.

By clicking the 'chicklet' on the left or by visiting m.ps3attitude.com you will now get a suitably 'light' version of the site specifically designed for mobile phones and other devices (such as the PSP).

The last 10 stories are available in summary form and you can then choose to launch through to the full HTML version if you're suitably interested.

Hooray!

If you're reading this on a mobile platform, why not click the chicklet now?

Labels: news, Playstation 3, PS3, PSP, website

Recently, PS3 owners received another terms and conditions update notification by email.

As usual, we went digging around to see what had changed.

Apart from all the usual 'don't upload nasty things' stuff that had already appeared in some parts of the last update, we noticed a glaring new addition - the constant mention of the PSP.

Now whilst this may just be a legal department being extra zealous, there is a good chance that this version of the agreement (version 4.0 in SCEE terms, 2.0 in SCEA terms) points the way to the PSP being able to access the PSN directly.

This is not the first time we have thought this at PS3 Attitude. When the PSP Remote Play via Internet feature launched we noted that the need to sign in to the PSN using your email address. We thought this already pointed to direct access to your Friends and other PSN features.

And we already know from various announcements that the PS3 will become a 'hub server' for various other Sony platforms, including the PSP. Imagine connecting multiple PSPs to your PS3 to stream your movies, music, TV and other HDD content to several PSP devices. That would make the PS3 rival devices like Slingbox and Philips Streamium.

Now it would appear these latest Ts&Cs changes shore up those points of view. It's just rumour and speculation right now, but will we see direct PSP access to the PSN soon?

Labels: news, Playstation 3, PS3, PSP, rumour

Another week, another store update. Will it be 'EU > US' three weeks in a row? No. But still a reasonable update anyhow.

If you're wondering why the US won again, it'll be down to a certain adventure title that just got it's demo début in the States.

Not that I'm complaining about the EU update. Have a look for yourself:

• Tekken 5: Dark Resurrection Online - full game (£14.99)
• Tekken 5: Dark Resurrection Online Upgrade - full game upgrade (£3.49)
• Cool Boarders - PS1 game (£3.49)
• NFS: PROSTREET - demo (free)
• Folklore "Bottom of the sea" pack - add-on (£1.49)
• Motorstorm "Devil's Weekend" pack - add-on (£3.99)
• Uncharted "Animation Overview" - trailer (free)
• PSP Shapes Your World - trailer (free)

A pretty good result I'd say. Highlights for us are the Tekken 5 Online upgrade/game finally, another PS1 title and two great add-ons.

The Motorstorm Devil's Weekend pack includes a new track, nine new races and five new vehicles. The Folklore add-on further extends the game, adds new folks to capture and has a new look for Keats.

The PSP Shapes Your World video is the same brilliant stop-motion piece we featured back in July, but it's great to see it in hi-def.

Labels: Folklore, Motorstorm, news, Playstation 3, PS Store, PS3, PSN, PSP, Tekken, Uncharted

Just received the official word from SCEE; PS3 firmware 2.00 is upon us.

I can't verify whether it has actually arrived on the PSN as yet (can you?), but the press release says that it is out now.

New features include:

• Support for PSP remote start - switch the PS3 on with your PSP and go into a Remote Play session
• Build playlists in the music and photo sections of the XMB
• Customisation of the XMB - change colour and brightness of the icons (useful for when you have a bright wallpaper) and apply custom icon themes, very much like the PSP custom theme capability
• Information Board - a new addition to the XMB providing you with the latest PlayStation news (well, it would do if it showed you the PS3 Attitude feed of course!)
• New PlayStation Network category on the XMB, with the much discussed new logo taking centre stage
• Trend Micro Web Security - a free security application for your PS3 web browser, providing parental controls amongst other things (free until end of April 2008, when pay options will be made available to keep it up to date)

All in all, a pretty good update. Of course, many will start shouting "what - 2.00 without custom soundtracks and no in-game XMB?", but the fact is that we're sure these things will be coming in a future update.

