The eagerly-anticipated MGS: Peace Walker demo has finally been given the release date of 17 December.

Essentially offering what players could experience at TGS this year, the PSN demo is to sport four missions and ad-hoc connectivity so you can pair up with friends. Only unlike the TGS and Japanese PSN demo, this one’s in English. Which means you can put down your Japanese for Beginners book now and enjoy the action without needing to read complex Hiragana.

Via Silconera

You may recall that about a month ago, Capcom asked gamers how they wanted to receive the new Resident Evil 5’s content. 1500 votes later, the results are in. And even though our colleagues in Japan are getting the Alternative Edition all boxed up, apparently the good gamers of the pan-Western world are happy to forego the formalities of pretty, shiny boxes and opted for straight-forward, no nonsense downloadable content.

Therefore the new content, which includes PS3 motion-control functionality and a flashback level where we see Jill and Chris exploring the head of Umbrella’s mansion, will be available to download in Australia, Europe and the US next Spring via XBOX Live and the Playstation Network. Prices have yet to be confirmed.

What do you think? Did you participate in the vote? I just hope that those who had their eye on the Alternative Edition haven’t already traded in their original RE5 …

After having its coming out party at E3 2009, Project Natal will now have a compliment of developers working on software for its feature set.  Microsoft touted a list of developers, including Konami, SquareEnix, Electronic Arts, Activision, MTV Games and more as having signed on to provide games for the Project Natal experience.  The list of developers equals 70% of the third party developers that released games for the 360 (their numbers, not ours).

There was no word on whether these would be new franchises or existing ones, and if existing, would they only allow Project Natal control schemes.  At least it is good to know that there will be something there when Project Natal does finallyhit retail shelves.  Whether it will be good or not is a totally different story.

The word is official: Sony’s new motion controller will be in your hand(s) next Spring. The official press release is after the jump; but the hardware specifics reveal not much that we didn’t already know. Yes, it still has a glowing sphere at the top (which will change colors!) Yes, the PlayStation Eye is required. Yes, it will have rumble. And there’s a lot of techno-wankery about how accurate and precise it is.

More interesting is the first list of games that will support the new controller. Among the names you’ll recognize are EyePet, Flower and Pain. These games will all receive motion controller features via a patch. I would expect it would be a FREE patch. Sony’s TGS presentation revealed that Resident Evil 5: Director’s Cut (link via Joystiq) will use it, and even LittleBigPlanet (link via Kotaku) could become playable with the new gadget. As far as brand new games go, how’s a new Ape Escape and Echochrome 2 sound?

Given my personal disillusionment with motion controls, I’m still not entirely enthused. But it is nice to see some name games popping up, and mouselike controls for level creation in LBP could be pretty cool.

Motion Controller* for PlayStation(R)3 to Become Available in Spring 2010

Motion Controller (Unofficial Name) Equipped with High-Precision Motion Sensors, Combined With PlayStation(R)Eye Camera, Delivers Whole New Entertainment Experience on PlayStation(R)3

TOKYO, Sept. 24 /PRNewswire/ — Sony Computer Entertainment (SCE) today announced that it will release a new Motion Controller (unofficial name) for PlayStation 3 (PS3 ) computer entertainment system in Spring 2010. The new controller, equipped with high-precision, highly accurate motion sensors, can deliver a whole new entertainment experience on PS3 when combined together with the PlayStation Eye camera(*1). Capable of recognizing and tracking a user’s face and voice as well as body motion, PlayStation Eye can also output the player’s image onto the TV screen. SCE will vigorously promote the expansion of this new experience only possible on the PS3 platform.

The newly announced Motion Controller is equipped with two motion sensors, three axes gyroscope and three axes accelerometer that can detect the controller’s angle and movement held in the user’s hand. Together with the PlayStation Eye camera for PS3 which can accurately track the absolute position of the controller, the controller can detect the natural and intuitive movement of the hand and reflect the precise movement on to the game. The sphere placed on the top of the controller is not only used to track the absolute position but can also give visual feedback to users by changing the colors or the illuminating patterns of the sphere. Furthermore, the new controller is also equipped with a rumble feature, familiar to the PlayStation DUALSHOCK series controller, delivering an immersive gaming experience to users.

Further expanding the new experience on PS3, SCE Worldwide Studios will deliver many exciting software titles for the Motion Controller in 2010(*2). SCE, with strong support from software developers and publishers, will deploy various measures to enhance the software title line-up for the new Motion Controller and vigorously promote the PS3 platform.

* Motion Controller is a tentative name.

*1 Users will need to use the PlayStation Eye camera to enjoy Motion Controller on PS3.

*2 Please see below for software titles to be released in 2010.

Product Outline
Motion Controller (Tentative)

Product name Motion Controller (tentative)

Release date Spring 2010

Recommended Retail Price To be decided.

Key Features — Three axes gyroscope, three axes accelerometer
— Bluetooth(R) 2.0
— Lithium-Ion rechargeable internal battery

Software Titles for Motion Controller from SCE Worldwide Studios(*1)

(2010 release, includes both Motion Controller dedicated and compatible titles)

Title name
———-
Ape Escape (Working Title)
Echochrome 2 (Working Title)
Eccentric Slider (Working Title)
Sing and Draw (Working Title)
Champions of Time (Working Title)
Motion Party (Working Title)
The Shoot (Working Title)
Tower (Working Title)
PAIN(*2)
Flower(*2)
Hustle Kings(*2)
High Velocity Bowling(*2)
EyePet(*2)

*1 Titles to be released will depend by countries or regions.

*2 Motion control function will be added by network update, etc.

About Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.

Recognized as the global leader and company responsible for the progression of consumer-based computer entertainment, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCEI) manufactures, distributes and markets the PlayStation game console, the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system, the PSP (PlayStation Portable) handheld entertainment system and the PlayStation 3 (PS3 ) system. PlayStation has revolutionized home entertainment by introducing advanced 3D graphic processing, and PlayStation 2 further enhances the PlayStation legacy as the core of home networked entertainment. PSP is a handheld entertainment system that allows users to enjoy 3D games, with high-quality full-motion video, and high-fidelity stereo audio. PS3 is an advanced computer system, incorporating the state-of-the-art Cell processor with super computer like power. SCEI, along with its subsidiary divisions Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc., Sony Computer Entertainment Europe Ltd., and Sony Computer Entertainment Korea Inc. develops, publishes, markets and distributes software, and manages the third party licensing programs for these platforms in the respective markets worldwide. Headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, SCEI is an independent business unit of the Sony Group.

The Bluetooth word mark is a registered trademark owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc. and any use of such marks by Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. is under license.

PlayStation and PSP are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.

Source: Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc.

CONTACT: Sony Computer Entertainment Inc., Corporate Communications,
03-6438-8686