It looks like Qore has scored yet another exclusive for its upcoming issue. The PSN video magazine will cover games like LittleBigPlanet, Prince of Persia, MotorStorm: Pacific Rift and BioShock. However, more exciting are the Burger King-sponsored downloads. Qore purchasers will be able to get their hands on the MotorStorm demo a month before the general public, and they'll also get an exclusive LittleBigPlanet theme.
Qore is available for $2.99 an issue, $24.99 for an annual subscription. Annual subscriptions include access to Calling All Cars.
Qore, blimey. What a large update. Oh wait, it's not actually that big, there are just a large amount of videos. Nothing tremenously exciting in terms of playable content, but a subscription to Qore will let you into the Resistance 2 beta (single issue purchase will grant late access). Don't forget to download the Home theme to get access to the beta. Here's the full release list:
Playable Content
QoreEpisode 3 ($2.99 or $24.99 for a year's subscription)
Details regarding the upcoming SOCOM: Confrontation open beta have today been revealed on the official website. If you want to get involved, there are two ways to do so. Firstly, drop $5 on a pre-order at Gamestop. This not only rewards you with an access voucher, but also allows you to invite two friends into the game as well. The Gamestop beta will begin on September 1st and run until the end of the month.
The other way of getting into the beta is to purchase the first episode of Qore. Doing so will allow you to download the beta client directly and play from September 8th until the 30th. This entire post is only relevant to Americans, though the official site does state that other territories will get acces and that this will be be announced by their representative SCE offices.
The third episode of Qore hits the PSN tomorrow and the PlayStation Blog has updated their site to let you know what's on it. While that's all well and good, they also take the time to answer several questions readers have had about the service. We thought we'd bring their answers to your attention.
You can re-download Qore, but if you delete a particular episode and re-download it later, you won't be privy to time-sensitive content like exclusive demos and betas. As new episodes come out, they say they will not overwrite old episodes so you can keep them all individually. Just don't delete them if you're a collector. As for remote play, they are currently evaluating the PSP as a medium for viewing Qore -- we're sure piracy is some kind of an issue there. New annual subscribers may someday get access to older PSN titles are bonuses for signing up. Advertisers are allowed 15 seconds of advertisement per run of Qore, meaning you are forced to watch the ads once while the episode is active, but can skip it after that. We'll all get to enjoy the third episode tomorrow with the PS Store update.
[Update: fixed a misinterpretation in the post. Sorry!]
Can you believe Qore episode 3 is almost out? Doesn't time fly when you're having fun. The third episode brings with it more game stuff for you to look at with your eyes. This month focuses on DC Universe Online, NBA 09: The Inside, Lego Batman and Baja. Phew. Not only that, but buying an annual subscription will give you access to both Calling All Cars and the Resistance 2 beta which will be happening later this year.
This isn't your only opportunity to get on the beta though. Community Manager Bryan Intihar has responded to queries on the PlayStation Blog to state that more details on the Resistance 2 demo will made available within the next few weeks. Also, you sneaky Europeans who think you can creep onto the beta through Qore are in for a shock; it won't work. But the beta will be made available to you at a later date. Again, more info coming later. Until then, kick back and relax with the latest ep of Qore and, with it, the latest build of Death Orb.
Imagine how many more hits we would've gotten if we chose our alternate headline, "Qore's Veronica Belmont featured in Playboy." But, that would've been misleading. The host of PlayStation's monthly video magazine won't be posing nude in an upcoming issue. Rather, she's been (rightfully) recognized as one of the web's hottest bloggers. On that list includes Boing Boing's Xeni Jardin, Rocketboom's Amanda Congdon, and TV Squad's former Brigitte Dale. It's a hard act to balance being beautiful and being a nerd ... yet Belmont has succeeded. Congrats to her rather unusual (but nonetheless flattering) accolade.
According to a recent PlayStation Underground e-mail, the next episode of Qore will feature access to the upcoming Resistance 2 multiplayer beta. Online is one of the key selling points of this hotly anticipated PS3 exclusive, with online battles that support up to 60 (!) players.
Let's just hope that the beta available through Qore will arrive on a more timely manner than it has for SOCOM Confrontation (as of this writing, the SOCOM beta is still not available for those that purchased the first episode of Qore). Episode 3 of Qore will be available on August 7th. Update: The beta will be made available in September. Those that buy Episode 3, hold on to your download!
Veronica Belmont, of Qore fame, jams into a van with various Joystiq-network bloggers for this "special episode" of Qore. You'd think that a site owned by mega-corporation AOL would be able to give us more than one van to squeeze into. Just, don't tell the Los Angeles police department how many people we packed into the car (and its trunk).
Enjoy Qore? We hope you replied "yes" to that, because that's all you're really getting this week. Other than the usual rhythm based DLC, there's a whole load of trailers and videos. Most of them are pretty meh-tastic, but Killzone 2 and Valkyria Chronicles is always worth a look. Here's the full release list:
Love it or hate it, the second issue of Qore hits the PLAYSTATION Network today. Here's what you can expect:
Resistance 2 - The big cover story for this issue is Insomniac's upcoming PS3-exclusive FPS. Bonus! You get to see host Veronica Belmont don a mo-cap suit just for this game.