SCEA, for example, recently asked the following question in a survey of their Gamer Advisory Panel members:

Choose which XMB feature would be most important to you in a possible
PLAYSTATION Network update:

A) In-game access to PSN messaging
B) Ability to play my own music from the XMB while in-game
C) Larger buddy list and buddy-list features such as categorizing

This is a clear indication of what they're thinking of adding to 2.x.

Some games, of course, already support access to the XMB and PSN messaging (Resistance, for example) so surely this is just a case of the developers making use of the feature set that ships with the current development kit?

Whatever way I look at this, it's still positive news. The XMB customisation is welcome (and reasonably fun on the PSP) but the ability to switch on the PS3 remotely is a must, especially with PlayTV coming early 2008. And how on earth did we get along without music playlists?!

Thanks Sony!

Labels: firmware, news, Playstation 3, PlayTV, PS3, PSN, PSP, Resistance

I've largely given up on reporting rumours here at PS3 Attitude, since they hardly ever come true. We're just trying to bring the news, people.

So when I saw the perennial "2.0 is coming" rumour at Kotaku I was sceptical. To be fair to Kotaku, they were taking it with a pinch of salt too. The rumour was that 2.0 was coming on 30th October, which even the most inebriated reader will recognise as 'today'.

But then a funny thing happened. I switched on my PSP and checked the available updates to find a new firmware. Version 3.72 of the PSP firmware adds the PSP Remote Start feature we reported earlier this year (according to the official PlayStation website - the PSP Update only mentions additional support for PS titles).

The catch?

Remote Start requires PS3 Firmware 2.0, according to the website notes.

When we last had a joint PSP/PS3 firmware update, they were only one to two days apart across all territories. Which leads me to believe we're going to get 2.0 by the end of the week.

Now for the inevitable rumours about what 2.0 includes... PlayStation Home anyone? Nah - can't be...

Labels: firmware, news, Playstation 3, PS3, PSN, PSP

In the future, according to Kaz Hirai in his keynote speech, the PSP Remote Play feature will be able to turn the PS3 on and off.

This is an excellent new addition and really ought to be in the firmware before PlayTV comes out.

Why?

Imagine wanting to watch your favourite TV shows on holiday but you have to leave one member of the family behind to switch the PS3 on and set it in Remote Play for you!

Hirai also mentioned that in the future many PSPs will be able to connect to one PS3 and use it as a hub whilst other PS3s connect to that hub to watch the action.

The future looks good for the PSP and PS3 working together in a much more sensible and connected way.

Labels: news, Playstation 3, PS3, PSP, TGS

Doing nothing more than fixing the issues I and many others experienced by installing v1.92, the latest firmware arrives with at least a little more information then before.

The details of the new upgrade appear in a blog entry at the Official PlayStation Blog along with news of the latest PSP firmware upgrade.

I upgraded my PSP the other day and was pleased to see some new features, including the ability to change 'icon sets' using the new Themes dialog.

In the blog entry it mentions that these themes will be downloadable later from the PS Store, which is a nice way to point out to people who have a PS3 and don't have it's little brother that they're missing out on something. Anything that brings the PSP and PS3 closer to each other is welcome.

Now, what's the betting that the fabled v2.0 PS3 firmware includes icon sets too so you can match up your XMB look and feel across both devices?

Labels: firmware, news, Playstation 3, PS3, PSP

In the beginning, there was an obscure Japanese PS3 downloadable title that played via the PSP Remote Play feature.

Then we had an update to the Folding@Home application that allowed it (finally) to be controlled via Remote Play.

But now the daddy of all PSP Remote Play opportunities is upon us - marvel at the video below showing Lair playing on the PSP.

The first disk-based title to support this brilliant feature of the PS3, reports are already saying that the game is somewhat easier to play on the PSP due to the analogue stick - obviously the PSP doesn't support the motion sensing controls we enjoy via the SixAxis.

Hopefully this will be a continuing trend with future games...

