Playstation Plus Launches Today

Playstation Plus launched today, it is the new subscription based service for the Playstation Network.

The service was announced at E3 at the beginning of the month at the Sony Press Conference.  It offers subscribers exclusive content, Beta invitations, PSN games, games on demand and discounts in the PS Store.

There are two subscription packs you can choose from, the 12 month, or the 90 days packs.  12 months will cost you £39.99 and 3 months is £11.99.

For all you people that aren't going to sign up and are worried you will lose features you have at the moment, don't worry, you will lose no features, the subscription just gives people new features.

Dead Rising 2 gets delayed

Capcom has confirmed Dead Rising 2 has been delayed by a month in Europe and the US.

For Europe, the previous September 3rd date has been slapped on its zombie - mutated head, and the game will now ship on October 1st. In the US, the game now gets a release date of September 28th.

There were no reasons given for the delay, but its not much of one in any case.

The game is out on PS3, 360 and PC.

Last.fm heading to PSN?

According to an article on CVG, social music service Last.fm could be heading to the PS3 in the future, as its current availability on Xbox 360 has been revealed as a timed exclusive, which is set to expire this November.

2 million Xbox Live users signed up to Last.fm when it launched on the 360 last year, making it an extrememly successful venture. Now, word on the street is that Last.fm would like a couple more million users, in the shape of PSN.

Speaking to OXM, Last.fm boss, Orlena Yeung, hinted at new features for Last.fm on the console saying:

“There is a nice parallel between the community-driven experience at Last.FM and the gamer community on Xbox Live. I think we can create more experience where users are socialising their music taste across gaming and music. We will see…”

The bigger picture here, isn't the fact its Last.fm. With PlayStation Plus, Sony's new premium subscription package for PSN launching next week, will all future expansions and services be only made available to PS+ subscribers,- much like Xbox Live Gold? Will Sony's plan to keep online multiplayer free, be balanced out by offering other content only available via subscription? Time will tell.

Thanks, CVG.

The E3 Game Attic Podcast

We've been slacking this week, but with a new look and a new week beginning, cometh last week's E3 podcast on the site for those of you who haven't heard it yet.

Hear all the GT5 hate from our resident trolls (Curry and Timmy) as we discuss all the major events of the main 5 conferences and answer your questions on the event.

To listen/download/subscribe with iTunes: http://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/game-attic/id377043471

To listen/download/subscribe via other RSS means: http://gameattic.podhoster.com/

Or, listen here now:

A stunning Day and Night with Gran Turismo 5

Yes. E3 finally gave us the news we wanted. Gran Turismo 5 will ship for PS3 on November 2nd in the US, with a EU release still to be announced.

Some very nice footage was shown of the racer, as well as the usual but very good looking slew of screenshots. Today though, we have some stunning day and night shots from the game that make us bubble with joy just a little bit. Check em out below, as well as some footage from GTPlanet. Shots via VG247.

Game Attic UK's 2nd Podcast

Welcome to the second Game Attic podcast. This week, we discuss the iPhone 4, all the big stuff from E3, o2's tariffs... more o2, and some games.

Check it out below or search for "Game Attic" on iTunes (direct link: http://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/game-attic/id377043471).

Stars:

Stuart
Marty
Timmy
and guest from Genuine Gamers, Steveo

E3 starts now - First Killzone 3 footage lands

And its pretty awesome indeed.

GameTrailers TV aired a pre-E3 special last night, and among other things, showed off the first proper in game footage of PS3 shooter Killzone 3, footage will you can see now.

The video shows off the new brutal melee combat system, the jetpacks, the new environments and well, just check out the thing for yourself. It's looking pretty good.

More to come at E3, also keep checking here for all the E3 news as we get it, including news from both Sony and Microsoft's keynote, and all the other stuff in between.

MotorStorm Apocalypse gets official, brings us screenshots

Evolution Studios have officially announced MotorStorm Apocalypse, for PlayStation 3.

Speaking on the PlayStation Blog, game director Matt Southern detailed the off road racer, which this time, takes place in an abandoned City similar to that of San Fransico, after a giant tremor decimates the place. Perfect place for some racing, then!

The game includes -

• Sixteen player online multiplayer.
• Four player split-screen.
• Combinations of the two. Play with three friends in the living room against 12 more online.
• Massive vehicle customisation. Change vinyls, vehicle parts, vehicle shapes and more. Upload them to the community site and share them with others. They automatically work on all vehicle types, and include your PSN ID.
• Vehicle perks. Modify your handling, boosting and offensive abilities as you unlock new perks.
• A wealth of rankings to progess through online with associated rewards and recognition.
• Stacks of online rewards to earn and persistent progress giving the most determined and successful racers the status and recognition they deserve.
• Persistent matchmaking. Keep your party together throughout your gaming session.
• A Game Mode Creator. From a completely blank canvas you can design your own game rules and victory conditions, play them online, and incorporate them into tournaments.

Pretty impressive update to the series by the sounds of things. Check out the shots below courtesy of VideoGamer, they look a riot. The game is out on PS3 in 2011.