Toshiba has announced that is planning to launch two new commercial products that will be based on PlayStation 3 technology. The Japanese news site Tech-On! reports that an upcoming Toshiba HDTV will use the PS3's core Cell processor to enable some high-end features not normally seen on consumer television sets. One of these features is "real-time upscaling of SD signals into HD resolution". Another interesting feature will be "the ability to play and record multiple TV shows at the same time." Another feature is described as the ability to "display video as if it is being viewed through opera glasses." Although unclear, it seems that may be a description of a zoom function. The second product is a notebook which will use Toshiba and Sony's SpursEngine graphics processor. There was no other details available for the laptop however. The notebook is expected to launch Q4 2008 while the TV should arrive in fall 2009.

Playstation 3 owners, unhappy that they won't get a crack at the Grand Theft Auto IV downloadable content might still have a glimmer of hope.

Speaking to Videogamer.com, SCEE head David Reeves said that PS3 owners will probably see GTA IV content eventually.

Microsoft has a stranglehold on GTA IV DLC after they signed a $50 million agreement with Rockstar to bring additional content to the Xbox 360 version of the game.

However, fans have been left in the dark, as neither Microsoft or Rockstar has revealed any details as to what the DLC entails.

PlayStation president Kaz Hirai is confident the PS3 will win the console war, despite what he calls an "underwhelming" start.
"I am very confident that after the 10-year lifecycle we will have the install base that we are looking for, and that is obviously to be in the leadership position," Hirai told the BBC after his PlayStation Day keynote on Tuesday.
In his earlier remarks to the media, Hirai admitted to the slow start of the PS3. "I think it's fair to say that the first year of PlayStation 3 was somewhat a difficult one," he said. "There were some teething problems, success from our competitors, and our customers were a little underwhelmed by the range of titles that were available.
"This is something that we're very much aware of, and something we were always confident we could overcome."
Despite its inferior graphics, the Nintendo Wii has handily outsold Sony's PS3 and Microsoft's Xbox 360 at a rate similar to that of the PlayStation 2, which has become the all-time best selling console with 127 million units sold thus far.

The UK's Advertising Standards Authority has banned a recent televised PlayStation 3 ad for including "misleading" language which claimed the system would play all PlayStation 2 software.
While certain PlayStation 3 versions are indeed compatible with a majority of previous-generation software, the ad's claims (particularly the phrase "and it plays your PS2 games as well") were found to be in violation of CAP TV Advertising Standards Code rule 5.1, the UK's truth-in-advertising statute, reports Next Generation.
Despite ad creator PC World's argument that "around 80 percent of PS2 software is compatible with 60GB PlayStation 3s," the ASA has stated that the ad should not appear again in broadcast in its current form.

I'm just back from Sony's Playstation Day event in London. I'll stick some impressions up tomorrow - early playable code of Killzone and Motorstorm 2 were shown, along with a stack of PSP stuff - but Sony's big announcement was sales related. Yes, the PS3 has now outsold the 360 in Europe. Sony's David Reeves credited this success to the quality of software. Hmm. Did the solid, yet unspectacular likes of Resistance and Motorstorm really drive those sales? Unlikely. If you wanted the best games in 2007 you bought a 360. No, clearly Blu-ray and European brand loyalty were the main drivers. Oh, and the fact the PS3 doesn't suffer from the red ring of death was probably quite important too. So considering the paucity of must-have PS3 games to date - certainly in comparision to the 360 - the PS3 Euro sales success must be a worry for Microsoft.
Of course, the one sales figure Reeves didn't touch on was Nintendo's Wii - the console that has outsold both 360 and PS3. In fact you got the impression that Sony didn't even see Nintendo as a competitor anymore - a huge turnaround from only a couple of years ago when Sony press conferences were littered with Xbox and Gamecube comparison graphs. Anyway, PS3 - why did you buy? For the games? For Blu-ray? For the brand? Do tell

Talking to videogaming247, Haze creative head Derek Littlewood has confirmed that the shooter’s demo, to be released on PSN on May 6 as part of the forthcoming Playstation Day, will feature the game’s opening level.

“It’s the first mission in the game,” said Littlewood. “You take on the role of Shane Carpenter as a Mantel trooper as he’s scrambled into a jungle battlezone to secure the site of a crashed Mantel plane carrying a shipment of nectar.

“And you can assume by default that I’ll say it’s great,” he added.

Haze is released exclusively for PS3 on May 23.

An Insomniac Games employee has written in the NeoGAF boards and confirmed that a Resistance 2 demo will be present during the Sony PlayStation day on May 6, two days from now. It is likely that impressions will leak out of the press-only event, and we'll make sure to post them when they appear.

1) Delete the game's install data. This is done via the PS3 options. Scroll along the cross media bar until you reach the 'Game' tab, now scroll up / down the list until you reach the 'Game Data Utility' Enter this and locate the GTA IV option. Highlight this and press triangle once, from the menu select Delete. This will delete the game's install information.
2) Delete the game's save files. To delete any save files you will need to do the following. Scroll along the cross media bar until you reach the 'Game' tab, now scroll up / down the list until you reach the 'Save Data Utility' Enter this and locate the GTA IV option. Highlight this and press triangle once, and from the context menu select Delete.
3) Disable your Internet connectivity for the PS3. To do this scroll along the cross media bar until you reach the 'Settings' tab, now scroll up / down the list until you reach the 'Network Settings'. Now scroll down to the Internet connection option and press x, now select the disable option. Once this has been done unplug the ethernet cable if you are connecting to the Internet if using this.
4) Disable the console's information board. To do this scroll along the cross media bar until you reach the 'Network' tab, now scroll up / down the list until you reach the 'Information Board', highlight this and press triangle. From the menu select 'Do not display' Press X to confirm this.
5) Disable Media Server functionality. Scroll to Settings, now scroll up / down to 'Network Settings' select Media Server connection. Once this has been done press triangle and change the option Disabled.
6) Delete all of the system's Internet cache. To do this scroll along the cross media bar until you reach the 'Network' tab, now scroll up / down the list until you reach the 'Internet Browser', highlight this and press X. Once you browser opens press the triangle button once, from the new menu highlight the 'Tools' option and press X. Scroll down the menu until you reach 'Delete Cookies' and press X. Confirm the files deletion. Repeat this for 'Delete Cache'.
7 ) Turn off the PS3 screen saver. Use the cross media bar to scroll to 'Settings', select 'Display Settings'. Now highlight 'Screensaver' and set this to 'Do not use'.
8 ) Once this has been done, manually restart you PS3 by holding down the power button for 5 seconds it will beep once and then shut down. Release the power button and re-press it and hold for about 5 seconds. The system will then boot and reset all display settings. You will be prompted to reset your display settings to how you require them.
9) Once restarted please try the game again, you will be prompted to reinstall.
Once the game has started please turn off the following features:
1) The game's auto-save. Press Start, Game, and locate the Auto-save option. Turn this off.
2) Turn off the game's flicker filter. Press Start, Display and locate the Flicker Filter option. Turn this off.
3) Turn off the controller vibration feature. Press Start, Controls and locate the vibration option. Turn this off.

