Today Sony released a new PlayStation 3 firmware update (Version 3.42/168MB) which is supposed to address certain console security concerns.

The firmware update comes after the August reveal of a fully-functional PS3 USB modchip allows users to play copied versions, of disc-based PS3 games. Mod chips such as these have always been a problem for consoles as they open the door for software piracy on the console platforms.

Users can still use the hacks if they don't update their consoles, but if they don't, they also won't have access to PlayStation Network features such as online multiplayer and further system updates.

Recently Amazon.com acquired Microsoft's director of game platform strategy. The step by Amazon is feeding speculation that the company is planning on a gaming push. With it's cloud technology among other services one could only imagine what the "stealth" project is.

Andre Vrignaud announced his departure last Friday on his personal blog. "Can't really talk about details at this point, but it'll become pretty evident soon enough...and you all know where my passions lie," he said in the blog. He added that he is "excited about where Microsoft is going in the next few years" but is "very intrigued about what Amazon is looking to do."

Vrignaud, who has worked in the game industry for more than 20 years, had been at Microsoft since 2002 and helped oversee the game platform strategy for Xbox, Xbox Live, and Windows. During Vrignauds tenure Microsoft has become a major contender in gaming.

• The mat_hdr_level, r_rootlod, and r_waterforceexpensive settings are now saved in the user’s config file.
• Fixed clients being able to connect to servers with spoofed SteamIDs.
• Fixed a bug where some video configurations could get reset by restarting the engine.
• Fixed materials compiled into a map not being loaded correctly if they're in the root materials folder.
• Fixed a case of uneven performance on multicore machines.
• Fixed point contents not respecting detail brushes. This fixes a bullet penetration bug in some community maps.
• Fixed clients being able to spam servers using the ai_set_move_height_epsilon, mission_show, and sv_querycache_stats commands.
• Audio fixes:
  
  • Reduced overlap in the sound timing code.
  • Fixed a case where audio could skip.
  • Fixed voice communication getting corrupted while playing on a Mac.
• sv_pure 2 now protects the game_sounds files in the scripts directory.

• Added server ConVar "sv_max_usercmd_future_ticks" which prevents clients from running usercmds too far in the future.
• Added missing Mac intro movie for cp_coldfront.
• Fixed "Hit '%disguiseteam%' to Toggle Team" string and code so they're not hard coded to 'e' and '-'.
• Fixed servers trying to validate backpack positions in inventories.
• Fixed clients validating inventories other than their own.
• Fixed item selection HUD elements showing un-acknowledged items, which resulted in items in invalid backpack positions.
• Fixed players not always getting "recent damager" credit for player suicides.
• Fixed the weapon selection menu not displaying properly when using hud_fastswitch and lastinv at the same time.
• Updated Engineer startup music.
• Updated localization files.
• Updated Pl_ThunderMountain
  
  • Clipped off sticky outcrops for smoother movement
  • Clipped various exploit ledges
  • Increased environment ambient exterior light level
  • Stage 1
    
    • Fixed hole in respawn room brushes in RED spawn
    • Shifted respawn times to favor BLU by two seconds
  • Stage 3
    
    • Clipped rocks off by BLU's spawn exit that leads to building B (allowed Snipers to snipe the entire area)
    • Removed embedded displacement (building B interior roof)
    • Removed rogue clip brush from building A balcony
• Updated Plr_Hightower
  
  • Fixed players building in the RED spawn room.
  • Fixed players building on the back window decks of the barns.
  • Fixed players getting on the satellite dish platform.
  • Fixed players building on the elevators.
  • Reduced the ammo packs in the barns down to small ammo packs.
  • Increased the hill speed modifier to 1.2 (up from .95)
  • Fixed explosion particle effects playing in the skybox.
  • Mine cart "window" collision fixed.
  • Upped Scout-loop health to large.
• Updated Pl_Upward
  
  • Fixed respawnroom entities not reaching the floor of split-level spawns
  • Fixed griefable fence facing BLU spawn near RED base
  • Added BLU high flanking route at RED base
  • Added health & ammo along BLU flanking route at RED base
  • Sealed BLU base left exit with block bullets brushes
  • Extended clip between C and BLU spawn to prevent sticky jump spawn camping
  • Fixed non-clipped non-solid railing in RED base
  • Fixed kill brush in middle spawn not extending to the ceiling
  • Put a block bullets brush on grate below middle spawn
  • Fixed some high micro-ledges accessible to sticky-jumpers
• Community Request
  
  • Added "item_pickup" game event for ammo/health packs.