For the most part, this means that the titles with musical peripherals will work with the other’s software. A few specific examples include: Guitar Hero: World Tour’s guitars and drums will work with Rock Band 2 and Konami’s Rock Revolution software.

And yes, you guessed it, Rock Band 2’s guitar and drum set will work with Guitar Hero: World Tour and with Rock Revolution.

Conversely, Rock Revolution’s drum set will work with both Guitar Hero: World Tour and Rock Band 2.

In addition, Guitar Hero: World Tour and Rock Band 2 will both support the SingStar microphones.

We’re still working hard to ensure compatibility between the Guitar Hero and Rock Band titles currently on the market, and we hope to have an announcement on that shortly.

Of course each of these great games have their own specific cool features that may not be compatible with the other controllers, but this is our first big step in bringing a level of compatibility to music games that is sure to benefit PlayStation 3 consumers.

Keep an eye out here for more information in the future.

A big thanks to the folks at Sony for making the future of video games a reality now. We’ll announce a release date soon, but in the meantime, it’ll look something like this:

The download will be $29.99, but it’s not the disk version of the game we originally released back in January. This is an all-singing, all-dancing version complete with all the free packs so far. Here are some of the highlights. All new game modes, like Online Marked Man and Online Road Rage. Awesome new vehicles, including the Hunter Olympus and Nakamura Rai-jin Turbo. 70 all-new challenges featuring against-the-clock gameplay and leaderboards plus the in-game calendar and news page. Check the details on our website.

And this is just the start. We’re all about supporting Burnout players through online this year.

We want to change the way you think about DLC. We’re bringing you much more than just a couple of cars or a new track – this is the complete transformation of Burnout. That means you’ll see new game modes, new vehicles including motorcycles, day / night gameplay, weather, a huge new island play area, stacks of new challenges and maybe even aircraft!

The next pack from us will be the free Bikes Pack that we outlined in our last post. We promised a little more detail on what to expect. So here it is.

The two bikes available from Day 1 will be the FV1100 street bike and the Nakamura Firehawk V4 racing bike. With bikes, we’re introducing characters for the first time in a Burnout game. Both bikes feature designs for male and female riders. Just make your choice in the Junkyard.

The Nakamura FV1100 is a no nonsense street bike. The sweet 1100CC engine delivers high performance with easy handling making it the most versatile bike in Paradise. The exposed engine doesn’t leave much room for stylish paintwork, but when the engine looks this good, who needs bodywork?

The Nakamura Firehawk V4 is thoroughbred racing bike. It arrives on the streets of Paradise straight from the race track! The Kanji characters on the guys’ version mean “fire”, but we also have a version for our female rider, featuring an all-new Burnout cartoon character.

We’ve got more on bikes from their Japanese creator – Yuta Nakamura – in our next video podcast, and of course our website – www.criteriongames.com

Burnout Paradise. Always changing.

Hey my friends, this is John D from Capcom. I’m pleased and honored to announce that Bionic Commando: Rearmed will become available on the PlayStation Store today for only $9.99! Ben Judd, producer extraordinaire, is so excited for this release that his head’s going to explode. And speaking of exploding heads (if you don’t get this reference, buy the game), here’s his very informative blog he prepared for all you PS fans:

Hello again fine folks of the PlayStation Blog. All good things must come to an end and with Rearmed arriving on the scene we need to finish out our all-too-short time here.

So by now you’ve seen the reviews and know EXACTLY what you are getting into. I would say that Bionic Commando Rearmed isn’t just an homage to a classic 2D game with a very innovative swing mechanic, but it’s a piece of where games started. For those who have never played a 2D game, for those who miss the classic “gamey” type games of old, for those just looking for an experience that is certainly worth your 10 dollars - Bionic Commando is it.

Even if you don’t have much interest in these types of games, I would ask you to try out the demo and decide for yourself. However, even if it’s a day one purchase for you, I would ask you to spend a little time to visit the Bionic Commando Community Site and introduce yourself. There are lots of fans of the game to share your grueling challenge room stories with, people in your area that you may be able to hook up with for a night of wild multiplayer action, and just an all around great community.

Bionic Commando is a game that I want as many people to play as possible, so it was very important to get a PSN version out the door for all of the Sony fans out there. And although I think it’s important to deliver the same experience to everyone, that doesn’t mean you can’t add in a few little things here and there to keep it interesting. So, one of the surprises is that the PSN version of Bionic Commando has an exclusive challenge room that you can only play on the PSN version of the game. It may not be the biggest of surprises, but we have tried to give a little something to the PSN users that they can keep to themselves. And with how hard this challenge stage is, it will certainly make for bragging rights!

PS Update #1: Generalissimo Killt
The charismatic leader of the Imperials, the self-styled “Generalissimo” Killt, is a former member of the FSA armed forces who became corrupted by the teachings of the long-dead dictator known as The Leader. Seeking to spread fascism across first the FSA, and then the world, Killt stumbled upon the blueprints for the ultimate doomsday weapon, known as Project Albatross, which had been created by a 20th century superpower that never survived to see it realized.