With a recession in full swing, Microsoft (MSFT), Sony (SNE), and Nintendo may have to cut the prices of the Xbox 360, Wii, and PS3. At least that is what the head of Activision (ATVI), the video game company, thinks. He told Reuters "With the rising costs of fuel and food and housing, it is more difficult to go out and buy a $399 console, and I think it's going to put pressure on the console manufacturers to reduce their prices."
For the game console people, the idea may not be all bad, but it has significant risks. Nintendo's stock price rise has been based on both the rapid sales of the Wii and its high profit margins. Its market cap is larges than that of all companies in Japan except Toyota (TM). Microsoft's device division, primarily the Xbox 360, is making money for the first time, after years of losses. Sony, which still has not dug its way out of its own video game disaster, is finally doing well with PS3 sales.
The saving graces of price cuts are derived from the two facts. Higher unit volumes drive down component costs In addition, the console companies make money from video game licenses. Each time a version of Grand Theft Auto IV from Take-Two (TTWO) is sold, either Sony or Microsoft gets a piece. The Wii, PS3, and Xbox 360 have been in production long enough so that parts suppliers are probably charging much less for the bill of materials.
Ultimately, the three console companies may have no choice. Poor consumers want their games, but they may need a little break to get them

Grand Theft Auto IV isn't only good for Take-Two and Rockstar; it will also help to spur console sales. That much is undebatable. And according to SCEA and GameStop, GTAIV's release caused PS3 sales to spike. As Next-Gen.biz reported:
"...As expected, the demand for Grand Theft Auto IV drove sales of the PlayStation 3 entertainment system within the first 24 hours, continuing the strong legacy of the franchise on PlayStation platforms." Senior vice-president of merchandising at GameStop, Bob McKenzie, had to agree with Sony's assessment on the matter: "From our position, the launch of GTA IV has been tremendous in driving traffic to our stores, as well as providing a vigorous lift in PS3 console sales over this time last week." However, all this being said, we don't yet have official figures to back up these statements; we imagine those numbers will arrive within the next few days. The results will be even more relevant when the NPD issues their monthly findings.
Wedbush Morgan Securities analyst Michael Pachter further believes that the power of the PlayStation brand is going to make its presence known...as of now: "I think brand loyalty is going to kick in for Sony, starting today. There is a huge installed base of loyal PlayStation 2 owners who have been looking for a reason to upgrade, and they have strong previous ties to the Grand Theft Auto franchise on PlayStation platforms." He also talked about upcoming PS3 exclusives that will help to spur PS3 sales even higher, and concluded that Sony is "in a great position right now."

Downloadable Games

echochrome ($9.99)
Featuring an elegant black and white art design, echochrome is a puzzle game unlike any other. With gameplay based on optical illusions, players must utilize 5 simple laws of perspective to join walkways, hide dangers, and create new paths to reach the goal. Once you’ve mastered the 5 laws, use them to create your own mind-bending levels to play and share with friends using the custom level editor. Available for PlayStation 3 and PSP systems.
ESRB Rated E
File size: 86.4 MB
Add-on Game Content

Rock Band
Build your Rock Band library by purchasing these song game tracks. For song credits, visit www.RockBand.com.

* “Zero” - Smashing Pumpkins ($1.99)
* “Time-Sick Son of a Grizzly Bear” - The Mother Hips ($1.99)
* “Red Tandy” - The Mother Hips ($1.99)

File sizes: 15.5 MB - 36 MB

Karaoke Revolution Presents: American Idol Encore sownloadable songs ($1.49 each)
Plug in the microphone and live out your dream as a singing sensation! Expand your Karaoke Revolution Presents: American Idol Encore library by purchasing tracks from the in-game store. For music credits, visit the Karaoke Revolution section of www.konami.com. Full list of tracks (42) after the jump.
Game Demos (free)

Dark Sector Demo
Dark Sector thrusts players into the role of Hayden Tenno, an operative sent on a dangerous assassination mission into Lasria – an Eastern European city on the brink of ruin that hides a deadly Cold War secret. Attacked by an unknown enemy, he awakens to find part of his body altered by an infection that has granted him inhuman abilities. Now, Hayden must learn to evolve along with his powers, to survive and to become a hero.
ESRB Rated M
File size: 483 MB
Game Videos (free)

echochrome Trailer
Featuring an elegant black and white art design, echochrome is a puzzle game unlike any other. With gameplay based on optical illusions, players must utilize 5 simple laws of perspective to join walkways, hide dangers, and create new paths to reach the goal. Once you’ve mastered the 5 laws, use them to create your own mind-bending levels to play and share with friends using the custom level editor.
File size: 37 MB (1080)

Battlefield Bad Company Redford Blog
Sergeant Redford has seen plenty of action while in B Company, maybe even too much, and having squad members like Sweetwater and Haggard in his crew doesn’t put his tensions to rest. With only a couple weeks left in the Army, Redford is on his last string and will let nothing come in his way of a peaceful retirement…or will he?
File size: 97 MB (HD)

Kung Fu Panda Trailer
Check out the trailer for the new action-packed Kung Fu Panda game, based on the DreamWorks Animation movie!
File size: 68 MB (HD)

Dead Space Announcement Trailer
Dead Space brings the terror to your PS3.
File size: 91 MB (HD)

Dead Space Ship Date Trailer
Dead Space brings the chills on Halloween 2008.
File size: 78 MB (HD)

Turok - “Kane” Gameplay Trailer
The “Kane” Gameplay Trailer highlights the struggle between Turok and his former mentor Roland Kane as Turok fights to survive on a mysterious planet controlled by Kane and overrun with ravenous dinosaurs.
File size: 5.5 MB (SD), 30 MB (HD)

Turok “Bring It” Trailer
The Turok CG Trailer showcases the overwhelming odds of Turok’s fight to survive on a mysterious planet overrun with ravenous dinosaurs.
Wyclef Jean talks about his experience with the PLAYSTATION 3 system.
File size: 5.72 MB (SD), 29 MB (HD)

NBA Ballers: Chosen One TV Spot
Live the Game. Play the Life.
File size: 23 MB (HD)

Wyclef’s “Fast Car” Music Video
Wyclef’s latest music video, “Fast Car”! Visit PlayStation.com to view exclusive behind the scenes footage and interviews with Wyclef.
File size: 195 MB (HD), 323 MB (1080)
PS3 Wallpaper (free)

echochrome Wallpapers (x4)
Customize the background of your PS3 system with this new echochrome Wallpaper.
File size: 20 KB - 500 KB

Kung Fu Panda Wallpapers (x3)
Customize the background of your PS3 system with this new Kung Fu Panda Wallpaper.
File size: 334 KB - 4.76 MB

Here is this week’s content release for the PLAYSTATION Store for PC. To download these games to your PSP, navigate to http://store.playstation.com. There, you’ll find descriptions of the content and directions on how to get started. For more on the PLAYSTATION Store for PC, please click here.
Downloadable Games

* echochrome ($9.99) (also downloadable via PS3)
Game Videos (free)

* echochrome Trailer
* Wyclef’s “Fast Car” Music Video
PSP Wallpaper (free)

* echochrome Wallpapers (x4)

Hope you enjoy!

