PS4 RELEASE DATE:

The official PS4 release date is currently pencilled in for ‘Holiday 2013′, which most-likely means in time for Thanksgiving in the US, so a mid-November PS4 launch date. However, for us in the UK things are far less clear, and the big question is whether we will get the PS4 before Christmas this year, or be left crying into our Turkey while Japanese and US gamers post huge quantities of next-gen loveliness onto social networking sites.

UK journalists at the event did try and get a firmer date out of Sony’s top brass, a worthy but ultimately doomed endeavour. Eurogamer tried to appeal to the better nature of Shuhei Yoshida, President of Sony Worldwide Studios, but he would only say, “For us, Europe is an enormously important market. That’s no question. So I hope European consumers can play PS4 as soon as it’s available somewhere, but I’m not making promises.”

Don’t get too excited that date may not be intended for us Europeans

In addition, we recently heard that the PS4 could be delayed until 2014 in UK. An unnamed developer talking to Edge magazine said that stock issues meant the launch would have to be staggered across the regions. This would be bad news for UK fans, who would then have to wait until after the crucial Christmas period – missing out on numerous holiday hours for playing games.

Our gut feeling on this front isn’t a good one, and although the PS4 is first out of the gate, whoever can get hardware to gamers first could take a big lead.

PS4 SPECS:

Here’s the official listing of the PS4 specification, released after the event.

Main Processor:
Single-chip custom processor
CPU: x86-64 AMD ‘Jaguar’ 8 cores
GPU: 1.84 TFLOPS, AMD next-generation Radeon™ based graphics engine

Memory:
GDDR5 8GB

Hard Disk Drive:
Built-in

Optical Drive (read only):
BD 6xCAV
DVD 8xCAV

I/O and communication:
Super-Speed USB (USB 3.0)
AUX
Ethernet (10BASE-T, 100BASE-TX, 1000BASE-T)
IEEE 802.11 b/g/n
Bluetooth® 2.1 (EDR)

AV output:
HDMI
Analog-AV out
Digital Output (optical)

PS4 PROCESSOR AND GRAPHICS:

It’s been widely-known for some time that the PS4 would use AMD technology, both for its CPU and GPU elements – as is the remarkably similar Xbox 720. AMD hardware was confirmed at the launch, although the precise architecture wasn’t discussed in much detail.

Hardware details were thin on the ground

Even what proved to be the most reliable leaks said that the PS4 would have 4GB of system memory. It was theorised that use of a single pool of fast GDDR5 memory would more than make up for the (rumoured) more fragmented 8GB memory system of the ‘Xbox 720′. However, when the reveal came, we were pleasantly surprised to find that the PS4 will have a whopping 8GB of superfast memory.

It’s possible that this was due to Sony telling developers to develop launch games within a 4GB limit. Final hardware wouldn’t have been finalised when development started, and Sony would know exactly how much memory overhead the PS4′s cloud gaming, video capture and operating system would have. So giving developers a smaller limit to work within would have been a safe move. Pure speculation, but it does make sense.

This unified memory system is seen by Sony as its main advantage against the Xbox 720, though only time will tell have much difference it will make. Sony’s lead system architect is certainly in a bullish mode though, describing the system as ‘Supercharged’ here: PS4 lead architect describes its “supercharged PC” design

The eight-core Jaguar AMD CPU and the powerful 1.84TFLOPS AMD GPU were both confirmed. There wasn’t any details about the architecture of the latter though, an area where hardware leaks, from the largely-reliable http://www.vgleaks.com, have pointed to a significant advantage for the PS4.

Quantic Dream showed what was possible with the PS4 hardware

The PS4 GPU is rumoured to have 50 per cent more compute units than the Xbox 720. As suspected, and confirmed in the reveal, these can be used for more than just graphics though, with Sony showing off an impressive Havok physics demo, with thousands of objects bouncing about – largely managed by the GPU.

Console comparisons aside, the bottom line for a next-gen console is fairly obvious. It should be able to run graphically detailed games at 1080p and 60fps, and preferably also cope with the processing overheads of 3D as well. The PS4 looks well equipped to do this.

While powerful, the gulf between top-end PC graphics cards and consoles is definitely growing – mainly because the best PC cards become more-and-more expensive (the new Nvidia GTX Titan costs the best part of £900. No console would sell at these prices, so it’s hardly surprising that the PS4 Unreal Engine 4 demo isn’t quite as spangly as its PC equivalent – as pointed out by Reddit user Polypunk.

Some developers are certainly impressed, though obviously they are promoting their own wares as much as they are the PS4. In PS4 performance praised by Killzone: Shadow Fall creators, Guerrilla’s Michiel Van Der Leeuw, the company’s technical director, said that the eight-core processor allowed them to build far richer worlds with up to 60 combatants on the battefiled at once, around 4x the number possible on previous hardware.

Sony is claiming both the CPU and GPU have been integrated onto a single chip. This APU (accelerated processing unit) has been seen in PCs for some time, with chips such as the AMD A10-5800K, but even this top-end chip has nothing near the graphics power of the PS4.

It’s not clear whether this is a single die, or whether it’s a pair of dies side-by-side on the same chip. It’s more likely to be the former, at this stage, with a fully integrated single-die chip coming along in later revisions once chip yields have improved – in much the same way as the Xbox 360 started out with two chips, then integrated them onto one and finally moved to a single die with the quieter and cooler Xbox 360 S.

PS4 PORTS:

When it comes ports, connectivity and video output there was very little space for manoeuvre, and the PS4 is equipped as expected. A HDMI output, built-in Wi-Fi and an Ethernet port are all most people need, there’s also an S/PDIF output for older surround sound hardware. Bluetooth remains of course – and continues to be used for all controllers.

