While it’s a crying shame that Sony’s PlayStation Move won’t have full four-player support , at least the technology is efficient; our buddies at Joystiq are reporting that the camera-and-wand based motion control game system will only minimally impact game performance. Quizzing Sony’s David Coombes, they found out that the advanced image processing required to make sense of your wild, flailing movements will take only 1-2 MB of RAM. Of course, when you consider that the PS3 has only 256MB of fast XDR memory to begin with, that 2MB isn’t as “insignificant” as Sony would have you believe, but coupled with the company’s claim that the whole shebang takes “under a frame” of the Cell CPU’s processing time, we’re inclined to think it won’t be much of an issue for the end user. Assuming they fix that nasty lag , of course. Check out our full PlayStation Move guide for more details. PlayStation Move requires only 2MB of RAM, developers breath sigh of relief originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 13 Mar 2010 05:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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PlayStation Move requires only 2MB of RAM, developers breath sigh of relief
March 13th, 2010 by staffPlayStation Move requires only 2MB of RAM, developers breath sigh of relief
March 13th, 2010 by staffWhile it’s a crying shame that Sony’s PlayStation Move won’t have full four-player support , at least the technology is efficient; our buddies at Joystiq are reporting that the camera-and-wand based motion control game system will only minimally impact game performance. Quizzing Sony’s David Coombes, they found out that the advanced image processing required to make sense of your wild, flailing movements will take only 1-2 MB of RAM. Of course, when you consider that the PS3 has only 256MB of fast XDR memory to begin with, that 2MB isn’t as “insignificant” as Sony would have you believe, but coupled with the company’s claim that the whole shebang takes “under a frame” of the Cell CPU’s processing time, we’re inclined to think it won’t be much of an issue for the end user. Assuming they fix that nasty lag , of course. Check out our full PlayStation Move guide for more details. PlayStation Move requires only 2MB of RAM, developers breath sigh of relief originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 13 Mar 2010 05:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Dolby issues Axon SDK to bring surround sound to online console / Mac gamers
March 11th, 2010 by staffDolby’s Axon surround sound technology isn’t exactly new (it’s already used on a number of PC titles), but to date, it has yet to make a stand in the online console and Mac gaming sectors. All that changes today at GDC , with the aural company introducing an Axon software development kit that will make it possible for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and OS X titles to integrate the technology. According to the company, this here solution provides improved audio chain processing (noise suppression and echo suppression), surround sound voice chat over stereo headsets, 5.1 playback and support for any stereo headset. We’re told that the ports should be available for devs starting in April, though only time will tell how long it takes for your Xbox Live experience to go from haunting to all-encompassing. Continue reading Dolby issues Axon SDK to bring surround sound to online console / Mac gamers Dolby issues Axon SDK to bring surround sound to online console / Mac gamers originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 11 Mar 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Want more on the PlayStation Move? Head over to Joystiq!
March 11th, 2010 by staffSony’s calling the PlayStation Move the “next generation” of motion gaming and planning to market it as heavily as an entirely new console, so it’s sort of a big deal — and that means our main dudes at Joystiq are all over it. We’ve already covered the main details , but hit the links below if you’re looking for some seriously deep dives. SOCOM 4 to support PlayStation Move EyePet to support PlayStation Move, hits North America holiday 2010 Move supported by 36 companies, 20 games this fiscal year The PlayStation Move games (we know of) Hands-on: SOCOM 4 (with PlayStation Move!) Hands-on: PlayStation Move’s ‘The Shoot’ Hands-on: PlayStation Move’s ‘Move Party’ Hands-on: PlayStation Move’s Sports Champions We touched it: PlayStation Move from every angle ‘Arc’ lives on in PlayStation Move’s logo Want more on the PlayStation Move? Head over to Joystiq! originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 11 Mar 2010 01:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
EA Sports introduces Active 2.0 at GDC, complete with sensors galore
March 10th, 2010 by staffBy and large, EA Sports’ Season Opener event here at GDC was underwhelming, but one glimmer of newness did manage to shine through. Nearly a year after Active hit stores (video after the break) and encouraged Wii gamers to drop those unwanted pounds before hitting the soft sand in the summer, the company has announced that Active 2.0 (a working title) is currently in development for Wii, PS3, iPod touch and iPhone. We’re told that a “new suite of fitness products” will be launching in the fall, with the Active 2.0 program delivering “true fitness results by featuring an innovative wireless control system powered by new leg and arm straps with motion sensors, a heart rate monitor to capture intensity and a new online hub to track and share workout data.” Outside of that, details are nonexistent (like how exactly the iPod / iPhone components will factor into this equation), though we get the feeling that Xbox 360 owners may be left out of the party. Here’s hoping we’re wrong. Gallery: EA Sports Active 2.0 accessories at GDC 2010 Continue reading EA Sports introduces Active 2.0 at GDC, complete with sensors galore EA Sports introduces Active 2.0 at GDC, complete with sensors galore originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 10 Mar 2010 01:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Steve Ballmer teases new Xbox 360 form factors, price points and options
