Yesterday, Zip.ca announced a partnership with Sonic Solutions to become the first online streaming film and TV show rental service in Canada. Speaking with Joystiq, Zip.ca CEO Curt Millar said his company “would love” to bring the service to Canadian video game consoles — similar to the Netflix streaming service currently available on Xbox 360’s in the United States — but no agreements are in place with any of the three game console manufacturers.

“Our whole strategy on this is to be available on every platform that we can be available on,” Millar said. “We believe for consumer adoption to be high, you need to have it so that the consumer doesn’t have to worry about how it works. It should just work on everything.” According to Millar, partnering with an American company — such as Sonic Solutions — allows Zip.ca to put forth “a better presentation” when looking to secure agreements with partners, like the major console makers.

Streaming content to consoles isn’t exactly new to Zip.ca’s partner. Sonic Solutions recently announced it would begin offering movies from its catalog to Fujisoft’s streaming Wii video service, Minna no Theater Wii, in Japan through its Roxio CinemaNow platform.

Zip.ca CEO ‘would love’ to bring new streaming service to Canadian console owners originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 30 Jun 2009 17:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The $99.99 package includes the game (obviously), an exclusive Kobe Bryant figurine by McFarlane Toys, a Kobe Bryant poster, a video about the NBA 2K series, and an account on the “Gold Room,” a special VIP online lobby for the game.

Oh, the package also includes a storage locker designed to hold 20 games. That’s furniture. This game comes with furniture.

NBA 2K10’s oversized 10th Anniversary Edition revealed originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 30 Jun 2009 12:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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OK, before you watch the video after the break: Imagine if someone traveled into the future, killed all the guys in that Yatta! video and used their blood sacrifice to revive a recently murdered Daft Punk. If they made a game about that, it would be Shatter. Now, you may watch.

We weren’t cool enough to hear about Shatter on the E3 show floor, so we, much like yourselves, are just now climbing on the bus. And what a freaked out, Breakout-esque bus it is too.

Continue reading See more of PSN’s Shatter in motion

See more of PSN’s Shatter in motion originally appeared on Joystiq Playstation on Tue, 30 Jun 2009 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Remember that costume CLAMP designed for Tekken 6? Well, feast your eyes on the gallery below, which shows Jin Kazama sporting the ridiculously ornate get-up and putting the screws to his daddy, Kazuya Mishima. We won’t keep you from the eye candy, so feel free to check out the screens below while we daydream about how fun Tekken Bowling was.

Check out CLAMP’s Tekken 6 costume in-game originally appeared on Joystiq Playstation on Tue, 30 Jun 2009 16:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Based on the highest-pursed skating event in history, the Maloof Money Cup makes its way to Skate 2 on July 9 for $3.00 and 240 on PSN and Xbox Live, respectively. That’s one day before the real-life event takes place, and the DLC will mimic the setup of that event pretty closely, through a collection of single-player and online events. These events consist of freeskate, vert, and street contests, and will also provide Xbox gamers with an additional 250 Achievement points to earn. Considering the game’s last update was back in February, we’re surprised EA even remembered it had a skateboarding game.

Skate 2’s Maloof Money Cup DLC busting kickflips on July 9 originally appeared on Joystiq Xbox on Tue, 30 Jun 2009 11:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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If your revolutionary Martian escapades are drawing to a close, don’t fret — it looks like there’s plenty more Red Faction: Guerrilla content coming out in the next few months. THQ just announced three new DLC packs for the game — the first of which, titled Demons of the Badlands, will land on XBLM and the PlayStation Store on August 13.

Badlands is an expansion to the game’s single-player campaign which features a “mission arc that takes place in an entirely new Mars landscape outside of the existing expansive world.” THQ has priced the DLC at 800 or $9.99. The developer has promised further details on the August-bound DLC and the two other upcoming expansions in the next few weeks, so keep your ear to the red, dusty ground.

Red Faction: Guerrilla getting three DLC packs, first coming August 13 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 30 Jun 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Another possibly “frustrating” leak for Sony, word comes from our buddies at Joystiq Japan and Engadget Chinese that two Taiwanese manufacturing companies have been awarded contracts to build Sony’s new streamlined PS3, affectionately known as the PS3 Slim. According to UDN.com, half of the orders have gone to Taiwanese group Foxconn, while the other half has gone to Pegatron. The units are expected to start shipping in early July “to cope with expected summer vacation demands.”

The news has a ring of truth to it, given that the two firms have manufactured the original PS3. The timing also makes sense, as Japan actually buys most of its game consoles during the summer vacation period (as opposed to the winter holidays in the west). Still, all of this info comes from anonymous sources, so take it with a very hearty helping of salt.

Assuming the news is true, it would mesh well with the PS3 Slim rumors we’ve heard so far, most notably that Ars Technica expected the units to hit the market in August or September. Add this to the string of rumors and leaks — even some purported images of the unit itself — and the PS3 Slim looks like it could be hitting the ground sooner rather than later.

Rumor: Taiwanese firms awarded PS3 Slim manufacturing contracts originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 30 Jun 2009 13:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony Computer Entertainment is expanding its licensing program for PlayStation peripherals and accessories. It basically means that if a peripheral manufacturer conforms to “qualifying SCE standard and requirements,” it can make gadgets and gizmos aplenty, whosits and whatsits galore! You want thingamabobs? They’ll make plenty! But, who cares? No big deal. We want mooooooooooore.

Entering into a licensing agreement with SCE will give manufacturers the “technical documentations” needed to make products for PSP, PS3 and the PS2. Plus, when the product goes to market, it’ll even get the spiffy “Official Licensed Product logo.” We can’t wait to see what third-party manufacturers come up with over the next few months.

Sony expands ‘Official Licensing Program’ for PlayStation peripherals, accessories originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 30 Jun 2009 09:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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According to consulting firm Futuresource (via Video Business), Blu-ray discs will account for 50 percent of the home entertainment market by 2012. That said, the firm lowered its expectations of Blu-ray sales for 2009 from 90 million to 75 million thanks to software attach rates on the PS3. It seems that PS3 owners tend to buy only one or two Blu-ray movies a year, while owners of dedicated Blu-ray players buy anywhere from five to eight.

Furthermore, while the PS3 is currently the most popular Blu-ray player — it accounts for 6 percent of high-def hardware, while dedicated players make up only 3 percent — Futuresource expects the console will account for only 22 percent of all high definition equipment in 2012. Declining prices for dedicated machines — the firm says that entry level players will cost $50 by 2012 — will push them to 53 percent.

Assuming these numbers ring true, maybe we’ll be paying a little less for the “one to two” Blu-ray movies we supposedly buy every year.

Analysts: Blu-ray to capture 50% of software market by 2012 originally appeared on Joystiq Playstation on Mon, 29 Jun 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Based on the highest pursed skating event in history, the Maloof Money Cup makes its way to Skate 2 on July 9 for $3.00 and 240 on PSN and Xbox Live, respectively. That’s one day before the real-life event takes place, and the DLC will mimic the set-up of that event pretty closely, through a collection of both single-player and online events. These events consist of freeskate, vert, and street contests, and will also provide Xbox gamers with an additional 250 Achievement points to earn. Considering the game’s last update was back in February, we’re surprised EA even remembered it had a skateboarding game.

Maloof Money Cup DLC busting kickflips in Skate 2 July 9 originally appeared on Joystiq Xbox on Tue, 30 Jun 2009 11:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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