PSN Premium Service to be Unveiled at E3 2010?

In addition to the rumors that Sony will announce the PSP2 at E3 2010, VG247 has heard that the company will also unveil a premium PSN service at its press conference. The service is said to include one free PSN title a month (from a limited selection) and a streaming music service similar to Spotify. The site’s sources pegged the pricing at £50. If that’s accurate, I’d expect the American price would be lower since Microsoft’s competing Xbox Live Gold service is $50 a year. (£50 is approximately $61 at the moment.)

The streaming music service is the most interesting tidbit to me. Since Sony has movie and music divisions, it could include streaming movies/music in a premium PSN package to greatly differentiate itself from Xbox Live Gold. However, Sony’s various divisions have not played well in the past so that’s probably just a pipe dream.

Any thoughts on this PSN premium rumor? What would you want to see in the service?

Source

UFC Undisputed 2010 Developer Diary: Online Fight Camps

Here’s a cool UFC Undisputed 2010 developer diary on one of the game’s new online features — fight camps. An MMA fighter’s teammates and training partners can play a huge part in his success. This online mode lets gamers replicate the “camp” feeling. In this video, Undisputed Producer Neven Dravinski and MMA Manager Ed Soares discuss the new feature.

I know RPadholic Big Blak is really looking forward to this game. Anyone else planning on picking it up? Want to start an RPad.tv stable? We could rule the MMA world!

And the PSP2 E3 2010 Rumors Keep on Coming!

The PSP2 rumor mill is heating up (I’m not really sure if mills actually heat up, but let’s go with it). The latest info comes from VG247. The site’s sources told it the following:

  • The PSP2 will have a touchscreen
  • The system will likely come out in early 2011, not 2010
  • UK developers are already working on games for the PSP2
  • The PSP2 uses a “f*cking powerful” quad-core CELL CPU

A quad-core CELL sounds awesome on paper. The games and videos it could run would be impressive, but it also sounds like a huge battery hog. If that rumor pans out, I’d be curious to see what the power solution would be.

The one feature that so many of you want confirmed is whether the PSP2 will have dual analog sticks. There’s no word on that yet, but I would be surprised if it didn’t. It would make cross-development efforts much easier.

Anyway, let me know what you think of the latest PSP2 rumors (please)!

Source

Google Android TV by Sony Powered with Intel Inside?

Here’s an interesting Google I/O rumor for you — Google will supposedly announce an Android-powered television made by Sony and powered by Intel processors. The television would make using streaming-video services like Hulu, Netflix, and Vudu easier for consumers. Developers could extend the capabilities of a “Google TV” even further and the Android developer community could experience rapid growth thanks to a ubiquitous device like a television. Here’s what Financial Times reported:

Top executives from the Silicon Valley companies are reported to be ready to reveal a deal with Sony, bringing web services to its televisions, during Google’s annual developer conference in San Francisco.

Intel’s Atom microprocessor and Google’s Android operating system are spearheading their assault on set-top boxes and TVs featuring integrated internet services.

I love the potential of a Google TV, but so much of its success and usefulness will be determined by developers. I’m excited to learn more about it at Google I/O. It’s also crazy to think that Google will have people using its search (and other) services on computers, phones, and televisions. I’m pretty sure this a precursor to Terminator’s Skynet.

Source via VentureBeat

Oodles of Disgaea Infinite Screens

I love the Disgaea series. The gameplay and writing are superb. As you can imagine, I’m super psyched for the June release of Disgaea Infinite for Sony PlayStation Portable. It’s going to rock and the replay value will be so excellent that there’s a good chance it will keep me occupied until Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep is released. That sounds like a great plan! Anyway, eat up these screen shots and let me know what you think of them.

Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep Coming September 7

Square Enix has finally announced the released date for the North American version of Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep — September 7, 2010!!! Naturally, Sony will be offering a PSP bundle to commemorate the game’s release (or move old hardware depending on your perspective). Be sure to check out the video above and enjoy this lovely snippet of press release magic:

Players will explore iconic Disney worlds in a unique gaming experience that unfolds through the perspectives of three different main characters: Terra, Ventus and Aqua. Their journeys will take them through Sleeping Beauty’s Enchanted Dominion, the Dwarf Woodlands from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and Deep Space from Lilo & Stitch. Additionally, Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep includes four all-new multiplayer modes that allow players to enjoy the action with their friends.