March 6th, 2010 by staffTurns out Steve Ballmer’s talk up at the University of Washington delivered even more saucy info than we were initially led to believe. In a transcript of the subsequent Q&A session, Steve is shown to have delivered the following statement on the topic of large-screen televisions and Microsoft’s related hardware strategy: For that big screen device … there’s no diversity. You get exactly the Xboxes that we build for you. We may have more form factors in the future that are designed for various price points and options, but we think it’s going to [be] important. It’s safe to assume new form factors point to a smaller rather than larger 360 chassis, though the price points and further options he mentions are wide open for speculation. It wouldn’t be unreasonable to forecast Microsoft pushing out its own slimmed-down console to match up with Sony’s PS3 Slim , but we also shouldn’t discount the idea of an Xbox 360 with Project Natal hardware integrated into its shell. In other words, we really don’t know what Steve has going on under that shiny dome of his, we just hope it’s as exciting as he makes it sound. Steve Ballmer teases new Xbox 360 form factors, price points and options originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 06 Mar 2010 05:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Sony: Don’t turn on your PS3 until PSN bug is fixed
March 1st, 2010 by staffUh, wow . That PlayStation Network issue that struck late last night has officially ballooned into a full-on PlayStation disaster: Sony is now saying you shouldn’t use “fat” PS3 models at all , since a clock-related bug might cause data loss. The PS3 slim isn’t affected, however — which explains some of the conflicting reports we heard last night. Sony says they’re working to get this fixed in the next 24 hours, but for now it looks like older PS3 owners are out of luck — we’ll do our best to keep you entertained, guys. Sony: Don’t turn on your PS3 until PSN bug is fixed originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 01 Mar 2010 13:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Final Fantasy XIII Fact Check: What We Know So Far
February 19th, 2010 by adminwelcome to s.ourced.com Maybe you’ve heard Final Fantasy XIII looks better on the Xbox 360. Or that it looks better on the PS3. Or that it’s 720p. Or 1080p. Or 1080p sometimes, but 720p others. Want the facts? Fact number one: Final Fantasy XIII is a Japanese-style role-playing game by publisher Square Enix, the thirteenth installment in a series that’s sold over 92 million units worldwide, one that reaches all the way back to the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1987. (In case you’re just dropping by and didn’t know.) ‘Japanese’ in the sense that each installment is fundamentally story-driven, and, in terms of its visual design, narrative flow, and battle-driven gameplay, all-around over-the-top. Also: The English-language version is finally out for Xbox 360 and PS3 on Tuesday March 9. Fact number two: We don’t have all the facts here. That’s not a cop-out, just full disclosure. Square Enix has the answers, but like any hyper-scrutinized games publisher, they play their cards close. That said, let’s see if we can’t separate the stuff we know about the game from the stuff we don’t. I’ve heard they cut tons of stuff from the game and that it might resurface as downloadable content. True or false? True and false. Back in August 2009, RPGSite scored an interview with Final Fantasy XIII’s producer, Yoshinori Kitase. During the interview, Kitase said the company was “exploring the option of downloadable content, perhaps adding new areas, items or enemies, but these would not be expansions to the story, only the gameplay.” Adding to the mystery, in mid-January, game site Siliconera translated a summary (in Japanese) of an interview (also in Japanese) with Final Fantasy XIII art director Isamu Kamikokuryou, who reportedly said that several areas were cut (a secret base, a home for one of the characters, a zoo) from the final product. Siliconera credits Kamikokuryou as saying there was actually enough cutting-room-floor content to make another game entirely. Earlier this week, Final Fantasy XIII battle director Yuji Abe set the record straight , stating Square Enix has no plans to release DLC “at this time.” Regarding the dropped content, Abe said “There was content that were ‘ideas’ that didn’t make the final content, but the team isn’t looking to release that as downloadable content.” So no, the lopped off content probably won’t be resurfacing, no Square Enix has no imminent plans for DLC, and yes, when Abe says no DLC “at this time,” he’s left the door cracked for something down the road. Just don’t count on it. Will any of the English language versions of the game support a spoken Japanese option with English subtitles? No, they won’t. Much as I’d like to