Here is something for PS3 owners to get really excited about: Sony will be launching PlayStation Home tomorrow, December 11in all gaming territories. Will it be worth the wait? We will see, and while you are there you can check out Red Bull’s own little chunk of the virtual world by visiting their interactive island. Why does that sound a bit like Second Life to me?

Anyway, the press release (which you can view in full after the jump) states that the free download of Home will launch directly from the PlayStation Home icon on the PlayStation Network column of XMB (XrossMediaBar) on PS3. For those who have not been keeping up with the progress of Home or who do not own a PS3, Home will allow open interaction among users, business partners and Sony, and will evolve with additional features including dedicated game spaces, special events and exclusive themed items to (and I quote) “further enrich the entertainment experience on the PS3 platform.” Horay!

It sure has been a long time coming hasn’t it? If the press release posted after the jump is a bit confusing for you, I seriously suggest you head on over to Game Politics where you can get a better breakdown of what to expect, and read a Beta tester’s thoughts on it.

Read the full article »

Gold farmers beware. Sony is undercutting your earnings by making Station Cash good on EverQuest and EverQuest II. Sony Online Entertainment’s new virtual currency can be used to buy premium in-game items on both EQ and EQ2 in North America and Europe as of today, December 10th.

You too can fork over your hard earned cash to buy virtual items like the Goblin Skull Fetish or a Handy Servant. Just fill your Virtual Wallet with Station Cash and head to the in-game Marketplace. Check out the Station Cash FAQ for specific questions and the Station Cash Overview for game specific details.

Thanks to EverQuest II – Station news for the heads up.

With the economy continuing it’s long spiral down the toilet this past year, we’ve seen a lot of developers being forced to cancel projects, shuffle their investments, or even close their doors entirely. Now though, it seems that trend has caught up to the big boys in the gaming industry. Sony has now announced that they will be laying off 8,000 workers in their electronics sector between now and March 2010, as well as another 8,000 temporary or contract workers. They also plan to shut down several manufacturing plants across the globe. The company hopes these measures will allow them to reduce costs by $1.1 billion a year during the economic crisis.

Analysts have pointed out that Sony’s financial problems may partly stem from the rising value of the yen compared to the lower value of the US dollar and the Euro. Since 80% of the company’s profits come from overseas, their income has been hit pretty hard. Some analysts are saying cost-cutting measures may not be enough though, such as Katsuhiko Mori, a fund manager at Daiwa SB Investments (and I’m guessing a “glass half-empty kind of guy):

“The number sounds big, but this staff reduction won’t be enough. Sony doesn’t have any core businesses that generate stable profits. After the workforce reduction, the next thing we want to see is what is going to be the business that will drive the company.”

The one thing us gamers will probably be keeping an eye on though is how Sony decides to move forward with the PS3 and their whole gaming division. Drastic measures like this could indicate the company isn’t prepared to move forward as quickly with some of their plans. On the other hand, the PS3 is probably one of their most profitable products out right now, so they could just as easily throw most of their support behind it. We shall have to see.

Sales figures for the PS3 in Japan have more than doubled from last week’s numbers. Media Create’s figures of 34,978 units sold puts Sony’s PS3 way ahead of Microsoft’s Xbox 360 with more than twice the number of units sold. Nintendo’s Wii is still the Juggernaut leading with just under 50,000 units flying off the shelves in the last week.

As far as portable consoles go, the new DSi is by far out stripping the PSP. As you might expect the more affordable portables are out selling all the consoles. Sadly the DS Lite is still outselling the Xbox 360 which is doing twice as well as the PS2 which sold 5628 units. Not bad for an eight year old console.

Red bull is the first to grab a chunk of PlayStation Home. The energy drink company has created a tropical island as its base of operations within the virtual world. Players will be able to enjoy community and an airplane racing game modeled after the Red Bull Air Race.

John Beasley, brand marketing manager for Red Bull UK, told Revolut!on Home is the perfect platform for businesses to reach out to new customers, bring people together and create good memories which they will associate with Red bull.

Gamers can expect Home to be open for public testing before the end of 2008. Sony will also be announcing more on brand partnerships for Home.

It looks like in-game advertising should be fun. The Home virtual world set up reminds me of Second Life. I just hope that Sony figures out a way to keep the game clean, if you know what I mean.

ChannelFlip has an opportunity for gamers to get a look at the PS3 hit LittleBigPlanet. Video reviewer Katharine Fletcher reveals the addicting side of this simple game that draws you in and hooks you before you know what’s happened. It may look like a children’s game but it allows you to create a world of your own.

The best platformer I’ve seen in a long while, combining great gameplay with astounding aesthetics. Of course you also have the incredibly deep and comprehensive level editor which allows you to get creative with the matter of this good-looking world, and is the core of a rather nice online community.

