SlashGear » Benjamin Nied

PS3 Firmware Hits 1.3; 1080i Issue Still There

Benjamin Nied — Thu, 07 Dec 2006 05:58:29 +0000

If you’re one of the very, very few people lucky enough to have snagged a PlayStation 3 at this stage of the game, Sony has just released their latest firmware update, designed to bring new features and bugfixes to your ubermachine. One thing of note: the new update does NOT take care of the 1080i upscaling issue that we reported last month, so if you’re still running your PS3 on an older HDTV that doesn’t support 720p (but supports 1080i), be prepared for your games to still run at 480p. Bummer. For a complete list of changes, hit the jump!

You can now register the BD remote control in [Register Bluetooth® Device] under [Accessory Settings].

[BD/DVD Video Output Format (HDMI)] has been added as an option under [BD/DVD Settings].

[Backup Utility] has been added as a feature under [System Settings].

You can now select the hard disk format method in [Format Utility] and [Restore PS3™ System] under [System Settings].

The method of selecting output resolution has been changed in [Video Output Settings] under [Display Settings].

The compatibility of USB devices with PlayStation®2 format software titles has changed. For details on USB devices that can be used with system software version 1.30, select here.

[via Gizmodo]

PS3 Firmware Hits 1.3; 1080i Issue Still There is written by Benjamin Nied & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 - 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Wiimote Works on Macs Too

Benjamin Nied — Wed, 06 Dec 2006 17:28:34 +0000

Yesterday, we posted an impressive video showing how the Nintendo Wii’s Wiimote can be used as a Windows mouse. That isn’t just restricted to Redmond disciples anymore; now Apple users can enjoy the same hack for their happy little operating system. I say give these guys another year and the Wiimote will be the most versatile piece of electronics available. Enjoy!

Wiimote Works on Macs Too is written by Benjamin Nied & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 - 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Wiimote Used as a Windows Mouse

Benjamin Nied — Tue, 05 Dec 2006 15:54:40 +0000

If all you Wii owners out there didn’t feel lucky already, now you should. Hackers have discovered a way to use the Wii’s controller as a Windows mouse, basically making any and all other kinds of pointing devices obsolete. It’s not clear just how well this works, but how cool would it be to do your next presentation using Nintendo’s little Wiimote? Enjoy!

Wiimote Used as a Windows Mouse is written by Benjamin Nied & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 - 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Gran Turismo HD Reduced to “Demo”

Benjamin Nied — Tue, 05 Dec 2006 15:26:39 +0000

If you’ve been waiting for Sony’s uber-racing sim Gran Turismo to finally hit shelves again, we have some good news and some bad news. Gran Turismo HD, a souped-up Gran Turismo 4 that was supposed to allow players to buy other cars via the PlayStation Network, has now been reduced to a “concept demo” that will be available for download on December 24th. Sony has instead decided to focus on Gran Turismo 5, feeling that a full-blown sequel might sell better and give their shiny new box a chance to show off what it can really do. However, this new GT won’t hit shelves until at least 2008, so if you need to get your racing fix sooner, you’re gonna be stuck with the demoted GTHD. Bummer. At least we can still look forward to the PSP Gran Turismo, right?

[via GamePro]

Gran Turismo HD Reduced to “Demo” is written by Benjamin Nied & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 - 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Blu-ray Movies Ripped Using PS3

Benjamin Nied — Mon, 04 Dec 2006 06:09:32 +0000

Well that didn’t take long. Less than three weeks after its debut in the US and Canada, our first group of hackers have discovered a way to rip Blu-ray movie discs to their PlayStation 3′s hard drive using Yellow Dog Linux 5.0, which is the first step to completely defeating the Blu-ray’s “improved” security features. Right now, the hackers have only figured out how to extract the disc’s information; someone still needs to figure out how to burn these images back to disc. So the ongoing battle between hackers and multimedia providers continues on, with the hackers making another monumental leap. And at this rate, it won’t be long before Blu-ray’s secrets are completely unlocked.

[via IGN]

Blu-ray Movies Ripped Using PS3 is written by Benjamin Nied & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 - 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Super Mario Galaxy Delayed?

Benjamin Nied — Fri, 01 Dec 2006 15:29:38 +0000

Wii owners everywhere have a trifecta of games that everyone seems to be waiting for. We’ve gotten one part so far, Twilight Princess, and we’ve been waiting for Metroid Prime 3 and Super Mario Galaxy to hit early next year to make everything else in life seem unimportant by comparison. While Metroid seems to still be on target to come out first- or second-quarter 2007, it appears that Super Mario Galaxy might have gotten pushed to late 2007, meaning we’ll all need to wait longer to play the true sequel to Super Mario 64. It could be that we’re just misreading Nintendo’s own Reggie Fils-Aime’s comments; he stated that he expects SMG “sometime between March of 2007 and Christmas 2007,” so it’s possible that it’ll hit sooner rather than later. Oh well, there’s always Super Smash Bros. Brawl, right?

