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JBO: Joystiq Box Office, June 29 - July 3

by Kevin Kelly { Jul 3rd 2009 at 8:30PM }

We can't be gaming all the time, despite our best efforts, and from time to time we'll actually take advantage of the movie-playing abilities on our gaming systems. JBO features our top picks for XBL, PSN, Netflix's Watch Instantly, and Blu-ray each week.

Recommendation of the Week:

Sunshine (Blu-ray: $29.99): We all know about Danny Boyle and Slumdog Millionaire; winning a few Oscars will do that to your movie, particularly if it's great. However, his sci-fi masterpiece Sunshine is severely underrated and underwatched. The Sun becomes an ominous character in this taut thriller, which, granted, has a plot point that could be completely jettisoned to make for a perfectly streamlined film. However, the sound, the action, and the attention to detail in this movie make this a must see in HD.

Read for the full list on a system by system basis just after the break, this time with a bent toward the upcoming Independence Day holiday this Saturday. As usual, we'll see you at the popcorn st ... well, actually we won't see you at all. But you catch our drift.

Continued →

SOCOM: Confrontation DLC available later this summer

by Xav de Matos { Jul 1st 2009 at 4:00PM }

SOCOM: Confrontation will soon join the DLC fold, with new content scheduled to drop later this summer. While details on the new content are slim, the game's official site promises more information will be made available in the upcoming weeks. What we do know is the content will include a new area of operation, a new game mode, along with new maps (teased in the tiny image above), characters, weapons and attachments.

Audiophiles will also be happy to hear the game's music will be updated and players can select a new voice-over when the content arrives. Now that SOCOM: Confrontation has evolved beyond its original feature-sparse retail release, we're excited for new ways to get tactical on our online enemies.

Gallery: SOCOM Confrontation

JBO: Joystiq Box Office, June 22 - 26

by Kevin Kelly { Jun 26th 2009 at 10:15PM }

The Girlfriend Experience (XBL to rent: 480 MS points for HD, 320 for SD): Steven Soderbergh returns to his indie film roots with this character study that was shot on one of the new RedOne HD cameras for only $1.3 million dollars. Real-life porn star Sasha Grey stars as Christine; an escort who offers the full "Girlfriend Experience" for a high price. Her boyfriend is okay with the arrangement on the surface, but underneath he's struggling. The film follows both of them as they deal with the reality of her job, and how they each handle the repercussions.

Read for the full list on a system by system basis just after the break. As usual, we'll see you at the popcorn st ... well, actually we won't see you at all. But you catch our drift.

Continued →

O Canada, PlayStation Network cards have arrived!

by Andrew Yoon { Jun 15th 2009 at 10:00AM }

It took long enough, but it appears pre-paid PlayStation Network cards have arrived in Canada. Makinen snapped this photo of a local Canadian card that credits you 20 Canadian dollars for use on the PSN. With it, our credit card-less Canadian friends can finally start downloading games ~~and movies~~ onto the PS3 and PSP.

[Thanks, djpenny1!]

Hands-on: Battle Tanks

by Ben Gilbert { Jun 7th 2009 at 7:30PM }

Battle Tanks, coming to the PlayStation Network from mobile developer Gameloft this July, feels very familiar. At its heart, the game's a two-stick shooter with a few interesting mechanics to help differentiate it from the crowd (bullets ricochet off of walls and power-ups break up the monotony). Which isn't to say what we played of the the game was bad -- it felt like digital distribution's equivalent of a rental-worthy game -- which is quite the dilemma, considering the PSN-based distribution of the title.

Commanding a World War 2-era tank, we piloted ourselves around a handful of different square maps, where a variety of enemy tanks and power-ups laid in our path. The layout of each level's semi-destructible environments helped to dictate our tactics while we dominated Destructoid's Ben Perlee -- er, rather, while he blew himself up, given that ricocheting bullets (even your own) can mean game over. While we weren't exactly jonesin' for more once the demo had ended, Battle Tanks' detailed environments and combination shooter/puzzle gameplay could very easily help us while away an empty Saturday. Too bad we can't rent it.

Gallery: Battle Tanks (PSN)

Sony's Stringer discusses PSN's 'open' expansion beyond PS3

by Majed Athab { May 11th 2009 at 4:31PM }

The PlayStation Network has come a long way since its inception back in late 2006. At first, it wasn't a major focal point for Sony in pushing the PS3 forward, but since then things have changed immensely. "We developed brand new, absolutely incredible technology for the PlayStation 3, but the cost was high. We've adopted a slightly different approach now, and are evolving the PS3 into a platform for web services," said Sony Corp. head honcho Sir Howard Stringer, speaking in an interview with Nikkei Electronics Asia.

