AUCKLAND, Tuesday, 20 April 2010 – Sony Computer Entertainment New Zealand (SCENZ) announced today that a TV Ondemand service is now available on the PlayStation®3 console via partnership with TVNZ. PlayStation®3 (PS3™) owners in New Zealand can now watch TVNZ Ondemand programmes when they want and how they want from the comfort of their lounge on a big screen TV.

The TVNZ Ondemand icon will now appear on the PS3™ Xross Media Bar (XMB) to enable PS3™ owners to access the online, streamed catch up TV services.

SCENZ’s Director of Sales and Marketing, David Hine says “The PlayStation®3 is already a leader in home entertainment.  The addition of catch up TV services with TVNZ Ondemand further enhances this position.  It is one more reason why the PS3™ is far more than a gaming console. We are very proud to be associated with TVNZ as they are clearly a leader in their field and are continually looking to develop their offering.”

“With the new TVNZ Ondemand service we now offer Kiwis even more choice, which really underpins the PS3™ as the best value home entertainment solution; Featuring games, Blu-ray movies, surfing the net, music, photos the PlayStation®Network and now TV, there is something for the whole family.  The game is just the start!”

TVNZ Ondemand

With over 105,000 PS3™ consoles in homes across the country PlayStation® offers TVNZ greater exposure to viewers for its Ondemand TV services. PS3™ brings the convenience of ‘catch up TV’, traditionally enjoyed through a PC, to the comfort and convenience of the living room TV, for a more immersive entertainment experience.

TVNZ Ondemand is the first catch up TV service to be optimised for viewing on the living room TV through PS3™. A free internet broadcasting service that offers a range of TVNZ programmes to be streamed in high resolution, it features premium local and international shows like Go Girls, Shortland Street, MasterChef, The Apprentice, Lost, The Pacific, Big Bang Theory and Grey’s Anatomy. TVNZ Ondemand currently has around 150 series available on demand and last month delivered more than 1.5 million episodes to 316,000 visitors.

Rick Ellis, CEO, TVNZ says, “This is a huge leap forward for us in our ambition to see TVNZ content ‘Inspiring New Zealanders on every screen’, which has been our vision for the company for the last four years.”

The combination of the PS3 system and PlayStation Eye camera detects the precise movement, angle, and absolute position in 3D space of PlayStation Move motion controller, allowing users to intuitively play the game as if they themselves are within the game. PlayStation Move motion controller delivers unmatched accuracy through its advanced motion sensors, including a three-axis gyroscope, a three-axis accelerometer, and a terrestrial magnetic field sensor, as well as a color-changing sphere that is tracked by PlayStation Eye camera. Through PlayStation Move system, both fast and subtle motion can be detected, whether the user is swinging a tennis racket, or painting with a brush. With PlayStation Move motion controller, users can provide direct input through action buttons and an analog trigger, while receiving physical feedback from rumble functionality and visual feedback from the sphere’s ability to display a variety of different colors. Furthermore, PlayStation Eye camera can capture the player’s voice or image, enabling augmented reality experiences.

The newly announced PlayStation Move sub-controller is a one-handed controller, developed to further expand the game play options that PlayStation Move games can offer^*2. PlayStation Move sub-controller features a sleek curved design that pairs with the motion controller and comes with an analog stick and directional buttons that allow users to easily control the game when moving characters or choosing a direction. Like all other Wireless Controllers for the PS3 system, it comes with a built in lithium-ion rechargeable battery as well as Bluetooth® technology, enabling the controller to transfer the input information wirelessly to the PS3 system without a cable. PlayStation Move motion controller and sub-controller will further broaden the gaming experience on the PS3 system for all genres, from games that use one motion controller to games that use both controllers.

19 year old Wellington student, Tony Autridge, has been eliminated along with nine others from the GT Academy in Silverstone, UK.

Despite his early elimination, Tony describes his time at the GT Academy as a once in a lifetime opportunity that he will never forget.

“Who would have thought that playing a PS3 and entering the GT Academy competition would lead me all the way to Silverstone? I have learnt invaluable skills – it was like starting at the very highest level of motorsport, constantly learning about driving techniques on and off the track,” says Tony.

During the five days that Tony was at the Academy, he was involved in a rigorous racing boot-camp with nineteen other competitors from around the world. Finalists were tested and measured on driving skills through a series of challenges which included handling Nissan cars in both the virtual and real world.

