The problem, which existed on PS3 only, was attributed to a glitch in the way save files were created and caused them to grow into uncontrollable sizes that prevented the game from running properly. The issue has recently been fixed with a patch, and now Bethesda is clinging to brighter news. Even games like Battlefield 3, Gears of War 3, or the new Uncharted game were not as successful as Skyrim.

The Elder Scrolls series has long been regarded as one of the most masterful and brilliantly designed game franchises in the current generation, but its reach had previously been very niche in scope. Apparently that has changed. Within its first month, more than 10 million copies of the game had been shipped, spanning the Xbox 360, PS3, and PC. On the PC, it became digital distribution platform Steam’s fastes-selling game ever.

[via Eurogamer]

This version of the game is made to work in your home for multiplayer, sure, but where it really explodes is its online play where you’ll get to rock out one of your four teams that correlate with one of the classic characters from the series: Sweet Tooth (The Clowns), Dollface (The Dolls), Mr. Grimm (The Skulls) and the Preacher (The Holy Men). Not only are you encouraged to play epic battles on the PlayStation Network, you’ve got several modes of play including the brand new terror known as Nuke Mode.

In Nuke Mode your goal is to take your opponent’s team leader hostage, sacrifice them to your missile launcher, and knock out a piece of your enemy’s giant metal statue. The metal statue your opponent has is being held high by a helicopter. How all of this makes any sense in the real world, we do not know – but it seems entertaining! This newest version of the game also contains a whole new set of vehicles including Death Warrant (aka a Ford Mustang), a Roadboat (one gigantic beast of a vehicle indeed), Vermin (for capturing your mice friends,) and the ever classic Sweet Tooth ice cream truck.

Again this game is out right now and you should pick it up as soon as possible – then watch out for us, because we’ll be crushing!

On the official Bethesda forums, players are now concerned with the game’s framerate. “After all the wait skyrim ps3 is still inferior. The fps is a bit better though but frames still drop in certain areas,” one player wrote. Among the other complaints are that the game still occasionally freezes with no warning, forcing players to restart from their last save point.

The lag had been attributed to the fact that as players progressed through the game, their save files grew larger and larger until they became so big that it caused the game to be overwhelmed and unable to process the large data in real time. Neither the Xbox 360 nor the PC version of Skyrim seemed to suffer from any sort of similar problem. The patch reportedly addressed the PS3 issue, along with other optimization issues, but apparently it didn’t do quite enough. Hopefully Bethesda will respond in a future update, but for now at least the game is playable.

[via NowGamer]

The crippling file size bug seemed to really only affect PS3 users, and had absolutely no impact on PC gamers. Bethesda released a patch to the PC version last month, but because consoles require an entire certification and scheduling process before any game-related file can be pushed out to users, PS3 owners were forced to just wait and wait. And now, the wait is over. According to gamer reactions, the new patch does the job just fine.

Bethesda recommends that after downloading the patch, players should go into the game and manually save their progress to overwrite the glitchy save file. Players should immediately notice the new save file has a smaller file size. Then, if you quit the game and go back in to your new save file, which will still contain all the progress from your old save file, the game should run much more smoothly. For PS3 Skyrims fans, the only words that fit in this situation are “it’s about time.”

[via CVG]

So says the latest study from customer research giant Nielsen. The group found that only 44% of US households are completely devoid of the current round of consoles, all of which have been on the market for more than five years. The Xbox 360 has been available since 2005. Because of the longer console life cycle, it’s possible for budget-conscious and non-gamer consumers to come in late in the process and still have the most up-to-date console available.

According to Nielsen, overall gaming activity increased by 7%, a number that also included smartphone and tablet games. That is what the company sees as a potential major trend for 2012. It also expects cross-platform connectivity between different devices to explode this year. And its last prediction for the future – in-game monetization will be a big trend. That is, get ready to start spending a lot more money on your games after you buy or download them.

[via Gamespot]

It’s pretty ridiculous in the first place to think of the classic board game being turned into a full-length feature film. But then again, the connection between the two really exist in name only, as the movie seems to be your standard popcorn action flick. What will be more interesting is to see how the video game version adapts and whether or not it will include odes the deacdes-old strategy game classic.

Here’s how a press release describes the game: “Combining naval strategy simulation with first-person shooter gameplay, players fend off the enemy beachside while ordering attacks against their marine counterparts. Seamlessly switching between battlefield and overview “Battle Command” map, the Hasbro game is brought to life as carriers, frigates, cruisers, destroyers, submarines and the legendary USS Missouri Battleship pummel the enemy in a race to strategic points that turn the tide of battle.” It doesn’t sound to us like there will be much dialogue like, “Hey, you sunk my battleship.”

[via Gamezone]

The study that revealed this information came from Parks Associates and is titled Trends in Digital Gaming: Free-to-Play, Social, and Mobile Games. Based on the title of the report alone, you can probably guess what the conclusion of the study was. It’s thanks to the explosion of games on new and non-barrier-heavy platforms on which to play video games like Facebook and cell phones. These are platforms that everyone has access to, as opposed to the old environment where gamers had to go out and buy a dedicated game system or piece of computer gaming software.