Indeed, services such as the social network app PlayStation Home and the expansion of VOD content on the PlayStation Store reflects Sony's new strategy. "Sony has begun the transition from a closed system to an open one," stated Stringer. "Next we will be expanding the PlayStation Network to hardware other than the PS3, because the number of PS3 units sold puts a limit on the scale of the network possible." Of course, he refers to the PSP (which already features PSN connectivity) and -- most likely -- the rumored PSP2 as well (which looks to be solely dependent on PSN); however, does he also mean to say devices outside gaming could get the PSN treatment? Say, like, um, phones?

[Via Edge Online]

Sony to donate up to $10,000 in celebration of Earth Day

by Andrew Yoon { Apr 21st 2009 at 11:57AM }

Want to do something green? Why not play a video game or watch a movie? Sony will donate $1 to Conservation International for each "unique paid transaction" made on the PlayStation Store on Earth Day (April 22), with a maximum contribution of $10,000. Each purchase must be made from the PlayStation Video Store.

The PlayStation Store currently features a "Save Our Earth" section featuring a rather eclectic mix of sort-of-Earth-related games, including PixelJunk Eden, Flower, Flock! and er, Burn Zombie Burn.

PlayStation Network downtime expected on April 21st

by Andrew Yoon { Apr 17th 2009 at 9:00PM }

The PlayStation Network is expected to go down for a few hours on April 21st, according to a notice on the European PlayStation forum. The "essential maintenance" will begin at 7AM BST (or 2AM EST). There's no indication this will be a global outage, but don't be surprised if your late-night gaming sessions get suddenly interrupted.

[Thanks, bob!]

WipEout HD update adds online podium, invites, spectator mode

by Xav de Matos { Apr 7th 2009 at 5:00PM }

One of the fastest, melt-your-face (and your pants) racing experiences is getting a supercharged boost tomorrow (April 8). WipEout HD update V1.3 is set to introduce a host of new options to futuristic racing fans, including the ability to easily invite friends into games and an online podium that details the top-three racers after an event or tournament.

The update also introduces online badges for all participants -- regardless of finishing position, players have the chance to win one of 33 online badges in recognition of how they preformed in the race. Whether players who use the edge of the track for guidance like bowling alley gutter bumpers are "badge worthy" is still unclear.

The V1.3 update also introduces a Spectator Mode for race latecomers. If an event is underway when a player connects they will be able to watch the race unfold from various camera angles and are added to the game lobby during the next session. A full list of features, plus new online match customization options, are after the break.

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GDC09: Sony encourages PSN exclusivity with Pub Fund

by Andrew Yoon { Mar 26th 2009 at 8:37PM }

Developers will have one big reason to make games exclusively on the PlayStation Network: money. Sony's Chris Eden spoke at GDC about a new program available for developers called "Pub Fund." In an effort to make the online service more lucrative, the Pub Fund deal has Sony matching development budgets of PSN-exclusive titles. "We're looking for a number of great games, and in return for exclusivity we'll match your development budget with guaranteed royalties," Eden said.

The first game to be developed under the Pub Fund agreement is Burn Zombie Burn (pictured), available today on the PlayStation Store. The Pub Fund will entitle developers to financial assistance, without having to sacrifice their IPs. "This is not Sony buying your product," Eden noted. "You'll be the publisher, you'll own the IP and you'll control your product. This is assisting you to make your next step from developer to publisher."

We're not sure what the fine print entails, but Pub Fund sounds like an overall "win" for developers. Developers -- if you want to work with Sony, you may want to contact them at devrel-scea@playstation.sony.com.

GDC09: PixelJunk Eden profitable after one day of sales

by Andrew Yoon { Mar 24th 2009 at 3:22PM }

Publishers looking for a quick buck don't need to focus their efforts solely on the iPhone. Sony's Susan Panico touted the values of PSN development by providing a case study on PixelJunk Eden, Q-Games' third PSN-exclusive title. Panico told the GamesBeat audience that "PixelJunk Eden made its return on investment within 24 hours." Sales after that period become pure profit.

Of course, the success of Eden is a little unsurprising, considering the popularity of PixelJunk Monsters. Regardless, it's impressive that a small independent studio was able to create a trusted franchise exclusively through the PlayStation Network. With so much green made off of Eden, it's no wonder Q-Games is working on an expansion for the game. Eden Encore will be available in April.

