Today, Sony has announced that version 6.10 of the PSP firmware is now ready to be installed on hand held consoles everywhere. This update includes several big features such as SensMe which chooses songs stored on your PSP based on different moods you select.

Another interesting feature of 6.10 is the ability to tether a PSP Go with a Bluetooth capable cellphone for internet connectivity anywhere you can go.

That’s about it in terms of exciting features so get downloading!

Sony

SCEA spokesperson Patrick Seybold comments;

SCEA is aware of reports that PS3 owners are experiencing isolated issues with their PS3 system since installing the most recent system software update. Rest assured that we are looking into the matter and will provide an update here as soon as possible. We apologize for any inconvenience, as it’s our mission to deliver the best consumer experience on all PlayStation platforms.

Well, Nintendo has announced today that those who paid said fee will be getting credit towards any NES game this October while the Internet Channel will be free to use for all.

What’s more, Nintendo has also let us know that they are updating the browser’s Flash from 7 to Flash Lite 3.1, making for a whole slew of new found usability.

Read (Nintendo)

It was recently made known that the PlayStation 3 firmware update version 3.00 has officially gone live and is now available for download.

Below are some of the features found in version 3.00:

• “What’s New” – The “Information Board” will be replaced with a “What’s New” section, which allows you to enjoy interactive PlayStation news every time you start the PS3 system. Located under the PlayStation Network icon, “What’s New” displays the latest and greatest game, video, PlayStation Network and PlayStation news and releases, as well as your recently played games, in a sleek, new animated format.
• Status Indicator – In the top right corner we’ve added an indicator bar, which displays your user icon, friend icon, the number of friends you have online and a small message icon to let you know if you have any new messages. The indicator also includes a scrolling ticker that features the latest news from PlayStation Network. In addition, when you press the PS button, the battery life indicator will no longer cover up the clock.
• Friends List – Now your PlayStation Network friends will appear in a slightly redesigned format on your Friends List. Also, messages will now be viewable from each of your friends’ respective profiles.
• PlayStation Store Shortcuts – We’ve added a handy shortcut icon to the PlayStation Store under both the Game and Video categories so you can access the latest content quickly and easily.
• Personalization – Personalize your PS3 with new dynamic custom themes and avatars. Dynamic themes as well as free and premium avatars will be available through PlayStation Store. A dynamic theme takes your screen to a whole new level as it incorporates animated objects into the background.
• Trophies – Showcasing your hard earned trophies just got better. Update 3.00 gives game developers the ability to modify how they display trophies for add-on content. Base and add-on game trophies will continue to be combined into a single list so you can see where you stand in a game as a whole. Within that list, trophies will be broken out into subcategories—base trophies and add-on trophies—that way, you can easily view the percentage of your base game trophy collection, and separately track your trophy progress in add-on packs. Look for this enhancement to be included in upcoming games.

Well, what are you waiting for? Stop reading and go get it!

A notice offering you none other than the update’s beta version. Now, the full update’s not expected to go live until next month, so the offerings are subject to change, but below is a list, courtesy of Engadget, detailing some of the new features:

• Netflix now has way, way more options. You can actually browse content via the app, which is great. As a commenter points out, HD content is now denoted with a tag.
• There isn’t any avatar prop content available just yet — hopefully we’ll get to pick out an awesome gun to carry around soon though.
• No Games on Demand content from the current gen console is available, but apparently the games will start rolling out in early August (sigh).
• As we noted in previous posts, the preview doesn’t boast any of the Last.fm, Facebook, or Twitter additions yet.
• We know they’re still working the kinks out, but there seems to be noticeable slowdown when shifting between pages, something we’ve never noticed before in the NXE.

So far they seem to be satisfied with the update although we will all have to hold judgement on the New-New Xbox Experience until it’s actually released to the masses.

This game will apparantly take the empire-building elements from My Life as a King and adapt them in a darker way. Players will be pitted against an onslaught of adventurers from who they must protect a tower from with an arsenal of traps and monsters.

There are two more WiiWare titles along with a DSiWare title included in this same update all of which you can read more about after the break.

