Awhile back, we mentioned that a Playstation emulator for the iPhone was currently in the works, with a public beta test planned soon. Well, that beta test has arrived, meaning you can get yourself a PSX emulator for your iPhone or iPod Touch right now. Be sure to pay attention to the instructions closely though when installing it, since it has to be done manually. But then you can start figuring out which games work best on Apple’s little gadget, like Final Fantasy Tactics (above). According to the creators though, the program should work for the majority of Playstation games out there, though they aren’t sure which ones specifically — they’re currently compiling a list of compatible games in their forum. It could be a little tricky playing games with a the on-screen controller, but if you want to try it out for yourself, you can head over here for instructions on getting the program.

The first user-created content for Unreal Tournament 3 has been released for the PS3 and we have the file exclusively ready for you to download now! The first user-created content is a map called “DM-Shrine” created by Thomas Browett aka Setheran. This amazing creator is a 23 year old graphic designer from Nottingham, England and has been an Unreal player since the beginning.

DM-Shrine is a small map designed for close-quarters combat for 2-6 players. Most UT3 maps tend to be designed for larger player counts, so this is an exciting addition to the game. We’re loving this map at Gaming Today and assume that any UT3 player will love it as well. We look forward to more exciting user-created content in the future.

Click on the download badge above to get this new map! We’d like to thank Epic Games for sending the file our way and Thomas Browett for creating something we can all enjoy.

Here is how to install UT3 mods on your PlayStation 3.

1. Unzip the file to the root directory of any memory card that is readable by your PlayStation 3. It is already in the proper directory structure but, just in case, the path and filename need to be: ps3\savedata\blus30086-modimport\userdata.jam

2. Boot up Unreal Tournament 3 on your PS3

3. Go to the “Community” menu

4. Choose “My Content”

5. Press the [SQUARE] button to “Import Mod”

6. Follow the directions on the screen to import it from your memory card.

Once imported you’ll be able to see the map in your list of Deathmatch maps. You’ll be able to host the map and join servers that are hosting the map. All UT3 mods install this same way. If this were a mutator it would show up in the mutator list. If it were a gametype it would show up in gametype lists, etc.

These days the hot new item to make emulators for is the iPhone, and now it looks like the Playstation is next on the list to get the treatment. ZodTTD has just put together the first build of the new program, “psx4all.” The screenshot above comes from this, but the final release will most likely look very different. So far, the creator says it is coming along nicely and should enter beta testing soon. He estimates around 75% of all games should be compatible with the program, which will also work on the iPod Touch.

I don’t know how well this one will work compared to other emulators though. Using the touch screen to work a virtual NES controller is one thing, but a virtual PSX controller with a D-pad and ten buttons? My hands are cramping up just thinking about it.

Via ZodTTD

Rebellion has completed the process of developing over 12 titles for the PSP, and is now starting to focus on new IPs and a sequel for Eidos by switching their focus in 2008 to the PS3 and Xbox 360. With high-profile titles such as Alien Vs Predator, Star War Battlefront, and The Simpsons Game for the PSP, Rebellion will now be working on a console version of Shellshock 2.

“Next year we’ll have our first next-gen project out – Shellshock 2 with Eidos,” confirmed CEO Jason Kingsley. “It’s very much a mature product, it’s a bit like Jacob’s Ladder or Apocalypse Now in movie terms. It’s troubling – deliberately so – it’s meant to be challenging the nature of war, the horror and why people do these horrific things to each other. It’ll be our first next-gen title, which is slightly nervewracking, but it’s looking absolutely lovely,” he said.

Not only is Shellshock 2 in development, Rebellion is hoping to continue work on its own original IP, which includes Rogue Trooper, Sniper Elite as well as its 2000AD comic book business.

“This year we’ve done a lot of other people’s licenses but next year we’ll have much more of a balance of licenses and some original product. The year after it’s very likely we’ll have a slew of original, home-brand IPs. For example, the Rogue Trooper rights for next-gen have come back to us so we’re looking at and planning what we can do with that brand, because it was successful and we’re very proud of it, so we’d like to do more with it.”

Sounds good to me. For the full interview, as well as some interesting information regarding cross media licensing for Rebellion’s horror and sci-fi book imprint Abaddon Books, check it out on GamesIndustry.biz.

This new trailer just came out from Sony advertising the PS3. Whatever your opinion on their system, Sony can still pull off some creative commercials. At a little over four minutes, this video shows pretty much every important detail of the PS3, all with a hand that can draw real objects out of thin air. Remember that kids’ book “The Purple Crayon?” If they ever turned it into a CG movie, it would probably look a lot like this.

Over at the official Playstation Blog, David Jaffe has a put up a post exploring his latest project, Twisted Metal Head-On: Extra Twisted Edition. This Twisted Metal installment was his studio’s first game, so they wanted to beef it up with new bonus content, levels, and updated graphics. From the looks of things, they succeeded quite well. This new version of the game should serve as a nice send off for the franchise’s run on the PS2. Now, where’s my next-gen Twisted Metal game with online multiplayer?

Via Playstation Blog

It’s been awhile since we got any new info for Killzone 2. But Sony’s got us covered with a whole new batch of screenshots for the upcoming PS3-exclusive. Most of the images appear to be in-game, and I have to say they look pretty impressive. Hopefully the gameplay turns out to be just as solid, because it’s already looking like it’s going to be one crazy and frenetic FPS. At any rate, I’m looking forward to seeing how it turns out when it gets released sometime next year.

Sony has announced they will be launching an on demand video service in Japan for the PS3 early next year. The service will at kick off with a few motor-racing videos and a BBC documentary on cars. The videos are intended to promote the upcoming PSN game, Gran Turismo 5 Prologue, and will cost about $1.85 each. The first part of the three-part documentary will be available for free through Dec. 6. The other two parts will go online along with the game on Dec. 13. Sony has also indicated they will be expanding the VOD service later next year.

Via Variety

PS3 owners hoping to download the people/monkey-flinging game, PAIN, may have to wait a little longer to get their taste of slingshot-induced insanity. The game has apparently disappeared from the Playstation Store due to a few reported glitches. For one thing, two characters don’t appear to be loading correctly and there seem to be some issues with the leaderboards. But don’t worry, a representative for Sony has said the game should be back online later today. Then you can get back to tossing cows, demented Santas, and whatever else your heart desires.

Via Destructoid

Reuters has an interesting article up today exploring the question, is Metal Gear Solid 4 destined to be the last of the great third-party exclusives? Video game production costs are rising these days, costing between $10 million and $50 million to make a quality title. Assistant producer for MGS4, Ryan Payton, says that the game will need to sell a million units on day one to recoup production costs. That’s quite a tough mark to hit, since only two other PS3 games have sold that many to date. Thus, many game developers are going multi-platform, a fact that Sony has been observing for some time now:

“We understand publishers are needing to recoup their investment,” said Peter Dille, senior vice president of marketing for Sony. “From our perspective, as long as the games aren’t going exclusive to other platforms, PS3 gamers are not actually losing anything.”

For my money, I doubt MGS4 will be the last great third-party exclusive, but they are becoming rarer these days. Still, as long as the console makers have enough money to lure developers to their camp, I’m sure we’ll continue to see the occasional major title remaining exclusive to one console or another.

Via Reuters