Doing their part to help ensure an adequate supply of programmers on hand to code for PlayStation platforms for the foreseeable future, Sony proudly unveiled their newest tool: the PlayStation-edu program. 

In essence, it provides Universities and Colleges with the one previously hard to secure item that computer science departments would need to have on hand if they intend on mass producing an army of PlayStation devotees eager to program for the various platforms in Sony's arsenal -- the development kits.

As Sony points out, schools interested in taming the complex architecture of the PlayStation 2 and PSP (Why no PS3 love?) need only apply for the program, agree to some legal stuff, and of course, arrange to pay for the hardware. In return, Sony will give you everything you need to get started: lots of documentation, demo codes and samples, and even access to a web site, where students can interact with other students enrolled in the various programs. Interested?

[Via PlayStation.Blog] 

If you are the type that prefers the collector's editions in lieu of normal game packaging, then you are going to love what the guys (and gals) behind Fallout 3 have in store for you. In order to satisfy those of you who want the most out of the game as possible, Bethesda Softworks has teamed up with Amazon.com to bring you the exclusive Fallout 3 Survival Edition.

If you are willing to part with just under $130 for the Xbox 360/PS3 version, or $119.99 for the PC version, you will get everything that comes with the collector's edition of the game, along with a life-size replica of the Pip-Boy 3000 -- the wrist-mounted device favored by characters in the game. In other words, you can expect all of this as well:

• The Fallout 3 game

• Customized metal Vault-Tec lunch box

• Vault Boy Bobblehead

• 'The Art of Fallout 3' hardcover book

• 'The Making of Fallout 3' DVD

If you are interested in finding out more about the game and how this version came to be, look no further than the developer's diary right here. As for the pre-orders, Amazon has dedicated an all-in-one page for you to gawk at on their site. Plan on taking the plunge, or will the regular version suit your needs just fine?

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Just when we though it was safe to assume that EA had finally domesticated the Sony beast and ironed out any remaining issues they had with programming for the PS3, comes the unfortunate news that Red Alert 3 (for the PS3) has been shelved -- while all resources are diverted to the Xbox 360 and PC versions of the game.

This news isn't much of a shock considering the recent walkthrough trailer for the game doesn't list it as a PS3 game anyway, but it is sort of odd for EA to deny the delay to CVG in the morning, only to have a spokesperson spill their guts about it a few hours later.

Nonetheless, it would have been nice for one of those EA RTS games to finally settle in on a Sony console sooner, rather than later. Sorry, my friends, but your hopes of finally making use of that keyboard and mouse setup -- which you've been chomping at the bit to use -- have permanently temporarily fallen by the wayside. Then again, was anybody even planning on buying this game for anything but the PC in the first place?

[Thanks, Justin] 

Even the one-time king of the console makers, Sony, wasn't able to do it, so why does Forbes think that the iPhone can do the impossible and dethrone Nintendo on the handheld front? Well, we don't know either, but here's what those "in the know" have to say about it in this excerpt from an article called 'Why Apple Could Kill The Nintendo DS':

Apple is the first to master a pair of tricks that have made Nintendo's latest products so compelling--a touch-screen interface and the ability to pick up on motion. The key difference: Unlike Nintendo, which has created a gaming console with a motion-sensitive controller and a touch-sensitive handheld gaming system, Apple has crammed both capabilities into its iPhone and iPod Touch… The ability to pour fresh software into the iPhone, wirelessly, at the touch of a button already has game developers interested...

Word on the street has it that Apple is set to announce the "App Store" on Monday, with games (Sega, Ubisoft, and EA appear to be on board) expected to fetch around $25 a pop. However, it's not just the price of the games that should be at the forefront of Steve Jobs' mind -- it's the plausibility of the whole thing.

We're still trying to figure out how they intend to overcome the DS's massive install base of 73 million in the first place -- especially considering that they intend to go against a (highly successful) dedicated gaming machine that doesn't have a bunch of monthly fees tacked on.

[Forbes via MCV -- Thanks, Adam and Justin!] 

As a result of Eurogamer's live interview with Insomniac's Ted Price yesterday, we now know a few more things about Resistance 2 that we didn't have concrete answers on before. Although he didn't want to commit to whether or not the game would require yet another mandatory install to your PS3's hard drive (too early to tell, by his calculations), he did offer up this nice tidbit about the finished product not having any loading screens:

We do have streaming of textures and other assets now. Not only does this improve the overall look but it cuts down on load times. In fact, you shouldn't notice any loading screens in R2. We've also added a lot more tech-wise - detail maps, new lighting system, new effects system, better normal mapping, better specular response, redone shaders and lots of behind-the-scenes stuff that makes the game really stand out aesthetically.

