E308: Metal Gear Online "Gene Expansion" Dated

According to the Konami press conference yesterday, the first expansion will be released...wait for it...TODAY, JULY 17th! Keep your eyes peeled, it should be available for download sometime today. The new "Gene Expansion" will include three new maps, two new playable characters (including Meryl), and much, much more.

E308: PlayStation Home

Still no release date from Sony, but at the Sony Press Conference, SCEA President Jack Tretton showed gamers just how much progress has been made since then...

E308: PlayStation Movie Rentals Available Tonight!

X-Play has reported that Sony has announced that the PlayStation 3 will be offering downloads of both films and television shows from Lionsgate, Paramount, Funimation, Disney, Sony (duh!), and much more. Here's the details:

• Standard and High Definition television shows are $1.99 each.
• Movie rentals will range from $2.99 to $5.99
• Movie purchases (own it) will cost up to $14.99
  

For more details, visit X-Play here.

Metal Gear Online "Gene Expansion" Details

Konami has just spilled the beans about the first Metal Gear Online expansion dubbed the "Gene Expansion". The expansion will add a Rewards Shop to spend your in-game points on new gear, three new maps, the ability to play as female characters, a new "Survival" mode and two new playable playable characters: Meryl Silverberg and Johnny "Akiba". No details about pricing yet, but we'll keep you posted. For more details visit the Konami's official Metal Gear Online website, here.

Latest SOCOM: Confrontation Screenshots!

Even though SOCOM U.S. Navy SEALs: Confrontation has been pushed back, the boys at Slant Six are hard at work and these new screens show it.

Cheat!: Metal Gear Solid 4 Easter Eggs

Cheat! host Kristin Holt helps you find the hidden goodies in Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots for the PlayStation 3.

Firmware 2.41 Released; Fixes 2.40 Glitches

With the release of Firmware 2.41, Sony has finally fixed glitches that some PS3 users encountered during the Firmware 2.40 software update. There's not a lot of cosmetic changes between 2.41 and 2.40, except that the Platinum Trophy icon has changed from a lame crown to a pretty shiny metallic [platinum?] trophy (shown right).

Photo courtesy of Kotaku reader, Dan.

Sony removes Firmware 2.40 Update off servers

There have been numerous reports that Sony's firmware 2.40 update has "broken" many PS3s. As a result, Sony has pulled the update off the servers. Users attempting to update their systems are now being told that their system is up to date. Joystiq reports that Sony is "looking into it right now and will work with those customers directly to address any issues they may be experiencing." If you're PlayStation 3 is experiencing problems due to Firmware 2.40, Kotaku has provided some solutions.

Sony expands PSN Friend List

This past weekend, Sony expanded the maximum PLAYSTATION Network Friends List from 50 to 100. According to sarcasticgamer.com, Wednesday's firmware update will include a new addition to the PSN Friend's List. Sony calls it "Man's Best Friend". Sony spokesperson Angie Shennandough elaborates:

"While adding additional support for 50 more friends to interact with on PSN, we thought, what about about Man’s Best Friend? My circus show poodle, sparkles, is my friend. Why couldn’t we allow pets onto PSN, ya know? What about my REAL best friend? The one that I feed, take for walks and play with everyday? Well, we’re changing all of that. From now on, you’ll have an additional 50 slots to add pets!"

Why pets? Hit the jump to find out...

Sony Introduces Life with PlayStation

In another presentation, Sony SCE President Kaz Hirai revealed Life with PlayStation. Demoed to a live audience, the service allows users to access news and weather from any location on Earth. It's basically Sony's version of Nintendo's Weather Channel on the Wii. The following video is the actual presentation (in Japanese) courtesy of PS3 Fanboy.

PS3 Video Download Service Coming Summer 2008!

Sony held a mid-term strategy conference in Japan yesterday. President of Sony Computer Entertainment, Kaz Hirai revealed the Sony PlayStation 3 video download service. As you can see from the screens, the interface is very similar to the one from the PLAYSTATION Store. It is expected to be available for the Sony PlayStation 3 and Sony PlayStation Portable (PS3) by this summer. For more shots and the official press release visit Kotaku!

Metal Gear Solid 4 Interactive Database Releases Tonight!

Assuming MGS4 is your first Metal Gear game, some of you late-comers are completely confused about the Metal Gear Solid storyline. As a result, Sony and Konami are launching the Metal Gear Solid 4 database via PLAYSTATION Store tonight! It is a FREE downloadable application that has anything and everything about the Metal Gear franchise; including character profiles, storylines, and even a spoiler guard that will only be unlocked after you've completed MGS4. Since Konami and Sony are behind it, everything is official. Visit the official PlayStation.Blog for more details!

Haze Demo Available Now; PLAYSTATION Store Update

The official PlayStation.Blog announced that a downloadable demo of Sony's exclusive FPS, Haze will available tonight at the PLAYSTATION Store. In the demo, gamers will get their hands on the opening level of the game called the Salva region, a bright jungle setting. For more info and and introduction by Haze screenwriter Rob Yescombe, hit the jump!

For the entire list of this week's PLAYSTATION Store update, visit the official PlayStation.Blog here.