Sony has already confirmed the PSP Wi-Fi store is coming this Fall for Japan. The official box art for a November 30 US PSP Brite (a.k.a. PSP-3000) bundle also shows store functionality (via Amazon), indicating that the fall launch will be global and just in time to keep yourself distracted during Thanksgiving dinner. It was previously rumored that the store would be coming with firmware 5.00.

In other PSP Brite news, the gang at Eurogamer spent the weekend with the upgraded handheld as well as firmware 4.20, featuring a Color Space option that, "If you set to [Wide], the system's display will appear more vivid."

[Via PSP Fanboy]

Despite what you may have heard from Register Hardware or various and sundry other media outlets over the weekend, Sega isn't getting back into the hardware business. Yes, the company's releasing a portable device that can "play games," in addition to playing music and movies as well as serving as a digital camera. But those games are Java-based, just like the ones you're playing on your cell phone right now. Well, not right now. But you get the idea.

To really drive home the point, Sega told Unofficial RPG Site, "The Vision is primarily an MP4 video player with some basic games functionality, and not a new handheld gaming machine" (emphasis RPG Site). RPG Site goes on to add, "the Sega Vision isn't actually a Sega-developed device at all, and in fact a cheap Chinese iPod-style alternative."

We know, we know. We're upset too.

Source -- Sega to launch PSP beater in Japan [Register Hardware]
Source -- SEGA: "Vision" is real, not a PSP rival [Unofficial RPG Site]

[Thanks to everyone who tipped us to this!]

LucasArts' big farewell to game development continues this week with the release of terraforming actioner Fracture. Is it as exciting as a terraforming motorcycle? It is not. But if you're looking for action this week, it's pretty much the best you're going to do.

If you're a sports fan though, you've got a double dribble of b-ball action with NBA Live 2009 and NBA 2K9 (thank goodness they're in the same week too, because we just used up all of the basketball lingo at our disposal). Check out the full list after the break.

Let me begin by apologizing for the hasty nature of the announcement of my being chosen as the running mate for the honorable Weekly Webcomic Wrapup. What my fine, fellow feature lacks in clarity and eloquence, he more than makes up for with sheer enthusiasm. Perhaps this is why he, with wisdom acquired during his three years of publication, chose me as his running mate -- to balance his passion with my own levelheadedness. In that respect, I am more than glad to play the Abbot to his Costello, the Brain to his Pinky, and the Linnell to his Flansburgh.

With that bit of business out of the way, I'd like to talk to you about why you should support a WWW/JHS ticket for the office of King and Queen Vice-King of the Internets. As you know, the Internets is a big place that requires a great deal of regulation from its executive officers. While the current administration has adopted a laissez-faire approach to their prestigious post, our leadership would provide a much needed repaving of the information superhighway -- for starters, all domain names will be required to end with ".fun". Not only will it simplify the Internets navigation process, but it may just bring a smile to the face of the typical, hard-hearted Internets user.

Our other major platforms include:

• Stronger punitive measures against the proliferation of Rick Astley songs
• Energy conservation through the deactivation of the Internets at 11 p.m. every night
  
• Free candy for supporters

So, when Election Day rolls around, won't you consider the benefits of a Weekly Webcomic Wrapup/Japanese Hardware Sales administration? Our change will be swift, our policies fair, and our candy delicious.

- DS Lite: 57,847 3,395 (5.54%)
- Wii: 26,314 3,607 (12.06%)
- PSP: 25,671 3,003 (10.47%)
- Xbox 360: 11,291 2,486 (18.04%)
- PS2: 9,848 2,128 (27.56%)
- PS3: 8,275 119 (1.46%)

[Source: Media Create]

See: www.archives.fun

Readers currently residing in the United Kingdom -- your wait is over. At long last, you'll be able to experience one of 2007's best selling, most critically acclaimed titles -- Rockstar's controversial thriller, Manhunt 2. After being turned down by the British Board of Film Classification for its "unremitting bleakness and callousness of tone," a reworked, SFEurope version of the game will be launched in the UK for the Wii, PS2 and PSP on October 31. We know, we can barely contain our excitement either.

