From joystiq.com:
[QUOTE]
Sony recently updated their US backwards compatibility search website now that the States gets to join in Europe's pain. As we learned during E3, the new 80 GB PS3 does have backwards compatibility issues. All future PS3 models will also have similar BC issues as they'll use the less expensive software emulation program instead of the PS2 native hardware which is currently in the 60GB model. If you're even considering a future purchase of a PS3 and are at all concerned about your consoles' backwards compatibility, it may be well worth it to get the 60GB model while it still exists -- it truly is your best option in case Sony gets lackadaisical about updating their software backwards compatibility like Microsoft was.
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Official Website: http://www.us.playstation.com/Support/CompatibleStatus
Full Story: joystiq.com
Buy PS3 60gb with 8 free Blu-ray movies: amazon.com
Discuss on our forums: forums.ps3scene.com

From gamasutra.com:
[QUOTE]
Wedbush Morgan analyst Michael Pachter has revealed his predictions for August NPD North American hardware and game sales, due after market close on Thursday, September 13.

The analyst's views for console hardware sales for the month of August are as follows:
Wii: 420,000
PS3: 150,000
Xbox 360: 240,000
PS2: 225,000

In July, Sony cut the price of its 60Gb PS3 model from $599 to $499. "Although it is likely that retailers will soon run out of the discontinued 60Gb PS3, we expect a price cut for the new 80Gb model (without a game bundle) to $499 some time before Thanksgiving," Pachter predicted.

He continued: "We think that Sony's recent announcement of an IPO for its financial services unit (with an estimated $3 billion in proceeds) could forebode another PS3 price cut early next year. We believe that the company is interested in subsidizing sales of the console in order to stabilize its market share in the games market and grow its lead in the high-definition DVD market. We expect a price cut no later than April, likely to $399 for the 80Gb model."

Finally, on this subject: "Although we do not expect another PS3, PSP, or 360 price cut this year (nor one for the Wii), we think a cut for the PS2 or DS is possible," Pachter added. "Any hardware price reduction could serve as a catalyst for sales growth later in the year."
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Full Story: gamasutra.com
Discuss on our forums: forums.ps3scene.com

From next-gen.biz:
[QUOTE]
PR boss Dave Karraker officially leaves SCEA today after a year with the firm. Next-Gen asks about handling the PS3's rocky launch, "blackballing" websites and whether game journos are too buddy-buddy with game makers.

* Next-Gen: Was there any specific day at Sony where you just kind of put your head down on your desk and asked yourself, "what have I gotten myself into?"
* Karraker: Well, there have been a lot of challenges, anybody will tell you, since I joined Sony with the launch of the PlayStation 3. I mean, it's been no secret that there were challenges along the way that we had to deal with. But I didn't feel like any of them were insurmountable. This might sound strange to some folks, but [the problems were] kind of fun to take on, figuring out what we could do to solve them and to see if we could move the needle back into the right direction. I think we did a pretty good job doing that.

* There was an issue with Kotaku earlier this year.
* My buddies, yeah.

* There was that whole thing with them breaking the news of PlayStation Home right before GDC. [SCEA subsequently cut off communication with Kotaku over the incident, but reversed its decision after an Internet uproar.] Do you wish you could have handled that differently, and should game makers ever consider totally writing off a publication, or Kotaku is sometimes referred to it, "blackballing"?
* I think that that's about the relationship that you have with that journalist or that blogger in terms of "I've opened up my kimono to you and I expect to be treated fairly." If at any point a company doesn't feel like they're being treated fairly or somebody is so negative against them for no great reason, it's well within the company's right to say "hey, I don't want to deal with you any longer." That's no different from the blogging community or the Wall Street Journal. That's a typical practice across the board So I think that we've made a concerted effort since I came on board to really reach out to the blogging community and, more importantly, to reach out to consumers who utilize the blogging community to get information. I do think that we've made some great strides. We've made some missteps, but that's just kind of learning your way through it. I think that the culmination of our learning is now the PlayStation Blog, which I think, if we have to say so ourselves, is an excellent tool for consumers to get inside information about the company, about the games, and the kind of stuff they want to hear about.
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Full Story: next-gen.biz
Discuss on our forums: forums.ps3scene.com

From next-gen.biz:
[QUOTE]
PS3 sales are likely to have been given a boost by the release of Bladestorm: The Hundred Years' War, in at No2 on the latest Japanese software chart.

