With the release of Firmware 3.00, the BBC iPlayer was also updated by the BBC. The new version offers improved video quality and an enhanced user interface. The first version of BBC iPlayer for the PS3 was released last December and didn’t support full screen mode or H.264 playback. Anthony Rose, head of digital media technology for the BBC, has heaped praise on Sony’s efforts in improving Flash playback on the PS3.
EA SPORTS today announced that the Live Season premium service has been expanded into a new game mode for FIFA 10. “Every Wednesday is Live Season day where dynamic real-world data and analytics will be updated in FIFA 10 to match the weekly rhythm of real-world football and subscribers will have the chance to rewrite their clubs’ history,” said David Rutter, producer of FIFA 10.
MAG is due for release on January 26th 2010 if you live in North America. If you pre-order your copy now, Sony and Zipper Interactive are willing to throw in something extra. Depending on where you pre-order your copy of the game (Amazon, GameCrazy, GameStop etc.), you can get access to the public beta, exclusive PlayStation Home Space or a exclusive in-game character. See below for all the details and where you can pre-order from.
The PS3 3.00 Firmware update added several new features and removed some. If you are stuck or need some help with using the new firmware, Sony have posted a list of questions and answers they received from users. The answers from SCEE include details on how to get the BBC iPlayer icon on the XMB, and progress on the Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune freezing issue.
Last month we reported on a video interview with Richard Marks, one of the main brains behind the new controller. Part two of the interview is now available for viewing. In the second part, Anton Mikhailov, a software engineer (and right hand man to Richard Marks) in SCEA’s Research & Development department talks more about the controller. Anton was gracious enough to break down the new controller’s PVC origins and some of the possible applications for this new technology.
Square Enix has confirmed the final release date for the Japanese version of Final Fantasy XIII is December 17th 2009. Yoichi Wada took to the stage earlier today at the Final Fantasy XIII Premiere Party over in Japan and announced that the game would debut on December 17th 2009 for ¥9250, roughly $100 / £60 / €70.
The PlayStation Network vs. Xbox Live debate has been going on for some time, with fanboys/girls from both camps arguing why one is better than the other. There’s at least one developer out there that believes the PlayStation Network is superior to Xbox Live. United Front Games, the developer of upcoming title ModNation Racers, wants “everyone who buys a copy of the game is able to get online for free and then share all this content.”
The FIFA 10 demo is hitting PSN and Xbox Live this week, now a demo for the new Pro Evolution Soccer 2010 game has been confirmed by Konami’s European PES Team Leader Jon Murphy. “Not long to go now until we release a demo for everyone to test. You’ll get a chance to see the new PES for yourselves and make up your minds about how we’ve reflected what the what fans want,” Murphy said in a recent blog entry.
The PlayStation 3 Platinum range has been expanded this month with a handful of new titles. Games that reach over 400,000 sales are added to the Platinum range for an unbeatable price of £19.99 / €29.99. This month, some very popular games have been added to the list including MotorStorm: Pacific Rift, Resistance 2, Killzone 2 and Metal Gear Solid 4. All the aforementioned games are available to purchase in the platinum range now.
According to VGChartz’s preliminary data, the PlayStation 3 Slim sold around half a million units in the first week, which is a 400% increase week on week. In Europe, some regions saw as much as a tenfold increase in PS3 sales, and over 200,000 units were sold in “other regions” (Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia etc) according to their preliminary data. In Japan, reports have already been independently confirmed from Famitsu magazine of over 150,000 units sold – twice as much as the previous best week for PS3.
