PlayStation Around The Web: What We Read + Posted by Sid Shuman

Nov 13 2011

PlayStation Around The Web: What We Read

+ Posted by Sid Shuman

Jeff‘s on some well-deserved R-and-R, so I’ll be helming this week’s reading list. No surprises here: The launch of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and Call of Duty: MW3 dominated mindshare, while UNCHARTED 3 continues to earn top marks.
One more thing: Some PlayStation.Blog readers have mentioned encountering issues with our new YouTube-based video platform, particularly videos that require an age verification to see (i.e. Mature-rated videos). Below, we’ve embedded a video. If you don’t see it, please help us by leaving a comment outlining a) your operating system (Windows, Mac, Android, etc) b) your web browser and version number c) a description of the problems you are seeing (missing video, non-functional video, error code, etc) and d) any other information that seems important.
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19 Comments  // 3 Replies Tagged: recap

(Average: 4.39 out of 5)

Nov 12 2011

The PlayStation Recap — The UNCHARTED Scrolls 3: Call of Skyrim Edition

+ Posted by Sid Shuman

These days, you’ll most often find me hunched on the carpet in front of my PS3 surrounded by maps, game guides, and empty Diet Coke cans as I struggle (mostly in vain) to keep up with this fall’s imposing software lineup. I’ve been punctuating my lengthy Skyrim sessions with Modern Warfare 3 multiplayer matches (nice to see it supports splitscreen MP) and chapters from UNCHARTED 3‘s well-paced narrative. In my 20-year history of game playing, I can’t remember a fall game lineup that tops what we’re seeing on the PS3 right now. Inspiring!
What are you playing this weekend? What’s your all-time favorite fall lineup?
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37 Comments  // 21 Replies Tagged: recap

(Average: 4.42 out of 5)

The Drop: Week of November 14th 2011 New Releases + Posted by Rey Gutierrez

Nov 13 2011

The Drop: Week of November 14th 2011 New Releases

+ Posted by Rey Gutierrez

This week, The Drop takes you back in time to the vast ancient city of Constantinople in Assassin’s Creed: Revelations, then shoots you forward into the criminal underbelly of Stilwater in Saints Row: The Third, then finally scrubs your face in the hot asphalt between San Francisco and New York in Need for Speed: The Run. The PlayStation Move delivers a trinity of great PS3 tiles this week with Medieval Moves: Deadmund’s Quest, Carnival Island, and EyePet & Friends.
On the PSN front, dinosaurs return from extinction and into your PS3 with Jurassic Park: The Game. The winner of several (well-deserved) Game of the Year Awards in 2010, Red Dead Redemption plants you in the middle of the Wild West with a full digital download.
The PS3 continues to deliver in this week’s The Drop.

ModNation Racers: Road Trip Track Studio – Your Wish is Our Command! + Posted by Mark Wilson

Nov 14 2011

ModNation Racers: Road Trip Track Studio – Your Wish is Our Command!

+ Posted by Mark Wilson

One of the keys is designing ModNation Racers: Road Trip was listening carefully to our current community’s input. They gave us their wish list and like a genie in a bottle we are ecstatic to reveal these great new additions to track your creating arsenal.
1. Multiple Themes: With the power of Vita San Diego Studio was able to give the user access to up to five times more “goodies” to create with than on PS3. In ModNation Racers: Road Trip the creator has access to over 20 different prop themes and can now mix-n-match up to fifteen of those into their track’s creation.
This means ModNation Racers: Road Trip players can now look forward to experience whole new un-seen worlds. Now THAT is cool! I can’t wait to see them!

Other Hardware

PSX

The PSX

Released solely in Japan in 2003, the Sony PSX was a fully integrated DVR and PlayStation 2 video game console. It was the first Sony product to utilize the XrossMediaBar (XMB) and can be linked with a PlayStation Portable to transfer videos and music via USB. It also features software for video, photo and audio editing.^[ PSX supports online game compatibility using an internal broadband adapter. Games that utilize the PS2 HDD (for example, Final Fantasy XI) are supported as well. It was the first product released by Sony under the PlayStation brand that did not include a controller with the device itself.

