Home possibly getting open beta in "coming weeks"

We could be seeing an open beta for Home in "the coming weeks" according to Home's community manager, TedtheDog. That's his forum nick, in case you were wondering. Posting on the official Home forums, he gave an bulletpoint overview of the coming weeks. The final point, point 6, reads "Open Beta starts and that will be just as it implies, Open to all."

Of course, it's worth taking this with a pinch of salt. It was originally on for public release on October of 2007. Then Spring of 2008. It's understandable that it was delayed, getting the balance and dynamic of a virtual world right is a tough one. I'm really interested to see how it turns out. I'm a bit sceptical how many console users the service will actually appeal to and I'm a little concerned that it could just end up adding an uneccesary level of interface to gaming and communication. That doesn't mean I wouldn't like to be proven wrong though. possibly

via CVG

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EA changes its mind about Dead Space release date again

It's not clear what's going through EA's head at the moment. With Dead Space finished and ready to ship well ahead of schedule, the space horror-fest seems to be burning a hole in its pocket. It has now announced that instead of shipping on the 21st - a date revised from the original Halloween release - it will now be hitting shelves on the 14th.

Careful EA, you breaking the cardinal rules of game development: Make up a release date 18 months ahead of time and stick to it with absolute overbearing certainty, until there are two weeks left and no sign of any product marketing. Then delay by a further six months. Thems the rules.

You can't go making up release dates and then undercutting them by two weeks. It'll rip the fabric of space-time.

Next-week, EA plans to announce that Mirror's Edge was already released a month ago and has completely sold out.

(via CrunchGear)

Related posts: Dead Space promo site launched | Exclusive DLC for Mirror's Edge PS3

Resistance 2: landing November 4th, multiplayer and coop taster in October

Sony has put a firm date on Resistance 2, which we knew was coming pre-Xmas and most likely in November. Now we can firmly scribble it in our diaries for the 4th of November - or more likely the 7th in the UK - which, what with LittleBigPlanet , Bioshock PS3, Deadspace, and probably a couple of other games I haven't thought of off the top my head landing in late October, means we're in for a very expensive few weeks.

Luckily, to help you make the buying decision, Sony will be rolling out a special multiplayer pre-launch event. Players will be able to check out the enhanced multiplayer as well as the new eight player coop mode. It isn't clear if this is going to be a fully open-to-the-public event or an extension of the open beta, for which invites were made available to subscribers of PSN US' Qore magazine (other options will be available soon).

Sony also confirmed that there will be a special edition of Resistance 2 available (US pricing is $79.99), which will include an art book, a different cover, an action figure of a Chimera, an in-game weapon skin, and a behind-the-scenes DVD.

Resistance 2 (via GameSpot and VideoGamer)

Related posts: Private beta ball is rolling | Official UK boxshot

Dead Space landing a week early

Well this only happens once in a blue moon. EA is so happy with the progress it's made with Dead Space, that it's pissing all over its own big Halloween splash by chucking the game out a week early.

"The decision to bring it to fans earlier was due to completing the game early. Having spent months of polishing, it will soon be ready to scare gamers across the UK," said EA.

The gritty sci-fi horror fest will now be available from October 24th on PS3, as well as Xbox 360. PC owners still have to hold out until the 31st though.

Generous to say the least, as we normally expect games to be delayed by at least 6 months, especially when they make their intended release date known quite as early as Dead Space did. I once again have to wonder how much the release of Bioshock PS3 on.. oh look, October 24th might have to do with this decision. So it'll be Splicers versus Necromorphs this Halloween then.

Related posts: A scary Dead Space video | If you haven't already, check out the Dead Space animated comics

Bioshock PS3 to land on October 24th

Last week Take-Two officially announced Bioshock's impending release date. It will go on sale on October 21st in the US, and on the 24th here in Europe.

A lot of Bioshock's most ardent supporters, myself included, will have already played either the Xbox 360 or PC version already, and although there a undoubtedly a ton of PS3 owners who haven't got to experience Rapture yet (and really, really should), it's still facing a lot of competition in October.

That competition is coming from the likes of LittleBigPlanet - which has the full weight of Sony's marketing machine behind it - and Fallout 3. Fallout 3 - also a survival FPS is at least following it a week later, but I wonder if Take-Two should have waited even longer to make their PS3 debut. However, there are so many games coming this festive period that it seems likely that someone is going to get their fingers burnt.

