Xbox 360 HD DVD Player Gets an Update

Xbox 360 HD DVD Player

Despite the fact that HD DVD is officially dead, Microsoft is still dedicated to keeping their gamers who have purchased the failed technology as happy as possible. There is now an auto update available, which you’ll see the next time you are signed in to Xbox Live that will give you compatibility improvements with certain titles and additional support for network features.

New PSP Firmware Coming

There’s a new firmware update, which according to the Playstation Blog will be “available shortly,” for the PSP. Version 3.95 brings two new features to the PSP which are custom button configuration for PSone game playback and the ability to quit remote play with your Playstation 3 and leave the PS3 running.

Rock Band In-Game Store

Rock Band Store

A patch for Rock Band was just released today, and it adds an extremely useful function; an in-game store. Now you can download any song available for the game, while you still have the game on. No more dealing with the Playstation Store or Xbox Live Marketplace, downloading your tunes and loading the game back up. What’s even better, is that if you’re not sure if you like the song or not, you have the ability to preview the song before purchasing. Now this is what I call a patch!

Playstation Store for PC Update

Here’s all the stuff you can download from the Playstation Store for the PC for your PSP.

Downloadable Games

  • Hot Shots Golf: Open Tee – $10.99

Game Demos

  • Flat Out: Head On Demo

Game Videos

  • Patapon GAP QA Trailer
  • Gran Turismo 5 Prologue Japan Intro Movie
  • Hot Shots Golf: Open Tee behind the scenes #1
  • Hot Shots Golf: Open Tee behind the scenes #2
  • Ape Quest

Wallpaper

  • Ape Quest Wallpaper
  • Hot Shots Golf: Open Tee Wallpaper

Themes

  • Ape Quest Theme

PS3 Playstation Store Update

Lots of add-on content this week, but not much else interesting.

Add-on Content

  • Toy Home Expansion Pack – $6.99
  • PAIN Character: Nurse, Ginger – $0.99
  • PAIN Character: Cheerleader, Muffy – $0.99
  • Guitar Hero III: Drop Kick Murphy’s Track Pack – Free
  • Rock Band
    • Black Tide – “Shockwave”
    • Serj Tankian – “Beethoven’s C***”
    • Paramore – “CrushCrushCrush”

Demos
Major

  • League Baseball 2K8 Demo

Game Videos

  • Hot Shots Golf: Out of Bounds – Characters & Courses
  • Hot Shots Golf: Out of Bounds – New Shot System
  • Viking: Battle for Asgard Teaser Trailer
  • Viking Episode 1 – Skarin’s Calling Trailer
  • Viking Episode 2 – Siege of Caldburg Trailer
  • Themes

    • God of War: Chains of Olympus Theme
    • PAIN Ginger Theme
    • PAIN Muffy Theme
    • Condemned 2: Bloodshot Theme 1
    • Condemned 2: Bloodshot Theme 2

    Playstation Store Update

    Not really a whole lot this week. The new metal track pack for Guitar Hero III has some cool songs though and if you’re a fan of Grateful Dead, Rock Band has you covered. Don’t forget also, though, that you can download the demo for Echochrome on the Japanese Playstation Store.

    Downloadable Games

    • Rocketmen: Axis of Evil – $9.99

    Playable Demo

    • Rocketmen: Axis of Evil Demo

    Add-ons

    • Guitar Hero III: Modern Metal Track Pack – $6.25
    • Rock Band
      • Casey Jones – Grateful Dead – $1.99
      • Sugar Magnolia – Grateful Dead – $1.99
      • Truckin’ – Grateful Dead – $1.99
      • Franklin’s Tower – Grateful Dead – $1.99
      • I Need a Miracle – Grateful Dead – $1.99
      • China Cat Sunflower – Grateful Dead – $1.99
      • Grateful Dead Pack 1 – $9.99

    Game Videos

    • NBA Ballers: The Chosen One Trailer

    Movie Trailers

    • Hancock Theatrical Trailer
    • 21 Theatrical Trailer

    Themes

    • Lost Planet Theme

    Wallpaper

    • Condemned 2: Bloodshot Wallpaper 1
    • Condemned 2: Bloodshot Wallpaper 2
    • Condemned 2: Bloodshot Wallpaper 3