With the Albatross plans in his grasp, Killt sprung a surprise attack on the FSA, but the size of his forces compared to the might of the FSA means the conflict will be short-lived - unless the Imperials can activate the Albatross in time…

Medals
The FSA awards Medals to only the bravest soldiers for outstanding service above and beyond the call of duty. There are 12 medals to collect in total, with something to suit every type of soldier, from brawlers to thinkers.

Medal #4: Faster Than a Speeding Bullet
The Bionic Arm is a true utility device – not only does it provide many forms of attack and a nifty method of transportation, but thanks to the wonders of 2 dimensions it can also be used to defend yourself. Time your firing of the Bionic Arm’s grappling hook just right and you can stop the Imperials’ mysteriously slow-traveling bullets in mid-air! All you have to do get this Medal is to repeat that not once, not twice, but 100 times.

Super Joe’s Machine Gun
This legendary firearm is a prototype weapon developed by Super Joe himself. With all-round damage capability, a tremendous fire rate and seemingly unlimited ammo, this gun is perfect for clearing your way through the Imperial hordes. Only two things prevent Super Joe’s Machine Gun from being the perfect weapon – it requires a short reload period after each intense burst of fire, and nobody knows where Joe placed the prototype before he was captured by the Imperials. If you want to get your hands on this weaponry, your only option is to locate Joe.

John D again. I usually play and finish the games I work on. Not this one. I want to wait until the game launches, so I can enjoy every minute. I’ve played parts of this game and it really is that good.

So I’ve been hinting for quite some time that we have something in store for you PS Street Fighter fans. Well, I’m happy to announce that Street Fighter Alpha is available today in the PSone Classics section of the store for $5.99! Some of you may be asking, “Come on John D, was that’s it?” Um, if I say more, the PR team will kick my a$$, so I’ll leave it as a definitely, maybe. (Eh, my girlfriend made me watch that. It wasn’t that bad, shhh!)

As always, I’ll try my best to answer your questions and comments. I’ll be back to give you updates on Age of Booty, our strategic pirate party game, and Mega Man 9, the next installation of the classic series in 8-bit glory!

Till next time! Go-GO-Go-Bionic!

The last trophy I ever “earned” was in ROTC. That was way back in High School (tragic I know). So, I have been really excited to see PlayStation 3 trophies make their way into games both old and new. It’s a new way to show your “ePump-a-tude”. PAIN already features internal trophies that make the modes challenging. That’s why it’s so awesome to get to make a whole new set of trophies. Here’s a list of some of the Trophies you will see next month. If the names seem sophomoric or juvenile to you, then you clearly haven’t been playing PAIN enough. That’s kinda “How We Do.”

To answer some questions before they come up…

Q: When will Trophies be available for PAIN?
A: When the Amusement Park ships on 9-4-2008 we will update PAIN to include trophies.

Q: When does Amusement Park ship?
A: Duh

Q: Are Trophies retroactive?
A: Most of the trophy requirements are new so we haven’t tracked your progress until now. Some work you will get credit for.

Q: Are you CRAZY?!
A: Yes… Yes I am.

So here they are…a “somewhat” complete list of PAIN Downtown Trophies. I say “somewhat” because PAIN keeps getting bigger and bigger. There are more trophies for the Amusement Park, but I’ll talk about them some other time.

PAIN Trophies

Gold Trophies

• Affliction Addiction: Get one billion points (Good Luck)

Silver Trophies

• Dude Abides: Use “The Dude” to score 50 Strikes in Bowling

Bronze Trophies

• 10 Mill Club: Get “PAIN in the Park” and “D-Town Destruction”
• Harder Dick’s Balls: Get all of Dick’s Balls in the Block Party Dumpster without resetting
  (Heh heh heh) I really need adult supervision.
• D-Town Destruction: Get 10,000,000 score in PAINdemonium and Aftermath
• Combo Mambo: Get 20x Combo in PAINdemonium, Aftermath, Block Party and Demolition
• Attention Spam: Get every type of PAIN (Groin, Head, Arm, Hand, Leg, Foot and Body) combo in PAINdemonium, Aftermath, Block Party and Demolition

PAIN Add-on Character Trophies

• Trill: Get PAINful Tosser Trophy with Scurv Dogg or Hung Lo
• Grenade-A-Maid: Get Exploded 500 times with any female launchable character.

That’s it for now… We’re going to be releasing a lot of information in the coming weeks about the Amusement Park. New modes, new launchable characters and the brand new PAINLabs. When you have some time mosey on over to www.painps3.com that’s where you’ll get more info on all the new content!

Peace!

Those of you who purchased Episode 1 of Qore (or subscribed) will join the fray Monday, September 8th. Those of you that pre-order the full game can get started a week earlier.

