Joystiq

Xbox One specs include Blu-ray drive, 500 GB hard drive [Update]

Mike Suszek — Tue, 21 May 2013 13:10:00 EST

The Xbox One will include a Blu-ray drive as well as a 500 GB hard drive, Microsoft's Mark Whitten revealed at today's next-gen Xbox reveal event. The system will feature 8 GB of system memory, USB 3.0 ports, an 8-core CPU, 64-bit architecture, built-in Wi-Fi and HDMI in/out ports. Whitten also noted that the Xbox One's architecture uses three operating systems.

Microsoft also revealed details on the next-gen Kinect sensor and the Xbox One's controller at the event.

Update: We've compared the Xbox One and PlayStation 4's specs.

Xbox One specs include Blu-ray drive, 500 GB hard drive [Update] originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 21 May 2013 13:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Company of Heroes movie will arrive on DVD, Blu-ray Feb. 26

Mike Schramm — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 03:00:00 EST

THQ may have had its last stand, but the Company of Heroes movie is apparently still a go, as we've gotten word that it's still coming to DVD and Blu-ray on February 26. The full-length film, based on Relic Entertainment's critically acclaimed real-time strategy series (now owned by Sega), stars Tom Sizemore, Vinnie Jones, and Neal McDonough. It follows a band of soldiers trying to stop Nazi Germany from creating an atomic weapon during the Battle of the Bulge.

Will it be any good? We don't know yet. But if you want to honor the old THQ brotherhood (and get a nice taste of the setting before Company of Heroes 2 comes out), you can grab a copy of by the end of the month.

Company of Heroes movie will arrive on DVD, Blu-ray Feb. 26 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 14 Feb 2013 03:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumor: Next Xbox always online, uses Blu-ray

Alexander Sliwinski — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 09:30:00 EST

Rumors on details about the next Xboxen are beginning to fly fast and furious, with an always-on Internet connection and Blu-ray drive being the latest. Edge cites sources with "first-hand experience" who rehash previously noted tech specs, but also mention the next Xbox will have an improved Kinect and an always-on internet connection to cut out the second-hand game market from the platform. The use of high-capacity Blu-ray discs seems a natural assumption since ... well, HD-DVD is no longer with us.

UK site VG247 (Microsoft UK must be a sieve) noted similar details to what Edge is putting out there last April.

Microsoft has not made any official announcement on its next Xbox, nor do we have any concrete idea of when the company plans to announce the product. Sony, on the other hand, is expected to announce the PlayStation 4 on February 20.

Rumor: Next Xbox always online, uses Blu-ray originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 06 Feb 2013 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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God of War: Ascension demo included with Total Recall remake Blu-ray

JC Fletcher — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 22:35:00 EST

Wow, there's a reason to consider buying the Blu-ray of the Total Recall remake! If you purchase the "Director's Cut" Blu-ray, or the Blu-ray/DVD combo pack, you'll get the E3 demo of God of War: Ascension. The Blu-ray, and the God of War demo, arrive December 18. The demo is exclusive "through 3/8/13," suggesting that a demo will hit PSN four days before the March 12 launch.

God of War demos and sci-fi movie Blu-rays have been mashed together before. Back in 2009, Sony tossed a God of War 3 demo in with District 9 on Blu-ray.

God of War: Ascension demo included with Total Recall remake Blu-ray originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 09 Oct 2012 22:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Phoenix Wright movie comes to DVD and Blu-Ray in Japan this August

JC Fletcher — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 10:00:00 EST

Director Takashi Miike's Phoenix Wright movie will be released in Japan on Blu-Ray and DVD on August 22. The home releases include a commentary track by Miike and Ace Attorney series creator Shu Takumi, along with a bonus disc with another Takumi interview, trailers, and other assorted material.

The US and Japan use the same Blu-Ray region, so you can import that version and watch it. The language barrier might be an issue, but we're pretty sure we'd be able to follow the story of Phoenix Wright in pantomime by now.

In the meantime, you do have a couple of opportunities to see it with English subtitles. The movie will be shown twice in NYC as part of the New York Asian Film Festival, on July 8 and July 15.

Phoenix Wright movie comes to DVD and Blu-Ray in Japan this August originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 20 Jun 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: PS3 jailbreak, second edition, is now circulating in Indonesia

Jessica Conditt — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 17:30:00 EST

A team from Indonesia claims it has successfully jailbroken the PS3 with a new dongle it's calling "JB2." JB2 is supposedly based on the original jailbreak key produced by GeoHot and works on firmware version 3.55 consoles, but plays games up to the current version, 3.73, PS3Crunch reports (as of writing, the PS3Crunch website is down, whether from server overload or more purposeful action is unclear).

The dongle will play titles burned onto Blu-ray discs via HDD, including FIFA 12, Driver: San Francisco, God of War: Origins Collection, Pro Evolution Soccer 2012, X-Men Destiny and Sniper Ghost Warrior, PS3Crunch says. The dongle is now circulating in Indonesia and will be sold globally for roughly $45, reports say.

The above video supposedly shows the JB2 in action, booting up to a developer-build screen and expanded option set. Personally, finding and buying the JB2, getting BD-Rs and burning copies of new games seems like more work than we'd ever invest in an illegal, temporary piece of hardware. Maybe that's just us -- given, we're extremely smart, well-informed, good-looking and all-around cool people -- but again, that's just us.

