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Rumor: Sony leaks screens of next PS3 firmware, Facebook integration

by Randy Nelson { Nov 11th 2009 at 2:20PM }

Click to enlarge

Earlier today, website Scrawl stumbled upon what appears to be an unintentional first glimpse at a major PS3 firmware update. The somewhat tiny images Scrawl found buried, yet publicly accessible on Sony Computer Entertainment Europe's website, seem to hint at native Facebook integration on the console, along with the ability to change "gamer card" colors (as if the current friends list wasn't obnoxious enough) and view thumbnails of photos in a grid layout.

The images are still up as of this posting, but we'd imagine Sony will be pulling them before too long -- legit or not. After all, these could simply be mock-ups of design ideas meant for internal eyes only, just ... bungled. The one element that isn't design-related, the Facebook settings subsection of User Accounts, has us thinking there's a higher than average chance these aren't simple mock-ups, but rather the result on a Sony slip-up.

We contacted SCEE regarding the images and were told by a spokesperson that the company "doesn't comment on rumor or speculation."

[Thanks Alex!]

EA acquires social network game dev Playfish for $300 million

by Griffin McElroy { Nov 9th 2009 at 11:30AM }

As a number of "industry sources" reported last month, Electronic Arts has elected to add a new studio to its already expansive roster: Playfish, a prolific developer of free-to-play casual games on social networking sites like Facebook. The studio was bought out for about $275 million with an additional $25 million set aside for equity retention arrangements. Playfish is also set to receive another $100 million, should it manage to reach unspecified "performance milestones" before 2012.

Not only is that sum of money much higher than the $250 million total teased by the aforementioned analysts in October, it's ... well, it just seems like a lot of money to spend on a studio which actually developed a game called Bowling Buddies. However, considering Playfish's ten titles register 60 million active users and one billion play sessions every month, we suppose EA's making a sound investment. The times, dear friends -- they are a-changin'.

Spore Islands launches on Facebook, prepare to drown in invites

by Griffin McElroy { Nov 6th 2009 at 3:00AM }

You likely spend a great deal of your time on Facebook informing your so-called "friends" that, no, you don't want to see their farm, or join their mafia, or become a vampire, or fight their superhero, and so on. We're afraid you'll be adding a new form of denial to your repertoire: "No, I don't want to birth a species from the loam, and force it to fight against your species in an adorable Flash-based display of survival of the fittest." It's a tad verbose -- but if you're not interested in EA's Spore Islands Facebook app, you're going to be saying it a lot in the coming weeks.

If genetic engineering is your bag, Spore Islands sounds like a fairly robust offering -- well, as robust as games built into social networking sites get, anyways. Players can create a species, plunk them down on an island, watch them fight for territorial dominance, improve their stats through evolution, then move them to a friend's island to attempt a hostile takeover. You can check out the game for free on EA's Facebook page -- just go easy on the invites, okay?

PSA: Xbox mandatory update isn't 'The Big One,' adds WPA2 support for wireless adapter

by Ben Gilbert { Oct 28th 2009 at 3:00PM }

Those of you who woke up extra early this morning to get in precious alone time with your Xbox 360 (we understand – we do it all the time) may have been tricked when a mandatory system update greeted you in place of the dashboard. Alas, the much ballyhoo'd Facebook/Twitter/Last.fm update has not yet arrived, as Microsoft's Major Nelson points out on his site.

Instead, the update brings with it support for the now five-year-old WPA2 security protocol. With that new and improved 802.11n wireless adapter hitting retailers next month, and with WPA2 certification being mandatory for all new Wi-Fi devices as of March 2006, Microsoft seems to be rolling out that addition in software. That's good news for those of you with a four-year-old Xbox 360 Wireless Adapter!

Xbox Live preview 'wave 1' invites out now

by Alexander Sliwinski { Oct 22nd 2009 at 10:45PM }

The "wave 1" invites to the Xbox Live update preview program are out now, according to Major Nelson. If your dear console has been invited to participate, there should be a prompt upon sign-in. A "wave 1" invite implies that more waves are incoming, so don't get too sad if ya didn't catch the first one, Moondoggie. Grab that board and prepare to ride a future wave to all that upgradedness.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]

Xbox Dashboard update preview invites out this Friday

by Richard Mitchell { Oct 21st 2009 at 6:40PM }

Major Nelson, Xbox Live guru and prolific tweeter, has announced that the first wave of notification emails for the Xbox 360 Dashboard update preview should go out this Friday. Incidentally, sign up is now closed, so no more applications will be accepted. The preview will give Xbox Live members a chance to check out the many new features in the upcoming Dashboard update, including Twitter, Facebook, Last.fm and the new Zune Video Marketplace. Also, as we reported earlier today, Microsoft has thrown in a preview of Halo Waypoint as well.

