EpicBattleAxe » PlayStation 3

New PlayStation 3 Bundles Announced

"TheAxeWielder" — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 19:41:43 +0000

Whether hardcore or casual, Sony hopes you’ll find a PS3 bundle that meets your gaming needs as the electronics giant today announced two new models for your purchasing convenience – a 320GB PS3 system, which will be included in the PS3 Sports Champions Move bundle; as well as a 160GB PS3 system, which will be available as a standalone.

Here’s a description via the PlayStation Blog:

The 160GB PS3 system brings you more storage for the same price as the previous model – $299.99 (MSRP) – and is shipping to retailers nationwide now. The 320GB PS3 system will hit store shelves on September 19, in conjunction with the launch of PlayStation Move. It will be part of the PS3 Sports Champions Move bundle, which includes one PlayStation Move motion controller, PlayStation Eye camera, a copy of Sports Champions on Blu-ray disc, and bonus Blu-ray game demo disc– all in one complete package for $399.99 (MSRP).

So, will either of the new models encourage you to pick up a new PS3? Any fence sitters ready to take the plunge? Bundle your thoughts within the comments section below.

ModNation Racers Offers Up Mega Update

"EpicBadAxe" — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 10:59:56 +0000

According to the PlayStation Blog, today at 2pm Pacific Time ModNation Racers will go live with a pretty significant update. Some of the features of the update include shorter load times, a new “casual” difficulty, and the ability to get into Online matches quicker. Along with the patch, United Front Games has also made some enhancements to Community.ModNation.com, the game’s community website, including the ability to see your racing stats and your favorite creators.

And if that wasn’t enough for you, UFG has made the racer and kart Nukular and Kart available as DLC, previously only available as a pre-order bonuses. Seems like quite a humpday for ModNation fans, but is it enough to justify the 60 bucks?

Hit the jump below to see the full list of enhancements included in the update, and let us know in the comments section if this will be enough to keep you behind the wheel and building tracks.

Load Time Improvements
While there are still loads, you will see decreases in load times throughout the game.

New “Casual” Difficulty Mode
We’ve added a “casual” difficulty setting in the options screen.

Challenge friends in XP Series
We’ve added the ability to invite your friends to XP Races & Series.

No more “Hot Lap” Cheaters
We fixed a bug that allowed players to cut the track and post unbeatable times in Hot Lap.

Get into Online Races Quicker
Along with improved load times, we’ve removed the online game room from the ModSpot so you can get into the race faster.

Improved Server Stability
We’ve addressed issues to improve intermittent disconnects that players were experiencing.

Three Challenges now more attainable
We wanted to provide you challenges, but didn’t want to sacrifice fun. We found 3 challenges that proved extremely difficult and changed the conditions to complete them. This includes:

Devastator takedown on Wild Run
Devastator takedown on Modobahn
Sideswipe 3 opponents on the cliff side on Fracture

The Tin Bucket Unlocked!
Finally this is an item is unlocked and available to everyone by default.

Collector Card Improvement
Now see all player creations in their entirety.

Improvements to ModNation Racers don’t stop here, we are still constantly listening to the community and are committed to making ModNation Racers one of the most enjoyable experiences you’ll have on your PS3.

New features on Community.ModNation.com

We added features to the Community site Community.ModNation.com to make the experience better too, including:

Race Logs
Check out your series and XP race stats here.

See your Favorites
Now view your favorite creators as well as others’ favorite creators.

Search for Friends
Search for other players using the new icon next to login.

Rep Check
Check out you reputation under each creation type.

Netflix on PS3 Going Disc-less

"EpicBadAxe" — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 04:50:43 +0000

According to MediaMemo.com, the CEO of Netflix, Reed Hastings, announced that the PlayStation 3 will no longer need a disc in order to stream content from Netflix by October. Hastings said, “Before our next call in October, we expect to be launching a major new version of our Sony PS3 user interface which doesn’t require a disc and is dynamically updated continuously with the latest Netflix UI improvements.” No comment was made about the Wii getting the same treatment.

