Thursday, April 22, 2010

Sony Reveal Vidzone Update And Introduce Vidzone TV

Sony have announced that a update for Vidzone is out now. Version 1.11 comes in at 17 MB and brings many changes to Vidzone. one major change is that Vidzone has been renamed VidZone On Demand. another big addition is Vidzone TV, over 100 different pre-programmed music channels to watch.

Other new features and improvements include:
New main menu carousel – Sparkly brand new look carousel screen for selecting links to VidZone: TV, Featured, On Demand, Settings and upcoming other new upcoming features.
Search function is improved – It is now possible to perform ‘like’ searches – e.g. “Kill” for The Killers.
In-store game purchasing – Purchase selected PlayStation Store games / content advertised in VidZone without exiting the VidZone application.
Full screen experience enhanced – It’s now possible to see which video is coming up next. There is also a key for all functions and ticker bar available to provide valuable information to users about new/must see content.
Video of The Day TV – The music industry is helping us offer one ultimate video of the day, every day. It will play immediately after opening the application.
Clickable pre-rolls – Some pre-roll advertisement videos are now clickable and launch the Internet Browser.
Title changes – “Related Videos” has been renamed to “More by this Artist” “Home Page” renamed to “Featured”.
Email settings – It’s now possible to sign up or unsubscribe to emails in Settings > Help menu. If you want to receive updates or competitions from VidZone you need to be registered by email.

Screenshots


Sony have also revealed that over 3 Million users have used Vidzone and over 350 Million videos have been streamed.

From EU Playstation Blog


This Weeks USA PSP Digital Comic Store Update

Sony's USA Playstation Blog have detailed the comics coming to the USA Digital Comic Store on the PSP.

2000AD Prog # 1676
Archie # 2
Sonic the Hedgehog # 1
The Beagle Boys and the Eco-Friendly Day
Donald Duck and Fethry Duck: “Operation Seaweed”
Donald Duck and the Ultralight Challenge
Magica De Spell and the Unscheduled Trip
The Mystery of the Black Pond
Scrooge McDuck and the Gastronomical Bills
Scrooge McDuck and the Mystery of the Sunken Ship
The Strange Case of Doctor Duckell and Mister Duckhyde
Superduck # 11
Ultraheroes # 4
Criminal (2006) # 1
Criminal (2006) # 2
Criminal (2006) # 3
Incognito (2008) # 1
Incognito (2008) # 2
Powers (2000) # 1
Powers (2000) # 2
Powers (2000) # 3
Powers (2000) # 4
Powers (2000) # 5
Powers (2000) # 6
Army of Two # 4
Bill Willingham’s Pantheon # 3
Dead, She Said # 1
G.I. Joe # 14
G.I. Joe Origins # 14
Kill Shakespeare # 1
Locke & Key: Crown of Shadows # 5
Runes of Ragnan # 4
Transformers: Movie Sequel: The Reign of Starscream # 5
Transformers: Nefarious # 1
Vampire Hunter D Volume 1 # 3
Kong: King of Skull Island # 2
Ritual # 2
Serpent Wars # 1
Marvels Vol.1 (1994) # 1
Marvels Vol.1 (1994) # 2
Marvels Vol.1 (1994) # 3
Marvels Vol.1 (1994) # 4
Marvels Vol.1 (1994) # 5
Marvels Vol.1 (1994) # 6
Marvels Vol.1 (1994) # 7
Marvels Vol.1 (1994) # 8
Marvels Vol.1 (1994) # 9
Abyss # 4
Atomic Robo Vol.2 # 3

From USA Playstation Blog


Namco Bandai have Released New Gameplay Videos And Screenshots For Dragon Ball Origins 2

Namco Bandai have released new gameplay videos and new screenshots for their upcoming Nintendo DS game, Dragon Ball Origins 2. The Gameplay videos each focus on a specific character in the game, Android 8, Arale, Bulma, And Krillin. The Screenshots are a mix of in-game action and in-game cutscenes, and they show many different characters from different points in the game.









