Cigol

The new update lists this in the 'whats changed' section, so I wonder whether it will use the same upscaling techniques used for DVDs?; Video You can now use the [Frame Noise Reduction] and [block Noise Reduction] settings for video content that is saved on the hard disk or storage media. You can now play upscaled video content that is saved on the hard disk or storage media. When the video content is played, it is upscaled automatically to fit the screen size. Upscaling of Blu-ray Disc (BDAV) video content is now supported.

Someone here must have played Graffiti Kingdom on the PS2. What's it like? How does it compare to the creature creator in Spore? I've just had my attention drawn to it from a comment made on RPS and checking youtube it looks crazy cool; This passed me by completely.

"Most surprising is that its supposedly launching in Europe first! Guess Sony has realised how valuable us Europeans are to them!" lol, "as if!" My guess is it's a photoshop based on rumours made a while back, and the closing statement is meant to be a very subtle joke but still, I would like it to be true - my PS2 is crappored and I like the convenience of 'new'. edit; they are running this rumour on Joystiq and Kotaku

!!!!MY EYES!!!! I was sceptical but I've just read this on Kotaku; "Even more so when you consider that maps aren’t all static, some are random meaning the exit and entrance to an area might not be in the same place each time." Not sure how that's going to work exactly, but at least it signifies they know (ahem) randomosity is something fans want to see in some form or another.From IGN; "Also, Diablo III builds on the random environments of the previous Diablo games by introducing a host of new ways to create random scripted events throughout the game. This creates a dense and exciting world alive with quests, NPCs, dynamic encounters, and viciously challenging new monsters and bosses. Diablo III's environments add a great deal of interactivity to the game, including destructible elements and environmental obstacles that can be turned against your enemies."

The hunter becomes the hunted but yes I plagiarized myself It's the same with Starcraft II but I've made a concious decision to embrace it. It's possible, as I think was the case with Starcraft II (?), that Blizzard might slightly tweak the games visuals in response to fan reaction - but I say we just accept they want to style all their games this way.

Looks interesting, thanks. Especially like the fact Louis Theroux has reviewed it

I think the brightness may have been fiddled with personally, that or it's just a particularly bright section, it's not how I remember it looking anyway Brilliantly summed up the original for me What I personally found funny about Diablo’s release was that it was my dad who first introduced me to it. He just came into the room talking to me about a game, enthusiastically, it was weird, and surreal, and I still can’t get over it to this day! Initially I was like; ‘wtf!?’, and totally expected it to be a piece of shit - but here was this game both me and my dad enjoyed and were able to play.

PC gaming dead? Pah. I have fond memories of playing both Starcraft and Diablo over Battlenet so I'm looking forward to the new releases, particularly as they seem to be focusing exclusively on the gameplay. Saying that, the art style has borrowed a little too much from World of Warcraft's in my opinion - I would have preferred something more gritty and grimy but it's no game breaker, I'll survive.

Just been watching a Louis Theroux episode involving 'Survivalists' and came across this fellow; Bo Gritz, a celebrated Green Beret who served in Vietnam, believes he was the inspiration for 'Rambo', is something of a conspiracy theorist (citing 'the new world order'), ran for president and finally founded a covenant for 'patriots' to live free from government control and prepare for Armageddon. Technically it doesn't even qualify as a coincidence - as there's no direct correlation between his story and the MGS story - but I still couldn't help but laugh when I realised he named his covenant 'Almost Heaven'. Check it here; (Starts at 6:31)

There are options for upscaling and if you open the settings screen while a DVD is on you can fiddle around and see very quickly it makes a big improvement. The only problem is the upscaling is limited to the physical discs, so it won't upscale anything on the hard-drive (as far as I'm aware).

I can see the benefit to Microsoft on a financial level but what's the benefit to the consumer? I realise you touched on some aspects in your final paragraph but I'm having trouble visualising how it'd work. Simply plonking a BluRay player into a third party XBOX isn't going to fly, it would fracture the marketplace surely. Maybe I don't understand the implications of this.

There is a rumour going around that PS2 emulation through software is in the works... at the very least it's a comforting thought to have stuck in the back of your mind whilst you're playing on your handicapped PS3... but it's also likely to be 99% bullshit* so your mileage may vary on that one Uncharted is a game I've only just got around to playing, it's equal parts slick and enjoyable but the combat does grate at times (Check this thread). If you're a fan of MGS then MGS4 is obviously going to rock your boat. On the horizon I'm looking forward to Little Big Planet and I'm sure there's going to be some interesting exclusives further along the line (Team ICO, the Fahrenheit folk). I'm not sure but the 80GB bundles might have backwards compatibility built in. It's worth looking into, but even so it's not 100% guaranteed backwards compatibility so whether it's worth it to you or not I don't know. I wish I had it on the other hand you hear about more problems with the 60GB versions with some games... so err, swings and roundabouts! *Saying that, when you look at the progress the community has made with their own PS2 emulators I'm going to continue holding out some hope.

