As usual Japan always gets the good stuff first, lol. Here is what the update includes: * Games on the XMB can now be sorted * Customization options for the wallpaper in the cross media bar (XMB) and fonts * Inclusion of “eject disk” on the [...]

Just a few hours ago, we reported about rumors surrounding the new PlayStation 3 FW 1.90. QJ tipster, Not A Tad Bit gave us a heads up on the features that are included in the latest firmware update released first in Japan.

The information comes straight from Zoople and Game Watch (so please forgive the semi-Engrish Google translations of the features). From what we can understand from the translations, the PS3 FW 1.90 goes live tomorrow in all other regions and will sport a number of new features like customization options for the wallpaper in the cross media bar (XMB) and fonts. Another interesting feature comes in the form of Home Chat - users can attach a USB keyboard and chat with friends. Playback quality of music CDs also get a level up with a output frequency options.

The other features include:
Games on the XMB can now be sortedInclusion of "eject disk" on the option menuBD/DVD setting now provides an option for 24Hz output over HDMICD music output a...

We all know how Polyphony Digital takes the word "photo-realistic" to a certain level. In this new trailer for the much anticipated video game Gran Turismo 5, it has taken it to a whole new level of wow.

The video is the second trailer for Gran Turismo 5's Prologue, and this writer is finding it hard to keep from drooling. To say it simply, if some real footage was played beside the video in question, we won't be able to tell which one's real. Anyway, in the video, we get another look at the Nissan GT-R Proto (ooh, shiny...) and some race scenes showing off a number of the cars.

We'll stop right there to keep ourselves prattling on and on. Stay tuned for more news and info about Gran Turismo 5: Prologue for the PlayStation 3. Ready... Set... Press play.

  
It's all good when game producers adapt a clever scheme to show off their video games like Super Smash Bros. Brawl and its frequently updated official website, for instance, to draw attention from eager fans.

And this is also exactly what the guys behind Sega Rally Revo are doing. Keith Burden, the Lead Car Artist for Sega Rally Revo, set up a blog in IGN to give people a peek on what cars to expect in the much awaited racing video game from Sega for the PlayStation 3, the PC, and the Xbox 360.

In his first blog post, Burden introduces the first class cars to be featured on the game: Subaru Impreza WRX STi, Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX, Ford Focus RS, Peugeot 206 WRC, Skoda Fabia, and Citroen Xsara Rallycross.

Burden then gives his thoughts on why the cars were selected for inclusion in the game, and mentions in the blog post that there will be many unlockable cars, car variants, liveries as well as specialist cars. The rest of the cars, ...

What does Japan's populace want gaming-wise? Famitsu's latest "Most Wanted" polls transitioning from June to July (June 29 to July 6) indicates that many a DS fan is awaiting the release of Square Enix's Dragon Quest IX RPG.

Following along from second to fifth place are several PlayStation 3 games we know the guys here would love to get as well: Final Fantasy XIII, Biohazard (Resident Evil) 5, Monster Hunter 3, and Metal Gear Solid 4.

Wii fans also seem as intent as us on getting Super Smash Brothers Brawl for their console, along with Animal Crossing's Wii port. PSP fans are also awaiting Crisis Core, whole the Xbox 360 fans are looking out for Lost Odyssey.
Dragon Quest IX (DS, Square Enix)Final Fantasy XIII (PS3, Square Enix)Biohazard 5 (PS3, Capcom)Monster Hunter 3 (PS3, Capcom)Metal Gear Solid 4 (PS3, KonamiSuper Smash Bros. Brawl (Wii, Nintendo)Everybody's Golf 5 (PS3, Sony)Lost Odyssey (Xbox 360, Microsoft)Crisis Core Final Fantasy VII (PSP, Square Enix)A...

We've got another rumor alert for the PlayStation 3 owners, and it deals with our favorite topic - new firmwares. As guys over at the Blu-Ray and PlayStation Forums have been discussing, there's ongoing speculation that a PS3 from the recent E3 2007 was running on the yet-to-be-released firmware 1.90. Even more interesting is that this new firmware supposedly adds an option to select music while you're playing.

Given it's a rumor, we can't really verify if this is true, although it will be remembered that SCEA Senior PR Manager Patrick Seybold recently did state that we'll be getting more info very soon. Stick around for this week, and hope that Mr. Seybold makes good his statement.

Kudos goes to Dr. Egg for informing us of this rumor.

We all know that one of the most underrated elements of a good racing game is a soundtrack that reflects its attitude. NASCAR 08 by EA Sports is no exception to that as it announces a killer lineup of country and rock bands to set the tone for a great time at the track.

Led by powerhouse band Velvet revolver and complemented by names such as Airbourne, country greats Brooks & Dunn, Big & Rich and a lot more,this racing sim aims to get inside your head to keep the pace of your driving in stride with the rhythm and beat.

EA Sports explains that the mix of hard rock and country music is founded on the fact that NASCAR  league rose from its roots in the countrysides and then came to power in the bustling metros around America. This way, the soundtrack reaches out to all the ages and demographics in its user base, which the firm hopes will generate massive appeal.

EA's NASCAR game franchise has always delivered great racing simulators with great physi...

PlayStation Universe has some juicy stuff to share coming in from the fellas over at Media Molecule, developers of the anticipated Sony PlayStation 3 title LittleBigPlanet have dropped in some new details and revealed that a public beta is coming soon.

LittleBigPlanet is slated to launch in early 2008, but before it does, the entire PSN community will have a chance to check out a near-complete version of the game and see if anything is amiss or whether or not they like it.

As for details, it was revealed that the SIXAXIS' tilting functions will play a key role in the little nuances of controlling your character. Tilting sideways will allow your character to bend while jerking it down will give a nearby player a stinging little slap. If you want to be a bit more macho, jerk the SIXAXIS up and you'll land a fist on the other guy.

Even more amazing is the game's uncanny ability to incorporate emotions to how everything works out in your game. Players will get to...

Demon-slaying Dante first appeared on the PlayStation 2 back in 2001, and Devil May Cry's tight relationship with Sony's console started. As we all know, that soon changed after Capcom's major announcement of developing Devil May Cry 4 for the PS3, Xbox 360 and PC. We've heard that it's about the installed user base, but there's more than meets the eye.

Capcom's Head of R&D, Keiji Inafune, had a chat with website Spong to talk about everything DMC4. When asked about the decision to go multiplatform, he replied:

Until now it s been hard for us to develop multi-platform games, but recently we have developed this development engine that allows us to develop a game in the engine and then put it on to PS3 and 360. Developing Dead Rising and Lost Planet helped flush out everything in the development tool system which is now pretty much complete, aside from the usual upgrades so we decided to use that engine, make it for the 360 and the PS3 with Devil May Cr...

Sony's press conference. Game Head talked to Jack Tretton about some of the highlights of Sony's press conference at E3 2007. This video is basically just chatting and playful banter about the PlayStation 3 and Killzone 2 (with a playful jab at Peter Moore) and the new PSP (the PSP Slim, PSP Lite, PSP Slim & Lite, or whatever "official" name the tech blogs have come up with this week).

There's a short segment showing Kazuo Hirai introducing the new PSP. And the video moves to Tretton quickly mentioning the new PSP's weight, video out (!), and bigger cache memory (making life easier for developers and giving us faster loading times!).

Then there's Killzone 2, the highly anticipated game developed by Guerilla Games with Sony Computer Entertainment as publisher. Sorry, it won't be out for a while. Tretton managed to elude all attempts to pin down a concrete release date. But Tretton added that the PS3 has so many great exclusives and so many great games right now tha...