As an interesting side note, in the same statement Hastings also commented on the company’s intent to move forward full-steam-ahead with regard to streaming more TV shows. Speaking to the subject Hastings said, “In terms of streaming content, we are rapidly expanding our TV shows available for streaming and since our last call we have added thousands of TV episodes from new deals with Fox, MTV Networks and Warner Television. These shows include all seasons of “24,” “Futurama,” “Lie To Me,” “The Chapelle Show,” “Nip/Tuck” and “Veronica Mars,” and in a few weeks all seasons of “The Family Guy” will be available to stream as well. We see TV shows as equally important to our franchise as movies.”

Good news for PS3 owners and good news for everyone who uses Netflix, don’t ‘ya think?

via ShackNews

The Rumor KILL – 6/26/10

'The Canasian Sensation' Lucas Archer — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 14:53:18 +0000

We’re back Axeheads, we are back!!! After an E3 induced hiatus, EpicBattleAxe.com’s The Rumor KILL is back with a sharpened axe and a cleaned chopping block ready for a new batch of rumors to dissect and potentially destroy. Now, I know most of us (hell, all of us) are still on that E3 high trying to absorb all of the epicness that we witnessed. I know that at times it felt like the show was bogged down with casual game shenanigans that appeal to an audience that isn’t even watching/attending the show but when you put that aside and look at the core games like Portal 2, Rage, Mortal Kombat and so so so many others it’s easy to say that this E3 was among the best of all time. However, just because E3 is over and most of the questions from previous editions have been answered doesn’t mean the rumor fun is over. We still have TGS and Gamescom on the horizon so the rumors won’t stop and by the look of this week’s crop, they show no sign of slowing down. So then, let’s get started.

THE RUMOR: Hulu is coming to the Playstation 3

THE SOURCE: Shacknews

MY TAKE: I love the irony of this. Going into E3 a lot of people figured that Microsoft’s big dashboard announcement would be their own version of Hulu. Now that we know that didn’t happen a report has emerged from Bloomberg Businessweek that indicates a deal between Sony and Hulu to have the streaming service on the PS3 finalized as soon as next week. Now, I’m standing by my statement from a few weeks ago that having both Hulu and Netflix on a console isn’t necessary however I’m not saying it isn’t possible. Hulu would be a great edition to any console’s dashboard features and perhaps would give PlayStation users more incentive to join PSN Plus since Sony already said they aren’t adding anymore features to its free PSN service. Also, as it stands now, PSN Plus doesn’t seem to warrant anyone’s $50 so adding a service like Hulu to it might entice more people to upgrade.

THE VERDICT: BELIEVE IT!!!

Yes, I know I said that Hulu on Xbox Live was hard to call (turns out I was right) but it’s one thing for a feature on one console to be a false rumor but for the same rumor to appear on a different console from a source like Bloomburg which doesn’t usually publish nonsense makes me a believer. Will it be announced next week? I can’t really say but it’s sure looking like PlayStation will have Hulu before the Xbox 360 will. I think the problem with Microsoft is their dictator approach to online content. As some gaming minds have pointed out, Microsoft has pretty much direct control over everything that goes through your Xbox Live service. That policy may be what is creating the licensing issue, an issue that according to the rumor isn’t a problem for Sony. So bottom line, Hulu will probably end up on both consoles at some point but will almost definitely end up on the PlayStation 3 first so for those PS3 users who want Hulu on their console, you’ll be able to get your wish via an investment in PSN Plus. The question is though; will Hulu really push free users to start paying $50/year for your online gaming? Let us know below!

THE RUMOR: Guitar Hero: Queen is coming next year

THE SOURCE: Gamespot

MY TAKE: Okay let me get my personal bias out of the way…I LOVE Queen!!! Blame my parents for playing the bands Greatest Hits CD every time I was in the car as a kid. So with that bit of information you can probably tell that I’m just a little bit excited for the prospect of an all Queen Guitar Hero in 2011. The news comes straight from lead guitarist Brian May who let slip about the game being released in 2011 and “will let users participate in the band’s concerts”. Boy isn’t that last part just a complete shocker. Anyway I’m surprised that this wasn’t done earlier, or at least done earlier then Green Day. Believe it or not they’re a key part of gaming history because without their songs Ogre Battle, The March Of The Black Queen and Seven Seas of Rhye the game Ogre Battle: The March of the Black Queen may have never existed. Also, let’s be honest people, who doesn’t get pumped then the legendary “stomp-stomp-clap” of We Will Rock You or start singing along when you hear “I see a little silhouette of a man…”. That’s why I think the verdict for this one is obvious.