It wasn’t mentioned during the announcement, but after the event Sony Worldwide Studios President Shuhei Yoshida confirmed that the PS4 would support 4K resolutions – but only for video playback. This isn’t a surprise, as playing 4K video isn’t taxing for a next-gen console and HDMI 1.4 supports the resolution required – up to 4,096×2,160p at 24 Hz – the same as in digital cinemas. The big question is then how such content would be supplied?

Sony is keen enough to sell 4K sets it is giving away content on a hard disk with them to watch

HDMI 1.4 will also bring support for Ethernet channel, so it would be possible for your PS4 get a network connection from your AV Receiver, cutting down on cabling – presuming of course you have the right kit.

STANDBY, UPDATES AND CONTROLLER CHARGING:

One of our biggest complaints about the PS3 was the size and regularity of its system updates. We’d often turn on the console for a quick game of something, only to have to wait for ages for a massive update to download and install. With the PS4, Sony claims to have solved these problems, with downloads and updates occurring in the background, even when the console is in its ‘Standby Mode’ so it should always be ready to go.

The Standby Mode has other uses too, the console will now be able to charge the new DualShock 4 controller (via Micro USB) while powered-down – and will probably be able to charge your phone or tablet too, which is handy.

More playing and less waiting, sounds great

The PS4 will also be capable of going into a Suspend Mode mid-game, which means that tedious boot-up and game loading times should be a thing of the past. Simply go into standby when you want a break, and be able to resume from where you left off at a push of a button when you’re ready. This is fantastic news, cutting down on waiting time and increasing playing time.

You’ll also be able to start playing demos and downloaded games before they fully download. Essentially, the PS4 will download the core game code and the first level, and then download the rest as you play. Again, less waiting, more playing.

We don’t have any cold boot times, boot from Standby times, or power usage figures for the PS4 as of yet. But we’ll keep you updated as we get more information.

PS4 STORAGE AND BLU-RAY:

The specification only mentions a built-in hard disk, with no capacity or type specified. We’d love to have a super-fast SSD drive in our PS4, but that seems unlikely given current prices. A traditional hard disk is almost certain, we just hope that Sony continue to provide the option to swap drives as you wish, with compatibility for standard 2.5in models.

Blu-ray is a must for PS4, the PS3 came a little too early for Sony to comfortably include the hardware, but it still pushed ahead with it at great cost. These days, Blu-ray is one of the defining parts of the PlayStation brand and essential for delivering huge amounts of data for top-end games.

Blu-ray wasn’t mentioned at all at the event, we’re guessing that was just to keep things centred on games; it is in the specification though and the good news is that read speeds have risen from a measly 2x to a more respectable 6x. This will hugely speed up game installation times.

PS4 CLOUD GAMING AND SHARING:

With its purchase of Gaikai last year, Sony was always likely to be pushing cloud gaming on the PS4. Still we’re impressed how much the company has achieved on PS4 in just seven months, since its acquisition in July 2012. It goes well beyond just being able to play demos without downloading them too, with the PS4 able to connect with other devices, and your friends, in ingenious ways.

SHARED PLAY:

For starters, the PS4 has built-in video compression hardware, which constantly records your gaming as you play. Using the new Share button on the PS4 controller, you can instantly grab a section of gameplay using simple edit controls and post it to say your PSN profile or Facebook. Live streaming is also possible through the popular Ustream sevice – so you’ll be able to stream constant footage to you fans – presuming you’re some kind of pro gamer.

It goes one step further though, allowing others to join in your gaming session, from which they can talk you through difficult parts or even (with your permission) take over the controls to help you out directly when you get stuck. We’re not sure how popular this will be, but games developers might be able to spin it into something far more intriguing – possibly even central to a clever indie game – where you have to help out other players by taking temporary control of their characters.

The cloud gaming system looks impressive, with the ability to instantly share and stream video, as well as allow a friend to take over the controls to help out

The PS4 can also stream video to a Sony PlayStation Vita, in much the same way as the Wii U can stream video to its tablet-like controller. This will allow gamers to play when the TV is being used for other purposes. It wasn’t stated what range such a feature will have, but you might be able to play games remotely (presuming a quick enough broadband connection) when away from home. This would of course mean you’d need to be able to turn the PS4 on-and-off remotely. Dave Perry of Gaikai said it was an aim of there’s to have every PS4 game playable on the Vita, though we think the number supported will depend on Vita sales and developer support.

Other devices will be supported, but we don’t know to what extent you’ll be able to play PS4 games on them

STREAMING GAMES:

Gaikai’s tech also allows you to do more traditional streaming from Sony’s servers. As expected, you’ll be able to play demos from the PlayStation Store without having to download them first. Beyond this, the store will have a TiVo-style style system that will automatically download demos and games in the background based on your gaming preferences (such as trophies won in other titles).

TRUE NAME: 

THe PS4 will include a function that will allow you to use your real name online. This will be optional, so you can get your anonymous moniker if you prefer. You’ll also be able to add friends from other social networks (Facebook essentially), and then be able to see each other’s real names when playing, while others will only see your anonymous name. It’s a brilliant idea and one that will help you keep an eye on your friends online without having to remember what ridiculous moniker they go by on that particular service.

PS4 INTERFACE:

The new PS4 interface looks to modelled after the latest update to the current PlayStation Store on PS3

The interface on the PS4 will be about much more than launching games, playing Blu-ray and having game-based social experiences with your friends. Sony is keen to also provide a wide range of content – as its Head of Worldwide Studios stated recently: PS4 will continue battle for living room says Sony’s Shuhei Yoshida. Yoshida noted that they hadn’t wanted to distract attention from its games playing potential at the initial unveiling but that there was a lot more to the PS4 than that.

