How many times have you played CoolBoarders? How 'bout Coolboarders 2? That's pretty much all you'll find on the PlayStation Store if you're looking for a PS1 retro fix. While Japan has an overwhelming of retro titles available for download, the rest of the world has been slow to follow suit. Wouldn't it be nice to download Final Fantasy VII? Or Klonoa? Or Metal Gear Solid? There's so many titles we can think of off the top of our heads.
Well, John Koller is promising the situation will change. Seriously. Really. "Yes, we are working on further PSone additions to the PS Store and should see those launch shortly," he told MTV Multiplayer.
Posted Nov 20th 2008 7:50PM by Andrew Yoon Filed under: News
Codemaster's critically acclaimed DiRT racing game is coming to PSP. Specifically, the sequel will be hitting the platform. This is surprising considering the first game never released on the handheld. DiRT 2 will launch on the PSP simultaneously with its big brother cousins on PS3 and Xbox 360 in 2009.
Another day, another firmware. We kid, we kid -- but as we announced two days ago, there is another update available for you to download. Firmware v5.02 doesn't appear to do much, other than "improves system software stability during use of some features, including the PlayStation Store."
Today's European Store update brings two playable offerings whose styles are about as different as they can get. One, a classic God-Sim from yesterday and the other, a colorful Japanese platformer with singing blobs. From tomorrowmonth. That's a word, right? It is now. Here's the release list for this week:
Posted Nov 20th 2008 9:00AM by Majed Athab Filed under: News
Japan's adhocParty service sounds like a promising new feature. The ability to transform one's local ad hoc multiplayer games into an over-the-net experience via a PS3 is certainly something we have to give credit to Sony for. However, what games are compatible with the service? Quite a lot really -- 33 to be exact, as Sony reveals. That's not bad for a completely free service. See a full list of all 33 titles after the break.
Posted Nov 19th 2008 5:00PM by Alan Tsang Filed under: News
In the latest issue of Weekly Famitsu, the Communication Mode in Dissdia is explained. Players begin by waiting in an Online Lobby that is capable of accommodating 16 players. Each player can create their own profile called a Friend Card -- one of the functions of this card is it allows the game to keep track of your how you play and creates a "ghost" of you. You can then transfer this "ghost" to a friend's game and they can fight a character controlled by the A.I. that imitates your fighting style. The scan also shows the EX modes of Cloud (who wields the Ultima Weapon) and Sephiroth (as the One-winged angel). Lastly, adhocParty will be supported. The rest of the scans are here.
In related news, V Jump published some new art from Dissidia, the most striking of which is the above poster featuring all the characters in the game. Unlike other artwork from the game, this one is rendered in CG. Check out the scans at VideogamerX.
It didn't take long now, did it? As of last month, hackers and pirates have yet to to find a way to run custom firmware on the latest iteration of the PSP. Well, things have changed. Datel has unveiled to the world a "special mode battery" called the Lite Blue Tool which allows the PSP Brite to enter service mode. Once in service mode, you're home free, baby -- you can downgrade to the firmware version of your choice. The "crypto processor based battery" even has a built in LED power gauge and will sell for $29.99 come November 28th.
Posted Nov 19th 2008 11:25AM by Andrew Yoon Filed under: News
Out with one SKU, in with another. The 4GB PSP Entertainment Pack may be dead, but in its place is the Ratchet & Clank Entertainment Pack. Wait, what? Yes, looks like Sony is offering two versions of the R&C pack -- the current one offers a silver system and echochrome. The one releasing in December will include a black system and Everyday Shooter. Both will be available for $199.
If that's not your style, you can try the black PSP Brite a la carte for $169. However, no release date has been set for the standalone system.
Nippon Ichi is really going all out for the launch of Prinny: Can I really be the Hero?. Purchasers in Japan can get free Etna/Prinny pins (pictured) if they buy the game anytime between the November 20 launch and January 11, 2009. But that's not all, the company is looking to really cash-in with adorable Prinny plushies and a PSP traveling case.
There are three Prinny plushies; the red muffler Prinny and Lahar-like Prinny both go for ¥1,890 ($19.54) each, but the pink Prinny is going for ¥2,980 ($30.81). The traveling case is blue with an embossed Prinny on the cover; fetch one for ¥1,785 ($18.40). Check out the pics at Famitsu. Hopefully all these goodies will make their way over here, or else ... we'll have to publish a story called North American Gamers: Can we really have all the swag Japan gets? Don't make us do it.
Here's another minor update to look out for soon -- though unless you find yourself having problems, you probably can go without this one. Firmware v5.02 doesn't do much except the fact that it "improves system software stability during use of some features, including the PlayStation Store." According to the Director of PlayStation Network Operations, Eric Lempel, the new update will be "available shortly."
If an anime gets popular enough in Japan, you know it will undoubtedly get a 2D fighting game on the PSP. That's just how things work. So, Soul Eater, Japan's latest obsession with death gods, was an obvious next-in-line candidate for PSP fighting game treatment.
Not much is known about this adaptation, but we doubt much more needs to be known. Check out Famitsu for screenshots -- as seems standard for PSP fighting games, the screens sure do look pretty. Now, the question remains: what are the odds this will ever see light of day out of Japan?
Posted Nov 18th 2008 3:16PM by Alan Tsang Filed under: News
According Capcom's vice president of strategic planning and business development Christian Svensson, Sony's data indicates that approximately 50% of PS3 owners are also PSP owners. Svensson made the comment on the official Capcom forums in a thread that was discussing the possibility of the newly launched adhocParty making it stateside. "An interesting note from Sony's data that they've been sharing with us ... about 50% of PS3 owners, also own a PSP." We are unsure of whether the data was collected from around the world or just in the US.
Does this statistic sound right to you? Do most of you who have a PS3 also own Sony's handheld?
Posted Nov 18th 2008 1:15PM by Andrew Yoon Filed under: News
"Music is the number two use on the PSP, behind gaming. So, the marrying of those two concepts is of huge interest to us," Sony's John Koller told MTV Multiplayer. "And if there's that opportunity to launch a title like that or even a new title that utilizes music in some way, then obviously we're very interested."
The DS is home to a number of music games, from Elite Beat Agents to the peripheral-bundled Guitar Hero (pictured, above). PSP also features its fair share of music games, like beats and DJ Max. While these may be popular amongst hardcore gamers, none have come close to the runaway success of DS' music games. Considering PSP's native ability to store music, it seems like thinking up more ways to get user music in games is a good step for Sony to take.
Posted Nov 18th 2008 10:23AM by Andrew Yoon Filed under: News
Over two years ago, Agere Systems filed a suit against Sony for potential infringement on patents regarding "wireless local area network apparatus." Looks like the courts ruled in Agere Systems' favor. Sony has been fined $18.5 million for use of the technology in their devices, such as the mylo and PSP. The jury ruled that the patent infringement was willful.
Atlus games are on sale at amazon.com right now. That means two PSP games are available on the cheap. You can pick up the addictive SRPG Yggdra Union for only $20 -- that's 50% off retail price. There's also another strategy game, R-Type Command, which is on sale for only $10.
How many times have you played CoolBoarders? How 'bout Coolboarders 2? That's pretty much all you'll find on the PlayStation Store if you're looking for a PS1 retro fix. While Japan has an overwhelming of retro titles available for download, the rest of the world has been slow to follow suit. Wouldn't it be nice to download Final Fantasy VII? Or Klonoa? Or Metal Gear Solid? There's so many titles we can think of off the top of our heads.
