Games and Gadgets: How I see them.

Oh no!! If this are the shape of things to come, then PS3 users will be lighter in the wallets from getting new themes to dress up their PS3s.

In order to dress up your PS3 with the new Dark Mist themes, users will have to fork out SG1.29 or HKD7.00 (RM3.00) to get it from Sony HK, as per screen shot above. This is an unprecedented move and this may signal the end of Sony PS3’s free online content?

Whats even more strange is that Sony HK is asking you to pay for Themes! I really hope that they will not start charging for their online multiplayer, as this is their key difference from Xbox Live, a paid user online service for Microsoft’s Xbox360.

It seems that US and EU PS Stores have not started this, perhaps it will soon?

US gamers can stop hating their Japanese counterparts now. The limited edition gunmetal grey Metal Gear Solid 4 PS3 hardware bundle is official for the US market.

Setting your wallet lighter by USD600 (RM1980), the bundle will be available from March 19, 2008 but ONLY exclusively from Konami.com website. The bundle will include a 40GB gunmetal PS3 console, a matching color Dualshock3, Metal Gear Online starter pack, an exclusive blu-ray disc containing “making of documentary” and production team look, and the Metal Gear Solid 4 game disc, of course.

As the set is limited in quantity, better rush to Konami’s website on March 19 if you want it.

PS3’s latest firmware patch is now at V2.35, available as of May 15, 2008. Sony was pretty vague about what the patch do, only stating “System stability during use of some PLAYSTATION(R)3 format software has been improved.”

Users have reported online that the patch DOES not fix the problems with GTA IV, and Sony acknowledges it while saying that they are looking the problem and may have a solution soon.

You can try calling Sony’s customer support in your area to check.

Rockstar have released GTA IV patch for PS3. Weighing in at 18MB in size, the patch is said to improve online experience by fixing some server related issues and stuff as mentioned below.

“Rockstar Games has released a GTA IV patch for Playstation 3 today that prevents Gamespy’s servers from being overloaded and therefore reduces the impact on those servers that were causing the game to stutter and lock up. This update will ensure that everyone will experience Grand Theft Auto IV the way it was intended. We apologize for the inconvenience this has caused,” statement released by Rockstar regarding the patch.

Online forums users have reported that the patch also helps with the lock-ups on single player mode, especially the one dealing with the auto saved game load. The patch seems to have fixed that too.

I personally do not have any lock up issues in both single and multiplayer mode, so I cant tell the difference. Will play the game more to see if I can see any fixes done.

My wish list for Rockstar if they are reading this (yeah, fat chance), if the player thats hosting a multiplayer game (the one with the “crown” icon who decides on the settings) is idle for extended periods, please kick the player out automatically. I had several instances where many players are waiting to get into the game but is hampered by the host not being ready. Fix that and the multiplayer will be much much sweeter.

Also, why is the PS3 version darker than the Xbox360 version, even if the PS3 version have better shading and looks more realistic??

PS. I have been playing multiplayer so much that I have neglected the single player mode….

A warning for all Xbox360 owners, Rockstar’s latest humongous game, GTAIV, is region-locked.

This simply means that you have to get the game region that corresponds to your Xbox360. It means that you cant import the game from locations that have released the game (ie. Australian and Asian gamers cant play US or European version of GTAIV, imported or otherwise).

You have been warned.

Sony’s brand new layout for the PLAYSTATION Store is now live. Also tagging along is PS3 latest firmware update to version 2.30, which brings DTS-HD Master Audio sound reproduction to the console. Cool stuff.

Sony announced that the Dualshock3 will hit US next week, one whole week earlier than the April 15 2008 expected release date. In the same announcement, they have released a list of PS3 titles that are compatible with the Dualshock3, click here to check the list.

This will also mean that future PS3s will be shipped Dualshock3 in the package, which will be very good news for future PS3 purchasers.

With Dualshock3 already available in Japan and Asia, it is not shocking news that Sony is plasing out of Sixaxis. Existing stocks is estimated to be cleared by summer 08, so buy now if you wish to have rumble-less controllers for the PS3 in the future.

PS3:

Dark Sector - (US) Action
Viking: Battle for Asgard - (US) Action
SEGA Superstar Tennis - (US) Sports

Xbox360:

Universe At War - (EU) RTS
Football Manager 2008 - (EU) Sports
Armored Core: for Answers - (JPN) Action Shooter
SEGA Superstar Tennis - (EU) Sports
Viking: Battle for Asgard - (EU) Action
Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Vegas 2 - (US) Action Shooter
Dark Messiah: Might and Magic Elements - (EU) FPS RPG

Wii:

Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 - (US) Sports
Dewy’s Adventure - (US) Platformer
George of the Jungle - (EU) Platformer
Sea Monsters: A Prehistoric Adventure - (EU) Action
Arctic Tales - (US) Action
Destroy All Human! Big Willy Unleashed - (US) Action
Puru Puru Pack - (US) Mini-games compilation
Cocoto Magic Circus - (US) Mini-games Complilation
My Horse and Me - (US) Pet Sim
Super Mario Galaxy - (US) Platformer
Big Brain Academy Wii Degree - (US) Mini-games Compilation
My Word Coach - (US) Mini-games Compilation
Worms: A Space Oddity - (EU) Action
Baroque - (JPN) RPG
No More Heroes - (US) Action
EA Playground - (US) Mini-games Compilation
Ninja Reflex - (US) Mini-games compilation
The House of The Dead 2 & 3 Return - (US) Light Gun Shooter
Go, Diego, Go! Safari Rescue - (US) Action