Since last month all the major players on the Blu-ray market started a small war, flooding us with offers to drive the Blu-ray sales. It started with Wal-mart offering the new Magnavox NB500MG9 for under $300. A fews weeks later we see Amazon and then Best Buy start throwing in baits to get consumers to buy Blu-ray movies and players from them. Amazon started slashing prices, bundling movies together and now has a HD week with amazing prices on the ‘Gold Box’ page. Best Buy is pushing their Insignia player with a $100 book of coupons. Now is Wal-mart’s turn again: They are also offering $100 in coupons but with the purchase of any Blu-ray player. Out of all these promotions, I would probably go with this last one because it is valid for any player including the Playstation 3. The PS3 has currently the best cost/benefit ratio, the promo basically makes the Sony console sell at $299. Besides being the only profile 2.0 player already selling, it has the potential to be upgraded with firmwares and you can also make your kids happy giving them games to play!

Or you can buy the mediocre Magnavox NB500MG9 for $198. Your choice!

They are also offering selected Blu-ray movie titles for 15 bucks! Some of the titles are: 3:10 to Yuma, War, Shooter, 300 and The Fifth Element.

Yes, this is great stuff and if you are waiting for a great opportunity to enter the “Blu” World this may be your chance! Check out their web site! This promo is valid from June 8 through June 14.

Popularity: 35% [?]

Game developers will soon be able to use DivX video encoding when making Playstation3 (PS3) games. DivX, Inc announced that the console will be the first to be able to use the encoding technology to compress lengthy video segments into small sizes while maintaining relatively high visual quality. The DivX codec uses lossy MPEG-4 Part 2 compression, also known as MPEG-4 ASP, where quality is balanced against file size for utility. In other words, PS3 will be able to have much bigger videos using the same amount of BD disc space.

“We are excited to work with Sony Computer Entertainment to offer DivX video encoding to PS3 game developers,” said Kevin Hell, CEO of DivX, Inc. “PS3 users can already use their PS3s to watch their own DivX videos, and now they’ll also be able to enjoy the quality of DivX in the games.”

Popularity: 9% [?]

Sony has released a list of upcoming games for the remainder of the year as well as early 2009! Some of them we already knew about but… we are still looking forward to trying them out. Many other exciting games are also coming since PS3 is just “getting started” :p The console should have some years ahead before a newer, better and meaner comes out!

Here is just a small list:

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SOCOM: US Navy SEALs Confrontation - (Available September 2008 / Not Yet Rated)

With the power of PS3, SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Confrontation will deliver the most intense and authentic high definition modern combat action. Delivering a global-scale combat experience that has been refined over four generations of the SOCOM franchise, SOCOM Confrontation gives players the opportunity to battle against the best and brightest from the U.S., Europe and Asia. Players will be able to modify their appearance through facial and physical customization and battle across seven North African environments, including a 32-player version of the most popular SOCOM map of all time “Crossroads.” Additional themed packs containing new Special Forces, weapons, maps and features will be made available for download via the PLAYSTATION Store. We already covered this game in more detail here!

Little Big Planet - (Available October 2008 / Not Yet Rated)

Developed by Media Molecule, LittleBigPlanet is a new aPS3 title that establishes a new genre called “creative gaming.” LittleBigPlanet allows players to Play, Create and Share inside a glued-together and hand-stitched 3D landscape. Players customize and control their burlap Sackboy (or Sackgirl) character and can PLAY alone or with up to three others, exploring a variety of developer-created levels. Also, using a simple tool system, players can CREATE their own objects and even full levels. Players can then SHARE these creations with their friends or with the world through the online PLAYSTATION Network community.

NBA 09 - (Available Fall 2008 / Not Yet Rated)

NBA 09 builds on the technology and features of NBA 08 with more advanced graphics and gameplay control to deliver an experience catering to hardcore basketball fans and casual gamers alike. For the first time, NBA 09 brings “The Life” mode to PS3, delivering gamers the most detailed and engaging NBA experience both on the court and behind the scenes. Additionally, NBA 09 will feature a full Franchise mode, where gamers can run their own virtual team on every level - from determining salaries, to deciding playing time, to making trades. Progression mode, where players are rewarded experience and attributes during gameplay, returns with players now able to track “team progression” for all five characters. Extending playability, NBA 09 will bring back NBA Replay mode, where players will be able to re-enact highlight performances from the real NBA season to gain additional rewards. Other key features include expanded commentary, a variety of mini-games, and full online gameplay action.