Karaoke Revolution Presents:

American Idol Encore, 42 song tracks

* “(You Make Me Feel Life) A Natural Woman” - Aretha Franklin
* “Against All Odds” - Phil Collins
* “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” - Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell
* “Ain’t Nothing Life the Real Thing” - Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell
* “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg” - Temptations
* “Alone” - Heart
* “Always Something There to Remind Me” - Naked Eyes
* “American Woman - Lenny Kravitz
* “Born to be Wild” - Steppenwolf
* “Careless Whisper” - Wham
* “Complicated” - Avril Lavigne
* “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” - Queen
* “Do I Make You Proud” - Taylor Hicks
* “Do You Really Want to Hurt Me” - Culture Club
* “Every Rose Has its Thorn” - Poison
* “Flashdance…What a Feeling” - Irene Cara
* “Greatest Love of All” - Whitney Houston
* “Here I Go Again” - Whitesnake
* “I Got You Babe” - Sonny & Cher
* “If I Ain’t Got You” - Alicia Keys
* “I’m Coming Out” - Diana Ross
* “It’s Your Love” - Tim McGraw & Faith Hill
* “Just the Way You Are” - Billy Joel
* “Ladies Night” - Kool & the Gang
* “Let’s Get it On” - Marvin Gaye
* “Love Will Keep Us Together” - Captain & Tennille
* “My Girl” - Temptations
* “New York
* New York” - Frank Sinatra
* “On the Road Again” - Willy Nelson
* “Photograph” - Nickelback
* “Proud Mary” - Creedance Clearwater
* “Respect” - Aretha Franklin
* “Stand By Your Man” - Tammy Wynette
* “Straight Up” - Paula Abdul
* “Sugar
* We’re Goin’ Down” - Fall Out Boy
* “Taking Care of Business” - Bachman Turner Overdrive
* “The First Cut is the Deepest” - Sheryl Crow / Rod Stewart
* “The Real Thing” - Bo Bice
* “When the Sun Goes Down” - Kenny Chesney & Uncle Kracker
* “Who Can it be Now?” - Men At Work
* “You and Me” - Lifehouse
* “You’re My Best Friend” - Queen

The freezing issues with Grand Theft Auto IV is affecting a limited number of Playstation 3s and there has been a low volume of calls to customer service about the issue, Sony Computer Entertainment of America said today in the first public statement about the apparent problem.

Despite the "limited number" of people effected by the freezing, Sony says they are working with Rockstar to isolate the issue and identify a solution.

Yes, we are aware of what the message boards and a few of the industry blogs are saying about a 'freezing' issue with GTA IV on a limited number of PS3s. Although we have seen an extremely low volume of contacts to our customer service department regarding such an issue, we want to ensure that every consumer has a great experience on our console and with GTA IV. All parties involved are working to isolate the problem for those few units and identify a solution.

Let's hope this is something that can be fixed with a quick patch and those few, vocal consumers effected by the problem will be able to get down to the business of playing GTA IV finally.

Rockstar has unveiled its Social Club for Grand Theft Auto 4, coinciding with the highly anticipated title's release.

The service itself opened for pre-registration a couple of weeks ago but now GTA IV owners across the world will be able to track all sorts of juicy stats by linking their Social Club accounts with their Gamertags or PSN IDs.

The Liberty City marathon section sets targets such as walking/running distances (e.g. 400 miles!) and getting arrested a certain number of times. It lists the people who have done this quickest, and also how far away you are from achieving the goal.

LCPD Police Blotter monitors worldwide police call-outs, crime hotspots, stolen vehicles and more. The Story Gang and 100% Club are areas only accessible to those who have gone through the story missions and achieved 100% completion. There's a Hall of Fame listing completion times for each too.

And to finish off, there are multiplayer leaderboards too! Perhaps the most comprehensive tracking system we've ever seen. Check it out at www.rockstargames.com/socialclub.

After the chaos and excitement that was Grand Theft Auto 4’s midnight launch, those lucky enough to grab themselves a copy of what is probably the most wanted game on the planet were left in a somewhat annoyed and bewailed mood. Instead of the joy and excitement they expected when they inserted their GTA 4 discs into the Playstation 3, they were faced with freezing and other issues. A small number of Playstation 3 owners have reported problems running Grand Theft Auto 4, claiming the console keeps freezing up. Matt Griffin from Playstation Network Home wrote:“Alright, so I got home from the midnight release with my copy of GTA IV Collectors Edition unpacked it live on the feed installed and guess what, it froze! I tried a couple more times and it even have reinstalled 3 times, it still keeps freezing. I am not alone, from the looks of it, it is the 60 GB Launch PS3 that is having the problems and might be just the Collectors Edition of GTA IV. Jeffrey Tavares has the regular edition and a launch PS3 and is now running the Live Feed. I will keep everyone up to date as much as possible!”Similar complaints are popping up from other gaming websites, including the official US Playstation Forums. The issue was first reported to just be launch 60GB models, but it now seems to be 20GB and non 60GB models.TheGameReviews.com will keep you informed of the situation and update you as soon as we know anything. In the mean time, are you, our readers, experiencing any problems with GTA 4? Let us know in the forums.

Hi all! Welcome back to Metal Gear Mondays! It’s certainly been a busy week, and once again, we’d like to take a second to thank you for all the great compliments and feedback from our previous installments – and of course, your enthusiasm for all that is Metal Gear!

We’ll pick up where we left off … As many of you know, gameplay of the Metal Gear Online Beta for the PLAYSTATION 3 is well underway as of the time of this post – please see the last bunch of Metal Gear PS Blog posts for full details on the Metal Gear Online Beta program and content to date.

First, we’d like to clarify, once again, because we see people still asking about this - Metal Gear Online comes with Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots. It is not a separate product. Metal Gear Online is the online multiplayer component of MGS4. We will be expanding MGO over time through new downloadable content (DLC), such as, maps, weapons, skills, and much more.

MGO is not a paid subscription service, you can play online totally free right out of the box - we know some of you thought there might be some payment because of the last step of Konami ID registration, but that is to confirm your identity for future potential microtransaction content updates (you don’t have to register any payment info right now anyhow). There is no payment necessary to play, and - again - that is for future potential microtransaction content updates, when that content is available, should you want it.

