ps3

More info on Battlelog, the Facebook of Battlefield 3

Hungry for more details about Battlefield 3? DICE revealed a few details about Battlelog, an upcoming free social-networking site that will roll out in conjunction with BF3 on October 25.

While there's no shortage of statistical sites for Battlefield games, the Battlelog service aims to be different with an infusion of social features. In an official blog update posted today, DICE describes Battlelog as a service where "players will be able to build a network of friends, communicate with other gamers, and compare their Battlefield stats with friends and foes alike."

The main area of Battlelog will be Battlefeed and it will be similar to a Facebook feed. It's a real-time area that displays your friends' activities, such as ranking up, unlocking guns, or awards achieved. For example, instead of pressing "Like," you would press "Hooah!" under a status update. Comments can be left on any action posted in the feed. DICE also mentions in the blog post that the service will offer a detailed stat-tracking system that features a "soldier progression section, bringing full stats tracking for every shot fired and every action performed in your Battlefield career."… Read more

Offbeat music apps for iOS

One of the greatest things about the iPhone (or any smartphone) is that it has music listening capabilities so you can bring your tunes with you anywhere. Also, with tons of music apps in the iTunes App Store, you have even more ways to listen to, edit, mix, and organize your music.

There are many apps in the app store for listening to music, like the popular Pandora Radio that's great for music discovery, or Djay for iPhone that lets you mix and scratch with your music. But there are also some music apps that are in a league by themselves--the ones that are admittedly quirky, but still quite useful to music lovers.

This week's collection of apps are all unique music tools. The first lets you stream your music to game consoles; the second auto-matches rhythms for beat synced mixes; and the third offers a gesture-based interface for easy control of your music.… Read more

Stream your music to your console

AirMusic is a unique music app that lets you stream music on your iPhone to popular gaming consoles. Some readers may already use Apple's Airplay feature that streams music to your Apple TV. But with AirMusic, you can stream music to your XBox 360, PS3, or a PC running Vista or Windows 7.

To get started, you'll need to be on a shared Wi-Fi network with the console or computer to which you're going to stream. Then, you simply turn on Air Tunes via a slider within the app and navigate to your music folder on your … Read more

Report: New PSN design in the works

Is Sony looking for a fresh start with its PlayStation Network?

The Register is reporting that Sony is testing out a redesigned PSN in some markets.

The report cites sources familiar with the new design who say Sony will "de-clutter" the PSN main screen in favor of "an aesthetic layout with logically marked sections and rolodex lists."

The sources say Sony is also tweaking the search function by adding a live search feature and a deals section to highlight content on sale; bringing in an "IMDB-style" movie database for movie purchases and rentals and a similar style database for games; and possibly ditching the traditional blue background for bolder color. … Read more

Should you spend $20 on Orb's PS3 streaming disc?

Back at CES 2011, Orb announced a $20 Blu-ray disc to come in February that would add streaming-media functionality to older Blu-ray players. After several delays, the company has finally released a Blu-ray disc that will work exclusively with the PS3, with the generic Blu-ray player version still "coming soon."

We're familiar with Orb's products from the Orb TV and Orb MP-1, and we took the PS3 disc for full hands-on spin over the weekend.

Right off the bat, the appeal of Orb's software on the PS3 isn't quite as clear as it is on an older Blu-ray player. The PS3 already has several excellent built-in streaming media services, including Netflix, Hulu Plus, Vudu, and MLB.TV, without any need to use a disc-based workaround. However, there are still holes in the PS3's streaming offerings and Orb's software can add high-profile services such as free Hulu content (no need for a Hulu Plus subscription), Amazon Instant, and Pandora. … Read more

Sega celebrates 20 years of Sonic the Hedgehog

On June 23, 1991, Sonic the Hedgehog arrived in North America to jump-start sales of Sega's Genesis video game console. The blue blur would eventually become a major hit for Sega, inspiring 130 releases across multiple consoles and selling more than 70 million games worldwide.