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About BUZZ! Quiz TV - (Available Fall 2008 / Not Yet Rated)

This fall BUZZ!, the popular quiz showfranchise, makes its way for the first time to PS3 with BUZZ! Quiz TV. It comes stocked with five different channels of questions including Music, Movies & TV, Sports, Brainiac and Lifestyle, combining to deliver over 5,000 questions. Extending the quiz show network beyond the disc, up to four players from anywhere in the U.S. can team up for trivia showdowns in the online multiplayer mode, Sofa vs. Sofa, and new quiz packs to be available for download from the PLAYSTATION Network. Also, for trivia fans wanting to see if they can trump others with their own vast library of knowledge, Mybuzzquiz.com will provide a global community for players to create and share their own quizzes online and make available to download on PS3.

MotorStorm Pacific Rift - (Available Fall 2008 / Not Yet Rated)

The most brutal offroad racing festival is back, with players this time attempting to tackle the diversity and unpredictability of a remote Pacific island environment. Developed by Evolution Studios exclusively for PS3, MotorStorm Pacific Rift revisits the intense racing action introduced in last year’s MotorStorm, this time allowing players to navigate a radically different tropical environment chock full of lush jungle, towering peaks, and crystal-clear water. Players will experience a greater selection of tracks and vehicles to choose, as well as extensive multiplayer options including four player split screen and races with up to 20 players online. Additionally players will be able to utilize a new photo mode to save images within the game and for the first time be able to take music from their PS3’s HDD to create a customized soundtrack.

Resistance 2 - (November 2008 / Not Yet Rated)

On the brink of annihilation, mankind resumes the fight against the unstoppable Chimera on the shores of the United States. Thus the stage is set for Resistance 2, the follow-up to Insomniac Games’ best-selling PS3 launch title. Players will once again step into the war-torn boots of Sgt. Nathan Hale, who not only faces near impossible odds on the battlefield, but also struggles with the Chimera virus raging inside his own body. In addition to an epic single-player campaign, Resistance 2 will offer a truly unprecedented eight-player, class-based online co-op campaign and 60-player online competitive multiplayer built upon a massive battles, greater intimacy mantra. Also, players can expect tightly integrated community support via MyResistance.net.

Killzone 2 - (Available February 2009 / Not Yet Rated)

Developed by Guerilla Games, Killzone 2 is a first-person shooter created exclusively for PS3. Killzone 2 brings a highly detailed, ultra-realistic “theater of war”, where players encounter lifelike and adaptable artificial intelligence (A.I.) from enemies as well as fellow soldiers, destructible environments, and stunningly detailed scenery. Set on the hostile enemy planet of Helghan, players will once again join the ranks of the ISA with a directive to battle through the harsh environment to capture the Helghast emperor and bring the enemy war machine to a halt. With an extensive single-player campaign and thrilling multi-player mode, Killzone 2 delivers a host of new weapons, vehicles, and gameplay elements all wrapped in an intense storyline.

Popularity: 25% [?]

Today, PS3 announced the release of its 2.20 firmware upgrade, which includes the new Interactive Blu-ray Movie Features BD-LIVE. According to Sony it will be available in late March. That, on my calendar, means 1 week and a half max!

With this release, PS3 will be the first Blu-ray player available right now able to play BD-Live (also known as profile 2.0) content. BD-Live enables the following features:

• Download programming from the Web as well as handle picture-in-picture playback.
• A variety of downloads, including online games, bonus scenes, shorts, trailers subtitles and ringtones.
• “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.
• “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.

For now, there are not many movies that will be able showcase the new addition. Those titles are: War and Saw IV (currently available) and Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story and The 6th Day (To be released in April)

Upgrades are always welcome! (When don’t create bugs, of course! :))

Bellow you’ll find a video talking about the new feature!

Popularity: 9% [?]