There’s also an ethernet port, for hooking up to Sony’s BRAVIA Internet Video service, and a pair of optical digital audio outputs. A single Freeview digital TV tuner, SCART socket, component video input and VGA input round out the main specs; the only thing missing is that you can’t wall-mount it, which would’ve been a nice touch for a kid’s bedroom.

Given the UK-spec tuner we’re guessing the BRAVIA KDL22PX300 won’t be showing up on North American shores any time soon, though we suppose Sony could well come out with a US-spec version if there’s sufficient demand. It’s available now.

[via Kotaku]

But, if you’ve been hoping that the ability to play PS2 titles would come back some day, Sony has heard your quiet prayers. Maybe. Thanks to a new patent unearthed, it looks like Sony is, at least at some point or another, playing around with the idea of introducing a new peripheral that will let you play PS2 titles again, right from the PS3 (kind of).

Sony took out the backwards compatible feature from current generation PS3s because of cost (and probably more reasons than that), so it will be interesting to see if a real product even exists, or will ever exist. The big question would be: does anyone still have PS2 games that they’d want to play? The PS3′s library is strong enough now that many folks would probably like to stay in the present, and not so much in the past. Then again, some titles are just too classic to forget. Plus, you can still play PlayStation titles.

[via TG Daily]

X-Arcade announced a new PS2 to Xbox 360 adapter today that will allow gamers to use the X-Arcade Solo, Dual, or Tankstick controllers with the Xbox 360 console. There are a few caveats to using the X-Arcade controllers with the Xbox though. According to the manufacturer you have to have a PS2 device (presumably that means console) or a PS2 adapter for the X-Arcade.

The PS2 adapter along with the Xbox 360 adapter costs about $40. It appears from the images that the Xbox adapter plugs into the PS2 adapter to allow the controller to function with the console. Each Xbox player also has to have their own wired Xbox gamepad. My Xbox didn’t even come with wired controllers.

The device is a rear sear entertainment system that has a built in PS2. The system can also play movies as well. The entire works is situated inside an all-in-one bin that drops down for viewing. The integration of the PS2 is seamless and no other cables or wires are needed.

The system has a 10.2-inch 16:9 LCD with a built-in dome light. It ships with all you need to play including two sets of IR headphones, and two PS2 games along with a remote and a FM modulator. The device carries an MSRP of $949.99.

According to the exec, Sony is concentrating on serving PS3 games and Blu-ray movies, which are apparently the main reason people are now buying the console.  Koller also confirmed that upgrading the hard-drive in the PS3 Slim would not invalidate the console’s warranty, and in fact claims Sony made it purposefully straightforward as “a two-screw process”.

[via Joystiq]

Some of Sony’s key products also put in a poor showing, with the PlayStation 3 selling just 1.1 million units during the three month period (down from 1.6m units a year ago) and the PSP selling 1.3 million units (down from 3.7m).  In fact the only good news in Sony’s gaming division was the PlayStation 2, the cut to $99 of which pushed sales up to 1.6 million units compared to 1.5 a year earlier.

Sony are blaming a combination of factors for the poor showing, including a stronger yen compared to the dollar and euro this time last year, the general economic recession, and poor showings in affiliate companies.  The games division alone lost 39.7bn yen.

The Emotion Engine was used to allow PS3 gamers to use their older, PS2 titles on the new machine.  Present on the original 60GB PS3, it was removed when the 80GB version arrived, and was also absent from the entry-level 40GB model. 

Sony describe the new system as “an example of a host system based on a cell processor that may be configured to emulate the target system”, and there seems little purpose to it beyond backwards-compatibility.  One possibility is that Sony are considering digital distribution of their PS2 back-catalog, making classic titles available to all PS3 gamers.

[via Electricpig]

The book actually came from a library sale on the online auction site, and the library card inside suggests that nobody actually checked it out.  Happily it also means that Thompson didn’t receive another royalty check for the sale, though going by the wealth of one star reviews on Amazon – “Jack Thompson writes as if English were a second language to him” – there are plenty of people who actually paid for the book who would like a refund.

