Sony’s updates don’t just beef up the PS3′s firmware. They release some small tweaks and updates to the hardware itself, too. Sony sent out the official word on the changes being assembled to the PS3 Slim console. Gaming blog Andriasang says that the new slim spin-off, dubbed the CECH-3000B, is based on a 320 gigabyte PS3 Slim. The power consumption is being cut from 230W to 200W while the weight is being cut down by 400 grams. Other tweaks include external changes to the power and eject buttons. One retailer also mentioned the removal of LED lamps, although Andriasang notes that the specifics aren’t quite clear. One thing that isn’t changing is the price. The CECH-3000B model will have the same ¥ 34,980 price point as the current 320GB PS3 Slim model. The included accessories – Dual Shock 3, power cable, AV cable and USB cable — also remain the same. The new models will start showing up on retails shelves sometime this month.

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PS3 Slim Goes On a Diet

This is just to remind you that the L.A. Noire Rockstar Pass limited-time discounted price of $9.99 PSN expires at midnight tonight. In case you need to see what you will get with it, check out our earlier post here .

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Reminder: L.A. Noire Rockstar Pass

Sony has just announced another acessory to add to your growing collection of colored Dual Shock’s and wireless head sets. A New Official Wireless Stereo Headset for you PS3 will retail for $99.99. Sony had this to say about adding the product to its current acessory line: The official PS3 Wireless Stereo Headset will be available for $99.99 (MSRP) at retailers nationwide this September. Many more of your favorite franchises, such as Killzone and Gran Turismo, were also designed for surround sound audio. Featuring 7.1 virtual surround sound, the Wireless Stereo Headset lets you hear all the minor in-game audio clues clearly, whether you are in a firefight in a first-person shooter game or racing for the checkered flag. Designed with comfort in mind for hours of gameplay, it’s the perfect addition to your PlayStation experience. Connecting the Wireless Stereo Headset with PS3 is made easy with the included USB Wireless Adapter. Precise volume controls and accessible microphone mute make it so you never have to interrupt gameplay to fumble for buttons. You can easily stay informed about battery status, sound controls, etc. with on-screen headset status updates. On top of that, the Wireless Stereo Headset also offers the highest quality voice chat for crystal clear online conversations. The mic is retractable so you can put it away if you just want to listen to music or play a single player game. So what do you think? With all the options out there is this something you will be picking up? Sourec: PSBlog

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Sony Announces A New Wireless Headset