Pre-order from where? How long does the beta last? How many friends can you share your beta with? (Yes, I said “share!”) The good folks at SOCOM.com have the answers you’re looking for.

Qore Digital Magazine

Qore Episode 03: August, 2008 ($2.99 Issue, $24.99 Annual Subscription)
Episode 03 of Qore: Presented by the PLAYSTATION Network goes way deep into upcoming games featuring DC Super Heroes and includes an exclusive invitation to the Resistance 2 beta, some great artwork, mini-games and a few other surprises.
File size: 1.34 GB

- Qore Annual Subscribers will be invited to the beta under “Premiere” status and be given early access.
- Qore Ep 03 (single Episode) purchasers will be guaranteed access to the beta at a later date.
- All invitations will be made via email/voucher - the beta WILL NOT be accessed through the Qore download center.
- There will be multiple programs and methods to get access (or a chance to participate) in the Resistance 2 Online Beta. Details to follow.

Add-on Game Content

Snakeball Team Mode ($1.99)
Snakeball is a funky, futuristic sport set in a vibrant arena where you glide across the dazzling disco floor on your hoversnake, collecting balls and scoring goals. Chaotic action and energetic music bring together up to 8 players in entertaining online matches for a fun, unique gameplay experience.
Upgrade to Team Mode today to buddy up and play with friends online or off for team-based gameplay fun!

NASCAR 09 Montreal Track ($3.99)
The Gilles Villeneuve Circuit in Montreal is the home of the NAPA Auto Parts 200 in the Nationwide Series. This track is a long winding road course that will test the skills of even the most seasoned driver.
File size: 66.6 MB

NASCAR 09 Skin Pack 1 ($2.49)
A collection of Sprint and Nationwide alternate car skins from the 2008 NASCAR season featuring such paint schemes as Carl Edwards’ Aflac, Dale Earnhardt Jr’s National Guard Camouflage, Kyle Busch’s Snickers, and more.
File size: 12.5 MB

NASCAR 09 Skin Pack 2 ($2.49)
A collection of Sprint and Nationwide alternate car skins from the 2008 NASCAR season featuring such paint schemes as Jeff Gordon’s Pepsi, Kevin Harvick’s Platinum Pennzoil, Kyle Busch’s Pedigree, and more.
File size: 11.7 MB

NASCAR 09 Skin Pack 3 ($2.49)
A collection of Sprint and Nationwide alternate car skins from the 2008 NASCAR season featuring such paint schemes as Dale Earnhardt Jr’s Silver and Black National Guard, Tony Stewart’s Subway, Denny Hamlin’s FedEx Ground, and more.
File size: 12.5 MB

Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock Interscope Track Pack ($6.25)
“Carcinogen Crush” by AFI, “Tina” by Flyleaf, “Putting Holes in Happiness” by Marilyn Manson, remixed by Nick Zinner For all song credits please visit www.redoctane.com.
File size: 32.6 MB

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

• “Toxicity” - System of a Down ($1.99)
• “B.Y.O.B” - System of a Down ($1.99)
• “Rescue Me” - Buckcherry ($0.99)
• “Face Down in the Dirt”- Mötley Crüe ($0.99)
• “Life is Beautiful” – Sixx:A.M. ($0.99)
• Crüe Fest Pack 2 ($2.99) - includes “Rescue Me” - Buckcherry, “Face Down in the Dirt” - Mötley Crüe, and “Life is Beautiful” – Sixx:A.M.

File sizes: 26.2 MB - 32.2 MB (singles), 76.4 MB (track pack)

Game Videos (free)

PlayStation Home E3 Video
Take a look at PlayStation Home, the 3D social gaming community that allows PLAYSTATION 3 users to meet, chat, plan, and launch into games.
File size: x MB (SD), x MB (HD), x MB (1080)

The Last Guy Behind The Scenes
You are the chosen one, and it is up to you, a zombie from the Himalayas, the last survivors on earth by leading them to safety through zombie-infested streets in this frantic, addictive game. Go behind the scenes with this developer interview for an insight into the creative and quirky personalities behind the game, as well as a look at their unique studio in the Himalayas, complete with a company goat.
File size: 587 MB (HD)

Star Wars: The Force Unleashed
The saga continues in the newest HD trailer for Star Wars: The Force Unleashed which casts players as Darth Vader’s “Secret Apprentice” and unveils new revelations about the Star Wars galaxy.
File size: 253 MB (HD)

Tomb Raider: Underworld Trailer
Face a new level of challenge and choice in this epic tomb raiding adventure. As fearless adventurer Lara Croft explore exotic locations around the world, each designed with an incredible attention to detail delivering a breathtaking high-definition visual fidelity that creates a truly believable and absorbing world
File size: 152 MB (HD)