The question is, will an extra difficulty mode and bonus level be enough to keep Bioshock PS3 afloat?

Related posts: Take-Two talks Bioshock 2... and 3! | Bioshock PS3 announced

Fallout 3 release date revealed

You see, now I've learned not to give the whole darn bit of news away in the header. Now I can tease it out into... ooh... about 90 words. Fallout 3, much anticipated RPG post-apocalypse-em-up from the hit franchise created by Black Isle Studios and now in the loving embrace of Bethesda Softworks, now has an official release date.

It's so official I'm going to give the whole quote, direct from the developers: "Fallout 3, will be available on store shelves and online in Europe on October 31, 2008 and in North America on October 28, 2008."

And that's it, really. October is looking like an expensive month.

Related posts: Fallout 3 looking a little bland, maybe? | Five minutes of E3 Fallout 3 footage

Next Warhawk expansion announced - time for some jetpacks!

The latest Warhawk expansion has been announced. It is called Operation Fallen Star. The add-on includes a new level - Tau Crater - which is a forested level where a Chernovan warship crashed.

In the world of Warhawk, we're betting a Chernovan warship crashes ever seventh minute, so why should this one receive special attention? Because it was loaded to the gunnels with experimental goodies, that's why. This is, presumably, the infantry jetpack - a new piece of equipment that that'll be unlocked in the expansion.

Fallen Star lands on August 28th, enhancing yet further a game that's had about three times as many significant updates as it seems reasonable to expect a developer to deliver. Don't these people have homes to go to? The expansion will cost £3.99 from PSN. A further deal will net you the other two expansions, Omega Dawn and Broken Mirror, as a bundle for £4.99.

Related posts: Warhawk 1.5 update details | Warhawk joins PS3 greatest hits

LittleBigPlanet to launch on October 29th (!!!!)

Err, yeah... what the header says basically. Rumours weren't too far off. If you haven't heard of LittleBigPlanet, you ust have been doing something really rather thrilling. LBP is rapidly becoming Sony wunderkind. It's expected to sell hardware, Sackboy, the 2D platformer's protagonist is being groomed by Sony (not like that) to be the console's much needed mascot.

It perhaps isn't fair to call LBP a 2D platformer - it's a 2D platformer that everyone can join in with, whether playing cooperatively or building levels. Or building levels cooperatively. Or playing dress up. Or slapping other Sackboys about a bit.

However you want to describe it, LBP has received some phenomenal preview praise and looks set to define the PS3 in this generation, for better or worse. Obviously it will be for the better. PSPSPS has had its own hands-on time and we're now official converts. All hail the mighty Sackboy; our help in ages past, our hope in years to come.

October 29th. Write it down. Set a reminder on your phone. Tattoo it on to your todger.

Related posts: LBP logo competition | Tons of DLC planned for LBP

New 160GB PS3 model announced for Europe, lands October 31st

More exciting hardware news emerges from the mighty Games Convention in bonny Leipzig. Sony has unveiled yet another PS3 hardware SKU. It is essentially the same as the 80GB and its predecessor, the 40GB, but has doubled the hard disc capacity again, taking it to 160GB.

It is due to launch on October 31st across Europe and is set to cost 449 Euros. Crucially, the price difference between this and the 80GB model launching on Friday is roughly the same as the cost of buying the smaller version with a larger hard drive to install immediately.

The fact that Sony has generously madeit so simple to replace PS3 hard drives up to any capacity you like does potentially put these larger models at a disadvantage, so to even it out, the 160GB will also come with 70 Euros worth of additional downloadable content. There's no indication as to what that is - it seems unlikely to be PSN games though. We'll be finding out somewhere closer to the October launch.

Update: UK price has been confirmed at £339.99

Related posts: Acclaim boss not impressed with PS3 | Sales from Sony's games division double

PSP-3000 officially confirmed, due for release in October

Sony has given the nod to the badly kept secret of the upcoming PSP redesign. The PSP-3000 is a slight but significant tweak to the Slim and Light model. The new hardware now includes an integrated microphone and an improved LCD screen. They will be available in black, silver or white.