More content to be added after the E3 unveiling when we should be able to see the full interface in action

PS4 DRM AND USED GAMES:

Despite the rumours it looks as if Sony may not be taking such a draconian line on second-hand games. In an interview, Sony Worldwide Studios President Shuhei Yoshida said to Eurogamer that “… used games can play on PS4.” Though it was hardly the most detailed and unequivocal answer – and we suspect that the final decision will be left in the hands of publishers.

Yoshida’s comment then appeared to be contradicted by PlayStation UK boss Fergal Gara, who was talking to NowGamer. “We haven’t made a statement on the second-hand games question”, he said, “There was a lot of reaction to a patent that was filed, which is a matter of course for a technology business like us, to file various patents at various times, many of which many never see any application but they are good to have depending on ideas that might be building. The answer to the pre-owned question isn’t clarified just yet and we’re working through that and we’ll announce our position in more detail as and when we can.” For more information see our Sony admits second-hand game blocking is not “clarified” for the PS4

Second-hand sales are a serious problem for the games industry – in some ways, even more so than piracy. Strictly speaking, none of the money from a second-hand sale goes to the publisher or developer, but it’s impossible to predict how many less games consumers would buy if it was impossible to recoup some of the cost by selling them on. By blocking second-hand sales, Sony thinks that a good percentage of those who would have purchased the game second-hand will instead pay full price.

Sony filed a patent late last year that could mean the PS4 won’t play used or second hand games. The patent, US Patent Application 20130007892, describes “a game playing system [including] a use permission tag provided for use in a game disk for a user of a game, a disk drive, and a reproduction device for reproducing the game.” Essentially, this means that a device similar to an RFID or or near-field communication (NFC) tag built into the game disc would tie it to a particular console or console user.

Who will decide on DRM, Sony or its publishers, our guess is the latter

Many current generation games come with single-use codes that let the original owner download extra content, while digital distribution services like Steam, Xbox Live Arcade or the PlayStation Network tie purchases to a single user account.

Sony’s proposed system goes significantly further: once a game disc is inserted into a console featuring the patented technology, it would be permanently tied to that user or console. If the disc is sold, the game could either be a demo version limited to a specific section or a pre-set number of plays and requiring the purchase of a code to unlock or – if Sony goes the whole hog – simply not work at all.

PS4 CONTROLLER – DUALSHOCK 4:

After seeing many leaked pictures of the new controller, it was hardly a surprise when we saw it onstage. The final controller, though, is a far more refined version than the prototype that’s knocking about with development kits. It’s nicely sculpted, has what appears to be a grippy underside, and every facet is redesigned, while still keeping the iconic layout largely intact.

The new PS4 DualShock 4 being officially unveiled

It has a small touchpad above the analogue sticks and a coloured light on the front. In this respect it includes functionality we’ve seen on both the Vita (which has a rear touchpad) and in Sony’s motion-based Move controllers. A speaker is also built-in, allowing for local audio effects and a headphone socket too – probably for headset use, but we’re also hoping for Bluetooth audio for easier headphone use while playing – very handy for split-screen gaming.

The button layout has been rejigged, with a new ‘Share’ button added for quick access to social media. Check out our Cloud Gaming section for more details.

For more details see PS4 controller revealed as the DualShock 4

There’s also a new Eye device with two 1,280×800 resolution cameras – 4x the previous camera’s resolution. This gives increased accuracy to pick up the existing Move controllers or the new DualShock 4. You can read more about this at PS Eye revealed for PS4.

It’s not much to look at, but it sees all

PS4 GAMES:

Before last night we had a lot of words here describing what games might be in development and how far along they are. Now we’ve seen some of them in action. For the games unveiled at the launch event please move along to our Best PS4 games trailers so far, and enjoy the sweet eye candy.

Games on show varied from gentle Myst-like puzzle game, The Witness; with its incredibly dense open world were the developer promises gameplay of distilled Epiphanies …

… to the more traditional cartoon look of Knack, with its great characterisation and impressive physics effects for the protagonist …

… and more traditional blockbuster fare, with a huge explosion courtesy of Killzone Shadow Fall

We’ll be adding more content to this section as new titles are unveiled

PS4 PRICE:

We may now know a lot more about the PS4, but its price is still pure speculation. One thing we can say, is that after the event, the PS4 looks to be more expensive than we originally thought; thanks to its increased memory

It’s very hard to put a price on a console as the manufacturers often sell them at a loss, especially to early adopters, in order to get the ball rolling. They make the money back on game sales and online content later. The PS3 was rumoured to cost Sony some $900 dollars to make upon launch, despite that Sony sold it for around $600.

The PS4 should be less of a financial burden however, as we recently reported, read PS4 won’t be a loss-leader at launch, according to Sony CFO for all the details. In short, by sourcing hardware from AMD rather than developing its own chips, Sony has saved a lot of money on development; plus the new console’s Blu-ray drive is no longer a huge cost, as it was when the PS3 was launching with the then brand-new disc format.

Competition is also a big deal, with companies often forced to price match rivals. So whatever Sony’s plans may be, they could be radically affected by Microsoft’s or even the success or failure of the Wii U.

Now there are rumours that the PS4 is likely to cost $400, but it’s not that simple. A Japanese newspaper reported it will cost at least YEN40,000, which translates to at least $400, which in turn works out to at least £310 in the UK including tax.

Now all this speculation is well and good, but the comment in the Japanese press was from an unattributed source, and no it’s not any more accurate simply because the source comes from Japan.