A row of pennies stuck to the underside of the front cover provides it with enough weight to keep it closed.  Mattigus’ first act on completing the mod was, ironically, playing Grand Theft Auto III. 

[via Kotaku]

There’s also a touch-sensitive slider on the guitar controller’s neck, for advanced play, and rubber dome technology buttons on the fretboard.  That’s the same technology as used in Logitech keyboards, which the company suggests will aid longevity of the guitar controller.

Battery life is reported as in the “hundreds of hours”, though it’s unclear what sort of batteries are used.  The Logitech Wireless Guitar Controller for PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 2 will hit retail later in May 2009 in the US and in Europe come June; it’ll have an MRSP of $199.99.

Press Release:

Logitech Unveils Black Edition of Wireless Guitar Controller for PLAYSTATION 3

Wireless Guitar Controller for Guitar Hero to be Available Worldwide

FREMONT, Calif. – May 12, 2009 — Logitech (SIX: LOGN) (NASDAQ: LOGI) today announced the Logitech® Wireless Guitar Controller for PLAYSTATION®3 and PlayStation®2 computer entertainment systems. Featuring authentic materials – including a wood neck and body, a rosewood fingerboard and metal frets – the Logitech Wireless Guitar Controller is for gamers who truly want to play like a rock star.
Following the introduction of the Logitech Wireless Guitar Controller, Premiere Edition (previously available only in select markets), the new black guitar controller is expected to be available worldwide later this month. The Logitech Wireless Guitar Controller is licensed by Activision Publishing, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATVI) for the award-winning Guitar Hero® franchise.
“Logitech’s new guitar controller delivers the same unparalleled Guitar Hero experience offered by our previous premiere edition to an even broader group of gamers and at a great value,” said Ruben Mookerjee, Logitech’s director of product marketing for gaming. “Everything about the Logitech Wireless Guitar Controller is premium – from the authentic wood material and flawless black finish, to the noise-dampening design of the strum bar and buttons, to the authentic accents provided by the metal frets.”
The Logitech Wireless Guitar Controller offers a one-piece contoured wood body preferred by many of the world’s leading rock guitarists. For reduced button noise, Logitech uses rubber dome technology on the fret board controls, the same material used in its award-winning keyboards. The guitar controller also incorporates a touch-sensitive slider, located on the neck of the guitar controller so you can rack up the points.
So you’ll be free to go where the music moves you, the Logitech Wireless Guitar Controller lets you jam at a range of up to 30 feet from the console and offers hundreds of hours of battery life.
The Logitech Wireless Guitar Controller will be available in a pristine black finish complemented with a glossy black pick guard.
Pricing and Availability
The Logitech Wireless Guitar Controller for PLAYSTATION®3 and PlayStation®2 computer entertainment systems is expected to be available this month in the U.S. for a retail price of $199.99 (U.S.) and will be available in Europe in June.
About Logitech
Logitech is a world leader in personal peripherals, driving innovation in PC navigation, Internet communications, digital music, home-entertainment control, gaming and wireless devices. Founded in 1981, Logitech International is a Swiss public company listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (LOGN) and on the Nasdaq Global Select Market (LOGI).

The cut was predicted yesterday, after a reduced price was spotted on Kmart’s stock systems.  However that leak suggested that the PS2 would be reduced on April 5th, a date we now know to be wrong.

It’s unclear whether the price cut will affect the PS2 outside of the US; in the UK, for instance, the PS2 retails from $99.99 ($143) as part of a bundle.  Sony had been rumored to be making a significant announcement today; we don’t know if a PS2 price-cut is what they were referring to.

The console currently retails for $129.99, despite being nearly 10 years old and superseded by the PS3.  According to the source, when they checked for any sign of the rumored PS3 price-cut in the Kmart system there was no sign.

Earlier this month, unnamed retailers in the UK told gaming sites that both the PSP and the PS3 would be seeing reductions, after Sony UK themselves had been warning of price-cuts.  No specific timeframe was given, however, aside from that the changes would happen “soon”.

