Filed under: Guides

The Metal Gear primer: everything you need to know

by Andrew Yoon { 1 year ago }

The Metal Gear legacy spans quite a bit of time. So, don't be embarrassed to admit you may not remember everything. The hype around MGS4 is legendary, and we're sure there are bound to be newcomers to this PS3-exclusive adventure. For n00bs and veterans alike, Joystiq has written a helpful guide that goes through everything you "need to know."

For example, did you know Raiden's real name was Jack? BUM BUM BUM!

Teach me! Teach me! >

Where to buy the Metal Gear Solid 4 bundle

by Andrew Yoon { 1 year ago }

Come Thursday, thousands of Americans will battle each other in retail stores around the country to get their hands on the new 80GB Metal Gear Solid 4 bundle. The package will include the game, a backwards-compatible 80GB system and a rumbling DualShock 3 controller.

Each retailer will have its own policies regarding what to buy with the system, but Wal-Mart clearly has the competition beat with its generous bonus $100 gift card -- an incentive that will also work with this lucrative bundle. Getting a free $100 for buying the Metal Gear bundle? How generous.

If you can't make a Wal-Mart, you may want to try any of these other options:

amazon.com is already sold out
Best Buy is holding multiple midnight launches this Wednesday night.
Circuit City has pre-orders available, but you must buy an extra Blu-ray remote (total: $525).
EB Games/Gamestop online pre-orders are sold out -- check midnight launches.

Sony's official PS3 theme creation how-to

by Andrew Yoon { 1 year ago }

A few days ago, the PlayStation.blog posted an official how-to, going meticulously step-by-step through the process of making original PS3 themes. It shouldn't be surprising, but there quite a number of icons used by the PS3, meaning a total XMB overhaul will take quite a bit of effort. If you're willing to take the jump, download the files you need here.

Unfortunately for Mac users, Sony's official theme program requires Windows. Considering how only 11% of you use Apple OS (according to our stats), it seems like Sony's neglect of the operating system will continue.

We take an in-depth look at Qore

by Jem Alexander { 1 year ago }

Qore definitely looks interesting, but is it worth the price of admission? We've gone in depth with the "Digizine" to bring you a taste so that you can decide for yourself. Check out our gallery below to see a large number of screenshots of Qore in action, along with some useful info to help you make your mind up. In our heads, it's a great deal for only $3.

Click here to begin the tour and be sure to let us know what you think.

Video: Adding yen to a Japanese PSN account

by Andrew Yoon { 1 year ago }

Epileptic Gaming goes through the process of adding yen to a Japanese PSN account. It's not a task that most will want to endure through, but for importers that love getting their hands on early Japanese PSN releases will be sure to enjoy this information. Downloadable games work on any PS3 from any region, so this might be fun for those that aren't afraid of a little language barrier.

Why hasn't the PS3 been hacked?

by Andrew Yoon { 1 year ago }

Where is the PS3 homebrew scene? Considering how active the PSP scene, one would think that Sony's other console would get the same kind of attention from hackers. It's not that people aren't trying -- rather, it appears that Sony has learned from their mistakes with the PSP.

PSP was rather insecure from the start. A primer from "nikkelitous" explains that "the PSP didn't have any security protections in the first version: Thats right! It essentially ran anything that you put on it." In spite of Sony's continued attempts at fixing PSP security through firmware revisions, the damage has already been done. "The PSP now has a very powerful security system, but like the Greeks, we had people inside. Once a system is hacked and understood, very little can be used to continue to protect it."

Not only has Sony made the PS3 much more secure, but its use of Blu-ray makes it significantly more difficult to hack. "It's not using a DVD drive it's using a custom Blu-ray drive, we can't simply copy the disks, and we don't know enough about the firmware on the drive to accomplish a 'debug mode' even if it's on there." Of course, all of these hindrances aren't stopping the hacking community. They're going to keep on trying, and will probably one day succeed. However, it's clear that this time around, Sony isn't going to be taken off-guard.

Devil May Cry: a series retrospective

by Nick Doerr { 1 year ago }

Devil May Cry 4 arrives on PS3 this week, signaling the long-revered franchise's jump to the current generation. How did the series become as beloved as it is today? Join us as we take a retrospective look on the long-running legacy of the Devil May Cry series.

It all began back in 2001 when Capcom unleashed a game titled Devil May Cry on the PS2. The game introduced the character of Dante, a man who runs a shop where people come to have demons dealt with. At the start of the game, Dante meets Trish, a femme fatale who tests his abilities. She reveals that the one responsible for killing his mother and brother (Vergil ... more on that later), Mundus, is making a return. And so your adventure begins.