[via GamePro]

Super Mario Galaxy Delayed? is written by Benjamin Nied & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 - 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Double Dragon Coming to XBLA

Benjamin Nied — Wed, 29 Nov 2006 18:35:21 +0000

If you’re an old-school gamer, chances are that you spent many a quarter (and many NES hours) playing Double Dragon, kicking ass and taking names to save your girlfriend Marian from the Black Warriors. While the plotline might not have stood the test of time well, the game itself defined the beat-’em-up genre of gaming for years and gave many gamers (myself included) their first experience with a multiplayer fighting game. The classic is now coming to Microsoft’s Xbox Live! Arcade, meaning that all you Xbox 360 owners can once again take to the mean streets of New York and do battle.

The XBLA version will be the same game you remember from before, but the graphics will see a serious overhaul as well as support for online multiplayer over Live. meaning that you and any other XBL member can kick ass together. No release date or pricing information has been released yet, but as soon as we find out we’ll be sure to report it. In the meantime, get ready; Double Dragon is coming to rock your world once again.

[via IGN]

Double Dragon Coming to XBLA is written by Benjamin Nied & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 - 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

How NOT to Fix Your Xbox 360

Benjamin Nied — Tue, 28 Nov 2006 21:04:47 +0000

Here at Slashgear, we advocate safe gaming protocol in every aspect your life. If your Xbox 360 is flashing three red lights, you’re better off taking it to an Xbox service center in order to avoid, ya know, voiding the warranty. But if you’re the adventurous type, you can try what these guys did; when faced with the triad of red flashers, these guys simply take their misbehaving console and start smacking it around. Again, there are better ways to fix your system, but if this suits your fancy, here’s the how-to. Enjoy!

[via Gizmodo]

How NOT to Fix Your Xbox 360 is written by Benjamin Nied & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 - 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Next-Gen Consoles Become Museum Exhibit

Benjamin Nied — Mon, 27 Nov 2006 19:05:45 +0000

If you’re one of the millions of people left out in the cold (literally) trying to obtain a next-generation gaming console last week, and you don’t know any friends who had better luck, then the United Kingdom has your back. While the Wii isn’t launching over in England for another two weeks (followed by a four-month wait for the PlayStation 3 in March), the Science Museum in London is hosting its Game On exhibition, highlighting games from the PDP-10 era to today’s ultra-modern technology. Over 120 games will be available for people to play, so if you’re still hankering for that Virtua Fighter fight or to see how weird the original Street Fighter was, head on over, since the exhibit will be running until the end of February. And if you live in the UK, the exhibit ends right before the PS3 comes out. Try before you buy?

Game On [via IGN]

Next-Gen Consoles Become Museum Exhibit is written by Benjamin Nied & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 - 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

PSP Updates to 3.01

Benjamin Nied — Fri, 24 Nov 2006 11:38:46 +0000

Well that certainly didn’t take too long. 3.0 hasn’t even hit the Internet yet, and already Sony has pushed out the PlayStation Portable’s System Update 3.01. Apparently this is a last-minute security fix, as there was a fairly large hole in the 3.00 update. No new features have been added, meaning that you’ll still need one of those expensive PlayStation 3 things if you want to enjoy PSOne emulation on your diminutive little handheld; the next major system update should bring PS3-less emulation your way. So, for all you happy PSP owners out there, grab the update via the link below.

US PSP System Update Site [via IGN]

PSP Updates to 3.01 is written by Benjamin Nied & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 - 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

The Wii’s Sensor Bar Wii-vealed

Benjamin Nied — Wed, 22 Nov 2006 07:00:14 +0000

Hackers will take apart most anything electronic, and since the Nintendo Wii is probably one of the coolest – and oddest – gadgets to hit shelves in recent memory, of course the first thing a hacker’s going to do it dissect it. That’s what these guys did, ripping the Wii’s sensor bar apart to find nothing more than a couple of IR transmitters, meaning that the Sensor Bar does very little sensing and most of the Wii’s motion processing is handled by the Wiimote. Of course, now that hackers have a better understanding of the Sensor Bar, I’m hoping we see this nifty little technology ported elsewhere; nothing would be quite as cool as using the Wiimote as a computer mouse. But I digress; enjoy the video!