THE VERDICT: BELIEVE IT!!!

Oh you better believe it people. Queen will definitely be coming to a plastic instrument near you come 2011 and it will be awesome to have all of their music in one game that will hopefully follow their career like The Beatles Rock Band. The only concern I have about this release is that it’s Guitar Hero and not Rock Band. Now this isn’t some fanboy rant about how Guitar Hero sucks and Rock Band is uber better or anything like that – it’s just that Rock Band tends to do these “tribute” games better. For this to be done right Neversoft has to capture that special feeling of seeing Queen perform live, not necessarily the technicolor dreamscapes of The Beatles Rock Band but just that feeling you get when you see Freddie on the mic performing for his fans. If they can’t capture that they should just drop the project altogether because as much as Queen is about their sound, their unique performance is what makes them legends and that NEEDS to be captured in the game or this will be a colossal fail like Guitar Hero: Van Halen.

THE RUMOR: Kinect will be priced at $149.99

THE SOURCE: Joystiq

MY TAKE: Okay this one is going to come up a lot until we get the official word from Microsoft about the price of Project Nata-… I mean Kinect (by the way who the hell decided to spell “connect” this way???). We’ve heard multiple experts give their opinions on the appropriate price point which seems to range from $99.00 to $129.99. Retailers on the other hand seem to have a different idea for a price as almost everyone/everything/every place that will sell Kinect has it down for $149.99, even the Microsoft Store as the source shows. Microsoft insists that this is a placeholder price and the official price hasn’t been decided so it makes sense that we shouldn’t look too much into this. Still, why would Microsoft give all these retailers that price only to have it changed whenever they decide to announce the real price? Is it a test to see how many people pre-order at that point? Is it to throw off the competition? Is it for shits and giggles? Who knows???

THE VERDICT: SPARE IT!!!

The answer is no one really knows. We can speculate all day and night but the bottom line is no one really knows…I even doubt that Microsoft knows. All we know right now is it costs Microsoft $150 to make Kinect which actually doesn’t clear up as much as you would think. It all depends on how much confidence Microsoft has in their peripheral. If they think it will sell a lot, they will sell below cost to get as many out there as possible. If they don’t think it’ll sell then they’ll price it higher to try and cut losses. I figured going in that we would know when Sony announced their price for the Move but their 100+ price points for the damn thing didn’t clarify anything, all it did was set a range from $49.99-$189.99 depending on what you want. So we are left with a huge range that doesn’t clarify anything. That means its discussion time! What would you honestly pay for Kinect? If you want to know my opinion I think that Kinect will cost about $139.99 with one game in the bundle. Oh and please don’t say anything like “I would pay 1¢ because Xbox is gay” because really, you’re not funny and you’re just embarrassing yourself. Keep the conversation constructive and feel free to chime in with your legitimate expectations on the matter.

THE RUMOR: The 3DS will support 3D video chat

THE SOURCE: Giantbomb

MY TAKE: If you stop and think about what Nintendo is doing with the 3DS it’s actually pretty incredible. Not only is it changing portable gaming and possibly gaming altogether but it’s also changing all portable electronic platforms. I would say in a year or so cellphones will begin having 3D displays as the norm and even devices like MP3 players will feature the same kind of display. It’s awesome that it’s a gaming console that is the forerunner in pushing this technology. Maybe that’s what Satoru Iwata was getting at when he told Forbes that “a variety of different things are possible with the 3DS; for example, 3D video chat”. If that was implemented into the 3DS the ramifications would be huge. The question is – can it be done? I have no doubt that the 3DS has the technological power to do so but having the capability and having the will to do something are two completely different things.

THE VERDICT: KILL IT!!!