    Here is the PC Playstation Store content:

    Downloadable Games:

    • Flow – $7.99
    • Ape Escape: On the Loose – $14.99

    Game Videos

    • God of War Chains of Olympus Trailer
    • Ape Escape on the Loose behind the scenes #1
    • Ape Escape on the Loose behind the scenes #2

    Wallpaper

    • Ape Escape On the Loose Wallpaper
    • Warriors Orochi Wallpaper

    Virtual Console Update: A Legendary Warrior and A Farm

    Two more games this week available on the virtual console and both are pretty good this time. First off, you got yourself the ever so popular game, Harvest Moon. I don’t know why farm simulation is fun, but apparently many people like it. It’s not just farming though. There is a story behind the game too. Second game; Lords of Thunder. This is a side-scrolling shooter, which I love. This game looks like a lot of fun. Check out the press release below.

    The two games joining the lineup this week are considered cult classics, yet they deal with topics as varied as farm management and shooting enemies to the strains of heavy-metal tunes. Just don’t get the two mixed up, since most livestock don’t like heavy metal and it takes more than turnips to defeat fire-spewing sea serpents.

    Nintendo adds new games to the Wii™ Shop Channel at 9 a.m. Pacific time every Monday. Wii owners with a high-speed Internet connection can redeem Wii Points™ to download the games. Wii Points can be purchased in the Wii Shop Channel or at retail outlets. This week’s new games are:

    Harvest Moon

    Harvest Moon® (Super NES®, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone, 800 Wii Points): You bought the farm, so now it’s time to roll up your sleeves and try living off the fat of the land. Fresh air and the beauty of the outdoors will be fulfilling, but a successful farm needs a lot of working capital as well. There are buildings on your property, but they are in need of livestock. You have a modest house, but if things get lonely in the field, it’s going to take a remodel to woo a female farming companion. Your challenge is to dig in and build your life as a farmer from the ground up. How you manage will determine the outcome, but remember: You always reap what you sow.

    Lords of Thunder

    Lords of Thunder (TurboGrafx-16 CD-ROM, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone – Fantasy Violence, 800 Wii Points): Lords of Thunder is a side-scrolling shooter that has you take on the role of a legendary warrior, blasting enemies to heavy-metal tunes. Your enemies are plotting to revive Zaggart, “The Dark One,” who was sealed beneath the six continents of Mistral. It’s up to Landis, descendant of the heroic Dyu, to stop them. Choose the order in which to attack the six stages. Before each stage, select one of four magic armors and use crystals you’ve collected during your battles to buy items. Selecting the right armor for each stage is the key to your ultimate victory. Then get ready to face awesome enemies like a fire-spewing sea serpent or a giant insect. Whether it’s the fast-paced shooting or breaking into the fortress of a stage boss, you’ll be blown away by the intensity of Lords of Thunder.

    Crystal Quest Update on XBLA

    Crystal Quest

    The new update for Crystal Quest includes a “score multiplier” into the game, which increases the score every time you pick up a crystal. If you fail to pick up a crystal though, your multiplier is negatively affected. The update also includes improvements to downloadable content.

    Playstation Store Update

    More goodies for you this lovely Thursday.

    Demos

    • Conflict: Denied Ops Demo

    Add-ons

    • Folklore
      • “Nightmares” add-on pack – $3.99
      • “Visions of the Tower” add-on pack – $3.99
      • Add-on Bundle 3 – $5.99
      Rock Band

      • “Siva” – Smashing Pumpkins – $1.99
      • “Working Man” – Rush – $1.99
      • “Ten Speed (of God’s Blood…)” – Coheed and Cambria – $1.99

    PS3 Themes

    • PixelJunk Monsters Theme 2

    PS3 Wallpaper

    • PixelJunk Monsters Wallpaper

    Game Videos

    • Battlefield: BC Haggard’s Blog
    • Go! Sports Skydiving Trailer

    Movie Trailers

    • Prince Caspian Trailer
    • Prom Night Trailer
    • Across the Universe Trailer
    • Daddy Day Camp Trailer