The figures for the week ended September 2:
Wii - 39,371
PlayStation 3 - 18,068
PlayStation 2 - 14,280
Xbox 360 - 1,635
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Full Story: next-gen.biz
Discuss on our forums: forums.ps3scene.com

From gamasutra.com:
[QUOTE]
Yoichi Wada, president of Japanese publisher and developer Square Enix, has called for Sony to establish "an unwavering marketing strategy" for the PlayStation 3 with a series of implicit criticisms of the company's marketing efforts to date.

As reported by the Reuters news agency, Wada told reporters that: "Sony first unveiled the PS3 as a mighty home electronics product. Then, after some badgering from game companies, it shifted the position of the console closer to a game machine."
"[The future of the PS3] would be tough if its marketing strategy is not straightened up," he added.
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Full Story: gamasutra.com
Discuss on our forums: forums.ps3scene.com

From kotaku.com:
[QUOTE]
With the 80GB model of the PS3, Americans were invited to feel some of Europe's pain. Gone was the promise of near-universal PS2 backwards compatability, replaced with a software-based emulation system where many games work, many games work with issues and some games do not work. At all. I say some of Europe's pain, though, because half the hassle of it all is in checking the PAL BC list on SCEE's torturous BC site to see if your games work. See, the site does not contain a search function. The newly-launched US search site does, allowing you to enter the name of your PS2 games into a small text field, conduct a search and be provided with a prompt answer.
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Full Story: kotaku.com
Discuss on our forums: forums.ps3scene.com

From gamesindustry.biz:
[QUOTE]
Sony has dismissed claims that it issued a release schedule showing launch dates for key PSP, PS2 and PlayStation 3 titles, including online community service Home.
Key titles mentioned include Ratchet and Clank PS3, Uncharted: Drake's Progress and Gran Turismo 5 Prologue. A "tentative" date of October 11 is given for PlayStation Home.

But a spokesperson for SCE UK told GamesIndustry.biz, "That's not an official release schedule. None of the dates on the list have been confirmed at this time.
"I don't know where Kotaku have taken them from or why they're claiming 'SCEE have clarified dates' as we haven't sent them anything, and neither have our Central office."
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Full Story: gamesindustry.biz
Discuss on our forums: forums.ps3scene.com

From gamepro.com:
[QUOTE]
SCEA head of public relations, Dave Karraker, announced on Wednesday that he will be leaving the company effective Sept. 7 after just one year. Analyst Michael Pachter says the executive will be missed during what he calls a "difficult holiday" for the PS3.

Karraker played a key role in helping Sony brave the public relation waters of a tumultuous PS3 launch year by making himself readily available to both traditional and new media outlets. It was a position that we called the toughest job in video games this past May.

"The other PR people at Sony are quite competent, but it would help to strengthen the team with someone as good as Dave to handle the schizophrenic press over the next 6 months," Pachter told us.
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Full Story: gamepro.com
Discuss on our forums: forums.ps3scene.com

From ps3fanboy.com:
[QUOTE]
We've received many, many complaints from PlayStation 3 owners who are complaining that after upgrading to firmware 1.92, they've been unable to connect to the PlayStation Network, the Store, or the Warhawk servers. The problem seems to happen immediately after the upgrade, but for some people (PS3 Fanboy writers included) the issue will crop up randomly days later.

