Best Overall Game: Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves is the sequel to one of the most popular PlayStation 3 games, Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune. Uncharted 2 is a 3rd person shooter following fortune hunter Nathan Drake. Uncharted 2 has top notch graphics and overall a must have game. It’s one of top games on Metacritic.

Buy: Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

Second Choice: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 is the sequel to the popular game Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare. This is one of the most talked about games of the year. Having sold over 4.7 million copies on opening day and over 9 million copies in the first 5 days, it’s broken all sales records for video games.

Buy: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

Third Choice: Assassin’s Creed II

Assassin’s Creed II is the sequel to the popular 2007 game Assassin’s Creed. It picks up merely seconds after the first game ends. You play as an incarnate of an assassin named Ezio who was betrayed by a rival ruling family during the Renaissance era in Italy.

Buy: Assassin’s Creed II

This Gift Guide is a part of our ongoing Skatter Tech Holiday Gift Guide.

This isn’t the first time Sony’s slimmed down on a console. It’s predecessor the PlayStation 2 also shed a few pounds and was re-launched with a new look a couple of years after launch. The PlayStation Portable also was re-branded as a more compact PSP Go and will be reaching stores later this year.

Sony’s PlayStation 3 hasn’t dominated the console war as the PS2 had during it’s time, mainly due to competing prices. As of early 2009, the Sony PS3 has sold about 24 million units worldwide behind both Microsoft’s Xbox 360 at ~32 million units and Nintendo’s Wii at ~52 million units. For consumers, the good news might be the new price tag of $299, which is effective immediately, for both the upcoming Slim model and the currently available one. One quirk that still disappoints is a continued lack of backwards compatibility for PlayStation 2 games. Despite that, if you are interested in grabbing a unit, the PS3 Slim will be available for purchase online and in stores on September 1st, 2009.

Pre-Order: Sony PS3 Slim – $299
Links: PlayStation Blog

After last month’s launch of Grand Theft Auto IV for the Xbox 360 and the PlayStation 3, which seems to have received best score of all time for both consoles, these new games are probably going to go unnoticed. And Wii users are still probably rejoicing with Super Smash Bros. Brawl and Mario Kart.

Nintendo Wii:

• Emergency Heroes – Ubisoft
• Wii Fit – Nintendo
• DECA Sports – Hudson Entertainment, Inc
• We Ski – NAMCO Bandai Games America, Inc
• Castle of Shikigame III – Aksys Games
• Blast Works – Majesco Sales, Inc
• Bloom Box – Electronic Arts
• Iron Man – Sega

Play Station 3:

• The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian – Disney Interactive Studios
• UEFA EURO 2008 – Electronic Arts
• SlingStar – SCEA
• Enemy Territory: Quake Wars – Activision
• Monster Madness: Grave Danger – Southpeak
• Haze – Ubisoft

Xbox 360:

• Iron Man – Sega
• Wits & Wagers – Microsoft
• The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian – Disney Interactive Studios
• UEFA EURO 2008 – Electronic Arts
• Enemy Territory: Quake Wars – Activision
• Lost Planet: Extreme Condition Colonies Edition – Capcom

Games List: Nintendo Wii | Sony PS3 | Microsoft Xbox 360
Purchase Games: Amazon’s Selection (ships free + no tax)

It looks as though April will be another slow month in terms of the quantities of games being released. PlayStation 3 owners will rejoice since Gran Turismo 5 is finally hitting store shelves. In addition the highly anticipated Grand Theft Auto IV will be hitting both the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 consoles.

Nintendo Wii:

• Mario Kart Wii – Nintendo
• Okami – Capcom
• Baroque – Atlus

PlayStation 3:

• Gran Turismo 5 Prologue – SCEA
• NBA Ballers: Chosen One – Midway
• Monster Madness: Grave Danger – Southpeak
• Grand Theft Auto IV – Rockstar

Xbox 360:

• Ninja Gaiden II – Microsoft
• Grand Theft Auto IV – Rockstar
• NBA Ballers: Chosen One – Midway

Games List: Nintendo Wii | Sony PS3 | Microsoft Xbox 360
Purchase Games: Amazon’s Selection (ships free + no tax)

“The new design will deliver a hugely improved navigation system, much greater scope for categorization and a dynamic new user interface.”

