LBP Beta levels will make their way in to the retail version!

All you lucky ones who got to work on the Beta levels of the much anticipated LittleBigPlanet! It has been confirmed that the Beta levels created by gamers will eventually make their way into the full version of the game, that is, as long as you remembered to 'publish' the levels!

This must make it easier to market the tough concept of the one-of-a-kind game. Although there will be loads of default levels, custom Beta levels will only add spice to the game and also prove how dynamic the level creation system is! Only 9 more days to go for the American release and only 12 more days to go for the European release! I can't wait!

I'm going Home next month! No, wait; Home is coming next month!

Yes, you heard that right my friend- the much awaited Home is coming next month! Well that's how it looks. Posting on the Home beta message boards in response to a bug , Home Manager "TedtheDog" wrote that the bug should get fixed with the next system software update.

 "2.5 is what we're waiting for and 'October' is what I've heard, later October is my guess."  According to the post, Home 1.00 would come bundled with the firmware update, and it sounds like there's a good chance that Home 1.00 will be the first full release.

Home is a next-gen virtual world where gamers from different regions of the world can meet, share media and stuff. It's similar to Second-Life from Linden Labs except for the part that Home hosts next-gen graphics and that it is exclusively for our beloved PlayStation 3!!! I can't wait for it to release! Every user gets his/her own apartment which can spruced up by decorating it with some basic furniture available for free or pay and download new exquisite furniture! Well, I'll go for the stripped down version anyways... So, lets cross our fingers and just hope that it does release in October. Til then, tata!

SCEE to release a PSN tri game pack in 1 UMD for PSP

SCEE has announced plans to release a pack of three PSN titles on UMD under the name 'PlayStation Network Collection - Power Pack'.

The Power Pack will contain Beats, Syphon Filter: Combat Ops and flOw. It will be available in October when the new re-maked PSP will be launched. It will be joined by 'PlayStation Network - Puzzle Pack' which includes Lemings, Go! Sudoku and Go! Puzzle. More are in the works, and will be revealed just as Sony can come up with a few more alliterations.

Official headset for PS3

Over at the PS Blog, Anand Agarwal-Product Manager for PlayStation Peripheralsinformed us that the headset will be offered in one retail version of SOCOM: U.S. Navy Seals Confrontation(this October). The headset was unvieled during the SOCOM Media Day. There are a host of features which interested me. Here they are...nah, just forget it...head over towww.blog.us.playstation.com for a list of all the features. Just too tired to post them here. 

PSP 3001 has its own tricks up its sleeve

According to a source inside Best Buy, the new PSP-3000 model - recently announced and due in October - doesn't just offer good and improvised screen with better brightness and contrast and all-but also the feature to be compatible with PS3's controllers....the SIXAXIS and the DualShock3! Sorry, its not the PS3's controllers,..wait a sec, IT IS!

How would the chance to play your PSP games using a DualShock 3 or Sixaxis controller be? The new PSP is apparently going to be compatible with PS3 controllers. Sony is very innovative nowadays these days, don't you think? So obviously, that must mean that the new PSP has Bluetooth! This piece of news-that the new PSP is having Bluetooth has itself been vaguely rumoured before.

But wait - how would you hold the screen up so you could actually see it ? Not a problem - it's also going to output video via composite cable in 480i resolution.

I don't know, it sort of sounds plausible. Maybe. Certainly it's one way of overcoming the problem Sony has of everyone in Europe and the US thinking it's a bit over priced for a handheld with a not overwhelming brilliant games catalogue. So... turning it into a games console of its own is not a bad idea. Any officially confirmed statements will be posted. Stay tuned folks.

PSP sells 10 million + in Japan, top 5 games revealed

Sony's handheld has just sold its 10 millionth unit in Japan(alone). Who cares how much the DS sold.

You might want to know which games has pushed the neat (portable) black box over the 10m milestone. People who aren't fans of endlessly milked franchises should look away now:

• Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G (Capcom)
• Monster Hunter Portable 2nd (Capcom)
• Core - Final Fantasy VII (Square Enix)
• Hunter Portable (Capcom)
• Star Portable (SEGA)

This isn't the anywhere near the end of the PSP either - there's a new SKU coming out in October which will rejenuvate the shiny (portable) black box.

MotorStorm Pacific Rift in early September!

Sony has announced they will be releasing a Motorstorm: Pacific Rift demo as part of QORE, their online "magazine"(subscription) for the PlayStation Network. Those who download the upcoming episode - QORE: Episode 4 - will get access to the demo, and get to play it “a month before anyone else.”

Here's some bad news for those not subscribing to QORE, they will have to endure a month long wait till the demo will then go live on PSN as a free download, and be available for all to grab about a week before the games retail release on October 7th.

Sony has somehow found a way to manage it's "free" online service; by releasing a subscription based magazine! Not pretty much "free" is it? QORE is a pay service (costing $2.99 an episode), and is currently only available in the US it will be very hard for Europeans to get their hands on the demo as QORE is not yet released in the PAL regions. Although the release date hasn't been confirmed, new episodes of QORE usually go up the first Thursday of every month. Because of this a September 4th release in likely in my opinion.

Microsoft Xbox takes the Community road

At the E3 gaming summit in Los Angeles, Microsoft announced that it would 're-design' its online Xbox feature- the Xbox Live to focus more on building communities. Microsoft's Don Mattrick said the aim was to put the Xbox 360 "at the heart of the living room".

Also Mr.Mattrick predicted the Xbox 360 would outsell the PlayStation 3 worldwide in coming years. According to him the gaming industry is larger than the film industry and the music industry combined! He said: "We knew...someday our industry would be the biggest form of all entertainment. That day has arrived. Today our industry belongs to everyone. Games are now the leading driver of all industry spending, outselling music and outstripping box office revenue." You are absolutely right my friend, the gaming industry is going to poised to become a massive industry- you said it..!!

Microsoft according to many, is trying to emulate Nintendo Wii's success by targeting the casual gamers. Individual avatars- similar to the Wii's Mii is said to be added to the refreshed version of Xbox Live. The company also announced a social karaoke game, called Lips, which looks to capitalise on the success of Singstar on the PlayStation franchise.

Now, some of you might think Microsoft- apparently choice less- with no other option; is trying to copy it's rivals, but that is not so. According to Shane Kim, head of strategy and business development for Xbox, denied that the firm was copying its rivals- instead said "We're not claiming to invent music games, or avatars. But we're innovating by bringing something new to these games, and taking them to the next level." Microsoft also unveiled Xbox Live Prime Time, a new service which will introduce online quiz games made in conjunction with the TV giant Endemol. "This is a new category of games for the whole family," said John Schappert, head of Xbox Live. The press conference in Los Angeles was dominated by news of releases of some of the console's biggest franchises.

British developer Peter Molyneux announced that role playing game Fable II had finished development and would be released in October. Gears of War 2, from US developer Epic, is due for release in November while the latest incarnation of the Final Fantasy series, Final Fantasy XIII, will hit the Xbox 360 for the first time along with rival platform PlayStation 3.