WiiWare

FINAL FANTASY CRYSTAL CHRONICLES: My Life as a Darklord
Publisher: SQUARE ENIX
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E10+ (Everyone 10 and Older) – Mild Fantasy Violence, Mild Suggestive Themes
Price: 1,000 Wii Points™
Description: Step into the royal shoes of the Darklord’s daughter as she installs traps and monsters inside her tower to fight back the endless waves of invading adventurers in this world-conquest RPG. Known as Artifacts, these monsters and traps are your only hope in keeping the adventurers from destroying the Dark Crystal on the top floor. Fly your tower across the land and conquer every stage on your way to dominating the entire world.

Battle Poker
Publisher: Left Field Productions
Players: 1-4
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 800 Wii Points
Description: Battle Poker is a family-friendly card game with up to four players battling against the clock to make the best five-card hand possible. Battles are played across multiple rounds, and points are scored for each round based on the quality of the hand. Each player uses a Wii Remote™ controller to point and click on a standard deck of cards on the screen. The first click flips the card over, at which point it can be grabbed by anyone else. You’ve got to have fast fingers and eyes to grab the cards you need before someone else snatches them.

5 Spots Party
Publisher: Cosmonaut Games
Players: 1-4
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 500 Wii Points
Description: Have fun with the entire family and compete in three different play modes. 5 Spots Party is a game of skill for all ages based on the popular game of finding five differences. The goal is to find the greatest number of differences in the pictures shown. In the party modes, you must compete with other players and find as many mistakes as possible. In the 1-Player mode, you must find the differences before time runs out in order to beat the game’s highest scores. How far do you think you can go?

Nintendo DSiWare

Art Style: ZENGAGE™
Publisher: Nintendo
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 500 Nintendo DSi Points™
Description: Do you dream of relaxing with a great puzzle game? Art Style: ZENGAGE revolves around sliding cells (squares) to match colors with cores (beads) located on the board. Clear each stage by matching all of the cores and cells. As you progress through the game’s 100-plus stages, you’ll encounter cells with special characteristics, such as immovability, which further add to the challenge. To truly master ZENGAGE, you must keep your mind sharp and employ careful strategy to complete stages in as few moves as possible. Combining wistful graphics and mesmerizing sound, ZENGAGEcreates a surreal world that should be experienced by all puzzle gaming fans.

“When I get back into the office next week there will be some last minute checks (no more fixes (unless something is broken that I didn’t expect) or changes) and all being well the update 1.50 will be finalized and released officially.” Tingle said.

Changes since the beta started include a black cross hair on the TV guided missles and widescreen FoV on widescreen resolutions.

Read (Electronic Arts UK Community)

Along with the main patch, Mod Tools 1.3 is now out, in addition to the 1.5 Linux dedicated server bins. The new Mod Tools allows gamers to get started on their own Nazi Zombie maps, so expect a load of fun new environments to shoot some undead heads off soon.

The developers also gave the GGL and Clanbase a plug, encouraging competitive players to sign up for the new PC tournaments. The tournaments’ prizes offer up to $2,500 prizes and Call of Duty apparel.

Make the jump for the changelog.

• 3 new MP maps: Banzai, Corrosion, Sup Pens!
• 1 new Zombie map with a new weapon (the Wunderwaffe DG-2), flaming Hell Hounds, new traps, and more: Shi No Numa!
• CO-OP hosts can now kick players from their lobby
• Improved dog spawning in MP
• Addressed an issue with Zombie pathing
• Fixed an instance of the player model displaying incorrectly
• Some unhandled exception errors have been addressed
• Improved server browser’s refresh functionality when the Source is set to ‘Favorites’
• Added support for CODTV
• “cg_DrawFPS 1” now only displays FPS and cg ms/frame
• Added RCon command “teamstatus” to display players’ team information
• Mods: Added joinsquad script function
• Mods: Players can now join CO-OP lobbies that are hosting map names with more than eighteen characters
• Mods: Users can now load custom maps when the usermaps folder contains fifty or more custom maps
• Mods: Removed the loading of duplicate assets that contributed to the ‘2048 materials’ error
• Mods: Increased the amount of mods displayable in the Mods menu
• Mods: Fixed a crash related to the mod.arena file

Read (Call of Duty: World at War Headquarters)

Select organizations will now be able to launch private servers directly from the official Quake Live website, meaning league play will become a lot easier to handle. These private servers will “include extensive competition features such as calling timeouts, locking teams, aborting matches and designating match referees.”