According to PlayStation, the update will be released by mid-April, which is just two weeks away. A software update to the console will also accompany the new PSN Store. The bad news in all of this might be the fact that no new content will be available until this upgrade is pushed out. Fortunately this shouldn’t affect PlayStation Network game play, accounts, or virtual wallets.

Update: According to the PlayStation Blog, no new content will be added to the PlayStation Store for the next two weeks. (North America) However with the re-launch, plenty of new content will become available including a demo of the highly regarded Gran Turismo 5 Prologue!

Links: us.PlayStation.com

After the big holiday season, upcoming games seem to have died down for the moment. But be hopeful, there are a ton of hot games such as Super Smash Brothers for the Wii and Gran Turismo 5 for the PlayStation 3 heading down the pipeline for 2008!

Nintendo Wii:

• Sega Bass Fishing – Sega

Play Station 3:

• Devil May Cry 4 – Capcom
• Go! Sports Skydiving – N/A
• Conflict: Denied Ops – Eidos
• FIFA Street 3 – Electronic Arts
• The Club – Sega

Xbox 360:

• Turok – Touchstone
• Devil May Cry – Capcom
• Frontlines: Fuel of War – THQ
• Lost Odyssey – Microsoft
• The Club – Sega
• Culdcept SAGA – Namco Bandai
• The Spiderwick Chronicles – Sierra Entertainment
• Dark Messiah: Might and Magic Elements- Ubisoft
• Conflict: Denied Ops – Eidos
• FIFA Street 3 – Electronic Arts
• Dark Sector – D3Publisher of America
• Turning Point: The Fall of Liberty – Codemasters
• Universe at War: Earth Assault – Sega

Games List: Nintendo Wii | Sony PS3 | Microsoft Xbox 360
Purchase Games: Amazon’s Selection (ships free+ no tax)

As with any holiday season, it’s games galore! In December, there will be plenty of games being released for each of the three next-gen consoles. The most notable of these is probably The Orange Box from Valve for the PS3 which includes Half-Life 2, Half-Life 2: Episode One/Two, Portal, and Team Fortress 2. That’s not exactly as many as last month, but there are plenty of awesome recently launched games.

Nintendo Wii:

• Nights Journey of Dreams – Sega
• Jenga – Atari
• Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3 – Namco Bandai

Playstation 3:

• The Golden Compass – Sega
• The Elder Scrolls IV: Shivering Isles – Bethesda Softworks
• The Orange Box – Electronic Arts
• NCAA March Madness ’08 – Electronic Arts
• BlackSite: Area 51 – Midway
• MX Vs ATV: Untamed – THQ

Xbox 360:

• The Golden Compass – Sega
• NCAA March Madness 08 – Electronic Arts
• MX vs ATV Untamed – THQ
• Kingdom Under Fire: Circle of Doom – Microsoft

Games List: Nintendo Wii | Sony PS3 | Microsoft Xbox 360
Purchase Games: Amazon’s Selection (ships free+ no tax)

It looks like October is going to be a massive month for games launches, dominated by the Xbox 360 with 17 games. Amazing especially after last month’s launch of Halo 3. Nintendo’s Wii owners will be able to purchase Super Mario Bros and three other games. PS3 gamers will have 8 games to choose from.