Good news – for those of you who might not have yet received a Unique Product Voucher Code (UPVC) to download the MGO Beta client, there are still a few opportunities to obtain one from the very limited batch of UPVC’s being given away now through our promotional partners at IGN, Games Radar, and the Mad Gamer Network – and some of you PS GAP members should have a special surprise in your inbox too J. Please carefully follow the instructions on our partner’s sites for your chance to win! Again, this batch of MGO Beta UPVC’s are available in an EXTREMELY limited quantity, so don’t wait, hurry and register now!

Next, we are happy to announce NEW content for the MGO Beta is LIVE NOW!

We have included one new map Midtown Maelstrom



This is a part of the Middle East stage in MGS4. This consists of some main streets and alternate routes. Numerous alleys are in between buildings, and are dark, narrow, and very confusing.

Next, we have released a new gametype rule, Sneaking Mission.



In this rule, there will be one character and two teams in the game. Snake, Red team, and Blue team. Snake’s mission is to collect a certain number of dog tags, by having other players stunned or held up. Red and Blue teams’ mission is to defeat Snake certain times or defeat more players in the opposing team. If more than 10 people are in the game, another player may play as Snake’s mini robotic sidekick Mk. II, to assist the Snake player. If you are playing as Snake, you have many of his incredible abilities available to you – such as the camouflage!

There are some other random things about MGO and the MGO Beta that we’d like to address:

You may not have noticed, but in the MGO Main Menu, you can access the Community Site right from in game. You can also access it here http://mgo2web.konami.com/us/community/ from a PC/web browser at any time. You need to have created a character to access the site. Once inside, you can manage and view your friends, clan, profile, stats, blog, and there will be many other features introduced over time. Additionally, you can post feedback in the forum, and this is really the best place to get your MGO feedback to us (yes, we do also try to read all the comments here at the PS Blog and elsewhere – and, I’m sorry, I wish we had time to respond to each and every one – we try to address as much as possible in these posts).

Another issue is it seems some of you have had issues activating your mics – please make sure you have connected your USB/Bluetooth mic correctly via the PS3 system settings. If you have, then simply hold down the select button in-game, and you will see a message appear that your mic is on as well as a mic activity status message with your name (if you’re speaking), if you are in a lobby you will see a flashing mic indicator next to your name.

Please also try out the training modes in game thoroughly, as they can be helpful for newcomers and veterans alike. Here you can learn the intricacies of CQC, weapons, movement, and just about any other gameplay question you might have. There are also extensive options in game for tweaking your controls (e.g., inversion, camera speed, weapon shortcuts, etc), ui, and much more – please be sure to take some time to set up MGO exactly how you like!

Lastly on MGO, to add a friend, you want to do a player search by their character name (not Konami ID or Game ID), which are case sensitive (e.g., Hideo and hideo could be separate characters). Please note, your friend must be logged into MGO at that time to appear (otherwise you’ll get a “not found” error). To check up on your friends, just go to your Friend List inside the Personal menu. Your added friends will appear here, and if they are online, it will show what lobby they are in too (if its unranked and they’re in game, you can join them immediately, if there’s room in their game).

Please don’t forget to check out the latest KOJIMA PRODUCTIONS REPORT from Ryan Payton at Kojima Productions in Japan!

We’ll see you here next week on the PS Blog, for the next installment of Metal Gear Mondays!

Here's a video of the latest MGO Game Mode

Dear Mrs. Zelnick:
Your son, as you may know (or maybe you don’t know), is Chairman of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc., whose most popular video games are the Grand Theft Auto murder simulator games banned in some countries but sold to children here.
Your son last week was reported to have said the following about Grand Theft Auto IV, due to be released Tuesday, April 29:
"We’ve already received numerous [GTA IV] reviews, and to a one, they are perfect scores. My mom couldn’t write better reviews…"
Taking your son’s thought, I would encourage you either to play this game or have an adroit video gamer play it for you. Some of the latter gamers are on death row, so try to find one out in the civilian population who hasn’t killed someone yet.
What you will see in your son’s game, if this iteration of GTA is anything like its predecessors, is incredible interactive violence aimed at police officers (whom you can shoot in the head and see the blood spray), innocent bystanders (whom you can run over with your car just for the heck of it), and of course the plentiful female prostitutes you can have sex with and then filet with a knife or stomp with your feet in order to get your money back. Experts note that the recent plethora of cop killings is caused in part by your darling son’s entrepreneurial energy. There are three policemen dead in Alabama because of Grand Theft Auto. I was on 60 Minutes about it. I hope Strauss has provided you with a flat screen tv to see the grief of the bereaved families that fills the screen.
The pornography and violence that your son trafficks in is the kind of stuff that most mothers would be ashamed to see their son putting into the hands of other mothers’ children, but, hey, your son Strauss has recently assured the world that he is "a Boy Scout, everybody knows that." I’d love to see the merit badges that Scout Troop handed out. Is there a Ted Bundy merit badge? If so, your loving son deserves one now. It should be red and green, for obvious reasons.
With Passover having just come and gone, it is appropriate to note the following from the Old Testament, Proverbs 22:6:
"Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it."
Mrs. Zelnick, did you train up your son, Strauss, to make millions of dollars by pushing Mature-rated video games to children? Any kid can go right to little Strauss’ corporate web site and buy GTA IV with no age verification. Strauss is even marketing the new Grand Theft Auto IV on World Wrestling Entertainment tv shows seen by millions of kids. If you trained up Strauss to do this, then shame on you.
But maybe the explanation for your son’s corporate sociopathy is to be found in Old Testament Proverb 29:15:
"The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame."
Maybe you, Mrs. Zelnick, were so taken by your handsome son that you spared the rod and spoiled the child. That would explain why he has brought you, by the way he presently acts, "to shame."
There’s another mother you would do well to talk to. Mrs. Crump in Alabama had a son who was a police officer. He’s now dead because a teenaged boy unwittingly trained himself to kill him on Grand Theft Auto: Vice City. She has a grief she carries every day that only a mother can know.There are other such mothers in the heartland of America whose inhabitants your son simply sees as commercial targets.
Your son, this very moment, is doing everything he possibly can to sell as many copies of GTA IV to teen boys in the United States, a country in which your son claims you raised him to be "a Boy Scout." More like the Hitler Youth, I would say.
Happy Mother’s day, Mrs. Zelnick, which this year is May 11, two weeks after your son unleashes porn and violence upon other mothers’ boys. I’m sure you’re very proud.
Sincerely, Jack Thompson"

The release is just days away; our collective mouths are watering, and I think we are all of us ready to play the newest Grand Theft Auto. But there’s much more importance to the release than discovering Niko’s tale in Liberty City – Microsoft and Sony are both relying heavily on the game to give their respective system a leg up on the other. Microsoft is hoping the promise of exclusive downloadable content and the convenience of Xbox Live will be enough to woo gamers into going the 360 route, while Sony is banking on GTA being associated with the PlayStation brand for its edge.
With predicted sales of $400 million in the first week, suffice it to say that this is going to be big.
Analysts are chiming in with their prediction of which of the two console manufacturers will come out the victor in this particular battle. My adversary, Michael Pachter, explained his prediction quite simply, telling Reuters, “I think PS3 ‘wins’ this battle.”
“So many people who owned the PS2 went into PlayStation family because of GTA. The release of GTA4 could expedite their decision to upgrade,” said BMO Capital Markets’ Edward Williams.
Analysts weren’t all in agreement, though, as IDC’s Billy Pidgeon proved. “Online is such a strong part of the game and Microsoft has done such a great job of developing the online community, so for people who own multiple consoles, they will buy it for the 360,” he said.
One way or another, there’s one thing that’s undeniable: no matter which system you play the game on, it’s going to rock.