We contacted Patrick Seybold, Sony's Senior PR manager, about the ongoing network issues and he confirmed that Sony is indeed aware of it and are actively working on a fix. When he gets more details, he said he'd pass it on to us and of course we'll let you know as soon as we hear anything.
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Full Story: ps3fanboy.com
Discuss on our forums: forums.ps3scene.com

From gamasutra.com:
[QUOTE]
In an email sent to media outlets, Sony's PR head Dave Karraker has surprisingly announced that he is leaving the company on September 7th for a new position heading PR for Skyy Spirits, almost a year to the day after his appointment.

In his email, Karraker commented brightly: "I have enjoyed immensely my tenure at SCEA and think the company and its brands are very well positioned to have an exceptional holiday and a very bright future. I look forward to continuing to follow this industry as a gamer, rather than a spokesperson."

The Sony executive, who has been interviewed by Gamasutra multiple times regarding the PlayStation 3 and its launch, gave no reason for his departure, commenting that it was a "difficult decision" to reach.
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Full Story: gamasutra.com
Discuss on our forums: forums.ps3scene.com

From PlayStation Blog
[QUOTE]
As Kotaku, Joystiq and others are pointing out, we've released a minor firmware update (version 1.92) for the PS3. This update focuses on some PS3 compatibility and playability issues for select titles. A search site for looking up compatible titles is also in the works, as soon as it's live, I'll publish a link to it here.
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Discuss on our forums: forums.ps3scene.com

From gamasutra.com:
[QUOTE]
Digital media content delivery network Limelight Networks has announced that its technology has been adopted by Sony Computer Entertainment to deliver system software updates ranging in size up to 150 MB directly to PlayStation 3 and PSP users.

Limelight also recently announced a partnership with Microsoft to "help improve the reliability" of Microsoft's online services, such as Xbox Live, and to provide global media streaming and content delivery services to Microsoft, building on an agreement the two signed last year to designate Limelight as Xbox Live's content delivery network.
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Full Story: gamasutra.com
Discuss on our forums: forums.ps3scene.com

From gamesindustry.biz:
[QUOTE]
Sony will sell around 34.5 per cent of its Financial Holdings company, raising around JPY 332 billion (USD 2.9 billion) in the process.

According to a report on Bloomberg, the proceeds could then be used to fund the production of more consumer electronics goods, such as Bravia televisions, as well as enabling a cash injection to the PlayStation division.
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Full Story: gamesindustry.biz
Discuss on our forums: forums.ps3scene.com

From gamesindustry.biz:
[QUOTE]
The simExchange has released an analyst research report indicating that it believes Sony needs to drop the price of the PlayStation 3 in the coming weeks or months in order to remain competitive with the Xbox 360 in North America.

The report, by analyst Jesse Divinch, indicates that either a USD 100 price cut or an added-value bundle would help to reduce the apparently widening gap with the Microsoft console.

If Sony does announce a price cut, the logical time to do that would be the Tokyo Game Show, taking place later this month - and such a move might have repercussions on the market share in its home territory as well.
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Full Story: gamesindustry.biz
Discuss on our forums: forums.ps3scene.com

From engadget.com:
[QUOTE]
Ok, so we can confirm Sony's just pushed out the PlayStation 3 v1.92 update, the first new firmware in over a month.

The update appears limited to performance enhancements for the PlayStation Store and PS2 game support -- minor updates in line with a point-0-0 release.
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According to Sony, the only thing that changed is:
* Playability status with the PS3 system has changed for some PLAYSTATION3 format titles. (This does not affect titles in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Oceania)

Full Story: engadget.com
Discuss on our forums: forums.ps3scene.com

From Team Xtender
[QUOTE]
Team X-tender is proud to announce the e-setter for the PS3. It is designed for PS3 owners who may have two or more TV displays at home and is said to eliminate the need to set the output resolution on each display which can take quite a bit of time on the PS3 if you are a frequent mover. The e-setter will easily set up the output resolution via the touch of a button so you can get the desired set-up on any of your displays in seconds.
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Discuss on our forums: forums.ps3scene.com

From next-gen.biz:
[QUOTE]
"When you consider the cost of developing on today's platforms, I think it's a logical progression that they're all thinking of making their games cross-platform," Hirai said of third party developers.