The research group found that among Facebook gamers who actually spend money, the average amount spent per month is $29. In addition, those who log into free-to-play games including freemium mobile games, and end up paying for in-game currency or items, are racking up an average of $21 per month in charges. These numbers are pretty low compared to what you might have considered a typical gamer just a few years ago, and it doesn’t even factor in those who are perfectly content playing the free games and never putting in their credit card number. We all knew the industry was expanding, but 44% of the country now defined as an active gamer? That’s a pretty big amount.

[via VentureBeat]

Sony confirmed earlier this month that it would be offering discounts for those buying their games digitally rather than in physical stores. Already showing up for sale are Hot Shots at $36, WipEout 2048 at $36 and Modnation Racers Road Trip at $27, each with a 10-percent cut from the MRSP, though Uncharted is $50 and Super Stardust Delta is $10, each with no discount.

The pricing is already prompting upset among would-be PS Vita buyers, who have highlighted that taking 10-percent from Sony’s MRSP is still more than some third-party retailers are asking for boxed games. WipEout 2048, for instance, is available for $29.99 online.

The PlayStation update v4.10 also renames the PSN to the Sony Entertainment Network, as well as improving the console’s browser. According to Sony, rendering in the browser is now faster.

[via The Sixth Axis]

A video game debut at a toy show? That is certainly not the norm, and it goes a long way in describing why Skylanders became so successful. It managed to find that perfect blend of engaging gameplay and physical, real-world collectibility. The game uses actual toys that players can buy from GameStop or other stores, which are placed on a special peripheral connected to the game console that allows players to bring that toy to life. It doesn’t stop there, as players can then take their toys to their friends’ houses and retain all the customization and leveling up they’ve already achieved. That information is stored in the toy figure.

The new iteration will include eight new collectible toys, and they’ll be more high-tech. The new Skylanders figurines will light up when they come into contact with the so-called “Portal of Power” peripheral that brings them into the game. Of course there will also be a new story and brand new gameplay, and Activision also promises deep integration between different channels – console, mobile, and online. “While it was still in development, we recognized the potential that Skylanders had to connect with our customers due to its unique merging of physical and digital play,” said Toys R Us CEO Jerry Storch.

[via VentureBeat]

Those questions have been put to rest, though, as Square Enix producer Shinji Hashimoto has confirmed that it will only be an “HD remaster.” This is what most gamers had expected. After all, there is decreasing hope of a full-fledged remake of any recent Final Fantasy title after Square Enix has continously refused to reinvision the penultimate Final Fantasy VII on a modern-generation platform.

There does remain one question, though – will the Final Fantasy X re-release be based on the American version of the game, or Final Fantasy X International, which included an “Expert” gameplay mode and increased the customization and flexibility of play. This special version was never released in North America, so if the PS3/Vita relaunch uses the International edition as the base game, we could be looking at new content for American gamers. There is still not much information released about the project, and we have heard nothing about a release date.

[via PlayStation Lifestyle]

The Call of Duty Elite Drop 1: Liberation will take place in a militarized Central Park in the heart of NYC. It features a vast landscape great for long-range sniper and LMG kills with mounted turrets on each end of the map. Elite Drop 2: Piazza takes place in a seaside village where blind corners and complex branching pathways means danger lurks at every turn and ensures plenty of close-quarter combat.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3′s content season is co-developed by Infinity Ward, Sledgehammer Games, and Raven Software. The new maps have already been released for the Xbox 360 last month due to an exclusivity deal between Activision and Microsoft. Hence, new DLC content for Call of Duty will always be available first for Premium Members on Xbox 360, but Premium Members on PS3 will also get the content ahead of non-premium members on the PS3.

[via Gamasutra]

The good news is Sony claims that most online play will be unaffected. Sony also notes that users who are already signed into their account on the PlayStation Network before the maintenance starts should be able to stay signed into their accounts. However, a number of services will be unavailable for the entire length of maintenance. The services that will be unavailable during maintenance includes the PlayStation Store via the PS3, PSP, and Media Go.

PlayStation Network users will also be unable to access account management and account registration features. PlayStation HomeMusic Unlimited and Video Unlimited services will also be unavailable during maintenance. It is worth noting that during the maintenance, gamers will be able to collect in game trophies and the trophies will be updated to their account when maintenance ends.

[via Blog.US.PlayStation.com]

Meanwhile, the S-LCD business – Sony’s share of which has now been sold off to partner Samsung – contributed to a loss despite Samsung paying for Sony’s half, because the company’s shares went cheaply when they were sold last month. Repairs after the flooding in Thailand cost $114m, though much of that was covered by insurance.