Screenshots



Microsoft Have Revealed Bright Falls, The 6 Part Live Action Prequel To Alan Wake

Microsoft have revealed Bright Falls, a six part live action series that is the prequel to Alan Wake. The first 2 episodes will go live on 25th April for Xbox Live Gold Members on Xbox Live, whilst it will be released on 27th April at Brightfalls.com. A New episode will be released each week thereafter until the shocking conclusion on 17th May when the final two episodes will air. Microsoft have released this trailer for Bright Falls.



Press Release

Turn down the lights but keep your flashlight and batteries handy, as Xbox 360 unveils “Bright Falls,” a six-part live action series that serves as a thrilling prequel to the mystery unfolding in “Alan Wake.” Each episode will bring you to the edge of your seat and spur your curiosity with the same eerie and suspenseful cliffhangers as in the game. TV fans will find that the series evokes the same ghostly chills as “Twin Peaks” did when it premiered 20 years ago this month.

The first two episodes of “Bright Falls” will be available for viewing exclusively on Xbox LIVE for Gold members starting April 25 and for all Xbox LIVE members on April 26, before debuting at BrightFalls.com on April 27. A new episode will be released each week thereafter, leading up to the shocking conclusion with the final two episodes on May 17.

Shot on location in Oregon, “Bright Falls” is directed by Philip Van, whose short films have won over a dozen awards in festivals including the Sundance Film Festival, Berlin International Film Festival and more. “Bright Falls” also features notable actors such as Tom Noonan who recently appeared on FX’s “Damages,” and Cooper Huckabee who joins the cast of HBO’s “True Blood” this season.

Fans of the highly anticipated psychological action thriller are invited to check-in for this thrill ride before Alan Wake’s search to unravel the mystery officially begins on May 14 in Europe, May 18 in the Americas, and May 27 in Japan. For those who can’t wait, you can secure your Bright Falls Bonus Pack by pre-ordering the game now from participating retailers. A must-have for anyone intrigued by the game, the pack includes Avatar gear like the “I Am Awake” T-shirt and an Xbox LIVE “Bright Falls” theme based on the game. For the ultimate “Alan Wake” collection, the Limited Collector’s Edition, designed to resemble a hardcover novel and packed with special bonus content, is the perfect addition to your bookshelf.

Bringing a new style of storytelling in this dynamic new title exclusively for Xbox 360, “Alan Wake” is developed by Remedy Entertainment, the renowned original developers of the successful “Max Payne” series. “Alan Wake” immerses players in an intense and expansive cinematic world that enables players to explore the hyper-realistic and interactive environments. “Alan Wake” is episodic-based with a deeply engaging and suspenseful storyline unveiling new twists and profound character revelations at every turn, rated T for Teen. For more information and a trailer for “Bright Falls,” please visit xbox.com/alanwake.

UK PSN Update 22/04/2010

Special Offers
PS3: Prince Of Persia Classic [£3.99]
PS3: Shaun White Snowboarding – The Hard Pack [£2.39]
PS3: Tom Clancy's H.A.W.X – US Eagles Pack [£2.39]
PS3: Thexder NEO [£3.19]
PS3: Gravity Crash [£3.99]
PSP: James Camerson's AVATAR: The Game [£15.99]
PSP: Astonishia Story [£3.99]
PSP: Street Riders [£7.99]
PSP: Crazy Taxi: Fare Wares [£7.99]
PSP: Sega Mega Drive Collection [£7.99]
Minis: Dracula – Undead Awakening [£1.99]

PS3 Games
First Play 90 Day Subscription [£8.99]
First Play Episode 003 [£0.99]
Lead And Gold: Gangs Of The Wild West [£11.99]
After Burner Climax [£7.99]
Hamster Ball [£7.99]
Sonic & Sega All Stars Racing – Metal Sonic & Death Egg [£4.79]
Magic Orbz – Jungle Pack [£2.39]
Buzz! - 00s Quiz [£3.99]
Uncharted 2 – Siege Expansion Pack [£4.79]