"But I think it's important that third parties use the unique characteristics of the platform to add a little bit of extra flavour to their games. For example, with the PS3, you've got the Sixaxis controller, or you could utilise the extra capacity provided by Blu-ray to add more levels, put on interviews with the developers or have your videos able to play in 1080p. I think it's really important that we talk with third party developers so that they can have these interesting extras in the PlayStation 3 version."
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Full Story: next-gen.biz
Discuss on our forums: forums.ps3scene.com

From gamesradar.com:
[QUOTE]
Sony Computer Entertainment's president, Kaz Hirai, in the latest issue of Official PlayStation Magazine:

"If you look back at the commentary we received when we launched PS2, there was a lot of talk to the effect that 'It's very difficult to program for' and 'It's easier on a Dreamcast'. It's happened before," Hirai told OPM, acknowledging that PS3 is a more complex animal for developers to work with compared to its rivals. "If they came back and told me, 'PS3? We can do this in a heartbeat,' that would be worrying because what it is telling me is that we're not pushing the envelope from a technology standpoint."
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Full Story: gamesradar.com
Discuss on our forums: forums.ps3scene.com

From tech.co.uk:
[QUOTE]
The high definition format war between HD DVD and Blu-ray could be all over in 18 months time. That's what the Chairman of the Blu-ray Disc Association hinted at today in an interview with Tech.co.uk.

Frank Simonis, also the senior director of communications at Philips, said that while he refuses to predict victory for Blu-ray, the consumers will decide and exciting things will happen in the next year and a half.

"Due to the fact that we have some hard competition which sometimes makes strange moves, it's very unpredictable. But I think in the next 18 months it will be very exciting to see what's going on.

"Especially with more products coming to market, the price erosion that will for sure happen because competition between the different players will automatically fuel that part of the business. And of course the broader support that we get from the software industry will excite the consumer very heavily."
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Full Story: tech.co.uk
Discuss on our forums: forums.ps3scene.com

From next-gen.biz:
[QUOTE]
An SCEE spokesperson has confirmed to Next-Gen that Lair is the first PlayStation 3 Blu-ray title playable on PSP via Remote Play.

Remote Play is a feature that lets gamers share content between their PlayStation 3 and PSP, locally using the devices' in-built wireless features or remotely via an access point.
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Full Story: next-gen.biz
Discuss on our forums: forums.ps3scene.com

From timesonline.co.uk:
[QUOTE]
The increasingly dirty technology war being fought for dominance of "next generation" DVDs took another twist today when one of China's largest film distribution groups said it would back Blu-ray, the technology developed by Sony and Philips.

China Film Group, in addition to producing movies such as Kung Fu Hustle and a range of popular film and TV series for its domestic market, plays a central role in the distribution of foreign films in China, acting as a de-facto regulator.
Analysts said that China Film Group's move was evidence that the struggle between Blu-ray discs and the rival format, HD-DVD, would be heavily influenced by the choices of content providers and consumers in Asia.
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From ps3fanboy.com:
[QUOTE]
Xperinet has announced their full support for the Blu-ray format recently. This company previously worked on both formats, but has decided to go exclusive with the Blu. We're not trying to make this seem as big a deal as the Paramount/Dreamworks defection, but it's still another company we can welcome into our fold, give them a soft bathrobe, and play classical music to. For those not in the know, like us, Xperinet creates media servers that network all your home entertainment together -- for example, storing DVDs onto its hard drive for viewing on any TV in your house. Now they plan to do that with Blu-ray.
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Full Story: timesonline.co.uk and ps3fanboy.com
Discuss on our forums: forums.ps3scene.com