This week the recent rumors regarding the name for the Sony motion controller have gained more credibility with the registration of the PlayStationArc.com domain name. A whois search on the domain indicated that the domain is owned by Sony Computer Entertainment, confirming that the Motion Controller will indeed be called “Arc”.
The Sony Motion Controller, codenamed Gem, will apparently be called “Arc” when it is released later this year. An anonymous source revealed to VG247 that the motion controller will be called Arc, though Sony has once again declined to comment on “rumour or speculation.”
There has been a lot of speculation on what Sony would be calling their upcoming motion controller. If Sony was preparing a surprising unveiling of the name, then their plans have been thwarted. In a press conference held in New York City this mornin, Electronic Arts CEO John Riccitiello let slip the name of the controller – or did he?
An unidentified source has informed gaming news site CVG of Logitech’s plans to create a UMD Drive add-on for the PSPgo. No price or release information was revealed by the source, but apparently the add-on would “plug into the PSPgo, allowing users to play their UMD games on the portable.” Logitech UK said that they’re “not aware of it, so it may be something the US office is working on.” Neither Logitech’s US office nor Sony have so far said anything about this rumor.
Its looks like the next PlayStation 3 firmware update will come with a much-requested feature: cross-game voice chat. A VG247 source claims that he got word from another source whom they “can’t name” on the said cross-title voice chat in PS3 play, and the word is good. Although Sony suggested that no major features will be added this year, Firmware 3.10 is expected to be released some time in October.
An image has surfaced on the internet indicating that a Gran Turismo 5 beta is coming soon, and could already be in the private beta stage. The image clearly shows a PS3 download screen for the highly anticipated Gran Turismo 5. A beta for the game, due to release this winter, hasn’t been officially mentioned or announced yet. However, it’d be no surprise that a game on this scale would need some sort of beta testing phase to make sure that the online mode was up-to-scratch.
With the recent logo changes to the PlayStation 3, Firmware 3.0 is likely to bring about a change to the boot screen. A video was spotted on YouTube showing the new boot screen already on the pS3 Slim console, sporting the new logo. Currently, the PS3 boot screen says ‘Sony Computer Entertainment’. Only PS3 Slims could have this new boot screen, but it’s difficult to tell at the moment.
A 250GB PlayStation 3 Slim console has been discovered on the FCC site. The new model, CECH-2000B, is different to the model announced yesterday at GamesCom, which is model number CECH-2000A. The only difference we can see is that it features a bigger hard drive than the model coming out in September.
According to a unofficial looking document we received today, Sony has an unannounced PS3 product that is to be revealed during the Sony GamesCom Press Conference tomorrow. The conference which is to be presented by Kaz Hirai and Andrew House, lists 2 PlayStation 3 TOOL consoles and one unannounced PS3 product. The authenticity of the document is questionable since the it mentions the incorrect date of 18/09/2009.
Earlier this week GameWave, a Hong Kong based weekly magazine, revealed the first photos of the PS3 Slim in their latest issue. Although the photos are unconfirmed, they look pretty convincing especially compared to the leaked photos a few months ago. In our opinion, the design of the console looks poor and perhaps a little too small, compared to what the console looks like currently. You be the judge, check out the photos below.
