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PSP

Making your game systems kid-safe

Two decades ago, video games, like comic books before them, were written off as a form of entertainment strictly for children. Just like the comic book industry eventually produced mature, extremely-not-for-kids books like Alan Moore's Watchmen or Garth Ennis' Preacher, the video game industry has produced mature, extremely-not-for-kids games like BioWare's Mass Effect and 2K Games' Bioshock. These games can have violence, sex, and very strong language, and are not appropriate for children.

Fortunately, each of the three major video game consoles (Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii, and PlayStation 3) include built-in security features to lock out mature games … Read more

Protect your children: How to set parental controls on the PS3, PSP

The Playstation 3 has many great games. Unfortunately, the majority of those games are violent, bloody, and utterly inappropriate for children. Fortunately, the PS3 has a parental control system that lets you make certain your kids can play Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga and Ratchet and Clank Future: Tools of Destruction, but won't be able to load the ultraviolent Ninja Gaiden Sigma or The Darkness. The Playstation Portable contains a similar control system, so this handy guide can help you watch what your children are playing, both at home and on the go.

Please note: Unlike the Xbox 360 and Nintendo Wii, the PS3 and PSP don't use the Entertainment Software Ratings Board's rating system. Instead they use a series of numbered levels ranging from 1 for only the most acceptable titles to 11 for almost all games. Level 5 approximately corresponds with T-rated games, though parents should experiment with the different levels to determine which level is most appropriate for their family.… Read more

Sony puts price tag and April launch date on new DualShock 3 wireless controller

If you're waiting for Sony to finally release its new rumbling DualShock 3 wireless controller here in North America, you won't have much longer to go. Today, Sony announced that the wireless DualShock 3 will be available sometime in April with a somewhat hefty $54.99 price tag (the current nonrumble wireless controller has a list price of $5 less).

Sony also had a few other PlayStation-related announcements. To coincide with the much-anticipated North American launch of Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots in late Q2 2008, Sony said it will introduce a PS3 bundle that … Read more

2008 video game predictions

Our friendly rivals over at Wired have released their predictions about the gaming life for 2008. Will the Wii supply continue to be as tightly managed as DeBeers' diamonds? Does the "gaming for fitness" movement stand a chance? Will Nintendo finally pony up for more memory? Will Metal Gear Solid 4 save Sony's skin? Does every game from here on out have to be an immersive world? Is there, in fact, life after Halo? And when will buyers be able to expect HD as a standard on gaming machines?

See what's prognosticated at Wired: "Game|Life's Predictions (And Advice) For 2008&… Read more

Sony: Skype coming to PSP this month

The rumors were true: Skype is coming to the PSP. The leading voice-over-IP phone service will be made available to PSP users worldwide in a free firmware update scheduled for later this month. The catch? The service will only work on the new Slim PSP model, not the original bulkier " PSP 1000" (which, as of fall 2007, is no longer produced). The press release lists the other obvious caveats: you'll need to have access to Wi-Fi; have a Skype account (it's free, with paid upgrades for calling to and from non-Skype numbers); and a Skype-compatible "… Read more

Why Nintendo can do no wrong with the DS

In a recent New York Times article, Nintendo was heralded for its immense success with both the Wii and DS. But the most important part of that piece had nothing to do with the Wii and everything to do with the DS.

According to the report, the Wii and DS will work much closer with each other in the New Year. Nintendo contends that complete or demo DS games will be made available for download on the Wii and can then be transferred to the DS wirelessly.

And while this sounds somewhat like Sony's ill-conceived idea of PSP integration with the PS3, Nintendo's idea is not only a far more important step forward, it's the epitome of what the company is doing right -- bringing a convenient and all-around superior experience to its mobile platform. And as long as it continues to do that, Nintendo will have a system on its hands that will last as long as it wants it to.… Read more

Sony expands PlayStation store to PCs, PSPs

Sony on Tuesday announced that it is opening up its PlayStation Store--an online source of downloadable games and other content--to PC users. No longer will the store be the exclusive province of owners of Sony's top-end video game console, the PlayStation 3.

The company said that the move means that PlayStation Portable users will now be able to download games via the store. Those games include "classic" PlayStation games, as well as a series of new PSP games available only through the PlayStation store. Existing PSP games will also be available.

Among the store PSP exclusives … Read more

'Charger Bracelet': When games are your life

If you give an item like this any kind of consideration at all, it's probably a sign that you're spending more time playing games than with your loved ones. Actually, it may mean that you don't have any loved ones at all, or won't for very long.

Thanko's "Charger Bracelet" is designed for addicts who just can't put down their handhelds when the batteries run dry, supposedly providing another 4.5 hours for a PSP and 28 hours for a DS Lite with a recharger strapped to the wrist, according to Engadget. … Read more