[via Engadget]

The Wii’s Sensor Bar Wii-vealed is written by Benjamin Nied & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 - 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Linux on the PS3; Geeks Rejoice

Benjamin Nied — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 15:47:51 +0000

Gaming and Linux are among my two real joys in life, and when someone manages to bring them together, I starting pinching myself to wake up. While we knew that Sony was going to allow users to install Linux on the PlayStation 3, no one realized that it would work so well, as the following video shows. The only downside seems to be the low video resolution, but that’s what those nifty HDTV things are for! Enjoy the video.

Linux on the PS3; Geeks Rejoice is written by Benjamin Nied & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 - 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

PSP Firmware Upgraded to 3.0

Benjamin Nied — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 07:49:05 +0000

Well, it wasn’t ready in time for its big brother’s launch on Friday, but the PlayStation Portable is finally ready to play in the big leagues. Firmware version 3.0 has hit the Internet for all you PSP-carrying gamers, boasting a number of new features, including the long-awaited PlayStation Network connectivity and PlayStation 3 connectivity. While those with a PS3 will be happier with the update than those without, but there are still a number of new features for PSP owners without a PS3. To view a complete list, hit the jump!

Complete PSP 3.0 Update List:

PlayStation Network support added under Game
Online manuals added under Network
Camera added under Photo
UMD Auto-Start added under Settings
3-Speed Fast Forward/Reverse added under Music
Visual Player added under Music
Remote Play added under Network

[via IGN]

PSP Firmware Upgraded to 3.0 is written by Benjamin Nied & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 - 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

PS3 Backwards Compatibility List Online

Benjamin Nied — Mon, 20 Nov 2006 17:56:14 +0000

If you spent your small fortune to acquire your new, shiny PlayStation 3, but you’re not sure which of your older PSOne/PS2 titles work with the new machine, Sony’s got you covered. They’ve launched the US version of their “PLAYSTATION 3 Backward Compatibility Status” web application, which allows you to search games by title and check their current playability status. While most games should be alright, there are a number with some minor/major issues, so check your collection against this site before you start tossing that “old” PS2.

To take a look at some of the games we searched against, hit the jump!

Here are the compatibility notes for a few games:

God of War: Works fine, as you can see.
Metal Gear Solid Series: Metal Gear Solid, MGS2 (both editions), and MGS3: Snake Eater all work fine. The special edition MGS3 (Subsistence) has some issues: “During gameplay, with 1 PS3 user hosting a Team Deathmatch Game Type, and 5 other users as clients, the host is randomly disconnected, and is unable to reconnect.”
Final Fantasy series: FFX, FFXII, and FF Tactics are fine. However, FFVII, FFVIII, FFIX, FFXI, FF Anthology, FF Chronicles, and FF Origins all have various issues, ranging from graphical hiccups to hard drive problems (for FFXI).
Grand Theft Auto series: All clear.

PS3 Compatibility Status [via Joystiq]

PS3 Backwards Compatibility List Online is written by Benjamin Nied & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 - 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Japan to Get DVD-Enabled Wii

Benjamin Nied — Mon, 20 Nov 2006 16:48:48 +0000

If there’s one complaint that many people have about Nintendo’s Wii (excluding all the “it’s not a PS3″ comments), it’s the lack of multimedia support. Indeed, the console doesn’t even play video DVDs back. With this knowledge in mind, Nintendo is working on making a second version of the Wii that will feature DVD playback, though it will cost slightly more than the standard version. Oh yeah, it’s also a Japan-only for the time being, meaning that all the rest of the world will have to settle for an external DVD player to get our movie needs. On the upside, there won’t be any other changes made to the console aside from the DVD playback, so if you can live without it, your current version should hold up just fine.

[via IGN]

Japan to Get DVD-Enabled Wii is written by Benjamin Nied & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 - 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Slashgear Presents: The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess Video!

Benjamin Nied — Mon, 20 Nov 2006 06:59:07 +0000

The most anticipated launch title of the year? Check. Most impressive console to grace the world in a very long time? Check. Slashgear showing you the coolest opening cinematic ever to grace a Zelda game? OK, there aren’t that many, but still, check out the video of what is possibly one of the most amazing titles ever to grace our shelves in quite some time. Sit back and salivate, then continue your search to acquire your own copy. Enjoy!