The preview program should roll out sometime next week. In the meantime, keep an eye on those inboxes!

Video Preview: Xbox Live Fall 2009 Dashboard Update, Facebook, Twitter, Last.fm and more

by Richard Mitchell { Oct 19th 2009 at 7:00PM }

The November Xbox Live Dashboard Update -- which brings Facebook, Twitter, Last.fm and the Zune Video Marketplace to the Xbox 360 -- will soon be here. Joystiq has nabbed the update early, and we're here to share all of its secrets with you in the only way that we know how: A video tour! Above, you'll find a brief tour of all the new features. If there's a specific feature you'd like to know more about, simply click one of the the words below to watch a more detailed video all about it.

Note: We learned after publication that the abnormally priced movie rental has not yet been released in theaters. As such, it has a higher price.

Facebook

Twitter

Last.fm

Zune Video Marketplace

Miscellaneous

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Pachter: Project Natal will cost $50, 'Sphere' no more than $100 [update]

by David Hinkle { Oct 15th 2009 at 11:00PM }

Over at IndustryGamers, everyone's favorite video game predicterer (we're still working on that one) Michael Pachter has taken the reigns of the site and offers his own extensive diatribe on the future of Sony and Microsoft's upcoming new tech: Project Natal and the PlayStation Motion Controller (rumored to be called Sphere). Pachter's assertion is that price will be Natal's biggest selling point and Microsoft will try to expand upon its market of established Xbox 360 owners by offering the device for $50. For Sony's doodad, Pachter says the company is "trying to create an answer to the success of the Wii."

Pachter even likens the future state of a Natal-enabled Xbox 360 to the current state of the iPhone -- with features like Twitter, Netflix, Last.fm and Facebook inside Microsoft's box and its intuitive interface, he says casual or non-playing members of Xbox 360 households will become interested. And then when it's bundled with all new Xbox 360s, he says that'll expand Microsoft's reach even more.

For the motion-controlled competition, Pachter says he'd be surprised if Sony's asking price was over $100, and stresses that both Microsoft and Sony need to keep "the consumer's cost relatively low in order to achieve broad penetration."

[Update: Corrected Pachter's belief that the motion controller would be no more than $100. We sincerely apologize for the misinterpretation and the consequent misinformation.]

Report: EA acquires social games dev Playfish

by James Ransom-Wiley { Oct 15th 2009 at 12:20PM }

Industry sources claim EA has completed a deal to acquire social games developer Playfish, report Inside Social Games and Silicon Alley Insider. Unconfirmed estimates put EA's buyout bill at $250 million, while ISG believes Playfish could earn as much as $75 million in revenue this year alone. That's alotta money for those janky, little games on Facebook, right?

For years, EA has been dabbling in social gaming -- a slightly less dirty designation than "casual gaming" -- starting with the launch and consolidation of the EA Casual Entertainment division in 2007, and then with the creation of EA Blueprint expressly for social ventures in 2008. The company has done plenty of outside spending, too, like throwing some dollars at Napster creator Shawn Fanning for his Rupture service. Just this week, EA launched Pogo Puppies for Facebook -- which actually competes with Playfish's Pet Society (pictured above) -- and scooped up social games publishing technology company J2PLay, as reported by Games.com.

It's difficult to predict how EA Casual's major investments in social gaming might affect the EA Games label -- makers of the kinda games we care about -- but let's just hope there's a mighty thick wall between the two divisions. Okay, so maybe we've got some social anxiety, but we just can't stand the thought of our extravagant, big-budget, dim-the-lights, and shut-out-the-world games go the way of the dodo.

[Via Industry Gamers]

Source – Is EA Going to Buy Zynga or Playfish in Social Gaming Bid? [Inside Social Games]
Source – Rumor: EA Acquires Playfish For $250 Million [Silicon Alley Insider]

Xbox 360 Dashboard update 'preview' open for signups

by Randy Nelson { Oct 14th 2009 at 6:15PM }

As it has done in the past, Microsoft is offering early access to its next Xbox 360 Dashboard update (which integrates Twitter, Facebook, Last.fm and Zune Marketplace) to those who sign up -- and are then selected -- to preview it. Major Nelson has just updated his blog with word that the signup process has begun for the program, mentioning that Microsoft is looking for "multiple thousands" of users to test out the update. So, sounds like chances of getting in are good.

Those wishing to put their names in the hat for preview access can do so by hitting the Microsoft Connect site and filling out a survey. The preview program is being offered in all territories where Xbox Live is available, but keep in mind you'll need a Windows Live ID in order to apply. The Major says those who've been picked will receive an email in about a week; after which the update will be pushed out to their consoles, and they can start bragging about their early access via Twitter and Facebook right from their 360s.

