In an interview with Famitsu magazine (translated by 1Up), the man behind the external design of every Sony PlayStation console, controller, and other accessories shared the motivation behind many of his design choices.  When referring to the original PlayStation, Teiyu Goto shared that “the console itself was a relatively easy design process, but we went through a great number of stages with the controller.”  During the early stages of design, Sony management insisted that the controller not look and function much differently from the SNES controller (see top right).  “The Super NES was a huge hit at the time, and naturally we wanted SNES gamers to upgrade to our system,” said Goto.  “That’s why the management department didn’t want the controller to be a radical departure — they said it had to be a standard type of design, or gamers wouldn’t accept it.”  Though management was against Goto’s idea of molding a controller with grips at both ends instead of creating a flat, SNES-like design, Goto (with support from then-Sony president Norio Ohga) was given the green light to move forward with his radical new approach.

And here’s the bombshell.  Goto finally made known the meanings behind the four face buttons that continue to live on in the PlayStation brand:

“Other game companies at the time assigned alphabet letters or colors to the buttons. We wanted something simple to remember, which is why we went with icons or symbols, and I came up with the triangle-circle-X-square combination immediately afterward. I gave each symbol a meaning and a color. The triangle refers to viewpoint; I had it represent one’s head or direction and made it green. Square refers to a piece of paper; I had it represent menus or documents and made it pink. The circle and X represent ‘yes’ or ‘no’ decision-making and I made them red and blue respectively. People thought those colors were mixed up, and I had to reinforce to management that that’s what I wanted.”

And now you know.

[Via 1Up; Joystiq]

On Tuesday Sony revealed two new PlayStation 3 SKUs.  The first is a plain jane PS3 with a 160GB hard drive.  It replaces the older SKU and keeps the same price of $299.99.  Buy it today.  The second model is a PS3 + PlayStation Move bundle.  Price at $399.99, it packs a 320GB hard drive and comes packed with one PS Move controller, one PlayStation Eye camera, a copy of Sports Champions, and a game demo disc.  The bundle will hit store shevles September 19, the same date PS Move launches.

[Via PlayStationBlog]

In early June two viral advertisements hit the web that claimed to be brand new “leaked” spots for Sony’s next video game console, the PlayStation 4.  The first video dubbed “Leaked Launch Trailer” (see above) features a man inside a lab facility who is wearing what appears to be an advanced pair of 3D glasses that literally brings you into the game.  In the video we watch (along with Japanese testers) the man experience the PS4′s virtual reality capabilities for the first time.  At first the man is spooked by what he sees, but then a glimmer of hope (and success on Sony’s part) is revealed when the man gives a satisfying smirk at the conclusion of the test.  The second video (look after the break for it) is titled “Leaked Viral Video” and plays out like a true viral video, shaky cam and all.  This one follows two frantic Sony employees into a large facility; once there, they find a gamer who is frozen with excitement over the powers of the PS4 system.  The employees remove glasses from his face but cannot pry the game controller out of his hand.  The gamer squeals in joy.

After some investigation, the web realized they were douped when 24-year-old filmaker Han West spilled the beans.  West created these fake viral videos for a school project that required him to produce “one viral ad and one more ‘polished’ commercial.”   ”Leaked Launch Trailer”, the polished spot above, took 12 hours to shoot and cost $500.  “Leaked Viral Video” took four hours to capture and cost a mere $20.  In the end, his timing was impeccible; these video “leaked” onto the web just days before E3, leading many to suspect Sony would announce the vision with the PS4 during their press conference.  Job well done, Mr. West.

[Via Kotaku, here & here] (Click here for more…)

PlayStation Plus, Sony’s online premium offering for the PlayStation 3, was announced at the Sony press conference a couple weeks ago.  Since then more details have spilled concerning what exactly it offers for paying subscribers.  First, it’s important to remember that PlayStation Plus does not replace PS3′s current offering of free online gameplay and PlayStation Network usage.  PS Plus is an additional, optional service that provides subscribers with discounts on games purchased in the PS Store, early access to betas, exclusive offers on select demos and early purchases, free monthly episodes of Qore, and automatic downloads.  Let’s dive a bit deeper.

