My bad, seems like Uncharted is coming out in November: http://www.ebgames.com/product.asp?product%5Fid=270087

Uncharted looks like it could be great, but it could have gameplay problems. Still Naughty Dog hasn't let me down yet. Nice visuals there.

Oh, quick question : did most of you get the remote for BR payback? It sucks that I can't use my fancy Harmony remote to watch BR disks. Is it hard to use the controller instead for playback?

Sooooooooooo?...Yeah anyone?

The controller works fine. You navigate the BD/DVD menu with the analog and hit X to play and then it sits for 2 hours. A remote seems like a waste of money to me.

I agree. The controller has always worked fine for me during movie playback. Once the movie starts, what else do you really need it for? The L & R buttons are used to FF or Rewind if you had to.

PS3 Firmware 1.92 is out. here are the details:

The following information below were from QJ.NET readers, our own observation, forum members, as well as those who are actively discussing this surprise update over at the official PlayStation Forum:

* Ability to add Flash wallpapers
* Seemingly faster XMB load times
* XMB screensaver option (which was there prior to this but just became popular because of this)
* Improvements on Internet Browser application
* Auto power off for the controllers
* Thumbnails in the video section
* Synchronized game clips in the games folder load up
* Faster transition from game to XMB
* Updated PSOne/PS2 controller compatibility

Can you use any USB wireless keyboard with it to browse the internet?

And thanks for the input on the remote. I'll give it a shot, but being a home theater snob, I might just pick it up on sale. Still it's stunning that they didn't include an infared port.

I picked up the Bluetooth remote....I felt like I needed an accessory for my PS3 at the time. As far as how it works, it's average. It does the trick, but no backlight REALLY hurts the remote. I generally watch movies in the dark, so that is annoying. It is nice though....although, a controller may work just fine for some.

Nice.

One of those little Wii60 features you don't appreciate until you go to a system that doesn't have it.

* Updated PSOne/PS2 controller compatibility

Details?

For those looking for a PS3 remote this might work out: backlit PS3 remote

That is quite nice. It says "Bluetooth compatible", but it has a USB receiver so I assume it's really IR. Anyway, apparently the Sony one will be $19.99 at CC next week and I might just pick that up instead. I'll hold onto the receipt in case I like this one better when it comes out on 9/25.

I think you are correct Decker. In the little blurb I read about it they said you have to point the remote at the doc unlike the Sony Bluetooth one which does not care where you point it.

Yeah, that remote seems "OK", I guess still no backlit bluetooth remote. I really don't want another thing to put on my console.....I guess I'll keep my non-backlit remote.

Lair mini-Review (I'm about 7-8 levels in thus far)

Graphics -
Beautiful. Very nice. The cut-scenes are considerably nicer than in game, I would assume because of the scope of everything going on. In game is nothing to sneeze at though. It is impressive swooping down to land and there is an entire battle going on with hundreds of troops that you can get in the middle of and wreak some havoc.

Sound -
Excellent score. Has a LOTR vibe and works really well with the dragon theme. It doesn't have a memorable theme, but the score during battle makes it feel epic. Sound effects are average, but the score makes up for it. Voice acting is decent but nothing noteworthy.

Story -
Solid. Two warring factions the Asylains and Mokai are at odds with each other. At this point the Asylains (me) have been mostly been defending the city from the raids of the Mokai. After a half dozen levels, a peace treaty was drawn up but something went wrong and there was some backstabbing. Now the Asylains are on the offensive and heading into enemy territory.

Control -
The one everyone wants to know. Are they THAT bad? In a word, no. They aren't great either, just kind of 'there.' I have had almost zero issues controlling my dragon. I've only died once because of the controls, and that was mostly due to it being a 'quicktime event' that caught me off guard when I thought it was a cut-scene. Since this is my first real experience with the Sixaxis, I'm not sure if it is programming, but the Wiimote is far more responsive. As for the actual fighting, it is pretty good. You can lock-target and fireball away at the enemies, or fly in close to trigger an actual mid-air fight where each face button is a different action and the R buttons are defensive maneuvers. Much more action than I anticipated.

Overall -
Overall, I'm liking it, just not loving it. I do want to get back and finish it, as the controls have not turned me off as it apparently did for almost every reviewer out there. I wholeheartedly believe that this game's review scores are based solely on the controls, as every other aspect of the game is solid. I think it would definitely scored much higher if it had a traditional analog control scheme, or at least an option to choose, ala Motorstorm.

The comparisons to Rogue Squadron are very justified. Barring controls, if you liked those games, Lair will be right up your alley. The missions are eerily similar. Escorting, taking out turrets, dogfighting, it's all pretty much the same in a new setting. Some of the screeching dragons even sound like a screeching TIE coming toward you. lol The replay value stems from the same setup as the RS series, which consists of medals you received based on your perfomance. I can't imagine someone going for the gold in this game like Rogue Squadron. It just seems more tedious in Lair.

I'd say the game is definitely worth a rental, but I'd find it hard to justify a $60 investment. If you buy cheap, I'd wait for a price point around $20-$30. I'd say the $40 deal at CC is pushing it.

Also, LAIR can be played remotely on a PSP....interesting, it may get a rental from me just to try that.

So Lair has the same system of winning medals like the Rogue Squadron series? I have never been a gamer that goes for the "top score" so I hated that system. I didn't like Rogue Squadron because that was 95% of the game (replaying two-minute levels over and over and over to get the gold medal). Sounds like Lair is more of the same.

Identical. The mission lengths are probably comparable as well.

I just received my PS3 via Amazon and can't get the damn thing to turn on. I hooked up the AC Adaptor and flip the power switch in the back only to have it beep and the power indicator continuously blink red. I've read it does this from overheating, but its cool to the touch and this would be the first time it's been turned on. Also, the power "button" on the front doesn't seem to do a thing but (what I assume is the eject button) makes a beeping noise if I touch it. Anyone have any suggestions?

I wonder if Factor 5 is made up of ex-EA employees. Their idea of innovation is to replace the X-wing with a dragon?

try connecting the controller via the usb cable and pushing the PS button.

That's pretty much it in a nutshell. Almost feels like they scrapped the framework for RS4 and just put a different coat of paint over it for Sony. But whatever, it is a formula that has worked for them and the game is still fun.

What bugs me is in an issue of EGM a ways back, Egglebregcht (?) basically trash talked Nintendo saying he/they couldn't wait to move to Sony so they could do more with their games with such a powerful system. Little did I know at the time he just meant graphical since Lair is the same damn game they delivered to Nintendo... twice.

Actually, there are three of those Rogue Squadron games: one on N64 and two on the Gamecube. They are all pretty much identical too with fresh coats of paint. I remember some of the reviews for the third game saying "How many times can we play that same damn Hoth level?" They all had the same Hoth level were you grapple with the AT-ATs and trip them.

I always forget the first one. I hopped on board the franchise on the Cube.