ps3

preGame 59: Rage; Ico and Shadow of the Colossus Collection

Today on preGame we've got an early look at Rage, hitting consoles and PC on October 4. Then we'll battle a giant colossus in our demo of the PS2 HD reboot for PlayStation 3, Shadow of the Colossus. Shadow makes up one half of the highly anticipated rerelease, the Ico and Shadow of the Colossus Collection. For CNET's full take on the game, check out our review here.

Today's demo of Rage includes strong language and violence. Viewer discretion is advised.

Want to be a part of our live taping? Make sure you head to http://cnet.com/live/pregameRead more

New Ferrari F1 wheel for racing sim diehards

Thrustmaster has announced an authentic, life-size controller modeled after a Ferrari 150 Italia Formula 1 racing wheel. The replica is covered with buttons, switches, and dials, as well as two F1-style "push and pull" metal shifters. It's designed as a replacement wheel for the company's existing T500 RS racing system featuring 1,080-degree rotation, powerful force-feedback and a heavy-duty metal footrest.

A full setup will cost close to $800 ($199 for the F1 wheel and $599 for the T500 RS), which can be hard to stomach for most gamers even though it is PC- and PS3-compatible. But for that price, you do get an advanced PC mode that supports 25 action buttons and a directional pad for race simulation junkies. The Ferrari F1 Wheel add-on will be launched in early October.

(Source: Crave Asia via Ubergizmo) … Read more

$1.6M Battlefield 3 tournament coming in 2012

Ever wished you could win money--big money--for playing video games?

While that dream may never come true for most of us, there is a chance for anyone with an Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3 to become a gaming god. Virgin Gaming, EA, and DICE are teaming up to host a Battlefield 3 Worldwide Conquest tournament with $1.6 million in cash and prizes on the line.

Potential fraggers must be 18 years or older to register for the online tourney, which begins in 2012 and which Virgin is calling the "largest online console game tournament ever." Unfortunately, the contest is not available for PC gamers, who make up a huge portion of the fan base for the series. In some aspects, I can see why Virgin Gaming may want to avoid integrating PC gamers, as cheating has soured FPS games for many years on the platform.

Nonetheless, Virgin's official response to PC gamers being excluded was rather disappointing. "Our technology is only set up to integrate with console games at this phase in our life. We're still new and trying to create a unique service that resolves a lot of the challenges in the competitive gaming space today," a Virgin rep said. "We have much love for gamers on all platforms, and as we grow we'll try to bring everyone under the tent." … Read more

Is FIFA 12 the most realistic-looking sports game?

Change is not always greeted favorably when it comes to sports video game franchises, so a lot of folks were wondering how EA Sports' latest makeover--including a new "Player Impact" physics engine--would go over in this year's FIFA 12. Well, the verdict's in and we have to say the game looks fantastic and plays really well, with an overall more realistic feel all the way from the collisions on the field to the career mode to the impressive in-game commentary and player models.

Along with that new Player Impact Engine, EA's other significant changes include … Read more

Ico and Shadow of the Colossus make triumphant debuts on PlayStation 3

Ask any self-respecting PlayStation 2 owner about must-have titles for the console and just by default, Ico and Shadow of the Colossus will eventually come up. Not only were both brilliantly unique in their gameplay and style, but they were also pivotal steps in changing the way we think about and play games. Developed by the same team, the games aren't necessarily specifically related, but there is an undeniable spiritual connection between the two.

Fortunately for gamers, Sony has bundled the two critically acclaimed titles onto one Blu-ray disc as The Ico and Shadow of the Colossus Collection. It features HD remasters of the original games, trophy support, as well as the option to play the titles in stereoscopic 3D. There are even special video features that dive into the making of the games. It's available now for $40.

Jeff: For me it's easy to recall my favorite game on PlayStation 2. When Shadow of the Colossus debuted in October 2005, I was blown away at the game's ability to suck me into a larger-than-life tale. While the storyline was a bit ambiguous, I felt an undying need to wander the world in search of the 16 enormous bosses.

With its 2011 refresh, Shadow of the Colossus looks better than ever, beautifully rendered in high definition. It still holds up compared with current-generation efforts, but it's interesting to see where the generational divide has left us. While linear at its core, Shadow feels wide open in its design. The game is a relentless teacher, refusing to give any hints aside from a beam of light that points the way forward. The real genius of Shadow is that it expertly disguises "levels" as each colossus and the environments that surround each beast.… Read more

PlayStation Network down, Sony says should return soon

Sony's PlayStation Network is currently experiencing an outage affecting users of the service around the world.