Subscribers have access to free monthly PSN games, minis, and PS One Classics from the PSN Store.  You keep these games for as long as you’re a subscriber; if you decide to opt out of the service, the free games disappear from your library.  Exclusive themes, avatars, and premium game elements/add-ons are also available to purchase; these are yours to keep “forever.”  Exclusive PS Store discounts are also offered, ranging from from 20% to 50% off (that’s on top of the any current discounts currently available to non-members).  Again, these are yours to keep “forever.”  Early access to beta trials and game demos pop up as well.  Members can download a full game trial for an alloted amount of time (typically one hour) to decide if they want to purchase the game.  Unlike a standard game demo, full game trials do not restrict you to certain levels/game modes.  You get the full game.  And get this–if you decide to purchase the game after testing it out, all awarded trophies and saved data carry over from the trial.  Lastly there’s automatic downloads.  Subscribers can set their PS3 to wake up from standby at a determined time to automatically download PS3 firmware updates, game patches, and “select demos and videos.”  PlayStation Plus is available to sign up for today over PSN.  A one year subscription goes for $49.99 (this comes bundled with three free months at the end) and a three-month packaged is priced at $17.99.

PlayStation Plus came to the PS3 as part of firmware update version 3.40.  Here’s what the update brings: Photo Gallery enhancements (allows you to upload, browse and comment on photos on Facebook and Picasa Web Album & share your photos between your PSN friends and print photos from Photo Gallery); Video Editor and Uploader (new XMB function enables you to edit, save and upload video files stored on the PS3 system to sites such as Facebook or YouTube); Five Star Rating Support (you can rate PS Store content on a five-star scale); and additional power save options.  There’s also been a few upgrades to PSN-Facebook integration.  A new PSN Facebook application allows you to display your PlayStation Network profile on Facebook, send friend requests, and view your PSN friends’ online status.  Check out a few snapshots of the new features in the gallery below.

[Via PlayStationBlog, here & here]

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And that marks the end of the interview + hands-on content.  Now it’s time for the booth tours!  On the last day of E3 2010 I decided to hit record on my camcorder and capture the highlights of almost every booth on the show floor.  I did it so you can get a real sense of how each booth was set up and what it all looked like from the perspective of an attendee.  Sure E3 is all about the games, but game studios put a ton of effort into making extravagant booths to attract those in attendance; the booths (and requisite booth babes) play a big part in making E3, well, what it has come to be.  No, there’s nothing like actually being there and speaking with all the developers and playing all the games.  But the following videos and pictures will bring you pretty darn close to the action.

Here’s how the booth tour posts are set up.  You’ll find an embedded YouTube video at the top; this video will contain 2-3 booth tours.  Below you will see various picture galleries separated by company.  Next to each company’s name I hand-picked the most popular games featured at that booth.  And that’s it, really.  So go ahead and dive into this first one here–it’s Microsoft and Sony, two of the biggest booths on campus.

Microsoft: Kinect games, Fable III, Crackdown 2, Halo: Reach, Gears of War 3

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Sony: PlayStation Move games, SOCOM 4, LittleBigPlanet 2, Twisted Metal, Killzone 3

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Game: The Fight: Lights Out

Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment

Release date: November 2010

Another PlayStation Move launch title is The Fight: Lights Out, or Wii Sports Boxing on steroids.  Using two Move controllers you are in control of a street fighter.  Though motions are not 1:1 (your on-screen character does not imitate every action you make), the game does a good job at picking up specific boxing moves like punches, uppercuts, and body and elbow shots.  The more fluid and deliberate you make your punches the better PS Eye transfers your motions on-screen.  By holding down the main Move button on the controller you can control the direction in which your character moves.  Predefined “dirty moves” can be called up by pressing the trigger button.  Check out that double-hammer fist special move!  The game is also physics-based; in the demo this means that you can use one Move controller to push your opponents arm out of the way to make room for a clean punch with the other controller.  If you defeat your opponent you get the opportunity to “finish him” with a special move.  In the demo I played this involved my character lightly tapping the opponent to make him fall over and pass out on the floor.  I’ve also heard that another finishing move will involve blowing your opponent over by physically blowing into the PS Eye’s built-in mic.  After the fight is over a results page lets you know how many calories you burned during the length of the fight.