Xbox 360:

• Naruto: Rise of a Ninja – Ubisoft
• The Simpsons Game – Electronic Arts
• Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation – Namco Bandai Games
• Tony Hawk’s Proving Ground – Activision
• The Orange Box – Electronics Arts
• Tetris Splash – Tetris Online, Inc
• Sega Rally Revo – Sega
• Looney Tunes: Acme Arsenal – Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
• Avatar The Last Airbender: The Burning Earth – THQ
• Thrillville: Off the Rails
• Beautiful Katamari – Namco Bandai Games
• Bee Movie Game – Activision
• Cars Mater-National – THQ, Inc.
• Clive Barker’s Jericho – Codemasters
• Conan – THQ
• TimeShift – Sierra Entertainment
• Need For Speed ProStreet – Electronic Arts

Wii:

• Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels – Nintendo
• Sin & Punishment – Nintendo
• Donkey Kong: Barrel Blast – Nintendo
• Battalion Wars 2 – Nintendo

PlayStation 3:

• Go! Sports Ski – SCEA
• Juiced 2: Hot Import Nights – THQ
• Folklore – SCEA
• FIFA Soccer 08 – Electronic Arts
• Sega Rally Revo – Sega
• Tony Hawk’s Proving Ground – Activision
• THE EYE OF JUDGEMENT – SCEA

Game Lists: Nintendo Wii | Sony PS3 | Microsoft Xbox 360
Purchase Games: Amazon’s Selection (ships free+ no tax)

September will be the month for virtual console games on the Nintendo Wii. As for the PS3, Sony has been heavily pushing its marketing campaign behind Heavenly Sword. And, the most important, Halo fans don’t have to wait ANY LONGER as Halo 3 will be finally released for the Xbox 360.

Wii:

• Bonk 3: Bonk’s Big Adventure – Hudson Entertainment, Inc.
• Landstalker: The Treasures of King Nole – Sega
• Adventure Island – Hudson Entertainment, Inc.
• Donkey Kong Jr. Math – Nintendo

PlayStation 3:

• NHL 2K8 – 2K
• NHL 08 – Electronic Arts
• DiRT – CodeMasters Software
• Heavenly Sword – SCEA
• Stuntman: Ignition – THQ
• Juiced 2: Hot Import Nights – THQ
• Skate – Electronic Arts

Xbox 360:

• NHL 08 – Electronic Arts
• Fatal Intertia – KOEI
• Kengo: Legend of the 9 – Majesco Entertainment
• skate. – Electronic Arts
• Eternal Sonata – NAMCO BANDAI Games
• Halo 3 – Microsoft

Game Lists: Nintendo Wii | Sony PS3 | Microsoft Xbox 360
Purchase Games: See Amazon’s Selection (ships free+ no tax)

The long awaited mass-multiplayer game, Warhawk, is finally ready for launch! The game, which is a remake of game on the PlayStation One, now supports battling on foot as well as in jeeps, tanks, and planes. Players connected to the PlayStation Network can create and join arenas with up to 32 others. Warhawk will also truly utilize the PS3’s SIXAXIS motion sensors to perform tasks such as maneuvering aircrafts. Unfortunately this will not be one of of those “Full 1080 HD” games we’ve been waiting for since it will be rendered in 720p like most games on the market.

Anyways as stated in the title the game will be available at the end of this month, August 28th. Sony also stated in there most recent press release that the game would be available online from PSN and in retail stores. The downloadable version will cost only $39 while the boxed retail edition will be priced at $59 since it includes developer interviews, original sketches, trailers, and videos. In addition to the extra digital content the in store edition will include a “free” Jabra BT 125 Bluetooth headset, which normally retails for about $25 – $35, to promote voice chatting.

Pre-Order: Warhawk w/ Headset $59 (FREE SHIPPING)
Links: Warhawk Official Site | PlayStation Blog

It looks like August will be a great month for games, even though game manufacturers are pushing most release dates towards the holiday season. August will be home to the Nintendo Wii’s most highly anticipated game, Metroid Prime 3: Corruption. The PlayStation 3 will get both Tom Clancy’s GRAW2 and Warhawk! Finally Bioshock and Medal of Honor Airborne will be available for the Xbox 360.