I think this is one of those ideas that sounds awesome on paper (or on a computer screen) but really wouldn’t be that special in practice. I don’t know about everyone else but I can’t think of a time where I’ve been talking to one of my friends through Skype or MSN or whatever and think “hhhhmmm…this would be more awesome if his head was popping off the screen”. Just seems more weird and creepy in my opinion. Also, if you read the article and look at the specs of the 3DS it shows that two cameras that allow 3D photos to be taken is on the back of the top screen and the front facing camera is just a regular camera. So it’s actually technically impossible for this model of 3DS to have 3D video chat. Maybe the 3DS Lite or whatever the next one is called will have a 3D capable front facing camera but until then you can only see your friends in 3D in person!

THE FINAL SAY

It’s hard to do a final say fresh of E3 because so much happened that to talk about only one thing wouldn’t do justice to the show – so. I’m just going to give my say to the two biggest surprises for me at E3. First was David Jaffe giving us what we’ve all been craving in a new next generation Twisted Metal and the second was Gabe Newell revealing that Portal 2 would also be on the PS3. Both of these announcements (not the fact they happened just the fact that it was at E3) legitimately shocked me and given how hard it is to keep a secret in the internet age these guys deserve their props for keeping it under wraps.

So there you have it, we’re back into the swing of things with another edition of EpicBattleAxe.com’s The Rumor KILL coming to a close. As always let us know below whether you think I got it right or if I was way off. Until then I’ll see you guys next week with a fresh batch of rumors and a cleaned off axe to cleave them with!

E3 3D Hands On – Is 3D A Home Run?

"EpicBadAxe" — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 07:55:33 +0000

Brent wrote a great article about playing Killzone 3 in 3D just a couple of days ago, but I wanted to tackle the other 3D offerings that were being shown at E3 this year, and 3D in general. I had a chance to play MLB 10: The Show, Super Stardust HD, and MotorStorm: Apocalypse. I also got to watch WipEout HD in action as well as a 3D movie. All of this was, of course, on the PS3 and all of the content was demonstrated using active sync 3D glasses and TV’s.

Now, I am one of those people that is very excited about the advent of 3D television and gaming. I must say that, despite my child-like enthusiasm for 3D (or perhaps because of it) I was left with mixed feelings regarding the technology as a whole. It was impressive to see, to be sure, but it didn’t leave me as satisfied as I would have hoped. Some games seemed to show better than others. MLB 10: The Show, for example, was the best implementation of 3D at the whole show, in my opinion. It felt natural and it actually enhanced the gameplay, something that I felt no other 3D game accomplished. Having the pitches thrown at you in 3D made it not only more realistic, but it made it easier to read the pitches as they hurled toward you and the plate. It was a very cool effect.

Super Stardust HD looked great in 3D, but the 3D didn’t actually enhance gameplay in any way. There’s nothing wrong with a little eye candy, mind you, however Super Stardust HD exemplified what I am calling the ‘box effect’ more than any other game I saw. This is my biggest worry about 3D gaming. Similar to the Killzone demo, these games were set up such that the gamer was 4-6 feet from the screen (2-3 feet in the case of Killzone). I don’t believe this is realistic for most gamers and I am very concerned that when the television is moved further away from the player (mine is about 10 feet from my eyes), the 3D enhancement will create the effect that the game is being played in a box. This occurs because the 3D tech doesn’t bring images forward, but creates a sense of depth, thus making the image appear to gain the third dimension as it moves away from you. If the image takes up the majority of your field of view (as is the case in the movie theater) you feel as if you are in the image, however, when you can clearly see the frame of the image it creates the effect that the action is taking place in a deep box. This was no more apparent than it was with Super Stardust.

The driving style games were interesting in their own right. WipEout looked very good, but I didn’t play it. MotorStorm: Apocalypse was fun, but the 3D made it extremely discombobulating when your car started to flail around from hitting the falling rubble, almost unnecessarily so. One thing that was extremely surprising, however, during my time with MotorStorm was my reaction to hitting a pedestrian with my car. Somehow, the 3D effect, quite literally, changed the way I felt when I hit that civilian. It made me feel guilty. I couldn’t put my finger on exactly why, but for whatever reason, mowing down a 3D bystander felt more real, more visceral, and, therefore, more disturbing.