Qore is available for $2.99 each episode, $24.99 for a 13-episode subscription. (Also, for those waiting for the SOCOM Confrontation beta, you'll need to keep Issue 1. We'll tell all of you when the beta will be available.) Do you think this second issue is worth it?
Doesn't Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm look absolutely stunning? Namco Bandai's PS3 exclusive anime fighter brings cel-shaded graphics to a whole new level. While the game isn't scheduled for release until the end of this year, subscribers to Qore will be able to get their hands on an exclusive playable demo next month. Even this early on, the game looks beautiful, with full 3D fights -- new to the Ultimate Ninja series.
Unfortunately, it doesn't appear the game will ship with online multiplayer. But, that's what the inevitable sequels are for, right?
Did you buy Qore solely for access to the SOCOM Confrontation beta? Well, looks like you might've bitten too early. A small comment on the SOCOM official website shows that Qore guarantees access into the beta ... but two weeks after the public beta launches. Wha? According to a comment by David Brothers, "Qore gives access to the public SOCOM beta two weeks after the public beta launches."
Why would they delay beta access to Qore members? We're not entirely sure. However, there are other ways to go about getting access into the beta: "There are other ways to get into the public beta beforehand, like the upcoming preorder program, so don't worry about the ratio of non-SOCOM fans to SOCOM fanatics."
These comments were made three days ago, so it's unclear if the beta's policies have changed since then. We're going to try and find out the latest word -- stay tuned.
Update: Veronica Belmont has updated us: "If you buy the pre-order for SOCOM with the headset, and put $5 down for the beta, you'll get it a bit before ours (and that's depending on if everything ships as planned, too). They're not the same beta. Otherwise, our beta is still before anyone else will get it."
Qore definitely looks interesting, but is it worth the price of admission? We've gone in depth with the "Digizine" to bring you a taste so that you can decide for yourself. Check out our gallery below to see a large number of screenshots of Qore in action, along with some useful info to help you make your mind up. In our heads, it's a great deal for only $3.
Click here to begin the tour and be sure to let us know what you think.
Today's announcement of Qore met a mixed response from internet commenters. While we're excited to see the potential applications of Qore, it's upsetting to see a subscription model applied to the PSN. Qore, which is $3 a month (or $25 a year), will offer gamers more than just video previews of games. Qore will also provide downloadable games and exclusive demos.
However, what about PSN users that refuse to pay for Qore? They'll have to wait for the biggest demos. SCEA's Susan Panico told Wired that in terms of demos, "Qore is like the network broadcast" of a TV show. The PS Store is like "syndication."
This sounds like a practice currently used on Xbox Live. Free Silver account members have to wait one week to access any free content on Xbox Live Marketplace. For example, if a demo of Madden 09 is available on August 10th, Silver members would have to wait until August 17th to download the demo. The introduction of Qore may cause a similar division within the PSN.
We'll have to wait and see how the community responds to Qore once it releases later this week. In spite of this new development, we're still relieved by PSN's free access to online gaming. Unlike Xbox Live, all members of PSN (paid and unpaid) will still be able to play online.
Speaking in a new PlayStation Blog post Susan Panico, Senior Director of the PlayStation Network, has announced a new interactive digital magazine TV show called Qore. This will feature "exclusive news, developer interviews, in-depth game previews and behind-the-scenes looks at PlayStation games and special access to game demos, special beta invitations, game add-ons and other downloadable game-related content." All content is shot in HD and a new episode will be made available every month.
The first issue of Qore, which will be released this Thursday, comes packed with exclusive content for games such as SOCOM Confrontation(including an invitation to the beta), Secret Agent Clank and Star Wars: The Force Unleashed. Qore is available on the PlayStation Store for a one-off payment of $2.99 per issue, or for a yearly subscription fee of $24.99 for 13 issues. Check out the video above to see Qore in action. If you want more info, be sure to check out the PlayStation Blog post. We're looking forward to checking it out this Thursday.
There's no word on whether this will be released outside of America, but we have contacted Sony Europe to get an answer either way. [UPDATE] Our SCEE rep has sadly informed us that "Qore is an SCEA only initiative at this time". How disappointing.
It looks like Qore has scored yet another exclusive for its upcoming issue. The PSN video magazine will cover games like LittleBigPlanet, Prince of Persia, MotorStorm: Pacific Rift and BioShock. However, more exciting are the Burger King-sponsored downloads. Qore purchasers will be able to get their hands on the MotorStorm demo a month before the general public, and they'll also get an exclusive LittleBigPlanet theme.
acted Sony Europe to get an answer either way. [UPDATE] Our SCEE rep has sadly informed us that "Qore is an SCEA only initiative at this time". How disappointing. 
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