David Reeves, head of Sony Europe, was keen to hype the latest model as more communications orientated. The addition of Skype and Go!Messenger in the past year have demonstrated the PSP's communications potential, but forcing users to buy additional headsets and mics has presumably not gone down so well. With a mic on board though, there should be better uptake of the services. It may also serve as incentive for developers to include more VoIP features in their games too.

The LCD screen is where the biggest single improvement is this time. Sony claims the screen quality has been enhanced to offer not just a wider colour gamut for better looking graphics, but also a sharper contrast and an anti-reflective coating to make it easier to see in natural light. One of main gripes has been the struggle to see the screen in sunlight - something the DS Lite manages - so this is a serious lure for me and a good incentive to upgrade from my old 1000 model.

The 3000 is due out in October. They'll be part of bundle packages that include a fairly family friendly (as in naff) choice of games. For 199 Euros you'll get a PSP 3000 and either the Go! Communications software package, or Buzz!: Master Quiz, FIFA '09 or Harry Potter.

Update: UK price has been confirmed as £149.99

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80GB PS3 to launch this Friday

Britain's long wait for the 80GB PS3 model is about to end and surprisingly sooner than expected. Various online retailers are saying that the first shipments of the updated console will begin this Friday which will be a bit of a relief for anyone who has been holding out for the new hardware.

It costs the exact same as the current 40GB models - although it's not to unreasonable to expect to find some decent deals as older 40GB stock is shed to make way for the more spacious version.

Sony has made it very clear that it won't be slicing any more of the price either. Some people were hoping the manufacturer might be using the Leipzig Games Convention, which begins tomorrow, to announce a price drop to make it more competitive with its cheaper rivals. However a spokesmen said "It's not going to happen", adding "If you're coming for that you'll be disappointed".

via TechDigest

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Sony drops PlayTV price, then cleverly ruins the service

I've had a good old grumble about the price of PlayTV so I should be happy, right? Sony saw people struggling to pay food, electricity and petrol bills and said 'you know what, let's cut them some slack for a change'. Unfortunately, at some point in the planning of this price trim, someone came up with a profoundly stupid idea - to TAKE AWAY the option to transfer recordings to wherever you want.

This feature alone has always been one of the main draws for PlayTV for me. I want to make recordings of TV shows. If I don't have time to watch them, I'll copy them onto my PSP and watch them on the train. Or maybe if I'm feeling too weighed down and less interested in the picture quality, I'll dump it on a mobile phone and watch from there. That was the kind of freedom Sony's DRM-free PlayTV was about to offer.

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UK gets 80GB PS3s on 29th August

UK retailer GAME has spilled the beans on when the new 80GB PS3 model will be hitting the UK. You can pre-order now and the shop expects them to start shipping in time for an August 29th release date.

GAME's page ties up a few neat ends. The console WILL come with a DualShock 3 controller, thus waving the Sixaxis a not particularly tearful farewell. The list of what the new model WON'T have is somewhat longer though. It doesn't feature any of the following:

• Backwards Compatibility with PS2 Games
• Memory Stick Card Readers
• SACD Playback
• Ethernet Cable
• 4 USB Ports, (The PS3 80GB model features 2)

*Eyes 60GB launch model with 250GB HDD installed* And they say early adoption is for suckers.

(via MCV)

Related posts: Sony MAKES money off PS3 | Cut-prices = more sales (duh)

N+ Ninja Platformer heading to PSP this month

Wahey, there's life in the old girl yet. And new games too. Later this month, N+ , a seemingly straightforward and graphically understated 2D platformer with a unique Game 2.0 twist, is heading to PSP. Best of all, it's set to sell for a steal at $19.99 when it launches across the pond on August 26th.

In N+, you have to guide your athletic Ninja as he collects coins around a level against the clock. Sounds simple enough, but it rapidly evolves into complex, puzzling levels where you have to quickly weigh up the costs of gunning for a few extra gold coins or dashing for the exit while you still have time.

In addition to the 100 levels (including 50 coop centric ones) you get with the UMD version, PSP players will also be able to design levels and share them online. That's adding a significant bang to an already quite small buck.

This is rapidly starting to look like one of the most promising PSP titles we've seen in, well, too long. No news on when it is due to hit the UK, or at what kind of price. I'd guess at a couple of weeks after the US release and at around £15. More news as we get it.

