The reason behind the change? Sony had no comment on that but assured users that current PSN users will not be affected except for the name change, stressing:

“For general purposes, this account change is a change in name only. Your username or password will not change, nor are we asking you to change them.”

“This transition is based on Sony’s goal to enhance its unique digital entertainment offering. As a series of these activities Sony started last September, PlayStation Network will be aligned with Sony Entertainment Network. This helps us get closer to our goal of establishing a global comprehensive network platform of services across games, movies, music and more, all accessible from one convenient account.

As a current PSN user, I don’t really see the point for the change. Sure, the PlayStation Network is part of Sony’s Computer Entertainment’s portfolio but what gives? :/ At least when using the term PSN user, you know what the hell you are a user of, when using the new term, you’ll probably get O_O stares.

• Sony affirms that a PlayStation 4 is too soon
• Sony announces US PlayStation Vita Launch Lineup
• PS Vita will support multiple PSN accounts
• Deactivating a PlayStation System from PSN
• Sony reduces PSN Game activation limit

Shinobi and Sonic Triple Trouble will be seeing action on the 3DS soon and will be available via the 3DS eshop or the Nintendo Network (if they launched the service before the Game Gear titles are released).

source Tiny Cartridge

• Nintendo reveals Nintendo Network
• Official Metal Gear 3DS accessory pack headed for EU
• Snakeskin Metal Gear Solid Nintendo 3DS
• Nintendo NES classics now available on eShop
• Metal Gear Solid 5 Announced by Hideo Kojima

Kinda nifty considering the dual analogs on the PS2 controller provides a much more comfortable control scheme than that Nintendo 3DS and it’s attachment. Below is a video demoing the mod:

• Nintendo reveals Nintendo Network
• Wii U set for 2012 Holiday release
• [Head to Head] PlayStation Vita vs Nintendo 3DS
• Upcoming 3DS firmware adds 3D video
• Nintendo announces new console: Wii U

“I can confirm that there will be a discount on the downloadable PS Vita titles from PSN. Exact details have not yet been revealed, but be on the lookout for an announcement in the very near future.”

If this pushes through, Sony will make a killing with the memory stick prices — and it simply makes the new bundle with an included 8GB memory card for free all the more attractive. On the bright-side, it’s good for gamers migrating on to the Vita that Sony finally adopts a more reasonable pricing scheme for digital downloads… but I guess this is coming from a PC gamer spoiled by Steam’s prices. Still, cheaper PS Store prices means more sales digital copies and will likely mean that any game that heads for the Vita will be available in cartridges and the PS Store (unless that game company wants to miss out on the cheese).

source NeoGaf, ShackNews

• Sega Genesis running on the PlayStation Vita via HBL
• See why PSP games are better on the Vita
• HBL for PS Vita in the works
• PS Vita will support multiple PSN accounts
• Official PlayStation Vita US accessory pricing

Back in 2007, the Korean MMO house released an open beta build of RO2 to the Korean market.  The universally panned for numerous reasons and Gravity decided to go back to the drawing board and rebuild the game from the ground up.  The new version of the game, Ragnarok Online: The Legend of the Second, is now powered by Gamebryo (the same engine powering Bethesda’s hit games like Fallout 3, Fallout NV and Skyrim) and sports a whole new different job and leveling system.  Ragnarok Online fans may want to start looking out for groups willing to work on a translation patch soon.

Fans of the original Ragnarok Online MMO (and those still playing it) will be pleased to know that Gravity has ensured that the sequel will have maps, monsters, items, etc that will make you feel right at home (or at least make the game familiar enough to warrant a decent play through).

Gravity has announced that Ragnarok Online 2 has been licensed to 10 countries, and the localization work can start at any time.  As of press time however, the list of countries to be included in the first release wave has not been made public.