Report: PS3 jailbreak, second edition, is now circulating in Indonesia originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 21 Oct 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Green Lantern Extended Cut Blu-Ray combo pack to include Batman: Arkham City Sinestro Corps skin [update]

Jordan Mallory — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 15:30:00 EST

Well, that's one way to boost Blu-Ray sales.

A devastatingly handsome tipster has sent us pictures of the unreleased Green Lantern Extended Cut Blu-Ray combo pack due out on October 14, and wouldn't you know it, right there on the cover is a sticker proclaiming yet another Batman: Arkham City costume.

For those unfamiliar with the Green Lantern mythos, the Sinestro Corps are a team of baddies lead by the ex-Green Lantern Corps member Sinestro (natch). The Sinestro Corps did, at one point, attempt to recruit Batman into their ranks, so we suppose this Sinestro Corps skin isn't entirely non-cannon.

~~No word from our incredibly popular and good-looking tipster on whether or not the promotion is exclusive to a specific retailer~~, however it is exclusive to a specific console: Seeing as this is a Blu-Ray and all, the included code is a PSN code, and therefore only functional on PS3 copies of the game.

Update 1: According to our source, the skin-packed copies of Green Lantern will be limited edition and exclusive to Best Buy, however there's a chance the costume will eventually be converted into DLC.

Update 2: Best Buy exclusivity is, according to our source, no longer on the table. While they did not name specifics, "certain other stores" will also be receiving costumed copies.

Gallery: Batman: Arkham City (Sinestro Corps Bonus)

Green Lantern Extended Cut Blu-Ray combo pack to include Batman: Arkham City Sinestro Corps skin [update] originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 08 Oct 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Assassin's Creed: Lineage propagates to DVD and Blu-Ray November 15

JC Fletcher — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 03:00:00 EST

Want a copy of the Assassin's Creed: Lineage short film to keep for your very own? Amazon listings reveal that the 2009 release will be out on Blu-Ray and DVD on November 15. Not like Assassin's Creed fans have anything else to buy on that date.

Assassin's Creed: Lineage propagates to DVD and Blu-Ray November 15 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 04 Oct 2011 03:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mortal Kombat Legacy uppercuts Blu-ray on November 8

David Hinkle — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 02:30:00 EST

Sure, you could watch the entirety of Mortal Kombat Legacy for free on YouTube right now, but who wants to do all of that clicking? That's for chumps -- no, you'd rather pop a nice, neat Blu-ray disc into your preferred player, sit back and soak it all in. You're a connoisseur, after all.

And on November 8, you'll be able to do just that when Warner Bros. releases Mortal Kombat Legacy on Blu-ray. High-Def Digest reports that in addition to all nine episodes, there will be a plethora of extras, including behind-the-scenes vignettes, a profile of director (and Mortal Kombat "super fan") Kevin Tancharoen and other exploratory pieces looking at the mythos of Mortal Kombat. All in all, it seems like a pretty decent package for a MSRP of $19.98.

Mortal Kombat Legacy uppercuts Blu-ray on November 8 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 11 Aug 2011 02:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New PS3 model drops HD Blu-ray display over component

JC Fletcher — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 11:30:00 EST

The PS3 has gradually shed features over its lifespan -- like PS2 backwards compatibility and OtherOS. That's happening again with the latest revision of the PS3 hardware, but it's not entirely Sony's fault this time.

Kotaku obtained an internal GameStop communication detailing the new "K" model of PS3 hardware, which states that an HDMI cable will now be required to display high-definition, and that component cables will no longer work. GameStop doesn't quite have all the details right, but part of that is true.

"The new CECH-3000 series PS3 requires HDMI only for BD movie output in HD, in compliance with AACS standards," Sony told Ars Technica. "PS3 continues to support component output for HD gaming and streaming content." The restriction is just on high-definition video from Blu-Ray discs. So this isn't a cost-cutting measure like the removal of PS2 hardware -- it's to conform to the Advanced Access Content System, a standard for DRM developed by a consortium of media companies including ... Sony. The standard requires that devices restrict analog outputs to 960 x 540 to prevent recording from analog capture devices.

The strange part, then, is that the PS3 ever supported HD Blu-ray playback through component. Digital Foundry speculates that the rule didn't kick in officially until the AACS Final Adopter Agreement in December 2010, and thus only affects PS3s produced after then. That would mean that Sony (and pretty much every other electronics company) skirted its own rule for as long as possible.

New PS3 model drops HD Blu-ray display over component originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 13 Jul 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wii U won't have DVD or Blu-ray playback, will include social media functionality

Ben Gilbert — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 10:45:00 EST

We already knew that the Wii U's games wouldn't be coming on DVD (like the Xbox 360) or Blu-ray (like the PlayStation 3), but we didn't know that Nintendo's next console wouldn't be able to play video from either format. Nintendo president Satoru Iwata confirmed as much in a recent investor Q&A, flat out stating that "Wii U does not have DVD or Blu-ray playback capabilities." He explained the reasoning behind this as -- unsurprisingly -- the cost, and the notion that "enough people already have devices that are capable of playing DVDs and Blu-ray."

Something that Nintendo will apparently be including in the Wii U, though: social media functionality. When asked about the new console's online experience, Iwata deftly avoids providing direct information, admitting only that "we are no longer in a period where we cannot have any connection at all with social networking sites." How this will be applied seems to still be up in the air, with Iwata later in the Q&A elaborating, "We're looking at ways that will convey to this audience which games are fun and, ideally, in a way that will enable people who are playing those games with others, to share that information socially."