(via PSX Extreme)

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Don't you dare: Bionic Commando ReArmed PSN still "TBC" for Europe

Capcom has put up an official list of release dates for upcoming remake, Bionic Commando: ReArmed. The 2D coop-enabled platformer will hit Xbox Live across the world on Wednesday August 13th. The PlayStation Store version will land at the same time in Japan, but a day later in North America. Fair enough, wouldn't want to spoil PSN Thursday by climaxing early now, would we?

One thing's missing though - a release date for ReArmed on PlayStation Store in Europe. It's still to be certified. I really, really hope this is simply because someone hasn't quite signed the dotted line yet and NOT because Sony couldn't get its arse in gear for regionalisation.

Some games have taken a pretty sickeningly long time to reach Europe in the past, but lately it's only been Sony exclusives that have suffered delays - and minor ones at that. I can partially understand a small time difference - game makers obviously want their titles out and available to buy ASAP and a bit of regionalisation time after a native language launch is acceptable. But not when it's a cross platform game and Xbox manages a simultaneous worldwide release- then it's just incompetence.

I hope my pessimism proves baseless.

Capcom (via VideoGamer)

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Tons of SOCOM: Confrontation details released - price, date and beta

SOCOM: Confrontation, it seems, has taken a look, lustful look at the spectacular success of Warhawk and said to itself "I want me some of that". As a result, the pricing and package deals should seem fairly familiar - Confrontation will be retailing as a PSN download, and in a Blu-ray disc version, which is also available with a special Bluetooth headset.

The headset-less retail copy and the PSN version are expected to retail in the US for $39.99, and we're hoping that will also follow Warhawk's lead at £20 over here.

The full headset package is recommended to retail for $59.99, which presumably equates to £39.99 under the usual warped exchange rates tech hardware employs. We expect that some generous online retailers will hack about £7 or so off that though.

LittleBigPlanet pre-orders commence across the pond

Let the advertising bombardment begin! LittleBigPlanet - the game hotly tipped to be the Best Thing Ever on PS3 - is now so painfully near completion that pre-orders have started. Amazon.com is starting the ball rolling. Like most games, it's sixty bucks, and the online retailer expects shipping to begin on October 21st.

However, that's not all - a launch of this magnitude can't go by with out someone trying to cash in on peripheral hype-inspired promos, and so there will be an official game guide called "LittleBigPlanet Creator" by BradyGames - the same outfit that does almost all the official guides. There's also a LittleBigStickerBook and a LittleBigPouch. Not sure what one is supposed to keep in a LittleBigPouch but I'm fairly sure it borders on the obscene.

Sony has also unveiled a couple of SackBoy and Girl costumes based on famous Sony protagonists Kratos and Nariko that will be used to sweeten the pre-order deals. Here's hoping that after LBP is out, MediaMolecule finds the time to delve into a few more niche IPs for costume inspiration. I would rather like to be sporting a Crusader: No Remorse SackBoy outfit, if you don't mind.

(via I4U)

Related posts: An earlier release date leak concurs with Amazon | MediaMolecule has a fiest o' downloads in store

The Last Guy set to land in Europe this month

Although it once seemed like yet another Japan-only title, The Last Guy is in fact on track for a worldwide release in the not too distant future.

The Last Guy is essentially a top down rescue game where you lead besieged citizens to safety from a horde of rampaging monsters of mysterious origin. Save enough of them within a certain time limit and you can finish the level. Simple. Uniquely though, it use proper satellite footage for the levels.

That means the game locations can be tailored to be instantly recognisable the players from whatever region your playing in. So far, 14 cities have been given The Last Guy treatment, one of which is London. If, like me, you have seen the title sequence for Eastenders and wished you could watch the show's vile inhabitants getting eaten by a slavering gang of otherworldly denizens, now is your chance.

It's due out sometime in August, but precise dates haven't been announced yet, nor has there been any mention of a demo.

(via The Guardian)

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Life with PlayStation will land this month

Yeah, yeah, we know that Jack Tretton said at E3 that Life with PlayStation would be out in July. We also know that there was a Firmware update earlier this week that suspiciously seemed to do bugger all. Nevertheless, it seems that Life with PlayStation is still struggling with some "procedural matters" and won't be out for a bit. It'll be landing in August. The fact that no more precise date is being placed on it could well mean a few more weeks of waiting.