Madden NFL 09 E3 Trailer
The Madden NFL 09 E3 Trailer is cut to Rev Theory’s “Hey Yeah”, and touches on just a few of the over 85 new features and enhancements in Madden NFL 09.
File size: 94 MB (HD)

Madden NFL 20th Anniversary Video
Find out all the details around the Madden NFL 20th Anniversary Collector’s Edition.
File size: 102 MB (HD)

Madden NFL 09 Adaptability Trailer
Madden NFL 09 is the first sports game that adapts to you! Learn how John Madden tests your skill level. The game teaches you to become a better player if you are new to the game, or if you are a seasoned player the game will add challenges. It adapts to you!
File size: 70 MB (HD)

TNA iMPACT! Head to Head Trailer
“The Phenomenal” AJ Styles goes head to head against The “Samoan Submission Machine” Samoa Joe in Midway’s TNA iMPACT! Wrestling game coming September.
File size: 166 MB (HD)

Dead Space Dev Diary #5: Creating Horror
The Dev team talks about the techniques they use to make Dead Space one of the scariest games of the year.
File size: 309 MB (HD)

Dead Space Animated Comic Issue #4 PG-13
The fourth issue of the six part Dead Space Animated Comic Series created by Ben Templesmith and Antony Johnston.
File size: 270 MB (HD)

AST Dew Tour - Greg Lutzka’s Road to Finals
Skate Park athlete Greg Lutzka takes you behind the scenes at the Skate Park prelims on the second stop of the AST Dew Tour, the Right Guard Open.
File size: 86 MB (HD), 142 MB (1080)

AST Dew Tour - One on one with James Foster
BMX Dirt competitor James Foster talks to us about his 2007 success, what its takes to have a BMX career and the key to winning at BMX Dirt on the AST Dew Tour.
File size: 97 MB (HD), 160 MB (1080)

AST Dew Tour - PlayStation Pro Moments - 2
A Compilation of the best tricks that were thrown down during the finals of BMX Vert, BMX Dirt, Skateboard Park, Skateboard Vert and BMX Park at the AST Dew Tour’s Right Guard Open in Cleveland, OH.
File size: 40 MB (HD), 67 MB (1080)

AST Dew Tour - Spinner looks to ‘08
BMX Park rider Mike Spinner talks about his plans for 2008 and his plans to continue to progress the sport.
File size: 119 MB (HD), 196 MB (1080)

PS3 Themes (free)

PlayStation Home Theme
Customize your PS3 with a new PlayStation Home theme. This theme allows you to change up the look of your background and XMB icons. Be sure to download this new theme for a chance to participate in the PlayStation Home Beta.
File size: 4.02 MB

PS3 Wallpaper (free)

Disgaea 3: Absence of Justice Wallpaper (x3)
Customize the background of your PS3 system with this new Disgaea 3: Absence of Justice Wallpaper.
File sizes: 251 KB - 1.59 MB

Tomb Raider: Underworld Mediterranean Shark Attack Wallpaper
Customize the background of your PS3 system with this new Tomb Raider: Underworld Mediterranean Shark Attack Wallpaper.
File sizes: 244 KB - 1.05 MB

PLAYSTATION Store for PC

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
* Talkman Travel: Rome, Paris, Tokyo ($5.99 ea)

Game Videos (free)
* Hot Shots Golf Open Tee 2 Videos (x5)
* Home Video

Hope you enjoy!

The EOJ World Championships, the first official global THE EYE OF JUDGMENT PLAYSTATION Network tournament, will start on Thursday, August 14th, 12:00AM PST and run for one week until Thursday, August 21st, 12:00AM PST.

This time, there are no special rules. You can play with your favorite deck and take on the world!

You will still be able to play as many “Online Tournament” ranked matches as you like until the tournament closes.

The prize for the overall winner is something really special: the winning player will receive their own in-game card in ‘Deck Builder’ mode complete with their name, picture (if the player wishes) and comments. This will be viewable by all EOJ players for the ultimate champion’s prize!

The winner will also earn the right to play an online duel against the creator of THE EYE OF JUDGMENT, Watanabe-san from Japan Studio. (This duel may be made viewable by the public).

If you finish in the Top 10 players you can earn unique ranking titles for eternal glory!

Taking part is easy, just follow these simple steps:

• Log in to PLAYSTATION Network and go online with THE EYE OF JUDGMENT in the usual way from Thursday, August 14th, 12:00AM PST.
• Select ‘Online Tournament’ from the Online mode select screen.
• Players will be matched up with another player to battle just the same as the regular way of Ranked Match.
• That’s it – You’re entered into the tournament!

Any points you earn from playing “Online Tournament” ranked matches before the close of the tournament will contribute to your position on the tournament leaderboard. The tournament scoring system is exactly the same as that used for regular online ranked matches. Please note that tournament matches do not contribute towards your regular ranking.

Good luck to you all and please remember, play fair, have fun and may the best player win!

