The new issue of the XTREME PSP Magazine is now available to download. This issue contains over 100 pages of great content including game previews and reviews, and all the usual content. This month we preview: Lego Indiana Jones, flOw, Ultimate Board Collection, Command and Conquer Tiberium and Turok. We also review: Patapon, PixelJunk Monsters, TimeShift and Unreal Tournamant 3.
Thank you to everyone who sent us an email or posted a comment regarding the discontinuation of the XTREME PSP Magazine. After careful consideration, we have opted to continue the publication of the magazine so expect a new issue every month. Issue 32 will be released within the next day or two so look out for that. Any further suggestions on this matter are welcome so feel free to post a comment or send us an email.
We may integrate the PSP M4M Magazine with the XTREME PSP Magazine to save time and increase readership for both magazines. It would really help us if you could all post your age in the comments section below so we can determine who read our magazines.
The Blu-Ray Profile 2.0 (BD-Live) update for the PlayStation 3 will arrive as early as May or June, according to an announcement by Sony. For those who aren’t familiar with the features of BD-Live, the new update will allow Profile 2.0 compatible movies to have extended features by going online and looking for related content appropriate to your Blu-ray title. The firmware update will be available once the first BD Live stand alone players hit the market this Summer.
Sony mentioned this little piece of information to Home Cinema Choice Magazine. Most likely, the company was referring to the Panasonic DMP-BD50, which is believed to be the first Blu-ray player to feature BD-Live. In any case, we’ll just have to wait and see if Sony decides to release any more information on this in the few months.
Several rumors have been circling the Internet this week with regards to the PlayStation Home Open Beta, so we thought we would share them with you. According to a countdown on an unknown website, the PlayStation Home Open Beta is scheduled tobegin on March 20th 2008, which is also a Thursday (the day when the PlayStation Network Store is updated with new content). Also, a somewhat reliable Japanese news source has revealed that the Home Open Beta will begin on March 24th in Japan.
Jonnyram, as he is known on the Neogaf Forums, says in carefully chosen words "Home open beta starts 24 March in Japan. Sorry if old." Both these statements are currently rumors, and we await official word from Sony regarding this matter. Just as a warning, don’t get your hopes up!
The DualShock 3 release date for the US has finally been revealed. If you haven’t already imported one from Japan, look out for the new controller in stores from April 15th 2008, just prior to the Gran Turismo 5: Prologue release. The controller will be released in Europe around the same time but there has been no official word from Sony. The controller will be priced at US$54.99.
According to reports on the Internet and sources at Destination PlayStation, the PlayStation Store is finally getting a graphical user interface makeover. The store makeover is planned to arrive alongside Gran Turismo 5 Prologue on April 15. The revamp of the PlayStation Store is said to give it a look more in tune with the SingStore (pictured below) which is already accessible from the PlayStation 3 version of SingStar. The exact details of the change has not been revealed but it is said that navigation would change to a series of icons running along the bottom of the interface. We don’t have official confirmation on this one yet, so consider it rumor for now.
PlayStation Home nears completion as another update is rolled out. Recent reports suggest that there will be a big update next week, which will take the beta to 0.8.3 and will include many improvements. Improvements to the UI and graphics engine mean that Home will look much prettier and be more functional from here on out. You will be able to check who’s online from your friends list as well as who is in Home right now. A bubble machine has been made available to all beta testers, to test the new "Home Items" system. Video streaming is now made possible too, so you don’t have to wait for a video to download completely before watching it.
The Marketplace will also be opened to test the clothes and furniture which can be purchased there. This should also give us a hint of how Home’s economy will play out. Look out for more details on the improvements next week, when the update is complete.
It comes as no surprise this week, as once again the European PlayStation store is updated with little new content compared to the US store. Europeans can enjoy a new playable demo (which was already available from the US store for a few weeks now), or some of the new videos, wallpapers and a new theme. The US have also received a new playable demo as well as a new PSOne title and more Rock Band add-on content. Also included in the US update are several new videos and trailers, and a new XMB theme.
European Update:
US Update:
It comes as no suprise that Universal Studios are switching to Blu-Ray, following Toshiba’s announcement. Universal will be discontinuing HD DVD production by this March and will launch all new titles, and catalogue titles, in the Blu-Ray format. Universal Studios Home Entertainment’s president Craig Kornblau has released a statement indicating that it will be launching new and catalog titles on the Blu-Ray format.
"While Universal values the close partnership we have shared with Toshiba, it is time to turn our focus to releasing new and catalog titles on Blu-ray. The path for widespread adoption of the next-generation platform has finally become clear.
Universal will continue its aggressive efforts to broaden awareness for hi-def’s unparalleled offerings in interactivity and connectivity, at an increasingly affordable price. The emergence of a single, high-definition format is cause for consumers, as well as the entire entertainment industry, to celebrate."
The remaining companies still backing HD DVD are expected to switch to Blu-Ray in the coming weeks.
Toshiba has announced that it will stop making its high definition DVDs, ending the battle with rival format Blu-Ray. Following a review of its business, Toshiba said it would stop production of HD DVD players and recorders. Toshiba president Atsutoshi Nishida said "We made a quick decision, judging that there is no way of winning the competition." Toshiba said the tipping point came last month when Warner Bros’ followed a number of other film studios in deciding to release its movies only in the Blu-Ray format.
Is it expected that PS3 sales will rise following the announcement by Toshiba. Also, it is speculated that Microsoft may release a Blu-Ray Drive for the XBox 360. In the UK, DSGI, which owns the Currys chain, said it would stop selling HD DVD players after Toshiba’s announcement. Last week, Wal-Mart, the world’s largest retailer, announced it would sell high-definition discs only in the Blu-ray format at its 4,000 US stores.
Universal, Paramount and DreamWorks studios signed up to produce movies in HD DVD, but Toshiba’s withdrawal is expected to significantly reduce the number of films available in the format.