Labels: Lair, news, Playstation 3, PS3, PSP

We've been a bit quite around PS3 Attitude whilst we gather all the nuggets of information from Leipzig and get the lined up. Liveblogging and updating the site around E3 taught us a few lessons about time management...

So, how good were the predictions and what does the future look like for the PS3, especially in the UK and Europe?

Predictions 1 & 2 - "Europe will get a video on demand service for the PS3 and PSP" and "The PS3 will gain Freeview in the UK."

Sony announced PlayTV for the PS3, a twin-tuner Freeview (Digital Terrestrial Television) receiver and software bundle that allows you to turn your PS3 into a full-blown PVR, recording and playing back TV programs. PlayTV allows you to record one program whilst watching something else, and you can control it via Remote Play on your PSP too.

In addition, we heard the official announcement regarding Sky's joint venture with Sony which will bring on-demand programs and video to the PSP platform.

PlayTV launches in the UK, Germany, Italy, Spain, and France in 2008. Whether the Sky venture makes it's way to the PS3 is debatable - I can't see why Sky would allow their content on a PS3 that supports Freeview or vice versa.

Prediction Score - 10/10

Prediction 3 - "A 120Gb PS3 model for Europe instead of the 80Gb model they launched in the US."

Sony's David Reeves has said, whilst at Leipzig, that this is possible.

"The difference between 60 and 80GB is very small, we just feel that going up 20GB is not worth it," Reeves told Norwegian website Dagbladet. However, "If you go to double it, it's worth it", he added. "So maybe you'll see something a little bit later."

So whilst they didn't announce it at GC 07, there's a good chance this prediction will come true in the near future.

Prediction Score - 6/10

Prediction 4 - "Sony will announce at least six new exclusives."

David Reeves went on record saying that Sony were not going to launch any further titles at GC 07 because consumers are already anticipating a heavy few months and they can't necessarily afford any more titles right now.

And yet with the PS Eye they announced three new titles exclusive titles that are supported by the device! Operation Creature Feature, Trials of Topoq and Aqua Vita are all coming along soon.

However, they didn't announce the titles we expected and seem to be leaving them until the Tokyo Game Show...

Prediction Score - 2/10

Predictions 5 & 6 - "The PSP will get access to the Playstation Store/PS3 Friends/PS3 Chat" and "The PSP and/or PS3 will get a Skype client"

Whilst Go! Messenger is only for the PSP and it isn't by Skype, the PSP is getting a chat and messenger system that will make use of the Go! Play camera and a headset. In conjunction with BT, the PSP will become a viable VoIP solution.

I still believe the PSP will access the PS3 Friends system at some point, but it is sensible to make this interface with PlayStation Home for that functionality in the same way Phil Harrison showed use via mobile phone.

Prediction Score - 5/10

Prediction 7 - "Sony will launch a 'LinkedIn' or 'Facebook' style system"

They didn't announce anything like this. This will probably be serviced by the PC web-based interface to PlayStation Home that they announced at E3.

Prediction Score - 1/10

Prediction 8 - "SCEE will announce the SixShock controller. Or RumbleAxis. Or whatever you want to call it"

Also didn't happen. In an interview with GameSpot, David Reeves said that any rumours about this coming along are just that - there are no announcements regarding rumble now or expected any time soon.

Prediction Score - 0/10

Prediction 9 - "Sony will launch a PC client to access and chat with your Friends"

GC 07 was not about Home at all. Sony's strategy, it seems, is to split up announcements between E3, GC and TGS. This means that since all the Home announcements were at E3, we need to wait for any extra details - especially since they're still in beta right now.

However, we know from E3 that a PC web-based service will allow access to Home, and so therefore will allow access to your Friends via PC.

Prediction Score - 4/10

Prediction 10 - "Sony will allow you to live videoblog using a PSP with a GoCam! direct to your PS3 hard drive and consequently to your Playstation Home space"

Again, because of no Home news at GC 07, we're not sure. But since Go! Messenger was launched, it's not such a leap of faith to make it connect to the Internet like Go! Cam and send your stuff up to the PS3. Certainly, Go! Messenger has connectivity to other devices such as PCs build in, so I'm calling this one a fairly accurate prediction!