see this myself, including it wouldn’t be as simple as it sounds. For one, Final Fantasy XIII is the first game in series to support full English-language lip-syncing. Prior installments just ran the Japanese character mouth animations with English actor overdubs. To support a spoken Japanese option with English subs, you’d need to include (a) double the character lip-sync code, (b) double the cut scene video, and (c) double the voice acting. Who knows how much space that’d take up, but it certainly wouldn’t bode well for the Xbox 360 version, which already ships on three DVDs. That, and you’d increase manufacturing time (the time it takes to burn all that extra data to however-many millions of discs). Final Fantasy XIII producer Yoshinori Kitase told PlayStation UK that he’d “heard at other media presentations that this was a popular request,” and that it “came to him as a surprise.” Which, speculating here, could mean Square Enix might take this request seriously next time and plan to support it from the start. Why would someone who doesn’t speaking Japanese prefer the Japanese version with English subtitles? Because some of us enjoy the vocal inflections of the game’s Japanese actors, which, depending on your vantage, arguably jibe better with the rest of a game crafted by Japanese designers. Does the game install anything to the hard drive? No, it doesn’t. The PS3 versions runs entirely off the Blu-ray disc. Hands-on with final English code, the game’s installed nothing to my ‘Game Data Utility’ folder. The Xbox 360 version can either run off the DVDs, or from the hard drive if you opt for an install, though it still requires the disc be in the drive to play. Also: Save files run between 370k and 455k each on the PS3 version, and can be copied to external media. Five Filters featured article: Chilcot Inquiry . Available tools: PDF Newspaper , Full Text RSS , Term Extraction .

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Final Fantasy XIII Fact Check: What We Know So Far
Sprint promises its first WiMAX handset by this summer, could be the Supersonic
February 19th, 2010 by adminThe life of a gadget lover tends to involve a lot of waiting , so it’s always nice to be surprised by a roadmap getting shorter rather than longer. Sprint has told Forbes that its very first WiMAX phone will be arriving in the first half of this year, which will be somewhat earlier than many had expected. We’re likely talking about that A9292 “bar handset” from HTC that was spotted in January , as Forbes goes on to note that it’s likely to be a HTC-built Android device . The aptly-titled Supersonic seems like the obvious, albeit unconfirmed, prime candidate here. Further word from Paget Alves, Sprint’s president of Business Markets, indicates that businesses and government agencies might be the first adopters, which must mean whatever handset’s being discussed will be at least somewhat business-friendly. Finally, CEO Dan Hesse himself is cited as saying Sprint will be bringing out “dozens of devices” with embedded WiMAX this year, so even if you don’t like the first one, there should be plenty of options come the holidays. [Thanks, Douglas] Sprint promises its first WiMAX handset by this summer, could be the Supersonic originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 19 Feb 2010 03:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink | Forbes | Email this | Comments

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Sprint promises its first WiMAX handset by this summer, could be the Supersonic
Sony PlayStation on Your Windows Phone 7?
February 18th, 2010 by adminwelcome to s.ourced.com No one’s jaw hit the floor when Microsoft demoed Xbox LIVE running on its new Windows Phone 7 platform earlier this week, but what about a similar connection to Sony’s PlayStation Network? Oh the possibilities, if we take Microsoft senior product manager Michael Chang’s comments to TechRadar.com seriously. “If you look at our history in mobiles, we have never blocked anything off this platform because we compete in the same space, at least not in the phone space,” Chang told TechRadar.com, suggesting the company has always had an open-door policy for apps from competitors in other areas. “While I won’t cite a specific scenario, I think our concept of openness with partners and our mobile ecosystem often includes our competitors, such as allowing Exchange on other devices.” Sounds simple enough, but the devil’s in the political details. Would Sony really consider placing its brand in the lion’s den? There’s also the question of Sony’s investment in the broader mobile app market, away from the PSP, since we’ve yet to see any Sony-backed apps for other mobile platforms like Apple’s iPhone. Sure, you’ve got your third-party PS3 media controller apps, a PlayStation forum interface tool, an unofficial PlayStation emulator, and NetBlender’s BD Touch , but a PlayStation Network or Store interface? Nothing yet, and I wouldn’t hold my breath waiting. Sony needs a reason to be on Windows Phone 7, and I’m not coming up with one. Sure, Microsoft could court Sony here, but again, they’d need a reason to–a reason with the PS2’s sales clout. With US PS3 sales still treading water at just over half Microsoft’s US Xbox 360 install base, I can’t think of one. Connect with Matt on Twitter ( @game_on ) Five Filters featured article: Chilcot Inquiry . Available tools: PDF Newspaper , Full Text RSS , Term Extraction .

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Sony PlayStation on Your Windows Phone 7?