Gallery: PixelJunk Eden Encore

PSN download charges proving unpopular among publishers

by Ludwig Kietzmann { Mar 20th 2009 at 2:10PM }

While it's the cost to consumers that often drags downloadable content into the internet's argumentative din, the cost to publishers and developers is generally an infrequent point of discussion. Consider that issue brought into the limelight now, with MTV Multiplayer reporting on some brewing dissatisfaction amongst certain publishers offering content on the PlayStation Network.

According to comments made by several unnamed publishing sources, Sony's "PlayStation Network Bandwidth Fee," implemented in October of last year, asks publishers to pay 16 cents for every gigabyte of bandwidth distributed through the PlayStation Store. The charge, which applies to everything from demos to game add-ons, is one difference between Sony's network and Microsoft's Xbox Live Marketplace that's giving publishers pause. "It definitely makes us think about how we view the distribution of content related to our games when it is free for us to do it on the web, on Xbox Live, or any other way - including broadcast - than on Sony's platform," explained one source. "It's a new thing we have to budget. It's not cool. It sucks."

Developers that choose to provide content exclusively to the PlayStation Network may be exempt from sticker shock. A publisher of popular PSN-exclusive titles told Joystiq, the fees "are so small [they do] not affect our business or attitude towards releasing games for PSN. The fees are extremely low for PSN-exclusive titles, and only slightly higher for non exclusives."

We've reached out to Sony, other PSN developers and content providers to ascertain just how not cool or possibly sucky they find the reported bandwidth fee. The real concern, of course, is whether this dissatisfaction will manifest as fewer pieces of PSN content. Now that would be decidedly not cool.

VH1 and Nickelodeon join PlayStation Store, first episode of KINGS free

by Andrew Yoon { Mar 19th 2009 at 4:15PM }

The PlayStation Network video service has been open for about eight months now, and it continues to grow. Users will find an expanded selection today, with two new partners joining the service: VH1 and Nickelodeon. Now PS3 and PSP owners will be able to download Avatar, iCarly, Invader Zim, SpongeBob SquarePants, Confessions of a Teen Idol, Sober House, and more. As usual, SD episodes cost $1.99 each.

In addition to the new content providers, NBC and PlayStation have teamed up to provide the pilot episode of NBC's new series, KINGS, free for PS3 and PSP owners. Simply visit the PlayStation Store and you'll be able to download the 80 minute debut in SD or HD for free.

See the top video downloads of the week after the break.

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Suspected pedophile targets Texas girl using PS3 and camera

by Ben Gilbert { Mar 16th 2009 at 4:41PM }

Texas ABC affiliate ABC-13 is reporting that a 24-year-old Kentucky man, named Anthony Scott O'Shea, was using his PlayStation 3 to request nude self-pictures from an 11-year-old Texas girl. According to police, Mr. O'Shea did not own a computer and was solely employing his PS3 and the PlayStation Network to speak with the girl. When she refused to take them, he supposedly threatened to remove her from his friends list, saying, "Friends do things for each other. You're on my friends list. If you don't, I'm gonna remove you."

Using a camera attached to her PS3, the Texas girl then sent Mr. O'Shea the pictures which, according to police, Mr. O'Shea distributed through email "across the country." Parents of the 11-year-old girl notified authorities immediately when they found out about the actions, but apparently their daughter remained steadfast in her opinion of Mr. O'Shea, asking police, "Why is my friend going to jail?" Mr. O'Shea is being charged with:

Sexual performance of a child

Online solicitation of a minor

Promotion of child pornography

Those sound like three pretty good reasons right there. According to GamePolitics, Sony provided technical assistance to the Texas police in helping to track down O'Shea.

[Thanks, Gian S.!]

Red Alert 3 demo hits PSN 'in a couple of weeks'

by Xav de Matos { Mar 10th 2009 at 10:10AM }

EA's David Seeholzer, Senior Development Director of Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3: Ultimate Edition, has revealed the upcoming real-time strategy title will receive a demo on the PSN within "a couple of weeks" The news comes from the PlayStation Blog, where Seeholzer showcased some of the exclusive content found in the PS3 version of the game in a new video featurette, found after the break.

Along with additional behind-the-scenes footage crammed on the Blu-ray disc, the PS3 version of Red Alert 3 will receive five new skirmish maps and the game's soundtrack. And yes, gentlemen, the PS3 version will also include The Women of Red Alert 3 featurette when the game ships on March 23. Ladies, you get more Ric Flair. We're so terribly sorry.