The updated PSP-3000 will roll out on October 14th, and will feature a brand new LCD display that is said to come with a wider color gamut as well as anti-reflection technology, allowing you to enjoy a better gaming experience even when you’re out in the bright sun. Interestingly enough, the PSP-3000 will now adopt a microphone just like how the original DS does, so does this mean we will see a quirky use for this feature, or will it be used more for VoIP applications in Wi-Fi areas? At last, in-game multiplayer verbal communication is a possibility with the microphone. Other than those improvements, everything else remains the same as the PSP-2000 (Slim & Lite edition). You can choose to pick up the PSP 4GB Memory Entertainment Pack which retails for $199.99 and comes with the PSP-3000, a 4GB Memory Stick PRO Duo and a PLAYSTATION Network Voucher.

Would you be upgrading your PSP if you already have one?

Press Release
[ Sony PSP gets third iteration copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

The 10″ wheel rotates 200 degrees and has analog gas and brake controls. Need For Speed Undercover will be the first game to take advantage of the force feedback capability! The Speed Force Wireless will hit the stores in November for $99.99 USD, unsure about date of availability in the UK though, presumably before Christmas time!

Here’s the official word just for completeness…

LOGITECH INTRODUCES FIRST FORCE FEEDBACK WHEEL FOR WII
Logitech Speed Force Wireless Racing Wheel Works With EA’s Highly Anticipated Racing Game Need for Speed™ Undercover

FREMONT, Calif. — Aug. 21, 2008 — To give you a more realistic driving experience on your Wii™, Logitech (SWX: LOGN) (NASDAQ: LOGI) today announced the Logitech® Speed Force Wireless™ racing wheel – the first force feedback wheel for the popular gaming platform. Licensed by Nintendo®, Logitech’s newest force feedback wheel works with Electronic Arts’ Need for Speed™ Undercover and paves the way for more force feedback racing titles on the Wii.
“We’re excited to team up with Nintendo and Electronic Arts to bring driving realism to the Wii and Need for Speed Undercover,” said Ruben Mookerjee, Logitech’s director of product marketing for gaming. “Logitech has been at the forefront of force feedback technology for more than a decade, and we’re confident that our driving platform will be an indispensable part of the racing experience on Wii as more titles that support it become available.”

“As the world’s most popular racing franchise, Need for Speed is committed to delivering players superior racing experiences,” said Larry LaPierre, Vice President at Black Box, developer of Need for Speed. “This November, Wii gamers can fully experience the thrill of the chase in Need for Speed Undercover with Logitech’s force feedback realism.”

Easy to set up and store, the Logitech Speed Force Wireless features a one-piece design that is convenient to use whether you’re sitting on your couch, arm chair or living room floor. The built-in gas and brake controls are located on the wheel itself and the expandable lap rest is easily adjusted – allowing for comfortable game play without the need to use a table or a desk. Plus, familiar Wii controls make navigating game menus a snap.

To help you minimize clutter, the Logitech Speed Force Wireless eliminates the console cable. With Logitech’s 2.4 GHz wireless technology, you can enjoy lag-free racing from up to 30 feet away from the console. To start racing, just connect the USB receiver to the Wii, plug in the wheel’s power cord, put in Need for Speed: Undercover, adjust the lap rest to a comfortable position and wait for the race to begin. There’s no mounting or assembly involved. And when you’re ready to put it away, the USB receiver can be stowed in a convenient compartment on the bottom of the wheel.

Logitech Force Feedback Technology
Having introduced its first force feedback products in 1998, the company has designed 19 models of force feedback wheels. And more than 100 racing titles have supported Logitech force feedback technology on a variety of game platforms.

When you’re playing a racing game, standard controllers don’t let you feel all the excitement that makes racing with force feedback technology the closest you can get to the real thing. Force feedback, unlike vibration feedback or rumble technology, creates directionally precise, tactile feedback that accurately simulates forces experienced in the game. Through the use of advanced software and electronics, force feedback moves a steering wheel as if the device were subject to real external forces.

About Need for Speed Undercover

Need for Speed Undercover takes players back to the franchise’s roots and re-introduces break-neck cop chases and spectacular highway battles. Players discover a world of high-stakes and high-speed action in some of the world’s hottest cars. The all-new Heroic Driving Engine propels the action forward as players experience the dramatic story through spectacular Hollywood-style live-action in-game movies.

Pricing and Availability
The Logitech Speed Force Wireless racing wheel is expected to be available in the U.S. and Europe beginning in November for a suggested retail price of $99.99 (U.S.).

Need for Speed Undercover is being developed by Black Box in Vancouver, B.C. and is slated to ship this November. It will be available for Xbox 360™ video game and entertainment system, PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system, and Wii™ as well as the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, Nintendo DS™, PSP® (PlayStation® Portable) handheld entertainment system, PC and mobile. More information can be found at www.needforspeed.com.

