By David Ponce

With prices of gold near record highs, don’t expect this to be coated with anything other than paint. Not to mention, this PS3 is not a custom mod but rather a real product Sony is releasing in Japan on March 1st to mark the release of One Piece: Kaizoku Musou. As you can see, aside from being golden, there’s a stenciled Luffy from One Piece on the console. Amateurs of manga will likely drool, everyone else will wonder why anyone would want this gaudy thing.

“Priced at ¥38,170 (US$489) and comes with a copy of the game and a 320GB PS3.”

VIA [ Kotaku ]

This post is syndicated with permission from GamerFront.net

I was called into the office the other day, and was handed something I’d never laid eyes on before. What was handed to me was the Splitfish FRAGFX SHARK gaming controller for use with the PlayStation 3, PC, and Mac. I looked down in awe of just how cool the thing looked, and I imagine I looked back up with the eyes of the Nintendo kid on Christmas. I immediately rushed down to the gameplay area and set up to start testing the controller. The SHARK is meant to be used with FPS games mainly, and it does its job perfectly. Here’s my review of the Splitfish FRAGFX SHARK gaming controller, for your viewing pleasure.

Versatile, Yet Stable

When I first attempted to use the SHARK, I will admit that I was confused. I had never really used one of these types of controllers before, and it looked a bit odd. I had heard of these types of controllers before, and I was told that they severely enhance gaming fortitude and accuracy, especially in FPS games. Oh, how true this came out to be. The SHARK came packaged as follows:

• the gaming mouse
• left-hand control pad
• USB plug-and-play adapter
• hard-bottom Splitfish mouse pad

I was extremely happy with the plug-and-play ability, because I literally had to just plug the USB adapter in, and I was able to play immediately. The PS3 recognized the controller almost instantly, and it worked perfectly. I loaded up Killzone 2 and was ready to give this controller a run for its money.

The key features of this controller are listed on the Splitfish website as follows:

• 2 AA batteries (not included)
• NEW 50h + play time
• NEW 500h + power save standby
• Mouse 1750 DPI resolution
• Play with the mouse on the PS3 as you would do on a PC
• Full PS3, PC and MAC support, either as a gamepad or mouse/keyboard control
• Fast access to special features (eg macro, rapid-fire, button swap, stick swap, etc.)
• Brand new wireless technology to 2.4 GHz
• Plug and Play
• NEW dead zone adjustment wheel
• SixAxis support

The mouse pad that came with the SHARK is great, because of its hard bottom. This makes it easy to set the mouse in your lap, on the couch beside you, or wherever you see fit. I found it easy to set the mouse beside me, because it made for a far easier range of motion with my right arm. The left and right mouse buttons corresponded to the “R1″ and “R2″ triggers on the PS3 controller, which was perfect for FPS games. With the triangle, square, circle, and x buttons located on the left side of the mouse, it was a perfect place to set your thumb for easy button-pressing in time of need.

The analog controller fit perfectly in my left hand, and it was extremely comfortable. Access to the “L1″ and “L2″ triggers was made easy, and the small grip made the controller feel easier to have in my control. The analog stick was topped with four ridges so that my left thumb set perfectly in the middle of the stick, allowing for easy movement, and it prevented my thumb from slipping off of it. On the analog controller is a d-pad, that is perfect for accessing menu options, and making changes to the controller on the fly.

Miscellaneous Specs, and Visual Aspects

Located on the left-hand analog controller is a spin dial that sets the controller’s sensitivity. I had to have mine turned all the way down to zero (which is the highest sensitivity) in order to use it easily, but the spin dial makes for easy adjustments on the fly. The d-pad also has the ability to change button mapping, assign macros, and switch the analog sticks to suit your play style. With the start, select, and PlayStation buttons at your quick disposal, this controller has everything you need, literally at your fingertips.

Plus, one of the most awesome aspects of this controller is the way it looks. The graphics on it make the controller a definite collectible to have in anyone’s gaming arsenal. The thing seriously looks beast.

