It is really a good thing that Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) decided to have an official blog. While we all know that most of the interviews coming from the site are canned, it's important for the PlayStation community to hear the updates from the officials themselves.

Speaking of which, one member of the PlayStation Blog under the online name "west" posted a question regarding the PlayStation 3's firmware. He was wondering when will the next update go live. SCEA PR Senior Manager Patrick Seybold picked up the question and answered, "Early next week, we'll have something on the firmware".

Aside from that, no more details were given. Any speculation as to what this "something" is? It should be remembered that PlayStation Magazine (PSM) France recently ran an article saying that the next firmware update will include rumble for PS2 video games.

Tell us what you think through the comments section below.

Three Speech managed to nab an interview with Sony Computer Entertainment Europe president, David Reeves, and immediately asked him the big question looming over PlayStation 3 fans in Europe: Why didn't EU get a price cut?

Reeves explained that since they managed to achieve their sales target, they didn't see the need to raise prices. Rather, they thought about people who already bought the system and would be annoyed should Sony suddenly give a price cut.

Reeves acknowledged that the PS3 is not selling as well as the Wii or DS, but they actually are doing well on a regional level. Drawing from experience, he said, Sony learned that giving price cuts on summer months in the UK does little to improve sales numbers.

To prove his point that the PS3 Value Pack is worth the purchase, Reeves gave an estimate of standard PS3 prices, including the extra SIXAXIS controllers and the two free games, as well as adding the  taxes. Reeves said that the European and ...

We reported yesterday on the much-awaited Leipzig Games Convention (GC), and how Sony's David Reeves said there would be some big announcements to be made in the upcoming event with regards to the PS3 and the PSP.
The MCVUK report we cited in yesterday's post indicated the possibility of a European PS3 price cut, as well as video-on-demand services and Freeview TV in store for UK. However, Sony's Corporate Communications Nick Sharples declined to comment, saying that they do not comment on mere rumor and speculation.

As most of us already know, Sony has a penchant for denying or declining to comment on rumors that eventually turn out to be true in the near future anyway. With that said, we'll probably have to wait and see what 'fireworks' are in store for us in the Leipzig event.

If you've ever played hockey, or attempted to play it, you'd know just how painful it can get. (Heck, for this writer, even putting one foot on the ice is painful.) For today's dose of the upcoming EA Sports video game - NHL 08, a lot of effort was put on making the pain look real.

David Littman, gameplay producer for NHL 08, gives us some insight on just how the contact physics and realistic motion applies in the title. They used a new contact physics engine and a new skating engine. NHL 08 (PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC) looks smooth and realistic, though that's judging from the videos we're seen so far. The real test will be on the game's September 11 release date.

Anyway, we'll leave you to check it out for yourself. Feel free to tell us what you think. Enjoy!

Techies gather round, for Buffalo Technology has another plug-in wireless device aimed at Wi-Fi-capable consoles (and yes, that would mean you Sony and Nintendo button mashers) which they call the Wi-Fi Gamer. If their joint offering with Nintendo was a treat for Wii and DS gamers with XP rigs, this new device might tickle your fancy. We know you've got lost of love for your current Wi-Fi routers, but check this one out.

Not larger than a pack of playing cards, the Wi-Fi Gamer can work devoid of Windows computers - holding off the idea of port-hogging port on your PC. Instead the AirStation OneTouch Secure System (AOSS) gadget connects to an open port in your home or office LAN and runs its own wireless access point with the press of the "Connect" button.

And while Nintendo consoles have been working with AOSS for significant time now, even Sony has upped the PlayStation 3 and the PlayStation Portable (PSP) to AOSS compatibility levels with their recent firmware upgra...

This could probably be old news to cult followers behind Unreal Tournament since it released back in 1998 (Game of the Year by 1999). But just in case there are still people hoping for console first-person shooters to tag along with seamless online Unreal Tournament III (Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC, Mac) play on PC, we thought this might interest you.

 
Lurking around the official Unreal Tournament III forums, we've found that Mark Rein himself stated that they will be looking into what the PlayStation 3's open-network technology and the PC's already-established networking capabilities could add up to:

We have not decided about cross platform play between PC and PS3. We're not 100 sure that users want that feature but if we get time we'll play around with it and see how it works. In the mean time we plan to be able to serve the PS3 from PC servers so that should help us gets lots of great servers going.
Unreal Tournament Classic, UTGOTYE, UT2003 and UT20...

In an official announcement made not later than today, Konami Digital Entertainment GmbH revealed that the company's Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 will be featuring none other than Michael Owen, English striker and one of Newcastle United's pride and glory, on both the packaging (UK specific) and the promotional materials for the game.

Together with Cristiano Ronaldo, Owen will be combining image and skill on the UK packshots of Pro Evolution Soccer's latest installment. Barring any critical opinion of his choice for Newcastle over Liverpool, Owen still keeps a reputation level with his 178 league goals, 37 of which were for England.

"Securing Michael Owen is a real coup for Konami. Since he burst on to the scene, he has proven himself an incredible goal-scorer, netting at every level both domestic and international," said Jon Murphy, Team Leader for Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 at Konami.
Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 will be heading to the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Windows ...

Sony Computer Entertainment Australia, perhaps not wanting to stay behind Japan's PlayStation Premiere, commenced their second PlayStation Australia Update & Software Event (PAUSE), along with a good share of the goodies Sony touted during the E3 Media & Business Summit.


After a revelation of over 2,000,000 PS2 units, 300,000 PSP units and close to 60,000 PlayStation 3s sold, Sony Australia's marketing director Michael Ephraim also revealed the new PSP-2000 (PSP Slim to others, PSP Diet to jokers) and a September release for the revised PlayStation Portable in the region.

With the Ice Silver version tossed out the window, Australia will get to choose from the Ceramic White and the Piano Black versions instead. The availability of the Star Wars Battlefront II package - the one that sports the Ceramic White PSP-2000 - hasn't been confirmed, though.

With hands on demos with Incognito's Warhawk, Insomniac Games' Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of D...

It's been rumored all too often, but no matter how many times the makers of Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots try to hush the buzz, more reports of the game porting to the Microsoft Xbox 360 are surfacing.

GamePro reports that a trailer for the game in Japan hints of a winter release. That should mean anytime between December and February of this year and the next one. The official Xbox Magazine then says that a reliable source told them that the Xbox 360 version would come "a few months" after the Sony PlayStation 3's debut of MGS4.

It can be recalled that Konami top cat Kazumi Kitaue was quoted with a statement that fanned the rumor flames at a high point. "Since Metal Gear Solid was born for the PlayStation, we would like to keep it a PlayStation game. But we might have to take some steps," he said as he pointed to the current install base and sales figures of the PS3.

What do you think? Is it just a matter of time before we see Solid Snake and the ...

The Leipzig Games Convention (GC) scheduled for August 23 to 26, 2007, will be the venue for big announcements from Sony regarding its PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Portable.

Well, you already knew that there would be some big announcements - after all, that's what David Reeves said (David Reeves is the CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe, SCEE). If you recall, Reeves said that SCEE will be revealing three new features and services for the PlayStation Portable that are exclusive to Europe - as well as some good news about the PS3.

 
MCVUK believes that that a PS3 price cut is very much possible. We agree. Yes, it was established at E3 that there would be no price cut now for the PS3 in Europe, but that doesn't mean that there won't be a price cut months from now.

After all, with 60GB PS3 units selling at US 499 in North America with the successful introduction of the 80GB PS3, it only makes sense that a similar marketing move will be impleme...