We always hear a lot about attach rates or tie-in ratios, which are basically the average number of games sold per system. So, if you’ve got an attach rate of 1, that means you would have sold, say, 10 million systems and 10 million games. Microsoft constantly boasts its large attach rate, but how do the rest of the current generation of systems hold up by comparison? You might be surprised to find out.
After Nintendo announced its global attach rate, Joystiq inquired with the NPD Group to find out their attach rate for the five major platforms. Xbox 360 of course leads the way with 7.5 games, followed by the Wii at 5.3, DS at 4.7, PS3 at 4.6, and PSP at 4.2. Honestly, I’m not sure if I should be more surprised by the Wii’s being as large as it is, or the PSP being so close to the rest of the pack. It’s rare to see a PSP game crack into the top ten best selling games each month, while games like Call of Duty 4 and particularly Wii Play have taken up permanent residence on the list.
The last time we got these figures, the PS3 was in the threes, so you can see that PS3 owners are slowly expanding their game library. (Well, either that or Blu-ray owners can’t help but pick up a copy of Uncharted.) With Grand Theft Auto IV, Wii Fit and Mario Kart Wii all releasing very soon, you can expect to see the consoles’ attach rates jump. The only thing guaranteed aside from that is the next Microsoft press release touting their historic attach rate.

We were already blown away by Johnny Lee's headtracking demo using a Wiimote, but it looks like Sony's trying to take it mainstream in a much slicker way. The company was demoing a PS3-based headtracking system at GDC that doesn't require any special IR glasses to function -- it just uses a bone-stock Playstation Eye camera to track your ugly mug around the room. Sony says it's not announcing the system for any games yet, but we can't imagine devs aren't clamoring for this to get official -- this would be amazing for all sorts of genres. Video after the break.

It's no secret that we've been drooling over all the hot limited-edition Metal Gear Solid 4 swag that Sony and Konami are dishing out in Japan, but it looks like a select few in this country will be able to score the baddest of them all: the gunmetal gray PS3 / MGS4 bundle with matching DualShock 3. Yep, it's coming Stateside on June 12th like the rest of the MGS4 editions and the standard 80GB PS3 / MGS4 bundle, but you'd better get in line now, because we're told it's going to be extremely limited in availability, and we're calling one. We can do that, right? Say yes.

Nikko Citigroup upgraded its rating on Sony this morning in anticipation of it breaking even on PS3 costs earlier than expected. At the moment, Sony sells the PS3 at a loss. The respected group of analysts is now earmarking August as the milestone month. Sony's CFO recently suggested that the move would occur in the second half of the year -- a date analysts then pegged at November. No details behind the new upbeat expectations were provided by Nikko CG. However, it's safe to assume that the PS3's break-even event will be realized by a switch to a sub-65nm cell processor, sub-90nm RSX graphics chip, or both, since the smaller chips are less-costly to manufacturer.P.S. It's worth noting that Sony has consistently stated that the PS3 will only break-even when both the Cell and RSX chips have shrunk.Update: Reader Yaddam205 just reminded us about the "Slim PS3" redesign rumored for release in Autumn. No guarantees but smaller, less power-hungry, and cooler running chips would certainly be at the foundation of such a rig.

Good news & Bad News

The good news is that Home is taking its beta from closed to open, which will give more gamers the chance to get in and test the much-hyped social networking system.

The bad news? The beta opens in the fall. This fall. The same time it was supposed to be released.

"We understand that we are asking PS3 and prospective PS3 users to wait a bit longer, but we have come to the conclusion that we need more time to refine the service to ensure a more focused gaming entertainment experience than what it is today," said Kazuo Hirai, president and group CEO, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. "Our overarching objective is to provide users with new gaming experiences that are available only on PlayStation Home. Spending more time on the development and on the closed beta testing reaffirms our commitment to bringing a quality service, maintaining the PlayStation tradition."



A message left with Sony Public Relations inquiring about what the announcement of the open beta meant for the release of Home, which is supposed to come out this year, was not immediately returned. We will update this article as that information becomes available.

A statement from Sony says that details from the closed beta, registration for the new test, and details for the start of the open beta will be announced at a later date.

Activision announced today that the Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare Variety Map Pack will be available on the PS3 this Thursday in North America and Europe. The Variety Map Pack will be released through the PlayStation Network, and retail for $9.99.
To celebrate, Activision also announced that PS3 players will enjoy double XP this weekend on both continents from 12:01 AM GMT this Friday to 11:59 PM PDT on Sunday, April 27th. Players can also play with developers from Infinity Ward this Friday.

When Microsoft announced its multi-million deal with Rockstar for exclusive downloadable content for Grand Theft Auto IV, many predicted that this would provide a significant incentive for gamers to choose the 360 version of the game over the PlayStation 3 version. But Australian presale figures seem to be telling a different story, with major retailers contacted by GameSpot AU today saying the PS3 version was currently in the lead.
A spokeswoman for EB Games Australia--the largest specialty games retailer in the country--told GameSpot AU that the PS3 version of GTA IV was just ahead of the 360 in terms of presales. "We are happy to tell you it's neck and neck, but at the moment, PlayStation 3 is currently in the lead," EB Games Australia brand and public relations manager Debra McGrath said.
The PS3 version was even farther ahead with retailer Gametraders. The company's national marketing manager Chad Polley said "according to the figures we have at the moment, we're [pre-]selling two PS3 versions for every one 360 unit."
Last night, Sony Computer Entertainment Australia fired back at Microsoft's DLC incentive, finally confirming rumours that there is indeed PlayStation 3 GTA IV bundle on the way for Australia. The pack comes with a 40GB PS3, one SixAxis controller, and a copy of the game. If you haven't got a PS3 already, the bundle will be available on April 29, the same day as the game's release, for A$749.95 ($709.44).

Delayed but with a promise of quality; Closed beta available again in Summer.

Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. announced today that it will expand the Closed Beta testing for PLAYSTATION Home in Summer 2008, inviting a further number of registrants from the PLAYSTATION 3 (PS3) users. Following completion of the Expanded Closed Beta test, the PLAYSTATION Home Open Beta service will commence in Fall 2008.

"We understand that we are asking PS3 and prospective PS3 users to wait a bit longer, but we have come to the conclusion that we need more time to refine the service to ensure a more focused gaming entertainment experience than what it is today," said Kazuo Hirai, President and Group CEO, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. "Our overarching objective is to provide users with new gaming experiences that are available only on PLAYSTATION Home. Spending more time on the development and on the Closed Beta testing reaffirms our commitment to bringing a quality service, maintaining the PlayStation tradition."

The PLAYSTATION Home Open Beta service that will become available in Fall 2008 will be built around providing new and fun community gaming experiences.

Details of the Closed Beta testing features, registration for the test and the opening of the service will be announced as they become available.

Metal Gear Solid fans will be well aware of the series' emphasis on sneaky stealth action. However, Konami followed the ethos of its game a little too closely last night when its Metal Gear Online Beta failed to emerge from the shadows at its allotted start time.

GameSpot users reported numerous errors yesterday when the beta was due to go live. Many bemoaned the amount of time it took to download an update to the previously released beta package, while others complained about the game's failure to recognise the two keys that they had registered on Konami's official Web site.

Today, Konami attempted to explain the problem with different statements from both the US and European offices. According to Konami US, the volume of traffic necessitated the temporary shutdown of servers until they were able to be stabilised. Konami's UK spokesperson recommends that users, "try the Game ID/Konami ID registration process over the following days...everyone who wishes to join the MGO experience will be able to register...in the next few days."

While the new start date for the beta has yet to be announced, Konami will be making another update on April 23 at 7 a.m. BST (April 22 at 11 p.m. PDT). The Japanese publisher also announced that the closing date has been pushed back from May 6 to May 11 to compensate for the late start.

There is a heck of a lot that we still don't know about the recently announced Singstar Volume 2. We don't know if the title will simply add songs onto the store, or if the game will need to be inserted into the PlayStation 3 to play the songs. We also don't know whether the songs on the pack will be released on the PlayStation Store either. We weren't sure whether Singstar Volume 2 would come with USB or wireless microphones, but a listing by retailer Top Shop seems to indicate that Singstar Volume 2 will come with USB microphones and not wireless microphones. When Singstar for the PlayStation 3 was first announced it was revealed that wireless microphones were on the way. Months and years later we are unfortunately still waiting for these microphones.

In case you're not up on your Blu-ray news, an upcoming feature called BD-Live will let movie fans with Internet-connected Blu-ray players gain access to exclusive content, such as the ability to download high-definition trailers for current theatrical releases or additional language packs for the film. Or you'll be able to take advantage of online community features such as chatting with friends in another city while watching the same movie, uploading user-generated content like commentary tracks or playing multiplayer games.
PlayStation 3 (PS3) owners, however, can now update the machine's firmware to take advantage of these BD-Live features.
Using a wired or wireless connection, you can go to the System Update tab on PS3's media bar to download the firmware upgrade version 2.2.
Other benefits of this firmware upgrade include:
• The ability to transfer PS3 music and photos to a PlayStation Portable (PSP).
• DivX and WMV format support for video files over 2 gigabytes.
• Resume play, so a Blu-ray disc or DVD will resume playing at the point it was paused.
• Using the PSP as a remote control to play music files on the PS3 without turning on the TV.
• Faster Internet browsing.

Sales for Sony Corp.'s Playstation 3 fell below 9,000 units in the latest Japan sales figures. The PS3 ranked No. 4 in overall hardware sales for the week.
NPD Group Inc. this week reported that the PS3 ranked No. 5 in U.S. Mar. sales. The hardware sold more than 257,000 units in the month.
Namco Bandai this week said that it will release Soulcalibur IV to the PS3 in July. The last entry was released on the PS2 in 2005.
Sony this week launched the revamped Playstation Store to PS3 owners. The new store is a native application rather than the previous web-based version.
Sony this week released Gran Turismo 5 Prologue to the PS3. The new entry includes 70 vehicles and online racing functionality.
Amazon.com this week price cut the Sixaxis controller following the release of the Dualshock 3 controller. Sony this month released the Dualshock one week early to U.S. retail.

It seems Sony has something they want to Announce...
On May 6th SCEE is going to have a close Press event, and what possibly might result in Europe getting Home and/or Little Big Planet beta. Get your European accounts ready!

"We're still waiting for our confirmation from Sony on what appears to be the day's most exciting news: that SCEE are planning a press-only event on May 6th, although Sony do appear to have already replied to some sites. Naturally, the contents of such an event will be under close wraps for the immediate future, but speculation is rife this afternoon about release dates for Home and Little Big Planet betas across Europe. We'll update as soon as we get more information.Update: OK, we can now confirm that the event, which is for the whole of Europe, is going ahead, although we don't know what's going to be announced."

According to Sony on January 8, 2008, December 2008 will see in-game XMB available on the Playstation 3, a feature similar to Xbox 360's in-game guide feature, a much wanted feature that consumers have demanded since launch. The demands stem from the fact that unlike the Xbox 360, music stored on the console's hard drive cannot be played while playing a game, and if a message or game invite is received during play, the game must be exited before they can be read. Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) and many other sources state that in-game XMB is the single most requested feature for the PS3 in the last year (2007).[6] Sony handed out "In-Shirt XMB" t-shirts on February 19, 2008 at the Game Developers Conference (GDC) held in San Francisco's Moscone Center.[7] Basic forms of In-game XMB friends lists can be found in many modern (August 07' or newer) PS3 games including; Resistance: Fall of Man (Since the 1.1 patch), Warhawk, Rockband, Call of Duty 4, Burnout Paradise (also includes In-game XMB headset accessory menu). In addition, custom soundtracks, taking on the user interface of the XMB has been implemented into a few games such as Super Stardust HD and High Velocity Bowling. These partial functions of XMB (friends lists and custom soundtracks) have been up to the developer to implement the function. The true in-game XMB won't be debuted until Summer.[

Iomega has announced the new Media Xporter drive, a game-oriented 2.5-inch portable hard drive that provides cross-platform media storage for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 consoles.Iomega says that their new offering makes it easier than ever to use game consoles and high definition televisions and other large screen TVs to share photos, videos, and music collections with family and friends.The wallet-sized USB-powered drive uses the USB 2.0 ports on the Xbox 360 or the PlayStation 3 to offer a PC-free, plug and play solution that gives users 160GB of storage. Designed for use the Xbox 360 and PS3, the Media Xporter is also compatible with Apple computers and Microsoft Windows and is bundled with software to convert media to console-friendly formats, where necessary. The Iomega Media Xporter Drive USB 2.0, 160GB is now available in the US for $119.95 and in Europe for 99

Take-Two Interactive has a few big days ahead of it. The publisher's annual shareholder meeting kicks off after the markets close tomorrow, and Electronic Arts' $26 per share offer to acquire the company is set to expire just before midnight on Friday.