Profit from LCD televisions declined, thanks to lower retail prices that didn’t cover Sony’s own costs, while the company’s game business struggled to make back what Sony had spent on marketing to promote the PlayStation Network. Lower sales of the PS3 itself didn’t help either.

The ray of hope is Sony’s movie business, which saw a 7.7-percent increase year-on-year with sales of $2.1bn. Still, Sony predicts a larger than expected loss for its full 2011 fiscal year, with Hirai to focus on boosting its core businesses of cameras and games, increase investment into mobile and restructure the TV business, in addition to ditching the more unprofitable areas the firm has found itself in.

The biggest irritant to PS3 gamers is that the Xbox 360 gets Call of Duty add-on content months before they do, but this time the timed exclusivity bit happens before the base game is even released. The RE6 demo will go live for Xbox 360 owners on July 3, while anyone wanting to sweat through the preview with a DualShock will have to wait until September 4. That’s the way the cookie crumbles.

A Capcom spokesperson was quoted by GamingTarget.com as saying, “This was a strategic business decision.” As a footnote, this demo will only be available to gamers who purchase the other Capcom title Dragon’s Dogma, which launches on May 22. Those who have no interest in Dogma will have to wait until September 20, when it will be generally available to both platforms.

[via GamingTarget]

The Tester, which is released in weekly installments through the PlayStation Network’s video store, pits self-proclaimed PlayStation fanatics in a series of wacky and outrageous stunts until only one is left standing. The winner gets a $5,000 cash prize and the opportunity to become a full-time entry-level game tester. The show has been maligned from the beginning for its terrible prize and for the ridiculous way it tries to tie in the show’s obstacles into actual responsibilities of being a game tester (having cockroaches running up and down your face shows that you’re good under pressure, which is a trait of all good game testers. Yeah, sure).

UPDATE: Sony has updated us to note: “This year, we’ve changed things up and the prize is a position as a Production Associate at Santa Monica Studios.” Exciting stuff!

In the “where are they now?” files, The Tester season 1 winner Will “Cyrus” Powers is now an “Associate PR Generalist”, and season 2′s victor, Matthew “Gaymer” Brown now works for Sony Pictures. Who will be the next to walk through the revolving door at Sony? Find out when The Tester 3 begins “airing” on the PlayStation Network on February 7.

[via PlayStation Blog]

Aaron Luke, a designer on the game, has confirmed that users will be able to save their games to the cloud. This includes Franchise, Road to the Show, and Season modes. This means users can pick up where they left off at a friend’s house, and they won’t lose any data if their PS3 hard drive happens to malfunction. That’s a pretty neat and handy feature.

There’s another interesting part of this feature, though. MLB 12 The Show is also coming out on PlayStation Vita, and save data will be transferrable between the two systems. So Road the Show mode will actually be playable, well, on the road. The MLB “The Show” franchise has long been heralded as the most realistic baseball simulation series in the gaming industry. It’s also been a favorite for Sony to showcase its new technology, including HD graphics, 3D functionality, and now cloud saving and PlayStation Vita compatibility. The game is due out on both platforms on March 6.

[via PlayStation Blog]

Activision has a very well-known, iron-clad contract with Microsoft that guarantees Call of Duty add-on content will be released first on the Xbox 360, and then trickle down to other platforms later. Microsoft paid Activision a whole bunch of money for this privilege. But then Activision launched a service called Call of Duty Elite, which gives gamers exclusive access to special in-game events, content, and more. One of the biggest selling points is that Elite members are the very first to access new DLC packs – but only on Xbox 360. That is exactly what happened this week, when Modern Warfare 3′s first DLC pack was released.

Some PS3 gamers believed that Elite benefits were universal across both platforms because in the literature about Elite, it does not distinguish between Xbox 360 players and PS3 players. Nevertheless, Activision’s Dan Amrich wrote in a blog took the counter position – the literature also never specifically says that the benefits are the same.

“It was never one of the things listed in the official benefits chart; it was never promised by any representative of Activision, Call of Duty, Elite, or its developers. Honestly? I think gamers just convinced themselves that it would happen because they wanted it to happen. That makes sense, but it doesn’t make it true,” said Amrich.

[via One of Swords]

Microsoft changed its virtual currency structure in 2010, when it allowed customers to add funds to their account in increments of 400 points ($5) instead of 500 ($6.25). This was in reaction to complaints from users who were always stuck with a handful of leftover points that could not be spent.

Microsoft has made previous comments about wanting to be more transparent with the cost of digital content, but clearly still operates with the confusing ratio of 1 MP = 1.25 cents. Nintendo’s digital point system is simple enough; $1 = 100 points. And the PS3 actually has the novel idea of showing content prices in US dollars and cents, or whatever the user’s local currency is.

Under the reported new plan, Microsoft would follow in Sony’s footsteps. As mentioned, MS has made similar comments about creating a transparent system before and nothing ever materialized, but maybe the time has finally come. This latest report says the adjustment will happen by the end of 2012. Stay tuned.

