It looks like layoffs are the "in" thing these days. While NCSoft lost less people than rumors previously said, Radical Entertainment was not so lucky. According to the Vancouver Sun, the studio's staff has been cut roughly in half. More in the full article.

Just how rough a year was 2007 for the Need for Speed franchise? Well, things with Need for Speed ProStreet (PC, Xbox 360, PS2, PS3, Wii) got so bad that it forced EA's hand to reform the distribution of manpower in its Vancouver studios. There will be twice the staff and longer development periods to allow devs to increase quality on their projects. More in the full story up ahead.

 

A new PSP homebrew developer in our forums, stevendlv, has just released Live 0.9 Beta, the dev's first homebrew release. Live is a "webcam/weather portal", much like PSP Earth but was not based on the latter's source code. As stevendlv put it, Live "is made of Div's and CSS while PSP Earth isn't for example".

This PlayStation Portable portal is connected to a number of locations worldwide. Here's the list from the dev's release thread:

• Finland: Helsinki, Tampere
• UK: Norwich, Manchester, Shetland Islands, Leeds, London
• Swiss: Geneve, Zurich Airport
• Holland: Den Helder, Schiphol, Eindhoven
• US: Nasa, Las Vegas, Massachusetts, California University, Golden Gate Bridge, Hawai. Sergo's Coffeeshop, Railcam
• Canada: Gordons, Vancouver
• Asia: Manilla, Hong Kong, Panda Cam, Shanghai
• Australia: Toorak, Perth, Perth

This release doesn't have a readme file as installation is easy. Copy the unrared file to the map PSP and then scurry on to your browser and type the file's address. That's it. Easy as pie, right? Check out the download below. Remember that this is still in beta, so for comments and suggestions you guys can go to the forums via the link below, or use the comments section.

Download: Live 0.9 Beta
Visit: PSP Development Forum

A Canadian Grand Theft Auto fan bearing a GTA tattoo on his back has been arrested for attempting to steal a car. The Man, named as Shylo Kujawski, was a convicted car thief and was spotted acting suspiciously in Vancouver, Canada where several stolen cars had been previously reported. The Royal Canadian Mounted police staged a stakeout after they received a tip-off about the thief, easily identified by his Grand Theft Auto tattoo.

The man who obviously wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed, actually sabotaged his own attempt to drive away in another stolen vehicle by accidentally disabling the car with the steering wheel lock which was fitted to the car. Kujawski has been charged with possession of stolen property, as well as breach of probation and driving while suspended. The moral of the story - Stick to the game!

Need For Speed Carbon is definitely making sure you'd get the paramount street-racing experience as it gets ready to invade the Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, PS2, Xbox, Gamecube, Nintendo DS, GBA, PSP, PC and mobile.

Whew! Those sure are a lot of grounds to cover!

No worries, though: EA earlier revealed more cars from the handsome list of wheels featured in the game. From the vintage to the newest models, the cars in NFS Carbon will definitely make your heads spin with its cool collections.

The 1970 Plymouth Barracuda, together with the 1967 Shelby GT500, makes an appearance side by side the 2005 Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG and the 2006 Corvette Z06. The 2005 Monaro Vauxhall VXR is also available for you to let rip across the treacherous canyon roads. And those are but a few of what NFS Carbon has stashed in its garage.

Check out these screens to pick your ride.