The first PlayStation Store update for May is in. US owners of Karaoke Revolution Presents: American Idol Encore will be happy at the huge number of new track available to download, though they cost $1.49 each. In terms of size, the US beats Europe (as usual) with significantly more content. The Dark Sector demo is available to download from the US store as well as the full Echochrome version, new game videos and trailers, and PS3 wallpaper. Europe has received a few Need for Speed Game Add-ons, a few new XMB themes and wallpaper, and a new movie trailer. Complete list below.

European Additions:

• Game Add-on Content
  • Need for Speed Pro-Street
    • "Bugatti Veyron" pack (£1.99/€2.99)
    • "Mclaren F1" pack (£1.99/€2.99)
    • Premium Car pack 1 (£3.49/€4.99)
    • Premium Car pack 2 (£3.49/€4.99)
  • Snakeball "Team Mode" expansion (£1.99/€2.99)
  • Kane & Lynch Fragile Alliance map pack
• Movie Trailers
  • Iron Man
• XMB Themes
  • Rainbow Six Vegas 2
  • Dark Sector
  • Haze
• PS3 Wallpapers
  • Haze Wallpaper

US Additions:

• Playable Demos
  • Dark Sector
• Full Games
  • Echochrome ($9.99)
• Game Add-on Content
  • Rock Band
  • Zero – Smashing Pumpkins ($1.99)
  • Time-Sick Son of a Grizzly Bear – The Mother Hips ($1.99)
  • Red Tandy – The Mother Hips ($1.99)
  • Karaoke Revolution Presents: American Idol Encore ($1.49 each)
  • (You Make Me Feel Life) A Natural Woman – Aretha Franklin
  • Against All Odds – Phil Collins
  • Ain’t No Mountain High Enough – Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell
  • Ain’t Nothing Life the Real Thing – Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell
  • Ain’t Too Proud to Beg – Temptations
  • Alone – Heart
  • Always Something There to Remind Me – Naked Eyes
  • American Woman – Lenny Kravitz
  • Born to be Wild – Steppenwolf
  • Careless Whisper – Wham
  • Complicated – Avril Lavigne
  • Crazy Little Thing Called Love – Queen
  • Do I Make You Proud – Taylor Hicks
  • Do You Really Want to Hurt Me – Culture Club
  • Every Rose Has its Thorn – Poison
  • Flashdance What a Feeling – Irene Cara
  • Greatest Love of All – Whitney Houston
  • Here I Go Again – Whitesnake
  • I Got You Babe – Sonny & Cher
  • If I Ain’t Got You – Alicia Keys
  • I’m Coming Out – Diana Ross
  • It’s Your Love – Tim McGraw & Faith Hill
  • Just the Way You Are – Billy Joel
  • Ladies Night – Kool & the Gang
  • Let s Get it On – Marvin Gaye
  • Love Will Keep Us Together – Captain & Tennille
  • My Girl – Temptations
  • New York – Frank Sinatra
  • On the Road Again – Willy Nelson
  • Photograph – Nickelback
  • Proud Mary – Creedance Clearwater
  • Respect – Aretha Franklin
  • Stand By Your Man – Tammy Wynette
  • Straight Up – Paula Abdul
  • Sugar, We’re Goin Down – Fall Out Boy
  • Taking Care of Business – Bachman Turner Overdrive
  • The First Cut is the Deepest – Sheryl Crow / Rod Stewart
  • The Real Thing – Bo Bice
  • When the Sun Goes Down – Kenny Chesney & Uncle Kracker
  • Who Can it be Now? – Men At Work
  • You and Me – Lifehouse
  • You’re My Best Friend – Queen
• Game Videos and Trailers
  • Echochrome Trailer
  • Battlefield Bad Redford Blog
  • Kung Fu Panda Trailer
  • Dead Space Announcement Trailer
  • Dead Space Ship Date Trailer
  • Turok Bring It Trailer
  • Turok – Kane Gameplay Trailer
  • NBA Ballers: Chosen One TV Spot
  • Wyclef’s Fast Car Music Video
• PS3 Wallpaper
  • Echochrome Wallpapers (4)
  • Kung Fu Panda Wallpapers (3)

The new issue of XTREME PSP Mag is now available to download. Issue 34 contains preview of Metal Gear Online, Echochrome and This is Vegas; reviews of Wild Arms XF, Sega Superstar Tennis and UEFA Euro 2008. Plus, you will find all the regular content including last month’s top stories, Wallpapers and more. Check out the complete list of content below.