Recently I received the Ear Force P11 gaming head set from Turtle Beach, and before I get into all the goodness, let me tell you a little about the company. Turtle Beach designs, manufactures, and markets high quality, competitively-priced audio peripherals for video games and personal computers. The company first turned heads with its award-winning line of Audio Advantage USB and Santa Cruz computer soundcards. Now, the company seems to be doing the same thing worldwide with its vast lineup of Ear Force headphones, which are designed to deliver the gaming public what they demand: the best in audio, giving them that edge in becoming the best. Ear Force P11 Review Up until this headset, I have never used a Turtle Beach product before, and it wasn’t until several months ago that I even heard of the company. Now, before I get blasted, let me just say that I play a bunch of video games, but never really imagined how much of a difference amplified sound could make. I never even really cared how much of a difference a great headset could make. What’s the big deal? You put on a headset and hear sound, right? Boy, how silly was I to even think that. The Ear Force P11 headset, which isn’t even close to the monstrosity (Ear Force PX5) that has been uncaged onto the world, comes in at a very fair price of $60. Now, you may think that is a lot, but to be honest with you, for a great gaming headset, that is nothing. I wish this thing was around several years ago when I was dumb enough to buy this silly little headset at Walmart for twenty dollars. If this thing was around, and I knew about it, I wouldn’t even think twice in throwing in that extra forty. It would have given me a lot more than I was looking for at the time, but it would have truly given me a higher rate of return on my investment. Before I go into all of the features in detail, let me tell you a little bit about how the headset feels. For the most part, the headset is plastic, aside from the ear muffs, which are a fabric mesh. Even though this headset is mostly plastic it doesn’t feel cheap. It’s the perfect size for anyone who wants to spend hours gaming, and not feel like they’re wearing something heavy. The soft leather padding on the headband of the headset really helps, as it provides that perfect cushion between your head and the plastic. The headset is also very adjustable in size; like most headsets, you can make it bigger or smaller to fit perfectly around your head. The fabric mesh, which fits perfectly around your ears, is a godsend. Not only is it a great fit around your ear, and is extremely comfortable, it does an amazing job in blocking out background nose, letting you focus on what really matters… the gaming. The mic is another sweet addition to the already amazing headset. It has the perfect length so you don’t have to struggle in trying to make sure that it’s in front of your mouth and whether or not people can hear you. The neck of the mic is perfect for bending and sticking in the position you want it to be in, so, again, you can spend more time on gaming and not worrying about the mics position, and the 12 foot cord that is attached to the head set gives you plenty of room to roam around and get comfortable. The one issue that I had with the Amplifier at first was that it felt extremely light. The plastic casing feels very durable so it’s not an issue of whether it will break easily or not, but I just felt that it should be something that when you have it in your hand, you actually know that it’s there. Then, after thinking about it, it made a lot of sense. This device isn’t meant for anything else other than giving you access to the mute, turning the chat sound up, or turning the game volume up. It also has a clip on the back so that you can attach it to a piece of clothing. The last thing that anyone would want is something that is pulling down on their clothing because it’s heavy. So making the AMP extra light, while giving you quick access to the headsets features, is just another step in giving you that edge over everyone else. Having said all that, lets jump into the features. One of the things that is most noteworthy about the headset, besides it’s cool design and paint job, is the Amplified sound that it provides. Because of this, you can hear things 100 times better. You don’t even need to turn the game audio on the AMP up to loud, well that is, of course, unless you want to go deaf. So this feature alone gives you that immersive experience that you’re looking for. It really makes you feel like you’re actually within the game as all hell is breaking loose. The other feature, which isn’t so crucial, but a nice touch, is the Mic Monitor. It lets you hear yourself talking so if you’re being to loud, you can adjust accordingly without yelling at the people you’re playing with or at whoever else is inside the house. The great part about this feature is that it works really well; it’s not at all distracting while talking. The independent volume controls are another fantastic addition to the overall gaming experience. If the in-game music is too loud, you can dumb it down without going through options. The other cool thing is that you can increase the voice chat volume all from within the AMP controller. Having trouble hearing someone? No problem, just increase the voice chat and your all set. The Bass Boost is another feature that helps give you that extra immersive feel. It adds that extra layer of depth and realism to the game. Try playing Dead Space with this baby and telling me you didn’t feel like something was right behind you. The last thing that I would like to point out is that this head set is geared for the PC/MAC, as well as much as it is for the PS3. The USB makes this baby an easy plug and play device. When voice chat was enabled for OnLive a couple of weeks ago, I was totally blown away with how simple it was to get this thing working. All I actually did was plug the USB cable into my computer and I was all set, no rebooting or searching for drivers. I was up and harassing my buddy in a matter of seconds, which is another reason that I think this headset is a steal for only $60. If you’d like to look at the many different headsets that the company currently stocks, head on over to their website . Simply put, if you want to be the best, you have to use the best, if you’re looking for the a company that prides itself on quality, professionalism, and integrity then look no further, welcome to Turtle Beach. Specifications Headphones 50mm diameter speakers Speaker Frequency Response: 20Hz – 20kHz, > 120dB SPL @ 1kHz Condenser Microphone Frequency Response: 50Hz – 15kHz Cable length: 12 ft. (3.7m) In-Line Amplifier Headphone Amplifier: Stereo DC-coupled, 35mW/ch, THD <1%, Frequency Response: DC-30kHz Bass Boost fixed: +6dB @ 50Hz Mic mute switch Maximum analog input level with volume control on maximum setting: 2Vpp (700mV rms) 3.5mm plug for line input Package Dimensions 8.75 x 10 x 3.75 (inches) What’s In The Box? Setup

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Turtle Beach: Ear Force P11 Review

Two new commercials are going to be hitting the streets to promote the PlayStation Move sharp shooter in some good old Killzone 3 action. As always the commercials have a good amount of humor in them and damn does Killzone 3 look good!

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It Only Does Sharp Shooting

Sony has a new PlayStation-Certified Device in development, and no, its NOT the recently announced Xperia Play phone. Rumours have been floating around about a tablet Sony was working on, but Engadget says they have new information, from two independent sources, stating that the tablet is currently in development. It, reportedly, will have a $599 price range for the WiFi-only version and it could be released as early as September. The weird wrap on the top is meant to shift the weight to the bottom of the device so it is easier to hold. It also allows the screen to be used as a touch keyboard when laid flat on a table. Features quoted after the jump. The tablet itself, we’re told, is 100 percent focused on Qriocity, Sony’s music, games, e-books, and videos on demand service that’s just been launched in Europe. It comes preloaded with Sony PS One games, a Bravia Media Remote, and yes, PlayStation integration Although the tablet looks like a hollow 9.4-inch capacitive touch panel sporting a 1,280 x 800 pixel resolution from the distance, the space between the the front and back wrapped panels is actually stuffed with a battery and circuitry including a Tegra 2 processor. As such, you won’t be hanging it from the towel rack. It also features both front- and rear-facing cameras as well as a USB-A port that plays host to USB thumb drives or media devices. The only physical buttons — volume and on / off — are located on the edge of each indented side. There’s also the possibility that the S1 will feature a “Q” (for Qriocity) button but that decision has not been finalized, according to one of our sources. Oh, and there’s an IR port built-in allowing you to control devices other than your Bravia TV. The front face is finished in a high-gloss black that sits flush with the display and continues in one unobstructed sweep to the back of the tablet where a subtle dot matrix texture is applied to enhance the grip. The underside is a matte-silver color creating a nice contrast. All materials, we’re told, feel very premium though it’s unclear if we’re talking plastic, aluminum, or something else.