Gallery: Devil May Cry

Continue reading “Devil May Cry: a series retrospective”

Downloading videos from Stage6

by Andrew Yoon { 1 year ago }

Stage6 is widely known amongst DivX fans as one of the best places to get high quality streaming DivX video. Unfortunately, the site isn't compatible with the PS3 ... or is it?

It is, so long as you're willing to fiddle around with the PS3's web browser a bit. Go to a Stage6 video you're interested in. For example, we've chosen the PS3's recent Universe of Entertainment ad. Edit the URL in your PS3 browser by pressing START.

URL displayed by browser:
http://www.stage6.com/PS3/video/1827927/PLAYSTATION%C2%AE3---Universe-of-Entertainment

To download this DivX file to your DivX-enabled PS3, you're going to have to edit the video as such:

Continue reading “Downloading videos from Stage6”

PS3 Fanboy Holiday Buyer's Guide 2007

by Andrew Yoon { 1 year ago }

December has finally begun. You know what that means: only 25 days left until Christmas. Whether you're a newcomer, or a long time fan, PS3 has a lot to offer this holiday season. Read up on what's hot and what's not, and make sure you get the best stocking stuffer for the PS3 fan.

Hardware

PS3 40GB Spider-man 3 Movie Pack - $399.99
If you're looking to get a new PS3 system, there's one clear choice: the PS3 40GB Spider-man 3 Movie Pack. You'll lose backwards compatibility with PS2 games, but there should more than enough PS3 content to keep you busy in the coming months. At under $400, it's one of the cheapest Blu-ray players around, which is great for the movie buff. With built-in wireless and free access to the PSN, the price-reduced 40GB PS3 has features that some of the competing gaming systems still don't have.

Continue reading “PS3 Fanboy Holiday Buyer's Guide 2007”

Finally: folders for videos on your PS3

by Andrew Yoon { 1 year ago }

One of the lesser known tricks of PS3 firmware 2.00 is the ability to organize videos into folders, a request that many have had since the system's launch. So how do you use this magical feature? Simple. Press Triangle on any video, and edit the Album Information. Press Square from the XMB, and you'll be able to sort by a variety of options. One is the ability to sort by Albums, which will let you finally have a clean way of organizing your videos. Excellent.

Comparison: Is the 40GB PS3 such a bad deal?

by Andrew Yoon { 2 years ago }

Click for full resolution image.

Is the 40GB PS3 really such a bad deal? We stacked a number of systems side by side to see which gaming console is the best value (at least, in terms of hardware). For example, when compared to the Xbox 360, the $399 PS3 may seem like a pretty good deal, provided you're looking for built-in wi-fi and an HD movie player. These two peripherals cost $99 and $179 each for the Xbox 360.

However, let's not forget that the 20GB Xbox 360 includes some backwards compatibility support (the 40GB PS3 does not). In addition, you get two free games with the system.

The 60GB PS3 is in an interesting position right now, as it currently costs the same as the 80GB model. For the same price, you can get a larger hard drive and a free game. The only difference? The 80GB has more limited backwards compatibility support. Patrick Seybold from SCEA reminds us that "There are no plans to lower the price of the 60GB model. The 60GB model has nearly 95% backwards compatibility, so consumers looking for that feature have the option while supplies last."

[Update: Chart updated with user suggested information. Updated with minor corrections. Thanks, readers!]

How to set up and play The Eye of Judgment

by Chris Powell { 2 years ago }

Up until recently, details have been sparse in regards to how you'll actually be playing The Eye of Judgment, but just in case you still have some questions, this video should spell everything out for you.

While the game seems to live up to its billing, we could have used some battle music when the game transitions to combat mode. The lovely music is nice for a lonely walk in the woods, but when a flock of dwarves is battling a winged demon astride a three-headed beast, we expect to be blasted with some metal ... or even country music at the very least.

GamePro guide makes PS3 hard drive install easy

by Andrew Yoon { 2 years ago }

Is 60GB (or 80GB) simply not enough space for your PS3? We know it's easy to swap PS3's hard drive ... but GamePro's picture-by-picture guide makes the process even easier. The tools required are simple: Husky Precision Screwdriver, external hard drive or USB thumb drive (for copying over files), and a 2.5" SATA laptop drive. Thanks to the XMB's easy to use interface, the process of copying over files and formatting the new PS3 drive is a cinch. Maybe you'll want to throw in a new 160GB hard drive into your PS3? They only go for about $100 these days.

[Via digg]