New commands and prerequisites for game modes have also been added, making customization go even further with the game. Several user interface changes have also been made to the website.

Make the jump for the very extensive changelog.

Code Changes:

• Competition features (calling timeouts, locking teams, referees) available in private servers
• Wood footsteps (present on QZCA3 – Quarantine).
• Raw mouse mode performance optimizations.
• Added cl_mouseSensCap (default 0/disabled) to cap the mouse speed if you are using acceleration. Pass it an equivalent sensitivity with no acceleration value, and the acceleration code will not go beyond that.
• The game can’t start right away after a map change, in order to let everyone get in and participate in votes (g_warmupDelay).
• CTF requires 2v2 before starting.
• cg_marks no longer disables cg_shadows.
• handicap in instagib is now disabled.
• r_subdivisions limited to either 4 or 80.
• Flag capture time is reported with milliseconds.
• Flag items are no longer predicted (fixes ghost pickup sounds).
• pro TDM config MG start ammo at 50
• cg_forceEnemyModel/cg_forceTeamModel now honored while spectating a player
• cg_forceBlueTeamModel/cg_forceRedTeamModel added (For shoutcasters, cmds override cg_forceEnemyModel/cg_forceTeamModel)
• spec command:
  spec fc – follow/cycle through flag carriers
  spec blue – follow/cycle through blue team
  spec red – follow/cycle through red team
  (more options on the way)
• cg_followPowerup now supports a value of 2, which will not switch to a lesser power-up if already following a flag carrier
• cg_followKiller issue in Clan Arena fixed
• fixes for several possible flag dupe cases in CTF
• spwin/splose/testgun cmds removed (exploit/griefing)
• callvote VO fixed (vote now/vote passed vo played in unison)
• Bitterman drowning sound added/fixed

Web Changes:

• The plugin upgrade and installation has been revamped, and you should no longer need to restart your browser during an update (some IE issues still being worked out).
• 24 awards are making a comeback and will start being awarded again!
• The match detail tooltips have been revamped, now allowing you to sort the list by each field. In addition it should be easier to toggle “Quitters / Switchers” now.
• All matches in the server browser will now show the country flag and corresponding city name for the location where the server is running.
• Dropdown menus have been added to the top-level navigation bar, allowing easy access to many parts of the site.
• A new option to “Show Private Matches” has been added to the Server Browser “Customize” pane. This option will toggle back and forth between showing only public or only private matches.
• While the player is in-game various features on the website will go into “sleep mode” in order to reduce the amount of resources used. This change is to help certain players who were having problems with the game stuttering while playing due to website activity.
• Created a new prompt system is used for all fatal errors and other cases where info needs to be presented to the player.
• Match tooltips will now show server name, allowing you to see where the server is located from your friends list.
• You can now toggle whether to show chat timestamps in your “Edit My Profile” page
• Added an icon that is now stamped onto matches in a player’s profile when they have won a particular game.
• Fixed a number of problems with cvars and binds not being saved or restored. Players should no longer need to use an autoexec.cfg to have their settings persist.
• Fixed a problem that was preventing the “Link to this match” button from working in IE8.
• Fixed a problem where clicking on a model icon on your friends list would take you to an undefined profile.
• Fixed a problem where the player could be stuck on the “Quake Live is Loading” screen when an error occurs during the initial site load.
• Fixed a problem where many pages were missing page titles.

Read (Quake Live)

Here are all the detailed changes:

• Fixed seeing error dialogs if the “-nocrashdialog” command line parameter is present
• Added an optional per-map particle manifest called _particles.txt, which should be located in the maps directory, so map authors can load custom particle files
• Fixed minicrits resulting in reduced damage for weapons at close ranges
• Fixed the Cloak and Dagger not regenerating at the correct rate
• Fixed setinfo exploit that allowed restricted convars to be set while connected to a server
• Fixed tournament mode being interrupted if mp_timelimit hits before both stopwatch rounds have been played
• Fixed “jointeam unassigned” exploit
• Fixed being able to respawn during the chat time before a level change
• Fixed “sensitivity” ConVar not capping the upper value which sometimes caused a server crash
• Prevented some exploits based on mat_dxlevel being changed in-game
• Updated ripple effects for water drips to improve performance

The update can be installed just by restarting your Steam client.