[via Inside Mobile Apps]

[Image credit: Tai Chiem]

Therefore, many people reason, Sony will be offering up its console within the next 24 months.

I hate to be the guy who comes in and gives those hopeful folks the bad news, but I just don’t see that happening. Sure, Nintendo is launching the Wii U this year and there’s a good chance it’ll appeal to many consumers, but that device is far more of a catch-up product to match the Xbox 360 and the PlayStation 3, rather than a console that can set a new standard in gameplay.

What’s more, if we examine Sony’s sales over the last several years, it becomes abundantly clear that the company’s claim that the console really is a ten-year device might just hold up.

Sony has seen console sales grow year-over-year since the PlayStation 3 first launched. What’s more, with nearly 60 million consoles sold worldwide, there’s a strong possibility that Sony’s device could surpass the Xbox 360 in total sales within the next year.

Those that have been watching NPD release their sales figures each month with Microsoft’s hardware in the lead might find that surprising. However, it’s important to note that NPD’s figures are U.S.-only, making them a sub-par barometer of how all gamers actually feel about the consoles. Elsewhere around the world, especially in Japan, the PlayStation 3 is dominating the Xbox 360.

But that’s just sales. The fact is, the PlayStation 3 is still one of the best Blu-ray players on the market, and its graphical prowess is top-notch. As always, gamers would like to see even better graphics, but at this point, I’m not quite sure how much of an improvement we could actually get if Sony launches a new console this year or next.

So, I think it’s time we acknowledge that the PlayStation 3, while not perfect by any means, doesn’t need to be replaced anytime soon. The console is still commercially viable, it’s still delivering high-quality experiences, and it’s priced right for consumers. Stunting its growth now would be a mistake of epic proportions.

Don’t even think about launching a new PlayStation this year or next, Sony. You have something solid already in place — and you shouldn’t want to mess that up.

Resident Evil 6 is being called “the most ambitious, immersive and feature rich title of the series to date and promises to be the dramatic horror experience of the year.” Capcom went on to reveal the first official plot details:

It has been ten years since the Raccoon City incident and the President of the United States has decided to reveal the truth behind what took place in the belief that it will curb the current resurgence in bioterrorist activity. Due to be by the President’s side is his personal friend and Raccoon City survivor, Leon S. Kennedy, but when the venue suffers a bioterrorist attack, Leon is forced to face a President transformed beyond recognition and make his hardest ever decision. At the same time, Bioterrorism Security Assessment Alliance member Chris Redfield arrives in China, itself under threat of a bioterrorist attack. With no country safe from these attacks and the ensuing outbreaks, the entire world’s population is united by a common fear that there is no hope left.

As for the viral ad campaign for Resident Evil 6, which involved graffiti billboards across the world with the words “No Hope Left” that pointed folks to the website NoHopeLeft.com, Capcom doesn’t confirm its connection to the ad. However, some sleuthing by a gaming group, The Sixth Axis, has already confirmed that the ads were placed by Capcom.

[via PlayStation Lifestyle]

Fast, small PCs aren’t especially new, though it’s only now that processor and graphics technology has caught up that SFF models can hold a candle to the bulky PC gaming rigs of old. Sony and Microsoft fettle their dedicated consoles to pretty much a single purpose, delivering optimum gaming performance from a device that has to work as an predictable appliance; it also means their abilities are pretty much unchanged since their hardware was first announced. The X51, in its high-spec’d form at least, is likely to be capable of better graphics and handling more intensive games.

The tipping point will come when Windows 8 arrives. Microsoft has already said that it plans to support Xbox LIVE on Windows 8 PCs, hooking platform-specific as well as other titles into the social and ranking system. “Live has been successful on the Windows Phone. Live will be built into the PC” Microsoft’s VP of global marketing Mike Delman said back in June 2011. “It will be the service where you get your entertainment. We were talking about it – you will not just see consoles and handhelds at this show next year, this show’s going to morph into other devices.”

Now Microsoft’s not stupid. It knows it has a perfectly serviceable console platform in Xbox, and the likelihood of it doing anything that legitimately threatens the Xbox 360′s rising appeal – or the potential success of the next-gen Xbox – is low. Still, there are a lot of people out there who might not buy a dedicated console but could be swayed to pick up a compact box that delivers not only gaming but HTPC functionality.

That blurring of the distinctions between console and computer – and, indeed, phone – all fit in with something the company has referred to as “three screens and a cloud”; gaming, desktop and mobile platforms all interlinked, your entertainment following you on the most appropriate device at any one time. Microsoft has also been readying its Kinect for Windows kit recently, promising a February launch for developers at least. Still, when the motion-sensing bar makes it to broad availability – we’re guessing at around the time Windows 8 hits PCs later in 2012 – it will bulldoze through another differentiator between 360 and the desktop.