Performance

• Full-featured racing wheel: Provides a realistic driving experience.
• 2.4 GHz wireless technology: Delivers exceptional control from up to 30 feet (10 m) from the console.
• Force feedback: Recreates bumps, crashes, and traction loss with jaw-dropping realism.

Convenience

• One-piece design: Reduces clutter and makes setup and storage easy.
• Expandable lap rest: Allows for comfortable game play without being bound to a table or desk.
• Built-in gas and brake controls: Puts precise, fast action within easy reach.
• AC power supply included: No batteries necessary.

Compatibility

• Licensed for Wii™: Ensures both design and technical compatibility.
• Works exclusively with: Need for Speed™: Undercover.

[via Logitech]

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Latest Wii gadgets: Check out Logitech’s Speed Force Wireless racing wheel…

New Playstation Portable Comes With Advanced High Contrast LCD Screen - Sony Press Release, 08.21.2008

It's a little weird looking, to tell the truth. The placement above the buttons and D-Pad seem like they'd require you to re-grip the controller every time you want to use it. And one of the touted features is puzzling: apparently, the keypad can be toggled into a touch pad mode, where moving your finger along the keys moves a mouse on the screen. That's... interesting... but surely one of the analog nubs would have worked just as well, if not better.

There's no price yet, but it's due to be released in November.

Source: Joystiq

Sony has announced the semi-successor to the Playstation Portable, the PSP 3000, which will go on sale in Europe on October 15th for €200. The current PSP will remain on sale.

So what's new? Not much. The screen has been improved, and features an anti-reflective coating, higher contrast and a wider color gamut. This should translate into sharper, brighter and more colorful images. There is also a built in microphone to make Skype calls easier, and a tweak to the video-out socket, "which will allow new PSP users to enjoy games on non-progressive TVs."

Perhaps most significant of all are the two new colors Sony has invented for the new handheld, two colors which are likely to be the only visual differences noticed by the casual viewer between the 3000 and the current Slim'n'light model. In addition to boring old "Piano Black", the PSP 3000 can be had in either "Pearl White" or "Mystic Silver".

The €200 buys you the console and a game (or the Go! Communications software). Alternatively, you could spend the same €200 on, say, an iPhone, and get a slew of extra features. Just saying.

Press release [PR Newswire]

LOGITECH INTRODUCES FIRST FORCE FEEDBACK WHEEL FOR WII
Logitech Speed Force Wireless Racing Wheel Works With EA's Highly Anticipated Racing Game Need for Speed™ Undercover

FREMONT, Calif. — Aug. 21, 2008 — To give you a more realistic driving experience on your Wii™, Logitech (SWX: LOGN) (NASDAQ: LOGI) today announced the Logitech® Speed Force Wireless™ racing wheel – the first force feedback wheel for the popular gaming platform. Licensed by Nintendo®, Logitech's newest force feedback wheel works with Electronic Arts' Need for Speed™ Undercover and paves the way for more force feedback racing titles on the Wii.
"We're excited to team up with Nintendo and Electronic Arts to bring driving realism to the Wii and Need for Speed Undercover," said Ruben Mookerjee, Logitech's director of product marketing for gaming. "Logitech has been at the forefront of force feedback technology for more than a decade, and we're confident that our driving platform will be an indispensable part of the racing experience on Wii as more titles that support it become available."

"As the world's most popular racing franchise, Need for Speed is committed to delivering players superior racing experiences," said Larry LaPierre, Vice President at Black Box, developer of Need for Speed. "This November, Wii gamers can fully experience the thrill of the chase in Need for Speed Undercover with Logitech's force feedback realism."

Easy to set up and store, the Logitech Speed Force Wireless features a one-piece design that is convenient to use whether you're sitting on your couch, arm chair or living room floor. The built-in gas and brake controls are located on the wheel itself and the expandable lap rest is easily adjusted – allowing for comfortable game play without the need to use a table or a desk. Plus, familiar Wii controls make navigating game menus a snap.

To help you minimize clutter, the Logitech Speed Force Wireless eliminates the console cable. With Logitech's 2.4 GHz wireless technology, you can enjoy lag-free racing from up to 30 feet away from the console. To start racing, just connect the USB receiver to the Wii, plug in the wheel's power cord, put in Need for Speed: Undercover, adjust the lap rest to a comfortable position and wait for the race to begin. There's no mounting or assembly involved. And when you're ready to put it away, the USB receiver can be stowed in a convenient compartment on the bottom of the wheel.

Logitech Force Feedback Technology
Having introduced its first force feedback products in 1998, the company has designed 19 models of force feedback wheels. And more than 100 racing titles have supported Logitech force feedback technology on a variety of game platforms.

When you're playing a racing game, standard controllers don't let you feel all the excitement that makes racing with force feedback technology the closest you can get to the real thing. Force feedback, unlike vibration feedback or rumble technology, creates directionally precise, tactile feedback that accurately simulates forces experienced in the game. Through the use of advanced software and electronics, force feedback moves a steering wheel as if the device were subject to real external forces.