• Fixed alt-tab crash after 1.02 patch
• Fixed developer controls that broke the game after 1.02 patch
• Fixed Steam Achievements

Trine is probably the most underrated PC title this year, so you should definitely check it out. You can buy the game on Steam for $29.99, or try out the demo free of charge.

The third Title Update for Halo Wars is due to be released in the next few weeks, and Bungie has released patch notes for the update. Some of the main issues fixed include balance changes and general bug fixes. The full list follows:

Balance Changes:

• UNSC Warthogs Gauss cannon damage against tanks and other heavily armored vehicles reduced by 25%
• UNSC Warthogs build time increased by 3 seconds to 25 seconds
• Anders research time bonus decreased to 25% from 50%. Her Research cost bonus remains unchanged at 50%
• Covenant and UNSC turrets have 5% increased health and 5% increased damage
• UNSC Elephants have a 20% more health
• Grenade damage type now has 25% additonal damage against Warthogs and other medium armor ground vehicles.
• Recycle basic cost return fixed to be 50% for constructed buildings.
• Locked down bases when unlocked will now release units inside very quickly, which means that when under attack a player can now build a fighting force while locked down and then release them much more quickly than before
• UNSC Leader powers disabled at the start of Reinforcement Matches
• Players no longer receive points for team killing.
• Self Destructing/Recycling buildings now gives points to opponents

Bug Fixes:

• Players should now find it much easier to play System Link games
• Fixed Covenant Shield Generator Exploit
• Invisible Units should now have invisible health bars
• Players will no longer be able to scout opposing bases by using the area-select tool

Read (Official Halo Wars Community Site)

The PS2 was the first to feature it, allowing gamers to still play their old favorites. The Xbox 360 followed suit somewhat, with a few hundred original Xbox games playable. The Wii can handle any Gamecube title, though there likely aren’t too many people go back to. The PS3 offered backwards compatibility as well, but only on certain SKUs and only for a limited period of time.

If you didn’t buy one of the 60 gigabyte models you were out of luck as your system didn’t have the necessary hardware to play PS2 games. It seems that all might change though as Sony filed an application for a patent that would allow backwards compatability to be integrated into existing systems via a software update. According to the patent Sony has figured out a way to get the PS3’s cell processor to emulate the PS2’s emotion engine.

I admit that after trying to read through the garbled nonsense of patent filing I have no clue whether or not IGN has interpreted this correctly, so this could be for something else entirely, but it seems logical. Now whether this would be available for everyone is the question. They could hold it back for release with the PS3 Slim, offering it at a later date as a paid download to anyone with a non-slim PS3, or they could simply show they’re nice guys and release it for free.

Just as the ESRB suggested late last month, Metal Gear Solid has found its way onto the Playstation Store in the form of a Playstation 1 Classic.

That’s not all thats been added as Tom Clancy’s GRAW 2 for the PSP and an NCAA Football 10 demo have also made the cut. Of course, a bunch of Guitar Hero and Rock Band songs, wallpapers along with a bunch of other stuff you probably don’t care about were also added.

Hit the read link for the full list.

Games & Demos
Metal Gear Solid ($9.99)
Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2 for PSP ($19.99)
NCAA Football 10 demo

Expansions & Add-ons
MotorStorm Pacific Rift Jester Signature Livery Pack (free)
Cross Edge Wanderer Pack (free)
Cross Edge Power-Up Pack (free)
Cross Edge Departure Pack (free)

Guitar Hero World Tour tracks

• “Guitar Hero On Tour: Modern Hits Theme” by S.U.P.R.A.H.U.M.A.N (free)
• “Fly One Time” by Ben Harper and Relentless7 ($1.99)
• “Number With No Name” by Ben Harper and Relentless7 ($1.99)
• “Shimmer & Shine” by Ben Harper and Relentless7 ($1.99)
• Ben Harper and Relentless7 Track Pack ($5.49) – “Fly One Time,” “Number With No Name,” and “Shimmer & Shine” by Ben Harper and Relentless7