For those number crunchers out there who are most concerned about frames per second and resolutions when it comes to shooters, Price said the team is looking to release the game at a smooth 30fps (worked for the last one, didn't it?) with a final resolution of 720p. This is probably lower than what some of you were expecting, but Price stands by his word that the team is hard at work to make sure that when the time comes to finally play Resistance 2, those figures will be the last thing on your mind.

[Thanks, Adam!]

With each passing generation of consoles, cutting-edge graphics have been the delight of many. Unfortunately, there have been some nasty side effects for others: those still living in the standard-definition land of TV viewing have had to squint their way through countless games when it comes to text, maps, or both.

I've never been the type to question progress, yet I have wondered on numerous occasions why some developers have seemingly forgotten that not all of their customers have taken the high-definition plunge -- regardless of whether or not their consoles have that capability. Whatever happened to making sure that a product was the best that it could be for all who played it?

Anyway, we can take solace in knowing that at least one game (Dead Space) will cater to the whole, instead of the few. According to MTV's Multiplayer blog, EA has been making sure to include various SDTVs in the testing process while developing the game. As someone who still has a few of these around the house myself, my hat goes off to the team for doing this. Now if only they would pass this on to everyone else, I (and many others) wouldn't have to worry about repeating that Dead Rising experience ever again. 

Thanks to a recent announcement by Sony regarding the PS3's upcoming version of BioShock, it seems as if future fans of the game (along with those of us destined to buy it all over again) can rest easy knowing that the tools are set in place for a smooth conversion from the Xbox 360/PC original.

Sony is still carefully opting out of divulging information regarding what new perks PS3 owners can expect from the game, but they were quick to point out that the 2K teams (Boston, Marin, and Australia) are not going it alone on this one.

An unknown 3rd-party developer -- with proven coding skills for the PS3 -- has been asked to join the lineup, which bodes well for the game. The question is...which one? Regardless of who it is, one thing is without question: BioShock is one of those games that leaves a lasting impression on whoever plays it, which can only mean one thing -- the PS3 is in for one hell of a treat.

[Via CVG -- Thanks, Adam!] 

It's still a rumor at this point, but the mighty Internet has been not so quietly rumbling about something called in-game XMB, and its connection to every firmware update the PS3 has ever had. Did you actually think that this one would be any different?

The latest word on the street has it that firmware update version 2.40 is the magic number -- and we can expect it as soon as June. According to sources quoted by IGN, that universal friend's list, trophies, and in-game messaging that PS3 owners have been jonesing over since the console was first released, will soon be a reality.

Keep in mind that we've all been down this road many times before, so keep your enthusiasm to a minimum until something concrete is announced by Sony. However, we invite you to think about the timing of this whole thing. With Metal Gear Solid 4's June release date -- Could you think of a better time than now for Sony to step up to the plate deliver a nice two-pronged attack? We can't either.

[Thanks, Adam] 

Looking back, it's all to easy to point to the launch of the PlayStation 3 as the low point in Sony's otherwise domineering position in the console landscape. However, it's a bit of uncharted waters to hear the CEO of Sony himself, Howard Stringer, finally admit to the bleak outlook of the PS3 at the time.

While speaking at the Wall Street Journal's D6 conference, Stringer commented that although the PS3 seems to be smelling like a rose at the moment, it wasn't all that long ago when the console was very much on the ropes -- and basically on life-support. Thanks to games like GTA IV, and other unmentioned titles that tapped into the PS3's powerful architecture (Uncharted comes to mind), things have been on the up and up for them ever since.

That, and the eventual success of the Blu-ray format, kept the PS3 alive long enough for developers to release the games that would make the console relevant in the eyes of consumers. All too aware of what was riding on the battle against HD-DVD (and Sony's previous record of proprietary formats), Stringer joked that had Blu-ray lost this battle, "Betamax 2" would be etched on his tombstone.

For once, it's nice to see Sony admit the obvious, and having it come from the top-tier is a great start. Let's just hope that they keep this information (their missteps) filed away in the back of their minds, so that we don't end up with a repeat of a part of what nearly killed a dominant brand in the first place -- smoke and mirrors.