And lastly – the 3D movie. Basically, it was unimpressive. I don’t know why, but it didn’t feel very ’3D’ and it barely held my attention for more than 60 seconds. Perhaps it was because there were 3D games all around, but no one else seemed particularly drawn toward the movie either. Disappointing, I admit.

So, ultimately, I would say that the 3D tech was interesting, maybe even cool – but not awe inspiring. That being said, 3D is a brand new language in game design, and developers will need time to learn how to properly implement it. Perhaps when they do, the tech will be more exciting than it is in its current form. For now, I remain cautiously optimistic, but I damn sure will not go out and spend $2500 for a 3D TV based on what I experienced at E3.

What about you? Are you excited for 3D gaming? Are you dying to get your hands on a 3D Killzone or MLB: The Show? Will you spend the cabbage for a 3D TV anytime soon? Sound off below!

inForum 05/03/10

Nich Longe — Tue, 04 May 2010 00:19:15 +0000

Well hello there to all you Axe-Heads! Forum Moderator Nich Longe here again for another blood-drunken week of inForum where I take you on a adventure through the EpicBattleAxe.com forums and show you the most chaotic and awesome topics that are going on at the moment. This week we’re helping Forum Moderator and brother in arms Shwick find a PS3 game, our first impressions of both the Dead Space 2 and Call Of Duty: Black Ops trailers, and lastly our movie views of Pixar’s How To Train Your Dragon. Saddle your steeds and follow close, LET’S RIDE!!!

Our friend and brother Shwick is looking to join the ranks of console gaming by purchasing his very own PS3 and he needs your help finding the perfect game. He does have some guidelines and preferences, so be sure to check out the link and let him know what sweet PS3 games he should pick up next by clicking HERE!!!

Activision has announced their brand new Call Of Duty game, in trailer form, titled Black Ops. It looks like it’s to be released November 9th 2010 just in time for our holiday season. Torture, explosions, planes, and guns seem to be a perfect combo in this exciting trailer. Click HERE to see the trailer and let us know what you thought. Additionally all the Activision, Infinity Ward, and Modern Warfare shenanigans going on at the moment is making for some really interesting discussion on the future of the Call Of Duty franchise. Are you worried?

Again in the awesome debut trailer department is the brand new Dead Space 2 trailer. I for one was a huge fan of the first and am really excited (and terrified) to see what the new Necromorphs will bring to the new game. A sequel to one of the scariest games ever made? We could not be more excited to add this game to our collections. Check out the trailer HERE and let us know how excited and ijustcrappedinmypants scared you are for it!

On a lighter and less blowing people up and tearing miners in half topic, over in the Cinematheque forums we’re asking all of you who’ve seen How To Train Your Dragon what you thought of it. An animated comedy about dragons and Scotts is bound to be great in many ways. Let us know by clicking the LINK and slay away!

And thus the end has come. I know you guys are just as excited for this week’s episode of EpicBattleCry I am. Thank you for reading and be sure to check out all the above-mentioned threads (especially Shwick’s!) and let us know what’s on your mind. Don’t be shy, our bites are not fatal. See you guys next week and be sure to get registered, get checked, and get inForum.

-Nich Longe

The Rumor KILL: 03/13/10

'The Canasian Sensation' Lucas Archer — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 04:34:12 +0000

Holla me amigos and welcome to another week of back-fence news as brought to you by Epicbattleaxe.com’s The Rumor KILL. Now I know all you Axeheads are full of gaming news and knowledge courtesy of GDC and to be honest I was a little nervous this week. Gaming conventions such as GDC tend to solve rumors instead of creating them and even if some rumors are started most gaming journalists don’t report them because they have their hands full with the festivities. For such an occasion I have a great rant planned out about the subliminal messages in Disney films and video games!!! Just kidding……fortunately my fears did not become reality and we still have many rumors to dissect and discuss so take out the pruning shears it’s time to get whacking!

