Capcom have revealed a new Bionic Commando game, currently under development for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC. Of course, the grappling hook that played a key role in the original game is back - although with such a Wiimote-friendly gameplay mechanic, it’s unclear why the choice was made to ignore the Wii this time around.
via GameSpot
Three UC Irvine students have teamed up with two students from Dartmouth College to win IBM’s Cell Broadband Engine Professor University Challenge, using three PlayStation 3 consoles to recreate the visual processing area of the brain.
Prior attempts of solving the problem with standard CPUs have been hindered by insufficient processing power, however the UCI/Dartmouth team’s solution of three PS3 consoles and a PC is capable of recognizing an object in just one second.
According to Jayram Moorkanikara from the UC Irvine team, their work has several applications, and is just getting started:
We have just started looking into the exciting area of hardware realization of brain algorithms. More such algorithms and applications will be developed and used in smart, self-guided cars, computers and robots,
PlayStation Thursday is here, and it’s a good one - of course, the usual “…if you’re in the US” caveat applies. The eagerly awaited Everyday Shooter and demos for Ratchet and Clank Future, Conan and NHL 2K8 make up the playable stuff, hit the jump for the rest.
Sony is getting ready to release the PlayStation Eye on October 23, and have provided a bunch of details that might just perk your interest even if you don’t care for card games.
While we knew the Eye would be available as a bundle with The Eye of Judgment for USD$70, we now know it will also be available as a stand-alone product for $40.
Hit the jump to find out why on earth you would want the PlayStation Eye without The Eye of Judgment.
An enterprising geek has set up an incredibly fast DVD ripping rig, using the unholy union of a PlayStation 3, Yellow Dog Linux and an Xbox 360 HD-DVD drive. This enables him to encode the DVDs to H.264 in near real-time.
Thomas McGonagle says of his new Franken-setup:
I am now able to rip with the best of them. I compiled handbrake from source, and I am now able to RIP all my DVDs and encode them in H.264 in near real-time. I am officially very happy!!!
You hear that? He’s not just very happy, he’s officially very happy.
Until he posts a detailed tutorial, you can read his quick and dirty instructions here.
via MaxConsole
At least seven new PSP games are in development to be sold via the online PlayStation Store. A source has revealed that the games in development are three action games, two music-based games, one racing title and a shooting game. Sony also plans on releasing 13 classic PSone games on the store.
Though the store is currently only available for PS3 owners, it is due to launch later next year for the PSP, and this winter for PC users. Sony plans to offer PSP users original games, classic PSone titles, demos, additional content for released games and TV content such as trailers, behind-the-scenes clips and interviews. Content for PSPs will be available via wireless or through a PC via USB.
Downloaded games are predicted to be between half and a third of the size of disc based games and offer between two to ten hours of gameplay.
Sony has announced that it will be launching its 40GB PS3 in Japan on November 11th. In a surprise move Sony has also decided to offer a choice between the usual black console and the favored Sony alternative “Ceramic White”. As mentioned in previous articles the 40GB PS3 will not feature backwards compatibility and is expected to retail in Japan for 39,980 yen (about US$340).
The PS3 is also set to receive its first Japanese price cut (if you exclude the one it received before launch) on October 17th. The 20GB version is to be be marked down to 44,980 yen ($383) and the 60GB to 54,980 yen ($468).
In yet more announcements from Sony the DualShock 3 is to be let loose on November 11th in both white and black. The DualShock 3 will not be bundled with systems and will be available for 5500 yen ($47).
While the 40GB PS3 has been announced practically everywhere but the US, such announcements are expected to happen soon.
via Game | Life
SCE Australia have come clean regarding another one of their poorly kept secrets - the 40GB PlayStation 3. Launching in Australia on October 11 for AUD $699, the new model has two USB ports, no backwards compatibility with PlayStation 2 titles, and no multi memory card reader.
According to Michael Ephraim, Managing Director of SCE Australia:
The introduction of the new PS3 has been the result of extensive research into the entertainment needs and preferences of the next generation of PS3 owners […] It has allowed us to deliver an extremely advanced, yet incredibly affordable High Definition gaming and entertainment system, configured to the needs of the next generation of PS3 owners. PS3 has always been the device of choice for the discerning gamer and entertainment seeker, the new PS3 along with our extensive list of new and exclusive game franchises makes it, more than ever, the perfect High Definition entertainment system.
John Debney’s BAFTA-nominated musical score for Lair is possibly the only aspect of the game that wasn’t universally smashed by the gaming media. For those of you who want to experience that epic orchestral vibe outside the living room, the entire score is now available on iTunes for US $9.99.
via PlayStation.Blog
The upcoming Turok game is set to feature a star studded lineup of voice actors. Timothy Olyphant (Deadwood, Hitman), Powers Boothe (Deadwood, Sin City), Ron Perlman (Hellboy and a million other projects), William Fichtner (Prison Break, Invasion) and Donnie Wahlberg (New Kids on the Block) are among the actors working on the game, due out on February 5 for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.
The plot for the game revolves around the player taking control of Joseph Turok (voiced by Gregory Norman Cruz), who has set down on a strange planet with his team known as Whiskey Company, comprising of Cowboy (Timothy Olyphant), Slade (Ron Perlman), Shepard (Donnie Wahlberg) and Logan (William Fichtner). Turok’s mission is to take down his fromer mentor, Roland Kane (Powers Boothe) and his army, the Mendel-Gruman Corporation. Of course, there will be lots of dinosaurs.
“The actors who lent their voices to Turok are a testament to both the magnitude of the project and the interest of top-notch talent,” said Josh Holmes, vice president and general manager of Propaganda Games. “The characters in the story are paramount to the experience and we have assembled an outstanding cast to assure high quality performances across the board.”
via Gaming Today