Overall I really enjoyed playing The Fight.  When I first picked up the controllers I wanted to beat up my opponent to a bloody pulp with frantic punch gestures and flicks of the wrist.  Quickly I learned that fast movements resulted in poor feedback on the PS Eye’s end.  Once I settled in and started to strategically produce counter-punches the experience became a whole lot more realistic and fun.  I also like the black-and-white style with splashes of red when blood is drawn.  With the promise of a character customization studio, a single player campaign, an online multiplayer mode, and the ability to bet on games and use your winnings to purchase in-game items, The Fight is panning out to be a solid launch title for the Move.

Game: TV Superstars

Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment

Release date: November 2010

TV Superstars is a party game that places a customized avatar into a number of mini-games based on reality shows.  Before you jump into a game show, you are required to customize an avatar using the PS Eye.  You step up to the camera and take three pictures of yourself with neutral, smile, and angry faces.  After your face is placed on the head of the virtual avatar, you can play around with the size/shape of the head, hair color/style, and skin tone.  Then you are asked to record a personal message to go along with your avatar by speaking into the mic (which is built into the PS Eye).  Once your character is complete you can jump into one of three game shows, Let’s Get Physical, Frokstar, and Big Beat.  Due to time constraints I only played the first game.

Let’s Get Physical resembles a Japanese physical challenge show and places your avatar into the challenges.  In the “Wheel of Heroes” mini-game you hold the PS Move controller in one hand a shake it back and forth in a running motion to make the avatar run and jump over obstacles.  In “Airheads” you pull back the Move controller to spring yourself out of a slingshot and you have to position the controller to match the silhouette figure on screen.  If you match it up correctly your avatar will fly through the window and you’ll move on to more challenging orientations.

Though the customization aspect of this game is intriguing and quite comedic, the controls were a bit irritating.  In “Airheads” I had trouble matching the controller position to the silhouette figures.  I had to keep reminding myself that PS Move (in combination with the PS Eye) does not track your entire body like Microsoft’s Kinect.  The PS Eye camera only detects the glowing orb atop the Move controller.  So as hard as you try to position your body to match the silhouette configurations on screen you won’t get anywhere unless the Move controller is maneuvered the right way.  Simply put, this game would be a lot more fun if it was made for Kinect, not for PS3.

Game: SOCOM 4

Publisher: Zipper Interactive

Release date: November 2010

The SOCOM franchise is one I hold very close to my heart.  After going through an obsessive phase with SOCOM II on PS2, I have been looking for that same fantastic experience to make its way to the PS3.  After getting some hands-on time with SOCOM 4 (which is developed by SOCOM II publisher Zipper Interactive), I am excited to share with you that this next iteration in the SOCOM franchise is going to be a winner.

With TV Superstars and The Fight: Lights Out Sony is branching out to the casual set of gamers who just want to grab their Move controllers and jump into a quick and easy to maneuver game.  SOCOM 4 exists to prove that even hardcore gamers can get in on the Move action without sacrificing traditional strategic gameplay that SOCOM is known for.  With the Move controller in one hand and the Navigation (sub) controller in the other, you control a character called Ops Com who leads a squad into a war-torn Southeast Asian environment.  Wait, this doesn’t sound like SOCOM, you’re thinking.  Well, it is!  In addition to a robust online multiplayer mode that supports up to 32 players, SOCOM 4 packs a true single player story-driven campaign that places you in command of a squad.  The demo dropped me into a battle with lots of gunfire.  With a tap on the D-pad I can rally the squad around me and direct them where to go.  Overall the Move controls add a level of precision that goes way beyond what the DualShock 2 controller allowed for in SOCOM II.  The subcontroller’s analog stick moves your character around, and the Move controller is used to line up the reticle, set up a shot, and take it.  Although SOCOM 4 will be playable with a standard DualShock 3 controller you’d be crazy not to want to at least try the Move controls.  It’s really not a gimmick in this game; after sitting down with it for a nice chunk of time I’m confident in saying that Move support is going to help SOCOM develop into a better and truly immersive game.  Calling in an airstrike has never been this much fun.