Talkman Travel serves as an interactive pocket tour guide for tourists traveling to Tokyo, Paris or Rome. This will really help you “break the ice” with the locals in each of the destinations, with accurate linguistic support in Japanese, French or Italian.

So how does Talkman Travel help you in these world cities?

How do you say???

For those of you who didn’t take your foreign language classes seriously, Talkman Travel comes to your rescue.

For each of the titles, Talkman Travel provides you a list of roughly 150 pre-selected phrases tourists are likely to use on their vacations. Sentences such as “Where is the tourist information desk?” or “Where is this restaurant?” or even “Where is the restroom?” All sentences can be translated into the respective languages at the push of a button. Push the button again, and the PSP will provide the audio for you as well. Suggested sentences are provided for likely situations involving dining, sightseeing and shopping.

Pictures

Along with the linguistic support, Talkman Travel contains pre-selected photo archives targeted at the likely interests for tourists traveling to Tokyo, Paris or Rome. Each of the photos are also accompanied by detailed descriptions of their significance.

Pick-up lines

Okay, maybe this sounds a little bit cheesy, but you never know.

We have kept the phrases to a reasonable level (to keep you out of trouble) with suggested phrases such as “May I sit next to you?” or “Let’s take a picture together!” Use of these phrases along with the mini-games included in Talkman Travel, could possibly bring you closer to that cute girl or guy you just saw at the cafe in Paris, the gardens in Tokyo, or near that pizzeria in Rome.

Mini-games

There are a total of three mini-games that can be played with yourself and with a local you just met. Use them in conjunction with the pick-up lines explained above!

In a nutshell, Talkman Travel is an interactive pocket tour guide and an awesome communication tool for the jet set traveller. This is an experience you just can’t get from a standard tourist guide book!

Talkman Travel comes to the PSN this Thursday, August 7th at $5.99 per city.

Later today, the PLAYSTATION Store will be updated with a PlayStation Home theme. By downloading the theme, users are submitting an application to join the PlayStation Home Beta test community. We will be using a variety of criteria including activity on the PLAYSTATION Network to determine eligibility for the Beta community. Existing beta testers have automatically qualified to be part of the expanded beta.

We’re really excited about this milestone and want our most loyal fans to be a part of the evolution of PlayStation Home.

In Europe, SCEE is also beginning their expanded closed beta, directly targeting consumers who have been most active on PLAYSTATION Network and PLAYSTATION Store. SCEE will be in email contact with their PSN audience very shortly.

Let us know what you think.

As BioShock for the PLAYSTATION 3 continues its ascent from the depths we have assembled new information regarding the trophies that will be available to players. Specifically, we have new intelligence on the trophies which are unique to BioShock for the PLAYSTATION 3.

“A Man Chooses” is the first of these golden trophies and is reserved for those with the courage to complete Survivor difficulty. Its name is meant, in the words of Andrew Ryan, father of Rapture, to remind you that a man chooses because in Survivor mode every choice could mean the difference between life and death.

The final trial for any committed BioShock player is “I Chose The Impossible”. This trophy is named appropriately as attaining it will make even the most self-assured gamesman into a shaking leaf. To make this your own, you must complete BioShock on Survivor difficulty with the Vita-Chambers turned off.

Each of these shining treasures can only be found on the PLAYSTATION 3. So tense up your trigger finger and polish your diving helmet, you will need them at the ready.

One patent outlines a strange type of screen that contains “tactile pixels”,
capable of being both stimulated by touch and providing physical feedback to
the player. The highly-technical patent seems to describe a touch screen
that touches you back!

“The device may comprise a case having one or more major surfaces; a touch
screen disposed on one of the major surfaces, the touch screen; a processor
operably coupled to the touch screen; and one or more tactile pixels
disposed proximate the touch screen. Each of the tactile pixels includes an
actuatable portion coupled to an actuator and a sensor. The actuator and
sensor are coupled to the processor. The actuator is configured to actuate
in response to instructions from the processor and the sensor is configured
to generate signals as inputs to one or more programs executed by the
processor when pressure is applied to the actuatable portion.”
The patent states that this technology could be used in a “game device,
phone, portable media player, email device, web browser device or navigation
device”. Since the current PSP is all of these things, it makes sense that
this patent could provide clues about what the successor to the PSP will
look and feel like.

The second patent of interest is for a handheld device that “recognizes
gestures”. This could describe a component of a device that will include the
tactile touch function covered in the first patent.

Both patents seem to point toward a multi-featured handheld device that
takes input via touch screen, feeds tactile information back to the user,
and recognizes motion as a form of input. In other words, this is what you
would get if you crossed the three most popular electronic consume products:
the Wii, the DS and the iPhone.

By Kris Erickson

Super Stardust HD, a PLAYSTATION Network-exclusive released in June 2007, will be the first game to leverage Trophies and will offer a variety of trophies. Trophy support in Super Stardust HD will be available for first-time users who purchase the game soon after firmware v2.40 is released, while those who previously purchased and downloaded the title will be prompted to install a free patch.