Life with PlayStation is a new PS3 service that we currently know decidely little about. Even actual photos of the software is thin on the ground, hence the blurry pic. It intends to bring information from around the world to your console. It's basically a big old globe with weather and news and stuff.

Life with PlayStation has some potential to be interesting but I have the feeling that a lot the excitement surrounding the failure-to-launch-in-July is more to do with the fact that yet another PS3 service is late, not that PS3 owners are champing at the bit for Google Earth knock off. Still at least Sony's keeping the information flowing in the fans' direction.

(via PlayStation blog)

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Alone in the Dark PS3 gets a firmer release window: November

Atari may have been tempted to pass over the PS3 version of its latest (and perhaps last, unfortunately) survival horror title back when Wii and Xbox 360 versions were coming out, but it's not going to let the game slip past the spend-happy Xmas period. The publisher has now confirmed that the game will be coming to the PS3 in November.

What do we get for our patience? Extra content, basically. That might mean an extra chapter, a decent ending, some tweaking of the elaborate story line - who knows. What Atari isn't saying is whether the convoluted, some might say broken, control method will be upgraded / fixed. Clearly the game could do with it, but that would be like admitting the Xbox 360 version was buggered.

Either way, I don't fancy its chances, festive spirits or not. Last Xmas was packed with some absurdly good games. This Xmas could even out do that. With so many brand new games on the horizon - and some that might even keep to their release dates - Alone in the Dark might be overlooked by people justifiably wary of a late port of a 360 game. And if they're not, well there's BioShock to look forward to. Still, best of luck with that, Atari!

(via Eurogamer)

Related posts: Later but better for Alone in the Dark PS3 | It still faces an uphill struggle

Bionic Commando: ReArmed sort of has a release date now

Hmm, those "bugs and submission procedures" that were holding up Capcom's Bionic Commando: ReArmed are looking more and more like a Giant Fuck Up, with a concrete release date still something of a mystery.

There are a few indicators floating around the interwebs - one Japanese Xbox 360 website says 13th August, 2008. Well, that's what it said once, then it vanished again. It could be that the Xbox site accidentally leaked the proper date, in which case, yay! Or it could be that it had plucked a likely date out from between its sweaty buttocks and it has nothing to do with anything. Who really knows.

All we do know is that Bionic Commando: ReArmed (when did it get that upper case 'A'? I missed that memo) is an extremely long way off its scheduled May release and that it has been struggling with something. Other more hopeful release dates put it around the end of this month - maybe in time for this week's PSN update - but by the sound of it, even that is going to be lucky.

It's a quiet time of year though, so Capcom's team can enjoy a bit of leeway while they tighten all the screws and straighten all the picture frames, and we can all go out and twiddle our thumbs in the oppressive, anti-gaming sunshine.

Update: It's official now - August 13th is the date to look out for. In North America. Europe's hopes are not so firm.

(via Destructoid)

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US retailer leaks LittleBigPlanet release date

Sony hasn't let us know the official LittleBigPlanet release date. That kind of important fact is a key ingredient of the carefully mapped hype calendar preceding the game's launch. There's probably at least three new features to unveil, a multiplayer mode to announce, PlayStation Store expansions to ruminate and seventeen different outfits to tie into strategically placed press releases. Look for them around the time Microsoft starts building up its silly Dashboard redesign.

Anyway, while we wait for that, one US retailer appears to have blown the whistle, revealing the release date as 21st October (this year). Target's the one to thank for this update. The date was revealed on the reservation card seen above.

It is covering its arse though - see that little asterisk. That short for ' hell, it could come out in June for all we know'. But it is due in October, and though other stores have put earlier release dates on it, Target isn't likely to be pessimistic about a launch like that. We'd make that 24th October in British game release times.

(via Gaming Today)

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Sony PlayTV will record while you game

We're still smarting from our lack of TV and Movie PSN Store, but Sony has kindly come up with a sort of consolation prize: Sony PlayTV.

Yes, we've seen a lot of this before but there are a few new things to add to the equation. Firstly, Sony's tech goblins have been working day and night and to overcome a tricky technical hurdle. But they prevailed and SCEE president David Reeves has revealed that PlayTV will record even while you play a game.

The other revelation is that PlayTV will be out on September 10th. Its price is set at 99 Euros, which equates to a little short of 80 quid. I suspect £79.99 will be the price touted by most retailers. Unfortunately, that's still a bit too much to make it worthwhile, in my opinion. There are just so many online catch-up facilities available now that it's just not worth it. You could get TWO DualShock 3s for that money. Heck, you could probably get three games.