I’ve been talking so much about the single player and motion control goodness that I haven’t even touched upon the stunning graphics yet!  SOCOM 4 looks amazing.  The environments are highly detailed and quite destructible.  If you shoot at a car window glass will shatter into tiny pieces and the shards will gracefully fall to the ground.  All new intense single player; 32-player online gameplay we know and love; precise Move support; and gorgeous graphics–SOCOM 4 will become my next gaming obsession.

Note: Sorry about the degraded sound quality in the video above.  Our mic was having some trouble during this interview.

Game: Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker

Publisher: Kojima Productions

Release date: Available today (PSP)

Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker takes place after the events in Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater.  The game controls are different from Portable Ops, the last MGS title made for PSP.  Thanks to ad-hoc and WiFi support, Peace Walker allows for co-op experiences within the campaign mode.  Check out the brief demo above to see how the analog nub and D-pad control Snake in this game.  Since the demonstration only featured the tutorial level found at the start of the game, I was unable to go through all the motions of the game.  However, from what I saw and was told, Peace Walker is not only a great PSP title, it is being considered one of the best MGS games in the franchise.  As a big fan of creator Hideo Kojima and all the work he’s put into the MGS games over the years, I am very much looking forward to picking up a copy of Peace Walker and advancing the back story of Solid Snake.

The Sony press conference took place at the Shrine Auditorium.  And I was there!  So please continue on, will you?

3D gaming is all the rage in Sony’s world, and so all distinguished guests of their press conference received 3D glasses.  After humorously jabbing Microsoft and their poncho-required Cirque event from the other day, President & CEO of PlayStation Jack Tretton invited Kazuo Hirai to start things off with a gorgeous demo of Killzone 3 in 3D.  Though 3D gaming might sound like a gimmick to many of you, listen here: 3D adds a great sense of depth to the game and likely become an integral part of video games.  Parts of the gameplay featured the use of jetpacks; during these scenes I felt like I was at a Universal Studios theme park ride, fully immersed in an exciting, different world.  In another scene we were taken to the skies via a helicopter and watched a gunman fire at enemies down below.  At one point I asked myself if I was witnessing a video game demo or a scene from Avatar.  Yeah, it was that good.  The 2-part demonstration elicited many oos and ahhs from the crowd.  I might have been the loudest.  In short, 3D added a tremendous amount of excitement to Killzone; after a few seconds of adjusting to the depth perception any distractions that might have existed disappeared.  Killzone 3 from Guerrilla Games drops February 2011 and will be compatible with Sony’s motion controller called Move.  20 games will be made available in 3D for the PS3 by the end of this year.  Sony promises 20 additional titles will be created natively in 3D by March 2011, some of which include Crysis 2, Mortal Kombat, Shaun White Skatebording, Ghost Recon Future Soldier, EyePet, Tron: Evolution, MLB 2K11, NBA 2K11, Motorstorm Apocalypse, Gran Turismo 5, and a Sly Cooper collection.  A short montage of 3D video and gameplay rounded out the first section of the conference; let’s just say fatalities look fantastic and baseball players throwing balls at you is a bit scary in three dimensions.

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In just two days the Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo press conferences will be over and “the big three” will be showing off their latest innovations in hardware and games on the show floor at their respective booths at E3.  Let’s dive into each company’s plans and dissect what they have in store for us.