PocketStation

PocketStation

The PocketStation was a miniature game console created by SCE as a peripheral for the original PlayStation. Released exclusively in Japan on December 23, 1999, it featured a monochrome LCD display, a speaker, a real-time clock and infrared communication capability. It could also be used as a standard PlayStation memory card by connecting it to a PlayStation memory card slot.^[ It was extremely popular in Japan and Sony originally had plans to release it in the United States but the plan was ultimately scrapped due to various manufacturing and supply-and-demand problems.

Television sets

Released in 2010, the Sony BRAVIA KDL22PX300 is a 22 inch 720p television which incorporates a PlayStation 2 console, along with 4 HDMI ports.
Playstation branded 3D TV said to be released in late 2011.

Sony Ericsson Xperia Play

Main article: Sony Ericsson Xperia Play

The Xperia Play is a phone developed by Sony Ericsson aimed at gamers and is the first to be PlayStation Certified.

PSP Go model

Piano Black PSP Go (open position)

Released in October 2009, the PSP Go is the biggest redesign of the PlayStation Portable to date. Unlike previous PSP models, the PSP Go does not feature a UMD drive but instead has 16 GB of internal flash memory to store games, videos and other media. This can be extended by up to 32GB with the use of a Memory Stick Micro (M2) flash card. Also unlike previous PSP models, the PSP Go's rechargeable battery is not removable or replaceable by the user. The unit is 43% lighter and 56% smaller than the original PSP-1000, and 16% lighter and 35% smaller than the PSP-3000. It has a 3.8" 480 × 272 LCD (compared to the larger 4.3" 480 × 272 pixel LCD on previous PSP models). The screen slides up to reveal the main controls. The overall shape and sliding mechanism are similar to that of Sony's mylo COM-2 internet device. The PSP Go is being produced and sold concurrently with its predecessor the PSP-3000 although it will not replace it. All games on the PSP Go must be purchased and downloaded from the PlayStation Store as the handheld is not compatible with the original PSP's physical media, the Universal Media Disc. The handheld also features connectivity with the PlayStation 3's controllers the Sixaxis and DualShock 3 via Bluetooth connection.

PlayStation Portable

The original PlayStation Portable.

Released in March 2005, the PlayStation Portable (PSP) was Sony's first handheld console to compete with Nintendo's DS console. The console is the first to utilize a new proprietary optical storage medium known as Universal Media Disc (UMD), which can store both games and movies. It contains 32 MB of internal flash memory storage, expandable via Memory Stick PRO Duo cards. It has a similar control layout to the PS3 with its PlayStation logo button and its ('Triangle'), ('Circle/O'), ('Cross/X') and ('Square') buttons.

2000 and 3000 models

A PSP-2000 console

Main articles: PSP Slim and Lite and PSP-3000

Released in September 2007, the PSP Slim & Lite (also known as the PSP-2000) was the first major hardware revision of the PlayStation Portable. The Slim & Lite was 33% lighter and 19% slimmer than the original PlayStation Portable. The capacity of the battery was also reduced by ⅓ but the run time remained the same as the previous model due to lower power consumption. Older model batteries will still work and they extend the amount of playing time. The PSP Slim & Lite has a new gloss finish. Its serial port was also modified in order to accommodate a new video-out feature (while rendering older PSP remote controls incompatible). On a PSP-2000, PSP games will only output to external monitors or TVs in progressive scan mode, so that televisions incapable of supporting progressive scan will not display PSP games; non-game video will output in either progressive or interlaced mode. USB charging was also made possible. Buttons are also reportedly more responsive on the Slim and Lite. In 2008, Sony released a second hardware revision called the PSP-3000 which included several features that were not present in the Slim & Lite, such as a built-in microphone and upgraded screen. As well as the ability to output PSP games in interlaced mode.

