After we’ve been hearing all along that Xbox 360 had a game console exclusivity to Netflix streaming, Sony just announced it, too, will be joining in on the fun. Timeframe? Sometime next month.

Press Release Via Playstation Blog

COMING SOON: NETFLIX MEMBERS CAN INSTANTLY WATCH MOVIES AND TV EPISODES STREAMED TO TVs VIA THE PLAYSTATION®3 COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM

With Movies Streamed Instantly from Netflix, Blu-ray/DVD Playback and Downloadable Videos via the PlayStation®Network, the PlayStation 3 System Offers The Industry’s Most Comprehensive Options for Watching Movies and TV Shows

FOSTER CITY and LOS GATOS, Calif., October 26, 2009 – Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. (SCEA) and Netflix, Inc. [Nasdaq: NFLX] today announced that they are joining forces to make thousands of movies and TV episodes from Netflix available to be streamed instantly to TVs via the PlayStation®3 (PS3™) computer entertainment system. Netflix expects to begin streaming via the PS3 system next month at no additional cost to Netflix members in the United States who have a PS3 system.

Today’s announcement pairs two of the most popular and fastest growing home entertainment brands in the U.S. The PS3 system’s installed base has reached close to 9 million units in the United States, and Netflix recently reported 11.1 million U.S. subscribers as of September 30.

The partnership further solidifies the PS3 system as the most complete home entertainment hub on the market today, enabling consumers to play high-definition games, watch Blu-ray movies, listen to music, view photos, browse the Internet, and download content from PlayStation®Network − from exclusive games to blockbuster movies and popular TV shows. PS3 system owners will soon enjoy an unparalleled experience watching their favorite movies and TV shows streamed instantly from Netflix, downloading from the PlayStation Network or watching Blu-ray/DVD media. The Netflix offering expands on the entertainment experience delivered to PS3 system owners via PlayStation Network.

For only $8.99 a month, Netflix members can instantly watch unlimited movies and TV episodes streamed to their TVs and computers via Netflix ready devices such as the PS3 system and can receive unlimited DVDs delivered quickly to their homes.

“The PlayStation 3 system has always been about more than just gaming, and it will soon be the only platform in the industry to offer consumers such a variety of convenient options for enjoying movies and TV shows,” said Jack Tretton, president and CEO, SCEA. “Whether you want to watch content on Blu-ray disc and DVD, download it from the PlayStation Network’s video delivery service, or stream videos instantly from Netflix, the PS3 system is the only solution that offers it all.”

“As instantly watching movies and TV episodes streamed from Netflix becomes an increasingly popular way to enjoy the Netflix service, our goal is to rapidly expand the devices that stream to our members,” said Netflix CEO and co-founder Reed Hastings. “As a leading game console and Blu-ray disc player, bringing Netflix to the PS3 system is a real win for both Netflix members and PS3 system owners.”

Initially, watching movies instantly streamed from Netflix via the PS3 system will be enabled by a free, instant streaming Blu-ray disc that is being made available to all Netflix members. The free instant streaming disc leverages Blu-ray’s BD-Live™ technology to access the Internet and activate the Netflix user interface on the PS3 system, which must be online via Wi-Fi or Ethernet.

Netflix members simply slide the disc into their PS3 systems to reveal movies and TV episodes that can be watched instantly. These titles are conveniently organized into a variety of categories based on members’ personal preferences, popular genres, new arrivals and members’ individual instant Queues. Members can use the Netflix Web site or navigate directly on their PS3 systems to add movies and TV shows to their Queues. With the PS3 system’s Wireless Controller, members can choose a movie to watch from their instant Queues or just play directly from any of the lists. They also have the ability to read synopses and rate movies. In addition, they have the option of fast-forwarding and rewinding the video stream via the Wireless Controller.

Netflix members and PS3 system owners can now reserve a free instant streaming disc for PS3 systems by going to www.netflix.com/ps3. Upon availability, the instant streaming disc will be delivered for free by first-class mail, generally one business day after members request it.

About Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc.

Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. continues to redefine the entertainment lifestyle with its PlayStation® and PS one® game consoles, the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, the PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system, the ground-breaking PlayStation®3 (PS3™) computer entertainment system and its digital services which include the PlayStation®Network and the PlayStation®Store.

Recognized as the undisputed industry leader, Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. markets the PlayStation family of products and develops, publishes, markets and distributes software for the PS one® game console, the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system, and the PlayStation 3 and PSP systems for the North American market. Based in Foster City, Calif., Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. serves as headquarters for all North American operations and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.

About Netflix, Inc.

Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ: NFLX) is the world’s largest online movie rental service, with more than more than 11 million subscribers. For only $8.99 a month, Netflix members can instantly watch unlimited movies and TV episodes streamed to their TVs and computers and can receive unlimited DVDs delivered quickly to their homes. There are never any due dates or late fees. Netflix members can exchange DVDs as often as they want using a postage-paid return envelope. Members can choose from a vast selection of DVD titles and a growing library of movies and TV episodes that can be watched instantly. Netflix is partnering with leaders in consumer electronics to bring to market a range of devices that can instantly stream movies and TV episodes from Netflix directly to members’ TVs. These devices currently include Blu-ray disc players and new Internet TVs from LG Electronics; Blu-ray disc players from Samsung and Best Buy’s Insignia brand; the Roku digital video player; Microsoft’s Xbox 360 game console; TiVo digital video recorders; and, soon, the PS3 system and Internet TVs from Sony and VIZIO.

It’s not doing anything crazy like lowering the price, but it looks like Mad Catz is at least set to give fighting game fans a few more options when it comes to choosing their peripheral of choice. As usual, the headliner is the company’s Tournament Edition fightstick, which dials things back after the explosion of color on the Comic-Con exclusive edition, but otherwise remains identical inside and out. Those that honed their Street Fighter skills on their SNES or Genesis can also now choose from a new range of fightpads, featuring artwork with your choice of M. Bison, Guile, Zangief, C. Viper, Cammy, or Sagat. No firm release date just yet, but the whole lot should be out sometime this fall for both the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, with the fightstick setting you back the usual $149.99, and the fightpads running a considerably more affordable $39.99 apiece.

-Source

Lots of new features.

• “What’s New” – The “Information Board” will be replaced with a “What’s New” section, which allows you to enjoy interactive PlayStation news every time you start the PS3 system. Located under the PlayStation Network icon, “What’s New” displays the latest and greatest game, video, PlayStation Network and PlayStation news and releases, as well as your recently played games, in a sleek, new animated format.
• Status Indicator – In the top right corner we’ve added an indicator bar, which displays your user icon, friend icon, the number of friends you have online and a small message icon to let you know if you have any new messages. The indicator also includes a scrolling ticker that features the latest news from PlayStation Network. In addition, when you press the PS button, the battery life indicator will no longer cover up the clock.
• Friends List – Now your PlayStation Network friends will appear in a slightly redesigned format on your Friends List. Also, messages will now be viewable from each of your friends’ respective profiles.
• PlayStation Store Shortcuts – We’ve added a handy shortcut icon to the PlayStation Store under both the Game and Video categories so you can access the latest content quickly and easily.
• Personalization – Personalize your PS3 with new dynamic custom themes and avatars. Dynamic themes as well as free and premium avatars will be available through PlayStation Store. A dynamic theme takes your screen to a whole new level as it incorporates animated objects into the background.
• Trophies – Showcasing your hard earned trophies just got better. Update 3.00 gives game developers the ability to modify how they display trophies for add-on content. Base and add-on game trophies will continue to be combined into a single list so you can see where you stand in a game as a whole. Within that list, trophies will be broken out into subcategories—base trophies and add-on trophies—that way, you can easily view the percentage of your base game trophy collection, and separately track your trophy progress in add-on packs. Look for this enhancement to be included in upcoming games.

Via Sony & Engadget

Click here to view the embedded video.

