European release of Warhawk delayed by 48 hours

The release date for the upcoming multiplayer game Warhawk has been delayed slightly in Europe, by 48 hours. According to Sony, the game will not appear on the PlayStation Network Store on the previously announced date of August 28th 2007, but will instead appear on August 30th 2007. The reason for the delay is so because “Thursday is the usual day for [Sony’s] PS Store refresh”.

“As you know, Thursday is the usual day for our PS Store refresh. We are sorry for any inconvenience that the extra 48 hours wait may cause,” said a Sony spokesperson.

Not much of an excuse, but it shouldn’t cause a lot of problems. At least Sony is trying to be consistent with the PSN Store updates.

[Via: CVG]

No PlayStation 3 Price cut in Europe

Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE) has announced a lot of new stuff for PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Portable owners yesterday, but those who are looking for a PS3 price cut are bound to be disappointed. SCEE President David Reeves said that there are currently no plans to cut the price on the PlayStation 3. Instead, SCEE will release new bundles that will come with different games to increase console sales.

“What we’re going to allow, and it doesn’t need an announcement, is simply that we’ll probably put out more hard bundles than the Starter Pack,” said Reeves. “We’re not making any pricing announcements at Games Convention at all. There’s none. And we don’t have any plans in that regard. We’re really happy with the way that things are going for the PAL business. We really are. It’s on track.”

Why PS3 PlayTV and PSP Go!Video is not available in US

In SCEE’s press conference in Leipzig, new services for the PlayStation 3 and the PlayStation Portable were announced: the Go!Video Download Service for the PSP and PlayTV for the PS3. However, a follow up announcement from SCEA reveals that neither will be available in the U.S. SCEE Executive VP Phil Harrison explains why.

Harrison explains that the services aren’t available because the tech that makes the services possible for other areas aren’t available in the U.S. yet. Terrestrial Television, which makes it possible for Japan’s 1Seg tuner to pick up TV signals on the PSP, is currently only available in San Diego which isn’t enough for Sony to make a nationwide effort. This also scratches off PlayTV for the PS3 in the U.S, since it works on the same technology.

As for the Go!Video download service, there’s no nationwide service in the U.S. that supports video downloads by subscription so there’s no universal form of delivery for Sony to offer the download service. As a result, PSP owners will have to stick with UMD movies and converted content from their PCs while they wait for the service to become possible.

Although these aren’t available for now though, Harrison explains that once the technology that supports the services are available in the U.S., Sony will release the services. As SCEA commented in its announcement: “We understand and respect the consumer interest in this type of service, and we will continue to explore downloadable content options for our territory.”

Pandora’s Battery

The noobz team was working on a PSP unbricker that would restore any bricked PSP’s using the faulty M33 Custom Firmware, however, instead of releasing a unbricker program, they have released the ultimate unbricking tool. Dubbed Pandora’s Battery, the program lets you convert a normal PSP battery into a "jigstick", allowing you to unbrick any PSP.

The unbricker is the culmination of years of behind-the-scenes research and development by some of the top names in PSP hacking, under the name of the Prometheus project. This group of people, from various development teams, was dedicated to developing and releasing PSP hacks and exploits, with the aim of improving the status of PSP homebrew, and making sure that it was kept alive.

All the instructions needed to use the tool are included in the readme file, be sure to pay close attention to any instructions. Here is the process in brief:

You run a program on a homebrew-enabled PSP that will convert a standard PSP battery into a jigkick battery. Note that you can’t then use that battery normally – so you should use a spare one.
You run a program to generate the unbricker memory stick image, built from the v1.5 update EBOOT (note that this, and the custom IPL, means the release is completely free of Sony copyright materials).
You run some programs on a PC to install the image to your memory stick.

[Download Pandora’s Battery]

Thanks to Sable for the tip.

GC: Slim PSP dated and priced for Europe

Sony has revealed that the Slim PSP (PSP-2000) will be available to purchase in Europe from September 5th 2007, and will cost EUR 169. The Slim PSP was first announced at E3 2007, in Santa Monica. The new PSP will be available as standard in the three colours announced at E3; Piano Black, Ceramic White and Ice Silver. Exclusive to the SCEE region and for a limited time, two Limited Edition PSP bundles will also be available. Featuring a PSP in Spiderman Red and Black, the Spiderman bundle will come with Spider-Man 2 and the Blu-Ray movie, Spiderman 3. Also available, in a fetching shade of Simpsons Yellow, the Simpsons bundle will come with The Simpsons Game. Both bundles will be available for EUR 199.99.