(via TechDigest)

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Alone in the Dark gets a vague PS3 release date

Alone in the Dark was heralded as a decidedly mixed bag. Some clever gameplay elements and reasonably engaging narrative were badly let down by bad design choices and half-baked ideas. Thankfully, that it wasn't the most defining horror game of 2008 has made the fact that we've still yet to see a PS3 release a fair bit easier to swallow.

Now we have something that vaguely resembles a release date. Atari's release schedule is pointing to a Q4 release for the game after the developer - yeah, you've heard this one before - had a bit of difficulty with the complicated PS3 hardware.

I want to avoid going down the frankly stale argument of 'Whatever, we didn't want it anyway', but realistically this is what Atari is now faced with. A late port is one thing, but a late port of a hit-and-miss-at-best game is quite another. Having heard the gripes from the Xbox camp, it doesn't exactly make you want to rush out and try it, especially when your friends may well have had a go and become bored of it already.

Furthermore, another survival horror is due out in late October as well. EA's Dead Space is slated for a Halloween release and if it makes simultaneous release and on time (which we sincerely hope does happen) then it could really screw up Atari's chances. However, at least with the extra time Atari might be able to tighten up some of the more glaring issues in the Xbox 360 version, but seeing as few companies faced with the same opportunity have bothered to do so, we remain pessimistic.

Alone in the Dark (via VideoGamer)

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Tomb Raider: Underworld confirmed for November

Whodathunkit? Tomb Raider is coming back for an eighth (or eighteenth?) iteration this November. You may not have heard of Tomb Raider - it's a pretty small, low budget series that only appeared on a handful of niche consoles. Its owner Eidos has always been keen to make sure its protagonist's reclusive character stayed out of the limelight wherever possible. Frankly, it's amazing it lasted this long with so little exposure.

Okay, sarcasm aside, it is actually amazing the series has lasted this long, given how many utterly abysmal entries there have been over the years. However, it seems that skimpy shorts, vast heaving jubblies and terrible Hollywood adaptations can make up for a great deal of gameplay failings. This is 2008 though, and if a female character doesn't sport spine-crackingly massive hooters, then we start accusing them of androgyny - thus Tomb Raider's eloquent protagonist Lara Croft doesn't have a lot left to help her stand out from the crowd. Guess, we'll have to get back to the pesky gameplay quality again *sigh*.

Guitar Hero III to get 3 (rubbish) Coldplay tracks this week

If you're a fan of Coldplay, then simply read this first little snippet and then you're encouraged to bugger off. Otherwise you might be tempted to leave me some angry comments. Apparently this week will see 3 Coldplay tracks available for download and play with Guitar Hero III.

Transpires that the tracks "Yellow" "God Put a Smile Upon Your Face" and "Violet Hill" from the new album (the video of which is obviously influenced by a certain British Sea Power effort) will be available as of this week.

Sadly, Coldplay a big load of poo, so only musical idiots will find anything worth purchasing this week. Chris Martin can take his bloody shakey head, terrible lyrics, and dull as dishwater music and stick it up a lower orifice. And as for calling his kid Apple...the poor little sod.

Told you that you might be encouraged to bring me some abuse if you read the whole thing through. Personally I'd rather eat the contents of a slop bucket' than listen to the new album.

Source: Eurogamer
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Play.com says September 26th for Rock Band PS3; 'No it isn't', says EA

It's not a lot of fun being on the late end of a timed release, particularly when a certain other region over there across the Atlantic is already merrily playing away already. So we're left to twiddle our thumbs while European Xbox 360 owners get their fill of EA and Harmonix's Rock Band, and all without any sign of salvation (i.e. a release date) in sight.

Play.com knows how badly we need to get our Rock Band fix. It even went as far as listing both the PS3 and PS2 versions for September 26th.

It's not like Play.com hasn't been wide of the mark before with its projected release dates, but it's usually more accurate than Amazon and the like. And c'mon, it seriously must know when EA is going to let it start selling. EA, however, won't budge from its "later this summer" stance. September isn't what I call summer though so I guess we could call Play's date a conservative estimate.