Then there’s the exchange rate problem. The console was designed in Japan, but the chips were designed in America, and all the parts were manufactured and put together in China. The Yen is a lot stronger against UK and US currencies now than it was when the PS3 came out – by almost 50% in fact. That could make the price higher than some are predicting, but the truly global nature of the product makes this very hard to predict – even if you knew the Yen price for sure, it would be a guess to calculate a European selling price.

Going on historical facts, the original PlayStation sold for £299, as did the PlayStation 2, the PlayStation 3 price jumped up to a whopping £425. Adjust those prices by the retail price index and you get 2013 prices of – £471, £412 and £504 respectively. Thankfully electronics haven’t risen in price in line with RPI, but you still get some idea of how hard Sony will have to try to bring in the console at a competitive £299 – which would be the sweet spot fans are hoping for.

[Source] = Expertreviews

Call of ghosts.

You gotta love COD. Seems that “maybe” will got released on PS4. Activision said in their press release that the game would be “also be available for next generation platforms”, suggesting a PS4 version is also in the works (as you’d expect).
No MW story line, so they are most of them Ghosts or some kind of Ghost protocol. (Hell, they are getting TOO DAMN CREATIVE!!!)
Yes, i know this is belongs to Next Xbox Event but it’s pretty obvious this is Multi btw confirmed for PS3. So don’t sweat it boys

TRY FOR THE LOVE OF COD!!!! NOT TO PLAY SOME PRE-RELEASE!!!!

Enjoy!

To quote:

You can pre-order the game at nearly every retailer now, ahead of the November 5th release date, and Activision has brought out a teaser trailer for Call of Duty: Ghosts, showing off a bunch of different people who wear masks, while also confirming that we have to wait until May 21st to actually see it:

The full game announcement will take place during the next Xbox reveal, but Activision said in their press release that the game would be “also be available for next generation platforms”, suggesting a PS4 version is also in the works (as you’d expect). However, timed exclusive DLC for MS platforms is likely.

Giving a little insight into Ghosts is Eric Hirshberg, CEO of Activision:

Infinity Ward set the gold standard for first-person action for a generation, and they’re going to do it again with Call of Duty: Ghosts. Ghosts delivers an all-new story, all-new characters, an all-new Call of Duty world, all powered by a next generation Call of Duty engine, which is a leap forward for the franchise. Infinity Ward is going all-in to create the next generation of Call of Duty worthy of the world’s greatest fans.

Mark Rubin of Infinity Ward then talked about why they went with Ghosts as the title:

Everyone was expecting us to make Modern Warfare 4, which would have been the safe thing to do. But we’re not resting on our laurels. We saw the console transition as the perfect opportunity to start a new chapter for Call of Duty. So we’re building a new sub-brand, a new engine, and a lot of new ideas and experiences for our players. We can’t wait to share them with our community.

Don Mattrick, president of the interactive entertainment business at Microsoft, added:

We are consistently thrilled with the overwhelming response received from critics and consumers alike to the Call of Duty series, which has firmly established its home on the Xbox 360 with the game’s largest and most engaged community. With Call of Duty: Ghosts, we have no doubt that our longtime partners, Activision and Infinity Ward, will raise the bar higher than ever before for this incredible franchise.

The game will be out on November 5th, on PS3, 360, PC and ‘next generation platforms’.

[Source] = Playstationlifestyle

That’s right this awesome game has already release date on North America and UK = November 19 and 22. We can play this on our PS3 or Xbox360? YES! but also planned for next-gen consoles. (Looking forward to see that).
Enjoy having NO privacy at all in this cyberpunk game.

To quote:

Ubisoft will launch city hacking action adventure Watch Dogs on November 19 and 22 in North America and UK, respectively. The cross-generation game will be available on all current-gen systems, PC, PS4 and “is also planned for other next generation consoles” (i.e. the next Xbox).

The game will launch in the UK with four different editions. The Dedsec Edition (at select UK retailers) includes a 23cm figurine. The Vigilante Edition (at Game in UK, GameStop in Ireland) includes Aiden Pearce’s cap and mask – yup, no way that could go wrong. The Uplay exclusive edition, available on Ubisoft’s digital distribution network, will apparently send you a steelbook. Finally, the very unspecially named Special Edition (from Game in the UK) includes an extra single player mission.

We’ll update when we get word of North Americans bundles.

[Source] = Joystiq

Thanks to @Nicolas19 and i will not mention the other user for obvious reasons but thanks too. Hence we know the other thread will turn into some kind of Hurricane of drama in less than 2 days.

For all those haters that NEVER believed on Cobra’s ODE good intentions. Here you have some proof of their work so far. Stay tunned for more REAL news and s-mods that write PlayStation (With S on Caps because we are damn serious about this) also if you spot Waldo on this High resolution you get one year of PSN access without ANY kind of risk of getting banned from Live.

The first pictures of the Cobra ODE has finally been released

04/04/2013 Cobra ODE Hardware – Main Board pictures

OFFICIAL SITE: Cobra ODE

Well Sony is back again with a new firmware 4.40. So far no specs posted about it, yet. Will keep you posted once i have them.
You can update your system if you are on OFW, if you are on CFW don’t do it.

Sony has released a new firmware update for the PlayStation 3. Applying the download will upgrade your system to version 4.40.

Users will be prompted to update their systems upon booting up the PlayStation Store. Head on over to the Settings > System Update area for the download.

At the moment, it’s unclear what sort of changes the update makes. If we receive any details about the new firmware, we’ll update this post.

[Source] = N4G

Update:
[Pastie] = http://pastebin.com/v5Z0Zmpe

[Download] = Click here for US version.