PS3 users can expect to see additional games bringing Trophies support to their feature sets through 2008 and beyond, providing even greater opportunity to showcase their accomplishments and compete with friends. The following first-party games are also slated to offer Trophy support:

• BUZZ! Quiz TV
• LittleBigPlanet
• MotorStorm Pacific Rift
• NBA 09 - PS3
• PAIN
• PixelJunk Eden
• Resistance 2
• SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Confrontation
• Warhawk

To further emphasize the community aspects of this system software update, the amount of people you can add to your PSN friends list has been doubled, to 100.

The update also adds a mini-control panel that you can use while playing music and an internet search feature powered by Google that allows you to initiate search directly from the XMB (similar to what we added to the PSP recently). In addition, when you’re using the XMB or accessing the XMB from in-game, the current time and date will be displayed in the upper right hand corner. There are a few more minor enhancements included in this update, once the update is live you’ll be able to read about them here.

Firmware v2.40 will become available for download on July 2nd. We hope you enjoy these much-requested features, and look forward to your feedback.

Shortly, we’ll be posting another video here on the PlayStation.Blog that shows the Trophy feature in action for the first time. At that time we’ll provide even more details on how firmware v2.40 will enhance your PLAYSTATION 3 experience.

• a computer that runs Windows
• a digital image editing program
• the “PSP Theme Toolbox”
• a little bit of time

First thing you need to do is download the “PSP Theme Toolbox” zipped file. You can unzip it anywhere, but if you’ll be doing a lot of Themes or want to use the pre-made default while going through this walkthrough, you’ll have to extract it directly to your C:\ drive (C:\PSP Theme Toolbox\).

_____________________

In the “Toolbox”, you’ll find:

• Icons and Wallpaper templates
• “PSP Custom Theme Converter” program
• Default Project saved as a “.txt” file
• “How To” Basics and Advanced Walkthroughs
• Layered PhotoShop template of icons
• Unlike for PS3 Themes, there is an actual program so you won’t have to be worrying about XML code or funky compiler programs.
• Open the program (PSPCustomThemeConverter.exe) and we’ll go though it, tab-by-tab.

NOTE: If you’d like to see a working example of each item, go to “File\Open” and select “PSPTheme_default.txt”. This will only work if you’ve extracted the Toolbox to your C:\ drive because of the way the project file links to the associated images.

The first tab is the “Information” Tab.

• Put the name of your Theme or its description in the “Title” space.
• The “Product ID” is where you assign what the Theme is associated to, e.g. Game, Anime, Movie, etc.
• The “Version” is helpful if you want to do keep track of multiple versions of a Theme, but isn’t necessary either.

The second tab is the “Wallpaper” Tab.

• Wallpapers have to be:
  * 480 x 272 pixels
  * 24-bit Color Image
  * BMP files
• Click on the “Folder” button to browse and select any image that matches the required size and format.
• If the image you select is not useable, an “Error” window will pop-up letting you know what needs to change.
• You can click the “Preview” button to preview your wallpaper once you’ve selected one that is workable.

Next tab is called “Category Icons”, and is for the main XMB Icons.

• These icons need to be:
  * either 64 x 48 pixels or 48 x 48 pixels
  * 8-bit Index (32-bit Color)
  * TGA, PNG, or GIM image files

The “First Level Icons” Tab is for the icons that appear within a category on the XMB.

• These are the sub-icons that appear below the category XMB icons.
• Double click on the icon line or click the “Edit” button.
• You’ll see a request for two files: the “Icon Body” and the “Icon Focus”. The “Body” is the actual icon.
• The “Focus” is the glow that pulses around the icon when you highlight that icon. If you’d like to keep things simple, or not worry about having a pulsing glow around your selection, you can either use the default focus image or leave that space blank.
• The icons need to be:
  * 32 x 32 pixels (Body)
  * 48 x 48 pixels (Focus)
  * 8-bit Index (32-bit Color)
  * TGA, PNG, or GIM image files

The “Second Level Icons” tab is for the “Settings” Icon. That’s right; the “Settings” wrench gets its very own tab!

• Just like the First Level Icons, these need to be:
  * 32 x 32 pixels
  * 8-bit Index (32-bit Color)
  * TGA, PNG, or GIM image files
• Its focus needs to be:
  * 48 x 48 pixels
  * 8-bit Index (32-bit Color)
  * TGA, PNG, or GIM image files

The last tab is “Others”.

• The “Preview Icon” is the tiny thumbnail that appears when you choose your Theme, and needs to be:
  * 16 x 16 pixels
  * 8-bit Index (32-bit Color)
  * TGA, PNG, or GIM image files
• The “Preview Image” is the preview for the Theme, and needs to be:
  * 300 x 170
  * 24-bit Color Image
  * BMP
• The final option is “Theme Color”. Here, you can assign a particular highlight colour to your Theme, or have it change monthly automatically.