Pricing will remain the big differentiator, at least for the moment. The X51 kicks off at $699, though that’s with a Core i3 processor; figure on spending $1,149 upwards if you want a Core i7 chip instead, and we’ve a feeling most hardcore gamers will. That’s enough to buy six Xbox 360 consoles with spare change left over, or one console, a Kinect and a whole catalog of games.

Still, consoles as we know them are gradually being squeezed, with capable and compact PCs at one side and the rise of casual gaming on affordable Smart TV set-top boxes at the other. Just as has been the case in mobile, with dedicated portable consoles losing out in favor to gaming smartphones and PMPs like Apple’s iPod touch, the center of our living room entertainment is also evolving. Alienware’s X51 isn’t going to kill the Xbox 360 and PS3 today, but it’s further evidence the old guard of gaming needs to step it up if they want to remain relevant tomorrow.

Whatever the year, it’s clear that Sony will eventually launch a new console. Microsoft will do the same. And Nintendo is already planning to do so in the coming months.

But all this talk of consoles has me thinking: do we really need more hardware?

The fact is, we’re inching closer to the day where hardware connected to our televisions will be a thing of the past. Samsung and DirecTV at CES this week announced a “boxless” solution that lets users have the full DVR experience on their 2012 Smart TV without actually needing to hook the device up to the set. There’s talk of Apple wanting to include apps, iCloud, and other features into its own television.

And all that fails to mention we have downloadable games already available to us both on the PC and on game consoles. We’ve already come to the point of being able to enjoy content without being required to have a set-top box to do it.

So, how important will consoles be in, say, 2014 or 2015? Will broadband speeds be fast enough to accommodate downloading a big game, like Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3? Will televisions come with application stores in them to allow us to access games without requiring that middleman?

It’s certainly a possibility. But there’s one major issue standing in the way of us finally detaching ourselves from the console life support: the hardware companies themselves.

Like it or not, Microsoft, Nintendo, and Sony all rely heavily upon hardware to make their businesses as big as they are. And there’s a good chance that they will be the first companies to denounce ideas of eliminating hardware and getting direct access to titles from game makers.

Microsoft and Sony might be especially outspoken about such a plan. Those companies have not done nearly as good of a job as Nintendo delivering first-party content consumers actually want to play. If television makers and game developers sync up, there’s a solid chance those companies’ game divisions will be marginalized, to say the least.

As for us? Well, we can only hope to get the best experience, regardless of whether that comes via consoles or downloadable content. But I suspect the latter will deliver a better experience at some point in the future.

Who’s with me?

Asked about comments from the  head of Sony’s videogaming division, Andrew House, which had earlier suggested that the PS4 wasn’t on the cards for a 2012 reveal, Hirai confirmed they were accurate. ”Andy [House] is absolutely right in that we are not making any announcements at E3,” the exec said. “I’ve always said a 10-year life cycle for PS3, and there is no reason to go away from that.”

Meanwhile, Microsoft is believed to be preparing its new Xbox, with talk of two variants of the console that would cater for casual and serious gamers. A cheaper model would make for an affordable entry point to multimedia streaming through Xbox LIVE services, while a more expensive version would deliver the true next-gen gameplay.

Nintendo has already shown off the Wii U, the company’s own next-gen device, which is set to launch later this year with a new motion-sensing touchscreen tablet controller.

Separately, Hirai is expected to be made president of Sony in the near future, with existing president Sir Howard Stringer taking a step back to concentrate on his roles as CEO and chairman. Reports initially claimed the decision was a done deal, something Sony went on to deny, though leaving the door open for the decision at a later date.

Early last year, Hirai was asked a similar question and had reinforced the point that the PlayStation 3 would be here to stay until its end of life. Although not confirmed, it also doesn’t necessarily mean that the company would wait another five years to introduce the PlayStation 4. Recent reports suggest that Sony could do something similar to Nintendo, which plans to release the Wii U while keeping the original Wii on the market.

Hirai doesn’t reveal any hints about a PlayStation 4, but emphasizes the importance of still having dedicated home-based consoles. He said that it’s not possible to fully rely on networks to deliver the amount of data contained on game disks with it being still very difficult to have consumers download 50 gigabytes of data or more.

Whereas last year, the company was focused on launching the NGP, which turned out to be the PS Vita, this year’s been more quiet on the gaming front. Hirai says that the company needs to focus on turning around its money-losing TV manufacturing business. In a separate interview, Sony CEO Howard Stringer said that the company is even considering developing exclusive shows or its devices.

[via Bloomberg]

“Generally we look three years ahead when we work on games” Yoshida says, with Sony having a “fairly firm plan” to take it up until 2013. The PS Vita went on sale in Japan over the weekend, selling 321,000 units in its first two days.

Meanwhile, Yoshida was at pains to point out that Sony will not be pushing augmented reality onto PS Vita gamers unnecessarily, despite AR being a key part of what the handheld was designed to support. The company has demonstrated its SmartAR technology several times this year, eschewing glyphs and instead using face-tracking and other systems.