Update 2:  Thanks to @corolla0305 and @bubba

Fw4.40 adds support for RC-S380 (a sony nfc reader) and system stability stuff

its firmware for new drive model 0xC : http://www.ps3devwiki.com/wiki/Blura…ware_Revisions
an update for the 0xA – not for the rest xD
no syscon updates, no key changes, nothing that prevents downgrading either…

Credit: @euss

=====================

Update 3: Thanks to GregoryRasputin

From March 21, 2013, I had to start the update function to update the body of the PS3 ®. The system software version will be 4.40, in this update, the following features will be updated.
■ The main features updated in version 4.40
I corresponding to (RC-S380 Sony Corporation products) IC card reader / writer PaSoRi non-contact.
The system software to improve the stability of the operation.

[Source] = Click here
Update 4
Here is another function that was added:

[Closed Captions] has been added as a feature under (Video Settings).

Source

Thanks to gingerbread for this one

Aldo’s Bruteforce Data:

I am creating this thread for new & existing member to know the recent developments of @aldostools ’s Bruteforce Save Data. With @flatz ’s tool, Aldo has done an amazing job creating his Bruteforce Save Data tool. His latest update has significant changes to the application.

Originally Posted by aldostools  It’s a shame that very few users have contributed finding more secure_file_id’s.

Aldo has mention that only a handful of users are contributing to the keys database. It is my intention to let members know the highlights and feature of the amazing application.

Latest Version – 2.2.1

Features

- A full fledged PS3 Backup Manager
- Profile Reassignment
- Ability to remove copy protection
- Ability to trade game save files with other players
- Save up to 5 custom profiles
- Backs up & Restore your Save Data to your custom location
- Transfer save files from BSD to USB easily
- Ability to open PS3 Sava Data in HEX editor easily for Mods & Cheats
- Comes with its default HEX editor
- Users able to set their own default Text & HEX editor
- Database has keys for over 750 Game Title
- Ability to Bruteforce Sava Data for unkown keys

[Download] =  http://aldostools.org/temp/BruteforceSaveData.rar

We get the impression that many gamers expected more from the gaming industry in 2012, so could this year have more to offer the disheartened enthusiasts among us. With many gamers looking forward to upcoming titles like Grand Theft Auto V and The Last of Us, many have their sights set on the next generation consoles and various possibilities have been explored.

Speculation surrounding the release date of the so called PS4 point in the direction of a Christmas 2013 launch, although others suggest that a further six months may be the expected time, meaning that Sony’s next gen console may not be here for another year and half. In an article on PlayStation Lifestyle, they talk about what is on the cards for 2013 and question the amount of PS3 titles that have only been given release dates for the first six months of this year.

This has give many cause to believe plans for the PlayStation 4 may be hopeful of a next gen release this year, and we can see why Sony want to get this console on the market as soon as possible. No matter whether there is a delay or not, we expect to see an official reveal this year, and more leaks during 2013. While many in the industry expected last year to be a big gaming year with many big titles releasing, the current financial climate has had an affect, and with the end of the existing consoles lifecycle imminent, we are expecting 2013 to pick up more momentum as far as gaming is concerned and end the year with on a high note.

Disregarding the rumors about the PS4 there is still plenty of potential for 2013 with plenty of new games being lined up for the current system and Guerrilla Games have been developing their new IP for at least 2 years. Other aspects could be worth looking out for this year with Gaikai expected to accumulate plenty of users, so by the end of 2013 we should start witnessing some exciting times in the world if gaming.

The potential of the PS Vita has also been discussed, so we also expect more Vita orientated games throughout 2013, so many gamers are hyped up for a manic year of new consoles and new games with the Sony systems getting some great exclusives, although we are also looking forward to a fresh start with the next generation PS4. Last month we spoke about the ongoing debate surrounding PS4 and Xbox 720 RAM, and whether these systems will be affordable to the consumer if a higher RAM is contained in both.

When you listen(s) (TYPO FROM CREATOR OF THE THIS ARTICLE, NOT ME) to gamers opinions 4-8GB is expected although nothing has been mentioned about the chance that 6GB could be a possibility. With some developers like Epic games and Crytek hoping to have at least 16GB of RAM to show off their visions, we get the impression some developers feel that an upgrade won’t be warranted for any less. We understand that developers are also looking at the longevity of the consoles, especially if we expect to get 5-10 years out of them.

[Source] = inentertainment

You gotta love Concept art on game, especially when it comes to Dark souls, we have some *pretty* scary/weird (i don’t know if it call them freak) monsters but this one in particular looks like a Necromoroph from Dead space series.
For Dark souls lovers, the second surely will blow your mind.

It’s guaranteed to be on the “most anticipated” list of a great many role-playing fans.

Despite the controversy surrounding the “more accessible” comments made by the new directors, we have every confidence that From Software will produce a worthyDark Souls sequel. And if you’d like an early peek, check out All Games Beta.

There you’ll find a bunch of concept art for Dark Souls II, which boasts all sorts of shadowy, otherworldly imagery, such as a two-headed skeleton horse, creatures that are clearly on fire, and others that strangely remind me of the Necromorphs in Dead Space. We’ve posted one image here; hit the link above to see all the artwork. There are different locations shown, too, and the first picture appears to boast a very open environment, doesn’t it…? It’s just concept art, though, so you can’t really make gameplay or structure predictions.