Content:

• Top stories from April.
• Previews:
  • Echochrome (PSP/PS3)
  • Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Heroes 2 (PSP)
  • This is Vegas (PS3)
  • Smackdown vs Raw 2009 (PS3)
  • Metal Gear Online (PS3)
• Reviews
  • Wild Arms XF (PSP)
  • Puzzle Guzzle (PSP)
  • Sega Superstar Tennis (PS3)
  • UEFA Euro 2008 (PS3)
• Wallpapers
• User Commentry
• Competition

[Download XTREME PSP Mag i034]

The UK PlayStation Website reveals more information about this year’s PlayStation Day 2008. The press-only event we covered earlier this month is to be held on May 6th 2008 and will include keynote speeches by SCEI President Kaz Hirai and SCEE President David Reeves. Invitees "will be able to get their hands on some of the hottest games coming to the PlayStation platforms over the coming year." The press day will showcase a host of exciting new developments for PLAYSTATION 3, PLAYSTATION Network, PSP and PlayStation 2.

The European PlayStation Website will cover the press day including key announcements, interviews and media. Look out for information next week.

UK PlayStation Website:

"In early May 2008, SCEE is hosting a press day in London to showcase a host of exciting new developments coming up this year for PLAYSTATION 3, PLAYSTATION Network, PSP and PlayStation 2.

As well as keynote speeches by SCEI President Kaz Hirai and SCEE President David Reeves, attendees will be able to get their hands on some of the hottest games coming to the PlayStation platforms over the coming year.

For full coverage, be sure to keep an eye on eu.playstation.com for updates from the event, including key announcements, hands on interviews and the latest screens and videos as they’re released."

Despite what you may think, Metal Gear Online will not be a separate title – it will be part of Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots. MGO will be free to play. Despite being called Metal Gear Online Starter Pack, Brandon Laurino, also clarified that it’s the online component of Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots. There won’t be a separate product; it’s dubbed as a starter pack only because content is yet to be expanded through downloadable content.

Brandon Laurino, Komani Online:

"MGO is not a paid subscription service, you can play online totally free right out of the box," said Laurino. The Konami ID, which some users thought to be the system Konami Digital will use to charge subscription fees outside PSN, is there to "confirm your identity for future potential microtransaction content updates"

With the release of GTA IV, a few owners experienced freezing issues, particularly on the 60GB PS3 and some Xbox 360 models. We’ve heard reports that the game can freeze during the mandatory install stage or right after the first cut scene, though we cannot verify these claims. The freezing errors seems to occur on both the normal copy and the Collectors Edition.

If you are experiencing difficulties with your copy of the game, you should contact Rockstar’s Support Service. Rockstar are investigating the issue but have not found anything wrong so far. If you haven’t tried your copy yet, don’t be alarmed. The issue does not affect all 60GB versions. Our copy of the game works fine.

In other issues, the online multiplayer mode seems down for PS3 users. When trying to connect to the multiplayer mode using the mobile phone, you receive a "Cannnot connect to game provider. Please try again later." When trying to view the online leaderboards via the pause menu, you receive a "You must be signed in to the PlayStation Network", even if you are already signed in.

The Metal Gear Online Beta, which started last week, has received an update. The update adds a new map, Midtown Maelstrom, and gameplay mode, Sneaking Mission, to the beta. The Midtown Maelstrom map is set in the Middle-Eastern town that also serves as Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots’ setting. Midtown Maelstrom promises to be a paradise for the more tactically-oriented players, offering a lot of narrow alleys and passages.

In the new gameplay mode, Sneaking Mission, one player plays as Snake, while everybody else gets divided into Red and Blue teams, with each of the three groups having their own paths to victory. For Snake to win, he must get a set number of dog tags from other players. For the teams, whichever side takes Snake out first wins. If nobody manages to kill Snake, the side with the most number of kills once time runs out wins.

Konami also announced that starting with this update, rankings will be updated after each maintenance session. The update also includes fixes to the following Community Support Page problems:

• In-game mail couldn’t be read.
• Clan Emblems couldn’t be displayed.
• Posts by KP and GM accounts were very difficult to read.

The PlayStation Store has been updated today, bring lots of new content. Europe has received a new Playable demo and three new PlayStation One titles. Also, Europe get a map pack for Call of Duty 4, new game trailers and three new themes. The US has received a massive update (no surprise there!) with two new playable demos, loads of new game add-on content, including the Call of Duty 4 Map pack, as well as lots of trailers, XMB wallpaper and themes.