PlayStation 3

Released on November 11, 2006, the PlayStation 3 is the third and current iteration in the series. It competes with the Xbox 360 and the Wii in the seventh generation of video game consoles. It is the first console in the series to introduce the use of motion controls in games through the use of the SIXAXIS Wireless Controller along with other features, such as Blu-ray Disc (BD) and Full High-definition resolution graphics capability. The PlayStation 3 comes in 20 GB, 40 GB, 60 GB, 80 GB, 160 GB, 120 GB, 250 GB, and 320 GB, with only the 160, and 320 being the current models. Like its predecessors, a slimmer redesigned model of the console has been released. As of December 25, 2010, the PlayStation 3 has sold 41.5 million units worldwide according to Sony Computer Entertainment.

Redesigned Model

Released in 2009, the redesigned model of the PlayStation 3 is the only model in production. The redesigned model is 33% smaller, 36% lighter, and consumes 34% to 45% less power than previous models. In addition, it features a redesigned cooling system and a smaller Cell processor which was moved to a 45nm manufacturing process. It sold in excess of a million units within its first 3 weeks on sale. The redesign also features support for CEC (more commonly referred to by its manufacturer brandings of BraviaSync, VIERA Link, EasyLink and others) which allows control of the console over HDMI by using the remote control as the controller. The PS3 slim also runs quieter and is cooler than previous models due to its 45 nm Cell. The PS3 Slim no longer has the "main power" switch (similar to PlayStation 2 slim), like the previous PS3 models, which was located at the back of the console. It was officially released on September 1, 2009 in North America and Europe and on September 3, 2009 in Japan, Australia and New Zealand.

PlayStation 2

Released in 2000, 15 months after the Dreamcast and a year before its other competitors, the Xbox and the Nintendo GameCube, the PlayStation 2 is part of the sixth generation of video game consoles, and is backwards-compatible with most original PlayStation games (an original PlayStation (not PlayStation 2) memory card is required to save games). Like its predecessor, it has received a slimmer redesign, and was also released built-in to the PSX DVR and the Sony BRAVIA KDL22PX300 HDTV. It is the most successful console in the world, having sold over 150 million units as of January 31, 2011. On November 29, 2005, the PS2 became the fastest game console to reach 100 million units shipped, accomplishing the feat within 5 years and 9 months from its launch. This achievement occurred faster than its predecessor, the PlayStation, which took "9 years and 6 months since launch" to reach the same figure.

Slimline Model

Main article: PlayStation 2 Slimline

Released in 2004, four years after the launch of the original PlayStation 2, the PlayStation 2 Slimline was the first major redesign of the PlayStation 2. Compared to its predecessor, the Slimline was smaller, thinner, quieter and also included a built-in Ethernet port (in some markets it also has an integrated modem). In 2007, Sony began shipping a revision of the Slimline which was lighter than the original Slimline together with a lighter AC adapter.^[22] In 2008, Sony released yet another revision of the Slimline which had an overhauled internal design incorporating the power supply into the console itself like the original PlayStation 2 resulting in a further reduced total weight of the console.

PlayStation

The original PlayStation

Main article: PlayStation (console)

The original PlayStation released in December 1994 was the first of the ubiquitous PlayStation series of console and hand-held game devices. It has included successor consoles and upgrades including the Net Yaroze (a special black PlayStation with tools and instructions to program PlayStation games and applications), "PSone" (a smaller version of the original) and the PocketStation (a handheld which enhances PlayStation games and also acts as a memory card). It was part of the fifth generation of video game consoles competing against the Sega Saturn and the Nintendo 64. By March 31, 2005, the PlayStation and PSone had shipped a combined total of 102.49 million units, becoming the first video game console to sell 100 million units.

The redesigned PS One with optional LCD Screen

Main article: PSone

Released on July 7, 2000, concurrently with its successor the PlayStation 2, the PSone was a considerably smaller, redesigned version of the original PlayStation video game console. The PSone went on to outsell all-other consoles, including its successor, throughout the remainder of the year. It featured two main changes from its predecessor, the first being a cosmetic change to the console and the second being the home menu's Graphical User Interface.