Xbox 360: You can expect massive titles like Halo: Reach, Gears of War 3, and Fable III to be demoed in real-time and hyped up during the Microsoft press conference.  But the buzz around Microsoft this year surrounds their gaming without controllers initiative codenamed Project Natal.  With a pre-E3 event called “Project Natal for Xbox 360 Experience imagined by Cirque du Soleil” you can expect the motion-capture accessory to dominate Microsoft’s offerings throughout the week.  With Natal Microsoft is first and foremost targeting the casual gamer, looking to expand to the same market Nintendo captured with the Wii.  Natal’s initial launch lineup will be announced and this first batch of games will likely take advantage of Natal in simplistic ways.  I wouldn’t be surprised if the Richochet and Paint Party games that were previewed last year end up shipping with it.  And there’s always little Milo who may certainly star in his own game.  If you’re the hardcore type, it would be remiss for Microsoft to ignore you after all these years of support.  I’ve seen video of Burnout Paradise being used with Natal and Fable III lead designer Peter Molyneux stated in an interview that the next Fable will incorporate Natal functionality.  Whatever the launch lineup may be, I would hope Microsoft has at least a dozen casual games to entice new gamers to their console and a sprinkle of hardcore experiences to satisfy their longtime users.  Also, I wouldn’t be surprised if a new version of the Xbox 360 dashboard took advantage of Natal with a gesture-based UI.  As of now we know Natal is expected to launch this holiday season; the press conference should make things more clear with not only a definitive release date and a price (fingers-crossed under $100), but also a final name for the hardware (although “Natal” has grown on me over the months).

Enough Natal.  Let’s talk games.  I’ve already hit on the big sequel exclusives like Bungie’s Halo: Reach, Epic’s Gears of War 3, and Microsoft Game Studios’ Fable III.  First person shoot XCOM from 2K Games looks fantastic (also available on PC), Capcom’s Dead Rising: Case Zero brings another compelling zombie shooter, and Microsoft Game Studios’ Avatar-based racing game Joy Ride will likely use Natal in more ways than one.  And you can’t forget about the next Assassin’s Creed game from Ubisoft subtitled Brotherhood.

Read on for PS3 and Wii/DS discussion, plus more about third-party games and some “bizarre predictions”! (Click here for more…)

It’s been a long time coming but it’s finally here: 3D gaming on Playstation 3.  Four games will get the stereoscopic 3D treatment and they are WipEout HD, SuperStardust HD, PAIN, and a demo of MotorStorm: Pacific Rift.  Not to far in the distance is The Fight: Lights Out, another 3D-supported game that will take advantage of Playstation Move motion controls.  Thanks to a firmware update in April, your PS3 should be ready to play these 3D offerings.  Besides installing the lastest update, all that’s required to run these games is a 3D TV.  And wouldn’t you know, Sony just announced a slew of 3D-capable BRAVIA sets that come packaged with a Playstation Network voucher to download these four games at no additional cost.

[Via PlaystationBlog]

Linux fans face another defeat.  This time not to the overarching power of software giants Windows and Mac OS but instead Sony and the PlayStation 3.  All PS3 consoles will be stripped of the “Install Other OS” option found in the system settings, disabling users to install Linux onto their PS3s.  Sure, the removal of this feature won’t be affecting the majority of PS3 users, but it is still a mightly blow to Linux fans and console tinkerers.  Why the sudden change in heart?  Sony says it’s “due to security concerns” and that “disabling the “Other OS” feature will help ensure that PS3 owners will continue to have access to the broad range of gaming and entertainment content from SCE and its content partners on a more secure system.”  If you are adament about keeping this option, you’re sorta outta luck; if you do not download firmware update (v3.21) you will lose access to PlayStation Network and playing games online, among other things.  The update hits all PS3s April 1.  It should be noted that all new Slim PS3s were manufactured without the “Other OS” option, so this really only applies to all fat PS3 owners out there.

[Via PSBlog; Engadget]

Sony’s advertisement go-to guy Kevin Butler is back, this time from the future where PlayStation Move is a huge success.  The commercial is filled with mockery against Nintendo’s Wii motion (in)capabilities: “You’ve got the controller and a camera with microphone working together to give you total control over your gaming experience.  Not just like this [he moves his hand side-to-side in 2D space] but this way too [he makes a forward-moving jab in 3D space].  Because real boxers to hit like this [he humorously flails his arms in front of his chest].”  He also makes sure to troll Microsoft’s upcoming, controller-less Project Natal: “PlayStation Move is not only crazy precise, its also got what we in the future call buttons, which turn out to be pretty important to those handful of millions of people who enjoy playing shooters and platformers, or, well, anything that doesn’t involve catching a big red ball.”  Oh, it’s on.