I love the Kingdom Hearts franchise and can’t wait for this game! Button-mashing combat, Disney characters, Final Fantasy characters, and Nomura art — what’s not to love?!? Who else is psyched for this one?

This Week’s Videogame Releases

After several weeks of boring releases, mid-May delivers with authority! The Xbox 360 exclusive Alan Wake is out this week and numerous critics have compared it to Sony’s Heavy Rain, but with broader appeal. On the multiplatform kick there’s Red Dead Redemption, Split / Second, and Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands. Last but not least is Blue Dragon: Awakened Shadow for Nintendo DS.

With all the great games available this week, I want to know if you’re planning on picking anything up. Please let me know!

Coffee Talk #146: Where Will Lebron James Play Next Year?

The NBA playoffs are moving on without the Cleveland Cavaliers, but the most interesting NBA story of the year remains with the team — where will Lebron James play in the 2010-2011 season? After the Cavs were eliminated, James’ demeanor and answers seemed to indicate that he was leaning towards leaving his home franchise. Where will the best player in the NBA end up? I want to hear your thoughts on the matter!

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, your favorite vegetable, Google I/O, or the excellent Christian vs. Kofi Kingston match from Friday (Hulu it!), Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

The NBA playoffs are moving on without the Cleveland Cavaliers, but the most interesting NBA story of the year remains with the team — where will Lebron James play in the 2010-2011 season? After the Cavs were eliminated, James’ demeanor and answers seemed to indicate that he was leaning towards leaving his home franchise. Where will the best player in the NBA end up? I want to hear your thoughts on the matter!

Most sports writers favor the Chicago Bulls snagging Lebron, with the Miami Heat, New Jersey Nets, and New York Knicks having a shot too. Writers are drooling at the potential of a Bulls team led by James, with Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah as the supporting players. Miami could work its salary cap flexibility into signing Lebron and resigning Dwyane Wade — that would be a killer combo. The Knicks and the Nets are two teams that could sign Lebron and another quality player (most writers are pointing to Chrish Bosh and Carlos Boozer). Playing for the Nets would mean being pampered by an awesome Russian dictator, but winning a championship for the downtrodden Knicks would be a legendary achievement that would elevate James into the Michael/Magic category.

Personally, I’m not sure where he ends up. Part of me hopes he’s eventually paired with Carlos Boozer and wins a championship with him. That would be the most devastating scenario for Cleveland. Remember when Boozer got all shady with his Cavs’ contract negotiations, going back on his word and eventually signing with Utah? That makes him the perfect sidekick for Lebron!

Now it’s your turn. Make your choice in the poll and explain your answer in the comments section (please)!

[poll id=”47″]

The iPhone HD/4G Finder Was Ratted Out By His Roommate

Brian Hogan — the dude that “found” the iPhone HD/4G that made all the headlines in April — is probably guilty of a lot of things, but is certainly guilty of picking crappy roommates. According to Wired, Hogan was narced on by his roommate, Katherine Martinson. Here’s my favorite bit from the article:

“Sucks for him,” Hogan allegedly told Martinson about Powell. “He lost his phone. Shouldn’t have lost his phone.”

Martinson turned Hogan in, because Hogan had plugged the phone into her laptop in an attempt to get it working again after Apple remotely disabled it. She was convinced that Apple would be able to trace her Internet IP address as a result. “Therefore she contacted Apple in order to absolve herself of criminal responsibility,” according to the detective who wrote the affidavit.

Thinking back on the roommates I’ve had since my sophomore year in college, I can’t think of a single one that would have ratted me out. Let this be a lesson to you. Most of all, let this be a lesson to Brian Hogan. Pick your roommates wisely!

Source

Today’s Poll: Batman (The Dark Knight) vs Sato (Karate Kid II)

Karate Kid II is playing in the background right now and I’ve been greatly amused by Sato’s (Danny Kamekono) voice. When he wants to kill Mr. Miyagi, his voice is all gruff, coarse, and disgusting. As soon as he makes amends with his former best friend and foe, he sounds like a delightful Okinawan man.

I’m convinced that Sato inspired Christian Bale in Batman Begins and The Dark Knight. Bale’s Batman voice is gravelly and ridiculous. His Bruce Wayne voice is foppishly charming.

The contrast in their good guy and bad guy voices is pretty silly. My question for you today is who had the sillier voice-180?

[poll id=”46″]