“One thing I know about hardcore gamers is that they hate it when we try to shove new technology down their throats. There may be a perception that Augmented Reality is a gimmick, so we have to provide something that is robust and genuinely enhances the experience … The more we experiment, I’m sure that we will see real gameplay benefits for hardcore players” Shuhei Yoshida, Vice President of Sony Computer Entertainment and President of Worldwide Studios

The drawing on the top is apparently of Luffy’s hero from the game, and the indentions are meant to look like engraved charts. The gold isn’t shiny; it’s a matte surface. There will be custom themes that can be downloaded of the PS3 as well. The system also includes a matching wireless controller.

The special-edition console will sell for 38,170 yen with tax included. The modem number is CEJH-10021. Sony has given the console the official name One Piece Pirate Warriors PlayStation 3 gold Edition. It has a 320GB HDD inside, and it comes with the game. The console will not play PS2 games.

Capcom has recently announced that Sony’s PS Vita will be the “ultimate controller” for the PS3 version of the Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3 game. It features dual analog sticks as well as all of the PS3′s face buttons, which means that it can not only duplicate the controller experience, but also add extra touch features to perform moves or attacks exclusive to it. In a way it could work in a similar fashion to what Nintendo has planned with the Wii U.

There’s also the possibility of having more support for remote play. The PS Vita has already been shown to work with the graphically intensive Killzone 3 game title when it comes to remote play suggesting that many other titles could also support this functionality. Players could be able to save game data from their PS3 console and pick up where they left off on the PS Vita if they have to be on the go.

The PS Vita is set to launch here in the states in February. These connectivity options between the device an the PS3 console are expected to be available at launch or soon thereafter. GameStop has already begun listing the device, its accessories, and corresponding release dates.

[via PlayStation Lifestyle]

You can hop over, see samples in black or white colors, and choose the color for your own ring from the list. You can get white, black, pink, blue, red, green, and halo green. A custom ring is $10 and the shipping to you is only a few more dollars.

Apparently, the rings are made from polymer clay and are hand sculpted. This store has some interesting stuff for sale. These would make nice gifts on the cheap for gaming fans of all sorts. I wonder where the PC gamer rings are. A cool gaming mouse with the cord that wraps around the finger would suffice.

[via Geekcrafts]

One of the big features for the Japanese gamers that will be getting the PS Vita is that with the update applied the player will be able to use the PS3 as a content management device. The user will be allowed to transfer digital content like games, music, photos, and videos between the Vita and the PS3 console. PS Vita games will also be able to backup to the PS3.

The update will also allow the updating of the Vita software via the PS3. There are also a number of other changes the new software update will make including game patches and system software updates. The PS3 will also get game and video recommendations and sync trophy information. New settings for the PlayStation Network will also come with friend requests and messages.

Instead, the 3D Display will follow on in 2012, with updates on exactly when that’s expected tipped for early in the new year. It’s possible that Sony has been overwhelmed with sales, demand for the screen outstripping its production capabilities; the company blamed the Thai flooding recently for part of its underwhelming financial results and manufacturing delays.

Priced at £410 in the UK (and $499 in the US), the PlayStation 3D Display measures in at 24-inches and comes bundled with a pair of 3D glasses; although its primary target is gaming, it will also handle 3D movies and other content, such as that played back on a PS3. Sony has also said it is considering larger versions for future launches, though has not committed to availability. Still, with the company’s LCD business looking disappointingly dreary right now, we imagine Sony is keen to take advantage of any interest from the market whatsoever.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]

Robert Altman, CEO of ZeniMax (Bethesda’s parent company) announced that “We are grateful for the fans’ response to Skyrim. Todd Howard and his team at Bethesda Game Studios have crafted a very special game. Anticipation for Skyrim has surpassed any game in our company’s history, and we are pleased that sales and reviews have reflected the quality and hours of amazing gameplay it provides.” Kudos to legendary game designer Todd Howard and his team at Bethesda indeed. They deserve every ounce of praise they get, having personally seen the game being played in real life.

From our most recent article about Skyrim, we know that seven million copies of the game were shipped to retailers, which comes out to be over 50% of stock already having been sold. Bethesda director Todd Howard proclaimed that “Without a doubt, this has been our most ambitious project ever. After over three years of development, we’re finally excited to get it into everyone’s hands.” The latest Elder Scrolls game has also encountered stellar success on Steam, where it has topped the Steam gaming charts with more than 287,000 players playing concurrently. Now that’s a game launch success.

Have a peek at this trailer for the game if you’ve not seen the game before:

[via IGN]

First lets have a peek at a couple of cars you can only work out on if you pick up the Playstation 3 version of the game. Both vehicles come with a yellow paint job but feel free to change it up before you go bananas on the streets. The Playstation 3 version of the game has a total of seven supercars that only exist on that version of the game, the first revealed today being the Lexus LFA. Coulter Mulligan, Community Manager of EA games has the following to say on the first of two cars here:

Lexus enters the world of 200mph supercars with the LFA. Helping push it over the 200mph barrier is a 4.8L V10 and a carbon fiber frame to minimizing weight. The engine can go from idle to redline in 0.6 seconds, forcing Lexus engineers to use a digital display because the needle wasn’t fast enough. In Need for Speed The Run, hear what is described as “the roar of an angel” as the Lexus LFA battles it out with the fastest supercars in the world.

