From
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In lieu of firmware 2.17 release, RichB93 has made a excellent guide to tell you how to bypass the firmware check so you can actually login to PSN on lower firmwares. (<2.17).

We have had confirmation of people being able to connect to PSN on any firmware lower than 2.17

Take a look at his guide HERE for those interested.
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Full Story: ps3hax.net
Discuss on our forums: forums.ps3scene.com

From pslegion.com:
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Dubbed ‘the man who knows too much', their insider teases us with some of the latest PlayStation murmurings:
* In game XMB will be coming, however not for a few months yet.
* He tells us to expect a ‘big' announcement involving Home, including information about ‘trophies' or achievements "to rival the Xbox live system".
* A sequel for a popular Xbox 360 title will be ‘received' soon, and that it will be making its first appearance on the PS3, he also states this isn't Lost Planet.
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Full Story: pslegion.com
Discuss on our forums: forums.ps3scene.com

From gamasutra.com:
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For the second month in a row, the PlayStation 3 has outsold the Xbox 360, according to NPD's February North American hardware and software sales figures, as the Wii hardware and the Xbox 360 version of Activision's Call of Duty 4 again top the charts.

The hardware rundown is as follows:
Nintendo DS - 587.6K (from 251K)
Wii - 432K (from 274K)
PlayStation 2 - 351.8K
PlayStation 3 - 280.8K (from 269K)
Xbox 360 - 254.6K (from 230K)
PSP - 243.1K (from 230K)

The software rundown is as follows:
1. Call of Duty 4 (Xbox 360, Activision) - 296.2K
2. Devil May Cry 4 (Xbox 360, Capcom) - 295.2K
3. Wii Play w/remote (Wii, Nintendo) - 289.7K
4. Devil May Cry 4 (PS3, Capcom) - 233.5K
5. Guitar Hero III: Legends Of Rock w/guitar (Wii, Activision) - 222.9K
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Full Story: gamasutra.com
Discuss on our forums: forums.ps3scene.com

From the press release:
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In a strategic move to closely align itself with the strong growth of the worldwide online gaming market, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCEI) announced today that Sony Online Entertainment (SOE) will report to Kazuo Hirai, President and Group CEO, SCEI, effective April 1, 2008. The new structure is designed to mutually benefit both companies by further accelerating the PlayStation business through SOE's strong online gaming expertise.

"I am excited to be able to work with SOE even more closely, as online games and services become a more integral part of the PS3 entertainment experience," Hirai said. "This new structure will allow us to take full advantage of the extensive breadth of expertise of the two companies and increase our range of exciting entertainment offerings to our consumers."

San Diego-based SOE is currently part of Sony Pictures Entertainment. Under the new structure, SOE will continue to develop its games for the PC and the PLAYSTATION®3 (PS3®) computer entertainment system, and SOE President John Smedley will report to Hirai.

"We are thrilled to become a part of the incredible team that has made PLAYSTATION 3 the premier platform for next generation online gaming," said Smedley. "This move is going to broaden our capabilities and expand the development of our products into new and exciting directions."
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Discuss on our forums: forums.ps3scene.com

From blog.us.playstation.com/kotaku.com:
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If you've signed in to the PLAYSTATION Network tonight on your PS3, you probably noticed that you were prompted to upgrade the system's firmware to v2.17. In case you were wondering what it's all about (and a quick Google search indicates that yes, you are) the operating stability of some online PS3 titles has been improved.

So according to Strategy Informer: "Seems that the Japanese website is actually detailing information about compatibility with Final Fantasy XI, which required a HDD for the PS2. So, any games that require HDD installs for the PS2 will now work on the PS3." Cruuuuuuud. Nothing to get *that* excited about! Well, unless you're stoked to play FFXI on your PS3 it is.
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Full Story: blog.us.playstation.com kotaku.com
Discuss on our forums: forums.ps3scene.com

From tomshardware.com:
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Blu-ray Disc players from Samsung, Sony and Sharp are now the most expensive they have been all year, presumably because HD DVD's exit from the high-def disc arena has removed some of Blu-ray's pricing pressure.

In a move to expedite HD DVD's downfall, Blu-ray manufacturers and retailers aggressively cut prices earlier this year, to the point where it was possible to buy a standalone BD player for less than $300.

Now, however, according to Pricegrabber.com's most recent information, the average price for Blu-ray hardware is around $400, which is right around where it was last year.
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Full Story: tomshardware.com
Discuss on our forums: forums.ps3scene.com

From next-gen.biz:
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Microsoft's latest European Xbox 360 price cut has put Sony under renewed pressure to slash the cost of its PlayStation 3 console, according to Strategy Analytics.

"Sony will be nervous that the PS3's recent sales surge may fizzle out now that the premium Xbox 360 undercuts the PS3 by £40, and the cheapest Xbox model is almost half the price of a PS3," said Mercer.

"Sony will be scrutinizing the daily sales reports, but will probably try to hold out until later in the year before making its next price move."
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Full Story: next-gen.biz
Discuss on our forums: forums.ps3scene.com

From videogaming247.com:
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"In the US, I think it will be close all year, with 360 outselling PS3 most months due to its lower price points (at least as long as it remains lower priced)," Pachter told videogaming247. "Sony gains a huge competitive advantage when HD monitor sales pick up at holiday, as I expect retailers to push PS3 as a Blu-ray player to anyone buying an HD monitor. By year-end, I
think PS3 will outsell the 360 in the US by a little.

"PS3 will likely outsell the 360 in Europe by 20-40 percent, and will kill 360 in Japan."
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Full Story: videogaming247.com
Discuss on our forums: forums.ps3scene.com

From blog.us.playstation.com:
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Hello, I'm Kellee Santiago from thatgamecompany, creators of flOw, and currently in development on Flower. The fine people at Playstation.Blog are good enough to allow me to use my first post here to let you all in on a little thing we have going on here at thatgamecompany call the 24hr Game Jam.

Championed by our lead engineer John Edwards, the 24hr Game Jam was created as a way for us to do something quick, dirty, and fun ... and maybe let out a little steam in the process. The goal is always to make a game, from start to finish, on the PS3 in 24hrs. We go from 10am Saturday to 10am Sunday, and then whatever we have, we lock it up. Future Game Jams might have more specific goals, but for this first one, we just wanted to see how much fun we could make in a day. Oh, and our game designer Nick Clark wanted something that was multiplayer that we could enjoy in the office.
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Full Story: blog.us.playstation.com
Discuss on our forums: forums.ps3scene.com

From techradar.com:
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A PS3 currently costs £284.99 on Amazon. Sony Computer Entertainment UK also confirmed with TechRadar today that there are no plans to cut the cost of the PS3 "in the near future".
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Full Story: techradar.com
Discuss on our forums: forums.ps3scene.com

From next-gen.biz:
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Ahead of the release of NPD's February sales results, The simExchange forecast in a Monday note that Xbox 360 will once again top the PS3. The firm expects the Nintendo Wii and DS to sell 450,000 units in the US each, with Xbox 360 selling 285,000 and PS3 selling 270,000.

The firm expects the Nintendo Wii and DS to sell 450,000 units in the US each, with Xbox 360 selling 285,000 and PS3 selling 270,000. PSP is expected to sell 259,000.

Pachter said in a Monday investor note that he expects PS3 to sell 260,000, with Xbox 360 selling 250,000 units.

He estimated that Wii sales would reach 300,000, considerably lower than The simExchange's prediction market estimate of 450,000 units.
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Full Story: next-gen.biz(1) | next-gen.biz(2)
Discuss on our forums: forums.ps3scene.com