PS3 Firmware 3.4 now available, +1 video editor
PS3 owners its time to update your firmware once again. The latest version is now 3.4 which brings support for PlayStation Plus.
The initial offering for PlayStation Plus subscribers (A$69.95 per year) includes the full game of WipEout HD, Destruction Derby which is a PS One title, as well as a bunch of discounted add-on content.
The LocoRoco Costume Kit for Little Big Planet is discounted for PSPlus subscribers down to A$2.48 from the standard $4.95 for example. There’s also other add-on content like the Steel & Titanium Pack for Killzone 2 that normally costs $9.95, but is free to PSPlus customers. These examples show there will be benefits for subscribers, but unfortunately its very hit and miss, especially if your game collection is exactly filling up your shelves.
New Features
Video Editor and Uploader
A new feature in Firmware 3,4 is a Video editor and Uploader. This application requires you to download before use. Once setup you can edit videos and share them with friends on Video Sharing sites.
The videos can be copied to the PS3 via the Networked video sources, in my case a home server, as well as a USB drive. Once your video is on the PS3 you can easily add it to the editor. Videos titles can be added but this is incredibly clumsy to use with no ability to skip through the video to insert the titles, rather relying on you playing real-time through the video. This is ridiculous even for version 1 of this feature. Once that painful process is complete, you can add music to your video as well as top and tail it with A-B cuts, also really badly implemented. Once your done tearing your hair out, select from Saving or Uploading your video. The video sharing sites available are YouTube or Facebook. Log into the service, hit upload and wait.. and wait.
Photo Gallery 2.0
The 110MB update to Photos now means you can upload photos to Facebook and Picasa from your PS3. Personally I think most people will import their photos to a computer and upload that way. I did try connecting my Canon 500D to the PS3 and importing photos from there, but the PlayStation was having none of that.
Update
After launching PS3 Home, there is a new update available. When trying to update, it crashed my PS3 and it rebooted, tried again and the same thing happened. I’d be really interested to know if this is happening to anyone else, if so, please leave a comment.
More @ PlayStation
Return to Rapture, Bioshock 2 available now
The much loved immersive horror story that is Bioshock is back for round 2. The story line jumps forward 10 years from the original, with all the action housed in the gorgeous underwater city of Rapture. After the success of the first Bioshock, this game is loved by many, will the sequel live up to the high expectations ?
There’s already reviews starting to surface, Kotaku posted theirs about half an hour ago. Go check it out, or head over to the official site – http://bioshockgame.com
Bioshock 2 is available now on Xbox 360, PS3 and PC (Games for Windows).
More @ Delimiter
GT5 demo, so many issue
This morning the demo of Grand Turismo 5 was unleashed on the PS3. The last time we seen anything from the GT franchise was GT5: Prologue, released March 27th 2008. Given we’re about 18 months on, the expectations for this were high. The demo / time trial contains 1 track, 1 car (Nissan 370Z) and two race modes – Untuned or tuned.
Naturally the cars look great, but that’s a requirement at this point. Unfortunately this demo disappoints on a number of fronts. Despite seeing videos online showing it off, there is still no DAMAGE. I’m at a lost to explain why this is. I remember watching a video with the game developers a couple years back who said until they could do damage properly, they wouldn’t include it in the game. However recent reports and videos show the GT damage engine is actually built. So where is it ? This is after all meant to be ‘The real driving simulator’.
Bizarrely there is no reverse gear. I drive manual in driving games, and usually when you change down 3,2,1, N, R is the norm. In the demo 1st gear is the lowest.
No skid marks – Grabbing the handbrake or sliding around the corner leaves no marks on the road. It might sound like a small issue, but when every other racing game does it (because it represents reality), it’s very noticeable.
Driving on a seemingly flat plane of grass results in your 370Z becoming a paint shaker. Rocking violently back and foward like it was off-road.
No replay speed controls. While you can choose from a couple of cameras, you can’t skip forward or reverse in the playback of the replay. Hell, you can’t even pause it.
I expect (hope) that all these issue are resolved by the time the final game rolls around.. some time in 2010, but it is clear the production schedule is way off track.
It shocks me how badly Grand Turismo dropped the ball on this franchise. They used to be the innovators and pillar of the racing game industry, unfortunately, my advice is to go get Forza 3.
Breaking: PS3 launching HD video service this month !!
Titled ‘PlayStation Network Video Delivery Service’, it seems PlayStation has a little something up their sleeves to rival Xbox’s new Zune Video Marketplace. The PS3 is set to launch it’s very own video streaming service this month ! Movies will be available in both standard and high definition and available as rentals or to purchase.
There’s no pricing information yet. Check out some snaps below.
Available to rent or purchase in HD or SD. 
Your favourite Hollywood and local movies 
Available on the PS3 and PSP
Introducing PlayStation Network Video Delivery Service 
Coming November 2009 to PlayStation Network 
The video is available at the top of the stairs in the Mall of PS3’s Home.
Update
It is still yet to be confirmed this will be available in Australia.
PS3 firmware 3.0 now available
The latest update to your PS3 is now available. What does it include ?
- New (sparkly) animated background.
- Various elements of the XMB has been redesigned for better viewing and easier use.
- A new menu item under the Playstation Network – [What’s New].
- New Profile overview (Top Right), displaying time, messages, etc.
- Audio can support multiple outputs simultaneously.
- Right stick now controls video playback.
- Press the PS button on the control to display remaining battery.
So should you rush an upgrade ? Probably not. But if you’ve got some spare time, it’s an update worth taking care of. Also there’s something to be said for that feeling of knowing your running the latest software.
More @ Kotaku or Playstation when they get round to updating their site.
PS3 Slim confirmed, drops size and price, now under A$500
Well the rumour mill and blurry leaked spy shots were correct. The PS3 Slim does indeed exist, confirmed by a Sony Press Release this morning.
Regular readers will remember my post ‘Why the PS3 Slim doesn’t matter’. In the post I was critical of the pricing of the PS3 still a $699 years after it’s launch.
While expectations were that a small price reduction may be on it’s way with the slim, it looks like Sony have heard the complaints (and their sales figures) have dropped the PS3 in price by $200.
The PS3 Slim will be available on September 3, 2009 and sell for A$499.95. The hard drive size has increased from 80GB to 120GB, and as the name suggests also features a much sleeker (no doubt lighter) design. There is also a drop in power consumption by two-thirds, helping to reduce fan noise.
Also announced is PS3 Firmware 3.0 which is due on September 1st. The updates main addition will be a ‘What’s New’ screen where users will be able to quickly browse the new items available in PlayStation Store as well as their recently played games directly on the XMB.
More @ PlayStation
PS3 VidZone hits one million downloads, 100 million plays
After launching only 2 months ago, VidZone on the PS3 is racking up some big numbers, indicating its been very well received by PS3 owners. VidZone video clips have been streamed (or played) over 100 million times. With impressive numbers like these, expect advertisers to flock to VidZone. Just don’t be tempted to increase the size of the advertisements Sony.
VidZone is great for parties, having your very own legal video jukebox connected to your TV is a great feature of the PS3. That said it certainly needs to be upgraded to HD for viewing on our large HDTVs. There is an impressive list of titles, which PlayStation says numbers around 12,000.
Might as well add an iPhone app to control the playlist to the feature requests while we’re going, although that seems unlikely.
Included in the press release were details of PS3 sales numbers in Australia. They’ve sold 530,000 PS3’s in Australia and around 55% of those are connected to the PlayStation Network.
More @ http://www.vidzoneps3.com/