Wii:

• Boogie – Electronic Arts
• Mercury Meltdown Revolution – Ignition
• Brunswick Pro Bowling – Crave Entertainment
• Dave Mirra BMX Challenge – Crave Entertainment
• Metroid Prime 3: Corruption – Nintendo

PlayStation 3:

• Madden NFL 08 – Electronic Arts
• Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2 – Ubisoft
• Warhawk – SCEA
• Tiger Woods PGA Tour 08 – Electronic Arts
• Dynasty Warriors: Gundam – Namco Bandai Games

Xbox 360:

• John Woo Presents Stranglehold – Midway
• Madden NFL 08 – Electronic Arts
• Two Worlds – Southpeak Interactive
• Bioshock – 2K Games
• Blue Dragon – Microsoft Game Studio
• Tiger Woods PGA Tour 08 – Electronic Arts
• Medal of Honor Airborne – Electronic Arts
• MotoGP ‘07 – THQ
• Stuntman: Ignition – THQ

Game Lists: Nintendo Wii | Sony PS3 | Microsoft Xbox 360

After the launch of firmware v3.00 in November and following a series of bugfixes, Sony has finally pushed out v3.11. From our perspective, there’s not much this update will offer to the majority of PlayStation Portable owners unless they currently stream content from a LocationFree base or plan to purchase games through the PlayStation 3 Online Store.

PSP v3.10:

• Support for PLAYSTATION Network titles has been expanded.
• Support for the MPEG-4 AVC format has been added under [LocationFree Player].
• [Conserve Memory] has been added in [View Settings] under [Internet Browser].
• [Dynamic Normalizer] has been added as a feature under [Sound Settings] in [Settings].

PSP v3.11:

• Support for PLAYSTATION®Network titles has been expanded.
• [Reset Game] has been added as an option to the menu for PLAYSTATION®Network titles.

Also, as always, to update your PSP to latest firmware you can either download the file directly to your PSP using a WiFi network or download the update to your computer from PlayStation.com and copy it over to the PSP. Also note that upgrading to the latest firmware will prevent homebrew apps from functioning. If you wish to run your own applications you may want to try installing the v3.10 custom firmware.

Links: PSP System Update | Instructions
Related: PSP v3.10 Custom Firmware (for homebrew)

Only a few weeks after the previous firmware release, Sony pushed out another update, version v1.50, for the PlayStation 3. Unlike previous patches this update supposedly fixes larger issues such as the jaggedness which appears while playing certain PlayStation 2 games. Multiple patches have been released since launch which have fixed issues such as display problems with 1080i HDTVs and other minor bugs. If you plan to play ANY games on the PlayStation Network, you MUST update to this version (1.50). You will not be allowed to connect to an online game or even browse the online store unless the update is performed on your console.

Sony PS3 Firmware 1.50 Features:

• You can now select an image to use as the User icon from [Photo].
• [Key Tone] has been added as an option under [Sound Settings].
• [Delete Backup Data] has been added under [System Settings] > [Backup Utility].
• WEP 128, WPA-PSK (TKIP) and WPA-PSK (AES) have been added as security methods.
• The method for saving your password / signing in automatically under PLAYSTATION®Network has been changed. There are now 2 separate options.
• You can now enter text in Korean using the on-screen keyboard.

We updated our console with no issues what so ever. You may update your console in a variety of methods. Either download the update directly to the unit using the built-in System Update function or downloading the file from PlayStation.com and copying it to the PS3’s HDD. The update file is about 100MB so it may take a while to download.

Update: Sony has just released version 1.51 for the PS3. There is literally no changes since v1.50, but Sony’s changelog states “Support for PLAYSTATION 3 format software titles has been expanded.”

Links: PlayStation 3 Updates
Related: PSP Firmware 3.00

Although November was a crazy month for the gaming industry, amazingly only a handful of games will be launched in December. Most would expect Sony and Nintendo to try to force developers to push out a ton of games in time for Christmas, however the PS3 and Wii will be getting two and five games, respectively. From the looks of it, Far Cry will be a big for the Wii, while Blazing Angels Sqadrons will be probably the only game those who were lucky enough to get a PS3 and still have money may consider buying.