Demo's
Greed Corp
Lost Planet - 2 Multiplayer Demo

Guitar Hero 5
Phoenix Track Pack [£4.39]
“1901” By Phoenix [£1.59]
“Everything is Everything” By Phoenix [£1.59]
“Lisztomania” by Phoenix [£1.59]

Rock Band
Coheed And Cambria Pack 01 [£2.49]
“Guns Of Summer” by Coheed And Cambria [£0.99]
“Here We Are Juggernaut” by Coheed And Cambria [£0.99]
“The Broken” by Coheed And Cambria [£0.99]
“American Music” by Violent Femmes [£0.99]
“Peek-A-Boo” by Siouxise & the Banshees [£0.99]
“Sun Hits The Sky” by Supergrass [£0.99]

Rock Band Network Latest
“Australia” by The Shins [£0.99]
“Code Monkey” by Jonathan Coulton [£0.99]
“Drunken Lullabies (live)” by Flogging Molly [£0.59]
“Even Rats” by The Slip [£0.99]
“For The Love Of God (Live)” by Steve Vai [£0.99]

Karaoke Revolution
None

Videos
Army Of Two: 40th Day – DLC Launch Trailer
NIER Launch Trailer

Wallpaper
Dante's Inferno – Treachery Circle

Theme
Patchwork Heroes – Warship theme [Free]

Dynamic Theme
DP Beach Breeze [£1.59]
DP Desert Sunset [£1.59]
DP Mountain Escape [£1.59]
DP Space Odyssey [£1.59]

PSN ID Avatars
None

PS1 Classic
Disney's Atlantis: The Lost Empire [£5.19]

PSP
UNO [£6.29]
The Eye Of Judgement – Saviour Pack [£1.19]

Minis
Monsters (probably) Stole My Princess [£3.49]

Demo
None

Theme
None

Video
None


Sony Announce The Playstation 3 MLB.TV App is Coming Out Today In The USA

Sony have announced that MLB.TV is coming to the Playstation 3 today in the USA. This new MLB.TV App is a free download that allows subscribers to MLB.TV to keep up to date with all the MLB matches, the ability to watch home or away feeds from a match, and the ability to watch matches from earlier in the season. For people who don't subscribe to MLB.TV, some features like calendar will only be accessible. Sony have also released a video, embedded below, which shows the features of the app.

App Features Include:
* MLB Scoreboard – See a schedule of today’s games (and set options to control whether or not you see the scores)
* Home and Away Feeds – Choose to watch either the home or away broadcast feed
* HD quality video and DVR functionality – watch a live game in HD (with Live Game DVR functionality that lets you pause and rewind live games of fast-forward back to live game action)
* Season Archive – Want to re-live a great moment? Go back and watch games you’ve missed from earlier in the season.
* Scrollable Linescore – Go directly to any half-inning to watch only that portion of the game.
* Favorite Teams/Calendar Schedule – Scroll through the entire 2010 Major League Baseball schedule in calendar format or designate your favorite team(s) to see the schedule for that team.




From USA Playstation Blog


Bungie Reveal Halo Reach Will Be Available At Retail In Standard, Limited, And Legendary Editions

Bungie have revealed that when Halo Reach comes out at retail, 3 versions will be available. there will be the Standard, Limited, And Legendary Editions. In the UK, The Standard Edition has an estimated price of £49.99, The Limited Edition estimated price is £59.99, and the Legendary price has an estimated price of £99.99. The Limited and Legendary editions are expected to sell out quickly and fans are advised to pre-order them.

Standard Edition
Limited Edition
• Game disc housed in recovered ONI ”black box”
• An exclusive Elite armour set for use in multiplayer modes
• Artifact bag containing Dr. Halsey’s personal journal and other classified documents and effects that unravel long held secrets from the “Halo” universe


Legendary Edition
• Game disc housed in recovered ONI ”black box”
• An exclusive Elite armour set for use in multiplayer modes
• Artifact bag containing Dr. Halsey’s personal journal and other classified documents and effects that unravel long held secrets from the “Halo” universe
• 10" Noble Team statue expertly crafted by the artisans at McFarlane Toys. Individually molded, hand-painted and individually numbered, this statue is a must-have for any serious “Halo” fan (weighs 10 lbs)
• UNSC-themed custom packaging
• An exclusive multiplayer Spartan armour effect