The game hooked me when the first costume I found was an Elizabethan courtier’s outfit. I was chuffed to bits, if a little disappointed as at that point I thought I was unlikely to want to swap it for anything else throughout the game, but then in the next level I got to make my sackboy into a zebra/lion cross!

If you own a PS3 you should really make sure you get this game.

You can find more of Katharine’s video reviews on ChannelFlip.

Geoff Johns, writer for DC Universe Online, told MTV Multiplayer in a recent interview that the game will not be launching any time soon, and to expect it by Christmas 2009 at the earliest; but 2010 looks more feasible. He also went on to talk about what it is like writing a storyline for the game considering the size of the MMO.

Pulled from the interview:

“Lots of gamers create their own characters. Everyone knows Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, but this game gets you more entrenched in the universe. You meet the Metal Men, or Doom Patrol, and everyone gets a chance to embody something different. I like the idea that your secret identity is really outside the computer. You’re a normal guy, and then when you log on to the game, you become the superhero.

Each player represents a parallel Earth in a way. I like that idea, when you’re entering it for the first time. There are some major storylines that you can play out and live. I’ve written the overall story and the path that gets you into the game and the areas of the universe and how to explore them, but not every line of dialogue. That’s a fulltime job, it’s too frigging big, too intense to write every line of an MMO. I’d probably jump off a building.”

Being that Sony is behind the game, you can expect it to be released for the PS3 as well as the PC when it goes live. Check back with us often for updates.

With Thanksgiving on Thursday, Sony’s decided to release this week’s PlayStation Store update today — and I don’t think anyone will be complaining. The release of Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix ($15) is the biggest news and anyone who has read 1UP’s review knows that it’s worth both the hype and the wait. Brain Challenge ($10) joins it as the week’s other downloadable game release and features 25 different brain-teasing minigames.

Should neither of those games interest you, a temporary sale on five older PSN games is in effect until December 4. The Last Guy, PixelJunk Eden, Echochrome (PS3), Novastrike, and Wolf of the Battlefield: Commando 3 are all available for just $5 while the sale lasts.

Little Big Planet once again gets new costumes, with the free costume celebrating the holiday — a turkey head costume. For $2 you can also get the Chimera costume for Resistance 2 fans.

Music gamers get another dose of DLC this week. Rock Band adds nine new tracks today — three from The Killers ($2 each or $5.49 as a bundle), three from Yngwie Malmsteen ($2 each of $5.49 as a bundle), two from Soundgarden, and one from Lamb of God ($2 each). Guitar Hero World Tour calls that with three different songs from The Killers at the same price scheme. And Karaoke Revolution Presents: American Idol Encore 2 adds six new songs to sing along to for $1.49 a piece.

The promised demo of Dead Space rounds out the end of the list of PS3 downloads, although you can of course find new wallpapers, themes, and videos, as well as five free tracks from Street Fighter HD.

PSP owners, who have likely become accustomed to getting zilch after the past month’s worth of lackluster updates, can find two new pieces of content today. A trailer for Everyday Shooter is the less significant of the two, as the other new download is a new downloadable game, PBR: Out of the Chute ($15), which is the first professional bull riding game on PSP I can think of. It might not be what you were hoping for, but it’s better than another empty week on the PSP front.

1UP is appealing to gamers to take a 5-10 minute break from their games to fill out the 2008 MMO Gaming Study survey. Those who make time for this no fail quiz by December 1st will be entered in a Sweepstakes to win a $300 American Express Cheque.

Attention FileFront Community!
We want to hear about your MMO gaming experience. Help shape how MMO games are built and be entered in an exclusive sweepstakes drawing to* win a $300 American Express Cheque. * Survey only takes about 5 to 10 minutes and your input would be greatly appreciated.

In addition, you can earn additional entries into the sweepstakes. The first 500 completed surveys will earn a double entry into the prize drawing.

*Directions for the survey:*
1. Step#1: _[CLICK HERE TO START SURVEY]
2. Fill out the entire survey to be eligible for the drawing. *Please fill out the entire survey by December 1st in order to be eligible.*
One entry per household only, additional entries will be void. The winner will be notified as soon as a winner is selected.

Thanks again for your continuing support.

For all of you PS3 fans who are envious of Xbox 360 Achievements, Sony has mandated that all PS3 titles must come with trophies starting in 2009. Videogamer.com was tipped of earlier this week and has received confirmation from Sony Computer Entertainment Europe that “Yes from Jan 09 all games must have trophies.”

I’m all for this. There is another level of satisfaction at ferreting out and winning the trophies for a game above and beyond the fun factor alone. The Xbox 360 and PS3 are slowly leveling the playing field and gamers are better off for it.