Square Enix is all aboard Sony’s PSP digital comics plan. They plan to release four of their manga series on the PlayStation Store this December. Gangan Comics, Square Enix’s manga publishing division, handles titles such as: Fullmetal Alchemist, Soul Eater, Bamboo Blade, When Cicadas Cry, and Kingdom Hearts in Japan. Specific titles were not announced, but it looks like Fullmetal Alchemist is in the bag.
PlayStation Home v1.30 was said to be released this month, but it’s been delayed for the time being. The update, which includes Universal Game Launching and functionality to allow you to rent items or purchase ‘consumable’, has been delayed according to Home Manager CydoniaX. The update is currently in the last stages of QA and is expected to be released “in the very near future.”
Its looks like the next PlayStation 3 firmware update will come with a much-requested feature: cross-game voice chat. A VG247 source claims that he got word from another source whom they “can’t name” on the said cross-title voice chat in PS3 play, and the word is good. Although Sony suggested that no major features will be added this year, Firmware 3.10 is expected to be released some time in October.
A few months ago, images of two new DualShock 3 controllers first showed up on the net: “Metallic Blue” and “Deep Red.” Since it’s TGS, it’s announcement time. Sony Computer Entertainment Japan made the confirmation, and these two shiny new controllers will be adding some more personality to the PS3’s controller collection.
Square Enix has revealed a new trailer for its upcoming MMO Final Fantasy XIV, coming in 2010 on the PlayStation 3. This latest trailer showcases the realm of Eorzea and gets us quite excited for its simultaneous global release. As previously mentioned, the game will support several languages, including Japanese, English, French, and German.
In news that may have an impact on Sony’s new handheld sales, a rep told Kotaku today that the company has scrapped plans for a system to transfer disc-based UMD games to work on the digital-only PSPgo. The Sony Computer Entertainment of America spokesperson said the UMD conversion program will not be available at this time for legal and technical reasons.
It looks like a new PSP service, PlayStation Room, will be similar to Home for the PlayStation 3. At the Tokyo Game Show yesterday, Sony announced that the PSP service will allow users to create 3D avatars, room spaces, blogs, albums, and chat support. This new service will be added via an upcoming PSP firmware update sometime this winter. You will be able to launch the service directly from the PlayStation Network menu on the XMB.
Jack Tretton, CEO and president of Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA), has conceded that the PlayStation 3 may experience hardware shortages at retail following increased sales momentum on the back of the new Slim model and price cut. Speaking with Reuters, Tretton described hardware shortages for the high-end gaming platform as ‘conceivable,’ though remained highly optimistic of the machine’s future success.
This week on the PlayStation Store, the Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 demo is available to download from both the European and US PlayStation Stores. There are also four other game demos available on the US store. New game add-on content this week includes Fallout 3: Broken Steel Pack, Batman: Arkham Asylum Prey In The Darkness Map Pack, and new tracks for Guitar Hero and Rock Band.
The lucky folks over in Japan received a nice surprise on the PlayStation Store today: Final Fantasy VIII, the PSOne classic. Squall, Rinoa, and the rest of Final Fantasy VIII the crew have junctioned themselves into a new domain – you can now play them on the go on your PSP and on the PS3. There is now word on a US or European release yet, but we can expect more details in the next week or two.
