Category: PS3

Dragon Age: Origins Leliana’s Song DLC Available Now

BioWare has released the “Leliana’s Song” DLC for the outstanding Dragon Age: Origins. This DLC prequel examines Leliana’s past as an Orlesian spy, detailing her relationship with Marjolaine and the circumstances that led her to seek refuge with the chantry. The DLC costs 560 BioWare Points on PC, 560 Microsoft Points on Xbox Live, and $7 on PlayStation Network. Here are some details from the official site:

  • Explore Leliana’s dangerous past and why she joined the Chantry
  • A fully voiced cinematic experience brings the characters to life
  • Unlock a unique reward that transfers into your Awakening and Origins campaign
  • All-new musical compositions instensify the action and intrigue

As many of you know, DA is one of my favorite games this console generation. I’ve already downloaded the DLC and will be playing it later today. Expect a not-a-review in the near future…whether you want it or not, muahahahaha!!!

Anyone planning to download “Leliana’s Song”?

Sony Working Closely with Developers on PlayStation 4

A lot of developers have complained that Sony’s PlayStation consoles are hard to work with. It has taken developers years to unearth the secrets of the PlayStation 2 and PlayStation 3. For its next console, Sony is taking a more developer-friendly approach by including its development partners in the creation process from the start. In an interview with Develop, Sony Computer Entertainment Worldwide Studios president Shuhei Yoshida said:

When Ken Kutaragi moved on and Kaz Harai became the president of SCE, the first thing Kaz said was, ‘get World Wide Studios in on hardware development.’ So he wanted developers in meetings at the very beginning of concepting new hardware, and he demanded SCE people talk to us. We are undergoing many activities that we haven’t yet been talking about in public. Some future platform related activities.

First off, shame on Develop for spelling Kaz Hirai’s name wrong. *snicker*

Seriously though, I’ve always wondered why Sony seemingly made things so difficult for PlayStation developers. Having developers in on the process from the start just seems like a no-brainer. For the last two console generations I’ve heard so many complaints from third-party developers about Sony hardware being difficult to work with. While I suspect that first-party devs will always have an edge, hopefully the input provided by Worldwide Studios developers will make the PlayStation 4 easier for everyone.

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NPD Console Sales Figures Top 10 Games of May 2010

Here are NPD Group’s console software sales figures for May 2010. There were a lot of great releases in May, which is traditionally a slow month for the business. Some of your favorites made the list and there were a few surprises as well. Let’s check out the digits!

  1. Red Dead Redemption (Xbox 360): 945,900
  2. Red Dead Redemption (PS3): 567,100
  3. Super Mario Galaxy 2 (Wii): 563,000
  4. UFC 2010: Undisputed (Xbox 360): 221,100
  5. UFC 2010: Undisputed (PS3): 192,300
  6. Wii Fit Plus with Balance Board (Wii)
  7. New Super Mario Bros. Wii (Wii)
  8. Alan Wake (Xbox 360)
  9. Pokemon SoulSilver (Nintendo DS)
  10. Skate 3 (Xbox 360)

Perhaps it’s just me, but I’m used to seeing more Nintendo games in the top 10. Ha! Obviously Red Dead Redemption was May’s killer title. UFC 2010 did well, which shouldn’t be a surprise. I was happy to see games like Alan Wake and Skate 3 on the list; they didn’t get as much hype and commercial time as some of May’s other titles, but they did well. Naturally, Nintendo continued to do well with Mario and Pokemon.

Anything on May’s list surprise you?

NPD Hardware Sales Figures for May 2010

NPD Group released its console sales data for May 2010. The gaming industry is still in a year-over-year decline, but will May’s console hardware sales help the business bust out of the slump? Let’s check out the numbers:

  • Nintendo DS: 383,700
  • Nintendo Wii: 334,800
  • Xbox 360: 194,600
  • PlayStation 3: 154,500
  • PlayStation Portable: 59,400

The Wii and Xbox 360 are up from April, but the rest of the systems are down. For the Nintendo DS, the difference isn’t that big of a deal since it’s trouncing the competition and continues to sell extremely well. Sony was slightly down and put up decent numbers, but not enough to compete with the Xbox 360. With a lot of gamers excited about the 360 hardware refresh, I’d be surprised if the gap didn’t widen in May.

Any thoughts on these lovely numbers? Uh…fore?!? Ha!

