Well, its been a while. Nearly 12 months since I last posted anything here on PSPCulture. There are numerous excuses, but the main one is that I stopped using my PSP quite so much, and that meant I stopped keeping up with the latest developments in the PSP world.

I do still use my PSP, but not as regularly, mainly because any gaming time is now taken up with either the Wii or PS3.  I’ve only just got the PS3, having fought the urge for quite a while, but a recent 20% off at a well known supermarket chain dropped the price to £199 (for the new 120gb slim model) and I could no longer resist.

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News coming out of the TGS is that the PSP and PS3 are to get new firmware releases on the 15th October. The PS3 is going to 2.5 and the PSP to firmware 5.0.

Expect to see Playstation Store access on your PSP from the middle of next week. Its also been announced that a number of titles will be available for download in the run up to Christmas, including the following -

• Yuusha no Kuze ni Namaikida or2 (10/16)
• Bleach Soul Carnival (10/23)
• Secret Agent Clank (11/20)
• Patapon 2 (11/27)
• LocoRoco 2 (12/4)
• Resistance Retribution

Interesting that Sony are going to offer a number of big launches via download – I didn’t expect to see titles such as LocoRoco 2 and Pat-a-pon 2 as downloads from day one of their release. Is this a sign that the UMD and hard media distribution days are coming to an end – are you happy to buy your games online and do without the UMD sitting in your PSP? I’m a ludite in terms of digital downloads – I prefer my games (and music) to come in a box, and be a tangible object I can hold in my hands.

via PSPFanBoy

Exophase have got a few details on a new PS3 pack to be launched in Europe to co-incide with the release of Grand Theft Auto IV.

According to a listing over at big-name Swedish retailer Webhallen, a 40GB equipped Grand Theft Auto IV PlayStation 3 bundle is scheduled to hit Europe on April 29, alongside the launch of the standalone game.

The GTA IV themed bundle is priced at 4499kr, which roughly equates to €399.99 in Euro. While SCEE has yet to officially announce or confirm the bundle, it’s no secret that retailers are usually given advance information on products such as this.

Looks pretty good to me, and another reason to save the pennies to buy a PS3.