PS3 homebrew hack found, Hello World!

We haven't heard much out of the PS3 homebrew scene so far, which could be due to the console's delayed popularity, or perhaps because Sony did users a solid out of the gate and included Linux. That said, there's no stopping these hardcore homebrew types when they put their minds to something, and now Dragula96, a well known PSP hacker, has supposedly found an exploit on the PS3 that let him get a little Hello World proof of concept up and running. At the moment he's not saying how he did it, but he does say the hack is working on 60GB and 40GB PS3s, running the current 2.20 firmware.

PSP slim modded for dual analog sticks

Been longing for a second analog stick on your PSP? Modder LordNico's got you covered with the Razor X (seriously, where do these guys come up with their names?), a user-installable analog stick that appears to mimic the functions of your standard four button pad. (In other words, getting the games to take advantage of the controls is another matter entirely.) Apparently details of the mod will be released soon enough for those brave enough to consider relocating their power switch to the start button.

PlayStation Store Update

Hey, everyone. It’s time again for the PLAYSTATION Store weekly update.

Downloadable Games

flOw bundle ($8.99)
flOw is a game about piloting an aquatic organism through a surreal biosphere where players consume other organisms, evolve, and dive into the abyss. Bundle includes the full game as well as the Expansion Pack.
ESRB Rated E
File size: 226 MB

Warhawk limited-time discount ($29.99 for 2 weeks until 4/15)

Add-on Game Content

TUROK Multiplayer Map Pack 1 ($4.99)
A new multiplayer map pack for Turok is now available for download, providing new challenges and an opportunity for new fans to join the fight against the planet’s vicious creatures and dinosaurs as well as enemy soldiers. The map pack is now available for $4.99 and contains five new maps providing additional head-to-head and co-op challenges while you’re playing on PlayStation Network.
File size: 276 MB

High Stakes: Poker Edition camera add-on (free)
High Stakes is raising the poker bar! Download this add-on to access to video capabilities and catch every tell from your opponents in this face-to-face poker showdown! Don’t forget to download the first two add-ons to play all 10 poker styles. Compatible with the PLAYSTATION Eye and EyeToy USB camera, and may be compatible with other USB cameras!
File size: 101 KB

Unreal Tournament 3 Map Pack (free)
Download the first official bonus pack for Unreal Tournament 3 and expand your game with three new maps that cover the full spectrum of environments and play styles. Players can visit an orbiting space station, a remote mountain temple, or infiltrate an alien island. Returning classics and fresh new designs let you experience Unreal gaming like never before.
File size: 82 MB

Rock Band
Build your Rock Band library by purchasing these song game tracks. Boston Pack 01 includes all six songs. For song credits, visit www.RockBand.com.

• “More Than A Feeling” - Boston ($1.99)
• “Hitch A Ride” - Boston ($1.99)
• “Peace of Mind” - Boston ($1.99)
• “Rock and Roll Band” - Boston ($1.99)
• “Smokin’” - Boston ($1.99)
• “Something About You” - Boston ($1.99)
• Boston Pack 01 ($9.99)

File sizes: 23.7 MB - 36.5 MB (singles), 189 MB (Track Pack).

Karaoke Revolution Presents: American Idol Encore sownloadable songs ($1.50 each)
Plug in the microphone and live out your dream as a singing sensation! Expand your Karaoke Revolution Presents: American Idol Encore library by purchasing tracks from the in-game store. For music credits, visit the Karaoke Revolution section of www.konami.com. Full list of tracks after the jump.