Slashgear Presents: The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess Video! is written by Benjamin Nied & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 - 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

More PS3 eBay Madness: 60 GB Sells for $45,000

Benjamin Nied — Fri, 17 Nov 2006 16:23:27 +0000

Alright, people, look. This isn’t the cure for cancer, or a way to obtain superpowers like Superman has. It’s a freakin’ video game console! In the madhouse that is eBay, PS3s are selling like hotcakes, often for outrageous sums of money that no one in their right mind would ever pay. $9,000 for a PS3 was excessive, but we now have another seller that netted $45,000 for their shiny new console. Look, I understand the desire to get the latest and greatest in consoles (which is why I have my battle gear for my Wii laid out), but when you could buy a truck for what you’re paying for a first-generation gaming machine, something in your brain has to say “Um…you’re gonna do WHAT now?”

There is, of course, a guy who got $100 million for his PS3, but this has to be a fake bid. Either that or I just lost my faith in the human race.

[via eBay]

More PS3 eBay Madness: 60 GB Sells for $45,000 is written by Benjamin Nied & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 - 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

PS3 Finally Launches, Mayhem Ensues

Benjamin Nied — Fri, 17 Nov 2006 15:26:20 +0000

It’s finally here, and those lucky 150,000-400,000 (depending on whose numbers you believe) gamers who shelled out a minor fortune to buy the PlayStation 3 can go home happy, while those who weren’t so lucky might be waiting a while to get their hands on some of the next shipment. Of course, there are plenty of “generous” gamers who are willing to part with their shiny new Sony machine…for a hefty profit. One fortunate reseller managed to get $9,000 for his PS3 on eBay, which equates to a 1500% return on investment and proving that people truly are nuts. I guess that if you have $9,000 to spend on a video game console, money much of an issue for you, but is it really worth spending that kind of coin on a first-generation system that’s bound to have issues? Oh well.

eBay Page [via Gizmodo]

PS3 Finally Launches, Mayhem Ensues is written by Benjamin Nied & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 - 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Complete PS3 Problem List

Benjamin Nied — Fri, 17 Nov 2006 05:37:08 +0000

So, if you’re going to brave the lines for a PlayStation 3 (and from what we hear, bring a baseball bat and a full body armor), there are a list of things you should know about regarding various issues the console has at this time. These are normal, especially in the first-generation of a piece of electronics as complicated as the PlayStation 3, and most of these issues should be resolved in future System Updates (we hope). Until then, it’ll help all you early-adopters decide as to whether your console is worth a round of real-life Mortal Kombat:

Lack of upscaling: Simply put, if your HDTV does 1080i but not 720p, then expect to play your games in 480p, as the PS3 will not upscale the graphics to 1080i. Bummer.
Overheating: While it’s not as bad as the Xbox 360′s issues (read: no dead consoles), a lot of retailers are reporting test boxes overheating. We’ll chalk this up to the semi-airtight plastic enclosure until more users get to use the console in the open.
Backwards-compatibility: Several PSOne/PS2 games don’t work correctly with the PS3 yet; this should be remedied with upcoming System Updates. Until then, check out IGN’s backwards compatibility list here.

That’s all the issues we have so far. Stay tuned to Slashgear; we’ll get more information as more people receive their consoles. Until then, happy hunting!

[via IGN]

Complete PS3 Problem List is written by Benjamin Nied & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 - 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Sony Eating $240-$300 On Each PS3

Benjamin Nied — Fri, 17 Nov 2006 05:36:40 +0000

In the world of gaming, game companies almost never make any money off of the consoles themselves; the software and licensing contracts bring in the big bucks. It’s extremely rare for a company to profit off the hardware at launch (like the Wii), but it’s also extremely rare for a video game company to be losing $200+ on each console they sell. That’s exactly what Sony is doing; according to iSuppli, the 20 GB PS3 costs $805.85 per unit to manufacture, while the 60 GB version costs $840.35. This translates to a $306.85 and a $241.35 loss for each 20 GB and 60 GB PS3 console sold. By comparison, the Xbox 360, one year after its launch, nets a $75 profit for each console sold. While the NVIDIA GPU, Cell CPU, and Blu-ray disc player combine to create a very impressive piece of hardware, maybe throwing all these ultra-expensive components in one box wasn’t such a good idea. We’ll just have to wait and see how bad a mistake this was for Sony.

[via iSuppli]

Sony Eating $240-$300 On Each PS3 is written by Benjamin Nied & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 - 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

PS3 Can’t Display 1080i?