Just got a Samung Blu-Ray Player the other day from Wal-Mart for 218 bucks.  It turned into a Piece of Junk. So I Returned it and thought the PS3 is 299 I should look into it.  The 80 Gig PS3 was sold out everywhere here locally.  So I thought well I will just wait and get a PS3 Slim.  So I Shopped around to check dates.  And Found that Gamestop showed it shipping Right now!  See the Picture I Posted.  So Out comes the debit card.  Its on order I will let everyone know if they actually do ship it tomorrow like the Email told me.

As we posted earlier, Sony told us it was planning an announcement for Tuesday. Today is Friday, and Sony has made its announcement Tuesday. Yea sorry a couple days late.

And as we also told you earlier, we didn’t think this announcement was a PS3 price cut. From our original post: "We’re leaning towards a price cut, but we’ve got a sneaking suspicion that it’s the PlayStation 2 dropping to $99, and not a cut for the PlayStation 3."

The console will now be priced at US$99.99 starting the first of April. The console’s previous price tag was $129.99.

"PlayStation 2 set the industry standard for worldwide mass market adoption and is a clear embodiment of Sony’s commitment to platforms that deliver 10-year product lifecycles. It’s a tribute to outstanding technology, great consumer value and unprecedented development support that we’ve now been able to do twice what no one else has ever accomplished," said Sony exec Jack Tretton. "Demand for PlayStation 2 remains strong throughout the world, and the new $99 price point will bring in new consumers who will discover how PlayStation platforms are an outstanding choice for their gaming and home entertainment needs.

With nearly 1,900 PS2 titles and now this under-a-hundred-bucks price point, this is as good a time as any to pick up a PS2. Sony stated that it plans continued support of the highly successful platform, which is serving as a model for its new home console, the PLAYSTATION 3.

According to Tretton, "Just as PlayStation 2 is delivering on a 10-year lifecycle and helped expand and solidify the DVD format for home entertainment along the way, we believe PLAYSTATION 3 offers the same promise by helping secure the Blu-ray format and delivering unprecedented value as the total home entertainment solution for the next decade."

Last year, the PlayStation 2 became the first game system to reach 50 million units sold in North America.

Not long ago I signed Plasma Burn up over at Sony’s Press Department for updates. Sony dropped us a line(Mass E-Mail to Lots of People) to let us know that something is going down on Tuesday, March 31st. Could it be the long-rumored price cut is finally upon us?

Or could it be something completely different? Rumors have been doing little twirly things all over the internet over the past few weeks regarding a potential PlayStation 3 price cut, and while our first thought was "Why would they announce it several days after GDC?", apparently they are indeed announcing something several days after GDC. Go figure.

We’re leaning towards a price cut, but we’ve got a sneaking suspicion that it’s the PlayStation 2 dropping to $99, and not a cut for the PlayStation 3.

All we know so far is that they’re announcing something. There’s only one thing to do now. Let the wild speculation begin! What do you think/hope/dream Sony is announcing?

This console generation, the PlayStation 3 is in dead last place. The Xbox 360 has sold more, the Nintendo Wii has sold a lot more. Does this worry Sony? Surprisingly, no, it does not.

See, according to Sony Computer Entertainment America’s Senior VP of Marketing, Peter Dille, Sony aren’t focusing on market share. They’re focusing on profitability!

I think it’s already well publicized that we have a very clear objective from our parent, Sony Corp., that we’re to focus on a profit objective, and with those marching orders it limits the playbook when it comes to pricing and promotion. Our competition had a very aggressive pricing strategy, but they also were packing two, three, four games in with the unit weekend to weekend with different retailers, and that cost a lot of money. So we had a profit goal and they had a market share goal.

"Gotta spend money to make money" jokes aside, note the wording of those first couple of sentences. Sounds like even SCEA want a price cut on the machine, and it’s only the top, top brass in Japan that are holding out.

PS3 is ‘Going to Stand the Test of Time’ [GameDaily]

The debut album from Seattle grunge-fathers Pearl Jam is coming to Rock Band owners next week, Harmonix and MTV Games confirmed today. Ten adds eleven new tracks, all of which make me feel positively ancient.

I mean, we’re eighteen years on from the original release of Pearl Jam’s Ten, a tape that I had on repeat in my car stereo for many, many months, probably back when many Kotaku readers were either in grade school or merely a glint in their father’s eye. I guess Ten‘s age further entrenches the 1991 album as a "classic," but may also lead to misty-eyed watercolor memories when I rock out to it, draped in flannel.

