Yesterday, Jonathan let you all in on the weird and not very secretly coded message plastered across a teaser site for Metal Gear Solid. The last code is mostly likely the power button for a PC–at least that is what the symbol on my power button looks like, but it also looks like the one for the Xbox 360. Then again, if you looks at the codes closely, you would also see other gaming symbols that looks very familiar to you. Therefore, one might think that the “i” is for the Wii, and the “!” is for the Xbox 360 and the last one is for the PC.  Yet, the Wii most likely would not be able to handle an exact port of Metal Gear Solid 4, therefore I personally think this had to do with the Xbox 360 and PC only.

So, if my deductive reasoning (and upon further investigation-most of the internet) is correct, MGS4 will no longer be a PS3 exclusive in the near future. That, or all the old Metal Gear Solid games will be heading to other formats–but it is best not to think on this too hard and instead focus on the obvious.

All of the speculation from yesterday is getting even more heightened today, with people chatting on all sorts of forums, but if you look back on the actual beginnings of these rumors, the teaser site just makes perfect sense.

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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.

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.

Sony has put out a preview of DLC to come for Burnout Paradise. The Carson Extreme Hot Rod will be one of 2 special cars coming out in the Burnout Paradise Boost Specials Pack in 2009.”>Burnout Paradise next year. Here’s the teasers from thePlayStation Blog:

We’ll be back in the New Year with all the details on this powerhouse racer, but for now we’re keeping it under wraps.

We could tell you that it’s the fastest car in Paradise City – a stripped down, ultra low, overpowered straight line monster.

We could talk about its roots in American Rat Rod culture and it’s wildly exaggerated Hot Rod features, based on a ‘20s Roadster.

We could explain that we’ve rewired Burnout’s vehicle dynamics system, so it handles more intuitively and drifts more realistically than any other car.

We could reveal that it’s the first of a pack of 2 cars designed to re-imagine Burnout Boost. Which explains the blue exhaust flames.

We could do all that, but we don’t want to give away too much. For now, all you really need to know is that this car will give you the ride of your life and in early 2009 you will NEED to own it.

The Carson Extreme Hot Rod will be one of 2 special cars coming out in the Burnout Paradise Boost Specials Pack in 2009.

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.

Celebrate, homebrew fans — while Sony had managed to evade the attempts of hackers to crack into the latest iteration of the PlayStation Portable, the PSP 3000, it’s finally been accomplished. Sure, we knew it was inevitably going to be cracked since it was released in October, but with the talent of hackers these days, I’m surprised when things aren’t hacked as soon as they’re released.

Of course, this comes at a price — $30, to be exact. A new battery from the England-based maker of Action Replay, Datel, enables users to put the PSP in service mode, reports Maxconsole.net. From there, you’ll be able to downgrade the system’s firmware, thereby allowing you to access all of those wonderful (albeit typically illegal) tools, apps, and emulators you’ve no doubt heard of. The battery features a convenient switch to allow you to jump between service mode and normal mode and functions with both the PSP 3000 and 2000.

The Datel ‘Lite Blue Tool’ battery is being released on November 28 for $30 in North America and $20 in the UK. A technical explanation (containing fancy words such as “de-capsulated”) of how the feat was accomplished can be found at Maxconsole. Those interested in picking up the new battery can find it’s now available for preorder from Datel’s online store.

Your move, Sony.

Undoubtedly the highlight of this week’s PlayStation Store update (which, once again, ignores PSP owners altogether) is the release of the long-awaited BioShock challenge rooms, as promised earlier. For $10, you’ll be able to work your way through three separate scenarios: Rescuing a Little Sister from a carnival, killing a Big Daddy without any weapons, and tackling a series of rooms containing wave after wave of enemies.

Also new this week is downloadable content for Dead Space (various skin packs and weapon packs, ranging from $1-$4) and new costumes for Little Big Planet (a free Sack in the Box costume and a $3 LocoRoco pack which has five different costumes). Rock Band and Guitar Hero World Tour square off, with GH adding three tracks from The Raconteurs ($2 each of $5.49 for a bundle of all three), while Rock Band 1 and Rock Band 2 get three songs from Mission of Burma and three from the Dead Kennedys (both artists’ music costs $2 each or $5.49 for a bundle of all three songs). There are also four other songs from Crooked X ($1), Lacuna Coil ($2 each), and In This Moment ($2), which you can get in a bundle for $5.49. Karaoke Revolution Presents: American Idol Encore 2 also gets five new songs, each for just $1.49.

Aside from that, there’s a demo of MotoGP ‘08 (which you can check out on PC at FileFront) as well as some videos, trailers, and themes of everything from NBA 2K9 to Hancock.

Sorry, PSP owners. I wasn’t teasing you — there really is nothing for you this week.