Ragnarok Online 2: Legend of the Second will go into open beta in South Korea, starting on February 22nd.

source MMOsite, GNJoy

• Steam Mobile App now in Beta for Android, iOS
• Skyrim 1.4 Beta Patch now available
• Diablo III Beta is now Live!
• StarCraft II Closed Beta Begins!
• HON (Heroes of Newerth) Beta Keys/Invites

Available via Amazon the PlayStation 3G Vita Launch Bundle includes:

• a PlayStation 3G/WiFi Vita
• a code to download a free game from the PSN
• an AT&T DataConnect Session pass
• an 8GB Memory Card

Yep, Sony throws in that $55 worth 8GB Memory Card for free while keeping the price at $299.  If you’re going for the WiFi version, this may just change your mind.  The data plan of course is not included.

source Amazon

• PS Vita will support multiple PSN accounts
• Sony defends PS Vita memory card pricing
• Official PlayStation Vita US accessory pricing
• PS Vita to support PlayStation 3 remote play feature
• Kinect gets a Holiday Bundle

Nintendo president Satoru Iwata has unveiled the first few details about the Nintendo Network, an upcoming online service that will compliment the Wii U in the same manner as Xbox Live and PSN.

Iwata’s statement regarding the Nintendo Network is as follows:

For the Nintendo 3DS and the Wii U, we will push forward to make the software compatible with Nintendo Network.

The “Community” matches of “Mario Kart 7” that I have just referred to is one example. As for the sales of downloadable add-on content, “Tobidasu Pricla Kiradeco Revolution” (Japanese title), which Nintendo has already started the download sales to the owners of the Nintendo 3DS, is the first title for which consumers can purchase and download add-on content. We will make available the downloadable add-on content for this Nintendo first-party digital download title in the near future. As for the download sales of add-on content for packaged software, it is expected that “THEATRHYTHM FINAL FANTASY,” which is scheduled to be launched on February 16 by Square Enix Co., Ltd. is going to be the first software title for which applicable music will be sold by Square Enix as downloadable add-on content. While we are on this subject, when we discuss anything relating to add-on content, our remarks are very often reported by the media by their attaching such modifiers or notes as “the ones used for social games.” Please note that Nintendo, as a software maker, does not plan to deploy businesses where our consumers cannot know in advance which item will appear as the result of their payment and they have to repeat the payments and, before they know it, they end up spending a huge amount of money in order to obtain the items they originally wanted to purchase. As a software maker, Nintendo believes that its packaged software should be sold to our consumers in a form so that the consumers will know in advance that they can enjoy playing the software they purchased just as it is. We believe that our consumers will be able to feel more secure if we offer our add-on content as an additional structure in which those who love the game will be able to enjoy it in a deeper way for a prolonged play time.

For the digital sales of the content, we are also considering the future possibility of digital distribution of packaged software, which is often referred to as “software download sales.”  This concept was built into the design of the Nintendo 3DS, and we already have the necessary infrastructure. We will prepare the same infrastructure for the Wii U. However, we have not decided the concrete timing of when we will start it. The decision must be made by taking into consideration such factors as the relationship with the wholesalers and retailers, and the best way to be embraced by consumers, as well as the environment surrounding the market and consumers, such as the required memory capacity on consumers’ SD memory cards. However, as an option for the future, the significance of this business field will increase.

Also for the Wii U, we are planning to introduce a personal account system compatible with Nintendo Network. With this, for example, the ease of using a video game system when the hardware is shared by multiple family members, which has been a challenge we needed to tackle, shall be improved, and we will also be able to construct and offer the system by combining a variety of different services and content.

Whether it’s our first-party titles or third parties’ titles, for a number of games, we will actively attempt to achieve compatibility so that our consumers can enjoy our online services that we will deploy under the name of the Nintendo Network.

The full text can be found here.

Iwata’s announcement has pretty much given a succinct overview of the Nintendo Network.

Personal Accounts for Wii U - The Wii U will have a “personal account system” compatible with the Nintendo Network similar to how the PS3 handles multiple users.

Paid DLC & Digital Content Distribution - Publishers will be able to utilize the Nintendo Network to release and/or sell post-release DLC for both the Wii U and in the future, the 3DS — ala XBox Live MarketPlace and the PlayStation Store.  Iwata also hinted that Nintendo is exploring the idea of selling full games via the Nintendo Network, something that competing consoles have been doing for a while now.