An error message appears when attempting to log in to PSN: "An error has occurred. You have been signed out of PlayStation Network. (8002A548)." According to an official PlayStation support site, the error code 8002A543 may also appear.

"We're aware that some of you are having issues trying to log into PSN. We're working to resolve the issue, and we'll update you here," read a tweet on the PlayStation Twitter account several hours ago.

PlayStation Blog Europe also chimed in on Twitter with an acknowledgement that the PSN is down in that region. "PlayStation Network engineers are working hard on restoring the service."

Just a few moments ago, the same account offered a timetable and some hope for confused users of the service who can't get online: "Current indications are that we'll be restoring PlayStation Network services in approx. two hours. We appreciate your patience." (Update: As of 1:30 p.m. PT, tweets were beginning to indicate that the service was gradually returning online.) … Read more

The 404 906: Where Qwikster delivers the booty (podcast)

Happy birthday to the emoticon, invented 29 years ago today on a computer-science bulletin board at Carnegie Mellon University. Thanks for making parents around the world feel tech-savvy. :)

Before we get into the important Netflix news of of the day, Jeff tells us about his weekend experience at "Sleep No More," an interactive theater experience in New York that's loosely based on the Macbeth story--with a creepy twist. The plot plays out in various acts throughout a three-story abandoned warehouse in Chelsea, so tune in to hear more spoiler-free details and reserve your tickets here!

Next we'll get into the Netflix mea culpa delivered by e-mail and blog post this morning that's giving current Netflix subscribers even more reasons to moan about the recent price hike.

CEO Reed Hastings announced that the company will soon split in two, with the name of the DVD mail rental service changing to Qwikster (not to be confused with Quixtar, QuickStar, Kwikster, Quickster, or Quik-Star), while the video-streaming arm will retain the Netflix name and Web address.

We'll also talk today about a satellite plunging from space, a group of scientists that are poaching PS3 gamers to help find a cure for AIDS, and the last single-space parking meter disappearing in Manhattan today.

The 404 Digest for Episode 906

The emoticon was invented 29 years ago today. Netflix CEO: " I slid into arrogance." PS3 users are helping to find a cure for AIDS. A satellite loosely based on "Donnie Darko" is coming to Earth. World's largest sperm bank refusing donations from redheads. Iguana Fart.

Episode 906 Subscribe in iTunes (audio) | Subscribe in iTunes (video) | Subscribe in RSS Audio | Subscribe in RSS VideoRead more

Final Fantasy-themed PS3 reloaded

Remember the PS3 Final Fantasy XIII Lightning Edition launched in late 2009? Well, Sony and Square Enix are releasing yet another version of the console centered on the popular role-playing game. But instead of the ceramic-white shade of its predecessor, the new Final Fantasy XIII-2 Lightning Edition will come in black. This revised styling should appeal more to guys, while the pink wording still give this console a feminine touch.

Price-wise, expect to shell out around $500 for the 320GB kit bundled with a copy of the game. The set will be available in Japan on December 15, followed by the U.S. and Europe in early 2012.

(Source: Crave Asia via Kotaku)… Read more

Questioning Sony's new class-action waiver

The Sony Network Entertainment has added a controversial change to its Terms of Service and User Agreement (PDF) for users of the PlayStation Network and the Sony Entertainment Network (Music Unlimited, Video Unlimited). In the revised terms, consumers must waive the right to participate in any class-action lawsuit filed after August 20 against the gaming and content delivery portion of Sony.

If you don't agree, then your PS3 can't get online or purchase media content from Sony. Future disputes between consumers and SNE must occur individually in court or through an arbitration procedure.

Licensing agreements with restrictions like this are actually more common than you might think. In fact, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of class-action waivers last April in AT&T Mobility LLC v. Concepcion. In that case, the court held that federal law pre-empted state rules against class-action waivers. Sony will have difficulty enforcing this policy outside of the U.S., as some other countries make agreements like this impossible.… Read more

Digital City 141: Glasses-free 3D laptops, NFL streaming on PS3

This week, we offer a hands-on demo of the new glasses-free 3D laptop from Toshiba; figure out why NFL streaming on the PS3 doesn't work; and take a poll of who is buying the new Star Wars Blu-ray box set.

Bonus: Download the show's jaunty theme song as a free MP3 here.

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