[Source] = PSXextreme

Dead space Necromorph:

This one is badass

Good news another Rogero’s release, thanks to @BobbyBlunt for this one

To quote:
Rogero has released another version of his 4.30 MFW as well as his 4.21 MFW

4.30 v2.00
- Rebuilt from scratch using OFW4.30 files only (no DEX/SEX files) with official XMB and full features working as in OFW4.30
- All known problems like XMB icons sorting and Demo Mode issues from v 1.04 are now all gone with the use of the official XMB.
- Removed the classical “Install Package Files” Icon from XMB to have a 100% original XMB (no DEX/SEX files used).
- Installing Package Files can be done from multiMAN 04.12.00 (XMMB Home column or MMOS File Manager).
- Patched LV1 to disable LV2 Protection.
- Patched LV1 to add peek/poke support to replace hvc 182/183 (multiMAN Direct Disc Access is now working fine with CFW4.21/4.30 v2.00)
- Patched LV1 to disable SYSTEM MANAGER INTEGRITY CHECK (to prevent Bricking on non-dehashed downgraded consoles)
- Patched LV1 Core OS Hash Check (to prevent Bricking on non-dehashed downgraded consoles)
- Patched LV2 to add peek/poke support. (for both LV1 and LV2)
- Patched VSH to enable ReActPSN compatibility (Allow Unsigned act.dat and *.rif files, Disable Unlinking/Deleting of act.dat)
- Spoofed the system version to latest OFW version 4.31.
- PSN/SEN access is available as long as the current “passphrase” still the same.
- Loading games from App_home Icon is now fixed.
- It can run games signed with Keys up to version 4.30 without any Eboot/Sprx patching needed
- Games can be loaded from Disc Icon (with Original game in BD) and from app_home (Disc-less, but not all games).
- Current 3.55 homebrew applications can’t be loaded on this CFW, applications must be re-signed properly for FW4.21/4.30

4.21 v2.00
- Same Features as CEX_4.30 v2.00 plus the following add-ons:
1- It does have the default “Install Package Files” node on XMB. (no need to have multiMAN installed before using it)
2- It does have LV1 Checks Disabled and can be used directly instead of Rogero3.55 v3.7 while downgrading with Hardware Flashers.
3- It does have the Proper Cinavia Disabled Files for the users who needs it.

More information can be found at the source Tortuga-cove

If you are just picking up your shiny new Nintendo Wii U console at a glamorous launch event, you may have noticed one or two whispers that are emerging about the day one Wii U patch that the console needs. Unfortunately, it isn’t good news as it has been confirmed that the Wii U day one update is 5GB in size, which could be terrible news for those planning to pick up the Wii U Basic Pack.

If you didn’t pre-order a console yet, we would definitely advise you to reconsider your plans on getting the Basic version for $299.99 which only comes with 8GB of flash storage. This update is going to cripple your storage options after installation, with only a mere 3GB left for your own usage.

Nintendo appears to have been a bit naughty indeed by not revealing the true size of this update prior to launch and as a result, consumers are not too happy on Twitter after discovering this issue when powering on their Basic packages for the first time. It is bad enough that the system doesn’t come with the Nintendo Network out of the box, but Nintendo should have really advised consumers beforehand on the update size.

5GB is hefty amount for any system update and depending on your internet connection speed, you could be waiting up to 4 hours for the download, as well as added installation time before you can actually start playing games. If you have been keeping an eye on Wii U launch issues, you may have probably heard already that one user has managed to brick their device – by turning off the console during the update. It goes without saying that you really don’t want to be pulling a similar stunt during your update.

We can feel the sigh of relief in the air for all those gamers who opted for the 32GB Deluxe model instead at $349.99. What are Basic consumers going to do with just 3GB of storage left though after installing this meaty patch update? No doubt they will be looking for Nintendo to provide some clarity on this, as they are surely entitled to feel a little bit aggrieved over Nintendo’s silence

[Source] = Productsreview

Constant name changes, weird codenames and now this. PS4 will get divorced from *PS3*.

To quote:

As we speak, the Playstation 4 is a system that is undoubtedly under development, and with that said, a quite revealing report was recently brought to light that revealed some unexpected things about Sony‘s next gaming console.

According to a report from Digital Trends yesterday, the Playstation 4, Orbis or whatever it is rumored to be called is uncertain, however; the two aforementioned names have been ruled out, according to sources.

For those who are wondering why this change is coming to a brand that has been in existence for years, it’s apparently because, “The Japanese word for 4 is ‘shi,’ which also happens to mean death.

“While it might seem silly to break from nearly two decades of successful branding because a two words sound alike, it’s important to remember how branding has negatively affected the Xbox and Xbox 360 in Japan. Where ‘X’ marks the spot in the US, it’s a negative sign in Japanese culture.”

For brevity and identification purposes though, the system will still be referred to as the Playstation 4 or Orbis, until a new name is brought out from Sony.

The quality of games will resemble content already seen from games like “Star Wars 1313″ and “Watch Dogs.”

Supposedly, these games will not be running in 4K resolution and the only way that feature will make it onto the system is if it’s utilized only for videos.

Above all of this, the most surprising detail to come out of this report is the claim that PS4 will not be backwards compatible with Playstation 3 and its Blu-Ray games.

The alternative for playing PS3 games on Sony’s next system would be to go through their newly acquired cloud-gaming service Gaikai.

There was no mention of whether or not previously purchased PS3 games will have to be bought all over again on Gaikai.

Of all these new details, which is most surprising to you?

[Source] = Examiner

It’s not even been a full 24 hours yet and already the PS3 version of Black Ops 2 seems to be plagued with problems.

It’s almost a case of history repeating itself, since the PS3 version of the original Black Ops had a number of platform exclusive issues that just didn’t seem to get fixed, at least not for a while.

One of the major issues seems to be regular freezing. A lot of members of the official Call Of Duty forums are reporting freezing when updating the game, playing in single-player, when loading a game in multiplayer or at the end of a game.

