Sony has dropped a brand-new feature on its PS3 console that will let you buy Premium themes--specialised themes that contain high-quality graphics, customised buttons, and (sometimes) special sounds. Since they cost real money, PS3 users will have an option to preview the images before deciding to drop the cash. The company plans on releasing 6 to 10 premium themes every month, which will run the gamut from anime-styled to NCAA-franchised content. It's pretty, but is it worth your penny? [Playstation Blog via Kotaku]

The New Xbox Experience is ready to go live soon as part of the Xbox fall update, and after getting some quality face time with the UI and it's new features, I'm pretty impressed. The update addresses the core Xbox software on two levels: most notable is that the design of the UI received a complete overhaul, (mostly) eschewing the blades for a more immersive, intuitive, Media Center-like experience. Secondly, it adds new functionality, allowing for Netflix streaming, group-based gaming, heavily customised avatars, ripping games straight to HDD and an all new quick menu that comes up when you hit the home button.

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More from the Nintendo Press Conference: the company will let you download games onto SD cards on the Wii, starting Spring 2009. Yes, you'll have to wait another four or five months before you get to unclog the Wii's paltry HD, but at least it's something right? Nintendo president Satoru Iwata also talked about an initiative to get more people using the Internet features of the Wii. The company will release a new Wi-Fi adaptor (possibly with mesh networking capabilities) and offer you 500 free Wii Points if you help a friend get connected. [Kotaku]

The impending PS4, which we last heard was coming in 2010, might be based on the same Cell processor that currently powers the PS3. Japanese tech site PC Watch said that Sony will forgo designing a completely new processor in a cost-saving attempt, and try to squeeze out some moderate technical advancement on its existing investment. Bad news for those hoping Sony would continue its one-upmanship war with Microsoft, but perhaps it means the company's decided to focus on innovation, like the Wii. A new way of gaming with a tweaked-up version of PS3 graphics doesn't sound too shabby to me. [PC Watch via Gamecyte]

Dean Takahashi, one of the most respected tech journos around, spent years putting together this mind-blowing expose that reveals the truly epic scale of the problems that lead to millions of dead Xbox 360s. It really is one of the most stunning flustercucks in gaming history. According to his account, Microsoft willfully ignored deep, systemic problems in the console's production that reached from chipmakers—initially, only 16 out of every 100 of its IBM-made processors worked—to production lines, where just before launch, an unbelievable 68 percent of consoles made were clunkers.

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Internally, Nintendo uses a tool called a "Waikiki adapter" to boot Nintendo Wiis in recovery mode—bricked or not. Now one modder has apparently duplicated the device, a simple flash drive that fits in the GameCube memory port of the Wii, and set a demonstration to some righteous 80s guitar riffs. If commercialised, not only could such a device make homebrew a whole lot less risky—it could usher in a whole new era of Wii piracy as you can load any code you want from this recovery menu...which would be horrible and awful and evil, of course. [via tehskeen]

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Surely, at least a few of you are sad that Nintendo never released the Wii in multiple colours—despite their announcement promises. Well good news! No, the Wii isn't coming in any new colours, but Nintendo has launched the Wiimote strap in almost any flavour you'd like—blue, green, pink and, uhh, white again. Available in Japan only for the time being, the safety harnesses will go for US$2.75 apiece or in a variety pack of four for about US$9. In other news, Nintendo makes a bajillion more dollars without even really trying. [Kotaku]

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The Xbox 360 price cut rumours we've been hearing for September look to be gathering even more steam, as this RadioShack ad shows drops to US$399 for the Elite system and US$199 for the Arcade. That's down US$50 on the Elite and US$80 on Arcade, making your choices a nice smooth progression of Benjamins--US$199/US$299/US$399. The drops are rumoured to hit early next month. UPDATE: We've also just heard from the folks at setteb.it, who have news of an official 60GB upgrade to the 20 GB Xbox 360 system at the same price, €270 in Italy. [Joystiq]

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As its name implies, the Logitech Speed Force Wireless is a force feedback racing wheel for the Wii with a 10m wireless range. It is the first racing wheel accessory for the Wii that isn't a shell accessory for the Wiimote. The 10" wheel rotates 200 degrees and has analogue gas and brake controls. Need For Speed Undercover will be the first game to take advantage of the force feedback capability, but I'm more concerned about whether or not this thing will work with Mario Kart Wii. It will hit stores in November for US$100. [Logitech]

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We just got word from Microsoft that the Xbox 360 is totally sold out in Japan, and that's just how they like it. Microsoft's console has been outselling Sony's Playstation 3 lately at a rate of almost 3 to 1, with the Xbox selling 28,116 last at the start of August while Sony sold only 10,705 PS3s. Nintendo beat both with over 41,000 Wiis, yet still has stock available. So we have to question, did Microsoft short Japanese stock on purpose just to claim "sold out" status? [Translation at Kotaku]

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