I'm going to ignore Rodi's post and all of Metal Gear Solid's faults I just wanted to bump this thread to direct you to some MGS related blogging I wasn't previously aware of and might be of interest to Rodi (et al). There's one in particular which deals with questions those new to the franchise might have. http://sexyvideo gameland.blogspot.com/2008/06/revolution-will-not-be-televised.html http://sexyvideo gameland.blogspot.com/2008/06/laughing-and-crying.html http://sexyvideo gameland.blogspot.com/2008/06/sorrow-and-joy.html

They are just adverts. With popularity comes the monies.

Which at this point is difficult to imagine. Check out Darwin and his threads; As far as I know you just need to login and go-to your 'My Spore Page', which should also be accessible through the official website here, as well as in the game itself. What kind of error?

'speak' is somewhat generous for what's essentially a generic statement claiming (ahem, feigning?) innocence. I suppose I'm being unrealistic to expect them to just come out with their hands held up high, big grins on their faces and man up with a mischievous laugh, but c'est la vie.

There was a big 'wtf' moment from me when I heard that. Completely false. The control scheme is one of the most immediate in the series so if he's having trouble with it I wouldn't want to see him struggling with MGS2 - that'd be facial gurning ftw. The only downside is they didn't improve the cover-system, which with the floating 3D viewpoint is now pretty redundant for anything other than improving camoflage. So I agree there, it's crazy actually because there is a system for shooting downwards whilst in a prone position leaning off a ledge (which you will never ever do in normal gameplay) but there isn't a similar procedure for shooting over objects (which if you are a gunslinger you'll be doing a lot of). Regarding stealth and dumb enemies; I guarantee he's playing it on NORMAL, and I doubt he is too concerned about being stealthy either. That's fine, it's how most people will do their first run (myself included) but it's not how the game is supposed to be judged on its stealth element. Turn up the difficulty and the number and variance of enemies is much more pronounced. Like I said in the main thread; the game doesn't force you to play it either way, it's a choice you have to make and stick to. In previous games (MGS1/2 especially) the combat felt like you were making a mistake because the mechanics for it were so clunky and punishing but now it's actually a lot of fun (maybe too much?). A lot of MGS gameplay for me is oldschool, it's 'Video game' epitomised. Just because it looks realistic doesn't mean it's a gritty simulator of modern warfare, because obviously it's not, but it's not meant to be either. Just embrace it and forgive it's faults! I don't think MGS4 is the best in the series, it's too short and focused on the plot, but fans will lap it up regardless. Yahtzee fail (oh okay, who am I kidding )

I did a search of everyone's username so I've already seen and submitted comments for your collection of abominations

This season feels very rushed. I'm assuming the next half will be more measured for that. I'm also assuming Adama is the final cylon, Dan said earlier; "mysterious thing about the 5th though eh? Not in the fleet apparently." but if memory serves; Adama leaves Galactica towards the end of the first of those two time linked episodes... am I right? and of course his relationship with Tigh is suspect whilst it'd be an interesting revelation for Cylon lover Roseyln.

Yahtzee seems to have been quite measured in his response unlike certain bandwagoners who've taken the 'average' game taint and ran with it. I really didn't see the need to be so harsh on Haze. It's not bad it's just completely and utterly average. Which of course is bad, but not in the sense they are decrying. I look forward to his views on MGS4

My gut feeling says 'no', slash, 'maybe a little'.After playing the game to completion I'm getting the impression more and more that you really need to have experienced the originals to fully appreciate all its quirks and nuances. You could conceivably play it as an action game, ignore much of the corny dialogue & plot exposition and still have a game worth playing - but it would be a different experience to mine. It's not going to evoke the same emotional and nostalgic responses for one. These characters don't mean anything to you and I don't think there's enough exposition (and certainly no effective backstory) to supplement a newbie - I'm not even sure the narrative or its execution will be compelling enough when it's offset by the ridiculousness that is a part of the series. There are going to be scenes (etc) which for you will zip by unnoticed but on the flip-side trigger responses in its target audience. That's not to say you can't enjoy the game - I've got no idea what it'd be like to go in cold, I can only imagine - but I do think it's safe to say your depth of appreciation will be less then that of an existing fan. Whether that impacts on your decision or not I don't know. I think if you've got the itch to play it'd be difficult to shake - in which case the question needs to be rephrased as whether or not getting a PS3 is worth it for you.

I still can't get my head around this. Not least of all the revelation it's not a hoax, and that it's a genuine attempt by real people with functioning brains and stuff. Unbelievable! It's like discovering evolution for the first time; 'hold on, this is too simple, too obvious. There's got to be another explanation for this, something more profound'. No matter how hard I try I just cannot accept the idea this was a straight case of plagiarism. It just seems too sophisticated, on so many levels, for something as mundane as that. Epic win as far as I'm concerned.

Just a couple of pictures I took with the camera in probably my favourite part of the game. I particularly loved all the flashbacks. Check out these threads when you've completed the game for the usual dosage of 'extras' that await your curiosity; AVForums Easter Eggs Playstation Community things that amuse you

I think that may be encroaching upon expansion pack territory