Benjamin Nied — Thu, 16 Nov 2006 20:12:29 +0000

Thinking of getting a PS3? But you only own an older HDTV that can only do 1080i rather than 720p or 1080p? You might wanna think twice about that; apparently the PS3 can’t display 1080i, which a lot of older HDTVs support instead of 1080p. So, if your HDTV supports 1080i but not 720p, the PS3 will scale all the graphics down to 480p, which most wouldn’t consider to be HD. IGN has found this issue in at least 4 games (Resistance: Fall of Man, Need for Speed Carbon, NHL 2K7, and Tiger Woods 2007), and quickly points out that the Xbox 360 has no issue scaling to 720p or 1080i (though it’s 1080p support is hit-and-miss). Hopefully Sony will fix this problem in an update; otherwise gamers with older, or cheaper, HDTVs will be quite angry when they find their new high-def console can only output at 480p on their sets.

[via Engadget]

PS3 Can’t Display 1080i? is written by Benjamin Nied & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 - 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

First Nintendo Wii Commercial!

Benjamin Nied — Thu, 16 Nov 2006 16:06:41 +0000

The first Nintendo Wii commercials have finally hit the airwaves, getting the public hyped for the console’s Sunday launch. These commercials make a LOT more sense (at least to me) than Sony’s rather ambiguous PlayStation 3 commercials (though the exploding Rubik’s Cube was admittedly cool). Enjoy!

First Nintendo Wii Commercial! is written by Benjamin Nied & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 - 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Wii Originally Supposed to Cost Under $100

Benjamin Nied — Thu, 16 Nov 2006 16:02:05 +0000

Leave it to Nintendo to think of the craziest idea ever. According to Shigeru Miyamoto, Nintendo’s very own game developer god, the company’s upcoming Wii console was originally envisioned as a console that would cost consumers less than $100 a shot; however, due to some R&D costs, the price jumped to the $249.99 price tag we all know and love today. Apparently NAND flash memory “and other pricey parts” are to blame, but seeing as how this console isn’t running a next-generation DVD technology inside it’s hull, I doubt anything in the Wii truly counts as “pricey.” To read what the master of Mario had to say, hit the jump!

“My idea was to spend nothing on the console technology so all the money could be spent on improving the interface and software. If we hadn’t used NAND flash memory [to store data such as games and photos] and other pricey parts, we might have succeeded…It [the Wiimote controller] worked just fine in the ideal environment, but bright lights and sunlight interfered with its accuracy. And we had to test it in rooms of all sizes. The final version wasn’t finished until this summer.”

There ya have it folks; maybe next time around, Nintendo’s dream of a sub-$100 console will become a reality. Until that time, we’ll sit here playing the Wii.

[via IGN]

Wii Originally Supposed to Cost Under $100 is written by Benjamin Nied & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 - 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

PS3 Shipment Quantities Slashed Again?

Benjamin Nied — Thu, 16 Nov 2006 14:40:00 +0000

Haven’t we been down this road before? First Sony was supposed to deliver six million PlayStation 3 consoles by the end of March. Then the initial launch quantity got cut to 400,000 for the US. And now, it looks like those numbers might get snipped again, to the tune of a 50% decrease in what was expected. According to analyst Lazard Capital Markets has reported that they expect only 150,000-200,000 consoles for the PS3′s American debut, meaning that (if it turns out to be true) at least half the people who thought they were getting themselves a shiny new PlayStation will be getting an IOU instead. To be fair, we got a hint about this earlier this week when GameStop/EB Games started calling pre-order owners to tell them that they’ll have to wait a bit longer for their consoles. Oh well, maybe next time Sony won’t be stupid and launch a console with so few machines available at launch. Maybe.

[via MegaGames]

PS3 Shipment Quantities Slashed Again? is written by Benjamin Nied & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 - 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Gizmodo Shows Off the Wii’s Settings Menu

Benjamin Nied — Wed, 15 Nov 2006 19:54:28 +0000

The noble gamers over at Gizmodo have gotten their hands on Nintendo’s Wii a little earlier than the rest of us (lucky!). So, they’ve decided to show off the Wii’s settings menus, which lets you modify video/audio settings, Internet settings, and all sorts of other crazy stuff. While it’s not as complicated as the PS3′s menu system, you also get to see how the Wiimote works with the menu system. All I can say is: Sunday can’t get here fast enough. Enjoy!

Gizmodo Shows Off the Wii’s Settings Menu is written by Benjamin Nied & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 - 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Halo 3 Multiplayer Beta Set for Spring ’07

Benjamin Nied — Wed, 15 Nov 2006 15:38:02 +0000

While it’s still going to be a long while before we see the likes of Halo 3, Bungie isn’t about to let the first half of 2007 go without some teasers. Specifically, a beta for the multiplayer part of Halo 3 (otherwise known as the “selling point”) is due out next Spring to the satisfaction of hungry gamers everywhere. Bungie hopes this beta test will result in a much-improved multiplayer mode when Halo 3 finally does go gold, as well as establishing a stronger connection between the company and its fan base. If you still play Halo 2, you’re also getting some love in the form of new multiplayer maps so long as you play Halo 2 on your Xbox 360; otherwise, no new maps for you. So, Halo fans, get ready; 2007 is going to be a busy year.