Either way, there's absolutely no danger that EA will miss the Xmas spend-fest for the sake of Microsoft's feelings, so we can guarantee it will be out before December. I wonder if, despite the fact that the video games industry has so far evaded the icy tendrils of economic slowdown, EA might have trouble peddling £130 boxes of hardware once we've been feeling the pinch for a few months. I bet then it'll regret being a bellend about timing exclusives.

(via VideoGamer)

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Afrika details finalised, for what that's worth

Famitsu, along with giving MGS4 that elusive 40/40 score, has a few details on upcoming PSN title Afrika this issue. Sony has been pretty clear that the game isn't going to make it to Europe, but there are still hopes that it might see a US launch and if that happens, well, we'll be mightily upset. There'll be angry letters, possibly some blubbing, then cool indifference as we pretend we never once cared about it anyway.

Right now though, we're still interested in what Afrika has to offer, seeing as for a while it was PS3's most mysterious title, only receiving a few videos and precious little official info. That honour now goes to Rat Race, the difference being we already know that's going to suck. Anyway here's the skinny:

Afrika is basically a safari-sim. You get to wander through the extremely pretty virtual savannah, making your choice between a peaceful hike or a pleasant drive in a 4x4. You'll get a choice of three camera angles and the chance to observe animals through a camera or through binoculars. Observing them will preserve them in some kind of database, but how else you can interact is not yet known.

We're going to go out on a limb and guess that there will be no large calibre rifles and the database will have little to do with taxidermy. Hmmm. Far Cry 2 sounds like a safer bet.

Japan gets its mitts on Afrika in late August. Expect to see more info, specifically in the form of videos, emerge around E3 time.

Afrika (via 1Up)

Related posts: Afrika website arrives | One of its handful of videos

Eden Games: "No firm date yet" on PS3 Alone in the Dark

Senior Producer of Eden Games and Atari's latest addition to the lone-running Alone in the Dark franchise has been unable to pin down just when the PS3 version of the game will be coming out. Speaking in a recent interview he acknowledged the reason for the delay - needless to say it's covers all of the usual suspects when it comes to PS3 games development:

"The thing is it's not performing as well on PS3 as we hope it is in terms of frame rate and all that. We didn't want it to come out and have less of an experience for the PS3 gamer. We wanted to tweak that up and make sure they get the best experience on PS3 as much as possible."

The reasons why it isn't performing as well will be a familiar story to readers. The game started life on the PC before development transferred to the Xbox 360 version. The PS3 version started later and as we have learned time after time after time, that ain't an ideal way of doing things.

Obviously, we'd have rather got both versions at the same time, but matching performance is probably better in the long term than a simultaneous launch coupled with a broken PS3 offering. Nonetheless, with Call of Duty 4 and GTA IV both showing how it can be done, this ageing excuse is starting to wear a little thin.

Alone in the Dark (via VideoGamer)

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Saints Row 2 put on ice for a couple of months

THQ has announced that the upcoming GTA-em-up, Saints Row 2, is missing its intended release date by two months. Instead of arriving in late summer, it is now due to release in mid October.

The publisher puts this delay down product quality and marketing decisions. We put it down to them seeing GTA IV and shitting one. Although GTA IV has its share of grumbling points, it's fair to say that the title pleasantly surprised everyone by not not simply being another good GTA game, but by actually pushing the genre forward and raising the benchmark for everyone.

Prior to GTA IV's launch, developer Volition was coy about how well it's sandbox crime title would be able to compare, particularly citing its decision to include a fully cooperative story mode. Rockstar might not have offered a complete coop story experience but its alternative coop play modes, along with the other incredibly popular multiplayer game types, have been a big eye opener.e

It would be no surprise to learn that THQ has taken a long look at this and opted to make some changes. Like it or not, the game is now trying to compete directly against the highest scoring game of the year, and possibly of this generation - you can forgive them for wanting a bit of extra time to prepare.

October is suddenly looking like a very busy month, but I wouldn't be surprised that the release date might shift even further towards Xmas where there is still time to play with.

(via Next Gen)

Related posts: Dev admits bugs will affect Saints Row 2

Bionic Commando runs into last minute delays, misses May release

Bad news if you're itching for some classic platform action in the run up to the grand Metal Gear Solid finale (although it certainly won't be a finale). Capcom is having a few problems with its PSN download game and won't be releasing it as promised this month.