[Via Kotaku]

Yesterday at the Game Developer’s Conference Sony finally made official the PlayStation Motion Controller as PlayStation Move.  Dubbed the “next generation of motion gaming,” PS Move will take on Nintendo’s Wii-mote directly with a wireless Move controller and sub-controller (don’t call it a nunchuck).  Paired with the PlayStation Eye (Sony’s webcam device for the PS3) the PS Move will become an “extension of your body” with near 1:1 motion precision and accuracy.  Sony says the Move’s latency is about the same to that of its DualShock 3 controller (about a 1fps delay).  The Move contains “advanced motion sensors, including a three-axis gyroscope, a three-axis accelerometer, and a terrestrial magnetic field sensor, as well as a color-changing sphere that is tracked by PlayStation Eye camera.”

So what differentiates the Move controller from the Wii-mote?  The answer lies in the Z-plane.  The PS Eye tracks the colored sphere at the front of the controller and can sense when you are moving closer to or farther away from the on-screen action.  The Eye+Motion setup will be able to detect motion in 3D space (the Z-plane) far more effectively than the Wii-mote+Wii sensor bar configuration (especially if you don’t have the WiiMotionPlus add-on).  Other differences from the Wii-mote: the controller and sub-controller wirelessly pair to the PS3 via Bluetooth, they are USB-powered (no batteries), and the sub-controller does not have a motion sensor (the Wii nunchuck does).  Also, since the PS Eye can capture images and voice, augmented reality experiences can incorporated into games.

Sony’s plan is to market the PS Move not just to casual games but also to the rabid hardcore, FPS-lovin’ group of gamers.  They’ve come out and said that 36 third party developers and publishers are on board to make games supporting the new motion controller, promising that over 20 games “that are either dedicated to or supported with the PlayStation Move platform” will release this year.  At the GDC press conference Sony announced the following Motion-supported games, many with tentative titles: Move Party (collection of mini-games with augmented reality features); Sports Champions (think Wii Sports on the PS3; demos included table tennis, sword fighting, and archery); SOCOM 4; TV Superstars; Slider; The Shoot; Motion Fighter; Eye-Pet; and Brunswick Pro Bowling.  Click here to see Joystiq’s hands on coverage of the games.

PlayStation Move will be made available for purchase in three ways come Holiday 2010: a starter kit includes the PS Move controller, PS Eye, and a game and will sell for under $100; you can buy the Move controller standalone; or you can get a PS3 console bundled with the Move controller.  An exact launch date and definitive pricing details will surface as we get closer to the holiday season.

A motion controller for the PS3 is coming soon.  Question is, how will it fare in competition with the Nintendo Wii and the forthcoming Microsoft Project Natal?  Wii-like motion controls being implemented into both casual and hardcore games in high definition sounds tempting, but it all comes down to execution.  If Sony lives up to its promise and makes sure to release a decent variety of motion-supported games inside the launch window the new controller will likely be embraced by many PS3 users.  PlayStation Move will find a niche in the gaming community, especially with a sub-$100 price tag.  Motion-detection offers a new way to experience video games; in particular it invites users to become more immersed in the games they play (like what 3D did with Avatar).   With Wii living in the stone ages (graphics/lack of hardcore third party games support) and hype for Project Natal growing louder every day, the ball is in Sony’s court and it’s up to them to get this right.

Look after the break for the Sony press release and the Move introduction video.  The gallery below contains the first official press shots of the controller and sub-controller.

[Via Engadget, here, here & here; Gizmodo; Kotaku]

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The PlayStation Network is about to get pimped with a slew of new movie releases in glorious high definition from all six major Hollywood studios.  Sony signed a deal with 20th Century Fox, Walt Disney Pictures, Paramount Pictures, Universal Pictures, Warner Bros., and Sony Pictures Entertainment that will bring a wide range of movies available for purchase or rental at the PSN.  The initial batch of 19 include flicks Fantastic Mr. Fox, UP, Star Trek, District 9, Inglourious Basterds, and The Hangover.  Look after the break for the full listing, and check the PSN video hub on your PS3 to find out if your favorites are making their way to PS3 HD land.  Sony is happy to say that the “PlayStation Network is the first and only service to deliver high definition home entertainment from all six major studios, directly to consumers for download”…for now.