He also said that the console's online infrastructure needs to be more flexible for developers, repeatedly citing third-party studios as the drive for Nintendo's new stance. Worryingly, he never speaks to the necessity of online persistence or the company's messy past with online functionality.

Continue reading Wii U won't have DVD or Blu-ray playback, will include social media functionality

Wii U won't have DVD or Blu-ray playback, will include social media functionality originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 15 Jun 2011 10:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tekken Hybrid unites Tag Tournament remake and Blood Vengeance movie on PS3

JC Fletcher — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 16:30:00 EST

E3 2011 was secretly a big year for the Tekken series. Street Fighter X Tekken was playable, and new Tekken games were briefly shown for both 3DS and Wii U. If those weren't enough, Sony sneaked the PlayStation version of the original Tekken onto the PlayStation Store right before the show.

One facet of this manifold Iron Fist media assault is Tekken Hybrid, a PS3-exclusive collection that bundles the movie Tekken: Blood Vengeance 3D with an HD remake of the PS2's Tekken Tag Tournament. Unspecified extra content will also be thrown in for the set's November release -- judging from recent events, we're guessing that content will include trailers for like a dozen more Tekken games.

Gallery: Tekken Tag Tournament HD (E3 2011)

Continue reading Tekken Hybrid unites Tag Tournament remake and Blood Vengeance movie on PS3

Tekken Hybrid unites Tag Tournament remake and Blood Vengeance movie on PS3 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 13 Jun 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tekken live action movie trailer is so bad it's good

David Hinkle — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 05:00:00 EST

Turning fighting games into movies is something that we actually appreciate quite a bit. These movies end up being so bad, they come all the way back around the spectrum to good. Films like Street Fighter, DOA: Dead or Alive and The King of Fighters will always have a special place in our hearts -- and now, with this latest trailer for the Blu-ray and DVD release (slated for July 19), it would seem Tekken: The Movie is on track to be on that list.

Continue reading Tekken live action movie trailer is so bad it's good

Tekken live action movie trailer is so bad it's good originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 03 Jun 2011 05:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Resistance 3 demo to be included with Battle: LA Blu-ray

Griffin McElroy — Tue, 03 May 2011 13:45:00 EST

Remember when a billboard on the set of Battle: Los Angeles spilled the beans about Resistance 3 long before it was officially announced? It seems the film's creators have found a way to make up for the leak -- according to G4, the Blu-ray edition of the film will include a 30-minute demo from Insomniac's upcoming shooter; the same riverboat sequence we previewed back in March.

We think the Blu-ray, which is due out June 14, is kind of a killer combo. You start by watching a big blockbuster about a military struggle against invading extraterrestrial aggressors, and then you actively play a big blockbuster about a military struggle against invading extraterrestrial aggressors. It's like peanut butter and ... more peanut butter.

Resistance 3 demo to be included with Battle: LA Blu-ray originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 03 May 2011 13:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PS3 shipments blocked in Europe as LG wins preliminary injunction

Griffin McElroy — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 15:05:00 EST

The struggle between hardware manufacturing juggernauts Sony and LG -- the latter of which claims that the PS3 infringes on a number of its patents relating to Blu-ray technology -- has finally drawn some blood. The civil court of justice in the Hague has granted LG a preliminary injunction for customs to seize and confiscate all PS3s coming into Europe (from manufacturing plants, etc.) for up to ten days. The Guardian reports that the collected consoles are temporarily being kept in Dutch warehouses until the case moves forward.

According to the Guardian, retailers are expected to have enough PS3s to last two to three weeks. Sony has the right to file an appeal to the patents office -- but far more than some boxed-up consoles collecting dust is on the line. Should the court ultimately rule in favor of LG, the console maker would be forced to compensate the company for every single PS3 sold around the world. We've contacted Sony for a comment.

PS3 shipments blocked in Europe as LG wins preliminary injunction originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 28 Feb 2011 15:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LG strikes back at Sony in patent fight, wants PS3 imports blocked in US

Christopher Grant — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 12:20:00 EST

What happens when billion-dollar multinational technology conglomerates get in a fight? They don't gather around the flagpole after school; instead, they hurl patents at one another, fast and furious.

After filing a complaint against Korean technology company LG in December pertaining to seven US mobile phone patents, Sony finds itself the recipient of a revenge-complaint (a term we just made up) wherein LG claims that "certain electronic devices having a Blu-Ray Disc player and components thereof" violate four of its patents. That includes a lot of devices, like Bravia TVs, but only one piece of Sony hardware was singled out by name: the PlayStation 3 (Model No. CECH-2501A, if you want to be precise).

The complaints are filed with the US International Trade Commission, which has the power to block imports of products that violate US patents. So, in short, LG is looking for the ITC to keep PS3s off American shores. But since that doesn't put any cash money directly in its pockets, LG has "also filed civil suits against Sony in federal court in California, making similar claims and seeking cash compensation for the unauthorized use of its inventions," Bloomberg reports. We think we speak for everyone when we say that we liked it better when fights were settled with violence.

