I guess the PlayStation.Blog wasn’t kidding when they said on March 20th that the next PS3 firmware update would be available “in the next few days”. The official announcement press release from Sony mentioned a “late March” release date, though there had been some speculation that the update would come as late as April 8th. That’s the release date for Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story and The 6th Day on Blu-ray Disc, the first movies to feature BD-LIVE (a.k.a. Blu-ray Disc Profile 2.0) interactivity.

But Sony has made good on their word, as system software update 2.20 is now available for download through your PS3. In fact, I downloaded and installed the update myself around 11:30 PM EDT on March 24th. It’s a rather substantial one, though it’s pretty much completely aimed at improving the already robust media center capabilities of the console.

Unlike some of the current smaller updates, Sony has included a list of the major features of the v2.20 software revision, and it appears before you install the update. Because I love Destructoid more than mere words can articulate, I copied the full text off my TV; check it out after the jump, in addition to some of the less notable features that Sony has previously mentioned in their press release and on the PlayStation.Blog.

We’ll bring you any official word from Sony when it comes (the PlayStation.Blog post mentioned some other features that we haven’t yet been notified of). Alright, now I’m going to go back to watching the 4.2-gigabyte 720p HD DVD rip of Serenity that I not-torrented a while back. With this update, the PS3 now recognizes the full file (instead of just the first 2 GB), and it is beautiful. System software updates make me feel like a leaf on the wind…

Via Destructoid

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It seems like people get sick a lot around these times of year — that is, when the seasons change — and videogames are apparently no different. A patch for problems with on the internet play in the PS3 version of Ubisoft’s Rainbow Six: Vegas 2 was discussed earlier by my colleagues Gameboi and Jim Sterling. Now we also have word from 2K Sports on myriad issues with Major League Baseball 2K8.

2K Sports is currently testing a number of patches for the four console versions of MLB 2K8. One of the updates, which will be downloadable by PS3 and 360 users, aims to mend a bug that occurred when trying to promote or demote players in Franchise mode with the San Diego Padres. Another update, which will (curiously) be for the 360 version only, will address the game’s pervasive framerate issues.

In addition, 2K Sports is aware of “certain gameplay issues” with the Wii and PS2 versions of the game. However, they’re working on substitute methods of getting an update to those users, as it can’t be done over the intarwebs. Go figure — the PSP version remains immune to any issues…so far.

I don’t comprehend why the framerate fix is only being put out for the 360. Those of you who read my review of the game know that the PS3 version is just as susceptible to slowdown, so this certainly seems strange. In any case, I echo Jim’s sentiments that this is not cool. Allowed, sports games are a bit of a different animal in that they can’t exactly be delayed past the begin of the season, but nonetheless, you’d think that a bit of extra QA testing could’ve caught some of these bugs.

Via Destructoid

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Filed under: Sony PlayStation 3, Microsoft Xbox 360, On the internet

After initially seeing EA’s explanation about its pay-to-play DLC weaponry in Battlefield: Bad Company on MTV’s Multiplayer, it was time for a nice walk around the block to inhale some crisp spring air and exhale some vexation before sitting down to write about it. The publisher says that five of the DLC weapons in its upcoming FPS will be “free,” and the other five will be bundled with the game’s “Gold Edition.” For gamers who don’t want to buy the “Gold Edition,” the weapons will be available to purchase through PSN and XBM — no prices are currently attached to the weapons.

EA states that the pay-to-play weaponry in B:BC will not unbalance the game and that “more weapons offer players more choices but do not create an advantage/disadvantage for players who don’t opt to purchase new item.” Wait, what? Paying extra money for weapons other players don’t have doesn’t change the game experience? We’d hoped EA had given up on its dubious microtransactions, but we’re sure consumers will vote using their wallets if they concur with EA’s tactic.

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Middle School Baseball team doing “Rally Dancing” with crunk beat! Quote from one of opponents Coach: “Hell, I thought we were at a Baseball game, not a Dance Club”! The dance mysteriously produces lots of runs! “Beat Master is Dantez Starns and Devin Huntley. “Rally Dances” are Devin Huntley and Desmond Olgesby.

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Filed under: News

Well that took a while. After being rumored for Xbox Live Arcade nearly two years ago, Darwinia from Introversion has been rated by the ESRB for Xbox 360. While we don’t have any more solid details regarding the 360 version of the game — believed to be an XBLA title — the ESRB rating gives us hope that it won’t be too long before we begin to hear more about the title (or better yet, get a chance to actually play it).