The Playstation 2′s resiliance is due in large part to the amount of software support the system still receives, as well as the system’s lower price – it’s currently available for $129 in most stores.  This allows people who are interested in gaming to own a supported console without having to dish out $200+ for a next-generation system.

According to SCEA’s John Koller, director of marketing, the Playstation 2 will continue to be supported for some time to come.  That’s good news for those who are only interested in casual gaming at an affordable price.  Here’s to another 50 million, Sony.

[via Kotaku]

Compatible with both the PS2 and PS3, the Starpex controllers have a Speed Starpower/Overdrive button together with a tilt-sensor that can automatically trigger the mode.  Solos in Rock Band are supported with buttons high on the neck, and the whole thing is designed to be modular so new features – whether electronic or guitar body – can be added and swapped later on.

The Starpex is available now at Circuit City, J&R, MicroCenter and from Peak Products themselves with an MSRP of 179.99.

In the announcement Michael Shorrock the director of publisher relations at Playstation said “For the most part, this means that the titles with musical peripherals will work with the other’s software. A few specific examples include: Guitar Hero: World Tour’s guitars and drums will work with Rock Band 2 and Konami’s Rock Revolution software. And yes, you guessed it, Rock Band 2’s guitar and drum set will work with Guitar Hero: World Tour and with Rock Revolution. Conversely, Rock Revolution’s drum set will work with both Guitar Hero: World Tour and Rock Band 2. In addition, Guitar Hero: World Tour and Rock Band 2 will both support the SingStar microphones.”

Playstation is currently still working on compatibility for the Guitar Hero and Rock band titles that are already on the market.

PS3 Music Peripheral Compatibility Achieved is written by Emily Price & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 - 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved. ]]> http://www.slashgear.com/ps3-music-peripheral-compatibility-achieved-1914211/feed/ 0 http://www.slashgear.com/australia-gets-new-xbox-360-and-ps3-1814128/ http://www.slashgear.com/australia-gets-new-xbox-360-and-ps3-1814128/#comments Mon, 18 Aug 2008 10:37:59 +0000 Emily Price http://www.slashgear.com/?p=14128 Australian gamers have two reasons to be excited this morning. Today Microsoft is releasing a new upgraded Xbox 360, and Sony has officially confirmed a release date and pricing for the 80GB PS3.

The new Xbox 360 Pro is available in Australia starting today, the upgraded 360 has a 60GB hard drive and is selling for $499. Previously the 20GB Xbox 360 Pro was selling for $499.

If Xbox isn’t your thing, Sony has announced an official release date for their 80GB PS3 in Australia. The 80GB PS3 will be available for Australian customers on August 28th for $699. The PS3 also marks a pretty significant price drop given the 40GB version also sells for $699.

[via IGN]

The game will be released for the Wii, Xbox 360, PS2, DS and PSP this fall. Poor PS3 never gets any love. The basic mechanics are still the same, like he still whirls around really fast to smash boxes. The 2 player interface is actually really nice too. You can be in the middle of playing and a friend can pick up a controller and join in and leave just as easily.

On a side note I can’t stop staring at that picture. It appears that the tree is having all kinds of fun with that house’s back door. I mean seriously, it even has an arm up there for leverage. The worst part is that once you notice it, you can’t see anything else and you can’t look away.

[via kotaku]

The one being offered will be for the PS3/PS2/PC, rather than the 360. Honestly, I’m not sure why the 360 one isn’t getting some lovin too, but it’s awesome that this thing is getting made at all.

You can head here to get your pre-order in for the $129.95 controller. You can expect it to ship out in 8-10 weeks, which means you’ve still got a little while to wait. This is currently only a limited first-edition run, so you’d better order yours quick before they’re out!

[via PS3 Fanboy]

It’s been a chip-fest too, with Intel’s ongoing Atom delay proving a field-day for rivals.  The most significant announcement of the week came from NVIDIA, whose Tegra mobile CPU is aimed directly at Atom’s multimedia jugular.  AMD confirmed their Puma platform too, coupling the Turion X2 Ultra dual-core processor and ATI Radeon HD 3000-series graphics.