NFC integration – Now aside from merely catching up, Nintendo is hoping to make things a lot more convinient for users by banking on the Near Field Communication built-in to the Wii U’s controller.  For the uninitiated,  NFC is a technology allowing for instant payment authorisation, among other identity-confirming uses, used by MasterCard PayPass among others.  Of course aside from using it for purchases, the NFC chip can also be used by developers to add a new control paradigm to games and applications for the Wii-U, something that Iwata noted in passing.

Given the right attention, the Nintendo Network has the potential to give the PS Store and XBL Marketplace a run for it’s money.  Of course for those of us already invested in competing services, the question remains as to whether or not Nintendo will be able to usher offerings that will sway people to switch or at least subscribe to the Nintendo Network.

source: Andriasang, Nintendo

• Game Gear classics headed for Nintendo 3DS
• Nintendo overhauls loyalty program, sends out free Wii and 3DS games
• Nintendo 3DS gets it’s first actual flash cart
• Flame Red Nintendo 3DS coming in September
• Nintendo drops 3DS price, gives free games

Yes.  The app is currently in beta an the first time you sign-up you’ll likely get this error:

Bummer.  One more caveat is that if you have Steam Guard active, you’ll have to authorize your phone by entering the authorization code the first time you connect to Steam using the app — which will end up in the screen above because, hey, what are the chances that you’re already in the Beta?

Gabe Newell had this to say:

“Seeing which of your friends are online and playing a game, sending quick messages, looking at screenshots for an upcoming game, or catching a sale – these are all features customers have requested. Mobile is changing way people interact, play games and consume media, and the Steam app is part of our commitment to meet customer demands and expand the service functionality of Steam to make it richer and more accessible for everyone”

While I’m a bit disappointed that the current beta is closed and by invite only, I can’t help but applaud Valve for finally addressing the need for a way for gamers to use Steam using their smartphones.  Now, if they’ll just allow my Steam account into the Beta..

source Steam

• Steam Holiday Sale Encore
• 2011 Steam Holiday Sale begins
• Diablo III Beta is now Live!
• Steam Summer sale begins
• EA starts pulling games from Steam, props up Origin

Looks like the battle for the next-generation of consoles will begin with Nintendo again.

During the Wii U’s debut at last year’s E3, Nintendo has said that they are targeting a 2012 launch for the console and this is the first confirmation of the company’s target release date and regions.

Fans early awaiting an HD console from Nintendo will only have to wait until this year’ E3 (June 5-7) where Wii U is set to get showcased in more detail — last year we only get to see the exterior of the console and it’s tablet controller.

If rumors about the Wii U are true, the console is set to have twice the power of Xbox 360 although that’s still up in the air until Nintendo officially confirms the console’s specifications.

• Resident Evil 6 announced for 2012
• Rumor: Monster Hunter for PS Vita set for 2012 release
• Nintendo’s 2012 full console line-up
• Xenoblade Chronicles confirmed for US release
• Sony announces PlayStation Vita release date

The Official Metal Gear 3DS accessory pack will include the Nintendo 3DS carrying pouch, a protective case, a special stylus and the Metal Gear Solid 3DS console skin and will retail for £24.99. For Japanese Metal Gear fans, the accessory pack will be available the same day that Metal Gear Snake Eater launches on the 3DS, March 8, 2012. No word on a US release or pricing.

• Game Gear classics headed for Nintendo 3DS
• Snakeskin Metal Gear Solid Nintendo 3DS
• Metal Gear Solid HD Collection get!
• Official PlayStation Vita US accessory pricing
• Metal Gear Solid 5 Announced by Hideo Kojima

The portable console currently goes by the moniker “Neo-Geo Keitai”, or “Neo-Geo Portable” and sports a 4.3-inch screen, an SD card slot, four face buttons, 2 Gigabytes of storage, four shoulder buttons and a circle pad reminiscent of the Nintendo 3DS. Now you maybe wondering what use such device has if the games for it (listed below) are already available under the SNK Arcade Classics Vol. 1 for the PSP. Thing is, you’ll need a PSP to play them, this is a dedicated console.