Game Videos (free)

Gran Turismo 5 Prologue Mars Volta Video
Download the latest trailer featuring a special version of The Mars Volta’s “Goliath,” remixed by EL-P.
File size: 64 MB (1080)

Gran Turismo 5 Prologue Thin Lizzy Video
Download the latest trailer featuring Thin Lizzy’s “The Rocker (Richard Evans Mix)” from the game’s soundtrack.
File size: 75 MB (1080)

Gran Turismo 5 Prologue Weezer Video
Download the latest trailer featuring an exclusive remix of Weezer’s “Automatic,” available only in Gran Turismo 5 Prologue.
File size: 53 MB (1080)

Warhawk Update v1.3 Trailer
Download the Warhawk Update V1.3 trailer today and check out the new pick-ups that will alter the field of battle.
File size: 60 MB (HD)

GTA IV Trailer 4
Grand Theft Auto IV Trailer 4: “Good Lord, What Are You Doing?” aka “Everyone’s a Rat”
File size: 55 MB (HD)

Winter X Games ‘08 Play the Pros
Sony Computer Entertainment America hit the slopes this year for the 12th annual ESPN Winter X Games, held at Buttermilk Mountain in Aspen, Colorado. Fans had the opportunity to compete against their favorite X Games athletes in our PlayStation Play the Pros event with Gran Turismo 5 Prologue! The lucky winners received PlayStation prizes and some unique bragging rights.
File size: 235 MB (HD)

God of War: Chains of Olympus - TV spot
IN THE BEGINNING THERE WAS DARKNESS. The ancient world speaks of a mortal that slayed a God. But long before his legend, Kratos pledged himself as a champion to the Gods.
File size: 22 MB (HD), 35 MB (1080)

Wyclef’s “Fast Car” Music VideoWyclef’s latest music video, “Fast Car”! (limited time only)
File size: 195 MB (HD), 323 MB (1080)

PURE Gameplay Trailer
PURE, the next gold standard in off-road racing games, perfectly captures and emphasizes the feeling of adrenaline rush. It stands for everything fast, furious & frenetic.
File size: 104 MB (HD)

PURE CG Trailer
PURE, the next gold standard in off-road racing games, perfectly captures and emphasizes the feeling of adrenaline rush.
File size: 143 MB (HD)

Movie and Blu-ray Disc Trailers (free)

Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story
A wild and wicked send-up of every musical biopic ever made, WALK HARD: THE DEWEY COX STORY is gut-busting proof that when it comes to hard rocking, living and laughing, a hard man is good to find.
File size: 119 MB (HD), 152 MB (1080)

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment Fall 2007 TV Spot
File size: 30 MB (1080)

PS3 Themes (free)

Eye of Judgment Theme
Customize your PS3 system with a cool Eye of Judgment theme. This theme allows you to change up the look of your background and XMB icons. Download today!
File size: 6.08 MB

PS3 Wallpaper (free)

Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots SNEAK OUT Wallpapers
File size: 118 KB - 434 KB

Here is this week’s content release for the PLAYSTATION Store for PC. To download these games to your PSP, navigate to http://store.playstation.com. There, you’ll find descriptions of the content and directions on how to get started. For more on the PLAYSTATION Store for PC, please click here.

Game Demos (free)

* R-Type Command Demo (also downloadable via PS3)

Game Videos (free)

* God of War Chains of Olympus TV Spot
* GT5 Prologue Weezer Video
* GT5 Prologue Mars Volta Video
* GT5 Prologue Thin Lizzy
* GTA IV Trailer 4
* Winter X Games ‘08 Play the Pros
* Wyclef’s “Fast Car” Music Video (limited time only)

PSP Themes (free)

* Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII

PSP Wallpaper (free)

* R-Type Command Wallpapers (x3)

Major security vulnerability discovered for PlayStation Network, lock up your PS3s

Details are still sparse, but Sony's announced a fairly severe security vulnerability on the PlayStation Network, which would actually allow an attacker to access your account, personal information, and Wallet -- but not your credit card on file -- as well as change your password.

SOCOM.com Now Ready For Confrontation

Sony is happy to announce that SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Confrontation will be hitting store shelves and the PLAYSTATION Store on September 16th, 2008. You’ll be able to download it from your couch or pick up a copy at your favorite brick-and-mortar and get to business.