[via GamePro]

Halo 3 Multiplayer Beta Set for Spring ’07 is written by Benjamin Nied & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 - 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

First Wiis Head to Retail

Benjamin Nied — Wed, 15 Nov 2006 15:13:14 +0000

The time for rejoicing is near! Well, I’ll rejoice at least; you guys can jump in if you want. If the occasion isn’t obvious, the first Wii units have been sent out to retailers for the console’s upcoming Sunday launch (what IS it with Nintendo and Sunday launches?). So, those of you lucky enough to have gotten a pre-order will be enjoying motion-sensing Zelda goodness, while the rest of us will have to settle for pretty Wii interface videos until the next shipment. No fears though; Nintendo is planning to ship 4 million little white Wiis between now and the end of the year, so if you don’t have a pre-order, you’re still in the running. Now all Nintendo has to do is put out Super Mario Galaxy…

[via IGN]

First Wiis Head to Retail is written by Benjamin Nied & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 - 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

PS3 Backwards Compatibility Not Quite There Yet

Benjamin Nied — Tue, 14 Nov 2006 14:29:53 +0000

Well, something had to give. In keeping with our massive amount of Sony coverage, we’re now learning that the software which the consoles uses to emulate PSOne and PS2 games isn’t quite perfect yet. Games like Gran Turismo 4 and Final Fantasy XI apparently suffer from audio and graphical glitches, with the occasional full-blown crash. Sony promises to fix these glaring issues with another online update, so sit tight if your favorite PSOne/PS2 games aren’t working as they should be. In the meantime, you could always download some old PSOne games and play those!

[via BBC News]

PS3 Backwards Compatibility Not Quite There Yet is written by Benjamin Nied & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 - 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Sony Posts First Downloadable PSOne Games

Benjamin Nied — Tue, 14 Nov 2006 13:55:44 +0000

Should you happen to be lucky enough to own Sony’s PlayStation 3, you’ll be happy to know two things. One, the PlayStation Network went live this weekend (oh joy), and two, they’ve since posted the first group of downloadable PSOne games for your gaming pleasure. Each game will run Japanese gamers 2000 yen (roughly $17 USD), which means they should cost around $20 when the system launches Stateside this Friday. While this list, to put it bluntly, is disappointing, hopefully the really good classic PSOne games will find their way to the service before long. Until then, here’s the list:

Arc the Lad
Biohazard: Director’s Cut Edition (Resident Evil: Director’s Cut as it’s known in the US)
Bishi Bashi Special
Jumping Flash!
Konami Antiques MSX Collection Vol. 1
Konami Antiques MSX Collection Vol. 2
Hot Shots Golf 2
Mr. Driller
Silent Bomber
Tekken 2

Again, the selection isn’t that great right now, but this should improve with time. Until then, one more round of Resident Evil can’t be all that bad, right?

[via GameBrink]

Sony Posts First Downloadable PSOne Games is written by Benjamin Nied & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 - 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

GameStop PS3 Stocks Slashed in Half?

Benjamin Nied — Tue, 14 Nov 2006 13:40:26 +0000

Pre-ordered your shiny new PlayStation 3 from GameStop/EB Games, did ya? You might wanna sharpen your pitchfork/sword/other weapon: apparently, due to “lower than expected yields”, most stores have been forced to cut the number of consoles they’ll have available when the console launches in the United States this week. In some cases, stores have lost half the stock they thought they’d have for the November 17th sendoff, meaning that a lot of very anxious campers are going to go home empty-handed. Just so that you’re not left out in the cold, EB/GS are selecting unlucky pre-order owners based on when they ordered their machines and phoning them to tell them the news. Oh well; there’s always the Wii if you need some gaming goodness! Otherwise, you’re stuck waiting for the next PS3 shipment, and who knows when THAT might be?

[via IGN]

Modder Makes His PSP Even Shiner

Benjamin Nied — Tue, 14 Nov 2006 13:39:56 +0000

As if the PlayStation Portable needed any more shine to it (seriously, the thing is impossible to keep glossy), an experienced modder who’s previously used his talents on his Xbox and Dreamcast decided to add some blue LEDs to his PSP. Total work time: 30 hours. Total insanity level: really, really high. Apparently, the modification is so ungodly difficult that the modder refuses to make a how-to so that he won’t have to go through re-opening and re-soldering half his handheld again. To hear from the mighty modder himself, hit the jump!