LG strikes back at Sony in patent fight, wants PS3 imports blocked in US originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 08 Feb 2011 12:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mortal Kombat and MK: Annihilation Blu-rays include costume for game

Ben Gilbert — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 17:00:00 EST

With the launch of Mortal Kombat's current-gen reboot getting closer by the day, Warner Bros. is ramping up promotion by announcing the Blu-ray release of both the Mortal Kombat and Mortal Kombat: Annihilation movies. The films will be sold individually and packed with various special features, most notably a "free exclusive Jade character costume download" for the PlayStation 3 version of the game, included with both movies.

Blu-ray.com details each film's Blu-ray extras, and pins an April 19 launch date on them. And, wouldn't you know it, that's the same day that the game comes out!

Mortal Kombat and MK: Annihilation Blu-rays include costume for game originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 07 Feb 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Splinter Cell and Prince of Persia HD trilogies coming March 22 on PS3 Blu-ray disc

Randy Nelson — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 15:31:00 EST

Despite being a franchise that's all about sneaking, it comes as no surprise that the first three Splinter Cell games are getting HD facelifts for PS3 -- after all, the Prince of Persia trilogy already has (on PSN, at least). Ubisoft has announced today that both "remastered" series will hit retail on Blu-ray disc March 22 for $40 apiece.

Splinter Cell Classic Trilogy HD will include the original Splinter Cell, Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow and Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory, all three offering 3D modes for compatible televisions. The Prince of Persia Classic Trilogy HD disc contains Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, Prince of Persia: Warrior Within and Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones. While the games run at a higher resolution, they're identical to their original releases underneath the HD sheen, meaning any bugs that plagued them are present, too.

The Splinter Cell collection will also be released on March 22 on PSN for the same $40 price tag, along with a digital Prince of Persia trilogy "bundle" for the same price. Currently, the three PoP classics are going for $15 a pop as separate downloads on the PlayStation Store.

Continue reading Splinter Cell and Prince of Persia HD trilogies coming March 22 on PS3 Blu-ray disc

Splinter Cell and Prince of Persia HD trilogies coming March 22 on PS3 Blu-ray disc originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 31 Jan 2011 15:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dead Space Aftermath coming to DVD and Blu-ray on January 25

Mike Schramm — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 21:30:00 EST

EA has announced a release date for the upcoming Dead Space Aftermath animated movie. The film will be released on Blu-ray and DVD on January 24 in Europe, and January 25 in the US. MSRP is $34.99, but some outlets (including Amazon at the moment) are selling it for even cheaper than that already. The film will also come bundled in a double pack with 2008's animated tie-in, Dead Space Downfall.

The film will supposedly serve as a prequel to Dead Space 2, about a group sent by the Government to the Aegis VII disaster from the first animated film, in order to "test" the "effects" of Marker shards. Sounds like a recipe for "trouble" (and some gory scares). Between this release next month and the demo later on this month, the Dead Space franchise is about to get a whole lot livelier.

Dead Space Aftermath coming to DVD and Blu-ray on January 25 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 09 Dec 2010 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video Games Live: Level 2 hitting Blu-ray and DVD October 19

Griffin McElroy — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 02:00:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

If you're looking for a new addition for the rack you keep on your entertainment center which specifically houses your concert DVDs, we've got a great suggestion for a box that'll look great between "Rush in Rio" and Dixie Chicks' "Top of the World Tour: Live." We're speaking, of course, of "Level 2," the upcoming concert video from Tommy Tallarico and his band of gaming troubadours, Video Games Live.

"Level 2," which will be released on DVD and Blu-ray on October 19, features a 100-minute concert performance and hours of bonus interviews and behind-the-scenes featurettes. A CD will be released on the same day, featuring 16 of the group's video game-inspired suites. For a full tracklist, as well as information about pre-orders, check out Video Games Live's official site, or check out the trailer after the jump for a sneak peek at the performances therein.

Continue reading Video Games Live: Level 2 hitting Blu-ray and DVD October 19

Video Games Live: Level 2 hitting Blu-ray and DVD October 19 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 07 Oct 2010 02:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PS3 3D Blu-ray playback loses lossless audio

JC Fletcher — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

Blu-Ray.com called attention to an SCEI press release about the features of the new Blu-Ray 3D function for the PS3 (info also available in English here). It specifically noted that when playing a movie in 3D, audio will play in DTS or Dolby Digital when your system is set to output DTS-HD or Dolby TrueHD, respectively.

Blu-Ray.com's Joshua Wingfield tested the 3D playback: "I can confirm that with the PS3 3.50 firmware update it only puts the audio out as DTS standard (lossy) in the bitstream mode. Also the menus on Coraline are flattened to 2D. Subtitles still show up in 3D mode, and so do menus. The image just flattens." Note that he didn't seem too put off by the limitation, saying, "So for now 3D on the PS3...full 1080p to each eye, but no HD audio and no 3D on menu screens or pop up menus. Can't say I'm disappointed."

The PS3's 3D capabilities remain impressive, though not quite perfect. For 3D games, you have to lose some graphical complexity (in order to render two images simultaneously) and for 3D movies, you may have to sacrifice sound quality. And you sacrifice some of your time learning about audio codecs.

PS3 3D Blu-ray playback loses lossless audio originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 23 Sep 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PSA: PS3 firmware 3.50 now available

JC Fletcher — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 23:57:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

If you've been itching for something to do with that multi-thousand-dollar TV you bought, go turn your PS3 on. Readers are reporting that firmware 3.50, which enables 3D Blu-Ray support, is up now.