European Additions:

• Playable Demos
  • Rocketmen: Axis of Evil demo
• PlayStation One Titles
  • Bishi Bashi Special (£3.49/€4.99)
  • Command & Conquer (£3.49/€4.99)
  • flOw PSP compatible version (£4.99/€7.99)
  • God of War: Chains of Olympus demo
• Add-on content
  • Call of Duty 4 Variety Map Pack (£6.99/€9.99)
• Game Videos
  • Resistance 2 announcement trailer
  • Warhawk: Operation Broken Mirror trailer
  • Two Viking trailers
  • Three Timeshift "FPS Differently" trailer
• Themes and wallpapers
  • Metal Gear Solid 4 "Sneak Out" PS3 theme
  • Dark Sector wallpaper
  • Seven Motorstorm wallpapers

US Additions:

• Playable Demos
  • Echochrome
  • Iron Man
• Add-on Game Content
  • Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare Variety Map Pack ($9.99)
  • The Eye of Judgment: Biolith Rebellion 2 Expansion Set Two ($14.99) – 100 new creatures, spells and abilities.
  • Rock Band
    
    • Saints of Los Angeles – Motley Crue ($0.99)
    • Screaming for Vengeance – Judas Priest ($1.99)
    • (Take These) Chains – Judas Priest ($1.99)
    • You ve Got Another Thing Comin – Judas Priest ($1.99)
    • The Hellion/Electric Eye – Judas Priest ($1.99)
    • Riding on the Wind – Judas Priest ($1.99)
    • Pain and Pleasure – Judas Priest ($1.99)
    • Fever – Judas Priest ($1.99)
    • Devil s Child – Lanyard Skynyrd ($1.99)
    • Bloodstone – Judas Priest ($1.99)
    • Screaming For Vengeance Album ($14.99)
  • Guitar Hero III – Def Leppard Track Pack ($6.25)
  • Army of Two SSC Challenge Map Pack ($7.49)
  • Karaoke Revolution Presents: American Idol Encore songs ($1.49 each)
• PS One Classics
  • R-Types ($5.99)
• Game Videos and Trailers
  • Resistance 2 teaser trailer
  • GT5 Prologue techno video
  • Army of Two SSC Challenge teaser trailer
  • FIFA 08 features video
  • Iron Man action trailer
  • Prototype teaser railer
  • Interview with Wyclef Jean part 1
  • Interview with Wyclef Jean part 2
  • Behind-the-Scenes of Fast Car
  • Coachella Music Festival
• Movie and Blu-ray Disc Trailers
  • 88 Minutes
  • The Water Horse
• PS3 Themes
  • The Eye of Judgment Theme 2
• PS3 Wallpaper
  • Gran Turismo 5: Prologue Wallpaper (4)

SCEE has confirmed that Europe will be getting a Grand Theft Auto IV PlayStation 3 bundle in a press release today, which will be available to purchase from April 29th 2008. The game will be bundled with a 40GB PlayStation 3 and a SIXAXIS controller. The bundle will retail for approximately £349 or €439. "We are delighted to offer the millions of PS3 and GTA fans the
ultimate gaming package," said David Reeves, President, Sony Computer
Entertainment Europe.

Press Release:

"Grand Theft Auto IV to be bundled with 40GB PLAYSTATION 3

April 23rd 2008: Sony Computer Entertainment
Europe (SCEE) today confirmed the release of an official Grand Theft
Auto IV bundle exclusively for PLAYSTATION 3 (PS3).The bundle,
available on April 29, 2008, will consist of a PLAYSTATION 3 40GB
model, a SIXAXIS wireless controller and a copy of Grand Theft Auto
IV, the latest title in the genre-defining Grand Theft Auto franchise,
all for just €439 (RRP).

‘We are delighted to offer the
millions of PS3 and GTA fans the ultimate gaming package,’ said David
Reeves, President, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe.

Grand Theft Auto IV (GTA IV) is the eleventh, upcoming installment of the best-selling Grand Theft Auto video game franchise."

In a press release this morning, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. announced that the closed beta testing for PlayStation Home will be extended, allowing new registrants to join the online community. Following the expansion, the PlayStation Home Open Beta will commence Fall 2008. "We understand that we are asking PS3 and prospective PS3 users to wait a bit longer, but we have come to the conclusion that we need more time to refine the service to ensure a more focused gaming entertainment experience than what it is today," said Kazuo Hirai, President and Group CEO, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.

Details of the Closed Beta testing features, registration for the test
and the opening of the service will be announced as they become
available.

This is the second time PlayStation Home has been delayed since it was first announced over a year ago. The original Open Beta was originally scheduled to start in Fall 2007 but was delayed to Spring 2008. Today’s announcement pushed Home further back to Fall 2008. Those waiting for PlayStation Home will definitely be disappointed.

Kaz Hirai:

"We understand that we are asking PS3 and prospective PS3 users to wait a bit longer, but we have come to the conclusion that we need more time to refine the service to ensure a more focused gaming entertainment experience than what it is today. Our overarching objective is to provide users with new gaming experiences that are available only on PLAYSTATION Home. Spending more time on the development and on the Closed Beta testing reaffirms our commitment to bringing a quality service, maintaining the PlayStation tradition."