THE RUMOR: Robin will be in Batman: Arkham Asylum 2

THE SOURCE: Kotaku

MY TAKE: This is news that will have Batman fans pretty much divided equally. After seeing Batman Begins and The Dark Knight it pretty much solidified in most people’s minds that a solo Batman is a better Batman. Even before that the four Robins (Stephanie Brown does NOT count) have mixed reactions. For the most part Robin’s reputation was forever tainted when the absolute atrocity known as Batman & Robin hit the big screen. Anyway back on topic……including Robin in the next Batman game will be a gamble. First off it has to be explained why Robin was absent from the entire game with no bio, no audio tape and only a couple mentions by Joker and Clayface to even hint at The Boy Wonder’s existence. Still if they can pull it off and perhaps throw in some co-op into the sequel it would make for an interesting addition to the game.

THE VERDICT: SPARE IT!!!

Warner Bros. has already shutdown the IMDB listing which had Vincent Martella as the voice of Robin but they didn’t directly acknowledge the rumor of a Robin appearance. Therefore it’s hard to say is we will see Robin in Batman: Arkham Asylum 2. It would make sense though because if the “Asylum” is actually a huge piece of Gotham City then it would be quite a bit of ground for the Caped Crusader to cover. Therefore it’s possible a little help could be needed to clean out the Asylum. Or maybe he’s included in a co-op mode like in Spinter Cell: Conviction that is completely separate from the main story. If Robin does find his way into the sequel in a way that doesn’t interfere with what the first Arkham Asylum accomplished. My only condition is that Robin’s suit CANNOT have anything that looks like nipples on it. If it does I’m calling a boycott!

THE RUMOR: The PS3 will be compatible with 3D TVs in June

THE SOURCE: IGN

MY TAKE: Here’s a quick question: does anyone really care if the PS3 gets magical firmware to make all the games look like cheap Avatar knockoffs? Odds are you don’t and you shouldn’t because this probably won’t affect the average gamer for a few years. It’s not like the PS3 is only going to be playable in 3D it’s only for people with 3D TVs which won’t be many for a while. However, since the first 3D TV will be released in Japan in June the timing of the firmware with the release of the TV makes a strong case. Though this won’t do anything graphically for non 3D users it’s interesting to imagine Kratos ripping of Helios’s head in 3D. Actually sounds kind of cool, though I don’t know if I would buy a $4000 TV for the new experience. Still, there’s no harm in releasing it for those who really want to jump onto the 3D bandwagon I suppose.

THE VERDICT: BELIEVE IT!!!

To be honest I wasn’t expecting this to happen so soon but the evidence is compelling. Releasing the Firmware right when the 3D TV is released means that the Playstation 3 will be compatible immediately, which will probably be a good selling point for the TVs themselves. Also the marketing campaigns can immediately be pushing a feature that no other console has, 3D compatibility. Now that may not seem like a big deal right now since the 3D TVs are not widespread but remember when the PS3 was the only system to support 1080p output before 1080p TVs were in wide circulation? Now almost four years later that’s definitely paid off hasn’t it? You can also say the same thing with most of the cutting edge technology inside the PS3 from wireless compatibility to using Blu Ray technology. Getting their hands into the 3D technology could be just another edge that the PS3 has on its competition.

THE RUMOR: Dragon Age sequel coming “02.01.2011″?

THE SOURCE: Neoseeker

MY TAKE: You’ve got to love a good mystery. A mystifying pamphlet arrives in your new copy of Dragon Age: Origins – Awakening points to a seemingly unimportant date which will be a “big day” for the Dragon Age franchise. Could this be the date for the release of the sequel to Dragon Age: Origins? The timing seems to suggest a sequel which BioWare has already confirmed is coming at some point so the possibility is there. They also mentioned that they want new technology in the sequel so this could mean the technology is ready and the sequel is well on its way. The question becomes is it possible for the date to already be set in stone enough to tell everyone almost a year beforehand? I mean you don’t have to look hard to see clear example of release dates gone wrong (Alpha Protocol, Red Dead Redemption, so on and so on).

THE VERDICT: KILL IT!!!