With more than enough on its plate already, at least the publisher no longer has to worry about a shareholder revolt like the one that took place at last year's annual meeting. Take-Two today announced that the April 15 deadline for shareholders to nominate opposing candidates for the company's board of directors or propose other new business has passed without incident.

The publisher has been under pressure to sell to Electronic Arts since February, when EA went public with an offer to purchase all outstanding Take-Two shares at what was then a 64 percent premium. The offer totaled roughly $2 billion, which Take-Two execs insisted was undervalued and was an opportunistic attempt to piggyback on the success of Grand Theft Auto IV, which is set for an April 29 launch.

As of this writing, Take-Two's shares were trading down $.37 to $25.88.

French games publisher Ubisoft has announced it will release a playable demo for its eagerly-awaited PS3 exclusive Haze next month.The first-person shooter will take place in the year 2048 "in a world where governments have outsourced military operations to private military corporations (PMCs). You play as Shane Carpenter, a newly enlisted soldier seeking fulfillment and thrills by fighting for a good cause."The playable demo will give players a taste of the single-player campaign, as well as four-player drop-in, drop-out co-op play online.Developed by Free Radical, PS3 exclusive Haze promises to offer first-person shooter fans the Disparity Rendering System and also features the Conspire AI System, promising "entirely dynamic" enemy behaviour.Haze will be released for PlayStation 3 on May 23.

Several months after it appeared on the Xbox 360, Capcom has finally released the PlayStation 3 version of Lost Planet, a tale of one man's quest for revenge on a planet ravaged by snow, space pirates and giant bugs.
While the plot won't win any awards for originality: amnesia-suffering hero Wayne uncovers a conspiracy that threatens the existence of mankind. Oh, he also wants to avenge his father's death to a monstrous bug named Green Eye.
The game is not rubbish by any means, but it's a little disappointing that flaws that plagued the Xbox 360 version are still here and there is very little to differentiate the different versions.
In Lost Planet, thermal energy is king: every time you kill a bug or enemy, they drop thermal energy, which you need to keep your body temperature warm. If you run out of thermal energy, you freeze to death.
Weapons include staples such as shotguns, grenades and rocket launchers, and you can detach weapons from contraptions called Vital Suits and lug them around.
Apart from a new playable female character and having to install files onto your PS3's hard drive (it takes about 20 minutes), it's frustrating to find that the frame rate drops and less than intuitive controls remain here. The graphics, too, while looking nice, are hardly stellar.
None of the faults are game breakers, but surely the PS3 version, which has been released months after the other versions, was the perfect opportunity to fix some of those issues? I guess not.
Worth a rental if you love shooting alien bugs in the backside and watching them shatter while it snows

Ever since it first appeared at the 2006 Electronic Entertainment Expo, Haze's release status has been a bit foggy. Originally announced for the PC, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, the first-person sci-fi shooter became PS3-exclusive last year as it suffered several delays. After being pushed back to the first quarter of 2008, the game was delayed again in January before finally being given a May release window.

Now, two days after getting a European launch date of May 23, Haze has seen its North American release date nailed down. It will arrive in US and Canadian stores on May 20, just three weeks before the launch of another anticipated PS3 exclusive, Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots. Haze is rated M for Mature for blood, intense violence, strong language, and drug use, and will retail for $59.99.

Developed by Free Radical, the studio behind TimeSplitters and an as yet unnamed LucasArts game, Haze is set in a not-so-nice near future where the world is dominated by Private Military Corporations (PMCs). One such multinational, MantelCorp, is fighting against an international rebellion with an army of supersoldiers in bright yellow armor. Players begin as one such soldier, who, like his comrades, sees his combat abilities enhanced--and his mind controlled--by a powerful chemical called Nectar that Mantel exclusively dispenses.

Though Haze won't hit stores until the latter half of May, the early part of the month will see a demo for the game appear exclusively on the PlayStation Store. Unlike many thin game demos, Ubisoft is offering players a taste of one of the game's most compelling features--online four-person co-op--in the demo.

There's no question that Grand Theft Auto IV will have a massive debut. How massive, exactly? Today, Variety predicted the Rockstar Games title could see biggest entertainment property launch of all time when it goes on sale worldwide on April 29 for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.

The Hollywood trade claims that "sources close to publisher Take-Two Interactive," which owns Rockstar Games, have been tracking how many units of GTAIV they have pre-sold to retailers. According to said sources, the publisher believes 6 million units of the Rockstar North-developed game will sell during its first week on the market, generating over $400 million in revenue.

If that figure holds out, GTAIV will come close to exceeding the $404 million Pirates of the Carribean: At World's End grossed internationally during its first six days in theaters. It will soundly best the current record-holder for a game premiere, Halo 3, which earned $300 million by selling 5 million copies in its first week on the worldwide market last year.

Some analysts are predicting GTAIV to do even bigger business when it arrives. Last October, Janco Partners' Mike Hickey says Rockstar's latest could "conceivably" ship 9.5 million units in one week--5.8 million in the US alone. The most popular GTA game to date is 2004's Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, which has sold nearly 22 million units worldwide to date on the PlayStation 2, Xbox, and PC.

Variety correctly notes that Take-Two will need GTAIV to be a hit of outsized proportions to stave off Electronic Arts' takeover bid, which became hostile on March 13. Thursday afternoon, Take-Two stockholders will meet to discuss EA's $2 billion, $26-per-share offer, which is a 64 percent mark-up over the publisher's previous stock price. Late last month, Take-Two management led by chairman Strauss Zelnick asked shareholders to decline EA's offer, which some analysts believe could lead to a GTAIV delay if it is successful.

Soulcalibur IV represents a number of new frontiers for the venerable Namco Bandai fighting franchise. Fans are no doubt eagerly awaiting the chance to try out the first proper entry on the current generation of systems and see how it has been changed by the inclusion of online multiplayer, finishing moves, and high-profile cast additions like Darth Vader (for the PlayStation 3 edition) and Yoda (for the Xbox 360).

Now gamers as obsessed with Soulcalibur IV as the game's protagonists are with the titular sword can finally mark their calendars. Namco Bandai today confirmed a July 29 North American release date for the game, which will launch in regular and limited Premium Edition packages.

Customers who pick up the Premium Edition will get an art book/comic that serves as a prequel leading into the story of Soulcalibur IV, a tournament kit, and exclusive access to "extra customization content." Exactly what the tournament kit entails is unknown, but Namco Bandai said it would "give fans the opportunity to document the battle amongst friends." The Premium Edition will come in metal packaging and retail for $79.99.