Sure, it may lack a few of the more grisly elements included in the inappropriate North American version, but if your hands are shaking with anticipation as you read this report -- as we're sure they are -- we imagine you'll be able to overlook a few omitted acts of power drill-related violence.

This week's PSN update brings some nice demos for those PlayStation owners who truly shun all things Xbox 360. The BioShock and Eternal Sonata test drives are now available, along with snippets of NBA 2k9 and Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway. In addition, The PixelJunk Eden soundtrack can be purchased for $3, and there's an NBA Live 365 add-on for NBA LIVE 09. The full list of this week's update is after the break.

Would you kindly head over to PS3 Fanboy to find out what's in this week's European PSN update?

Now that we have some concrete details about the Nintendo DSi -- which bears more than a few similarities between its multimedia competitors -- let's size it up against the PSP-3000 and Apple's "gaming handheld" the iPhone/iPod Touch. Remember this is based on tech specifications and not on games library. We'll keep updating as we get more news from Nintendo about its just-announced portable.

	Nintendo DSi	PSP-3000	iPhone / iPod Touch
Screen Size	Two 3.25-inch displays	4.3-inch display	3.5-inch display
Screen Resolution	256 x 192	480 x 272, 16m colors	480×320
CPU speed / type	One 67 MHz (ARM) and one 33 MHz ARM7TDMI2	MIPS R4000-based; clocked from 1 to 333 MHz	620 MHz ARM 1176, underclocked to 412 MHz
Form Factor	5.85 x 3.33 x 0.99 inches1	6.7 x 2.9 x 0.9 inches	4.5 × 2.4 x 0.48 inches (iPhone); 4.3 × 2.4 × 0.33 inches (iPod Touch)
Camera	2 cameras, one with VGA resolution	Optional Go!Cam, 1.3 megapixels	iPhone has 2 megapixel camera
Memory	SD slot, internal storage (unknown size)	Memory Stick (up to 16GB)	8-32GB internal storage
Internet	Wi-Fi	Wi-Fi	Wi-Fi (iPhone also has EDGE or 3G)
Browser	Yes	Yes	Yes
Online Store	Yes (DSi Shop)	Yes (PS Store)	Yes (App Store)
Touch Screen	Yes (single touch)	No	Yes (multi-touch)

Notes:
1: Approximate size, based on Nintendo's assertion that DSi is 12 percent thinner than DS Lite
2: Architecture of the DS Lite and, as noted, subject to change pending official release notes

Update: Massively has a comparison piece on the MMO potential of the three portables.

With the 873 million of you out there with a PSP that alternates between being dragged around everywhere and then totally neglected, there may be hope yet! We first heard rumors back in April that LittleBigPlanet would be cramming its creative britches into something more appropriate for the PSP; now, Sony is looking to recruit someone capable of just such a cramming, a "PSP Game Engine Lead" who would "work on the development of exciting new LittleBigPlanet projects."

Pretty convincing, but not nearly as convincing as the game's developer brainstorming a PSP version with Eurogamer telling, "There's definitely scope for a PSP version ... We've had discussions and talks, [but] nothing concrete at the moment." Maybe once they get that PSP Game Engine Lead all signed up, those slushy talks will stiffen up into something decidedly more concrete.

Source – "LittleBigPlanet projects" job listing [Via PSP Fanboy]
Source – LittleBigPlanet boss reveals PSP vision [GamesIndustry.biz]

Having recently confirmed his involvement with God of War's assuredly violent journey to the big (albeit considerably less interactive) screen, film director Brett Ratner is all set to combine his particular track record with the games-to-movie stigma and create the internet's greatest bitchfest. Not everyone's predicting a Greek tragedy, however, with God of War's creator, David Jaffe, earnestly informing us (via video, embedded after the break) that while the adaptation "could be shit," he's nevertheless satisfied with the pedigree of the director, as well as the producer (from Batman Begins!) and the writer, who penned the screenplay for Road to Perdition.