Where did it all begin? Well, every company needs a mascot.

Two decades ago, the future was slightly dim for Sega. Nintendo's 8-bit NES console had gobbled up market share around the world, and Super Mario 3 took the market by storm. Sega desperately needed a fresh face to drive game sales for its 16-bit Sega Genesis console, which had hit the market years before the Super NES (also, the Genesis is more powerful than the SNES).

According to 1UP, Sega's president at the time, Hayao Nakayama, challenged the company to create a mascot that could rival Mario in popularity. He wanted to beat Nintendo. Sega's AM8 research and development team created several character designs, but a spiky hedgehog (code-named Mr. Needlemouse) became the frontrunner, eventually helping the company grow to achieve billions in sales. You can read more about how Sonic was created at 1UP.

Sonic's 20th anniversary is an enormous milestone for Sega, and on November 24 the company will fly a 48-feet tall, 60-feet long, and 26-feet wide helium balloon version of the character during the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in Manhattan. In 1993, the hedgehog was the first video game character ever to be featured in the highly popular parade, and it accidentally broke an off-duty policeman's shoulder. Perhaps Sonic thought he saw Dr. Robotnik. … Read more

Sony's hacking woes mount after PSN breach (roundup)

It started as a security breach on the PlayStation network and other Sony services that exposed the personal information of 100 million users. From there, it has mushroomed into broader, ongoing security troubles across the Sony empire that have spilled out into the wider world.

Sony: PSN difficulties a 'bump in the road' Sony Computer Entertainment America senior vice president Phil Rosenberg told IndustryGamers in an interview published yesterday that 90 percent of PlayStation Network users are back. (Posted in The Digital Home by Don Reisinger) June 23, 2011 7:34 AM PDT

Turkey arrests 32 after Anonymous' Web attacks … Read more

Shadows of the Damned: A trip worth taking

A venerable all-star team of Japanese developers has collaborated to bring us Shadows of the Damned, one of the oddest games to hit home consoles in some time. With talent that includes the minds behind Resident Evil, Silent Hill, and No More Heroes, Shadows of the Damned certainly has a lot to live up to.

Jeff: Playing a Goichi Suda (Suda 51) game is almost always guaranteed to induce some amount of head-scratching, but just like watching a David Lynch film, part of the fun is having your mind messed with.

What makes the "Grindhouse"-inspired Shadows of the Damned so great, though, is that while aesthetically it comes off as a madman's nightmare, it's also one of the better designed, well-rounded, and satisfying games we've played this year.

It's amazing to see what a bigger budget and support does for an ultra-ambitious developer like Grasshopper Manufacture. Shadows delivers in almost every category, from mind-blowing enemy design to vector-based throwback graphics. The surgically implemented sound design shines through the action, not to mention a remarkably diverse and stylistic score that rivals any Hollywood production. We even appreciate the loading screen's avatar and music for their uniqueness and homage to 2D world maps.… Read more

Leaner, less power-hungry PS3 debuts in Japan

Sony Computer Entertainment Japan today revealed a lighter, more power-efficient PlayStation 3 set for release later this month. The updated 320GB PS3 console, CECH-3000B (34,980 yen, $436), features several improvements over its predecessor CECH-2500B.

Sony has tweaked the refreshed version of the PS3 to be a little more "green;" power consumption is now rated at 200W, which is a 30W reduction from the previous model. For reference, previous configurations of the PS3 slim used up to 80W at peak load and 67W when idle.

Nearly a pound has been shed in this hardware revision, as the CECH-3000B is 5.7 pounds compared to the 6.6 pound CECH-2500B. Some minor visual changes have also been made to the power and eject buttons, according to Joystiq. All of the standard included accessories remain the same in this new package, which includes a Dualshock 3 controller, USB cable, AV cable, and power cord. Height, width, and depth are unchanged. … Read more