THIS BLOG IS MOVING!

DUE to the overwhelming success of my PlayStation 3 blog, I am now expanding to cover ALL the latest games consoles - at my new home echogamingguide.blogspot.com.
I will bring you the latest news, previews and reviews, as well as top tips and insights into what gamers really want to hear.
So, thanks for your support, please visit my new website - and bookmark it for future use!

New Next Gen console revealed!

READ it here first - details have been leaked on hightechlatest.org that Sony and Microsoft are secretly working together to create the next, Next Generation games console to corner the market.
The console, codenamed PS720, appears to combine the best bits of both consoles and, if it does go ahead, would surely dominate the gaming world by basically giving them everything they want in one package.
The details are sketchy, but it would appear that at the heart of the console would be an upgraded PS3 processor, 300gb detachable hard drive, and it would feature Bluray, wi-fi and bluetooth connectivity, integrated wireless headset, detachable hi-def camera and an adapted dualshock controller based on the Xbox 360 design.
There is also talk of a combined Microsoft/Sony online network, that would be available for a minimal charge, but would obviously allow users to access online gaming, the web, Microsoft and Sony stores and back catalogues.
And the best bit about it? The console would be backwards compatible for PS3 AND Xbox 360!
To see the full posting, including apparent early design artwork, visit hightechlatest.org/forpilsaol.htm

Let the rumour-mongers be right!!

THERE are always plenty of folk on the web making stuff up and writing things on forums about what they say is going to happen, but it never materialises.
Well, after hearing the latest gossip, let's hope they're right.....
It has been reported on the web that a Sony employer has leaked details of the next firmware update, and its a biggie - at last, people should be able to start chats from inside a game, just like our friends over on the Xbox can!
If it's true, its been a long time coming, and hopefully Sony will make us all happy and finally get to grips with the fact that, now that online gaming is the driving force of most PS3 games now, people do actually want to find it easy to go online with their friends and chat, and not do as they do now, where you start a chat, quit it to join a game, and then try and speak to them if you manage to join the same game more by luck than judgement!
Apparently you will also be able to surf the web while you are in-game, which will also be a handy feature.
Here's hoping.......

More trophies please!

Come on, Sony and games creators, please sort out your trophies!



The long-overdue trophy system is now up and running, but unfortunately there is a distinct lack of support for PS3 gamers who have been faithfully spending their hard-earned cash on games over the past couple of years.

To be fair, Pain now has trophies, Warhawk has trophies - which are great fun trying to get hold of - and others are in the pipeline, including the forthcoming WipEout HD.

But it is very sad that companies won't spend a bit of time and cash from their profits back-dating trophy support for games released over the past year. Uncharted: Drake's Fortune has now got trophies, but you can't have them backdated - so as someone who has already completed and got rid of the game, I do feel a little bit cheated.

Hopefully games companies will now take on the trophy system with full gusto and realise that it is an extra selling point. Some people do own both systems, and if they have a choice, they will by the Xbox 360 version to get the achievements.

So let's have trophies galore please!

Win a Console!

Get your creative talents at the ready - and you could be in with a chance of winning a next-gen console!
A design a t-shirt contest is being held online, with some great prizes for the best designs, including your choice of a Ps3 or Xbox 360 console. So what if you already have one - why not win another one, or one of each!
For full details and rules (it's only open to US residents), have a look at the link below:

http://www.brickfish.com/Entertainment/Stacker2

And your chances of winning seem relatively high - so far there are only just over 300 entrants online. It looks like a good bit of fun, and you might win something!
(*Always read the rules and small print of competitions.)

Anyone figured out the PS3 chat time delay problem?

I don't know if it is just myself and my friend who seem to be stuck in some time vortex, but whenever we use the PS3 chat we can't help but notice the time delayfrom when you speak to when your friend hears it.
Now, he only lives about a mile and a half away, it's not like I'm in the UK and he is in the US, so why hasn't this problem been solved? As a pro-PS3 user, I am ashamed to say that the Xbox 360 chat (which also has the benefit of a headset included with the hardware) is by far and away more impressive and has no time lag.
Come on Sony, get this problem figured out - and how about making it easier to have a chat with a buddy, and be able to then join a game without having to quit chat first? These are the basics. Anyone else got a view on this? Post me!

Having played the Star Wars: Force Unleashed demo on both the PS3 and Xbox 360, this long-awaited game is starting to draw concern from many avid game players who, much to their dread, fear it is going to be a big disappointment.
The game is all about using the Force, as the title suggests, but many are complaining that trying to use the Force in the game is as easy as playing tennis with a spoon instead of a racquet.
Not long to wait now, so let's hope they've got it wrong and that the Force is strong with this game!
Watch the trailer and see what you think....