Technofranki's blog

Sony released a minor firmware update for the PSP yesterday. The firmware went from 3.71 to 3.72. This is new:

• Support for PLAYSTATION ®Network titles has been expanded.
• Added support for [Remote Start] of PS3 under [Remote Play].

This week, Wednesday October 31, Mutant Storm Empire will be made available for download on Xbox Live Arcade.

Mutant Storm Empire

There’s this evil emperor, see, and … well, he’s evil. Now someone has decided to put a stop to the whole evilness thing, and that someone is you. It’s the right thing to do! Besides, in Mutant Storm Empire, it’ll be fun. Battle through line after line of the emperor’s minion horde, destroying absolutely everything you can! Blast through bunches of robots, crush colonies of aquatic monsters, smash swarms of UFOs, and demolish devastating bosses. It’s a continuous adventure through four immense, strikingly vibrant worlds, and you can fight alone or join forces with a friend in two-player cooperative mode. Enjoy the frenzy!

• The art of blasting: Practice the way of “Blastikkidoo” or the art of blasting, as you plow through the different worlds in Mutant Storm Empire. This all-new sequel to Mutant Storm Reloaded ratchets up the competitive challenge!
• Numerous levels: The four different worlds feature sixteen challenging levels, all in gorgeous high-def 3-D graphics.
• Multiplayer modes: Play co-op offline with a friend, or head into Xbox LIVE® territory and go multiplayer for up to 2 people.
• Achievements: Twelve new achievements to master ranging from easy, such as getting a single combo of beasties, to difficult, such as completing the game on the Black Belt level.

MajorNelson.com have a list of XBLA games that will be released in the coming weeks:

N+ (Slick Entertainment and Metanet Software) – Play as an acrobatic ninja in this addictive action-puzzle platformer. N+ features inadvertently homicidal robots, stylish graphics, a level editor and intense multiplayer awesomeness.

Screwjumper! (THQ) – Players take the plunge in “Screwjumper!” and free-fall into the depths of the chaotic underworld as a Screwjumper, driving aliens back to their home world by destroying their precious mining equipment.

SHREK-N-ROLL (Activision) – Gamers join “Shrek®,” “Fiona,” “Donkey,” “Puss in Boots” and 20 other twisted fairy tale friends in this hilarious puzzle game designed for ogres of all ages.

SpongeBob SquarePants: Underpants Slam (Nickelodeon and THQ) – In this quick and fun game, players search the kitchen of the Krusty Krab, the Flying Dutchman’s ship and the Armoury of Atlantis for 99 pairs of underpants.

Switchball (Sierra Online) – Based on real-world physics, “Switchball” is an intricate puzzle game set in a stunning 3-D world where players control an ever-changing ball along a narrow, winding course suspended in midair.

Undertow (Chair Entertainment Group) – This fast-paced action-shooter sends gamers underwater as they battle up to 16 players for control of the oceans! Players race to upgrade their units as they engage in non-stop conquest-style battles through multiple levels of combat action with some of the most stunning graphics ever seen in an Xbox LIVE Arcade title.

Word Puzzle (InterServ International) – The classic pen-and-paper word search game is brought to a new level of excitement on Xbox LIVE Arcade, complete with combos, high-score achievements and the ability to compete against others online.

Here is the top sellers at Play-Asia.com. You may find something you want to import.

Top sold items by all members (last week)

1. MAX Power Replacement Battery (Sony PSP™ ) – US$ 24.90
2. Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock (Xbox360™ Asia – region free) – US$ 49.90
3. The Eye of Judgment Booster Pack (PlayStation3™ US) – US$ 6.90
4. Cube Joybox Pro (Gamecube™ ) – US$ 7.90
5. Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock Bundle (Xbox360™ Asia – region free) – US$ 129.90
6. Hello Kitty Strawberry Pretzel – US$ 0.99
7. Conan (Xbox360™ Asia – region free) – US$ 49.90
8. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (Xbox360™ Asia) – US$ 49.90
9. Half-Life 2: The Orange Box (Xbox360™ US – regon free) – US$ 59.90
10. Mass Effect (Xbox360™ Asia) – US$ 39.90