In addition to that feature, which will make a few very rich people very happy, the new update includes more Facebook integration for developers, so that their games can access your Facebook data, and XMB-based grief reporting. You can tell Sony if "this guy won't shut up about his 3D television," for example.

[Thanks, Chad and Aaron!]

PSA: PS3 firmware 3.50 now available originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 20 Sep 2010 23:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PS3 Blu-ray 3D support pops out in October

Richard Mitchell — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 14:40:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

Hey, that PS3 update that was supposed to add support for 3D Blu-ray movies this month? Unfortunately, you'll have to languish with that copy of Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs for a bit longer, because Sony announced at IFA today that the update has been pushed to October. We know, it's just not the same unless those meatballs are flying right at your face, but it won't be too much longer.

And hey, you can still try out some of them newfangled 3D games. It might not meet your meatballs-in-the-face expectations, but it's got to count for something, right?

PS3 Blu-ray 3D support pops out in October originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 01 Sep 2010 14:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toy Story 3 Hybrid Premium Edition contains PS3 game and original movie

Griffin McElroy — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 14:30:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

If your concern for the well-being of mother nature has already led you to purchase a hybrid automobile, you might want to think of incorporating your environmentalist considerations into other aspects of your shopping habits. For instance, if you were thinking about picking up Avalanche's video game adaptation of Toy Story 3, perhaps you'd be interested in the title's "Hybrid Premium Edition," which includes the game and the original Toy Story film on a single Blu-ray disc for $64.99.

A recent PlayStation.Blog post announced that the bundle will be released to retailers this week, so keep an eye out for it at your local brick and mortar in the coming days. In the meantime just think about all the endangered species you're preserving by placing the two products into one container.

Toy Story 3 Hybrid Premium Edition contains PS3 game and original movie originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 16 Aug 2010 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony limiting use of 1080p 3D in PS3 games

Kyle Orland — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

Sony's official guidelines for 3D gaming on PS3 limit the displayed image to a resolution of 720p, a Sony representative confirmed at the Develop conference this week.

Even games that run natively at 1080p resolution, like Super Stardust HD, are downscaled in 3D mode to two 720p images (one for each eye), Sony's Simon Benson explained during a demo of the technology at the conference. While the PS3 is capable of displaying a 1080p 3D image -- indeed, it will support 3D Blu-Ray movies at that resolution later this year -- Benson said upping the resolution comes at the expense of the silky-smooth 60 frames per second available at 720p (Blu-Ray movies run at 24 frames per second). Benson said that a "more cinematic game" might be well-suited for the lower frame rate and higher resolution, but that Sony's current guidelines for 3D games wouldn't allow for such a setting.

The effects of this policy are probably unnoticeable to most gamers. Benson said that, in 3D, even trained computer graphics artists could barely tell the difference between the resolutions. Still, for all you pixel counters out there who obsess over "full HD 1080p," here's another bit of technical trivia for you to argue over.

Sony limiting use of 1080p 3D in PS3 games originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 16 Jul 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Avatar sets Blu-ray sales record, sells 2.7 million in four days

Andrew Yoon — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 17:00:00 EST

Unsurprisingly, Avatar has done extremely well during its home video run. In fact, James Cameron's movie has claimed the honor of best-selling Blu-ray movie ever, beating the previous title-holder, The Dark Knight. According to a report by Variety, 2.7 million Blu-ray discs were sold in the four days since its retail release in the US. (In comparison, The Dark Knight took 18 months to sell 2.5 million discs.)

Perhaps a testament to the growing demand for Blu-ray content, Blu-ray accounted for 40% of total home video sales for Avatar in the four-day window. That's a significant increase from the 25% market share The Dark Knight claimed over a year ago.

Avatar will most likely represent yet another sales benchmark when it is re-released on 3D Blu-ray next year. Thankfully, PS3-owning movie fans are already equipped with one of the few Blu-ray players on the market that will be capable of playing that disc.

Avatar sets Blu-ray sales record, sells 2.7 million in four days originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 27 Apr 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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JBO: Joystiq Box Office, April 19 - April 23, plus Joyswag!

Kevin Kelly — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 21:00:00 EST

We can't be gaming all the time, despite our best efforts, and from time to time we'll actually take advantage of the movie-playing abilities on our gaming systems. JBO features our top picks for XBL, PSN, Netflix's Watch Instantly and Blu-ray each week.

Recommendation of the Week:

Cheech & Chong's Hey Watch This (Blu-ray: $24.99 MSRP, much lower at most retailers)
Earlier this week, Cheech & Chong returned to the world. Most appropriately, the date it happened was 4/20. For those of you who might know know, Cheech & Chong invented pot humor. Then they rode the top of that world for 14 years before breaking up in 1985. Then there was no Cheech & Chong. People turned to replacement movie stoners for years, looking for someone to identify with. But now, 25 year after they last appeared together on film, they're back. They reunited for a very successful tour in 2008, and the San Antonio portion of that tour was filmed and turned into this Blu-ray, which is also chock full of special features and skits created just for the film. It's a concert tour with a bonus. You don't have to be a stoner to appreciate some of this, although it probably doesn't hurt. They're touring together again right now, and are reportedly working on a new narrative film, Cheech and Chong's Up In Smoke Part 2. To tide you over until then, we're giving away three Blu-ray copies of Cheech and Chong's Hey Watch This. Head to the bottom of the post to learn how to enter.

Read on after the break for the rest of our recommendations, then chime in below!