Mind you, he also says he liked X-Men 3, so perhaps he's just pulling our leg on the whole thing. That Jaffe is a rascal, we tell you!

Features to be included in the next major PSP update, v5.00, have allegedly been detailed (translation) by an unnamed French developer working with the beta version of the firmware. 5.00 will supposedly include direct access to the PlayStation Store, which was promised last month for the fall (in Japan, at least), along with an improved RSS reader with text file support and a screen capture mode that supports in-game screenshots. The source could not confirm a date for the firmware's public release, but speculates that it could coincide with the launch of PSP Brite, the new hardware revision, on October 14th or in the weeks following. PSP's current firmware version is 4.05 -- if true, it would be a big leap to 5.00, by Sony standards.

[Via PSP World; thanks, Skylar]

Perhaps we'll finally get more context to Team ICO's next project, as well as its mysterious teaser image (shown above), when Sony unveils 14 unannounced titles at the 2008 Tokyo Game Show next week.

The PSP has 3 unannounced titles coming from Sony, while the PS3 gets one from Irem (developers of R-Type), one from Konami and nine from Sony. We've placed the full exhibition list after the break.

[Via Siliconera, PS3 Fanboy]

Sony Online Entertainment president John Smedley stated the company is considering an MMO for the PSP. He tells MTV Multiplayer that SOE started considering one seriously when the division was transferred over to Sony Computer Entertainment last April. SOE was previously under the control of Sony Pictures -- yeah, don't ask how that made any sense.

Smedley doesn't announce any games, but he says that kid-focused PS3 MMO Free Realms "could have a pet-training system" for the PSP. An MMO is clearly a good idea with 34 million PSPs currently out there, but from Smedley's comments it sounds like any realization of that seems years away.

No time for nonsense today, dearest readers. The regularly scheduled shenanigans must be sidelined this week for a much more important cause: Warhammer Online just finished patching, and we're jonesing to play it. Don't feel neglected, friends -- you still hold a very important place in our collective heart. Just, you know, not as important as the unignorable siren call of a brand new, potentially addictive MMO.

[Update: We apologize for the dismissive and frankly unprofessional tone of the above paragraph. We feel such blatant duty shirking doesn't accurately display the level of integrity and dedication to our readers that we strive for with each post -- even when those posts are as inconsequential and nonsensical as these weekly hardware sales charts.]

[Update: Inconsequential, eh? We'll have you know that just last week, we received a lovely email from a reader who said that thanks to our hardware sales feature, she's found the courage to return to her job with her father's tuna fishing operation following the untimely tuna-devourment of her husband. She's even invited us to the christening of their newest commercial fishing vessel -- how's that for inconsequential?]

[Update: Beg our pardon. We meant no disrespect to what is surely our most valued demographic -- recently widowed tuna harvesters.]

[Update: Fine, bub. You think you can do better? You can finish the post, then.]

[Update: Gladly. Hey, the Xbox 360 outsold the PS3 for the second week in a row. Looks like Microsoft finally ... developed a ... strategy to ...]

[Update: Oh, that's great. Really -- absolutely hilarious. I wasn't aware that Ray Romano had joined our staff.]

[Update: You're incredibly fired.]

- DS Lite: 61,242 2,617 (4.10%)
- Wii: 29,921 235 (0.79%)
- PSP: 28,674 1,482 (4.91%)
- Xbox 360: 13,777 14,411 (51.12%)
- PS3: 8,156 103 (1.28%)
- PS2: 7,720 51 (0.67%)

[Source: Media Create]

See: The recently widowed archives

Sony's PlayStation Blog announced today that PSN cards will be available at more national retailers beginning in October. The cards will soon be available in $20 and $50 denominations at Wal-Mart, Best Buy and "select Sam's Club outlets." The cards will assist in destroying GPAs when they become available in November at Barnes & Noble College Bookstores.

Sony had previously announced that PSN cards are currently available at Blockbuster, AAFES and a few regional retailers. Yup, still no GameStop.

[Photo credit: Flickr ffg]