[Via GameDaily] 

The word "delay" has been a constant companion to the PlayStation 3. To the Sony faithful, it's more of a continuous thorn in their sides, and is often mentioned alongside phrases that contain strings of painful words such as "tricky to program for," and "development problems."  Familiar as that may be, it isn't always the case. In fact, with one highly anticipated game, it's quite the exception. According to SCEA's Ron Eagle, Killzone 2's delay is more of a strategic move on the part of Sony management:

Just wanted to add a quick reply on the 'delay' of Killzone 2 to Feb 2009. To be clear, there is nothing wrong or causing a delay to the development of the title. We (SECA) had to look at the fall calendar with SOCOM, LittleBigPlanet, MotorStorm: Pacific Rift, Resistance 2, plus some PSN titles and make a decision where each game should come out. Killzone 2 was moved to Feb 2009 to make sure we didn't have three shooters in the marketplace competing for retail dollars during the same holiday season. The game will be great and it will be out in Feb 2009 in both Europe and North America.

It's great to hear that Killzone 2 is coming along as planned, and extra time to polish up the game sure can't hurt, but a delay is still just that... a delay. Did the suits at Sony make the right decision by deciding to release the game after the crowded holiday market, or should that fate have been reserved for something a little less Killzone?

[Via CVG -- Thanks, Adam!] 

It has been ten years in the making, but that doesn't make the milestone any less spectacular to Sony and prized developer Polyphony Digital, as both proudly announced that the Gran Turismo games as a whole have shipped more than 50 million units worldwide.

It has to be mentioned that this number includes GT 5 Prologue, which accounted for a respectable 2 million or so units shipped/downloaded on its own. Speaking of Prologue, I'm curious as to how many of our readers decided to bite the bullet and pick up the enhanced demo game for themselves -- in lieu of waiting for the full-fledged version of GT 5.

Also, I can't help but wonder: Did some guy named Niko (and his cousin Roman) momentarily displace Gran Turismo's comfortable spot in your PS3's slot? Inquiring minds want to know. Anyway, congratulations go out to Sony and PD for reaching this milestone. The games have been nothing short of masterpieces, and both companies certainly deserve any accolades for their part in it.

Full press release, after the jump: 

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Just when you thought the landscape was littered with enough videogame-inspired movies as it were, along comes news that Universal Studios is conspiring with 2K Games to produce yet another one -- BioShock. At the helm is director Gore Verbinski, who has asked playwright John Logan to join in on the fun. Of course, the triad wouldn't be complete without the inclusion of BioShock's creative director, Ken Levine, who has been serving as Verbinski's consultant for the upcoming movie. So why does Gore feel the need to fill Hollywood's Rapture void?

"I think the whole Utopia-gone-wrong story that's cleverly unveiled to players is just brimming with cinematic potential. Of all the games I've played, this is one that I felt has a really strong narrative."

We couldn't agree with you more, Mr. Verbinski. If ever there was a reason to own an Xbox 360, BioShock would be it. Oh wait a minute... you're talking about turning it into a movie? It still sounds like another potential hit in the making, but one has to wonder how they plan on getting around those interesting plot twists that most people attending the movie are likely to already know about. I guess we can bury any hopes of BioShock being the next Empire Strikes Back, but there's still a ton of potential here. Think it will work?

[Via Eurogamer -- Thanks, Adam!] 

When it was revealed last week that the big secret Ed Boon and the boys were clutching so close was the announcement of a Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe game, the reception here at Destructoid seemed lukewarm at best. Actually, scratch that... most of you pretty much panned it as a joke.

Considering that MK was single-handedly responsible for birthing the ESRB in the first place, that stance was somewhat understandable. Fatalities and blood are very much a staple of Mortal Kombat games. To learn that they may not be a part of the next installment in the series is a major disappointment. However, I just can't see how that alone is going to change the overall enjoyment of the game. All things considered, there's no reason why MK vs. DCU can't melt your face off -- even if you are a gore-whore.

Get your pitchforks ready (my saber is already drawn), and hit the jump: 

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As many of you know, the beta for Metal Gear Online is nearly upon us, and unfortunately, it hasn't exactly been as smooth as a baby's bottom -- even in the preliminary stages. If you're like me, you had the unfortunate experience of getting one of those 9-digit codes that seem to work well in the land of the rising sun, but mean little in the land of the free.

Of course, you may have found yourself in the other group of outsiders. These folks are reporting that they have a valid code, but are unable to sign up for a Konami/Game ID. The good news is that Konami and Sony are well aware of these issue, and are doing their best to make things right before the festivities begin on April 21st. The bad news is that I emailed Konami's customer support line early Thursday morning, and I'm still without a working code myself, and it's Saturday.

Not sure if the mix-up is a result of crossed wires on Konami's end, GameStop's end, or both -- but this is anything but cool. Being the trusting fellow that I am, I'm going to rest easy knowing that both companies are doing their best to make sure that the perks of pre-ordering the game are not negated by not being able to use them in fhe first place, come April 21st. Anyone out there share my sentiments?

[Update: Thanks to member Tuggie for pointing out a contact number for getting a replacement code. Worked like a charm.]