Continue reading JBO: Joystiq Box Office, April 19 - April 23, plus Joyswag!

JBO: Joystiq Box Office, April 19 - April 23, plus Joyswag! originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 23 Apr 2010 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Buy the Lord of the Rings HD trilogy on PSN, get a free dynamic theme

Griffin McElroy — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 19:00:00 EST

We're constantly looking for reasons to re-purchase the Lord of the Rings film trilogy -- a fact clearly evidenced by our ownership of the theatrical versions of the films, the extended director's cut of each movie, the Blu-ray version of the trilogy, and another set of each of those, so we can keep one in mint condition, and watch the other on a bi-weekly basis.

A recent PlayStation.Blog post has informed us that we'll need to shell out for yet another version of the films: The HD, downloadable trilogy on the PlayStation Store. Not only does it curtail our need to purchase two versions of the bundle, but it also comes with a free, LoTR-based dynamic PS3 theme. We've already collected a number of background skins for Sony's home gaming console, but we have a feeling this one has a pretty good shot at ruling them all.

Buy the Lord of the Rings HD trilogy on PSN, get a free dynamic theme originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 11 Apr 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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JBO: Joystiq Box Office, April 5 - April 9

Kevin Kelly — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 21:47:00 EST

We can't be gaming all the time, despite our best efforts, and from time to time we'll actually take advantage of the movie-playing abilities on our gaming systems. JBO features our top picks for XBL, PSN, Netflix's Watch Instantly and Blu-ray each week.

Recommendation of the Week:

The Killer (Blu-ray: $29.99 MSRP, much lower at most retailers)
This week's recommendation is a bit tongue in cheek, mostly because the video quality isn't the sharpest in the world. Granted, the source material is 21 years old, but I've seen what they can do with movies like The African Queen and The Wizard of Oz on Blu-ray, so why not one of director John Woo's and actor Chow Yun Fat's best films, The Killer? Still, all of that complaining aside, the film does look better than I've ever seen it look on home video format, and it runs circles around the murky theatrical print I saw back when I was in college. While probably not a disc you'll slap in to show off how much Blu-ray rocks, it still looks fantastic, and it's got a completely new interview on the disc with Woo (where's Yun-Fat, though?) that is well worth it. There's also a Q&A session where he talks about The Killer and Hard Boiled. This is being produced by Dragon Dynasty, a joint company venture from the Weinstein brothers and Genius Products, and I'm hoping things improve a bit in the transfer department. Let's get Chow Yun-Fat's God of Gamblers, A Better Tomorrow trilogy, City on Fire, and Treasure Hunt on Blu-ray, stat.

Read on after the break for the rest of our recommendations, then chime in below!

Continue reading JBO: Joystiq Box Office, April 5 - April 9

JBO: Joystiq Box Office, April 5 - April 9 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 09 Apr 2010 21:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Blu-ray sales increase nearly 70% in Q1 2010

Andrew Yoon — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 13:15:00 EST

Seems like this "Blu-ray" thing is taking off. Likely, as a PS3 owner, you're familiar with the HD movie format. With more and more PS3 systems (and standalone Blu-ray players) entering American households, it was inevitable that Blu-ray sales would continue to grow. According to a report by Home Media Magazine (via Blu-ray.com), revenues from Blu-ray sales increased 68.5% in Q1 2010 vs. Q1 2009, to $331.31 million.

While the format is continuing to grow at a rapid pace, it still has a long way to go before overtaking DVD sales. According to the report, Blu-ray still only accounts for 12.3% of packaged media sales. That's more than the 7% it represented last year, but it's clear that there are many people that have yet to convert to HD movies.

Blu-ray sales increase nearly 70% in Q1 2010 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 07 Apr 2010 13:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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JBO: Joystiq Box Office, March 29 - April 2

Kevin Kelly — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 20:45:00 EST

We can't be gaming all the time, despite our best efforts, and from time to time we'll actually take advantage of the movie-playing abilities on our gaming systems. JBO features our top picks for XBL, PSN, Netflix's Watch Instantly and Blu-ray each week.

Recommendation of the Week:

The African Queen (Blu-ray: $39.99 MSRP, much lower at most retailers)
Can you believe Humphrey Bogart only won one Oscar in his lifetime? It was for this movie. Personally, I think he was robbed from winning it for Casablanca, but The African Queen is a worthy win as well. He really delivers a powerful performance as Charlie Allnut, the rough and tumble boat captain working his boat, the African Queen. But it's Katherine Hepburn who really turns in a tour de force performance as Rose Sayer, a tough as nails missionary in East Africa. Paramount recently completed a massive 4k restoration on this title, and it looks simply amazing on Blu-ray. The standard Blu-ray set gets you the movie, while the slightly more expensive box set comes with a CD of the original radio production of The African Queen (with Bogart) and Hepburn's book The Making of The African Queen or How I Went to Africa with Bogart, Bacall and Huston and Almost Lost My Mind. Seriously good filmmaking and performances against a wonderful story based on C.S. Forester's novel of the same name. Highly recommended. Now someone just put Bogey's The Caine Mutiny on Blu-ray and I'll be happy.

Read on after the break for the rest of our recommendations, then chime in below!