The only issues I had with the SHARK were finding a comfortable position to play in, and adjusting sensitivity. With the first issue, I found myself placing the mouse on a coffee table, armrest, and eventually setting it beside me. Once I found a comfortable position, though, I was set for life. The second issue I found was not mainly a controller issue as much as it was a game issue. The game’s sensitivity needs to be turned up in order to have access to quick aiming, and skill shooting. Once I was comfortable with a setting, I was able to get used to the controls very quick. I tried out multiple games, and found that I needed to adjust the sensitivity differently depending on the game I was playing. All in all, though, the SHARK provided the best gaming experience I’ve had with an FPS controller.

The Verdict

Honestly, the Splitfish FRAGFX SHARK did exactly the job it was supposed to do. Taking only two AA batteries to operate, and with 50+ play hours on a single battery set, it’s a long-lasting controller that I will use constantly. The SHARK’s ability to instantly plug-and-play make it a necessity in every gamer’s arsenal. With the SixAxis control and adjustable controls, button mapping, and sensitivity, the SHARK is perfect for any play style. I definitely recommend that you pick one up for yourselves. It will cost you a hefty $89.99, but it is money very well spent. I will use this controller for many, many gaming sessions to come.

Head on over to the Splitfish website to take a look at the FRAGFX SHARK for yourselves.

[ Splitfish ] VIA [ GamerFront ]

In order to let PS3 owners enjoy classes NEOGEO titles to their fullest extent, SNK is releasing a USB-equipped, Playstation-branded version of the original console’s classic controller. I never owned a NEOGEO, but according to ALBOTAS its controller featured the disc-shaped control stick pictured above which activated four micro-switches, instead of the more traditional D-pad that was popular at that time. It worked though, and apparently there is still a demand for it or SNK wouldn’t have created this modern update. It will be available in Japan starting December 9 for ~$37 (¥3,129) but those living elsewhere can snag one from Play-Asia for $44.90.

[ SNK NEOGEO Pad USB ] VIA [ ALBOTAS ]

By Chris Scott Barr

The gaming world rejoiced when Netflix finally started streaming to first the Xbox 360, then PS3 and Wii. Unfortunately for owners of the latter two consoles, you were tied down to a disc if you wanted to take part in the service. Well for the PS3, you won’t have to mess with that much longer. Starting October 18th, you’ll be able to ditch the disc and stream your favorite movies and TV shows from Netflix.

That’s not the only new thing coming to the PS3. Apparently you’ll be able to stream some shows and movies as 1080i and/or have 5.1-channel surround sound. That’s something that not even the 360 can boast. Don’t worry though, it will be coming sometime in the future, though the company hasn’t said when.

[ Netflix ] VIA [ Engadget ]

By Evan Ackerman

One of the biggest announcements at this year’s Game Developers Conference here in San Francisco is the Move, Sony’s new motion control system for the PlayStation. It’s generally similar to the Nintendo Wii, in that you hold a thingy, and something attached to the game console watches that thingy (in this case, it’s the PS Eye camera), and can tell where the thingy is being moved and translate that motion into in-game actions. Here’s the thingy in question:

More, including hands-on impressions and video, after the jump.

There’s a trigger on the reverse, at the top near the glowy ball, which changes color to differentiate one remote from another. Depending on the game, you can use one remote or two at the same time. It’s very light, lighter than a Wiimote, which makes me think it must have a rechargeable battery inside. I got a chance to test the Move out for a while last night, and it’s pretty impressive. It’s less forgiving than a Wii as far as where you can stand, but it’s much more precise and gives you a huge range of motion. You can rotate the controller vertically (twist it) or horizontally (make it do flips) and the system has no trouble tracking what it’s doing. This means that for fighting games, you can pull all kinds of moves just like you (hypothetically) would in real life: for example, you can spin around, and the tracking handles it perfectly. Or, for games like table tennis, you can actually put spin on your shots buy angling your wrist just like you would in real life. It’s a lot of work for a video game, and a lot of fun.

While the technology is great, in my opinion, the actual gaming software isn’t quite at the same level. What I was hoping for was a system that would take my motions and integrate them into the game directly. What happens currently (and it’s worth noting that all the demos were pre-alphas) is that the system reads the motions you make, and uses those motions to trigger preprogrammed actions. The Move is supposed to be very easy to program into games, though, so hopefully we’ll be seeing some innovative titles in the near future.