Prediction Score - 6/10

Not a bad score overall - check back for more GC 07 roundup news soon.

Labels: Leipzig, news, Playstation 3, PlayTV, PS Eye, PS3, PSN, PSP

Check out this stunning stop-frame animation designed to showcase the PSP. It features PS3 connectivity in a unique way and overall comes across a lot better than any of Sony's recent advertising...




PSP "Come To Life" Animation - video powered by Metacafe

Labels: news, Playstation 3, PS3, PSP, video

Maybe it's just not 'fanboy' enough for some, but I'm still of the opinion that no one company 'won' at E3. All three main players came with new and exciting developments that mean us gamers are going to be very happy this year.

Now SCEE's David Reeves is popping up in interviews all over the place, MCV and ThreeSpeech to name just two. And his message.

Get ready for war. The real battle starts now.

"There will be absolute fireworks at peak, that I can promise you. We will be doing things no-one has seen yet for both PS3 and PSP."

At the Leipzig show next month (which we'll be covering, naturally) Reeves expects to announce a whole cavalcade of incredible features for the PSP and PS3.

So, let the rumour-mill commence. I'll start you off with my list of ideas, and explain them - it'll be fun to see what really happens:

1. Europe will get a video on demand service for the PS3 and PSP - we already know there's a new service on the way, so this wouldn't be a big leap of faith.
   
2. The PS3 will gain Freeview in the UK. This is one of the main rumours and there ain't smoke without fire. Freeview, for those that don't know, is the UK's digital terrestrial television service. It would turn the PS3 into a PVR with access to over 30 channels for free.
3. A 120Gb PS3 model for Europe instead of the 80Gb model they launched in the US. This is a popular rumour right now. Personally, I couldn't give a fig - I can already upgrade my PS3 to 160Gb for £65 or so without invalidating the warranty.
4. Sony will announce at least six new exclusives. In an interview with ThreeSpeech David explains that at their regular quarterly worldwide meetings they usually see just a few great titles. But right now he can "hand on heart, say that there are six or seven such games, coming in the next 18 months, which are absolutely spectacular." I'm guessing that two titles from each of the last three quarterly meetings will have made it through to the launch list by now.
5. The PSP will get access to the Playstation Store/PS3 Friends/PS3 Chat. When they added PSP Remote Play via the Internet, where you log in using your PS3 email address and password, it was a clear indication that some of the PSN features could be accessed directly on the PSP without having to connect to your PS3 at home.
6. The PSP and/or PS3 will get a Skype client. We know that the PSP firmware has had a 'notion' of Skype compatibility for a while, so this wouldn't be a great leap.
7. Sony will launch a 'LinkedIn' or 'Facebook' style system that allows you to connect to new PS3 Friends by using the 'six degrees of separation' rule. Basically, you'll be able to meet new friends by getting introductions through your existing friends. This will expand your network and ensure that the profitable "you MUST get Super Stardust" messages are pushed across the network as fast as possible.
8. SCEE will announce the SixShock controller. Or RumbleAxis. Or whatever you want to call it. Personally I've not missed rumble at all, so I'm not sure I care as much as everyone else on the 'net seems to about this.
9. Sony will launch a PC client to access and chat with your Friends. Since the PS3 chat client appears to use Jabber as its basis this wouldn't be a big development issue. In fact I've been trying to figure out how to do this myself anyway using Jabber, but haven't been able to yet.
10. My last prediction - Sony will allow you to live videoblog using a PSP with a GoCam! direct to your PS3 hard drive and consequently to your Playstation Home space. No basis for this prediction - I just think it would be cool!
    

So, there you have it. 10 predictions. Let's see how many come true but, more importantly, let's see how many more you can think up (add yours to the comments, and remember to show your 'working out')...

Labels: Leipzig, news, opinion, Playstation 3, PS Store, PS3, PSN, PSP