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PlayStation Underground members have been informed by way of email that they can expect the next downloadable episode of Qore to provide access into the Resistance 2 beta. This highly-anticipated sequel to the best-selling launch PlayStation 3 title is expected to revolve heavily around multiplaying action. With Insomniac Games pumping the online limit up to 60 players, it makes perfect sense to throw a beta the online portion of the game. This will not only help tide fans of the series over, but it’ll also give Insomniac a better impression of how well the servers will handle the massive amount of traffic they’re sure to receive.
The beta is expected to begin during the month of September, so Qore users will have to wait quite some time before their purchase pays off. For those of you interested on when you can pick up the next installment of the online magazine, it’s scheduled for release on August 7. So far Qore has allowed users to gain eventual access to SOCOM: Confrontation’s beta, have an early playthrough of the latest Naruto demo and now gain an invitation to check out Resistance 2’s online play.
All that is left to do is to figure out if this beta is worth the asking price of a mere $2.99.

UPDATE: If you don’t want to purchase Qore, Insomniac has assured the public that there will be additional ways to acquire the Resistance 2 beta, such as a pre-order program that should be unveiled soon. As for any worried Europeans, the beta will take place in all territories, so don’t fret. [PSU]

Sony UK’s Mark Howsen has said that the company aims to deliver regular shipments of new stock for its DualShock 3 controller, despite conceding that it may not be able to meet day one demand for the hotly anticipated peripheral. 
Speaking with MCV UK, Howsen, Director of Sales for PlayStation UK, commented: It’s going to be a close call as to whether we can guarantee enough stock for everybody day one. However, we’ll be making regular shipments thereafter in order to satisfy demand.”
Howsen also revealed that the Sixaxis control pad would remain on sale for a while longer, adding, “We’ll continue to offer the Sixaxis controller for the time being, giving consumers a cost effective choice, based on their gaming needs.”
The DualShock 3 controller is now available for purchase in the UK for approximately GBP 39.99.
Stay tuned. [Videogamer]

Sony has confirmed that the DualShock 3 wireless controller for PlayStation 3 will be available for purchase in European territories on July 4.
Originally released in Japan in November 2007, the DualShock 3 will retail for approximately GBP 39.99 and brings vibration functionality to a wide range of existing PS3 games, provided the user has installed Firmware update 1.94 on their console. The majority of future titles will also incorporate this technology, with the DualShock 3 acting as a permanent replacement to the Sixaxis controller.
David Reeves, President of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE) commented, “We are delighted to confirm that DUALSHOCK 3 will be released in SCEE territories in early July. We hope this will add to the intense gaming experience for our fans, as we continue to evolve PS3, its software and its peripherals.” [PSU]

After the announcement months ago about the PlayStation 3’s Platinum titles coming out in Japan and the boxart they’d wear, Europe seems to be now following suit.
While the boxart for platinum covers or greatest hits has never been the best eye-candy, it usually differs in style from region to region; however, this time around it looks like Spain is going to be looking a lot similar to Japan.

We’re going to go out on a limb and predict that this style will spread across Europe and cover most retail shelves in a sunny glow of yellow. When they finally decide to reveal the boxart for the North American region, we’ll keep you guys informed. [PSU]

Another title after the jump.

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UK retailer Shopto has confirmed to GamesIndustry.biz that a PlayStation bundle with Rockstar’s Grand Theft Auto IV is due for release in Europe on April 29.
The retailer said that there was some confusion as to who would be distributing the product in the UK – Gem, which has the exclusive distribution contract with publisher Take-Two, or Centresoft, the company that handles distribution for Sony.
“We know for a fact it is coming out in Europe and we are expecting an announcement in the UK any time,” confirmed Igor Cipolletta, COO of Shopto.com.
“We are not sure if Gem or Centresoft are distributing it yet, that seems to be the hold up,” he added.
The bundle has a RRP of GBP 299 and will go on sale the same day as the release of the highly-anticipated Rockstar game. [gi]
Buy it: Buy it now

Microsoft has in Japan, combined Windows Vista Home Premium with Windows Live OneCare in one eye-popping hot pink box.
As a special promotion for the Japanese market, an upgrade version of Windows Vista Home Premium is bundled with a year’s subscription of Windows Live OneCare and a copy of a Vista tips and tricks book. The pink flowers are called sakura (cherry blossoms) and this is being released for the Sakura or ‘Cherry Blossom’ season, which is a BIG event in Japan.
Image: Box Shot
View: istartedsomething

University of Pennsylvania tech staffers are advising faculty and students not to upgrade to the new service pack for Microsoft’s Windows Vista operating system.
Windows Vista SP1 Is having a tough time getting into the Ivy League.
University of Pennsylvania tech staffers are advising faculty and students not to upgrade their computers to the new service pack for Microsoft (NSDQ: MSFT)’s Windows Vista operating system.
The school’s Information Systems & Computing department said it will support Vista SP1 on new systems where it’s preinstalled, but added that it “strongly recommends that all other users adopt a ‘wait and see’ attitude,” according to a newly published department bulletin.
Penn’s ISC department advised “continuing to use previous versions of Windows XP and Windows Vista until after the initial bugs in SP1 are identified and fixed.”
Vista SP1 users have reported numerous glitches since the operating system became widely available on Tuesday. [Informationweek]

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MicroTechXP wishes you happy Easter from all of our staff. We hope that you all had a merry day and found all your eggs in your egg hunts! Here is a couple just for you.

In what may be an unprecedented decision, Microsoft said Thursday that it plans to lower the retail prices for several flavors of Windows Vista.
For those in the U.S., Microsoft is cutting prices only on the higher-end versions of Vista, and only for the upgrade version used to move from an earlier copy of Vista. The suggested price for Vista Ultimate drops to $219 from $299, while Home Premium falls to $129, from $159.
Other developed markets will also see price cuts, while in emerging markets, Microsoft is eliminating the distinction between full and upgrade versions of Home Basic and Home Premium as it attempts to convince more users there to use genuine software.
Analysts were surprised by Microsoft’s move, are you? One of my complaints about Vista is the price, finally they are doing something about it, no matter how small the cut. [PCWizKid]