PlayStation News, Articles and Information for the UK and Europe

…according to Sony’s latest Terms of Service update.

“Some people may experience discomfort (such as eye strain, eye fatigue or nausea) while watching 3D video images or playing stereoscopic 3D games on 3D televisions. SCEA recommends that all viewers take regular breaks while watching 3D video or playing stereoscopic 3D games. The length and frequency of necessary breaks may vary from person to person. Please take breaks that are long enough to allow any feelings of discomfort to subside. If symptoms persist, consult a doctor.”

It also goes on to say how young children should stay clear of the PlayStation 3 3D technology altogether.

“SCEA recommends that you consult your doctor (such as a pediatrician or eye doctor) before allowing young children to watch 3D video images or play stereoscopic 3D games. Adults should supervise young children to ensure they follow the recommendations listed above.”

That would be a great shame, especially considering the amount of fantastic games that will be using the technology. Gran Turismo 5, MotorStorm Apocalypse and Killzone 3 are all on the list.

The solution? Play games in 3D anyway- surely not much harm can be done?

Hot off the heels of Split/Second Velocity’s launch on the PlayStation 3 last month, today Disney announced the game is going portable later this year.

After Black Rock’s success with the PS3 version, which included amazing graphics, superb destruction and likewise gameplay, and a nice but small collection of tracks and a lot of cars, the PSP version inevitably won’t be the same but could be good in its own way.

Portable racing games on the PSP don’t come around that often, and there really aren’t many good ones either. Gran Turismo, Need for Speed Shift and MotorStorm Arctic Edge are the only ones to consider getting. Split/Second Velocity, if pulled off in a good way, will add to that list and then some, and should offer a unique experience for the platform that has been lacking recently.

The development team is yet to be announced. Watch this space.

So, after yesterday’s PS3 software update, PlayStation Plus has finally launched. And in style. What can you expect by grabbing a year subscription? Well, its £39.99 and I’ve already downloaded over £30 of content. This is in the first 24 hours.

On offer now is WipEout HD for FREE, likewise LittleBigPlanet on the PS3, and three minis for PS3 and PSP: Fieldrunners, Destruction Derby, and Age of Zombies. Add to that some great offers including:

• LittleBigPlanet LocoRoco Costume Kit  (Now £1.20/Was £2.39)
• LittleBigPlanet God Of War Level Kit (Now £1.20/Was £2.39)
• Gravity Crash (Now £5.03/Was £6.29)
• Fat Princess Roles Expansion Pack (Now £3.19/Was £3.99)
• Killzone 2 Steel and Titanium Game Pack (Now FREE/Was £4.79)
• Sackboy on the Run Dynamic Theme (Now FREE/Was £1.59)
• Fat Princess Avatars x 2 (Only available with PlayStation Plus)
• The Game is Just The Start Dynamic Theme (Only available with PlayStation Plus)

As you can see, an absolute mass of content there so, why not join the revolution today! It’s worth it.

A lot of hype was amongst last week’s launch of a massive PlayStation Home update which consisted of a new Home Square, Shopping Centre, and a Playground space, along with many other general stuff like new clothes and furniture. But, sadly, sometimes hype dries up when the package arrives, and this is exactly what’s happened.

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So, you played FIFA 10 and the World Cup game? Now what. Yep, you guessed it, EA Sports’ yearly addition to the franchise arrives this October in the form of FIFA 11, and has been revealed to provide a massive leap over FIFA 10 to what the improvements were from 09 to 10, which was not many.

We got a taste of FIFA 11′s goodness with 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa, but only an appetiser. With what has been revealed so far, FIFA 11 could be set to refine the football genre.

1. New Passing System

The groundbreaking new gameplay feature is an improved passing system. Well, it’s not improved, it’s totally new. Instead of tapping X violently to get the ball from player A to B, FIFA 11 is letting players have variety in their passes- and alongside a sense of challenge that hasn’t ever been felt in previous football games.

2. Record Songs/Chants

It’s official: your FIFA really is something to call your own with the ability to record chants and songs. The latter of which is played at the start of a game, at half time, and at the end of the game. Chants are what the crowd cheers during a match, so you can now finally get to hear your own Be a Pro player being chanted, for example.

3. Save Replays to your Hard Drive

It was always going to happen: but now it finally has after a long wait. It’s small, but previously you were only able to save replays to your game or upload them to the EA Sports website. Now, that has been expanded on: you can save the replays to your hard drive and watch them in all their glory without having to load up the game.

As always, PlayStation Future will update you with all of the latest FIFA 11 news.

John Marston is just the kind of person who you wouldn’t want to mess with. Full of comic remarks, a load of violence and all in all a gentle soul, this man is the king of the Wild West and most importantly the protagonist of a fantastic story which will keep you hooked in the marvel of the game that is Red Dead Redemption; the Wild West’s answer to Grand Theft Auto.

Now, before I go any further I must say this: Red Dead Redemption is developed by Rockstar, and yes, therefore many aspects are very similar to GTA. But this is no bad thing in the slightest, and even with so many GTA aspects, RDR still manages to be its own, unique game. And what a game it is.

John Marston is an outlaw coming to America to escape his past of violence and betrayal (Niko Bellic anyone?) and before you know it, the ****’s already hit the fan. He is recovered by farm owner Bonnie MacFarlane: and this is where the game really kicks off in the peaceful surroundings of MacFarlane’s Ranch, without a doubt the most relaxing place in the game after the harshness of warfare. The houses are beautiful, the lanes are peaceful, and the people are nice. Obviously being a farm, there are a lot of animals kept here which actually play a part in the story: Bonnie’s missions have you learn the tricks of the trade in farming. How to lasso wild horses and how to herd cows are on the agenda. And so begins the most peaceful start to a game you’ll ever experience, even if herding cows is quite challenging. Sorry, but it just is. Read more

Just when we all thought it couldn’t get any better, amongst the E3 madness, president of Sony Computer Entertainment Worldwide Studios, Shuhei Yoshida, has confirmed some stunning details of much anticipated racer Gran Turismo 5. Before you read on, I recommend you get a shovel ready to scrape your jaw off from the floor.

Take it away, Shuhei:

‘What can we look forward to when Gran Turismo 5 releases on PlayStation 3?
Gran Turismo 5 will offer gamers an experience more rich, more in-depth and more exciting than they might expect – even from a series as closely identified with innovation and invention as Gran Turismo. Not only will Gran Turismo 5 deliver an even more comprehensive set of cars and courses than gamers saw with previous iterations, it will also feature new game-enhacing graphical effects such as damage, night racing and weather.

These innovations are twinned with the option to join millions of like-minded individuals globally within the Gran Turismo community and to find a driving experience to suit, whether that is taking on the Top Gear test track, chucking cars around stunt arenas, go-karting, creating and sharing your own track or intense head-to-head races. Who, where and what to drive is completely down to the individual.

This time around Gran Turismo is likely not just to be the definitive driving experience but a definitive gaming experience full stop.’

Gran Turismo 5 launches on PlayStation 3 on the 2nd November 2010 in North America. A European release date is not yet known but has been confirmed for November as well.