Press Release

New ViDoc Takes Viewers Behind the Scenes of the Highly Anticipated Multiplayer Beta Launching May 3 Worldwide Available for pre-order starting today at participating retailers worldwide are the Limited and Legendary editions of “Halo: Reach,” each packed with exclusive content fans won’t want to miss. Additionally, today Bungie unveils a new action-packed video documentary offering a behind-the-scenes look at the development of “Halo: Reach” and a sneak peek at the new modes, features and content that players will be able to test when the multiplayer beta kicks off on May 3.

“Halo: Reach” will be available in standard, Limited and Legendary editions when the game launches this autumn. Both the Limited and Legendary editions are filled with content based on the fiction of “Halo: Reach” and the “Halo” universe, and are expected to sell out quickly. The Legendary edition, which will be produced in very limited quantities, is designed for the “Halo” fan who has to have it all. The centerpiece is a collectable 10 inch tall, more than 10 pound statue of Noble Team, created by the acclaimed designers at McFarlane Toys. Full details on the contents of the Limited and Legendary editions are below:

“Halo: Reach” Limited Edition
In addition to the game disc and manual, the Limited edition includes:
• Game disc housed in recovered ONI ”black box”
• An exclusive Elite armour set for use in multiplayer modes
• Artifact bag containing Dr. Halsey’s personal journal and other classified documents and effects that unravel long held secrets from the “Halo” universe

“Halo: Reach” Legendary Edition
The complete “Halo: Reach” collection. In addition to the game disc, manual, and the complete contents of the Limited edition, the Legendary edition includes:
• Noble Team statue expertly crafted by the artisans at McFarlane Toys. Individually molded, hand-painted and individually numbered, this statue is a must-have for any serious “Halo” fan
• UNSC-themed custom packaging
• An exclusive multiplayer Spartan armour effect

The standard edition of “Halo: Reach” will have an estimated price of £49.99, and the Limited and Legendary editions of the game will retail for £59.99 and £99.99, respectively. The two special editions will be available at select retailers only while supplies last, so fans who want to secure their copy and ensure access to the exclusive in-game armor sets are encouraged to pre-order quickly.

The Beta Drops May 3rd!
Now less than two weeks away, the “Halo: Reach” multiplayer beta is poised to be the definitive Xbox LIVE event of this spring. The beta will offer millions of “Halo” fans a unique opportunity to test and help refine the biggest blockbuster game of 2010. Representing the best-in-class multiplayer elements that have become the hallmark of the “Halo” series and fused with a host of new content and features, “Halo: Reach” offers the most robust, action-packed multiplayer experience ever and promises to set a new standard for competitive gameplay, customization and community integration.

Developed by acclaimed studio Bungie, “Halo: Reach” launches in the autumn of 2010 exclusively on Xbox 360.

-Ends-

About Xbox 360
Xbox 360 is a superior video game and entertainment system delivering the best games, unique entertainment features and a unified online gaming network that revolve around gamers. Xbox 360 has a portfolio of more than 300 games in nearly 40 countries. More information can be found online at http://www.xbox.com/en-GB/.

About Xbox LIVE
Xbox LIVE connects more than 23 million members across 26 countries to each other and the entertainment they love. Home of more entertainment from one remote than can be found from any device connected to the television, Xbox LIVE is also a unified online social network bringing friends together, no matter where they are — in the living room or across the world. More information and Xbox LIVE membership can be found online at http://www.xbox.com/en-GB/live/bestoflive/connectnow.htm.

About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.

Note to editors: If you are interested in viewing additional information on Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft Web page at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass on Microsoft’s corporate information pages. Web links, telephone numbers and titles were correct at time of publication, but may since have changed. For additional assistance, journalists and analysts may contact Microsoft’s Rapid Response Team or other appropriate contacts listed athttp://www.microsoft.com/presspass/contactpr.mspx.