“We are delighted to announce the arrival of the newly designed PSP to the SCEE region, whilst also providing something unique and special for our consumers.? said David Reeves, President of SCEE. ?With the addition of two limited edition colour bundles, inspired by the blockbuster Spider-Man and Simpsons Hollywood movies, together with the new video-out port, which gives consumers the option to enjoy PSP content on the big screen, we are confident that this now brings a whole new dimension to the PSP entertainment experience.”

Over 69 PSP titles are scheduled for release before Christmas by SCEE and its third party publishing partners, including eagerly awaited classics such as WipEout, Pursuit Force and Syphon Filter and brand new games such as the quirky music game Patapon and Echo Chrome, a three dimensional brain teaser that will have you tearing your hair out!

With the addition of an exciting range of innovative chat, video download and satellite navigation services for PSP from the new Go! portfolio of entertainment products services, PSP is set to become the entertainment handheld of choice for discerning entertainment seekers across Europe.

EU PlayStation Network Store Updates for Aug 22 2007

As promised by Sony, the EU PlayStation Network Store has been updated with a bunch of new stuff, including the exclusive Folklore demo, available for a limited time only. The update also includes a number of new game trailers and trailers from the Games Convention in Leipzig, Germany. As usual, check out the list of new content below.

Playable Demos
- Folklore
Game Trailers
- Warhawk Trailers:
  - Warhawk Multiplayer
  - Warhawk Air Combat
  - Warhawk Ground Combat
  - Warhawk Trailer
- Stranglehold GD Trailer
- UT3 Gamer’s Day Trailer
Lepizig 2007 Content
- Leipzig PSN Trailer
- PlayStation Eye Trailer
- MGS4 Gameplay Trailer
- Heavenly Sword Trailer
- Snakeball Trailer

GC: Sony unveils PlayTV

Today, SCEE finally announced the introduction of PlayTV, a combined TV tuner and Personal Video Recoder (PVR) for the PlayStation 3. PlayTV will be available in UK, France, Italy, Germany and Spain early in 2008, with other PAL territories to follow in due course. The twin channel TV tuner peripheral and PVR software turns PS3 into a state of the art TV recorder, allowing users to watch, pause and record live TV. PlayTV will also record individual programmes or whole series to the PS3 hard drive for viewing later on the family TV, or for transferring to the PSP for remote viewing outside of the home.

Operating on the widely available Digital Video Broadcasting – Terrestrial (DVB-T) format, PlayTV uses an incredibly quick and easy to use 7-day Electronic Programme Guide EPG. that provides the navigation for programming the PVR features of PlayTV. In line with PlayStation’s focus on advanced technology made easy, PlayTV provides a host of added value features seldom seen on anything but the highest cost standalone PVRs:

PlayTV’s two TV tuners are High Definition ready and are able to view, record and play back High Definition signals in full HD1080P to fully complement PS3’s already impressive High Definition credentials.
Unlike the electronic programme guides found on conventional satellite and cable services, PlayTV’s EPG is lightning fast, and simple to use with either PS3’s SIXAXIS™ wireless controller or the BD remote control to really enhance viewing pleasure.
Intuitive controls, single button help features, tutorial videos and simple navigation make PlayTV a positive joy to use compared with the complexity of some standalone PVR models
Seamless connectivity with PSP allows you to set recordings, watch Live TV and recorded TV programmes remotely on PSP via a Wi-Fi connection (using Remote Play feature). Alternatively, quickly transcode recorded TV shows for high quality viewing to PSP by USB cable for remote viewing away from the home.
Optional on-screen graphical display provides a wealth of information about the status of PlayTV and provides quick access to programme information, stored TV programmes and the controls to pause or record live TV. PlayTV will also set the correct interface for either Standard Definition or High Definition displays, maximising the viewing experience.
PlayTV will evolve with time, with great added value functionality being updated via PLAYSTATION Network; a feature that sets it above all other set top boxes. PlayTV will never be out of date.

“The introduction of PlayTV really will extend the already broad entertainment credentials of PS3, and makes it an exceptionally attractive proposition for the whole family,” said David Reeves, President of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe. “PS3 already provides High Definition gaming, Blu-ray Disc movies, music, video, photo album, web browsing and PLAYSTATION Network support. With the introduction of PlayTV’s state of the art TV tuner and PVR functionality, PS3 is now the best choice of home entertainment hub for the whole family.”