Freezes have even been reported when creating an emblem.

Sound issues seem to be affecting a smaller group of players too, more commonly in Zombies mode where sound glitches or just cuts out entirely.

Others are unable to connect to a game – or even multiplayer at all – being met with the error message “servers not available” whenever they do. One player even reports having been unable to play online even after trying to do so for four hours.

He’s got more patience than us.

Bizarrely some players are reporting being told that “more players are needed to balance teams”, even when in full lobbies.

It seems no attempts to fix the issues by users – such as deleting and redownload update information – has solved any of the issues either.

David Vonderhaar has commented on the forum, however, acknowledging that these issues have been noted but nothing can be done until the dev team can “repro” – i.e. reproduce – the issues in a development environment.

“Not everyone has an issue with the PS3 freezing,” claims Vonderhaar, “I’m a paltry level 10, but have not frozen once.”

We’ll continue to follow these issues to see how – if at all – the problem evolves. Meanwhile, let us know if you’re having any different issues in the comments below and we’ll add them to the story.

Oh, and if you do have issues don’t forget to report them to Activision’s Call Of Duty support page.

[Source] = Nowgamer

Yay we now have new CFW’s to install on our PS3′s, that is awesome, but unfortunately, that has brought with it a new wave of n00bs, now don’t get me wrong, i’m not bashing n00bs, we are all n00bish at something, but it appears that n00bs in the PS3 Scene don’t like to read information, so this is why i will sticky this on the front page for a little while, so i will get on with things:

Q.) I’m too afraid to risk going to 4.xx CFW, how can i still have Homebrew ?
A.) Well this is obviously the wrong thread for you, i advise you read this article regarding Jailbreaking on the stable 3.55 CFW, so go here:
PS3 Jailbreaking F.A.Q – An Amateur Users Guide – Revised For 2012

 For those of you wanting 4.xx CFW, then continue reading below.

Q.) I have a 3K or 4K model, can i install 4.xx CFW.
A.) No any model in which you cannot downgrade to 3.55 or any model that has the new bootldr cannot have CFW installed, there is no timeline of when these models will be hacked or if they will ever be hacked, so go away and try and find a downgradeable model, for the rest of you lucky people with good PS3′s, continue below

Q.) Can 4.xx CFW be installed on 4.xx OFW ?
A.) NO, NO and NO, you need to DOWNGRADE to a 3.55 Firmware.

Q.) Can i Software Downgrade from 4.xx OFW ?
A.) NO, at the moment you MUST, use a Hardware Flasher, like Progskeet or E3, if you are comfortable with soldering, then Progskeet is the recommended device.

Q.) Can i brick my PS3 installing a 4.xx CFW ?
A.) Yes, as with all OFW’s or CFW’s you have a chance of bricking, with CFW’s your chances of bricking become a lot higher, when you dont read.

Q.) Can i brick my PS3 by downgrading ?
A.) Of course you can, but most bricks occur due to user error.

Q.) Who is to blame for any bricks ?
A.) You as the user are, most bricks are down to user error, take your time to read, take your time to understand, take all the time possible and have some patience, it will pay off and be rewarding in the end.

Q.) Will there ever be a method to upgrade from straight from 4.xx OFW to 4.xx CFW ?
A.) We are but mere mortals, we are not psychic, the only advice that one can give you is, be patient and wait until the PlayStation 4 is released.

Q.) Will there ever be a method to Software Downgrade from 4.xx ?
A.) We are but mere mortals, we are not psychic, the only advice that one can give you is, be patient and wait until the PlayStation 4 is released.

Q.) So how do i do all this and do it safely ?
A.) READ BELOW!!!!!!!!

DOWNGRADING

Now here is one of the best downgrading guides available on the internet, it is created by PS3HaX member baileyscream.
Ultimate Fool Proof Guide: Ps3 Hardware Downgrading

INSTALLING A NEW CUSTOM FIRMWARE(Rogero)

This installation guide is dedicated to Rogeros CFW, so my advice is that you go to Tortuga Cove, you visit his thread regarding his latest CFW and YOU READ EVERYTHING IN THE THREADS FIRST POST, click the link below:
Rogero CEX-4.30 v1.00

Itskamel’s 4.30 CFW n00b Tutorial(Rogero)

If the above “INSTALLING A NEW CUSTOM FIRMWARE” was too hard for you, then you should try itskamel n00b Tutorial

Itskamel’s 4.30 CFW n00b tutorial for Rogero

INSTALLING A NEW CUSTOM FIRMWARE(Rex -Rebug)

This installation guide is dedicated to Rebugs CFW, so my advice is that you go to Rebug.me, you visit his thread regarding their latest CFW and YOU READ EVERYTHING IN THE THREADS FIRST POST, click the link below:

REBUG 3.55.3 and 4.21.1 REX EDITIONS and ’999′ DOWNGRADER

Itskamel’s 4.21 CFW n00b Tutorial(Rex -Rebug)

Here is Itskamel with his usual awesome tutorial, i know he isnt a developer and he hates being called one, but i personally think he should have the “Homebrew Developer” title or a permanent “VIP” status because of his constant dedication to helping his fellow PS3HaX members

itskamel’s n00b REBUG REX tutorial

OTHER USEFUL TIPS AND HELP

PS3HaX member CaptainCPS-X has written quite a good quide for those installing Rogero’s 4.30CFW, here it is:
CaptainCPS-X’s Quick Tips For Those Jumping From CFW’s

PS3 Applications/Software For 4.xx CFW

 Homebrew Application List/PC Homebrew Creation Tools Updated For 2012

Emulators For 4.xx CFW

A nice helpful thread thanks to PS3HaX Member LoboGuara
PS3 Emulators – Permalinks

Looks like the PS3 LV0 keys have been leaked and reported to be working!