PlayStation 3:

• Fight Night Round 3 – Electronic Arts
• Blazing Angels Squadrons of WWII – Ubisoft

Wii:

• The Ant Bully – Midway Home Entertainment
• Elebits – Konami
• Super Swing Golf – Tecmo
• World Series of Poker: Tournament of Champions – Activision
• Far Cry: Vengeance – Ubisoft

Note: The items mentioned above are games for the PlayStation 3 and Wii that are planned to be launched in December 2006. The list is accurate as of 11/30/06, however game may be added or removed. Therefore check Nintendo’s and/or Sony’s webpage for any changes.

Did you get a Wii or PS3? What games do you plan to get? – let us know

Links: Nintendo Wii’s Game List | Sony PS3 Game List
Related: Upcoming PSP Games: November

As predicted, today Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) has officially released firmware v3.00 for the PlayStation Portable (PSP). The new firmware has many major improvements however the notable ones include the ability to play PlayStation 1 games and communicate with the PlayStation 3. Another feature SCEA has finally added, which should have been included since 1.50, is the ability to disable automatic loading of UMDs, which saves the hassle of having to remove the game if you want to use any of the PSP’s other features. (Video demonstration below!)

PSP v3.00 Firmware Features:

• PlayStation Network titles are now supported under [Game].
• [Remote Play] has been added as a feature under [Network].
• [Online Instruction Manuals] has been added as a feature under [Network].
• Timed recording has been added as a feature under [RSS Channel].
• A visual player has been added as a feature under [Music].
• 3-speed fast forward and fast reverse has been added as a feature under [Music].
• [Camera] has been added as a feature under [Photo].
• [UMD Auto-Start] has been added as a feature in [System Settings] under [Settings].

One smart addition was in depth Online Instruction Manuals which covers almost every feature that the PSP offers. However I don’t know how useful it will be for the many PSP users who are still trying to get online via WiFi.

Another good feature is the timer for the “RSS Channel”. After setting any specific time, the PSP will turn itself on (even if completely off) and download the latest podcasts, photos, or videos from the feeds you have specified. The coolest feature added in v3.00 is probably the visualizations for the music playback. There are currently 5 different styles including a random feature which switches through the 5. The visualizations work for both content under Music and RSS Channel.

Of the features included in the update the PS1 game emulator is probably the most important, but there is no content available yet. We are unable to demonstrate “Remote Play” feature since we still haven’t received our PlayStation 3. Check back later for reviews of these features including a review of the PSP camera once it is released.

Notice: (11/22/06) Sony has just released second update v3.01. It consists of the exact same features as v3.00, except for “security enhancements”. We don’t know what this means, but do not update to 3.01. We have v3.00 available for download below. Just copy the EBOOT.PBP file into PSP\GAME\UPDATE folder to update. We think that Sony might have left a hole to allow for homebrew on 3.00 so don’t upgrade any further unless you don’t care.

Download: EBOOT.PBP (v3.00) or via PSP: Settings -> Network Update
Related: PSP Firmware 2.80 Info | PlayStation Update Page

The following is the Offical list of games, as published by SCEA, that will be released for the Sony PlayStation Portable (PSP) in North America for November 2006. Note: This was the accurate list of games as of 11.01.06, games may be removed and new ones may be added later.

Our Picks:

• SOCOM U.S. Navy Seals Bravo 2 – SCEA
• Sonic Rivals – Sega
• NFL Street 3 – EA
• Superman Returns: The Videogame - EA
• Metal Slug Anthology – SNK
• Tony Hawk’s Project 8 – Activision

view full list

Sony also plans to release a pink, silver, and blue PSPs by Christmas along with the camera and GPS modules. Skatter Tech will also be getting a hold of some of these games early so check back for some reviews and more PSP updates. On another note, still PlayStation-related, Sony still plans to launch the PlayStation 3 on November 17, 2006 as originally planned.