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Sony “S1″ PlayStation Tablet in Development

Yesterday was a sad, sad day for music game fans as Activision has confirmed that after several layoffs hit some of their studios… Guitar Hero and DJ Hero are no more . Smaller than usual revenues for their last two music games (that would be DJ Hero 2 and Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock) pushed Activision to shut down that division of their business so they can focus in what gives them the most profit: more Call of Duty, the next episode of Starcract 2 and giving us a special glow in the dark mount for World of Warcraft every three months. I LOVE Guitar Hero, ever since the first one was released on the PS2. I took an immediate liking to DJ Hero after trying out a demo unit at a Toys R Us a couple of months after it was released. I own two PS2 wired guitars along with GH 1-3 and Rocks the 80′s, own a full band kit from World Tour along with Guitar Hero 5, GH Metallica, Van Halen, Smash Hits and Aerosmith and I’ve got all the tracks from Band Hero as imported content (thanks sis!) on an SD card. All of these are for the Wii (yep, you CAN own more than one console. Go figure!) in case you were wondering. I’ll miss the franchise since I mostly play drums and the drumming in Rock Band is too much of a stretch for me since the floor tom will magically change into a ride cymbal, then into a crash cymbal and then into a cowbell. Sure, adding the “Pro” kit for Rock Band 3 would take it closer to a proper drum kit experience but that’s an add-on that wasn’t fully supported before. I DO own Rock Band 2 and Lego Rock Band but mainly because I got each for $10 and for that price I can survive some weird drumming here and there. I hope that Activision realizes that music games should be a “once every two years” deal and not a “hey, we’ll launch six in eight months!” Eureka moment. I liked the way that Warriors of Rock’s career mode was handled and the soundtrack in DJ Hero 2 is worth the price of admission by itself. Guess I’ll have to make do with the DLC they’ll release for the rest of Q1 and Q2 before they pull the plug. Should have seen this coming after Harmonix got sold a couple of months ago…

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Activision Cancels Guitar (and DJ) Hero… And I AM Sad

Did you miss the Ad last night during Superbowl? Were you paying close attention? Check after the jump for a picture of it!

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The New Sony Phone

Just got my new Game Informer in today.To say I was surprised would be an understatement. Take a look at these pics, they will blow you away.

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Battlefield 3 Looks Amazing

One inconvenience for users who want to buy their second PS3 for a variety of reasons, or simply continue a game at a friend’s house, is locked game saves . In the early times of PS3, few games, if any, used locked game saves. This allowed people to share their save files, not a bad thing at all, but also allowed the users to easily backup their game saves, take it anywhere, and continue their game on another PS3. The open nature of the save files also lead to some save file hacking, with the potential to give unfair advantage to users in competitive multiplayer or leader boards. That’s the major negative side of unlocked saves. After the introduction of trophies, the importance of verifying the validity of the trophies were paramount to the success of trophies. Rampant cheating to earn trophies would nullify the aim of introducing the trophies in the first place. Cheating in single player is a way to play, and can be entertaining, so devs came up forms of “legal cheating” which allowed users to enjoy perks, at the expense of trophies: One prime example is God of War 3, which disables trophies when you use certain items . The trophies meant that user shouldn’t have been able to give themselves advantages through cheating by modifying the game save, or to earn trophies only by modifying the save. Game save locking began… With one big, horrendous mistake on Sony’s part. Games that are save-locked are locked to the specific PS3 that the game is being played on. This is utterly pointless and inconvenient, as you cannot move your saves to another PS3, or back it up for restoring to another PS3 if a catastrophe occurred. People who have multiple PS3’s cannot continue their game on their second PS3’s. Such locked saves cannot be transferred to other PS3’s, even through system backup. This is not acceptable, but since most games are 7-8 hours long, and your bragging rights are safe by means of the trophy system, most games may be forgiven for locking their games using this manner, although I still cannot comprehend why games are not being locked to PSN ID instead of a specific PS3 . I don’t know who in their right mind thought this was the best method to ensure the security of save files. While I say the 8 hour typical single player games can be forgiven. the game save locks pose a big threat to GT fans, who will pour hundreds of hours to the game. Continuing the game on another PS3 will not be possible. Any permanent problem with the hardware will result in the loss of all those beautiful cars in the garage. The blame would rest on Sony, as they have made it impossible to backup such games another system. GT5 is an endless game. Fans will play it until GT6 or even afterwards. Such a game needs to provide more convenient methods to ensure the safety of the player’s achievements. Sony should provide libraries to developers for locking saves to PSN ID’s, and important games such as GT5 should be patched as soon as possible. This will allow people to backup their saves while providing security for the Trophy system. This will allow people to continue their games on different PS3’s they own. This will allow more hardware sales. It may sound weird, but people would be more inclined to buy a second PS3 for variety of reasons, if they knew they could transfer their saves. Owning multiple PS3’s is not unheard of, and I dare say it would be more common if Sony fixed this problem.

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GT5 fans, hold on to your PS3’s! (The brief history of game save locking)