Honing competitors’ driving skills was not the only focus of the demanding boot-camp: mental and physical tests were also undertaken to equip competitors with the right mindset and attitude to succeed in the racing world.

Tony was able to experience this race-winning attitude first-hand, as he worked alongside former F1 boss Eddie Jordan, two-time Nürburgring 24-Hour winner Sabine Schmitz and Formula One and Le Mans 24 Hour winner Johnny Herbert.

Whilst Tony says that leaving the Academy was difficult and a touch disappointing, he is looking forward to seeing his family and planning the rest of the year after his plane touches down on Friday.

“I know quite a lot of people would have given anything to be in my shoes – I got to train with the best the world has to offer, I learnt a lot and I got to drive some pretty amazing cars – it’s been a bit like a dream really,” says Tony.

David Hine, Director of Sales and Marketing for Sony Computer Entertainment New Zealand is thrilled with Tony’s involvement at GT Academy.

“With over 1.1 million people having tried out for the GT Academy globally, Tony has achieved something that only a handful can lay claim to. This is an outstanding achievement for New Zealand’s first representative at the GT Academy, and we once again congratulate Tony on representing New Zealand from the living room to the racing track”, says David Hine.

“We thought that the Orange Box didn’t put our best foot forward with the PS3 community. We don’t want to do something like that again on the PS3. We want to give PS3 owners the best possible experience.

“Some of that will come from us learning and getting better. Before we can go onto the PS3 again, we want to make sure we’re better at developing for it.”

The PS3 version of The Orange Box – a huge commercial and critical success on Xbox 360 – was criticised by some quarters after Valve outsourced its development to EA.

The game was marked down by reviewers – with frame rate issues becoming a common bugbear.

To further extend the experience, Visceral plans to release a series of downloadable content packs and expansions beginning in February. In March, Visceral will release Dark Forest, a prequel level that tells the story of Dante’s journey home and features new enemies, puzzles and relics. In April, players can download Trials of St. Lucia, a full expansion to the game that offers a co-operative multiplayer mode, a new playable character, and an in-game combat editor. The easy-to-use combat editor allows players to create custom combat trails, and then upload and share their creations online. In addition to Dark Forest and Trails of Saint Lucia, Dante’s Inferno will offer downloadable packs containing souls, skins, relics and magics to further boost players on their journeys through Hell.

“We cannot wait for players to experience the terrifying and exhilarating vision of Hell that awaits in Dante’s Inferno,” said Jonathan Knight, Executive Producer for Dante’s Inferno. “This team did an amazing job adapting a 700 year-old piece of literature and creating a captivating, thrilling, grotesquely beautiful experience that both gamers and literature fans will enjoy.  And to top it off, we are thrilled to bring online multiplayer and content creation to the game in April.”

Dante’s Inferno is set in Dante Alighieri’s vividly imagined nine circles of Hell – limbo, lust, gluttony, greed, anger, heresy, violence, fraud and treachery. Throughout this journey, players take Dante on an epic descent through hell, battling their way through a terrifying gauntlet of demons to reclaim the soul of his beloved Beatrice. At a blazing-fast 60 frames per second, each circle features unique environments, all new creatures, terrifying demons and story elements that are scored distinctly to set the tone that fits each circle of sinners.

Dante’s Inferno is rated R16 in New Zealand. Dante’s Inferno will be available for the PlayStation Portable on February 26^th. For more information on Dante’s Inferno, please follow Dante’s Inferno on Twitter at www.twitter.com/danteteam, and visit the game’s official web site at www.dantesinferno.com.

The question posed was, “I was highly anticipating the release of The Ballad Of Gay Tony, but just found out that it is only on the XBox360. I am certain that I am not the first person to ask this, but how come it wasn’t released on the PS3?”

Which Rockstar replied, “We know that it continues to be an often-asked question – and believe us, we understand the frustration of PS3 owners like yourself who haven’t been able to play any of our most recent releases. All we can say is that we at Rockstar promise to be very good to you with our releases in 2010. Please stay with us and stay tuned!”

There’s also news on the oft hidden L.A. Noire. The game was originally presumed to be a PlayStation 3 exclusive, but with Rockstar handing Agent to Sony, this game is expected to be for the Xbox 360 and PC also. The question for the past year or so was whether the game actually exists.