Last week, a guerrilla faction of gamers successfully challenged publishing powerhouse Electronic Arts over the inclusion of for-purchase downloadable weapons in EA DICE's Battlefield: Bad Company. Having decided to take a different tack, EA told GameSpot that all weapons will now be included in the game's purchase price, but standard-edition buyers will need to unlock them by playing the game.

With the volatile situation resolved, EA today made a far less controversial announcement when it officially confirmed that Battlefield: Bad Company will ship out June 23 for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. Bad Company will face unseasonably heavy resistance when it hits the streets, with Konami's Metal Gear Solid 4, Atari's Alone in the Dark, Sierra's Bourne Conspiracy, and Tecmo's Ninja Gaiden II, among others, all confirmed for June releases.

As detailed in GameSpot's previous coverage, Battlefield: Bad Company aims to bring DICE's signature brand of large-scale multiplayer battlefields to consoles. Multiplayer combat accommodates 24 players across a variety of modes and play settings, and DICE promises that up to 90 percent of the objects within the game's world can be destroyed. Bad Company also packs a full single-player campaign, in which gamers will grapple with their responsibilities as a soldier and their desire for lots and lots of cash a la David O. Russell's Three Kings.

The Battlefield: Bad Company standard edition will retail for $59.99, whereas the controversy-laden Gold Edition will clock in at $10 more. In addition to immediate access to five special weapons, collector's-edition purchasers will receive a behind-the-scenes featurette as well as strategy videos for the game.

Sony Corp.'s U.S. game division on Tues. said that a revamped Playstation Store for the Playstation 3 is now available for download in the new system software 2.30 release.
The new store is a native application to the PS3 rather than the web-based store front used in the previous version.
The Playstation Store features new browsing categories, including "New Releases", "Downloadable Games", "View All By Title", "Add-Ons", "Demos", "Videos", "Themes & Wallpapers", and "Featured Items".
Nearly 900 pieces of content are currently available, including PS3 games, PSone titles, game demos and videos, Blu-ray disc movie trailers, game themes, wallpapers, and more.
Additionally, Gran Turismo 5 Prologue, the latest entry in the racing franchise, will be available for download at the Playstation Store on Apr. 17.
Sony this month released the Dualshock 3 controller to U.S. retail. The device features rumble functionality not found in the Sixaxis controller.
In June it will retail a new 80GB PS3 SKU that includes Konami Corp.'s Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots

Haze demo; 4-player co-op both announced

Ubisoft has announced that you can finally expect a full playable demo of Haze to show up on the Playstation Network during early May. While many gamers are tired of the delays and constant pushbacks, this serves as a nice reminder that Haze is just around the corner. Ubisoft is expectedly giving gamers a chance to satisfy their thumbs and fingertips with a demo prior to release in order to reinitiate the hype around the title.

On top of the demo, players will be given full control of 4-player co-op as well. This is something that will be a warm welcoming from all gamers wanting to check out Haze. Ubisoft has said that the co-op play will be fully functional in allowing users to simply drop-in and drop-out of play as they like.

Haze is set to release near the end of May and we'll have you covered with a complete review of the upcoming title.

In light of the North American release of the Dual Shock 3 controller next week, Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) has issued a full list of titles that will be compatible with the new hardware on launch day.In addition, the company also announced plans to launch a dedicated section on the official PlayStation website which will be updated as soon as more titles are made compatible with the pad.See below for a full list of titles compatible so far. Note that games with an asterisk marked next to them require the aid of a patch to work (downloaded automatically if your console is connected to the Internet)· SCEA - Formula One Championship Edition* (PS3)· SCEA - MotorStorm* (PS3)· SCEA - PAIN (PSN)· SCEA - High Velocity Bowling (PSN)· SCEA - MLB 08: The Show (PS3)· SCEA - Uncharted: Drake's Fortune (PS3)· SCEA - Resistance: Fall of Man* (PS3)· SCEA - Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction (PS3)· SCEA - Go! Sports Ski* (PSN)· SCEA - Folklore* (PS3)· SCEA - Heavenly Sword* (PS3)· SCEA - Warhawk* (PSN / PS3)· SCEA - Super Stardust HD* (PSN)· SCEA - Snakeball (PSN)· SCEA - Toy Home (PSN)· SCEA - PSOne Emulation (PSN)· SCEA - Piyotama (PSN)· SCEA - PixelJunk Monsters (PSN)· SCEA - Blast Factor* (PSN)· Sega - Condemned 2: Bloodshot (PS3)· Ubisoft - Lost: Via Domus (PS3)· Ubisoft - Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Vegas 2* (PS3)· EA - Burnout Paradise (PS3)· KOEI - Dynasty Warriors 6 (PS3)· Capcom - Devil May Cry 4 (PS3)· Atari - Dragon Ball Z Burst Limit (PS3)· Disney Interactive - Turok (PS3)

Are you ready for an online Turf War?

Recently, IGN played four of the more than a dozen multiplayer modes GTA Race, Cops N Crooks, Team Deathmatch, and Hangman's NOOSE. On the official GTA IV Website, Rockstar has unveiled four more modes. There will be five total team modes, all of which allow up to 16 players to go at it online. There are only two racing modes. The number of cooperative modes and competitive free-for-all modes are still a mystery.

Here are Rockstar's descriptions of the newly revealed modes:

Team Mafiya Work (2-8 teams)
You're a member of a crew doing contract work for the mafiya -- including such plum gigs as escorting wanted men, picking up MacGuffins and stealing cars. Work as a team to complete contracts before the time period ends and get the rewards. You'll probably want to do your best to scupper the other crew's work as well. Each contract you complete gives your team cash, and the crew with the most cash at the end of the round wins.












Team Car Jack City (2-8 teams)
Cars spawn parked around the map and the teams must steal them and take them to a drop off point. The cash teams get for dropping off stolen vehicles depends on their condition -- teams get less cash the more damaged they are. The exception to this are special bonus cars, stuffed with drugs, which give a set amount of cash on delivery no matter how damaged they are. Your crew has to get hold of whatever vehicles the boss wants. Whichever crew makes the most money wins. Simple.

Turf War (2 teams)
A timed capture-the-base mode. There are a number of bases around the map that you have to take by standing on them for a short period of time. The more players that are on a base, the faster it can be captured. The more bases that your team owns, the faster your team's cash score increases. If the rival gang is on or near a base, you won't be able to take control of it -- so do what you can to try and... displace them. The team with the most cash at the end of the round wins.











Race (no teams)
Race to the finish through each checkpoint in order. If you take a wrong turn or mess up in some way, you can respawn your vehicle on the last checkpoint you passed. There is a large section of races for cars, boats, and helicopters -- you can choose laps and vehicle class/type. This mode has two sub-modes: Free Race and Cannonball Run.

Free Race are point-to-point races. First one to reach the end point wins. Cannonball Run are races where you have to traverse several checkpoints any way you can.