Despite the release of a patch for GTA IV, gamers are still experiencing problems with the game including random crashes and freezing. According to a poster on the Official PlayStation forums, GTA IV might require a firmware update to fix the problem on early PS3 models, due to differences in the circuit board. 2K tech supported stated "the game [GTA IV] was checked over and passed as 100% compatible with the current version of the PS3, of course the earlier version has custom chips which mean that it is a very different animal from the current PS3 on sale."

While the patch did fix the problem for some gamers, others are still plagued by the constant freezing issues. Sony are aware of the problem and are looking into producing a new firmware version for the earlier version of the PS3.

2K Tech Support:

"There is an issue with the launch edition of the PS3 and this game, the game was checked over and passed as 100% compatible with the current version of the PS3, of course the earlier version has custom chips which mean that it is a very different animal from the current PS3 on sale.

Sony are aware of this difference and are looking into producing a new firmware just for the earlier version of the PS3."

Ron Festejo, Home’s creative director, has confirmed that Home will enter its open beta phase in November this year. "Around July we’re going to be expanding on the closed beta phase and allowing more people to gradually come in, and then in November this year we’ll be going to the open beta," he said, speaking at last week’s PlayStation Day in London. He added: "The extension to the closed beta allows us to have more conversations with our community."

"We’re very much in close conversations with them. A lot of the changes we’ve done have been the result of feedback. We’ve asked the community a lot of questions, they’ve given us a lot of feedback as to what they think needs improving, and we’re doing that, so it’s managing expectations." Look out for Home this July. It time to bookmark the PlayStation Home Beta Website.

[Source: videogaming247]

The second PlayStation Store update for this week is in! The US have received three new playable demos including Haze and The Bourne Conspiracy. The US has also received new game add-on content, including the PixelJunk Monsters Encore Pack; new game videos and new movie trailers. Europe has received a new playable demo, new game add-on content and new videos and trailers. Overall, not a bad update for Europe this week. Check out the list below.

European Additions:

• Playable Demos
  • GRID demo
• Game Add-on Content:
  • Army of Two
  • Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock
    • Def Leppard Track Pack
    • Muse Track Pack
• Game Videos and Trailers
  • Echochrome Apple Trailer
  • Play Compilation Trailer
  • Press Conference Trailers (9)

US Additions:

• Playable Demos
• HAZE Demo
• The Bourne Conspiracy Demo
• GRID Demo
• Full Games
  
  • Rocketmen: Axis of Evil ($9.99)
• Game Add-on Content
• PixelJunk Monsters Encore ($5.99)
• Rock Band
  • Date with the Night – Yeah Yeah Yeahs ($1.99)
  • It Hurts – Angels & Airwaves ($1.99)
  • This Ain’t A Scene, It’s An Arms Race – Fall Out Boy ($1.99)
  • Scene Pack 01 ($5.49)
• Guitar Hero III: Muse Track Pack ($6.25)
• Game Videos
• WipEout HD Trailer
• PLAYSTATION 3 What You Need Video
• Mirror’s Edge Gameplay Trailer
• Mercenaries 2 Payback Trailer
• Overlord Raising Hell Trailer
• The Wheelman Trailer
• TNA iMPACT! Gamers Day Trailer
• Movie and Blu-ray Disc Trailers
• Indiana Jones: Kingdom of the Crystal Skull Teaser Trailer
• The Love Guru
• Iron Man Trailer 2
• PS3 Themes
• PixelJunk Monsters Theme 3
• Sports Theme
• PixelJunk Monsters Wallpapers (2)

Rockstar Games have released a patch for the PlayStation 3 version of GTA IV. The patch will fix the freezing issues reported by gamers since the game’s release last week. The 18MB update will "prevent GameSpy’s servers from being overloaded," making the online component of the game more stable. In turn should reduce “the impact on those servers that were causing the game to stutter and lock up.”

The update will hopefully fix all the freezing issues reported by gamers. This will mean that you no longer have to disconnect from the PSN in order to play the game.

Official Statement:

"Rockstar Games has released a GTA IV patch for Playstation 3 today that prevents Gamespy’s servers from being overloaded and therefore reduces the impact on those servers that were causing the game to stutter and lock up. We continue to monitor the performance of the game both on and offline and will provide further updates as necessary. We want to assure everyone that, together with our hardware partners, we continue to strive to give our fans the best possible interactive entertainment experiences possible. This update will ensure that everyone will experience Grand Theft Auto IV the way it was intended. We apologize for the inconvenience this has caused."