How to register yourself on the PlayStation Network

First go to

http://store.playstation.com/store/index.vm

Click on the top right on "connection / subscription"

Click "I want to create a new account"

Start the registration process, click "Continue"

Enter your country, language and date of birth and click "continue"

Click on "Master Account"

Click OK

Enter letters and numbers in the box. If you make a mistake do not worry, you can enter a new code. Then click "Continue"

Enter your email, password and question / answer security. This concerns your Playstation Network, not your email!

An email is sent to you, go to your mailbox.

PlayStation History

PlayStation was the brainchild of Ken Kutaragi, a Sony executive who had just come out of his hardware engineering division at that time and would later be dubbed as "The Father of the PlayStation".

The console's origins date back to 1986 where it was originally a joint project between Nintendo and Sony to create a CD-ROM for the Super Famicom/SNES console.

The PlayStation made its debut at the Consumer Electronics Show in June 1991 when Sony revealed its console, a Super Famicom/SNES with a built-in CD-ROM drive (that incorporated Green Book technology or CDi). However, a day after the announcement at CES, Nintendo announced that it would be breaking its partnership with Sony, opting to go with Philips instead but using the same technology

Coming updates

The updates that i'll be giving you in the next few posts will be about PlayStation history, who created it and what were the response of the audience. Also i'll be telling you how to register yourself to the PlayStation network and its services.

WHY I CHOSE PLAY STATION.

The PlayStation ( officially abbreviated PS) brand is a series of video games console created and developed by Sony Computer Entertainment spanning the fifth, sixth, and seventh generations of video gaming, the brand was first introduced on December 3, 1994 in Japan. The first console in the series, the PlayStation, was the first video game console to ship 100 million units after 9 years and 6 months of its initial launch.Its successor, PlayStation 2, is the best-selling console to date, having reached over 150 million units sold as of January 31, 2011.Sony's current console, PlayStation 3, has sold over 50 million consoles worldwide as of March 29, 2011.The first handheld game console in the PlayStation series, PlayStation Portable (PSP), has sold a total of 67.8 million units worldwide as of February 25, 2011.PlayStation includes a variety of online services to their customers PS store , PS applications, PS blogs and many more. The PlayStation brand has a wide series of magazines, from across different continents, covering PlayStation related articles and stories.

HOW TO CREATE A BLOG.

To create a self-hosted blog (more on why self-hosted is better later), you need a domain name (yoursite.com) and a web host.

Let me tell you how I created this blog.

If you already have a Google account, just type in your user name and password in the top right fields and click Sign In. If you don’t already have a Google account, click on Create Your Blog Now and fill in the required fields. You can use ANY email to sign up for a Google blogger account. Choose a title and address for your blog that describes your organization. Next choose a template from their library to figure out what you want your blog to look like (preferably choose a template that goes with your logo. This can be changed any time. Begin posting information on your blog by clicking Start Posting! Go to the account settings if you want to be able to email posts to the blog, change the user comment settings, update with mobile, or change the side blocks.Make it more professional by buying a domain and directing it your blog. Go to the 'settings' tab and click on 'publishing'. A domain costs $10 per year.

WHAT IS A BLOG?

A blog is a personal diary. A daily pulpit. A collaborative space. A political soapbox. A breaking-news outlet. A collection of links. Your own private thoughts. Memos to the world.A blog is your best bet for a voice among the online crowd. It's a personal website, packed with features, as easy
to use as your e-mail. A blog is often a mixture of what is happening in a person's life and what is
happening on the Web, a kind of hybrid diary/guide site, although there are as
many unique types of blogs as there are people.
People maintained blogs long before the term was coined, but the trend gained
momentum with the introduction of automated published systems, most notably
Blogger at blogger.com. Thousands of people use services such as Blogger to
simplify and accelerate the publishing process.
Blogs are alternatively called web logs or weblogs.
However, "blog" seems less likely to cause confusion, as "web log" can also mean
a server's log files.