_____________________

Once you’ve assigned all of the Icons to your images, go to “FILE” and select “EXPORT”.

• Name your file, click “SAVE”, and the program will create your PSP Theme File (.PTF).
• With your PSP connected to your computer in USB Mode or with a compatible Memory Stick connected, place the file into the proper “Theme” folder ( \PSP\THEME ).
• Disconnect your PSP or insert the Memory Stick in to your PSP.
• Under “Settings”, select “Theme Settings”, and then “Theme”.

Your new Theme should appear in the selectable list.

Be sure to keep an eye out on 1up.com between now and E3 for teasers, interviews, gameplay videos and other KZ2 content. We will have a new screenshot teaser up on 1up soon, just to whet your appetite a little. Then as we get closer to E3, you’ll start to see more Killzone 2 goodness popping up, so keep your eyes peeled.

The homebrew application previously called PSP Wardrobe, XMBeditor is now moving along into a fresh direction. Homebrew coder Mr_Shizzy has pimped up his little “pimp my XMB” tool: while it was an XMB theme and mod manager before, it now allows you to go even deeper and manipulate a lot more XMB configurations.

XMBeditor is now actually in its second version. One of the biggest changes is that it’s now fully compatible with the PSP Phat. Other than that, here are the other details listed in the changelog:

• Made process of flashing theme 2 - 3X faster
• Added color selector for XMB date/time
• Added color selector for XMB busy signal
• Added color selector for XMB Battery
• other small bugs fixed

Be sure to take a fine look at the readme as it contains a lot more details about all its features and a full section on how to install the application.

Download: XMBeditor v.2

In an interview with MCV, Backhouse said that “the key software titles we have coming out this year for PSP include Echochrome, Buzz The Master Quiz, Secret Agent Clank, and LocoRoco 2.” Could this be the confirmation of the rumors that we have been hearing so much about?

We’d have to say, no. She didn’t mention what she meant by “year”. This could mean either the current year (2008) or Sony’s fiscal year which extends all the way until early 2009. We’ll be keeping an eye out for more news on this so remember to keep checking back here for any updates on this.

Animefreak345’s homebrewed coverflow application for the PSP, PS-Coverflow (previous version here), is finally updated and beefed up with quite a lot of new features and fixes. Users can now expect some new visual elements such as a visualizer and progress bar. The option to customize the colors in the PS-Coverflow user interface is now finally available as well.

An image viewer is also added, letting PSP users preview picture files using PS-Coverflow. Check out the rest of the updates from the following changelog:

• GRAPHICS
  • changed a bit
  • cleaned up side menu some
  • Visualizer
  • progress bar
  • customizable config file that can customize just about everything that has a color to it.
  • or use internal theme/config generator under settings
  • battery percent instead of bar
  • several psp style system messages have been added. makes it look cool.
• CODE
  • recoded it all and compacted it =]
  • faster loading speeds for everything!!!
  • almost 3000 total lines of code
• MUSIC
  • CoverFLow slightly improved
  • music browser has directory support
  • SMART next/previous song switcher (music browser)
  • supports /MUSIC folder and /PSP/MUSIC folders
  • ID3 support under music browser now, appears only while mp3 playing.
  • timer and song time
  • visualizer
  • progress bar
  • if you press select under the coverflow media player switches music info modes (its pretty cool)
  • shuffle mode can be activated by square and play the next song with r (not in the coverflow player mode)
• PHOTO
  • its finally implemented.
  • if image too large it will tell you ( so use resize to 480*272 mode, press triangle.)
  • if image displayed press select to exit the image
• FILE BROWSER
  • with music and photo support.
  • launch lua files
  • will add launching of pbp,iso,psx soon.
• USB
  • added that mode
  • mem stick, UMD, flash1-3
  • if no umd switches to memstick
  • flash support disable. (dont want you bricking ;p) will enable soon for you.
• SETTINGS
  • system info
  • displays your psp information
  • theme/config generator, customize and make themes.
• and a LOT more i cant remember or forgot to list.

As for installation, better follow these instructions provided by animefreak345, which goes, “Copy all contents of the .rar archive into the ms_root. the game has to be in ms0:/PSP/GAME or else it will not work properly.”

Download: PS-CoverFLow 3.0

How has Siren: Blood Curse evolved from the PlayStation 2 title? (Is it scarier? More involving storyline?)

With Siren Blood Curse, the leap in visual presentation has helped to convey a tangible sense of fear and makes the player feel as if they’ve truly been pulled into a nightmarish world. The new split-screen Sight Jacking system also helps give the game a more active pace than the previous titles. When it comes to story, Siren Blood Curse manages to preserve the level of depth and mystery from the previous SIREN games while presenting it in a manner that makes it easier to follow.