I want to say believe I really do but when it comes to release dates, especially release dates called a year in advance I get REALLY sceptical. Too much can happen in this industry over the course of a year; anything from delays to layoffs to issues as big as the Infinity Ward debacle can happen and cause a game to be pushed back. So then what is the magical date on the pamphlet referring to? It is probably the day BioWare will officially announce the sequel, showing off whatever they have and at that point giving a release date, whether it is an exact day or a ballpark date. BioWare promised that February 1, 2011 will be a big day, what would be bigger than the debut of the sequel to Dragon Age: Origins along with showing off that tech. I know I’ll be bringing out my elf ears on that day.

THE RUMOR: The latest Bioshock 2 DLC is already on the disk

THE SOURCE: Destructoid

MY TAKE: Do you know what gamers hate more than DLC that cost money? DLC that costs money when it’s already on the disk and all you’re downloading is a key to unlock it. Now to state my position I’m all for DLC. I think it’s great when developers continue to create new content for their game after the review copies have been finalized and the disks are being made. However when the “DLC” is on the disk already then it’s not really DLC. It’s paying to get access to content you technically already own and that is a load of bullcrap! I paid $60 for the damn disk I shouldn’t need to put down an extra $5 to access content that is already on the DAMN DISK! It’s the equivalent of buying a house and finding out after that you need to pay the owner an extra $100 to access the master bedroom. It’s damn criminal and there’s no way it should be allowed!

THE VERDICT: BELEIVE IT!!!

Just look at the size of the DLC for Christ sake! It’s 108 KB on the Xbox 360 and the PC download is only 24 KB. There is no way that 2 new characters, 20 new trials, a third attachment for every gun, 5 new masks and increasing the level cap to 50 only takes 24-108 KB of data to put into a game. It’s freakin’ impossible! Even the Versus Mode for Resident Evil 5 was 2 MB and that was the same thing, locked content that was on the disk. Now 2k Marin can lay down any excuse they want but the bottom line is we are paying for data we already own and I will say it again, that’s not right.

THE FINAL SAY

So the Playstation Motion Controller has finally been named and after what I can only assume was countless hours of discussion, debate and brainstorming the creative minds at Sony finally decided on the one name that defined the ground breaking technology they had created and that name ladies and gentlemen is The Playstation……………..MOVE! Now I want to know how BAD the other ideas were for the Move to be the best idea they had????? Like seriously we had the “Arc” which I talked about before (good thing I SPARED it eh?) and even though I bashed that name it’s still better then the MOVE. I’m just waiting for Microsoft to name Project Natal the “Microsoft Flail”.

So here we are again another week has come and gone and another week of rumors has been dissected and analyzed so now the ball is in your court Axeheads. Give your input on these rumors and tell everyone if you think that the rumors I talked about should be BELEIVED, SPARED OR KILLED. Also bonus points as always goes to anyone who can confirm any of these stories. As always I am Lucas Archer and I will see all ye Axeheads next week for more of Epicbattleaxe.com’s The Rumor KILL!

PSN Down, PS3s Not Working, Sony Responds [Updated]

"TheAxeWielder" — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 14:28:52 +0000

Well, it’s been a crazy weekend for both Sony and fans of the PlayStation 3. As many of you may or may not know at this point, gamers around the globe have been experiencing issues with their PlayStation 3 consoles both online and off and while the problem remains to be fixed as of this posting, Sony responded yesterday with the following statement via the Official US PlayStation Blog:

“We’re aware that many of you are having difficulty connecting to the PlayStation Network this evening. Those of you with “slim” PS3s (the 120/250 GB models) appear to be unaffected.

Know that we have narrowed down the issue and have engineers working to restore service even as you read this. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you, and genuinely appreciate your patience while we work to resolve this.

In the meantime, you may want to follow our Twitter account for the latest updates.”

Well, the latest tweet, issued 11 hours ago as of this posting, reads:

PSN status update (part 2): Readers/followers are confirming that “slim” units (120/250 GB models) are connecting normally.

