The PSB & SOCOM.com Weekly Recap

Post by: Jeff Rubenstein on July 5th, 2008 | File Under Uncategorized

Happy Independence Day weekend (where applicable)! The Blog team is out of the office, but here’s what we covered in this shortened week.

Courtesy of David “Point Man” Brothers

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Firmware (v.2.40) Walkthrough Part 2: Trophies

Post by: Jeff Rubenstein on June 30th, 2008 | File Under Uncategorized

Hello again, everyone! Very recently, we demonstrated a major new function enabled in PLAYSTATION 3 firmware v2.40: XMB access in-game. But that’s only part of the story, as the next system software update also introduces the Trophy system to the PS3. This video demonstration shows the system in action.

Super Stardust HD, a PLAYSTATION Network-exclusive released in June 2007, will be the first game to leverage Trophies and will offer a variety of trophies. Trophy support in Super Stardust HD will be available for first-time users who purchase the game soon after firmware v2.40 is released, while those who previously purchased and downloaded the title will be prompted to install a free patch.

PS3 users can expect to see additional games bringing Trophies support to their feature sets through 2008 and beyond, providing even greater opportunity to showcase their accomplishments and compete with friends. The following first-party games are also slated to offer Trophy support:

  • BUZZ! Quiz TV
  • LittleBigPlanet
  • MotorStorm Pacific Rift
  • NBA 09 - PS3
  • PAIN
  • PixelJunk Eden
  • Resistance 2
  • SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Confrontation
  • Warhawk

To further emphasize the community aspects of this system software update, the amount of people you can add to your PSN friends list has been doubled, to 100.

The update also adds a mini-control panel that you can use while playing music and an internet search feature powered by Google that allows you to initiate search directly from the XMB (similar to what we added to the PSP recently). In addition, when you’re using the XMB or accessing the XMB from in-game, the current time and date will be displayed in the upper right hand corner. There are a few more minor enhancements included in this update, once the update is live you’ll be able to read about them here.

Firmware v2.40 will become available for download on July 2nd. We hope you enjoy these much-requested features, and look forward to your feedback.

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PlayStation Around the Web: What We Read

Post by: Jeff Rubenstein on June 29th, 2008 | File Under Uncategorized

What did we learn this week? The Sony Group Corporate Strategy Update revealed a few things you’ll be hearing more about in the near future, the PSP and Metrocards go hand in hand, and inFAMOUS looks pretty damn good.

Here’s where I ask for your links: As always, feel free to share your favorite reads in the comments below. Comments may take longer than usual to appear - even bloggers deserve a day off.

But because I know what you’re going to ask about, and because we don’t traffic in rumors and/or speculation, I invite you to come back to the Blog tonight (just shy of midnight Pacific). We’ve got a video to show you.

The PS Blog weekly reading list (Week of 6/23)

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The PSB & SOCOM.com Weekly Recap

Post by: Jeff Rubenstein on June 28th, 2008 | File Under Uncategorized

If you’re just tuning in, here’s what you missed this week. Welcome Criterion, making their first appearance on the PSB this week (not their last!). Also, SOCOM.com had a great day yesterday if you haven’t been there recently.

PlayStation Around the Web: What We Read

Post by: Jeff Rubenstein on June 22nd, 2008 | File Under Uncategorized

Here’s what we read this week: more of “anything-and-everything-MGS4-related.” At least you don’t have to ask why we haven’t linked to Firmware 2.40 rumors this week.

As always, feel free to share your favorite reads in the comments below. Comments may take longer than usual to appear - we don’t work on Sundays.

The PS Blog weekly reading list (Week of 6/16)

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The PSB & SOCOM.com Weekly Recap

Post by: Jeff Rubenstein on June 21st, 2008 | File Under Uncategorized

Any big news this week?
I feel like I can finally walk down the street with my “In-Shirt XMB” safely. CONFIRMED.
Thanks also to Noel for yet another awesome How To. More things like this on the way.

Courtesy of David “Point Man” Brothers

PS - it’s the longest day of the year - so you if take Snake’s loading screen advice and take a 15-minute break every hour (anyone?), then go ahead and enjoy the extra daylight. Especially if you live in Finland.

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PlayStation Around the Web: What We Read

Post by: Jeff Rubenstein on June 15th, 2008 | File Under Uncategorized

Happy Father’s Day! Gaming is just as much of a father-son/daughter activity as throwing the ball around, as demonstrated in this drawing by 7-year-old Ronan Dunne Figueroa.

PixelJunk drawing

Proud papa Dan says:

I came home from work last Wednesday and my 7 year old son said, “Dad I made a drawing for you today at school.” He handed me this cool drawing. He and I have been playing 2 player PixelJunk over the last couple of weeks. Needless to say he likes it.