In the first of two updates this week, Europe has received a number of new additions to the PlayStation Store. The most significant additions to the store are two new demos: Condemned 2 and Haze; and three new full games. Other content include new add-on content, new trailers, and a selection of videos from PlayStation Day 2008 itself. Check out the list below.

New European Content:

• Playable Demos:
  • Condemned 2
  • Haze
• Full Games:
  • Blast Factor Advanced
  • High Velocity Bowling
  • Street Skater
• Game add-on Content:
  • Blast Factor Advanced Research
  • High Velocity Bowling Character – Mike
• Videos and Trailers
  • Buzz! Quiz TV Trailer
  • Secret Agent Clank Trailer
  • Siren Blood Curse Trailer
  • MotorStorm is Back

David Reeves has announced the release dates of PlayTV for the PlayStation 3 and Go!View for the PlayStation Portable at PlayStation Day 2008. Reeves has revealed that PlayTV will be available to purchase in Europe this September prices at £99. The PlayTV device will allow PS3 owners to view and record free-to-air TV programs. Apart from the initial cost of the peripheral, the service will be free. Go!View for the PSP will see light of day before the end of June.

Go!View will be available as either a subscription service or pay-per-view, the pricing details for either option has not been revealed. The exact release date for PlayTV has not been revealed, only that it will be available to buy in September.

David Reeves has announced the release dates of PlayTV for the PlayStation 3 and Go!View for the PlayStation Portable at PlayStation Day 2008. Reeves has revealed that PlayTV will be available to purchase in Europe this September prices at £99. The PlayTV device will allow PS3 owners to view and record free-to-air TV programs. Apart from the initial cost of the peripheral, the service will be free. Go!View for the PSP will see light of day before the end of June.

Go!View will be available as either a subscription service or pay-per-view, the pricing details for either option has not been revealed. The exact release date for PlayTV has not been revealed, only that it will be available to buy in September.

Rockstar are still working on a fix for the GTA IV freezing issues but until a patch is available a temporary fix is available for you to try out. According to several reports, and from our own testing, we have found that most of the freezing issue can be resolved by simply signing out of the PlayStation Network before booting the game. However, this means that you will not be able to play any online multiplayer games until an official patch is available.

We’ve tested this method and it seemed to solve most of our freezing issues. If you later sign-in to the PlayStation Network, the game may crash instantly upon successful sign-in. Most GTA IV discs work fine with the PSN signed-in, but others don’t. Let us know if this method worked for you using the comments section below.

As part of Sony’s PlayStation Day in London on May 6th 2008, there will be two updates to the PlayStation Store. Games can look forward to several new demos this week including Haze, Condemned 2, and Bourne Conspiracy. The first update on May 6th will also contain new full games, new game add-on content and new trailers. The usual update on May 8th 2008 will contain new game add-on content and new trailers. See the full list below.

May 6th 2008 Update:

• Playable Demos:
  • Condemned 2
  • Haze
• Full Games:
  • Blast Factor Advanced
  • High Velocity Bowling
  • Street Skater
• Game Add-on Content:
  • Blast Factor Advanced Research
  • High Velocity Bowling Character – Mike
• Trailers:
  • Buzz! Quiz TV
  • Secret Agent Clank
  • Siren Blood Curse

May 8th 2008 Update:

• Playable Demos:
  • Bourne Conspiracy
  • Race Driver: GRID
• Game Add-on Content:
  • Army of Two
  • Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock – Def Leppard Track Pack
  • Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock – Muse Track Pack
• Trailers:
  • Echochrome Apple
  • Play Compilation
  • Press Conference

According to a Take-Two customer support representative, Rockstar is working around the clock to fix the freezing issues experienced by PS3 and Xbox 360 users. The representative said that "a patch is being worked on around the clock to address the issues. It’s bound to be. That’s how they address this sort of thing. It is being worked on. We’re looking into it. You will hear from us if a patch is released. A patch is usually the way it’s been done." This doesn’t look very encouraging to users experiencing problems.

In a related issue, SCEA has stated "Yes, we are aware of what the message boards and a few of the industry blogs are saying about a ‘freezing’ issue with GTA IV on a limited number of PS3s. Although we have seen an extremely low volume of contacts to our customer service department regarding such an issue, we want to ensure that every consumer has a great experience on our console and with GTA IV. All parties involved are working to isolate the problem for those few units and identify a solution."

According to various blogs and forums, the problem is not just isolated to a limited number of PS3s. Could Sony be playing down the issue in order to avoid bad press?