Continue reading JBO: Joystiq Box Office, March 29 - April 2

JBO: Joystiq Box Office, March 29 - April 2 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 02 Apr 2010 20:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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JBO: Joystiq Box Office, March 22 - March 26

Kevin Kelly — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 20:00:00 EST

We can't be gaming all the time, despite our best efforts, and from time to time we'll actually take advantage of the movie-playing abilities on our gaming systems. JBO features our top picks for XBL, PSN, Netflix's Watch Instantly and Blu-ray each week.

We're back! The Game Developer's Conference in San Francisco and South by Southwest in Austin combined to double-whammy JBO out of existence, but it's back with a vengeance this week, even during the midst of PAX East. So read the gaming news, cue up a movie, and let us know what you're watching.

Recommendation of the Week:

Breaking Bad (Blu-ray, Season 1 -- $49.95 and Season 2 -- $39.95, lower at retailers)
Why are you reading this? You should be watching Breaking Bad. Seriously, I can wait until you're back to carry on. The internets will still be here. Back? See what we're talking about? Bryan Cranston is pure genius in this as a man at the end of his rope. He's a low-paid high school science teacher with a disabled son and a pregnant wife. He's working a demeaning second job at a car wash just to make ends meet, and, on top of that, he finds out he has inoperable lung cancer. So what does he do? He decides to start cooking crystal meth so he can leave his family a small fortune. The opening scene of episode one is worth the cost of both sets alone. This is genius basic cable programming from AMC that just started its third season this past week, so catch up on the first two seasons with these Blu-rays that look ultra-sharp with tons of extras.

Read on after the break for the rest of our recommendations, then chime in below!

Continue reading JBO: Joystiq Box Office, March 22 - March 26

JBO: Joystiq Box Office, March 22 - March 26 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 26 Mar 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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JBO: Joystiq Box Office, March 1 - March 5

Kevin Kelly — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 20:45:00 EST

Ponyo (Blu-ray, $39.99 MSRP, much lower at most retailers)
If you don't know who Hayao Miyazaki is yet, then you need a crash course in gorgeous Japanese animated films with amazing storytelling. He's like the Japanese Walt Disney, and Ponyo is his latest film. It's a wonderful fantasy that was inspired by Hans Christian Andersen's The Little Mermaid and he's put his own particular spin on it. A young boy named Sosuke rescues a female goldfish, Ponyo, and they set off on an adventure together. The Blu-ray disc includes an ultra-crisp transfer of the film, which features hand-drawn animation, and a look inside Miyazaki's Studio Ghibli. We're offering up five sets of Miyazaki films with this Joystiq Box Office, so read the rules at the bottom of the post to enter. Five winners will receive Ponyo on Blu-ray, and standard DVDs of My Neighbor Totoro, Kiki's Delivery Service and Castle in the Sky. Truly magical filmmaking.

Read on after the break for the rest of our recommendations, and let us know what you're watching!

Continue reading JBO: Joystiq Box Office, March 1 - March 5

JBO: Joystiq Box Office, March 1 - March 5 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 05 Mar 2010 20:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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JBO: Joystiq Box Office, February 22 - February 26

Kevin Kelly — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 20:58:00 EST

Clash of the Titans ($34.99 MSRP, much lower at most retailers)
Kratos is coming back again soon for his final vengeance (and let's hope an anger management course or two) in God of War III (look for new interviews and a hands-on with the complete opening on Monday), and with Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief and a massive-budget remake of Clash of the Titans on the way, this is the Year of Olympus. To get that rolling, we're totally recommending the original from back in 1981. Yes, it's dated. Yes, it stars Harry Hamlin, and yes, it's completely amazing. There's an all-star cast with Sir Lawrence Olivier, Dame Maggie Smith, Burgess Meredith, and Ursula Andress, among others, and the incredible stop-motion effects of wizard Ray Harryhausen. The film looks impressive (for 1981) on Blu-ray, includes a conversation with Harryhausen and a trailer for the remake, and is packaged in Warner's nifty Digibook format. We recommended this back on New Year's as an XBL purchase, but this disc just gets the whole Olmypus thing Kraken. (Get it?)

Read on after the break for the rest of our recommendations, and let us know what you're watching!

Continue reading JBO: Joystiq Box Office, February 22 - February 26

JBO: Joystiq Box Office, February 22 - February 26 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 26 Feb 2010 20:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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JBO: Joystiq Box Office, February 15 - February 19, plus Joyswag!

Kevin Kelly — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 20:30:00 EST

Stingray Sam ($12 HD digital download, $18 DVD, $49 deluxe)
Cory McAbee is one cool character. He's produced art, music, short films and feature films, and he's at his best when he's combining art and movie together. Last year at Sundance, he premiered his newest feature film, Stingray Sam. Set in the future, two interstellar cowboys who just happen to be convicts are given a shot at freedom, if they complete one mission. Along the way they encounter a lot of wacky stuff, and sing some bizarre songs. Songs that will stay with you long after you've seen the movie, like the Lullaby Song. It combines science fiction, music, Westerns and pure wacky in a package of pure delight. We have three copies of the Stingray Sam DVD and soundtrack to give away this week, so just read the rules and comment below, letting us know what your name would be if you were an outer space cowboy.

Read on after the break for the rest of our recommendations, and let us know what you're watching!

Continue reading JBO: Joystiq Box Office, February 15 - February 19, plus Joyswag!