As you can tell from his drawing, his favorite towers are lasers and fire. He did include some gold coins, canons and lots of arrow towers. My favorite is how he included the monster bar at the bottom that shows which monsters are coming next.

Anyways, here’s what we read this week. Lots of (gasp!) MGS4 stuff. As always, feel free to share your favorite reads in the comments below. Comments may take longer than usual to appear - it’s Sunday, after all.

The PS Blog weekly reading list (Week of 6/9)

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The PSB & SOCOM.com Weekly Recap

Post by: Jeff Rubenstein on June 14th, 2008 | File Under Uncategorized

The theme of the week isn’t hard to guess, with Metal Gear Solid 4 posts bookending the week. Speaking of which: enough writing - I’m going back to play some more.

Courtesy of David “Point Man” Brothers

  • Gun of the Week: M82A1 - You requested it, so we did it. Ain’t life grand? Come look at the M82A1.
  • Dev Q&A 06 - The sixth Q&A covers things like leaderboards and female characters.
  • Stay Informed - Game Informer is coming!
  • Poll of the Week: Win, Lose, In Between? - Why do you play SOCOM?
  • Dev Q&A 07 - You’ve got questions - Seth Luisi and Allen Goode have answers. Come get the low down on the resolution.
  • Game Informed - We are here to discuss the new SOCOM: Confrontation preview in Game Informer.
  • Sneak Peek: Headgear - Are you a fan of boonie hats or baseball caps? Luckily, both are in-game.
  • Friday the 13th - I woke up this morning and stubbed my toe on thirteen new screens. Happy Friday the 13th!
  • EU Dev Q&A 01 - Shijima is back and answering tons of questions. Come see what’s new.
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Metal Gear Solid 4 LAunch

Post by: Jeff Rubenstein on June 14th, 2008 | File Under Uncategorized

I love midnight launches. While getting to play a big game, see a new movie, or hearing a new album a few hours before anyone else is of dubious value; there’s a sense of camaraderie with your fellow fanboys and girls braving the elements. That was definitely the case at the Metal Gear Solid 4 launch at the West Hollywood Best Buy this week. You had everything these types of events are known for - the exhausted “#1 Fan” at the front of the line, the confused passerby, and the drivers on La Brea shouting spoilers (”Snake kills Dumbledore!”).

Konami and Best Buy also put on a VIP event for the media, developers, and those who waited the longest for the game. While I was unable to interview David Hayter (the voice of Snake), I *did* catch up with MGS4 Producer Kenichiro Imaizumi and that #1 fan, Tony Ervin of Inglewood, CA.

For more launch coverage, Kotaku and Destructoid were in attendance and took some excellent pics.

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Day in LA: Ask your E3 questions, share your pics

Post by: Jeff Rubenstein on June 11th, 2008 | File Under Uncategorized

Tomorrow I’m heading down to our Santa Monica studios (with a side trip to Insomniac Games) to shoot some pre-E3 interviews. In case you weren’t reading us last year (I’m glad you came around), we asked a number of producers the following questions:

    1. What game do you have at E3 this year?
    2. Describe it in five words or less.
    3. If you could sit one person in front of your game for an hour, who would it be?
    4. What game do you most want an hour to sit in front of yourself (besides your own)?
    5. How many E3’s does E3 2007 mark for you?
    6. Describe the pre-2007 E3 experience in five words or less.
    7. Most over used phrase or expression during E3 season.
    8. You are asked to make suggestions for an E3 survival kit- what three items HAVE to be included?
    9. What advice would you have for someone who has never experienced E3?
    10. Describe what you anticipate from 2007’s newly formatted E3 in five words or less.

The plan is to do something similar, only I’ll be shooting video so you can better get to know the faces behind the games you’ll be playing over the next year or so.

Looking at this list, I’m thinking not all of these questions are relevant this year. So what would *you* ask? Keep in mind I’m asking the same questions to everyone I interview, and that it’s more focused on the person and the event than the games - I’ll of course invite you to share your game-specific questions *at* E3. So please don’t post: “how many multiplayer stages will there be in R2??”

I’ll ask that *next* month.

Oh, and later on tomorrow night, I’m going to drop by the Hollywood launch of Metal Gear Solid 4. Anything you’d like me to ask David Hayter (the incredibly gruff voice of Snake) or any of the producers on hand?

Speaking of MGS launches, if you end up taking some good pics of yourself in line (especially if you’re dressed up like Snake or Eva or Ocelot), give us some link love in the comments.

PS if you’re lining up at the West Hollywood Best Buy, make sure to say hi.

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