With Firmware 3.00 now available, you can spice up your XMB with new animated themes. The first animated XMB theme (if you don’t include the stock XMB ‘wave’ theme) is now available on the PlayStation Store. But for a price. The LittleBigPlanet XMB Theme, showcased at GamesCom last month can be purchased for $2.99. Although it’s fairly cheap, Sony should have just given away these theme for free.
Firmware 3.00 for the PlayStation 3 is now available to download, but only via the System Update feature as the regional websites have not been updated yet. Firmware 3.00 introduces a number of great features, including “What’s New,” a redesigned status indicator and Friends List, and support for new avatars and dynamic themes.
The God of War collection is coming to the PlayStation 3 this holiday season, thanks to overwhelming feedback from fans. The Blu-Ray disc will contain God of War and God of War II in 720p HD form. Both titles have been remastered with anti-aliased graphics, running at 60 frames per second for a smooth gameplay experience, only on the PS3 system. Additionally, the Blu-ray Disc compilation will bring the PlayStation Network (PSN) trophy support to the franchise for the very first time.
As you may already know, OtherOS support on the PlayStation 3 is being dropped by Sony when the PS3 Slim launches on September 1st. The OtherOS option allows PS3 owners to install various version of Linux on their consoles and use it like a PC. All older PS3 models will continue to support OtherOS for the foreseeable future. According to Sony, the main reason for dropping OtherOS is cost.
During E3, Sony showcased a prototype for a new motion controller launching next year. To answer some of your questions, SCEA sat down with Richard Marks and Anton Mikhailov, two of the main brains behind the new controller, to get some insight on the E3 demo, the back-story behind development, and the future of this new technology (video below). This is part one of a series of behind-the-scenes which Sony is planning to release.
This week on the PlayStation Store, I LOVE YOU, MAN, is now available on the Store which is now available for rent in HD and SD. Loads of new movies and TV content is has also been uploaded for you to enjoy, including Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and 300. As for this week’s top downloads, The Last House on the Left is on top followed by Race to Witch Mountain and Obsessed.
An image has surfaced on the internet indicating that a Gran Turismo 5 beta is coming soon, and could already be in the private beta stage. The image clearly shows a PS3 download screen for the highly anticipated Gran Turismo 5. A beta for the game, due to release this winter, hasn’t been officially mentioned or announced yet. However, it’d be no surprise that a game on this scale would need some sort of beta testing phase to make sure that the online mode was up-to-scratch.
In addition to what we reported earlier about the upcoming Firmware 3.0 update on September 1st, more details about what the update will include have emerged. As you may be aware, Linux support is being dropped on the PS3 Slim and was likely to be dropped on older models with the new update. Rest assured, Sony will not be removing the feature from older PS3 models. The new boot screen for both old and new models has been confirmed; in addition, the booting of a game will no longer display the “PlayStation 3” logo.
It’s the last PlayStation Store update for August! This week, two new downloadable games hit the European Store, including Smash Cars, as well as two new playable demos. There is also new game add-on content for Batman: Arkham Asylum, Crash Commando, Disgaea 3, LittleBigPlanet and other games. For the US, Invincible Tiger is now available to download as well as four new playable demos. There is also a new episode of PULSE and plenty of new game add-on content.
Earlier this week we featured an article with some Japanese adverts for the PS3 Slim. Today, SCEA unveiled some more adverts targeted at the US market. The new ad campaign uses the tagline “It Only Does Everything” and we have two of the adverts to show you below. The new adverts launch on 1st September, when the PS3 Slim hits stores in Europe and North America.