JBO: Joystiq Box Office, February 15 - February 19, plus Joyswag! originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 19 Feb 2010 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Redbox to offer Blu-ray rentals later this year

David Hinkle — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 17:20:00 EST

If the convenience of streaming content via Netflix and/or having magical pixies deliver discs to your mailbox (that's how they get there, right?) aren't your thing, then know your insatiable desire to view high-def movies will soon be satiated via Redbox. The aptly-titled crimson structure that spits out discs inside your local supermarket or at your favorite strip mall has begun an initiative to see Blu-ray rentals offered starting sometime around mid-2010, Blu-ray.com reports.

Of course, all of those extra defs won't come cheap: CEO of Coinstar -- Redbox's parent company -- Richard Davis exclaimed that a pricing structure for Blu-ray rentals hasn't been finalized yet, though it will likely be "higher than our standard DVDs." So ... two dollars, then?

Redbox to offer Blu-ray rentals later this year originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 18 Feb 2010 17:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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JBO: Joystiq Box Office, February 8 - February 12

Kevin Kelly — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 20:30:00 EST

District 13: Ultimatum (800($10) HD, 480($6) SD, to rent)
It's Mirror's Edge, the movie! Well, sort of. There's a hell of a lot of Parkour in both, but District 13: Ultimatum has much more plot, explosions and general ass-kickery. Written and produced by Luc Besson, D13:U is set several years after the original District 13 (and no, you don't have to have seen that to enjoy this one), and takes place within the same walled-off Parisian ghetto. This time around, some of the residents of D13 are falsely accused of murdering some cops, which sets up a race against time to contain the situation before the rival gangs blow it out of hand and mass hysteria reigns. Which wouldn't be so bad, would it? Everyone is so anti-mass hysteria. I say bring it on. Especially when there's a ton of Parkour involved, even though the word itself sounds so pretentious. Let's just agree to call it crazy running and jumping.

Also, just a reminder that today is the day that The Dungeon Masters is available on Amazon VOD. Go find your lucky 20-sided die, plunk down the $3.99 to rent this (or $14.99 to buy it) and enjoy.

Read on after the break for the rest of our recommendations, and let us know what you're watching!

Continue reading JBO: Joystiq Box Office, February 8 - February 12

JBO: Joystiq Box Office, February 8 - February 12 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 12 Feb 2010 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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JBO: Joystiq Box Office, February 1 - February 5

Kevin Kelly — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 20:00:00 EST

Zombieland (Blu-ray: $39.95, much lower at retailers)
What goes perfectly with Zombieland on Blu-ray? Twinkies. Or Sno Balls, depending which side of the Hostess line you fall on. Although I have to agree with Woody Harrelson on this one: Sno Balls are disgusting. When I first heard about Zombieland, I didn't think I'd care for it much, but it ended up being fairly irresistible. The combination of Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone and Abigail Breslin fighting zombies is a post-apocalyptic, abandoned United States just works extremely well, and it makes you wish you had the same playground to explore. (Zombie-free, of course.) Between Eisenberg's essential rules for zombie survival and an extremely hilarious cameo appearance (don't spoil it for people who haven't seen it yet!) this movie rides the comedy-horror line perfectly. There's also a sweet Zombieland PS3 theme on the disc, just move to the game tab and you'll see it there to download. It's not advertised on the package, but it's a nice extra.

Read on after the break for the rest of our recommendations, and let us know what you're watching!

Continue reading JBO: Joystiq Box Office, February 1 - February 5

JBO: Joystiq Box Office, February 1 - February 5 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 05 Feb 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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JBO: Joystiq Box Office, January 25 - January 29

Kevin Kelly — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 21:45:00 EST

Cube (DVD $14.98, lower at retailers. Pray for a Blu-ray release)
Director Vincenzo Natali has a new film at Sundance 2010 called Splice. It's a dark science fiction story about genetic manipulation, and you can read all about it right here. However, he first burst onto the scene 13 years ago with his thriller Cube. Seven strangers from completely different walks of life wake up inside a bizarre cube-shaped room, with exit hatches built onto the four walls, the ceiling, and the floor. They have no idea how they got there, or how to get out. Each hatch leads into another, identical room, and some come complete with devious booby traps. But the real movie isn't about the Cube itself, it's about how human psyche unravels when you're stuck in a situation that makes no sense to your brain. After you give this a whirl, move on to his movies Cypher and Nothing for more good stuff.

Read on after the break for the rest of our recommendations, and let us know what you're watching!

Continue reading JBO: Joystiq Box Office, January 25 - January 29

JBO: Joystiq Box Office, January 25 - January 29 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 29 Jan 2010 21:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tales of Vesperia Blu-ray unlocks additional PS3 content

Andrew Yoon — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 14:30:00 EST

Tales of Vesperia continues gracing the PS3 with more and more content. The First Strike, an animated film prequel to the game, will be available on Blu-ray in Japan and it'll unlock extra costumes for the PS3 version of the game. (Undoubtedly, this will make some Xbox 360 owners quite angry.)

This isn't the first time a Blu-ray has been enhanced for the PS3. Most recently, District 9 featured a playable God of War III demo. Zombieland also includes a dynamic XMB theme. However, Tales of Vesperia seems to be charting new territory by unlocking additional game content via a Blu-ray movie. It's certainly an interesting experiment: one we'd like to see more and more movies take advantage of. See a trailer for the movie after the break.

[Via Andriasang]

Continue reading Tales of Vesperia Blu-ray unlocks additional PS3 content

Tales of Vesperia Blu-ray unlocks additional PS3 content originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 27 Jan 2010 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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