They have released an all new SOCOM community site: www.SOCOM.com. There you can find the official Blog and Message boards where you can find the latest updates on everything SOCOM related; including screenshots, video, behind-the-scenes blogs and more. It will also give us a method to directly communicate with the SOCOM community. You can sound off in either the comments section for each post or in the message boards. We have agents gathering intel and dev team members will respond when they can.

PSP to get ColorWared on April 14th

Look, who could blame you for wanting to personalize your PSP a little. At the moment you can wait around for limited edition models like the God of War or get your kitchen-beige or month-old-mint models from a friendly, price-gouging, Japanese importer. Else, why not hold out until April 14th when ColorWare plans to unveil its new PSP colorization service. Although nothing has been announced, it's probably safe to assume the same level of "buy new" or "send in" service ColorWare already offers for the DS Lite.

PS3 2.20 update is out, get your BD-Live while it's fresh

Nothing beats that straight-from-the-oven firmware smell, and Sony just hit the internet with its PS3 2.20 firmware update goodness. The big win here is BD-Live interactive Blu-ray compatibility (Blu-ray 2.0), but there are some other minor tweaks as well, mostly multimedia and web browsing related.

PS3 firmware 2.20 bringing BD-Live interactive Blu-ray this month

The Blu-ray 2.0 spec (or BD-Live) is just days from launch. Sony just announced that the next PlayStation3 firmware updated -- v2.20 -- will add the new interactive features to your PS3. As such, PS3 owners should expect downloadable video content, ringtones, interactive movie-based games, and the always intriguing "more" when the software is released in "late March." In other words, in the next 11 days. The update will also allow you to copy photos and music playlists over USB from your PS3 to your PSP. Other features include:

• "Resume play" will enable PS3 system to start playing a Blu-ray disc and DVD at the point it was stopped, even if the disc had been removed.(*1)
• "Audio Output Device" will be a new Remote Play setting, enabling PSP to serve as a remote control for music played through PS3.
• PS3 system's Internet browser will be enhanced: Video files directly linked from a Web page will be able to be streamed, and the browser's view speed will be improved.
• DivX and WMV format videos that are larger than 2GB will be playable.
• "Mosquito Noise Reduction" will be added as an AV setting in the control panel of the DVD/BD player for improved movie playback.(*2)
  

*1 BD-J format disc is not supported.
*2 BD discs recorded with BDMV format are not supported.

Gran Turismo 5 Prologue: one million preorders in Europe

There's little debate that the PlayStation 3 had a rough start. Much has changed since then, though, and new numbers indicate that the momentum behind Sony won't be going away soon. Presales data for Gran Turismo 5 Prologue paints a bright picture for the system's exclusive titles; hitting the platinum mark prior to release is a fairly good indicator of a game's popularity, and Gran Turismo 5 Prologue has done just that in Europe. In addition to extremely strong sales of the title in Japan, European preorder sales strictly for the Blu-ray version of title have already toppled the million mark, according to SCEE New Zealand's Marketing Manager Dave Hine.

Combined with the inevitable sales generated by the downloadable version of the game and the recently-announced Euro GT5 PS3 bundle, Gran Turismo 5 Prologue is on track to rock Europe hard when it lands later next month. Fellow download and disc title Warhawk, the leaderboards for which indicate that over 500,000 players have played at least a single ranked game, has set the pace for full retail-equivalent downloadable titles. That's a pace that Polyphony Digital's sim racer will likely be more than able to best.

Briton gets world's first PS3 tattoo, has certainly sparked trend

Forget the Zune tattoo guy. Make way for the new cool kid on the block. Some Briton decided it would be cool to get a PS3 tattoo. We can only assume that Blu-ray's victory in the format war pushed this particular Briton over the edge and made him truly believe that the PS3 is in fact "the best console ever made" -- his words, not ours.