Future Heavy Rain Chronicles Delayed Due to Playstation Move

Millions of Heavy Rain fans were psyched to learn that the game will be patched to support Playstation Move. Unfortunately, motion-control support will come at the expense of original content. Instead of creating more Heavy Rain Chronicles, Quantic Dream was told to prioritize Move support. Quantic Dream founder and co-CEO David Cage told NowGamer:

We proposed three episodes about one hour long and being focused on the background of the main characters. I thought fans would really enjoy these episodes because they explained many aspects of HR and why characters are who they are. Unfortunately, Sony preferred to ask us to focus on Move to support the device rather than on creating new content.

Move support for Heavy Rain is important and I totally understand why Sony would want that over new content. It absolutely makes sense from a business perspective. As a huge fan of the game and Quantic Dream, I’m bummed that the company has put original content on the back burner.

How do you feel about this move? Would you rather have new chapters in Heavy Rain? Or are you more interested in PlayStation Move support?

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Mega64’s TruthPhones Help You Understand E3 2010 Keynotes

Here’s another hilarious video from the peeps at Mega64. This time around they reveal TruthPhones — a peripheral that helps you understand what’s really going on at the E3 press conferences held by Microsoft, Nintendo, and Sony. Check it out! It’s awesome!!!

Looks Like Hulu Plus for PS3 Will Require PlayStation Plus

This will probably piss some of you off (though it shouldn’t surprise any of you), but it looks like the PlayStation 3 version Hulu Plus will require PlayStation Plus. Yesterday a few of you were annoyed that the Xbox 360 version will require an Xbox Live Gold subscription. It looks like it’s the same deal on both sides of the console fence.

Technologizer did some excellent snooping and found some text hidden on the Hulu Plus web site that shows up in Google searches. The text states:

The instructions below will help you install Hulu Plus on your PS3. You must be a subscriber of the PlayStation Plus Network.

Does this change the value of Hulu Plus and/or PlayStation Plus for you?

Source via Destructoid

Coffee Talk #168: Your Console and Electronics Updating Patterns

Yesterday I updated the software for my HTC Evo 4G and PlayStation 3. Both had updates that were released yesterday. I was actually surprised that I updated so soon. Usually I wait a few days to see if there are any bugs or annoying quirks caused by the new software. For various reasons (okay, it was cloudy…and updating firmware makes me happy), I jumped the gun and didn’t following my usual updating pattern.

Welcome to Coffee Talk! Let’s start off the day by discussing whatever is on your (nerd chic) mind. Every morning I’ll kick off a discussion and I’m counting on you to participate in it. If you’re not feelin’ my topic, feel free to start a chat with your fellow readers and see where it takes you. Whether you’re talking about videogames, Roger Federer’s upset at Wimbledon, red pandas, or Stumptown’s Costa Rica Brumas Del Zurqui, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

Yesterday I updated the software for my HTC Evo 4G and PlayStation 3. Both had updates that were released yesterday. I was actually surprised that I updated so soon. Usually I wait a few days to see if there are any bugs or annoying quirks caused by the new software. For various reasons (okay, it was cloudy…and updating firmware makes me happy), I jumped the gun and didn’t following my usual updating pattern.

How do you handle updates for your consoles, mobile phones, etc.? Do you update straight away, like I did yesterday? Do you wait a few days to make sure everything is kosher? Perhaps you only update when it’s absolutely necessary, like when a certain game require a newer firmware version. Kindly share your console and consumer electronics updating patterns in the comments section.

Two Excellent Portal 2 Videos

Here are a pair of excellent Portal 2 videos for your drooling pleasure. As I mentioned in Coffee Talk #162, I didn’t have time to see the game at E3 2010, which totally bummed me out. The good news is that I can enjoy these videos with you and disccus ’em here! I know a few of you are Portal fans, so kindly check out these clips and let me know what you think (please)!

PlayStation 3 is Profitable After Three Years

Here’s some interesting ammunition for PS3 fanboys to use in the console wars — Sony is finally making money on PlayStation 3 hardware sales. Normally, console companies follow the razor-and-blade model, initially losing money on hardware (razor) and making it up in software (blades). As manufacturing becomes more efficient and die shrinks lead to cheaper silicon, consoles become cheaper to make. Sony is at the point where it’s making money on console sales instead of losing it. In an interview with IGN UK Sony Computer Entertainment president Shuhei Yoshida said:

This year is the first time that we are able to cover the cost of the PlayStation 3. We aren’t making huge money from hardware, but we aren’t bleeding like we used to.

The news is great for Sony and even greater for message board fodder. The Internets are already blowing up with the news…and I still don’t understand why. It’s great for the company, but I don’t understand why it matters to Joe the Gamer (Joe the Plumber’s nephew). That said, the flame wars are amusing. Fore!!!

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