Rock Band

• “Back From the Dead” by Spinal Tap ($1.99)
• “Rock ‘n’ Roll Nightmare” by Spinal Tap ($1.99)
• “Saucy Jack” by Spinal Tap ($1.99)
• “Warmer Than Hell” by Spinal Tap ($1.99)
• Spinal Tap Pack 1 ($6.99) – “Back From the Dead,” “Rock ‘n’ Roll Nightmare,” “Saucy Jack,” and “Warmer Than Hell” by Spinal Tap
• “Bring Me to Life” by Evanescence ($1.99)
• “Call Me When You’re Sober” by Evanescence ($1.99)
• “Weight of the World” by Evanescence ($1.99)
• Evanescence Pack 1 ($5.49) – “Bring Me to Life,” “Call Me When You’re Sober,” and “Weight of the World” by Evanescence

Game Videos
Mini Ninjas E3 trailer

Wallpapers & Themes
American Pride theme ($1.49)
Jungle Jane theme ($1.99)
Warrior Girls theme ($1.49)
Azmodeus Dark Angels theme 3 ($1.49)
4th of July Pinups theme ($1.49)

If you are a fan of Metal Gear Online, which was bundled with Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriot, you will be happy to hear that it will be recieving an update at a currently unannounced time.

While the announcement is entirely in Japanese, we do know that the update will be entitled Scene Expansion and include a new multiplayer map called Icebound Inferno. You may recognize Icebound Inferno as it closely resembles the Shadow Moses level found in Metal Gear Solid 4. Additionally, Scene Expansion will give players the chance to choose Old Snake as an online playable character.

There’s no word on when the Scene Expansion update will hit for Metal Gear Online but we will be sure to keep you posted.

I don’t think I’ve ever seen a single peice of hardware that gets as many firmware updates as the PSP. Unfortunately those updates tend to, well, never really add anything cool so don’t hold your breath about 5.51.

To further confirm nothing cool is to come from these updates is Sony’s Eric Lempel who says that the update will provide nothing more than tweaks to the hardware’s software stability.

Common Sony, let’s get some cool features already. I mean I can’t think of anything I would want my PSP to do (besides have good games) but I’m sure someone at Sony can!

Read (Destructoid)

F.E.A.R 2: Project Origin has recently been patched as revealed by Steam updates, adding two new Armored Front multiplayer maps. The full change log follows:

• Added two new ‘Armored Front’ multiplayer maps
• Unlocked Collector’s Edition multiplayer heads for all players
• Fixed bug with music cross fades when switching between two tracks

via ActionTrip

Valve has updated the Sniper update page for one last go, this time introducing “Jarate”, what is Jarate you ask? Well, it’s exactly what it looks like in the above picture, bottled urine.

Sure it’s gross but you have to see the humor in it a Sniper generally sits in the same area for extended periods of time with no bathroom breaks so it only makes sense they would have to “go” in a jar. Might as well make use of that jar, right?

If you happen to get hit with a Jarate you’re going to take 35% more damage for a period of time unless you jump into some water to wash it off. Better yet, it puts out flames and short circuits the Spy’s cloaking devices.

Oh yeah, they also gave us a list of the new Sniper achievements, but who cares, Jarate rules!

I’ve been a fan of the “Meet the (Insert TF2 class here)” series ever since Valve began releasing them however long ago. Well, another day means another class update and since it’s now the Spy’s turn they have gone ahead and released a Meet the Spy video.

However, that’s not all; Valve has also revealed 35 all new Spy achievements for you to collect. They leave exactly what the different achievement entail up to the imagination leaving a blank spot where a description would go. Perhaps we will recieve descriptions for all of the achievements tomorrow?

You can check out the achievements along with the new Meet the Spy video, here.

I’ve always been a fan of sniping, no matter the game. However, there’s nothing worse than getting stabbed in the back when your scoped in. Luckily, thanks to Valve’s recent Sniper Update, that will be a thing of the past.

Introducing The Razorback, a shield that the Team Fortress 2 Sniper class will wear on his back. However, it’s no ordinary shield, it’s wired up with a car battery so whoever makes the mistake of stabbing you will get jolted with 10,000 volts of electricity. Instant death anyone?

Like always, you can head here to find out more information and follow the Sniper’s daily updates.