So, while it appears that “slim” owners might be in the clear, what about the older consoles? Who else out there is having issues? Are your single player, offline games still being affected? Let us (and Sony) know in the comments below. Hopefully this will get resolved soon and we’ll do our best to update this story once things are rectified.

via Kotaku

UPDATE: Ok, update time folks…The PlayStation Blog was the source (here) a few hours ago when Sony sent word that they have identified the problem as being caused by a bug in the clock functionality incorporated in the system. In other words, it’s like Y2K, but Y2PLAY instead…

The post lists the known errors and goes on to say that they hope to resolve the problem within the next 24 hours. In the meantime, Sony warns that “if you have a model other than the new slim PS3, we advise that you do not use your PS3 system, as doing so may result in errors in some functionality, such as recording obtained trophies, and not being able to restore certain data.”

Well…crap.

We’ll do our best to keep you posted on new details as they emerge.

UPDATE PART DEUX: According to the Official PlayStation Blog, service has been restored. According to the post, the problem was caused by the PlayStation 3 incorrectly identifying 2010 as a leap year and therefore clicking over to February 29th instead of March 1st. Its unclear if Sony did anything to fix the issue or simply waited twenty-four hours for the problem to correct itself.

EpicBattleAxe.com's inForum: 02/28/10

Nich Longe — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 14:38:45 +0000

Greetings ye Children of the Axe! EBA Forum Moderator Nich here taking a break from laying waste to the never-ending hordes of Geth (Yes, Mass Effect 2 is indeed taking over everyone’s lives!!!) to give you the low-down on the EBA community in this, the inaugural edition of EBA’s inForum, a new feature where we point you to the hottest topics being discussed at the moment inside the EpicBattleAxe.com Forums!

This week, the unholy members of the Axe are discussing and dissecting many current topics such as Epic Moments in Gaming, what PS3 exclusive games are worth buying, video games that you wish have never bought, immersion breaking experiences, and so much more!!!

It’s time to dive in and get you ready to Cry Havoc and Let Your Voice Be Heard! Let’s do it then, shall we…

So, have you ever been playing a video game and then have something so crazy, so insane, so EPIC happen that it made you stand up from your chair and yell “WTF?!” DK is looking to the EpicBattleAxe community for some input for a new video segment tentatively named “Epic Moments in Gaming.” Click here to share your EPIC gaming experience with us! Just a heads up, make sure you read the tidbit about spoilers and how to avoid them…‘Whew’ that’s one less FFVII ending I didn’t want to hear

Own a PS3? Have you played a PS3 game that you think is superior to it’s ported brethren or a PS3 exclusive that you think every owner of the console should experience? Well, then help us ye children of the black beast to find a PS3 game for EBA user Beema to enjoy his new console with! Click away on the link to sound off on your favorite PS3 exclusive or PS3 game and help a brother out!

Our lovely user Athena is asking the EBA community to share their experiences with games breaking the immersion and bogging down your fun. Whether it be cut scenes that come in unexpectedly during a long, heated battle, loading screens that pop in out of no where, or when your journey to fight the end boss keeps getting interrupted by random battle encounters… Whatever your case may be, chime in and let us know what really breaks the immersion by clicking this link and speaking your mind!

Lastly, have you ever been so excited about a game that you pre-ordered it and picked it up on day one just to get home and find out that it is one of the worst games you’ve ever played!?!? Join in on the very unforgiving topic of games that you regret buying by going here…I know I’m not the only one who has fallen pray to the hype machine. Share your pain with us all! We’re here for you!

Alright gang, that’s just a quick taste of the discussions, suggestions, and carnage that have been going on this week in the EpicBattleAxe.com forums. We welcome all insightful, constructive, entertaining, and abominable topics along with your thoughts every day here on EpicBattleAxe.com. Stop in, speak your mind, and get inForum!

Cheers,

-Nich Longe

NOTE: Not a registered EBA Forum Member? You’ll have to go HERE first and register to take part in the conversation. Also, if you’ve not been around here in a while, but had an older forum account, you should check out the updated FAQ to see what’s up! Happy posting!

EpicBattleAxe.com’s inForum: 02/28/10

Nich Longe — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 14:38:45 +0000

It’s time to dive in and get you ready to Cry Havoc and Let Your Voice Be Heard! Let’s do it then, shall we…

Cheers,

-Nich Longe