As their own game website communicator puts it:

Indeed.

What the Jean Claude Van Damme lookalike doesn't mention is when exactly it will be out. One week, two, a month? Encouragingly, it is revealed that the game is basically finished and only "bugs and submission procedures" are getting in the way. June's first PSN Thrusday could be a good one. Fingers crossed.

Bionic Commando

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More Resident Evil 5 rumours: release date now set for November, maybe?

It has been a good few days for promising Resident Evil 5 rumours - first we heard that cooperative might be on the cards, now we hear that it could even be out this year. Of course the idea that it would only be out in 2009 (possible March) could only have been speculation, but was supported by a recent Capcom financial report... whatever, we're in danger of getting bogged down.

So we've got conflicting sources. Oh joy. If the November date is true then that'll fit in nicely with Capcom gunning for the ever-popular Xmas market. On the other hand, the Resident Evil brand doesn't really need festive spirit to boost sales. Resident Evil 4 survived its Gamecube and Wii launches without resorting to Holiday sales strategies.

Basically, we've no idea whether it's true or not. The only thing official thing pointing to any sort of announcement is on the Resident Evil website. And yes, it's a countdown timer. Although it's not counting down so much as... up. Ugh, we'll just keep our eyes peeled in case Capcom cares to make a statement or release a trailer or something.

(via PSXExtreme)

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Sony reveals US line-up for remainder of 2008

Okay, so it's not the European line-up most of you lot will be interested in, but this is a fair indication of roughly when we can expect most of these titles, given that Sony isn't one for massive delays (except on PSN - echochrome NOW, please SCEE).

Here goes, then...

Hot Shots Golf: Open Tee 2 -- PSP - June 3rd
Secret Agent Clank -- PSP - June 17th
wipEout HD -- PSN - Summer
Elefunk -- PSN - Summer
PixelJunk Eden - PSN - Summer
SIREN: Blood Curse - PSN - Summer
SOCOM: US Navy SEALs Confrontation -- PS3 - September 16th
LittleBigPlanet -- PS3 - October
NBA 09 -- PS3, PSP, PS2 - Autumn
BUZZ! Quiz TV -- PS3 - Autumn
BUZZ! Master Quiz -- PSP - Autumn
MotorStorm Pacific Rift -- PS3 - Autumn
Resistance 2 -- PS3 - Autumn
Killzone 2 -- PS3 - February 2009

No big surprises and a lot of disconcertingly vague dates, but that's not a bad first-party line-up, all in all. If Siren is any later than Summer in the UK, there'll be hell to pay, though.

God of War 3 to land next March?

Probably not. We all know that online retailers make up stuff for future releases, so this March date from Amazon and Gamestop should be taken so heavily engulfed in salt that it's almost impossible to swallow.

However, there are things we can learn from it anyway. The fact that both companies have both landed on the same March 2nd release date raises an eyebrow. Normally I think the dates are simply put as placeholders, not because the retailers have any official indications of timings. But the odds of them both picking the same day is reasonably low.

And the fact that they have picked a date at all is interesting. Although God of War 3 has been confirmed, even calling 2009 seems like a pretty early time frame. Work has no doubt started, but even in spite of scale of this franchise, pushing for next year seems a little too soon if Sony expects to achieve the same wow factor as previous titles did.

Home "too ambitious", full version won't arrive until 2009

Sony's David Reeves has admitted that the company's plans for virtual online space Home were perhaps just a tad on the lofty side.

"We've realised that maybe we were too ambitious with the non-gaming applications within Home, getting sponsors and stuff like that," said Reeves. Very honest of him. Kudos.

So, the new plans for the service? "We're concentrating on the gaming by launching games in Home, and attracting people who are into gaming first," Reeves continued, "instead of the Nike people, or Adidas people who are into fashion and not necessarily into gaming."

Not quite sure why you'd buy a PS3 if you weren't into gaming, but there you go. While this might ostensibly seem like good news - and it means that the Autumn release will go ahead as planned (in open beta form, anyway) - I can't help but be a little concerned. Home has been in development for a long time now. To change it significantly less than six months before its due date is a huge climbdown, and leads me to wonder whether it's going to be worth bothering with. Evidently we'll find out sooner rather than later now - it's certainly an interesting move from Sony, but will it pay off?

CVG