A question asked, “Your latest word on L.A. Noire is that it is coming along “splendidly” and that we can expect more details very soon, but that was in September. I’ve been anticipating this game for ages now and I was wondering if you can provide any new information or when in fact you’ll publicly provide more information. By the way, is it still on the PS3?”

And Rockstar replied: “There will be something great to see soon – a proper in-depth look at the game and why it is so ground breaking and innovative, both in terms of the game’s design and the amazing new technology to support it.  Expect to see a long-awaited reveal via a big cover story next

Shower cutscenes may depict a male character’s bare butt; if players control the female character, her breasts and buttocks are also briefly visible. A more prolonged instance of nudity occurs during a female character’s investigation of a seedy club owner: After getting him alone in a room, the player-character is asked to strip; at gunpoint, she dances topless in front of the man. The game also contains a prompt-based love scene (kissing and rubbing) in which players match on-screen cues to angle characters’ mouths, remove shirts and blouses, unhook bras, and lower to the floor; a woman briefly appears topless amidst the dark shadows and heavy breathing—actual sex is never depicted as the camera fades to black.

RATING INFORMATION
Heavy Rain Platform: PlayStation 3 Share | Rating: Mature Content descriptors: Blood, Intense Violence, Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Use of Drugs Rating summary: In this cinema-style action game, players control one of four main characters whose lives are altered by events surrounding the investigation of the Origami Killer, a serial killer who kidnaps children in public places. Gameplay consists of controlling a character in a fully interactive environment; choosing a variety of action-, dialogue-, and decision-paths based on on-screen prompts; and watching as cinematic cutscenes progress the somewhat dark (film noir-style) storyline. Players may encounter victims at various crime scenes: a woman (fully clothed) in a bathtub tainted with blood; a child under forensic examination (though the scene is largely narrative and clinical, with no depiction of victim’s face or signs of trauma). More direct depictions of violence include the following: a woman squirming and screaming as she catches on fire; a man impaled in the chest with a power drill; a female attacked in her own home by masked male assailants (the scene is prolonged); and a man shot (shown in slow-motion) by police officers. Blood sometimes accompanies the acts of violence—whether triggered or viewed passively. The most intense instance of violence occurs during a “lizard trial” sequence in which players’ character, Ethan, is forced to cut off a segment of his own finger to save his son’s life: Several instruments (saw, scissors, knife, etc.) can be used to remove the finger; and though the camera pans away from the actual dismemberment—instead the blade, the blood, the scream—the scene’s poring focus on Ethan’s psychological tenor/terror (the dread deliberation before the cut) may be unnerving for some. The game contains sexual content and nudity. Shower cutscenes may depict a male character’s bare butt; if players control the female character, her breasts and buttocks are also briefly visible. A more prolonged instance of nudity occurs during a female character’s investigation of a seedy club owner: After getting him alone in a room, the player-character is asked to strip; at gunpoint, she dances topless in front of the man. The game also contains a prompt-based love scene (kissing and rubbing) in which players match on-screen cues to angle characters’ mouths, remove shirts and blouses, unhook bras, and lower to the floor; a woman briefly appears topless amidst the dark shadows and heavy breathing—actual sex is never depicted as the camera fades to black.

Here is the full change list, please let us know if we’ve missed anything and we will update as necessary:

• Added the ability to access some Facebook features from the XMB.
• Added the option to automatically send updates to the user’s Facebook profile when Trophies are unlocked.
• Added the option to automatically send updates to the user’s Facebook profile when items are downloaded from the PlayStation Store.
• Added the option to automatically send updates to the user’s Facebook profile for in-game events (in compatible games)

• The [Friends] list has been redesigned.
• The user is now able to change the color of their [Profile].
• Expanded [Photo] folders and playlists are now displayed in a grid, rather than a list.
• Added RTVE, Antena 3 and LaSexta catch-up TV website shortcuts for users in Spain under [TV].
• Added NOS catch-up TV website shortcut for users in the Netherlands under [TV].
• Added AXN and Animax catch-up TV website shortcuts for users in Czech, Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania and Slovakia under [TV].
• Added TVNZ catch-up TV website shortcut for users in New Zealand under [TV].
• Added [Facebook] menu item under [Account Management] allowing the user to change Facebook sharing and account settings.
• Improved the performance of the Internet Browser

We’ll update as additional features are revealed.

[Update] Many users are complaining of slow downloading of the latest firmware update. If you’d rather download it to your PC and transfer it to your PS3 click here.