Here’s a mod I just finished on my PSP. It was damn hard and took 30 hours over three days. I decided to do this mod because this PSP was bought used and the previous owner pulled up the silver ring on the UMD tray. It was included with the PSP but was scratched to hell and bent. I decided soon after I bought it that I would replace it, but it took a year before I decided what to do with it.

That being said, I probably won’t make a how-to. Considering the difficulty level of this mod, if you can’t figure it out yourself, you’ll probably just break your PSP or UMD tray. I used to mod my dreamcast and xbox, and this is by far the hardest thing I’ve done so far. If I get a lot of requests, I’ll describe it and maybe make some graphics, but I doubt I’ll take the PSP apart again for fear of having to solder some things again.

Pretty nifty little modification, wouldn’t you say? Anyone feel like trying to top it?

[via Gizmodo]

PS3 to Get Updated on Launch Day

Benjamin Nied — Fri, 10 Nov 2006 15:22:50 +0000

There’s one major upside to having selling an expensive piece of electronics with an upgradeable firmware; you can fix all the little nagging issues you find after sending the specs to manufacturing without having to recall every little machine. That seems to be the case with Sony’s PlayStation 3; anyone lucky enough to get a console on launch day will be told to update to version 1.10, which will update the system to allow full use of the PlayStation Network. A second update is planned for the end of November, this time to enable PSP connectivity and update the PSP’s firmware to v3.0, assuming you have a PS3 with a Wi-Fi adaptor. This PSP firmware update will allow PSP game downloads from the PlayStation Store as well as a remote control feature that would allow users to control their PS3 via their nifty little handheld. Sounds cool on-paper; let’s see how it works in real-life.
[via 1UP]

WoW Expansion Set for January 16th

Benjamin Nied — Fri, 10 Nov 2006 15:11:12 +0000

MMORPG gamers all over the world can be merry and rejoice (unless you play EQ 2); World of Warcraft’s long-awaited expansion, The Burning Crusade, has a street release date after a delay pushed it back from October to the first quarter of next year. The expansion will now hit shelves on January 16th, just in time you ask your parents to pre-order it as your Christmas present. The game is available from various retailers for $39.99; no word yet as to whether this means that you’ll also get a free month of playing with your purchase, but I would be surprised if Blizzard decided that the expansion shouldn’t feature the same caveat as the retail version of the game. See you in Stormwind!

[via Gamers.com]

Microsoft On-Target to Hit 10 Million Xbox 360s

Benjamin Nied — Thu, 09 Nov 2006 16:43:20 +0000

True to their word, Microsoft has confirmed that they are on-target to reach the 10 million console mark for next-generation consoles by the end of the year, not hard considering the other two options are still a week or so away from launching. Whether or not this means that they’ll end up winning the next-generation war remains to be seen, as their assertion that “first one to 10 million wins” seems like a long-shot. However, with 10 million consoles worldwide, that means that the Xbox 360 should be the most plentiful next-gen console available this holiday season, meaning gamers unable to find a Wii or PS3 are likely to gravitate towards Microsoft’s White Box of Doom. And with Halo 3 right on the horizon for next year, it’s a good time to love your Xbox.

[via Gamepro]

PlayStation Network Download Prices Unveiled

Benjamin Nied — Thu, 09 Nov 2006 16:04:48 +0000

In a classic case of procrastination, Sony has JUST announced the first set of prices for their PlayStation Network downloads, a full 48 hours before the consoles go on sale over in Japan. While we’ve only been given the price for one of the downloads, this should give us some idea as to Sony’s complete pricing plan for their lineup.

Sony’s Blast Factor will retail on the download store for 840 yen; roughly $7.00 USD. There will also be a free demo available if you want to see if the game is any good before dropping a whole 7 bucks on it. The game itself will require at least 95 MB of hard drive space for installation, making this download come in slightly larger than first-generation Xbox Live! Arcade titles. Oh well, if it’s a fun game, you can stand the extra download time, right?

[via IGN]

Take-Two Announces GTA: The Trilogy

Benjamin Nied — Wed, 08 Nov 2006 15:16:13 +0000

Just in time to cash in on the PlayStation 2′s final holiday season as king of the hill (it’s big brother comes out next week, after all), Take-Two has announced GTA: The Trilogy. If the name doesn’t quite clue you in as to what this is, exactly, it’s all three PS2 Grand Theft Auto games in one neat little package: Grand Theft Auto III, GTA: Vice City, and GTA: San Andreas. This is also likely to be the last time we see the GTA franchise on current-generation hardware, since GTA IV has already been announced for the PS3 and Xbox 360. So, if you’ve been waiting for a good reason to pick up these GTA titles, the $39.99 price tag is most definitely inviting.