[Via PRNewsWire; Engadget]

Can you believe it’s been a whole ten years since PlayStation 2 reinvented the video game console on March 4, 2000?  For many it was their first DVD players, for others it brought sheer pleasure with games like God of War, Guitar Hero, SOCOM, Ratchet and Clank: Up Your Arsenal, Gran Turismo 4, Devil May Cry 3, and Grand Theft Auto III.  It was the PS2 that officially knocked Nintendo off his high horse, introducing video playback and the desire for better, high-end graphics for immersive games.  The legacy of PS2 will live on in our nostolgic hearts and minds.  Check out this timeline (if you haven’t already) that Sony put together in celebration of 15 years of PlayStation.

Late last night Error: 8001050F hit PlayStation 3′s ’round the world.  At first it simply did not allow PS3 users to log into their PlayStation Network accounts and play games online.  Since then things have taken a turn for the worse.  Apparently this error is turning back the console’s clock to January 1, 2000 causing major problems like data loss.  Sony has figured out that the error is only affecting ‘fat’ PS3 models; all PS3 Slim models should be in the clear.  In the meantime, if you own a ‘fat’ PS3, Sony is recommending its customers: DO NOT TURN IT ON until the error is fixed.  Sony “hope[s] to resolve this problem within the next 24 hours.”  Look after the break for official details on the matter straight from PlayStation Blog.

Check back for updates; I’ll be sure to let you know when Sony tells us it’s safe to start gaming and Blu-ray-ing again.  What a disaster.

UPDATE: According to the official PlayStation Blog the PSN bug has been squashed.  They say it’s safe to turn on “phat PS3s” now.  Joystiq spoke to a Sony rep; check out the short Q&A if you are concerned with lost trophy data and the like.  Cue sigh of relief.

[Via PlayStationBlog]

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We knew it was coming but now it’s getting official.  SCEA’s John Koller spills the beans: This summer, two firmware updates will transform the PlayStation 3 into a 3D Blu-ray and 3D gaming machine:

3D is a major part of our initiatives in 2010 and we’re currently developing 3D stereoscopic games to come in conjunction with the launch of Sony’s 3D compatible BRAVIA LCD TV in summer 2010. The amazing thing about the PS3′s technology is that all PS3 units that exist in homes and markets will be able to play 3D stereoscopic games as well as 3D BD movies through separate firmware upgrades – something that other platforms are unable to do. We’ll be announcing actual game titles separately later, but we think that 3D stereoscopic gaming has a ton of potential, particularly in placing consumers within the actual experience.

[Image and info via Gizmodo; Pocket-lint]

Get your Sackboy (or Sackgirl) ready!  It’s been teased that Media Molecule’s LittleBigPlanet will be undergoing a 3D makeover just in time for the Playstation 3 firmware update that will enable 3D gameplay on all PS3s later this year.  LBP joins SuperStarDust HD and Gran Turismo 5 as one of many games that will likely make the conversion to 3D formats.  3D effects will only add to the great depth and vastness that LBP already has to offer.  In the behind-closed-doors demo of LBP in 3D it’s been reported that when Sackboy puts on 3D glass in-game the game environment itself transforms from 2D to 3D.  Rad!

[Via Eurogamer; Kotaku]

Last we heard the tentitively titled PlayStation Motion Controller was due out this Spring.  But that was too good to be true, am I right?  Sony has gone ahead and delayed the mystical motion controller until “fall 2010″ globally.  The delay affects the following countries: Japan, Asia, North America, and Europe.  Why the delay?  Kaz Hirai, President and Group CEO, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.: “We have decided to release the Motion Controller in fall 2010 when we will be able to offer an exciting and varied line-up of software titles that will deliver the new entertainment experience to PS3 users.”  They gotta pump out the games before the accessory is let out into the wild.  Makes sense.  With Microsoft’s Project Natal slated to release “Holiday 2010″ the final quarter of this year looks like it’s going to be an exciting one for gamers.  Full press release after the break.

[Via Engadget]

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People, I have sad news to share with you: Spider-Man 4 is not being made.  Director of the first three movies Sam Raimi and Spider-Man himself Tobey Maguire will not be involved in future Spider-Man films.  I am quite disappointed.