The eleven new Pearl Jam additions join the already released "Alive" from Ten, which was included in the Rock Band 2 soundtrack. Here are your new downloadables.

• Once
• Even Flow
• Why Go
• Black
• Jeremy
• Oceans
• Porch
• Garden
• Deep
• Release
• Master/Slave

Each master track is priced at $1.99 (160 Microsoft Points for Xbox 360) with the full album costing $17.99 (1440 Microsoft Points for Xbox 360).

From CNET Rumor Control area, seems there is more hubbub about Sony cutting the Price of the 80gig PS3 by as much as 100 bucks.  Now we have heard this what 3 times now in the past 8 months.  But Sony always comes back and says they are doing fine with the prices the way they are.  And we all know if they cut their price they will no longer be making any profit so if they cut it, they either found another Manufacture of their parts or they have another price schema in the works. Im guessing having to pay for PSN is not far away.

Via CNET Below

Another week, another rumor that a PS3 price cut is right around the corner. This time the fuel comes from Janco Partners’ Mike Hickey, who, according to the site gamesindustry.biz, said in his latest note to investors that Sony needs to chop $100 off the 80GB PS3′s price to “restart unit velocity at retail” and that “recent channel checks indicate increased speculation for a PS3 price cut announcement from Sony in the next couple of days.”

To cap things off, Hickey added more brutal commentary:

“If Sony does not cut the price of their console, we expect the continuation of languishing PS3 hardware sales and the potential for publishers to accelerate their reallocation of resources away from the PS3 console.”

In the same article, there’s also some bizarre speculation that Sony will put out a PS3 sans Blu-ray player. This seems a little off the wall, considering that you wouldn’t be able to play most PS3 games on a PS3 that doesn’t have a Blu-ray player. Plus, the PS3 is basically a Trojan horse for Blu-ray.

Maybe what this really means is that Sony is working on a PS3 version of the PS2 that could play downloadable PS3 games and be backward-compatible for PS2 titles. (OK, I’m kidding, but see if you can say that sentence fast five times in a row with perfect elocution).

When all is said and done, we do agree with Hickey and other so-called analysts who say Sony has to cut the PS3′s price by $100 to jump-start sales (duh, right?).

But we’ve seen specials recently where the PS3 is already selling for less than $350, so in some sense, a soft price cut has been in effect, though a flat $300 is what people are waiting for. The question is whether we’re days–or weeks–away from an official cut.

What do you guys think?

Next week’s batch of fine downloadables for Rock Band and Rock Band 2 go a little bit country. Don’t worry, this is the good kind of country, largely free of thickheaded wordplay and grating twangery.

What does that even mean? I don’t know to be honest, but this is country of the "alt" variety, featuring bands like the Old 97s, Lucinda Williams, and Neko Case, she being the most photogenic of the lot.

Joining the alt country assault will be a Jimmy Eat World triple-shot, including the toe-tapper "Sweetness", which I may purchase and play when no one’s within earshot. The full list of new tracks is as follows.

• Alt Country Pack
• Drive By Truckers "3 Dimes Down"
• Lucinda Williams "Can’t Let Go"
• Neko Case "People Got a Lot of Nerve"
• Old 97s "Time Bomb (LIVE)"
• Steve Earle "Satellite Radio"

• Jimmy Eat World Pack
• Jimmy Eat World "Futures"
• Jimmy Eat World "Lucky Denver Mint"
• Jimmy Eat World "Sweetness"

Each track will set you back $1.99 (160 Microsoft Points) with the "Alt Country Pack" priced at $8.49 (680 Microsoft Points) and the Jimmy Eat World Pack a mere $5.49 (440 Microsoft Points).

So a Quote from Joystiq.com seems they thought SFIV would be a complete bust. I for one will be buying a copy. Now I don’t see the US selling out like Japan did. But I do see a high demand for the game. See links in quote for more information.