Vehicles, Tracks and Additional Features Confirmed for Gran Turismo™5 Prologue in North America

SCEA announced today the robust vehicle roster, track list and a host of additional features for the April 17 North American availability of Gran Turismo™ 5 Prologue, exclusively on PLAYSTATION®3 (PS3™). Gran Turismo 5 Prologue is the latest installment of the billion dollar selling racing franchise and intense precursor to Gran Turismo™5. Headlining the roster of over 60 vehicles and 14 additional tuned cars is the Ferrari 599, the Nissan GT-R and the Audi R8 4.2 FSI R Tronic. Players can race these cars and many more around six meticulously rendered tracks, including Daytona International Speedway®, London City track and a series favorite, High Speed Ring. Furthermore, additional features will be available to North American consumers, including a Drift Mode, Car Tuning, two-player split screen racing and a new set of offline and online Race Events.

“This impressive vehicle lineup and the additional features that cater to North American racing fans are great compliments to Gran Turismo 5 Prologue’s stunning 1080p graphics and revolutionary online features,” said Scott A. Steinberg, Vice President, Product Marketing, SCEA. “Fans are sure to be pleased with the first Gran Turismo product for sale on PLAYSTATION 3.”

Gran Turismo 5 Prologue Additional Features for North America

• Drift Mode – The player’s drifting technique is measured based on drift angles, racing lines, and speeds within evaluation zones located at various turns on the course.
• In Depth Car Tuning – Players have the ability to adjust the vehicle’s performance, including power, weight, tires and suspension.
• Two-player Split Screen Racing – Allows players to race head-to-head against friends and foes offline.
• New Race Events – New racing events and time trials are available for players to race both offline and online. Gran Turismo 5 Prologue supports up to 16 players racing online simultaneously.

Summary of differences between Japanese version and the American version:

• A whopping 30+ additional vehicles (compared to the Japanese version), including tuner cars from Amuse, Mine’s, etc.
• Another track to race on: an all-time favorite in the series - frantic and chaotic High Speed Ring!
• In Drift Mode, measure your drifting technique based on driving line, angle and speed within scoring zones on the course
• With the Quick Tune feature, adjust your vehicle’s settings including power, weight, tires and suspension
• All new set of online and offline race events and time trials to jump into, win, and unlock cars/features
• With Logitech’s new Driving Force GT racing wheel, you can adjust brake bias, traction and damper settings on-the-fly like they do in real-life with Formula One and rally cars. GT5 Prologue will support DualShock 3, too!

In-Game Communication Coming to PS3 This Summer

Ray Maguire, Sony Computer Entertainment UK’s head, recently spilled the beans on an upcoming feature the PlayStation 3 will be getting – in-game communication. Presumably this means being able to have a private chat with friends while playing a game, similar to what you can do on Xbox Live.

Speaking with MCV on the PlayStation 3 reaching one million units at retail in the UK – a mark surpassed faster than either the PlayStation or PlayStation 2 – Maguire stated, “Our momentum will continue with the introduction of in-game communication in the summer, firmware update 2.4 and the strongest line-up of games through our third party partners and our own studios. I’d personally like to thank our trade and business partners for helping us on the start of the PS3 journey.”

Now it’s unclear whether or not in-game communication is directly a part of firmware v2.4 or if he was referring to two separate items. Hopefully v2.4 will include in-game XMB support, and that will be what enables you to chat with friends while in-game. I know I’d really like to see support added for the feature, so fingers crossed that this is the case.

Kojima: MGS4 too big for 50 GB Blu-ray disc

It's not much of a shocker to learn the latest (and final) installment in the Metal Gear Solid series is a sizable one -- MGS games have a history of being big (and beautiful). However, a recent interview with series creator Hideo Kojima revealed a startling fact about MGS4 -- Kojima complained that a few features had to be cut from the game so it would fit on a Blu-ray disc. As format fanatics already know, that means the game takes up nearly 50 gigabytes of space.