At last, an answer to that pesky imaging problem when older PlayStation 2 games are popped into a PS3.

Sony has released a free download that enhances the imaging quality of older games and even movies. It also allows users to watch stored video and more through the Internet via the PlayStation Portable.

According to a report from KomoTV.com, "The software will also work to adjust the image quality of movies so they will look much better on the PS3, which is equipped to deliver higher image quality through next-generation Blu-ray disc technology.

Up to now, people could use the PlayStation Portable to watch content stored in their PS3 through a wireless local area network.

With the upgrade, users will be able to use PlayStation Portables to check out music, photos and video stored in their PS3 machines at home, while on the go, even from abroad, wherever there's an Internet connection. But they won't be able to play PS3 games on their portable console."

This sounds like a very important upgrade for the PS3 in a particular. The ability to play older games on the machine was a draw for gamers waiting for bigger and better PS3 titles to arrive. But, with the imaging issues, some of the fun was sucked right out of the proposition.

Related:
Kutaragi on PS3 backwards compatibility, more 360 attacks
PS3 Has Issues
Find more...
Comments >>

Labels: playstation network, playstation portable, ps2, ps3

North Americans won't be the only ones enjoying more affordable PlayStation Portables. Sony has announced that a price drop is on the way for Europe, too.

According to Gamasutra, the price drop will be on par with the $30 drop Sony recently announced for North America. That means the price of the core bundle will fall from €199.99/£149.99 ($271) to €169.99/£129.99 ($230).

It also sounds like gamers will be able to pick up some great titles for less, too. The Platinum titles will drop from £19.99 to £14.99 ($40 to $30). Upcoming titles in this range include Tekken: Dark Resurrection, Killzon: Liberation and Ridge Racer 2.

“PSP is unique and is constantly evolving. It offers the widest palette of mobile entertainment, from gaming to video, music, photos and internet,” SCE UK managing director Ray Maguire has been quoted as saying. “But now the exciting possibility of connecting remotely to PS3 makes PSP more relevant than ever. So what better time to offer a brand new price point, and the launch of five new Platinum titles?”

It sounds like Sony has a winning idea here. But, will it be enough to knock Nintendo out of the lead spot?

Related:
PSP Price Cut Announced
PSP Firmware Upgrade 3.30 Announced
Nintendo Still Tops In Sales
Find more...
Comments >>

Labels: playstation portable, psp, ridge racers, sony

Sony’s added some neat perks for PlayStation Portable owners with its announcement of the 3.30 firmware upgrade.

The latest upgrade allows PSP users to play compatible games online, do a bit of web surfing, download podcasts and more. The podcasts will be available at more than 7,000 T-Mobile HotSpot locations, which include some Starbucks, Borders, Hyatt hotels and about 70 U.S. airports.

The promotional offer also includes six months of Wi-Fi access at the T-Mobile spots. When the six-month trial is over, PSP owners will have to pay for the service. To get the deal, PSP owners have to login to the network by March 28, 2008.

“ This new offer enables SCEA to take portable gaming and entertainment to a new level of mobility and convenience for PSP owners,” said Peter Dille, Senior Vice President of Marketing, Sony Computer Entertainment America, in a media release. “With T-Mobile’s service, we’re making it possible for the PSP community to connect in new ways and access the online content they want in more places than ever before. More and more PSP users are going online to challenge each other in multi-player games, and we can now make it more convenient to access online gaming as well as the Internet, showcasing the rich feature set that PSP has to offer.”

The first game on the online list is Ratchet and Clank: Size Matters. More titles are expected soon.

The upgrade sounds like a good one that puts the PSP to greater use.

For a full list of 3.30 details, click here.

Related:
PSP Hacks and Mods List
PSP Car Mount
Find more...
Comments >>

Labels: playstation portable, psp, sony, starbucks, t-mobile

Sony is the latest game console maker that thinks portable systems need to go on a diet. Rumors that the PlayStation Portable would soon have a lighter look have been confirmed.

The confirmation comes from Sony’s UK managing director Ray Maguire, as confirmed by Games Industry.biz. According to Maguire, the system will get an updated design that is smaller, but that will also retain the screen size of the PSP.

While there’s no date on when the shrunken console will arrive, it is my hope the PSP’s lighter version will take advantage of the same accessories the original PSP uses.

Making handheld consoles smaller and more portable isn’t uncommon. Nintendo’s done it successfully with its DS Lite. The only problem is not all accessories translate and the older versions are sometimes hard to come by.

Related:
PSP Hacks and Mods List
Homebrew Apps Running on PSP 2.0
Even More Features Headed PSP's Way?
Warning For Nintendo DS Owners
Find more...
Comments >>

Labels: playstation portable, psp, psp lite, sony