About Need for Speed Undercover

Need for Speed Undercover takes players back to the franchise's roots and re-introduces break-neck cop chases and spectacular highway battles. Players discover a world of high-stakes and high-speed action in some of the world's hottest cars. The all-new Heroic Driving Engine propels the action forward as players experience the dramatic story through spectacular Hollywood-style live-action in-game movies.

Pricing and Availability
The Logitech Speed Force Wireless racing wheel is expected to be available in the U.S. and Europe beginning in November for a suggested retail price of $99.99 (U.S.).

Need for Speed Undercover is being developed by Black Box in Vancouver, B.C. and is slated to ship this November. It will be available for Xbox 360™ video game and entertainment system, PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system, and Wii™ as well as the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, Nintendo DS™, PSP® (PlayStation® Portable) handheld entertainment system, PC and mobile. More information can be found at www.needforspeed.com.

Once upon a time there was a action/puzzle game called Qix. It was a good and noble game and it met another action/puzzle game called Arkanoid. These two Taito games fell in love and a child game was conceived and born. That game would come to be known as the arcade game Volfied aka Ultimate Qix or Qix Neo. Ok, so maybe that was just a weird dream I had.

For those of you who don't know, Qix is a game that spawned several clones and variants including Microsoft's game JezzBall originally for Windows 3.1. The core gameplay consists of drawing lines via a ship that is only able to travel safely (for the most part) on the perimeter of the playfield. In each level, a large enemy moves, often erratically, through the playfield. The player must then venture into the playfield as they draw a line behind themself. Upon returning to the perimeter again, the space within the lines drawn will then fill in thus reducing the size of the playfield as well as altering its shape. This is made difficult by the increasingly cramped enemy who will instantly kill you upon touching you or your unfinished line. After capturing approximately 75% of the playfield you have completed that level.

It sounds a bit complicated in reading it but is actually quite simple. This is where Volfied comes in with a cool futuristic sci-fi shmup-like aesthetic, more enemies with bosses, and power-ups. Actually, a similar game called Super Qix came first (Qix had some other sequels) but I feel it's just not quite as good. The Qix games have never quite had enough to really hold me, but Volfied added just enough to make me a definite fan.

Several console and computer ports exist, most of which are fairly arcade faithful except for the Genesis version (called Ultimate Qix) and the Japan-only TurboGrafx-16/PC Engine version. Qix Neo for the PlayStation is my favorite port as it features a cool enhanced "Arrange Mode".

Volfied is yet another lesser-known arcade classic that deserves more attention. What's the deal Arkanoid? Why must you hog the limelight?

For more information, see MobyGames, Wikipedia or the Killer List of Video Games

During the Games Convention in Leipzig, Sony announced a new accessory for the PlayStation 3. This little keyboard snaps onto any SIXAXIS or DUALSHOCK 3 controller to make inputting text easier. The Wireless Keypad accessory is quite similar to what Microsoft rolled out for their Xbox 360 controller over a year ago, however it’s got a few extra features. In addition to making it easier to chat with others and use the browser, it also features a few shortcuts and a special touchpad mode. The shortcuts allow quickly accessing the friends list and message box through the XMB while in games. And the touchapad mode turns the entire face of the keypad into a touchpad to control the pointer when using the browser.

The Wireless Keypad doesn’t seem to communicate with the controller at all, but rather just clips onto it. It has to be paired directly with the PS3 using a USB cable the same way a controller is. And it’s just using the standard Bluetooth 2.0 technology that’s built into the PS3, so no additional equipment is necessary. One bummer might be that this QWERTY keyboard doesn’t seem to be backlit, which the Xbox accessory does. According to the press release the keyboard will become available in North America in November, however pricing hasn’t yet been mentioned.

Links: PlayStation 3 Wireless Keypad

While retaining the same slim size, it now has a new LCD display with a better contrast ratio and can produce more vibrant colors. One major problem with the previous PSPs was reflectiveness of the glossy screen. Seeing anything out doors was almost impossible. The PSP-3000 now has “anti-reflection” technology to make it easier to view under direct sunlight. The other hardware feature that’s been added is the built-in microphone. Previously you had to purchase an accessory to be able to speak to others when using Skype or in a game. With this upgrade, you’ll have a fully functioning VoIP device at all times without any extra cables or headsets. (Just waiting on the webcam at this point!)

It is also expected that Sony will be rolling out some new firmware upgrades with new features in the near future. Unfortunately some new features will probably not be entirely backwards compatible. Sony has officially stated that the the price of the new version will be kept the same, $169 (MSRP). Some new PSP Entertainment Packs with a movie, a game, and a 1GB Memory Stick will become available later this year. This isn’t really that great of an upgrade, but it’s worth mentioning since it’s retaining the same price!

Links: US PlayStation Portable
Related: PSP-2000 Info