GC: Sony unveils PlayTV

Operating on the widely available Digital Video Broadcasting ? Terrestrial (DVB-T) format, PlayTV uses an incredibly quick and easy to use 7-day Electronic Programme Guide EPG. that provides the navigation for programming the PVR features of PlayTV. In line with PlayStation?s focus on advanced technology made easy, PlayTV provides a host of added value features seldom seen on anything but the highest cost standalone PVRs:

PlayTV?s two TV tuners are High Definition ready and are able to view, record and play back High Definition signals in full HD1080P to fully complement PS3?s already impressive High Definition credentials.
Unlike the electronic programme guides found on conventional satellite and cable services, PlayTV’s EPG is lightning fast, and simple to use with either PS3?s SIXAXIS? wireless controller or the BD remote control to really enhance viewing pleasure.
Intuitive controls, single button help features, tutorial videos and simple navigation make PlayTV a positive joy to use compared with the complexity of some standalone PVR models
Seamless connectivity with PSP allows you to set recordings, watch Live TV and recorded TV programmes remotely on PSP via a Wi-Fi connection (using Remote Play feature). Alternatively, quickly transcode recorded TV shows for high quality viewing to PSP by USB cable for remote viewing away from the home.
Optional on-screen graphical display provides a wealth of information about the status of PlayTV and provides quick access to programme information, stored TV programmes and the controls to pause or record live TV. PlayTV will also set the correct interface for either Standard Definition or High Definition displays, maximising the viewing experience.
PlayTV will evolve with time, with great added value functionality being updated via PLAYSTATION Network; a feature that sets it above all other set top boxes. PlayTV will never be out of date.

“The introduction of PlayTV really will extend the already broad entertainment credentials of PS3, and makes it an exceptionally attractive proposition for the whole family,” said David Reeves, President of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe. “PS3 already provides High Definition gaming, Blu-ray Disc movies, music, video, photo album, web browsing and PLAYSTATION Network support. With the introduction of PlayTV?s state of the art TV tuner and PVR functionality, PS3 is now the best choice of home entertainment hub for the whole family.”

GC: PSP GPS announced for Europe

Sony has unveiled yet more good news for Europe at the Games Convention in Leipzig. Go!Explore, the new Satellite Navigation package for PSP is due for release in the New Year. Sony is collaborating with market leaders TeleAtlas and NavNGo and utilising the very latest in map data and navigation software, to combined In-car and Pedestrian GPS navigation application for the PSP. The package will come complete with a GPS receiver and the software UMD software containing your chosen maps.

"Bringing GPS navigation to PSP is simply fantastic and shows again the unrivalled potential of PSP," said Stephane Hareau, PSP European Marketing Manager, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe. "Developed in collaboration with key companies TeleAtlas and NavNGo, the market leaders in the map data and Navigation software industry, Go!Explore offers the best and most innovative In-Car and Pedestrian GPS navigation experience. With the ability to use 3D city maps and even 3D landmarks in certain key cities, GPS on PSP is a totally unique experience."

Go!Explore will support 11 unique audio languages on every geographic version; English, German, French, Dutch, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, Finnish. Keeping up with the flexibility and future proof nature of PSP, Go!Explore has access to upgradeable Maps & Points of Interest (POI) that can be purchased via the PLAYSTATION Network, and to additional maps, POI, downloads and other exciting WiFi features that will be made available in the future.

Main Product Features:

Multiple Languages 11 languages
Find & Go Easy Search & Smart Keyboard
Smart Zoom Automatic Zooming & Tilting
Explore Map Search & Explore the map
Points Of Interest 100 categories, with thousands of locations
My Data Favourites, Home, History
Route Settings Fastest/Shortest; Day/Night Mode;
Improved Graphics 3D city maps & 3D landmarks;
Customizable settings Customizable Route Settings & Visuals
Itinerary Mode Turn-by-turn overview
7 geographic versions confirmed (with country maps, hundreds of 3D landmarks and thousands of POIs available) :
UK/Ireland; Iberia; France; Germany/Austria/Switzerland; Italy; Benelux; Scandinavia

GC: Go!Messenger for the PSP

SCEE have unveiled Go!Messenger, the wireless communications package for the PSP. The program is due for release in January 2008 in Europe and will use VOIP technology to allow PSP users to keep in touch with each other for free, using any wireless Internet connection. As part of a future firmware upgrade, Go! Messenger places a small application on PSP?s XMB, which can be downloaded separately from the web and installed to the Memory Stick, and PSP owners will be able to instant message (IM) each other when connected to a Wi-Fi hotspot, using a new and intuitive on-screen keyboard.

By adding a headset, voice chat and voice messaging becomes possible, and by connecting Go!Cam, the attachable video camera for PSP, users also have the ability to make video calls to their friends and leave fun video and voice messages.

"With Go!Messenger, PSP is pushing new boundaries, adding unique communication functionalities to all the existing multimedia experiences,? said Stephane Hareau, PSP European Marketing Manager, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe. ?Enabling more than 8.5 Million PSP users across the SCEE region to communicate with each other, through Video or Voice chat, truly confirms the always evolving nature and potential of PSP."

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