LittleBigPlanet. It's Media Molecule's PS3/PSN title that some would argue to be a Harvest Moon on 'roids and is debated to be a Viva Pi? without the cannibalism and incestuous breeding. Meaning... that's a good thing, right? cringe

Well, in any case, the LittleBigHype for this online-based game just doesn't seem to die down. And for those who are still trying to play catch-up with the info on this game, then we've got you covered. GamingTarget's posted a press release fact sheet from Media Molecule on their game, and since we love bulleted lists, we've reproduced it below:
There's not just one way to play. Players craft their own individual experience based on their own creativity.Unlimited possibilities for user-created content - players can customize everything: their characters, the landscape around them, and their own patch on LittleBigPlanet.Players learn new skills and discover new items to aid them on their creative journey.Explore the massive single player ...

PSU has the latest details on the upcoming version 2.00 update your PlayStation 3 is getting, and it looks like a big one. One of the main features Sony's adding—and that users have been asking in order to catch up to the Xbox 360—is access to the Cross Media Bar when inside a game. Now you can hop to any other PS3 area or just change settings without quitting your game. Score.
Other items of note are energy saver settings, fast forwarding through music, CD information, password protecting accounts, and some backward compatibility changes. The update should hit relatively soon, but we'll let you know when it's up. – Jason Chen
PlayStation 3 Firmware v. 2.00 Update Details [PSU]

According to this internal AT&T doc to sales reps, the iPhone will not be available for preorder. I predict lines of fanboys, much like at the PS3 launch day, with lots of crime and anarchy to go along with it. Isn't this one case where preorders make a lot of sense? Hmm...unless you're keeping the date a secret until a physical event happens, and you want it to be a surprise. – Brian Lam
No iPhone Preorders [Boy Genius Report]

Electronic Arts has announced that the NASCAR 08 website has finally gone live. NASCAR 08 (PS2, PS3, Xbox 360) is the eleventh iteration of EA's NASCAR video game series and is currently being developed by EA Tiburon. The game is scheduled for release on July 23.

Some of the game's features include over 40 tuning options for players' cars and updated graphics and damage modelling. There's also a nifty day-to-night transition feature as well as a Chase mode where players complete various tasks like drafting, pitting properly, and passing to earn licenses for cars for specific tracks.

The website will offer NASCAR 08-related downloads and behind-the-scenes blogs and videos with the game's production crew. Right now, though, all the website has are a few wallpaper downloads and a press release about the game's cover. You can check it out by clicking on the "read" link below.

Interactive Data Visualization, Inc. has announced that their award-winning SpeedTreeRT middleware will be used in Square Enix's upcoming next gen RPG title, The Last Remnant.

SpeedTree delivers highly realistic trees and plants, with adjustable wind effects, user-configurable and seamless LOD transitions, and an included library of hundreds of tree, plant and marine models representing more than 200 core species.

"Since it's able to render not only a large number, but a large variety of trees quickly, SpeedTree has really been an important tool for us in developing The Last Remnant," said Square Enix Chief Artist Kimihiko Miyamae.

PS3 and Xbox 360 owners alike will be able to experience the sheer glory of the trees in the Unreal Engine 3-powered The Last Remnant on its simultaneous North American and Japanese release. Yeah, "glory of the trees". It's a slow news day.

 
Rumor has it that Konami's Pro Evolution Soccer 2007 for the Playstation 3 would not only be considerably prettier than the Xbox 360 version, but significantly superior - up to three times the quality. This comes from an E-mpires forum boards poster by the handle of Shodan, who quotes a Korean Konami insider's blog (there's also talk about a confirmed Final Fantasy VII remake).

It's a possible theory backed up by some unconfirmed factoids: that Pro Evolution Soccer 2007 would benefit greatly from the large-capacity Blu-Ray format - the popular football game predicted to take up at least 18 GBs' worth of space. There's also the superior framerate the Playstation 3 version would also have, as well as online connectivity.

It's surprising that Konami let this much information slip out, so the veracity of the news is suspect. We can only wait for further developments, and we'll be sure to update you as we get them.

These seem to be the days of totally unsubstantiated rumours (I’m referring to yesterday’s firmware v2 feature list, of course), so I might as well throw some more fuel on the fire with this list of supposed GRAW 2 PS3 features. They sound almost too good to be true. Hmmm…. Six Axis features: Controller features used [...]

Filed under: Gaming
Brace yourselves PS3 jockeys, a 2.00 firmware update is rumored for release. The full details were apparently inadvertently posted on Sony's PS3 press site (and subsequently removed) but not before being snagged and then posted to the official PlayStation user forums by a veteran contributer. While we have no way of validating the source, regular contributers to the forum are in a tizzy since the person behind the original post has gotten it right before. So what's in store? Well, we're talkin' 34 new features or enhancements including XMB access during gameplay. Yeah, thought you'd like that one. Other notables include RSS channel support, new photo effects and custom wallpapers, and enhancements for PS1 and PS2 compatibility. Sorry, still no DVD upscaling but who knows, it's only a rumor for now which unfortunately lacks any mention of availability.

[Via Next-Gen Gamer, thanks cloudstrife13] 
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Unfortunately, we'll have to be the bearer of yet another bit of bad news: Kaos Studios' FPS for the PlayStation 3, Frontlines: Fuel of War, won't be deployed until next year in Europe.

According to French site Live Play 3, the publishers decided to push back the release date to January of 2008, instead of plunging head on into the fierce holiday competition. That doesn't sound so brave of them, eh? But we're guessing that Kaos Studios opted for a later launch out of practicality, and not out of fear of being pitted against bigger titles.

And as for every delayed release date, we just hope that the added time will be used wisely by the company to guarantee that our prolonged wait for Frontlines: Fuel of War will definitely be worth it. We'll keep you posted on this bit.

 
Making its rounds on Digg today is word of some new additions to the PS3 version of Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2. The additions are making us rather excited for the video game's release, but we're tempering our enthusiasm so we don't get let down if some of it doesn't actually come to fruition.

The main draw behind these additions to the PS3 version of GRAW 2 happen to center around the addition of SIXAXIS support and additional multiplayer goodness in the form of new maps and extra co-op modes. We traced the Digg source back to PlayStation Online, and here's what they said were the key differences for the PS3 version:
SIXAXIS Features
Controller features used for Mitchell & Cross-com controlSP : Drive the supports (drone, M.U.LE) with the Six Axis functionalitySP/MP : Change Mitchell stances with the Six AxisSP : change the Rules of Engagement with the Six AxisConsistency increased between SP & MP: Scope, Movement, Aiming PS3 specifics adaptat...