[via Gamasutra]

8 More Games Added to Wii VC List

Benjamin Nied — Wed, 08 Nov 2006 13:56:16 +0000

Retro gamers all over the world agree that the NES is/was awesome. So, what could be more enjoyable than playing some of these older titles on you shiny new Wii? That’s what I thought. So, to that end, Nintendo of America (via an ESRB submission) has revealed 8 more Virtual Console titles for your gaming pleasure, letting gamers with fond memories of their 8-bit conquests to relive their glory days once again. The update list of Virtual Console games for the Wii is as follows (changes are italicized):

Virtual Console Games

NES

* Mario Bros.
* The Legend of Zelda
* Donkey Kong
* Donkey Kong Jr.
* Ice Hockey
* Pinball
* Soccer
* Tennis
* Urban Champion
* Wario’s Woods
* Baseball
* Solomon’s Key
* Duck Hunt
* Hogan’s Alley
* Kid Icarus
* Kirby’s Adventure
* Pilot Wings
* Pro Wrestling
* Punch-Out
* Wild Gunman

SNES

* F-Zero
* SimCity

N64

* Super Mario 64

Sega Genesis

* Sonic the Hedgehog
* Altered Beast
* Golden Axe
* Columns
* Ecco the Dolphin
* Gunstar Heroes
* Space Harrier II
* Toe Jam & Earl
* Ristar
* Dr. Robotnik’s Mean Bean Machine

TurboGrafx16

* Bonk’s Adventure
* Super Star Soldier
* Victory Run
* Bomberman ‘93
* Dungeon Explorer

[via IGN]

Activision Unveils PS3 Launch Titles

Benjamin Nied — Tue, 07 Nov 2006 06:48:32 +0000

Activision has decided that, even though we’ve still got a while before the PlayStation 3 makes its way over to Europe (sorry guys), it’s time that we find out exactly what will be available for all the happy new owners once the consoles hit shores in March. Since this is the first hint as to what European gamers will be able to see when they trade a mountain of cash for a shiny new console, here’s the list:

Call of Duty 3
Marvel: Ultimate Alliance
Tony Hawk Project 8

Not much, but it gives you some idea as to what Activision plans of focusing on come launch day. So let’s cross out fingers that this massive Blu-ray diode shortage doesn’t force an even-greater delay and that this console gets out on-time.

[via IGN]

Microsoft to Offer HD Video Downloads

Benjamin Nied — Tue, 07 Nov 2006 06:48:05 +0000

To commemorate the first anniversary of the Xbox 360 (which is November 22nd if you’re into giving your console birthdays), Microsoft has decided to step into Apple’s arena and start offering video downloads via Xbox Live. They’ve made deals with CBS, MTV Networks, Paramount Pictures, Turner, and Warner Bros. to bring high-definition content to the Xbox 360, making it “the first gaming console in history to provide high-definition TV shows and movies directly to gamers in their living rooms.” To check out a partial list of what you’ll be able to get, hit the jump!

Aqua Teen Hunger Force
Avatar: The Last Airbender
Batman Forever
Breaking Bonaduce
Carpocalypse
Chappelle’s Show
CSI
Hogan Knows Best
Jackass: The Movie
Mission Impossible III
Nacho Libre
Pimp My Ride
Race Rewind
Raising the Roofs
Robot Chicken
Skyland
South Park
SpongeBob SquarePants
Star Trek
Superman Returns
Survivor
The Matrix
The Nicktoons Network Animation Festival
The Real World
The Ultimate Fighter
UFC: All Access

[via Gamasutra]

New Details on Twilight Princess!

Benjamin Nied — Mon, 06 Nov 2006 13:59:42 +0000

Nintendo, being the loving megacorporation that it is, has graced us with some new details regarding The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. While a couple of initial reviews of the game have been less than stellar, both Gamecube and Wii owners (this we knew) will be able to enjoy the 70+ hours the game offers. Also (amusingly), the Wii’s version of the game features a first-ever right-handed Link, while the GC version will feature Link in his left-handed glory. Finally, there aren’t a ton of other differences between the two versions; the Wii’s version supports 16:9 widescreen and Wiimote functionality, along with some very minor graphical cleanups. If you’re a GC user, you’ll need to wait until December 11th to take Link for a spin. but users lucky enough to grab a Wii will be able to get the new Zelda at launch. Get your consoles ready!

[via GamePro]