How has the story of Hanuda developed? Does Siren: Blood Curse bring a conclusion to the storyline?

Siren Blood Curse is not a sequel or a standard remake of the other games. Suppose the events of the original SIREN were real, in that case Siren Blood Curse would be like a “movie based on a true story”, adapting and dramatizing the original. While some of the key events bear resemblance to those in the first SIREN, the characters and the background are completely different.

How has the introduction of western characters changed the SIREN storyline?

The addition of Western characters who have stumbled into horrific events taking place in a world that is foreign to them helps enhance the feelings of isolation and terror. I think they will also present Western players with characters that are easier to relate to.
This mix of Western and Japanese characters with the inevitable communication troubles that ensue adds to the frustration the various characters feel toward their situation.

What opportunities became available to you through releasing the game in episodic content on the PSN?

We were able to present the game more like a dramatic TV show in a way that hasn’t been done before.
I also hope the episodic structure will give players the sense that they are participating in an event.

How does your approach to storytelling change when working with a game released in a series of episodes?

The approach we took in the previous games was to present events much like a documentary presenting a piece of a bigger truth. The new episodic nature required more structure, and also helped to step up the overall quality of the final product.

Why do you approach the narrative of SIREN titles with such an unorthodox and fractured approach to timeline and storytelling?

The unorthodox approach to storytelling was motivated by trying to present a story in a way that only games could do. Replaying the same event while seeing it unfold in different ways is something I feel is an inherent characteristic of video games, so I wanted to take that unique element and weave it directly into the story itself.

How has the ‘sight-jack’ feature evolved and how does this aspect contribute to the Siren: Blood Curse experience?

In Siren Blood Curse, Sight Jacking has been redesigned to be split-screen, allowing the player to see through multiple points of view at the same time. Now, players are free to move while Sight Jacking, giving the game a much more active tempo than it had before.

What does Siren: Blood Curse bring to the survival horror genre?

A lot of survival horror titles in recent years have been focusing mostly on just the action element, while Siren Blood Curse puts a lot of its effort into scaring the player and presenting a rich story. I think Siren Blood Curse can serve as an example of the diverse range that games are capable of expressing.

What are the key ingredients to a good horror title and how does Siren: Blood Curse deliver these?

A good horror title has to make the player feel like they are directly involved in the terrifying events taking place, and that requires realism. I think you’ll understand just how much realism can enhance horror when you see Siren Blood Curse.

Did you consult fans on what they wanted to see in the next installment of the SIREN series?

One opinion we noticed from a lot of the fans was that the original game was way too difficult. A lot of them never completed the game because of that, and we listened. If you want to see just how we’ve taken those opinions into account, first play Siren Blood Curse and then go back and try the original.

What about Siren: Blood Curse are you most proud of?

I’m most proud of the way Siren Blood Curse embodies a unique, Japanese sense of horror.

What advantage does Siren: Blood Curse have in being the first survival horror title on PS3? Or is it a curse being first next-gen survival horror title?

It’s only recently that I’ve realized that Siren Blood Curse would end up being the first, so I haven’t really had a chance to worry about any disadvantages. Of course, when it comes to advantages, I think being the first will only help the game to have that much greater of an impact when people experience its next-gen visuals.

What does Siren Blood Curse offer that titles such as Resident Evil and Silent Hill do not?

Two things Siren Blood Curse offers that those titles don’t is a sense of horror made possible in a Japanese setting, and the human drama created from the interactions of the different characters.

With the increased power of the next-gen devices, how has survival horror grown to embrace this? Are horror games now the ultimate in immersive horror experiences?

The potential with lighting and textures are areas that have greatly improved with the next-gen. These are two critically important factors for horror games, so I think next-gen will have a major, positive impact on the genre. I don’t think realism always has to be about making things more elaborate, but can also be about making even simple things have a greater impact.

Has the interest in J-Horror in the western world opened a new market for horror games based on this world?

Yes, definitely. The interest in J-Horror spurred on by the success of Hollywood remakes like “The Ring” and “The Grudge” has helped lower the barrier in reaching the West with horror games like SIREN that are based on a Japanese setting.

What are your favorite moments in the history of survival horror gaming?

It’s not a survival horror moment, but the beginning of the game “Another World” made me feel like I had really been swallowed and dropped alone on a vast, new world. That scene had a deep impact on me, and it was at that moment that I first began to consider the potential games had for stirring an emotion like fear in the player.

What are you favorite moments in horror movie history and did you use these as inspiration?

There are a lot of horror movie moments that have influenced me, but two scenes that come to mind are when the main character’s world comes apart in the original “The Wicker Man”, and when the killers come together as a “normal family” in the original “Texas Chainsaw Massacre”.

And finally… What scares you?

I’m actually afraid of a lot of things, but if I had to pick one of them, it would be the fear that there is always a chance that at any moment everything that I’ve come to accept as my normal, everyday life could suddenly disappear.