We have a big bundle of gaming news this week with GamesCom just ending, including the finally announced PlayStation 3 slim model. Accompanying the announcement, firmware v3.0 is on the way for PlayStation 3, Microsoft has announced Fable III exclusively for Xbox 360, both the PS3 and Xbox 360 seem to be getting price cuts to $299, a ton of the first Final Fantasy XIV gameplay was shown, and loads more.
Oh, and backwards compatibility was not announced at the show for PlayStation 3.
Betas
Calendar Check
• Blur Dated for November 3rd
• Bad Company 2 Dated for March 2010
• Brutal Legend Demo Coming Next Month
• LittleBigPlanet GOTY Dated, “Bigger” Announcement Tomorrow (bigger announcement here)
• The Mystery of Whiterock Castle Hits XBLA this Summer
DLCs
• New Mass Effect achievements signal new DLC
• Fat Princess also teasing Kings and Cooks
• Borderlands has at least two surprising DLCs planned
• Section 8 Demo Now on Xbox LIVE Marketplace
• US PlayStation Store Update: August 20, 2009
• DiRT 2 Demo Arrives This Week
• LittleBigPlanet Gets Wet With Water Add-On
• Bethesda: “Enough” Fallout 3 DLC Has Been Released
• Mini Ninjas Demo Hits This Wednesday
• Shadow Complex Hits Xbox LIVE Arcade This Week
Development Status
• Bungie: Halo: Reach “in development right since the end of Halo 3″
• APB Console versions not canned, just not first priority
• Kitase: Final Fantasy XIII demo would be new, 70% in on 360 development
• Bayonetta “80 percent complete,” says Sega
• Alan Wake is ‘done’ and in polishing stages, says Remedy
ESRB Leaks
• Square Enix Revivng Thexder for PS3, PSP
For Facts, For Details
• Resonance of Fate takes 150 hours to fully complete
• Koller: PS2 backwards compatibility “won’t be returning”
• Tanaka: Final Fantasy XIV most likely a timed exclusive
• Final Fantasy XIII story to last around 50 hours
• Kitase: “aiming” for Final Fantasy XIII 360 to ship on 3 DVDs
• id: No Difference Between PS3 and 360 Versions of RAGE
• id: RAGE May Have Separate Single and Multiplayer Discs on Xbox 360
• DUST 514 Is an FPS Console MMO from EVE Online Devs
• Konami Rockin’ Out to the Rhythm with Music Games
• Glasses Woman Named in Final Fantasy XIII
• Sony Explains Lack of Backwards Compatibility in PS3 Slim
Game Announce
• Game Republic Announces Clash of the Titans and Majin: The Fallen Realm
• Ninja Theory Working on Namco Bandai PS3/360 Game
• Fable III Announced for Xbox 360
• Dead Nation Is Stardust Creator’s Next Game
• Devil Kings 3 Revealed for PlayStation 3
• 3D Dot Game Heroes Announced for PlayStation 3
• Earthworm Jim Coming to Consoles Q4 2009
Holy Shit
• Kojima working on new IP, wanted to make it for “a long time”
Moving Pictures
• Final Fantasy XIV Party Gameplay from GamesCom
• GC ‘09: Risen Gameplay Walkthrough Video
• GC ‘09: Mafia II Screens and Trailer
• GC ‘09: New Bayonetta Screenshots and Gameplay
• Majin: The Fallen Realm Debut Trailer
• GC ‘09: Castlevania: Lords of Shadow Screens and Trailer
• More Final Fantasy XIV GamesCom Gameplay
• Final Fantasy XIV Gameplay Surfaces
• Final Fantasy XIV Characters Get Animated
• GC ‘09: Mass Effect 2 Character Reveal and Screens
• GC ‘09: God of War III Screenshots
• GC ‘09: Battlefield: Bad Company 2 Screens and Trailer
• GC ‘09: CryEngine 3 Demonstration Video
Not So Moving Pictures
• GC ‘09: Splinter Cell: Conviction Screens
• GC ‘09: Final Fantasy XIV gameplay screenshots
• GC ‘09: RAGE screenshots got game
• 3D Dot Game Heroes Screens are Dot-tastic
• GC ‘09: Halo 3: ODST Shots Arrive
• GC ‘09: Borderlands Screens Scream Big Fun
• GC ‘09: New BRINK Screenshots
• GC ‘09: Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack In Time Screens
• GC ‘09: Uncharted 2: Among Thieves Trailer and Screens
• Heavy Rain Screens Reveal Third Character
Official Sites
• 3D Dot Game Heroes Official Site Launches
• Devil Kings 3 Official Japanese Site Launches
Price Cuts
• Xbox 360 to compete with PS3 Slim on Sept. 1st with new $299 price
Sneaky
• Fable II GOTY Edition Spotted Online
• Sony planning PS3 box art change after slim announcement?
Sony Conference
• PS3 Slim Already Gets a Bundle
• Official PlayStation 3 Slim Shots Are Small and Sexy
• PlayStation 3 Slim Model Announced, Available September
• PlayStation 3 Firmware v3.0 Announced
• PlayStation Network Getting New Look on September 1st