Links: PlayStation Portable Upcoming Games
Related: Upcoming PSP Games: October | Killzone Liberation Review

Full List:
Activision Hits Remixed – Activision
Bubble Bobble Evolution
EA Replay – EA
Eragon: Dragon Rider – Vivendi Games
Every Extended Extra – Buena Vista
Gitaroo-Man Lives! – Koei
Gunpey – Namco Bandai Games
Hard Rock Casino – Crave Entertainment
Justice League Heroes – Warner Bros Interactive
LUXOR: Wrath of Set – MumboJumbo
Online Chess Kingdoms – Konami
Over the Hedge: Hammy Goes Nuts – Activision
Platypus – MumboJumbo
Pocket Racers – Konami
Sega Genesis Collection – Sega
Shrek Smash and Crash – Activision
The Sims 2: Pets – EA
Thrillville – LucasArts
Warhammer Warcry: Battle for Atluma – Namco Bandai Games
WWE Smackdown! vs. Raw 2007 – THQ
Xiaolin Showdown – Konami
Yu-Gi-Oh! GX Tag Force – Konami

If you are one of those lucky enough to get a PlayStation 3 during the first shipment, you may also want plan on which game(s) you plan to get. Luckily Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA), last week, announced the 21 PS3 launch titles (listed below) which would be available on November 17, 2006, when the console makes its debut. Note: This is the official list as of 10.22.06, check us.playstation.com for updates.

Our PS3 Game Picks:

• Call of Duty 3 – Activision
• F.E.A.R. – Vivendi Universal Games
• Need For Speed Carbon – Electronic Arts
• Sonic the Hedgehog – Sega
• Ridge Racer 7 – Namco Bandi Games

View The Full List

“Our line-up of PS3 games that will be available through the holidays is unprecedented in terms of volume, variety and innovation, surpassing any previous competitive launch catalog and even our own original offerings for other PlayStation platforms,” said Kaz Hirai, CEO – SCEA

Fortunately there are plenty of games ranging from WWII, Racing, to Shooter which will be available during launch to attract a wider audience. However we do find it funny (read quote above) that SCEA’s CEO boasts about “unprecedented volumes” of PS3 games when there will probably not even be enough PS3 owners to buy them. Most PS1/PS2 owners have enjoyed their consoles, so lets hope this one keeps up the standards.

Links: PlayStation 3 Games | PlayStation Press Release

Full List:
Blazing Angels Squadrons of WWII – Ubisoft
EA Sports Fight Night Round 3 – Electronic Arts
Full Auto 2: Battlelines – Sega
Genji: Days of the Blade – SCEA
Madden NFL 07 – Electronic Arts
MARVEL: ULTIMATE ALLIANCE – Activision
Mobile Suit Gundam: CROSSFIRE – NAMCO BANDAI
NBA 07 – SCEA
NBA 2K7 – 2K Sports
NHL 2K7 – 2K Sports
Resistance: Fall of Man – SCEA
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion – Bethesda Softworks
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 07 – Electronic Arts
Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Vegas – Ubisoft
Tony Hawk’s Project 8 – Activision
Untold Legends Dark Kingdom – Sony Online Entertainment

Developer: Guerrilla | Genre: 3rd Person Shooter | Release Date: 10-31-06

Sequel to the title for the PS2, Killzone Liberation fails to impress. Set in a gritty version of the not too distant future, Liberation pits the player against both man and machine in mortal combat. The game has potential, but the controls need to be re-done from scratch to cooperate with the unusual 3rd person view. Aiming and maneuvering while firing are unnecessarily difficult and tedious. Considering how much of the game has to do with killing (“Killzone”), the poorly designed controls definitely places a significant damper on game play.

After testing out the multiplayer option, we soon discovered that most battles seemed invariably to occur around the health dispensers. Weird huh? As one person would shoot the other, the injured can easily go fill up his/(or her) health and continue to fight. Guerrilla should have installed a method similar to that of Half Life, temporarily disabling health canisters after each use. A little choppy and very repetitive, the Ad-Hoc didn’t seem to add much to game’s “fun level” as we had hoped.

