Aug 19

Release Date for BioShock(R) for PLAYSTATION(R)3 System

Category: Console, PS3

And I quote

” NEW YORK, Aug 19, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) — 2K Games, a publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (TTWO:
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3:40pm 08/19/2008
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TTWO announced today that BioShock(R) for the PLAYSTATION(R)3 computer entertainment system will be available at retailers in North America on October 21 and internationally on October 24. Developed by 2K Marin, 2K Boston, 2K Australia and Digital Extremes, BioShock for the PLAYSTATION 3 system contains all-new content that augments and extends the experience in exciting ways.
“We are proud to introduce 2K Games’ showcase title, BioShock, to an entirely new audience,” said Christoph Hartmann, president of 2K. “With the addition of the new Add-On Game Content we are able to extend the award-winning adventure while maintaining the perfect harmony that millions of players around the world have fallen in love with.”
Headlining the list of new features is the inclusion of the Survivor difficulty mode, Trophy support and the addition of all-new Add-On Game Content. Created exclusively for the PLAYSTATION 3 system version of BioShock, the Challenge Rooms will test the mettle of new and seasoned gamers by requiring them to utilize the knowledge and skills they have learned while traversing the halls of Rapture. The first Challenge Room will be viewable by appointment at Games Convention 2008 (CCL, Level 0, A02/1 + A02/2) from August 20 to August 24 and will be available for download shortly after launch.
BioShock is a narrative-driven action experience that allows players to do the impossible as they journey through an amazing, immersive and terrifying world. Caught between powerful forces and hunted down by genetically mutated citizens, the player will come to grips with the mysterious and fascinating world of Rapture, a distinct Art Deco underwater utopia gone mad. BioShock not only challenges players’ capacity to adapt and survive, but brings to question their values and relationships with the inhabitants of Rapture. With smart and adaptive AI, no encounter ever plays out the same way twice, while numerous customization options provide gamers with an experience that adapts to their playing style.
BioShock for the PLAYSTATION 3 system will be available at North American and international retailers on October 21 and October 24, respectively, and is rated M for Mature by the ESRB. Available now on Xbox 360(R) video game and entertainment system and Games for Windows(R) platforms, BioShock was the recipient of more than 50 Game of the Year awards from well-known outlets such as the Associated Press, Game Informer and Paste Magazine.
For additional details, visit www.bioshockgame.com. “

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Aug 16

Microsoft Enviroment video reveals datacenter server numbers - XBOX LIVE?

Category: Console, News

Have you ever wondered how Microsoft provide those services for you?  XBOX LIVE for instance surely must need more horsepower than a general website would need, wouldnt it? :)  It’s probably safe to bet that all of Microsoft’s online operations doesn’t run off a single server in the basement of Gates’ house. However, a recent promotional video produced by Microsoft’s Environmental Sustainability group may have accidentally spilled the beans.

The following screencaps are from taken from the video Q&A with Rob Bernard, Chief Environmental Strategist, at 2min 29sec to 2min 35sec for those of you playing at home.

Some quick stats gathered from the above clippings: 15 datacenters hosting 148,357 servers sitting on 17,406 racks consuming 72,500KW of utility power as of the end of January 2008 (as indicated by the bar chart).

On the same page there’s also an interesting graph showing the distribution of servers per “property”. Live Search is in the clear lead with approximately 75,000 (50%) of the servers pushing out those less-than-desirable search results, followed by Hotmail. The other notable property occupying a large chunk of the servers would be “other” (appropriately named), which one could assume be dedicated to XBOX Live services and the like.

Assuming these statistics are real and accurate, then at the growth rate of 10,000 servers a month Microsoft should be at 218,000 servers at the end of August 08. A mind-blowing number. They’re going to need more horses.

But, er, if those numbers are to be believed, then Microsoft runs about 8.5 servers per rack, which seems disheartening in this day and age of bladey goodness.

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Aug 15

SCEE - HOME Beta Invites - NOT a valued member of the PSN?

Category: Console, News, PS3

Yes I know this is a bitter sounding news post but why not let the ranting out now rather than let it ruin a weekend……

So the HOME Beta Emails were sent out to those lucky few. Some people were not as lucky.

To quote from the email that was sent out…“We’ve chosen to offer access to Home to a select number of PLAYSTATION®3 owners, and as a valued member of PLAYSTATION®Network, you have been selected”

Now SCEE define valued please because looking at the forums and other news sites it seems people who have signed up to the PSN in 2008 and have less than 5 posts in the forums seem to have had more success than the likes of the owners who have had membership since late 2006 and spend more than a £1000 on PSN and BD games (not forgetting the BD films), lets not forget the amount of time these people spend online with their purchases.

Lets also remember that feature on the playstation website were you can add what hardware and software you own (of which I keep up to date religiously). It seems that feature is also worthless and pretty pointless.

So what did get you into the HOME Beta this month? I spoke to a friend at SONY in London and he told me that most people who bought MGS4 are the chosen ones. I can counter that claim tho so it may not be 100% true, but as I have spent over £1000 on PS3 titles and spent hours online the only game I did not purchase was MGS4, maybe it is true.

I wonder if Dan Hill - Home Service Manager can shed light on this outrageous situation? After all the Americans had to do something to have a chance of getting access to Home and that was a simple download of the HOME theme. Europeans are being chosen on some other ideals.

Lets just look back at some of the BETA testing and the testers that were chosen. Lets start with Warhawk. What a mess that was when released to the public, wtf were the Beta testers doing… messing about no doubt and rolling around IRC channels gloating they have beta, I suppose SONY chose those BETA testers via some arcane method.

So I can only see a “pending FAIL” if all the users are generally not bothered about the BETA side of things and just want to run about doing nothing to make the service more robust, youre not going to help the community are you!

So maybe in the future SONY get some proper testers in on the action, people who actually understand what being a BETA tester is all about.

Lets not forget about those people who were already on the Home Trial before events of the last day or 2, I know about 3 people who never use it at all, should you go through the accounts and remove those “dead” users to make room for more?

Please let us know if you have access and what you think you did right to get in on the action in the comments below.

Just to end on a funnier note…..

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