Halo 3 Beta Map Walkthrough

Posted by multippt

Wow, just after weeks of the Halo 3 beta release, there are already a few walkthroughs regarding Halo 3. Of course, these walkthroughs get better and better.

*Spoiler warning!: These walkthroughs might destroy your suspense :P, but hey! At least you can get to know what the Halo 3 beta looks like without a XBOX 360.

This is by far one of the better video walkthroughs. Enjoy!
*The content requires you to state your age before watching it, as it is rated at “Mature” [of course, who said you can't lie...]

Via GameTrailers

Look what IBM’s doing with the PS3’s processor

Posted by signup

The Cell Broadband Engine, better known as the ‘heart’ of the Playstation 3, is finding new uses for gaming other than powering MotorStorm or Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion.

IBM, in a joint venture with with Hoplon Infotainment, will soon be integrating the PS3’s Cell Broadband Engine into its one-of-a-kind mainframe to aid in the handling of next-gen “virtual world” applications and Massive Multiplayer Online Games (MMOGs).

As virtual world gaming and collaboration becomes more popular on gaming consoles, the need for a network that can handle asymmetrical bandwidth while maintaining its CPU power is quickly rising.

IBM found the Cell Broadband Engine to be the most suitable for the task of creating a system that can seamlessly handle ultra-fast communications between many online users simultaneously sharing a single gaming world.

Within the new system, the Cell will handle virtual reality, wireless downloads, real-time video chat, interactive TV shows, and complex physics simulations such as gravity; while the mainframe will run admin tasks for software and user connectivity through gaming consoles, cell phones, and PCs.

“As online environments increasingly incorporate aspects of virtual reality - including 3D graphics and lifelike, real-time interaction among many simultaneous users - companies of all types will need a computing platform that can handle a broad spectrum of demanding performance and security requirements,” said Jim Stallings, general manager, IBM System z. “To serve this market, the Cell/B.E. processor is the perfect complement to the mainframe, the only server designed to handle millions of simultaneous users.”

The hybrid mainframe will be extremely fast and powerful, and will capitalize on the IBM mainframe’s specialized ability to handle such ’specialty processors’ as the Cell Broadband Engine.

Easy Video to PSP Converter 1.4.2 Released!

Posted by signup

Looks like Ether Software just released a program for converting many popular video formats very, very easily for the PSP. The files that can be converted are AVI/DIVX/XVID/DIV, MPEG/MPG/DAT, WMV/ASF/ASX, RM/RMVB, MOV/QT, 3GP/3G2, MP4/M4V, FLV. Yes FLV, which you could download most of the video site like Youtube and download the flv file at www.videodownloader.net

This program is recommended. You can download at here: http://asia.cnet.com/downloads/pc/swinfo/0,39000587,39002883r-39259530s,00.htm

3.40 OE-A and 3.30 OE-A’ custom firmwares

Posted by multippt

Dark_Alex has recently released an update to his series of custom firmwares. First off, we would start on the 3.30 OE-A’ custom firmware. This is a relatively minor update to the 3.30 OE-A custom firmware. The changes are as followed (from 3.30 OE-A):
-Some security patches [related to RAM usage]
-Reimplemented autoboot

Now for the custom firmware of interest - 3.40 OE-A. Just after a few days of the official 3.40’s release, Dark_Alex managed create 3.40 OE-A, which has the features of his custom firmwares, plus the features of 3.40. Here are some features in this custom firmware (changes from 3.30 OE-A):
-Features from 3.40
-Improvements in flasher. It would generate the flash 1 directories [so chances are, you won't lose your settings], and checks the generated DATA.DXAR file [to check if you are using the right file].
-Some security patches [same as 3.30 OE-A']
-Reimplemented autoboot [same as 3.30 OE-A']

Via Dark_Alex.org

*This news is actually quite old :P. It should have been made on 20th Apr *sign*

PS3 official firmware 1.70 and PSP official firmware 3.40

Posted by multippt

Sony sure is busy about these updates. First was the first appearence of the PSP update at the PSP official korean site [the English translation is quite vague], and now an update for the PS3.

First things first, lets look at PSP firmware 3.40. The firmware was first spotted on the Korean site, followed by the Japanese site. Now, it has appeared on the US site, and seems to have a few features in relation to gaming:
-Support for more PLAYSTATION network titles
-Saved data from PlayStation format software can be used on both the PSP and PS3
-”Certificate Utility” was added

Of course, don’t expect any homebrew friendliness from Sony on this firmware. As of yet, there is no downgrader for a firmware past 3.10.

Now for the PS3. Sony has dished out yet another software update, this time it’s 1.70. This update is released roughly at the same time as the PSP’s. This update first appeared on the Japan site, but it is accessable at the US site as well. This update apparently allows the PS3 to use saved data from the PlayStation format software.

FW 3.40 surfaces on Sony’s PSP South Korean website

Posted by signup

Looks like some fellows at QJ found something that no one expected Sony to do: 

We’re not certain if you are aware of this but Sony has an official dedicated site for the PlayStation Portable (PSP) in South Korea. Despite that, we believe that this move is rather sneaky for a company that has the homebrew community breathing down its neck.

Folks, welcome PSP Firmware 3.40. Oh Jeesus!

Now what does this one do? We’re not too certain for now because the official sites for other markets, especially the English-speaking ones, are yet to be updated. Anyway, this was generated by an online translation engine:

* It enjoyed PLAYSTATION Network tie frames and the function for was strengthened.
* [these sense civil officials] were eliminated.
* [Is indicated information which from this sense civil official] with afterwords it will be able to confirm as a same fabrication.
* After selecting the icon of the game information the reporter [it selects △ buttons information] consecutively from the option menu.

We know that didn’t make a lot of sense but the point is FW 3.40 has been released. In case this appears on your territory, we recommend staying away from it first. As you will all remember, DAX broke his unit trying to crack FW 3.30.

Sony triggers 80GB PS3 rumors

Posted by signup

Rumors of a larger hard disk drive capacity PS3 gained strength when Sony Computer Entertainment spokesman Satoshi Fukuoka once again revealed that a 60GB PS3 will not be enough for hardcore gamers.

Fukuoka talked about a number of changes to the PS3 that Sony is currently discussing. This is not the first time that such comments have been made by Sony officials. Just last week, Fukuoka himself had talked about a higher capacity model while Sony filed an FCC application which hinted about an 80GB model.

“For users who vigorously store games and other entertainment content in the PS3, 20-giga is probably going to be too small, and even 60-giga may not be big enough eventually. We are not likely to change its core components and functions such as the Cell, RSX, Blu-ray drive and network capability. But outside that realm, addition and deletion is quite possible”, he said.

Sony currently sells PS3 with hard disk capacity ranging from 20GB to 60GB. However last month, Sony announced that it will be stopping the production of 20GB PS3s in North America. Flagging sales of Sony’s newest offering have led to a loss of nearly $1.7 billion for the year ending March 31.