Top Xbox 360

1. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (Asian version) – US$ 49.90
2. Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock (Asian – regon free) – US$ 49.90
3. Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock (US -reion free) – US$ 59.90
4. Half-Life 2: The Orange Box (US – region free) – US$ 59.90
5. Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock Bundle (Asia – region free) – US$ 129.90

Top Nintendo Wii

1. Wii Fit (w/ Wii Board) (Japan) – US$ 89.90
2. Zack & Wiki: Quest for Barbaros’ Treasure (US) – US$ 44.90
3. Super Mario Galaxy (US) – US$ 59.90
4. Super Mario Galaxy (Japan) – US$ 59.90
5. Ghost Squad (w/ Wii Zapper) (Japan) – US$ 59.90

Top PS3 (all region free)

1. The Eye of Judgment: Biolith Scourge Theme Deck – US$ 14.90
2. The Eye of Judgment: Fire Crusader Theme Deck – US$ 14.90
3. Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction – US$ 64.90
4. The Eye of Judgment Booster Pack – US$ 6.90
5. The Eye of Judgment: Earth Emperor Theme Deck – US$ 14.90

Top Nintedo DS (all region free)

1. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trials and Tribulations – US$ 29.90
2. The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass – US$ 39.90
3. Mega Man ZX Advent – US$ 29.90
4. Liquid Crystal Filter DS Lite – US$ 6.99
5. Kanji Sonomama Rakubiki Jiten – US$ 48.90

Top PSP (all region free)

1. Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles (English language Version) – US$ 39.90
2. Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions – US$ 42.90
3. Liquid Crystal Filter Portable – US$ 5.99
4. Chotto Shot (w/ Camera) – US$ 49.90
5. Bleach: Heat the Soul 4 – US$ 48.90

This weekend the “PLAY! A Videogame Symphony” was held in Norway played by the Norwegian Radio Orchestra at Electroworld 2007 , a Norwegian Trade Fair. The whole consert was recorded and will come out on DVD at a later time.
(Source: Dagbladet.no)

Here’s the top selling (as of Sunday, October 28) HD DVD and and Blu-ray titles on Amazon.co.uk:

HD DVD

1. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix – £17.98
2. Transformers – £22.49
3. 300 – £23.48
4. Bourne Ultimatum – £17.98
5. Planet Earth – £37.49
6. Visions of the Sea: Explorations – £9.98
7. Transformers
8. Blade Runner: The Final Cut – £17.98
9. Digital Video Essentials – HD DVD/PAL Combo – £13.98
10. V For Vendetta – £17.97

Blu-ray

1. Die Hard 4.0 – £21.74
2. Planet Earth – £37.49
3. Pirates of the Caribbean 3: At World’s End – £23.98
4. Spider-Man Trilogy – £39.98
5. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix – £17.98
6. 300 – £23.98
7. Spider-Man 3 – £17.98
8. Casino Royale – £17.97
9. Fantastic Four – Rise Of The Silver Surfer – £23.98
10. Transformers – The Movie [1986] – £17.98

[UPDATE] According to Joystiq.com, Microsoft says that IPTV is not part of the fall dashboard update:

“Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) features will only be available from the Xbox 360 through a service provider who has deployed Xbox 360 with Microsoft Mediaroom (IPTV) services. This was an isolated incident where these features were inadvertently exposed while the customer’s console was being serviced and is unrelated to the Fall Update. Xbox 360 with Microsoft Mediaroom (IPTV), will be available to service providers by the end of the year. Microsoft’s IPTV service providers will ultimately determine the timing of Xbox 360 with Microsoft Mediaroom deployments.”

The 1seg use a resolution of 320 x 240 pixels, but will only be displayed with 256 x 192 since that’s the DS resolution.

If you read Japanese, you can go to Nintendo.co.jp for more info on the TV-tuner.

For more information on 1seg, visit Wikipedia.org.