Man. Wow. We totally thought this one was going to be a clunker. Seriously, we gave the classic series appropriate fanfare whenever we received any news regarding it, but we were just doing it out of respect. We never thought that the Japanese game consuming populous would snatch up 86,000 copies of Street Fighter IV on its launch day alone. We were thinking it’d be more like a few hundy, maybe a thou by the weekend.
Capcom seems to be just as surprised as we are — a community manager for the company recently reported that they were "overwhelmed by demand", and that the game had completely sold out in Japan. The only copies within the country’s confines rest in a few boxes in Capcom’s basement — they’ll apparently be sent out to retailers on Monday, and then snatched up with avarice usually associated with Turboman dolls.

Are you ‘that guy’ at the arcade? The guy calmly defeating challenger after challenger on the gray market Street Fighter IV cabinet, milking your dollar bill for all it’s worth? You know, the guy stealing all our money? Well how would you feel if we told you that Capcom is partnering up with GameStop and the EVO Championship Series to bring you the very first Street Fighter IV National Tournament? Your head would explode?! Uh oh, maybe we should have kept this to ourselves…
Anyway, starting on February 21st at "locations EVERYWHERE" (warning: PDF link), GameStop will hold the first of three rounds determining the best of the best SFIV players in the country. Following that, the second round will take place on February 28th at "regional stores" and second-round victors will move on to the semi-finals on March 14th. Finally, the 16 winners of the semi-finals will be flown to San Francisco for the final competition, where they’ll all receive the upcoming SFIV Mad Catz arcade sticks and fighting pads, limited edition tournament belts and a place in the semi-final bracket at the EVO World Finals in Las Vegas. But what, pray tell, does the winner of the final round get? How about an official Street Fighter IV arcade cabinet? If you haven’t already burst out the door and run to a GameStop to sign up, you may want to do so posthaste.

Here is a list of the Local Oklahoma Area Locations. Feb 21st @ 2pm

GameStop Redbud Corners 2419 West Kenosha Street Broken Arrow OK GameStop Duncan Town Square 1829 North Highway 81, Suite 4 Duncan OK
GameStop University Plaza 1142 E 2nd St Edmond OK
GameStop Central Mall 110 Central Mall Lawton OK
GameStop Sooner Center 1640 Sooner Rd. Ste. E Midwest City OK
GameStop Riverwalk Centre 2712 S Telephone Rd Moore OK
GameStop Arrowhead Mall 501 N. Main St. Suite #116 Muskogee OK
GameStop River City Plaza 930 West Shawnee Muskogee OK
GameStop New Castle Plaza 661 N W 32nd Street New Castle OK
GameStop Wal-Mart Plaza 627 12th Ave. NE, Suite 110 Norman OK
GameStop Too Westgate Marketplace 6300 SW 3rd Street Oklahoma City OK
GameStop Quail Springs Marketplace 2324 W. Memorial Road Oklahoma City OK
GameStop Belle Isle Station 1841 Belle Isle Blvd., Suite M Oklahoma City OK          EB Games Quail Springs Mall 2501 West Memorial Road, Oklahoma City OK
GameStop Crossroads Mall 1120 Crossroads Mall Oklahoma City              GameStop & Movies, Too Okmulgee S/C 1821 S. Wood Drive Okmulgee OK GameStop Shawnee S/C 4903 N. Union St., Suite 109 Shawnee OK 74801 314
GameStop Wal-mart Plaza – Tahlequah 409 Daisy Dr, Unit C Tahlequah OK

Whether you like to play real instruments or rip it up on the plastic set, there’s going to be a camp waiting for you this summer. Musical prodigies who specifically enjoy rhythm games like Rock Band and Guitar Hero: World Tour can join the teen-focused Power Chord Academy for their "GameROCKERS" program.

The three-day program allows musically-inclined gamers a chance to show off their original digital compositions, join competitions and win prizes. Also, if three days sounds too long, then there’s always Power Chord’s "iROCKER." It’s basically a one-day version of the other program. Power Chord’s website has details on dates and locations for those planning to make the trip out there.

Well With out any further wait.  Here it is Street Fighter Game Intro Video. See More for Video.