The Good:

• Fun variety of weapons available
• Ad Hoc mode allows playing friends locally
• Realistic collision reactions between characters and weapons
• Nice menu music

The Bad:

• Awkward controls don’t suit 3rd person camera angle
• Ad Hoc mode currently only contains fighting, should include more interesting features such as coop-style missions
• Graphics aren’t shabby, but they certainly don’t stand out
• Characters run a bit too slow, making certain parts of the game take much longer than they probably should

Overall, Killzone Liberation isn’t an awful game, in fact it’s a decent way to pass the time; it simply fails to reach its full potential. Dull sound effects and undistinguished graphics add to the mounting disappointment. However, this was was a “preview review”, so the possibility remains that more in-depth play of the full version may lead us to a different conclusion. As of now, we don’t plan to be rushing out to get a copy on Halloween.

Links: Killzone Official Site
Pre-Order: Killzone: Liberation (PSP)

The following is the Offical list of games, as published by SCEA, that will be released for the Sony PlayStation Portable (PSP) in North America for October 2006. Note: This was the accurate list of games as of 09.30.06, games may be removed and new ones may be added later.

Our Picks:

• ATV Offroad Fury Pro – SCEA
• BattleZone – Atari
• FIFA 07 – Electronic Arts (EA)
• Gangs of London – SCEA
• Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories – Rockstar
• Killzone: Liberation – SCEA
• Need for Speed Carbon: Own the City – EA
  View The Full List

According to a recent Sony press release, a GPS module, Camera add on, and a firmware upgrade to support playing PlayStation One games should all be availble by the end of this month (more info). We will post any new information as it becomes available, so please check back soon.

Past Links: Upcoming PSP & DS Games: July
Related: PSP Firmware v2.80 Released | How To: Stream iTunes To PSP

Full List:
Ace Combat X: Skies of Deception – Namco Bandai
Activision Hits Remixed – Activision
Avatar: The Last Airbender – THQ
Cabela’s Afriacan Safari – Activision
Capcom Classic Collection Reloaded – Capcom
Carol Vorderman’s Sodoku – Empire
Dave Mirra BMX Challenge – Crave Entertainment
Dungeon Siege: Throne of Agony – Take Two
Dynasty Warriors Vol. 2 – Koei
Ford Street Racing – Eidos
Gunpey – Namco Bandai
GUN Showdown – Activision
Hard Rock Casino – Crave Entertainment
Mercury Meltdown – Ignition Entertainment
Over the Hedge: Hammy Goes Nuts – Activision
Power Stone Collection – Capcom
Scarface: Money, Power Respect – Sierra
Scooby Doo! Who’s Watching Who – THQ
Stacked w/ Daniel Negreanu – Myelin Media
Star Trek: Tactical Assult – Bethesda Softworks
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 07 – EA
Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Vegas – UbiSoft
Warhammer Warcry: Battle for Atluma – Namco Bandai
WTF: Work Time Fun – D3

As announced last week at Comic Con, Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) has officially released Firmware v2.80 for the PlayStation Portable (PSP). This update comes with a variety of new features making the PSP easier to use and giving it more functionality. The updates main features include the ability to download videos through the RSS Channel and place media into new easy-to-access folders.

PSP Firmware v2.80 Features:

• Download video and image content under [RSS Channel].
• Register devices via a wireless LAN access point under [LocationFree Player].
• Play AAC files with file extension .3gp under [Music].
• Play content saved in [MUSIC], [PICTURE], and [VIDEO] folders on a Memory Stick.

The RSS Channel was originally introduced in v2.60, but was limited to only audio files. With this update, video and photo files will be recognized and displayed in the RSS Channel. Although new functionality has been offered, this update unfortunately does not offer streaming video content through the RSS Channel similarly to how the audio works. However it does allows saving videos and pictures to your Memory Stick.

The other important implementation is the new folder layout. The PSP no longer requires media files with special names if they are placed into the “MUSIC”, “PICTURE”, or “VIDEO” folders respectively. These folders are to be placed in the main directory of the PSP. Also note that previous arrangements of files will still function as usual. This feature will make it easier for newbie as well as all PSP users to organize their media.

Download: Sony PSP Update Page [or via PSP WIFI: Settings -> Network Update]
Related: PSP Firmare v2.70 Information
Links: How To Transfer Videos To PSP via WIFI