If past Dashboard preview programs are anything to go by, everyone who signs up will eventually gain access just prior to the update's release -- which may happen on November 17.

Gallery: Facebook / Twitter on Xbox 360

Xbox removes Nov. 17 release date for Twitter/Facebook from UK site

by Griffin McElroy { Oct 12th 2009 at 10:30AM }

There are few things we hate bearing more than bad news, but, well, it's kind of our job. So, here we go: Hey Champ. Remember how excited you got when you heard the UK Xbox site had listed a release date for the 360 Fall Dashboard Update, which will bring Facebook, Twitter and a whole slew of other services to the platform? Yeah, November 17 -- that's the one! Well, it looks like Microsoft has decided to strip the site of its specificity. Now, it simply reads "service launches Autumn 2009," just like all the other regional Xbox sites.

Aww, come on, Sport. Dry those tear-flooded eyes. The update may still come on Nov. 17, but now it'll be a big surprise. Don't you love surprises? Well, here's one: You're adopted. Makes that whole "disappearing release date" thing seem pretty trivial, doesn't it?

Oh, man, you're really crying now. Fine, we'll contact Microsoft to see what's going on. Just ... just don't tell your mother about the whole "adopted" thing.

Facebook and Twitter arrive November 17 on Xbox Live in the UK

by Ben Gilbert { Oct 10th 2009 at 1:00PM }

Though Microsoft has been a bit cagey with a solid release date for the upcoming Facebok/Twitter/Last.Fm update for Xbox Live, eagle-eyed UK readers have spotted the phrase "Service launches 17th November 2009" on the UK Xbox website (seen above).

When we recently got to give the services a spin at Microsoft's First Annual Open House, the company wouldn't give us a set-in-stone release date, though MTV Multiplayer were told a public beta for the services would arrive for XBL Gold Members in the "middle-towards-end of October." We've contacted Microsoft for word on when the services will be arriving on this side of the pond, though ... well ... it's the weekend. We'd suggest you don't go holding your breath for that info until Monday.

[Thanks, Scump!]

Gallery: Facebook / Twitter on Xbox 360

Test your friendship with Buzz! on Facebook

by Andrew Yoon { Oct 9th 2009 at 11:30AM }

Are you really friends with your Facebook friends? It's time to find out with the new Buzz! application. The "Friend Quiz" lets you and your invited friends to partake in a trivia contest about your mutual buddies. The quiz will draw information from mutual friends' status updates, comments, interests and photos.

Buzz will be narrating the entire game, so expect some snide remarks from the short British host. Each question, in typical Buzz! style, is timed: make sure you answer quickly to get the most points. At the end of the game, you'll be able to post your total score to your Wall, as you wait for your invited friends to beat you. It's a terrific twist on classic Buzz! gameplay, and best of all -- it's free.

[Via PlayStation.Blog Europe]

Xbox Dashboard update demo'd on video, hilarity ensues

by Griffin McElroy { Oct 7th 2009 at 12:58PM }

Out of the bajillion self-involved Tweets which were released unto the internet yesterday, one 140 character dispatch in particular pierced the din -- "I'm tweeting from Xbox Live," exclaimed Andrew Yoon, our correspondent from a future where such technology is within the realm of possibilities.

Fine, he's not from the future -- he was actually tweeting from a Microsoft Open House event where the Fall Xbox Dashboard Update was previewed for a number of outlets. Check out the above video (shot by our cohorts at Engadget) to see the new Facebook, Twitter, Last.Fm and Video Marketplace functionality in action. Make sure you stick around for the last minute, in which the conversation breaks down in a hilarious, Comedy of Errors-esque manner.

Hands-on: Facebook, Twitter, Last.fm and Zune Marketplace on Xbox 360

by Andrew Yoon { Oct 6th 2009 at 7:35PM }

"Xbox comes from a gaming heritage, and is expanding into a broader entertainment brand," Microsoft's Robbie Bach told us earlier today at its first Open House event in New York. Powering Xbox's expansion into "broader entertainment" is the upcoming Dashboard update, scheduled for beta release later this month. Four services included in the update will expand the 360's social networking and multimedia capabilities: Facebook, Twitter, Last.fm and Zune Marketplace.

While each individual service may not offer the same value that Netflix did when it debuted with the NXE last year, it's hard to ignore the breadth of added functionality offered by this new Dashboard refresh. Yes, it's true that the Xbox isn't the most ideal platform to tweet from. And yes, it's unlikely that you'll spend hours sitting in front of your TV listening to online radio. However, each service adds new reason to stay connected to the Xbox ... and adds more purported "value" to that Xbox Live Gold membership.

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