The second of two cars is the Porsche Carrera GT, and again, don’t be fooled by the identical paint job, this car is so different from the first that you should be ASHAMED you thought they were the same. I know I am! Again Mulligan says:

With an engine originally designed to be an endurance racing prototype, the Porsche Carrera GT is a 200mph bullet. Production ran from 2004-2006, but the mid-engine V10 is hardly forgotten. Boasting 604hp, 15-inch brakes and an automated spoiler that adjusts above 70mph, the Carrera GT is as beautiful in its design as it is in its sound. In The Run, you’ll find yourself turning up the volume just so you can hear the incredible whine coming from the dual exhaust pipes.

The rest of the cars only on the Playstation 3 version of Need for Speed The Run are as follows:
• Bugatti Veyron Super Sport
• Hennessey Venom GT
• GUMPERT apollo s
• Lamborghini Countach QV5000
• Koenigsegg Agera R

Gotta race em all! This game will be released on the 15th of November, mind you, and you can pre-order it right this second over at NeedforSpeed.com. Now have a look at that Michael Bay trailer for the game as well, and don’t have too much of an eyeball seizure:

[via Playstation Official]

This Elite service adds a social aspect to the game and allows the players to track statistics about their play. According to Activision, the sheer number of players that where trying to register and login to the service at the same time caused some serious issues. Some players were unable to login. Activision notes that players unable to login don’t need to reset their password.

Activision also notes that the player’s Elite data is still being recorded and will be saved in the service once they can log in. Activision said that it had teams working to increase the capacity for the service to prevent the issue. If you had problems with the Elite service let us know. Also, let us know if the service is working again as of today.

[via Computers and Video Games]

The My Channels feature seems to take a page from Pandora, letting you create your own radio stations with songs selected based around your favorite artists. You type in the artist name and the station will automatically be populated with songs from that artist as well as similar songs from other artists. It’s also easier now to skip tracks by simply hitting the “dislike” button to skip to the next.

Additionally, your channels can now be fully edited and controlled directly from your PS3 console. You can create new playlists from scratch as well as add and delete songs from existing playlists. These new features are available to both Basic and Premium subscribers. A firmware update will roll out soon to Sony’s 2010 and 2011 Bravia TVs, PCs, and Blu-ray players.

[via PS blog]

Sony says it set its initial LCD production targets back when there was a shortage of panels, and based on the assumption that strong demand would continue. Neither of those are still the case, and so the company will now attempt to save up to 40-percent on production costs, better target developing markets, and boost appeal using smart TV style functionality. Meanwhile, as of this month the TV business as a whole will be divided into three, respectively dealing with the legacy LCD TV business (using Sony-designed and produced components), the ODM business (using third-party components) and then a team responsible for “developing and designing the next generation TV.”

As for Sony Pictures, sales increased overall but predominantly from selling merchandising rights and TV programming; theater revenues dipped year-on-year. Music sales also dropped, down 6.6-percent year-on-year, though were helped by digital music licensing deals.

In gaming, Sony reported 3.7m unit sales of the PS3, a 0.2m increase year-on-year, while PSP sales rose a similar amount to 1.7m units. PS2 sales dropped to 1.2m units, however, from 1.5m twelve months ago. In software sales, only PS3 titles saw an increase, with PSP and PS2 games sales each falling.

The shots reveal packaging for a previously unannounced Mayhem Edition PS Move kit that includes a Sharpshooter peripheral along with Resistance 3 and Killzone 3 game titles. There’s also a box for what’s called the Complete Entertainment Bundle, which includes a 160GB PS3 game console, the game titles Little Big Planet 2 as well as Ratchet and Clank: All for One, and one free month of PlayStation Plus.

The Complete Entertainment Bundle is expected to be around $250 and the source of the images notes that an order invoice for the packaging suggests that they are to be available for Black Friday. The source also included images of the packaging for the 320GB Uncharted 3 bundle and Goldeneye 007: Reloaded Sharpshooter set, which are both already up for pre-orders.

[via Engadget]

If you are a pure console gamer, you may not have had the chance to check out the original Crysis from 2007. EA and Crytek have announced that they have now delivered the game to the console gamers out there for the first time. The game is on the PlayStation Network for download for $19.99. If you are an Xbox 360 purist, it is on Xbox Live Games for 1600 Microsoft points.

Both versions use the CryENGINE 3 and have been tweaked specifically for smooth gamely on the console. They are also made to support stereoscopic 3D as well. The game is the single player mission from the original PC version. That means you get no multiplayer action here. I am curious to see how this game plays on the console.