As far as pricing goes, a bundle with the PS Eye camera and one Move controller (and a game) should go for under $100, which usually means $99.99, but it could be less. You’ll also be able to get the Move controller by itself, and as part of a PS3 bundle. Look for launch late this year, in time for the holidays.

By Chris Scott Barr

Back in August we told you that Microsoft had signed an exclusive deal with Netflix, making the 360 the only console which could stream their movies. Well it would seem that either the exclusive deal was carefully worded, or was only for a very short period of time. Why? Because the company just announced that later this year the PS3 will get a similar treatment.

That’s right, PS3 owners will soon be able to stream the very same movies to their console, with the added benefit of not needing to pay for something like Xbox Live Gold. The downside is that in order to stream the movies, you will need a special Blu-ray disc. This will be provided free of charge to all Netflix subscribers who request it. A minor annoyance, likely in place due to the existing agreement with Microsoft. There’s no word on exactly when this is going to be rolled out, but you can reserve your Netflix Blu-ray disc now.

[ Netflix ] VI A[ Crave ]

By Chris Scott Barr

If you have a PS3, then you probably take advantage of of its Blu-ray player. You’d be crazy not to. Unfortunately one drawback to the PS3 is that you have to have a separate remote to operate it. Why? Because it’s one of the only home theater devices to use Bluetooth to communicate with its remote. Well luckily there now exists a remote that can control more than just your PS3.

The Blu-Link remote works off of both Bluetooth and infrared signals, thus catering to all of your devices. It supports up to six different devices, and can learn commands from other devices. You’ll also find dedicated PS3 and Blu-ray control buttons. $49 might seem steep for your average universal remote, but this one looks to be well worth the money.

[ Interlink ] VIA [ Technabob ]

By Shane McGlaun

Turtle Beach has been making nice gaming headphones for the PC and the Xbox for a while. The line has been a bit scant on headphones for the PS3 though. I have used several of Turtle Beach’s PC surround sound headphones and they work pretty well.

The company has now announced a new set of gaming headphones called the P21 for the Sony PS3 console. The P21′s feature a USB powered inline amp to provide deep bass. A mic boom allows players to take advantage of in game chat functions.

The amp features independent control for volume levels of the chat and game audio. Bass boost allows for deeper explosions and better music in movies. The P21 will also work with a PC when used with the optional RCA to 3.5mm adapter. Turtle Beach will sell the P21 headphones for $79.95 online and in major retail outlets.

[ Turtle Beach ]

By Shane McGlaun

One of my favorite Need for Speed games back in the day was Need for Speed Hot Pursuit. I liked being able to play the cop and give people tickets and I liked running from the police as well. I guess EA tried to go all “PC” with Need for Speed ProStreet and took the racing off the streets. The game was cool, but I wanted police chases.

The latest title in the franchise, Need for Speed Undercover, gave me my wish and EA has announced that new DLC for the game is available for the PS3 and coming soon for the PC and Xbox 360. One of the DLC packs is a free offering called the Challenge Series and adds 60 events to the game. Along with new events called Highway Wars and Highway checkpoint races.

Players can also win three new cars in the Challenge Series. A premium content pack is also available for $5 or 400 MS points called the Boss Car Pack. The pack gives all of the cars the level bosses drive in the entire game. I am glad to see EA offering some free DLC for fans of Undercover.

[ Need for Speed ]

By Shane McGlaun

I am a huge UFC fan and have been watching the events since they first started back in the late 90′s. I still have fond memories of one of the early events where the boxer came in with one glove thinking he was going to beat the other guy down only to find himself on his back getting beat like a drum a few seconds later.

I have been waiting for the new UFC 2009 game to come out and it is almost here. The game is set to ship on May 19 for the Xbox 360 and the PS3. Until then THQ has announced that a playable demo is available for download for both game consoles right now.

The demo allows players to fight a match between Chuck Liddell and Mauricio Rua and includes a portion of the full tutorial mode the game will have to teach players how to use the controls. Liddell fans still angry that the Ice Man was knocked out last weekend can get some payback.

[ UFC Undisputed ]