Here’s the list of games that come with the device:

World Heroes
Ultimate 11
Top Player’s Golf
Sengoku
Nam-1975
Mutation Nation
Last Resort
King of Monsters
Frenzy
Cyber Lip
Fatal Fury Special
Art of Fighting
Super Sidekicks
League Bowling
Metal Slug
Magical Lord
Baseball Stars Professional
Samurai Shodown
King of Fighters ’94
Fatal Fury

The games are all the North American versions with English.

No word on pricing or availability as of yet.

source Famicom Plaza, via Andriasang

• Nintendo has a Mini Horror Movie for 3DS Fatal Frame
• Fatal Frame 3DS AR gameplay
• Fatal Frame coming to the 3DS
• Sony to offer free games to PlayStation Network subscribers
• Goodbye PSP Go

To opt-in and download the Skyrim 1.4 Beta Patch, just follow the instructions below:

1. Log into Steam
2. Click on Steam in the upper menu
3. Select Settings
4. Under the Account tab, go to the Beta Participation section and select Change.
5. A drop down menu will appear. Select Skyrim Beta.
6. Select OK.
7. Steam will now restart. After Steam restarts, Skyrim will be updated to the Beta version currently available.

The changelog for Skyrim BETA 1.4.15 Patch is available below:

NEW FEATURES

• Skyrim launcher support for Steam Workshop*

BUG FIXES

• General optimizations for memory and performance
• Optimized bookshelf script in player-owned houses that would occasionally cause active scripts to lag and also cause an increase to saved games filesize (PS3)

Improved compiler optimization settings

• Memory optimizations related to scripting
• Fixed crashes related to pathing and AI
• Fixed crash in Haemar’s Shame if player had already completed “A Daedra’s Best Friend”
• Fixed rare crash with loading saved games
• Fixed issue with accented characters not displaying properly at the end of a line
• Fixed issue where quests would incorrectly progress after reloading a save
• Fixed issues with placing and removing books from bookshelves in the player’s home
• Fixed issue where weapon racks and plaques would not work correctly in player’s house if player immediately visits their house before purchasing any furnishing.
• Fixed issue where the player house in Windhelm would not clean up properly
• Fixed crash related to giant attacks and absorb spells
• Fixed issue with ash piles not cleaning up properly
• Fixed occasional issue where overwriting an existing save would fail
• Fixed memory crash with container menu
• Fixed infinite loop with bookshelves
• Fixed issue where traps in Shalidor’s Maze would not work properly in French, German, Spanish and Italian versions
• Fixed issue where transforming back to human from werewolf would occasionally fail
• Bows and daggers will display properly when placed on weapon racks

QUEST FIXES

• The Unusual Gem inside the Thalmor Embassy is now accessible after finishing “Diplomatic Immunity”
• In “Breaching Security”, the quest token is no longer required to receive a fortune reading from Olava the Feeble
• Fixed issue where Galmar would not complete Joining the Stormcloaks properly if “Season Unending” was an active quest
• Fixed issue where starting “Season Unending” after finishing “Joining the Stormcloaks” would prevent “The Jagged Crown” from starting properly.
• Fixed issue progressing through “Message to Whiterun” while “Season Unending” was still open would block progression for both quests.
• In “Arniel’s Endeavor”, fixed issue where a quest journal would trigger multiple times
• In “Forbidden Legend”, the amulet fragment can no longer disappear after player leaves a dungeon without taking it
• Fixed rare issue in “Forbidden Legend” where killing Mikrul Gauldurson while sneaking would make his corpse unaccessible
• In “The White Phial”, the phial can no longer disappear if player leaves dungeon without taking it
• “The White Phial” will now start properly if player already has a briar heart in their inventory
• Player can no longer get stuck in Misty Grove after completing “A Night to Remember”
• Fixed issue where leaving Riften during “A Chance Arrangement” would prevent quest from progressing
• In “Darkness Returns”, a door in Twilight Sepulcher will properly open if the player leaves the dungeon for an extended period of time before completing the quest
• In “Revealing the Unseen”, if the player leaves the Oculory for an extended period of time after placing the focusing crystal and returns, the quest will proceed correctly
• “Onmund’s Request” will now start properly if player has already found Enthir’s staff before receiving this quest
• Fixed instance where Tonilia would stop buying stolen items and also would not give Guild Leader Armor
• “Repairing the Phial” will start properly if player already has unmelting snow or mammoth tusk in their inventory
• Finding Pantea’s Flute before speaking with Pantea no longer prevents her quest from updating
• In “The Break of Dawn”, fixed rare instance where a quest object would spawn incorrectly on the Katariah during Hail Sithis
• Fixed rare issue in “The Mind of Madness” where player is unable to equip the Wabbajack
• Fixed issue in “Pieces of the Past” where Mehrunes Dagon’s Razor will not trigger properly if player leaves the cell for extended period of time before activating it
• “Blood’s Honor” will start properly if you visited and completed Driftshade and an extended period of time passes before starting the quest.
• Fixed rare issue where “Dampened Spirits” would not start properly
• Fixed issue where killing guards in Cidhna Mine would block progression for “No One Escapes Cidhna Mine”
• Fixed numerous issues with “Blood on the Ice” not triggering properly
• In “Blood on the Ice”, Calixto can now be killed if player owns a house in Windhelm
• In “The Cure for Madness”, killing Cicero then resurrecting him no longer impedes quest progress
• Fixed rare issue in “To Kill an Empire” where an NPC would fail to die properly
• Clearing Knifepoint Ridge before starting “Boethiah’s Champion” no longer prevents quest from starting.