Ramai pulled out of the blockbuster franchise “because he felt he couldn’t make its summer release date and keep the film’s creative integrity,” according to Deadline.  There were disagreements between him and the studio heads.  He wanted to focus on one villain while the studio wanted to incorporate numerous villians.  He insisted that John Malkovich play the villain (Vulture), and the studio wanted to nab Anne Hathaway for the part.  The studio wanted to shoot the film in 3D (look at the financial success from Avatar, right?!), but the Spidey 4 team did not include anyone with background knowledge of shooting in 3D.  With all these issues up in the air and the script getting delayed on more than one occasion, Sony Pictures decided to scrap a fourth installment and reboot the entire franchise with a new production team and actors.

Sony has released an official statement about the matter: “The new chapter in the Spider-Man franchise produced by Columbia, Marvel Studios and Avi Arad and Laura Ziskin, will have a new cast and filmmaking team. Spider-Man 4 was to have been released in 2011, but had not yet gone into production.”  What direction will the new film take?  “Peter Parker is going back to high school when the next Spider-Man hits theaters in the summer of 2012. Columbia Pictures and Marvel Studios announced today they are moving forward with a film based on a script by James Vanderbilt that focuses on a teenager grappling with both contemporary human problems and amazing super-human crises.”  Hm, this could work if executed properly.

Raimi shares his thoughts: “Working on the Spider-Man movies was the experience of a lifetime for me. While we were looking forward to doing a fourth one together, the studio and Marvel have a unique opportunity to take the franchise in a new direction, and I know they will do a terrific job.”  As does Maguire: “I am so proud of what we accomplished with the Spider-Man franchise over the last decade.  Beyond the films themselves I have formed some deep and lasting friendships.  I am excited to see the next chapter unfold in this incredible story.”

When I first heard news that the Spider-Man franchise was going to be rebooted I felt severely disappointed.  Though the third film was not so good, we are all so invested in the characters and the building relationships and themes in the three films.  I believe the franchise is strong and there’s no need to restart the story.  Tobey Maguire is Spider-Man.  What’s happening here is like taking Sean Connery out of a James Bond film only three movies in.  (I am not comparing Maguire to Connery in any way, shape, or form; it’s the idea that counts.)  With word of new a direction–going back in time to witness Peter Parker’s high school days–I feel somewhat confident that such a new story could work, only if executed successfully.  If the reboot is a flop (think what happened with The Hulk, but Ang Lee’s version coming second) my disappointment will turn into sheer anger.  Hopefully the studio can find the right set of actors and come up with a smart story to reignite the Spidey film series.

[Via Deadline]

Your favorite comics have finally come to the PSP with the launch of the Digital Comics service.  This is what you can expect from the initial catalog: “Choose from the battling superheroes of Marvel, including Spider-man, X-Men and the Fantastic Four, to Disney’s Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck. You’ll find TRANSFORMERS and Star Trek from IDW, alongside characters from Titan, iVerse and 2000AD, as well as the latest underground sensations and works from local publishers.”  In the Playstation Store you will now find a Comic Store section where you can browse and purchase the available comics selection.  With a feature called AutoFlow you can move your comic frame-to-frame and zoom in and out.  You also have the option to listen to your music while you read.  Head over to the Playstation Comics website to browse the catalog and chat with other users.  It’s worth mentioning that there is a “free comics” category, so if you’ve got a PSP try it out!  Jump after the break to watch an introduction video to the service.

[Via Engadget; PlaystationBlog]

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FIFA has teamed up with Sony to broadcast 25 matches of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa in high-definition in-your-face 3D.

FIFA Secretary General Jérôme Valcke: “This propels the football fan into a whole new viewing dimension and marks the dawning of a new era in the broadcasting of sport.  We are proud that the FIFA World Cup can serve as a platform for advancing technology and the viewing experience, and are truly fortunate to have Sony as a partner in this endeavour.”

The 25 games will be broadcast live in the following cities around the world: London, Berlin, Mexico City, Paris, Rio De Janeiro, Rome, and Sydney.  I mean, who watches soccer in the US anyways, am I right?

[Via Gizmodo; FIFA]