Yes folks! It's that time again for another rumor. It seems that the Leipzig Games Conference, the annual video game event that usually takes place in the Leipzig Messes exhibition halls, might be moving to Cologne for their 2009 event. Details in the full article.

Yes, we can't wait for August 21 to come around, especially those of us lucky enough to receive advance holiday tickets for the Games Convention 2008 event. In anticipation of yet another high turnout this year, the folks at Leipzig are hard at work in making sure the venue will be a great (and safe) place to check out what's new in the gaming world. Details in the full article!

When Sony finally revealed the PSP Slim and Lite at this year's Leipzig Games Convention, Sony Computer Entertainment or SCEE also announced that a couple of bundles will be available exclusively (for a limited time) in Europe.

Now it's been officially unveiled that the said bundles are the Simpsons PSP and the Spider-Man PSP. We have for you today the first images of the above mentioned PSPs courtesy of Kotaku.

The Spider-Man bundle comes with a copy of Activision's video game Spider-Man 2 as well as a copy of the movie Sider Man 3 on Blu-ray. It should cost around 199.99 Euros or roughly around US$ 270. The Simpsons bundle, on the other hand, will come with the PSP version of Electronic Arts' The Simpsons and should cost US$ 270 as well.

   

Everyone's been asking if there ever will be a PSP Phone (or PSPhone to some). With all the rumors flying around, it's hard to pinpoint whether or not this product is really in the works.

Sony Ericsson's Peter Ahnegard was interviewed by Pocket Gamer at the Leipzig Games Convention. He spoke about quite a few things, but dropped the bomb with his comments on a possible PlayStation Phone. He started by discussing the assets they currently have and if it is feasible to actually release one:

I've been waiting for that one! To explain our position I need to look at the brands we've developed so far, in particular the Cyber-shot and Walkman phones.

When we looked at all the assets we could muster for music and imaging the services, downloads and overall proposition, we felt that we could create something that really lived up to the values of the brand and fill all the required boxes.

We're not launching a brand of handset simply because we can, but because we can lead up to the expectations of the consumer. Up until today we haven't felt we could launch a PlayStation phone because it wouldn't be recognized as a true continuation of that brand of products.

After that he gave a semi-confirmation of the product saying "it's obviously something that we're looking at but right now I can't really comment. Before Christmas, certainly... but exactly which Christmas I can't confirm!" This is big news for those who want the convenience of a mobile phone with their handheld gaming platform.

So does this mean we'll be seeing an announcement on this product soon? Hopefully, we will. If you're interested in reading the entire interview, don't hesitate to click on our Read Link. Keep checking back here for more updates on the PSPhone.

Along with the three Go! Services announced during the Leipzig Games Convention, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE) also announced an exciting new feature for the PlayStation 3: a TV Tuner combined with a Personal Video Recorder. Called PlayTV, the service virtually transforms the PS3 into a game console/TiVo hybrid.

The service will be available in the UK, France, Italy, Germany, and Spain in early 2008. The service will be available to other PAL territories that support Digital Video Broadcasting in the future. PlayTV picks up Terrestrial video format (DVB-T) which is organized with the Electric Programme Guide EPG2.

Aside from being able to play and record High Definition format for the Sony PS3, PlayTV also has tutorial videos and can connect with the PSP to watch Live and recorded TV programs via Wi-Fi. The Programme Guide will also provide numerous information about the programs users watch and record. All these with the ease of use of the controller or the BD remote controller.

The last (but certainly not the least) of the three Go! services unveiled for the PlayStation Portable during the Leipzig Games Convention is the Go! Video Download Service. The service will be available in the UK and Ireland in early 2008.

What the service basically does is transform the PSP into a portable media library. Users will be able to choose from a diverse number of programs from Sky, Ireland the UK's multi-platform television service. Available programs will include sports, entertainment, movies, music, and animation.

Sky is also in talks with other third-party channel brands to bring in more content. The programs will be available via Wi-Fi or the PC where users can just transfer the videos. Programs will be delivered on a pay per view basis so users will only watch and pay for the programs they want.

Sony Computer Entertainment Europe's (SCEE) new Go!Messenger function, one of the three Go!Services they unveiled during the Leipzig Games Convention 2007, will be released on January next year. Go!Messenger features a whole new arsenal of communications for Sony PSP owners in Europe.

Go!Messenger will be available with a future firmware update and will install a new icon on the PSP's XMB. Go!Messenger will give PSP users free wireless communications over Wi-Fi, offering an Instant Messaging service and voice chat.

The IM service will feature an intuitive on-screen keyboard. It'd be interesting to see just how intuitive it will be. Video chats will also be available by making use of the Go!Cam. The service will also require a headset.

Thanks to transce080 for the tip!

Crash may not be as iconic as Mario or Sonic, but he's one mean bandicoot. Plenty of fans should be delighted with his comeback in Crash of the Titans (Xbox 360, Sony PSP, Nintendo DS), and for a good reason. For everyone else alien to what this title is, here's a trailer that Vivendi Games showcased at the Games Convention '07 in Leipzig.

Doctor Neo Cortex is back with his evil schemes. In this video, he captures Crash in an attempt to make our orange hero suffer yet again. Things went sour with the mad scientist's evil inventions however, making everything backfire. Instead of doing some hurting, Crash just got stronger. Monsters under the doctor's control couldn't do anything to stop the escape.

From what we can see, quirky humor is still going to earn Crash of the Titans some laughs. Expect the game in North American shelves this October 2.

Buy: [Crash of the Titans (PSP)]
Buy: [Crash of the Titans (DS)]
Buy: [Crash of the Titans (Xbox 360)]

Roll out the red carpet! Leipzig Messe has just announced the winners for the "Best of GC" during the Leipzig Games Convention 2007. The awards span across all current generation platforms and other industry-related tidbits showcased during the event, all dispersed under ten respective categories.

Among the list of 85 hardware and software entries, a lineup of finalists have been revealed. And with those finalists, it seemed to be a tough call on which to choose as the winner. Each of the finalists had their own big plus to bring into the table, that's for sure. Regardless, the winners have already been announced.

Here's the full list of winners of the Best of GC, each in their own category:

• God of War: Chains of Olympus (Sony Computer Entertainment) - PSP
• Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 (Konami) - PS2
  
• Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 (Konami) - PS3
• BioShock (Take-Two Interactive) - Xbox 360
• Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games (Sega) - Nintendo Wii
• Eye Training (Nintendo) - Nintendo DS
• Crysis (Electronic Arts) - PC
• Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures (Eidos) - Online
• Wii Balance Board - Hardware/Accessory/Product

An award was supposed to have been given for the Mobile category, however, there weren't enough participants to have warranted the prize.

SCEE new Go!Explore feature for the PlayStation Portable is a powerful and fully functional Satellite Navigation system. In a partnership with TeleAtlas and NavNGo, the PSP is transformed into a state of the art GPS utility for in-car use or simple pedestrian walks.

The device offers 3D mapping that pinpoints various places of interest ranging from gas stations to restaurants. It even lets you plan out a route for you in advance, letting you "fly" over the city. In the demonstration featured here in the Leipzig Games Convention, the Go!Explore function is used to navigate from London's Houses of Parliament to Trafalgar Square. Check it out, it's pretty cool.

Unfortunately, like the PS3's PlayTV and the PSP video download service, this service is also, at least for now, exclusive to Europe.

Thanks to daspixel for uploading the demonstration in YouTube.