LV0 keys:

ERK = CA7A24EC38BDB45B98CCD7D363EA2AF0C326E65081E0630CB9 AB2D215865878A

RIV = F9205F46F6021697E670F13DFA726212

PUBLIC = A8FD6DB24532D094EFA08CB41C9A72287D905C6B27B42BE4AB 925AAF4AFFF34D41EEB54DD128700D

PRIVATE = 001AD976FCDE86F5B8FF3E63EF3A7F94E861975BA3

CURVE_TYPE = 0×33

To quote:

.—-==[22-10-2012]=======================================================—-.
[_ As this was a group effort, we wouldn't normally have lost a word about it |
|ever, but as we're done with PS3 now anyways, we think it doesn't matter |
|anymore [http://pastie.org/4462324]. Congratulations to the guy that leaked |
|stuff, you, sir, are a 1337 haxx0r, jk, you’re an asshole. _]
| |
| Try this bytes… |
| – [erk=CA7A24EC38BDB45B98CCD7D363EA2AF0C326E65081E0630CB9AB2D215865878A] |
| – [riv=F9205F46F6021697E670F13DFA726212] |
| – [pub=A8FD6DB24532D094EFA08CB41C9A72287D905C6B27B42BE4AB925AAF4AFFF34D |
| 41EEB54DD128700D] |
| – [priv=001AD976FCDE86F5B8FF3E63EF3A7F94E861975BA3] |
| – [ctype=33] |
| …and be amazed. |
| |
[_ People should know that crooked personalities are widespread in this so |
|called 'scene'. Some people try to achive something for fun together and make|
|the wrong decision to trust others and share their results with them, but ofc|
|there got to be the attention seeking fame wh*** that has to leak stuff to |
|feel a little bit better about him-/herself. _]
[_ Now the catch is that it works like this in every 'scene', just that in |
|others it usually doesn't come to light. _]
[_ The only sad thing is, that the others who worked on this won't get the |
|attention they deserve because they probably want to remain anonymous (also |
|they don't care about E-fame <3). _]
| |
[_ PS: This is neither about drama nor E-fame nor 'OMG WE HAZ BEEN FIRST', we |
|just thought you should know that we're disappointed in certain people. You |
|can be sure that if it wouldn't have been for this leak, this key would never|
|have seen the light of day, only the fear of our work being used by others to|
|make money out of it has forced us to release this now. _]
‘—-===========================================[- The Three Musketeers]==—-’

Sad to read this…no more darksiders??!.

To quote:

THQ after signing a new distribution agreement in Australia is going to close its Melbourne offices in the coming months. All of THQ’s titles will now be distributed through third party All Interactive Entertainment (AIE) in Australia, therefore the company has no need for its Asia Pacific anymore.

A THQ spokesperson, in a statement to Gamasutra, has said that “approximately 18 employees were impacted by this action.”

“The evolution of our distribution model in the Asia Pacific region will allow us to increase our reach with a lower cost model,” THQ’s executive vice president of global publishing Ian Curran confirmed in a statement. “AIE is a trusted business partner with whom we have worked with for many years as our distributor in New Zealand. We believe the company will benefit from AIE’s backing and comprehensive distribution network across Australia.”

Robert Kingston, director of AIE acknowledged the appointment, saying “We are delighted to broaden our relationship with a top publisher such as THQ. We look forward to bringing THQ’s highly-anticipated new video game releases and existing game portfolio to our retail network in the territory.”

 [Source] = Chartz

Square Enix rebooted version of Final Fantasy XIV, “A Realm Reborn,” is still coming to PS3 as well as PC. The company released the first screenshots of the PS3 version today, revealing the new UI for the console version.

The new UI allows players to set up their own button configurations, of course. Square says it’s been “designed with the traditional Final Fantasy controls in mind to give the game a classic RPG feel, familiar to any PlayStation 3 RPG gamers.” So that means you press X to confirm menu items? And use the d-pad to move between them? We’ve never put that much thought into “traditional Final Fantasy controls.”

Square Enix plans to release both the PS3 and PC versions of A Realm Reborn in 2013

 [Source] = Joystiq

Hi everyone, since i’m working on PSChannel (i don’t know when it will be finished), i had to build a few features for it (i will not tell which they are). so i written this simple homebrew to install one or more PKG without using the XMB option. this app is useful if you, for some reason, can’t use that option.
it will create on the XMB a new icon that will allow you to install that pkg.

How to use it:

place in the main directory of your USB a pkg (it can handle up to 100 pkgs, and the max size for each of them is 4GB).
then plug in the usb on the ps3 and run the app.

it will search the usb from /dev_usb000 to /dev_usb009, once found it will start it copy and create the right files to allows you to install it from the XMB without the option.

THIS APP WILL RESTART THE PS3 ONCE FINISHED.

i hope that this app can be useful (maybe also someday).

[OLD][Download] https://www.dropbox.com/s/03r0chasu4…age.geohot.pkg
[OLD][Download] https://www.dropbox.com/s/qsaczaxuvy…ll_Package.pkg

This new version allow to install packages also from the /dev_hdd0/package folder, just not plug in any USB and it will search in that directory

[V1.2][Download] https://www.dropbox.com/s/95gvav70wp…ackage.1.2.pkg
[V1.2][Download] https://www.dropbox.com/s/zg1ugwbuiy…gnpdrm.1.2.pkg

My Blog: http://devram0.blogspot.it/2012/10/i…-homebrew.html

[Source]: PXS-SCENE