source Beth Blog

• Skyrim mod turns your character to Hatsune Miku
• [Fix] The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Crashes, Freezes, Steam Errors, Audio Problems, slow framerate
• Diablo III Beta is now Live!
• Blizzard Targeting Q3 for Diablo III beta
• StarCraft 2 Patch 1.1.0 Now Live

Now, as with most limited edition hardware, this is a Japan-only affair. The sad part is that it’s going to be sold exclusively through the Japanese Konami Style store AND to avail of it you’ll win a special lottery for an unspecified number of units :/ Y U MAKE IT SO HARD KONAMI?

If you manage to snag a winning entry, you’ll be able to buy the Premium Package for 22,980 yen (about $300) which includes:

• A snakeskin Nintendo 3DS
• A copy of Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater 3D
• A couple of clear plastic files and decals

Pretty hefty considering that the Limited Edition Zelda 3DS sold for $200 (though I guess that was a special case since it was part of a Black Friday Sale promotion)

Both the game and the Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater Premium Package will be launching in Japan on March 8th.

• Game Gear classics headed for Nintendo 3DS
• Official Metal Gear 3DS accessory pack headed for EU
• Nintendo overhauls loyalty program, sends out free Wii and 3DS games
• Metal Gear Solid HD Collection get!
• Metal Gear Solid 5 Announced by Hideo Kojima

SOL: Exodus is an indie game powered by Unreal Engine 3 giving it modest system requirements:

Creative director Chris Stockma describes SOL:Exodus as “a chance for gamers to get back to some real fun in a genre that’s lost its luster in recent years. We want to revive space combat games. People today want epic games and tense, action-packed experiences and we believe we’ve done that with SOL: Exodus. The game has huge battles and in some cases you are fighting against very large capital ships, which you can take down on your own. It’s a blast in so many different ways.”

SOL features an eight-mission story that covers the first half of a campaign to rescue refugees fleeing the impending supernova. The second half it seems will be available via DLC.  Seems fair enough considering that the price is just $9.99.

The game is set to launch via Steam on January 25.

• [Fix] The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Crashes, Freezes, Steam Errors, Audio Problems, slow framerate
• GPU Driver updates
• Just splurged on the Sims 3 :/
• Early peek at the The Sims 3 3DS
• Blizzard Product Roadmap Leaked!

The confirmed character roster includes Leon S. Kennedy and Chris Redfield.

Resident Evil 6 is set for release on November 20 of this year on XBox 360 and PlayStation 3, with a PC version to follow at an unspecified date

The trailer is embedded below:

• Sony affirms that a PlayStation 4 is too soon
• Final Fantasy XIII-2 demo now available on PS3 & Xbox 360
• Rumor: Monster Hunter for PS Vita set for 2012 release
• Nintendo’s 2012 full console line-up
• Metal Gear Solid 5 Announced by Hideo Kojima