There’s this post-apocalyptic world out there, or should I say in here, with a wasteland full of mutated zombie warriors on the opposite side of you, the single hero of the game – unless you count your Mad Max-esque counterparts, that is. Its not a brand new storyline, by any measure, but with gameplay like what we’re seeing here, and by the reviews spewing guts across the internet that we’re baring witness to now, it looks like it’s the best version of said zombie-killing party yet.

Ryan Fleming of DTrends noted RAGE as being “Simply put, it’s one of the best games of the year.”

Arthur Gies of Joystiq has little patience for smallness: “The town that initially holds the promise of a big, wide, asteroid-murdered world is a facade for a few fetch quests down some of the most guided, narrow shooter levels this side of a Call of Duty title.”

CBS News Staff (with no single author, strangely enough) had a good time, all the time: “While combat dominantly takes place in close quarters, the game world is larger than your typical FPS. It isn’t exactly a Fallout-style open-world, but you’ll need a vehicle to get around. … For all that it accomplishes so well, Rage is an absolute must-play game.”

And Charles Onyett of IGN ties it all together in a sentence: “Rage is not revolutionary shooter, but it’s extremely well made.”

This game is available NOW on Windows, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360 in North America, on the 6th of October in Australasia and the 7th for Europe. Grab it right the heck now! ALSO note that this game – a slightly less intense version of this game, that is, is available for iOS in regular and “HD” versions for less than $1. Win!

It was in an interview with none other than the official PlayStation blog that DICE Producer Patrick Liu let loose some pointed factoids on the upcoming Battlefield game. There’s currently an open beta of the game going on inside the PlayStation Network, so questions came to Liu from real-live players of the game (through PSBlog, of course):

PSB:That level you showed on the PS3 was huge, but it was also highly detailed — I saw mirrored floors, reflective surfaces, tons of special effects and physics with a smooth frame rate. Are you confident that PS3 players are going to get a great experience?

Patrick Liu: Oh yeah. We’re very confident – we’re pushing the hardware big-time. Of course, we have a performance budget that we have to hit. Everything counts into that: the scale costs performance, destruction, animation, special effects…those are all the things we cram in there. I feel really good about where we ended up with on the PS3.

PSB: There are a lot of military shooters these days. What’s the biggest thing Battlefield 3 is bringing to the table?

Patrick Liu: It’s a number of things. For a very long time, the core pillars of Battlefield have been the destruction, the sandbox experience, the scale, and the vehicle gameplay. Those are all still pretty unique to Battlefield, I’d say. My first Battlefield game was Bad Company.

It’s time for war, PS3 fans, massacres before October 25th, the release date for the full game. THis look like the massive blast of war you’ve been looking for?

[Image credit: Rob Johnson]

Admittedly, my first reaction was the Xbox 360. As far as I’m concerned, the best first-person shooter experiences are available on Microsoft’s console — due mainly to the outstanding controller — and over the years, my best gaming days have come byway of Microsoft’s device. I also reasoned that although I don’t use the Kinect all that often, it’s a better party accessory than the PlayStation Move or the Wii.

But then I started to doubt my choice. Sure, the Xbox 360 is a great device, but what about the PlayStation 3? That console also has some solid gameplay experiences, and thanks to the industry’s penchant for multi-platform support, most of the titles I like on the Xbox can be played on Sony’s offering. Plus, Sony’s console supports Blu-ray — a big plus for me as my Blu-ray library continues to grow — and has a relatively appealing online-gaming experience.

So, before long, I started reasoning that perhaps the PlayStation 3 should be the console I’d hold on to if the worst occurred and I was forced to hand over all but one of my devices.

My opinion didn’t change much when I considered the Wii. As I’ve wrote on SlashGear before, I’m not a Wii fan. I think the console’s titles are designed for casual gamers (which I’m not) and the motion experience on Nintendo’s hardware tends to fall flat before long. Plus, I just don’t see why anyone would want to play motion titles on the Wii if they have a Kinect at home. Microsoft’s peripheral, while still gimmicky at times, delivers more entertainment value.

So, my choices were narrowed down to two consoles. On one hand, I had the Xbox 360 and its outstanding game library, while on the other hand, I had the PlayStation 3, a device that delivers a host of outstanding features aside from gaming.

In the end, I decided that the Xbox 360 was the game console I couldn’t live without. See, the thing I like most about the PlayStation 3 is that it offers all my entertainment in a single spot. But I have another Blu-ray player, and Netflix streaming can be done from the Xbox 360 and my HDTV. In the end, the PlayStation 3 simlpy doesn’t offer anything I can’t find elsewhere.

But the Xbox 360 is different. As I said, I think Microsoft’s console offers the best gaming experience in the business. And that can’t be easily found elsewhere.

Of course, that’s just me, and I realize that there are others that might see value in other consoles.

So, let’s hear from you: which console, if you had to choose one, could you simply not live without?