For those that haven’t played it, the gameplay is regarded as somewhat hard to classify, so we’ve embedded a trailer in the hopes that it might clarify things a bit (hint: it doesn’t, but the game sure looks fun).

[Via XBLArcade]

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Via Xbox360fanboy

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Filed under: News

It’s true. Today, EA confirmed that Battlefield: Bad Company will feature micro-transactions surrounding a few of the game’s weapons. Crap.

Discovered via the Bad Company beta menus, a few of the game’s weapons mentioned the fact that they could only be unlocked via an XBLM buy. In an effort to clarify the rumors, EA confirmed with IGN that Bad Company will feature five unlockable weapons which will be a part of a promotional period prior to the game’s launch and will eventually end up being free downloads after the retail launch. But the game will also sport five other weapons which will be exclusively included in Bad Company’s Gold Edition or as a purchase off the XBLM for a “small individualized price”. EA wanted to make it clear that the purchasable weapons don’t give players any significant edge, rather they’ll give players more variety. And that’s supposed to make us okay with it? Pssht, micro-transactions suck.

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Via Xbox360fanboy

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Filed under: News

You can finally rest simple today because we’ve new screens of Hellboy: Science of Evil. Based on the upcoming sequel to the awesome … pretty good … motion picture released in 2004, Hellboy: Science of Evil (from Konami) puts you in the role of, the Ron Perlman voiced, Hellboy as he battles the various forms of evil.

The screens might look dated, but that’s only because this game has been in development since mid-2006. As we all know way back in 2006 programmers has to walk uphill to work, both ways, in sixteen feet of snow. Things were rough.

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Via Xbox360fanboy

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Filed under: News, Xbox Live Arcade

Last Friday, we told you about a Gamasutra interview with N+ creators Raigan Burns and Mare Sheppard and how angry they were about the XBLA, how angry they were about the services’ crappy games and how angry they were about how Microsoft is handling things. Their thought was nothing but blunt and to the point. Then, shortly after their harsh comments made the internet media rounds, Burns and Sheppard felt the need to post a response in regards to their remarks on their metanet blog and, well … they’ve no apologies.

In their response blog titled “In Defense of the Apparant Shitstorm”, Burns and Sheppard stand behind their anger fueled XBLA rant, but do clarify that they were made prior to N+’s release and right after they learned about Microsoft’s new (and less generous) XBLA royalty structure. But like we said, in their response blog team metanet stands behind their earlier comments and actually went on to add to the controversy, saying; “it’s not our fault that the vast majority of XBLA games suck! Literally every single person we’ve ever spoken with is in agreement on this, and yet it’s apparently shocking for gamers in general to hear (assuming that’s who reads joystiq/kotaku).” There you’ve it folks. Confirmed. The XBLA has sucky games.

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Via Xbox360fanboy

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Filed under: News

Update: Wow. Never underestimate how quickly gamers can consume free beta keys. Once again, all the public keys have been fatigued with only Insider and Founder members keys left.

Large news for those of you who missed out on the free Battlefield: Bad Company beta key codes that were released to the general public last Thursday. EA and DICE just replenished their stock and put up a new batch of public keys that are available on a first come first serve basis. And you’ll be happy to know that they are available right now! W00t!

If you recall, when they first became available, all of the Bad Company public beta keys were claimed within’ a few hours time leaving many wannabe participants empty handed. So quickly, most fanboys didn’t even know how to obtain one before it was too late. So, this time we advise pointing your browser to IGN’s FilePlanet, answering a few questions, signing up and grabbing your free beta key before they disappear. Remember, EA will be flipping the switch within’ twenty-four hours time when the Bad Company beta officially kicks off tomorrow the 25th.

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Via Xbox360fanboy

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Our very own Gameboi shared his personal woes with trying to get the PS3 version of Rainbow Six Vegas II to work on the web, and informed us that Ubisoft was well aware of the issue. In follow up news, the publisher has confirmed that a patch will be coming soon to address the issue.

Responding to one hapless gamer, Ubisoft’s statement was this:

This issue is currently being worked on by the development team. Unfortunately, we don’t have an ETA on when it will be resolved, but it

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