Both ends of the video scale were updated this week, with a new version of Sanyo’s popular Xacti, the HD1010 and Flip’s new 3oz Mino.  The former packs in 720p high-definition and ‘Face Chaser’ autofocus, while the latter continues on the super-simple route that has made the company’s products so successful.

In gaming, Sony packed a double surprise by re-launching the PS2 in Japan (with a fresh paint-job) and confirming it would be adding adverts to its game titles.  Personally, though, I was more excited by the concept Wiispray graffiti controller; it seems to have kicked up quite an argument in the comments about whether e-graffiti is legitimate or not, though.

To round off the week, make sure you check out our exclusive report from behind the scenes of DreamWorks’ Kung Fu Panda.  HP invited us to see their animation data farm, but we were more interested in learning the Panda Dance. 

Don’t forget, we’ll be Live Blogging the Apple WWDC 2008 Keynote tomorrow, Monday June 9th at 10AM San Fransisco time, where we expect Steve Jobs to announce the new 3G iPhone.  Make sure you join us at http://live.iphonebuzz.com/ to find out the news as it happens!

There actually doesn’t appear to be much different about the outdated console aside from the new paint job. I’m not really sure why they’re releasing a new color for an outdated console. Sure, you’ll get plenty of life out of your old PS2, but is there really enough demand to justify an extra SKU?

I’m curious if this will prompt other companies to re-release consoles in fancy new colors. Perhaps we’ll see a yellow Xbox and a tie-dye Game Cube in the future.

[via Ubergizmo]

The Double Range Guitar is one of those products that any fan of both series might want to look into (if they own a PS3). Sure, shelling out an extra $59.99 doesn’t seem like a lot of fun, but you could potentially eliminate several plastic controllers from your living room.

The guitar features the usual five fret buttons, strum bar and whammy bar that we’re used to for Guitar Hero, with the additional five frets and effects switch for Rock Band as well. Even better, it’s wireless so you can eliminate all of those messy cords from your living room too.

[via SlipperyBrick]

Beginning on July 15, those that are itching for fresh tracks for their PS2 or Wii will be able to pick up the Rock Band  Track Pack Volume 1. The disc will contain 20 tracks that have already been released on the other two consoles, and will retail for $30. I’d say that’s not too shabby, as it comes to $1.50 per track. What’s even better is that the disc will act as a standalone game (think Guitar Hero 80′s without all of the crappy songs). Full track listing is below.

• 30 Seconds to Mars “The Kill”
• All American Reject “Move Along”
• Blink – 182 “All the Small Things”
• Boston “More Than a Feeling”
• David Bowie “Moonage Daydream”
• Faith No More “We Care A Lot”
• Grateful Dead “Truckin’”
• The Hives “Die, All Right!”
• KISS “Calling Dr. Love”
• Lynyrd Skynyrd “Gimme’ Three Steps”
• Nine Inch Nails “March of the Pigs”
• Oasis “Live Forever”
• Paramore “Crushcrushcrush”
• The Police “Synchronicity II”
• Queens of the Stone Age “Little Sister”
• Ramones “Teenage Lobotomy”
• Smashing Pumpkins “Siva”
• Stone Temple Pilots “Interstate Love Song”
• Weezer “Buddy Holly”
• Wolfmother “Joker & the Thief”

The release of these games is no doubt a move to build up excitement about the impending release of Metal Gear Solid 4 on the PS3. If you haven’t played one or all of these games, you can bet that it’ll be well worth the money. After all, it’s been labeled as one of the most successful games series of all time (even if it was Konami’s VP of Marketing that labeled it such).

We’re not actually sure when the Metal Gear Solid: Essential Collection will be hitting store shelves. However, we do know that it’ll set you back $29.99, which isn’t bad for what you get.

[via GamePro]

Industry insiders claim that the PSP title may get ported later this year to the PS2. This would make for yet another reason why you shouldn’t unhook your old console just yet.

There is speculation that the port will not actually be handled by Capcom. It would likely be handled by a yet-unnamed LA-based developer.

[via 1up]