This could be the best review in the history of video games. Okay, I’m not serious at all, but for some reason I couldn’t stop watching. Gettinggoodatthis on youtube decided to review Star Wars: The Force Unleashed. Although, I didn’t like it because of its in depth review — in fact it’s the complete opposite.
I just wonder if this was supposed to be a real review or a fake…
via: gonintendo
Concept artist Skizo created these fake billboards for the PSP, however they could be the best marketing for the handheld to date. The idea surrounding the ads is to have a glass/plastic so you can see what is behind the advertisement, but put an object from a ‘game’ on the surface and pretend it is part of the world.
Just look at the picture up top and you’ll get the impression what the artist was trying to get across. The only reason why I think it ‘might’ not look as good in real life as it does in the pictures is because the backdrop would be in 3D, while the object plastered on it is 2D. But that would be my only concern. Either way, Sony should look into hiring this kid.
After the jump check out the rest of his work. (more…)
The other day I was talking to a few people about why we have yet to see a Guitar Hero game for the PSP. Especially after the successful DS version, that right there proved it could be a game that would do very well on the handheld. Heck, the quality of the songs would sound better because the game could take advantage of the UMD and not sound nearly as compressed. Our only conclusion for not seeing the rhythm game was it would be difficult to recreate something similar to a guitar and attach it to the device.
Big wig at Sony Computer Entertainment America John Koller, also thought a Guitar Hero/ Rock Band game could be a great match for the PSP and discussed it with MTV:
“It’s of huge interest to us. That’s something you’d really have to talk to the developers on that side [if] it’s going to happen or not. For us, we look at the music area as being critical for PSP and the social area of interest as well. PSP is a lot different than your traditional handheld product and music is the number two use on the PSP, behind gaming. So, the marrying of those two concepts is of huge interest to us, 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.”
Again, the big question would be how they could create a peripheral for the handheld. They couldn’t simply make a game where you push the face buttons — the point of Guitar Hero is to use frets, so they need to implement something. But how? We’re not sure, but we guess they would need to utilize the USB port on top of the unit. That for sure would be a good start…
National Geographic is known for their stunning pictures and information in their magazine. They’re also created a well produced cable station as well. Over the last few months, the company began dabbing their fingers in the gaming industry with the release of their iPhone and DS games.
Apparently the publication likes the idea of developing games, because the Associated Press have broke a story about their plans to create a full fledge studio and focus on all gaming systems and handhelds.
If you’re thinking the games will only be educational, Paul Levine wants you to think again. “Our content is extremely well-suited for a global gaming audience, Levine said. “Our content is extremely well-suited for a global gaming audience,” he added.
I’m open to the idea for National Geographic looking into ways of making games more interesting, heck — even if I learn something, I’m cool with that too. Everything they seem to touch generally turns out good. So, maybe they can create games, however — it could also be out of their league. We’ll just have to wait and see.
EGM has once again stirred rumors about a possible PSP version of LittleBigPlanet. This month’s publication has the famous ‘Quartermann‘ citing from his sources that the PSP ’sequel’ will be in stores as early as next year:
“The LBP universe will also continue to evolve next year with the release of the PSP version: Q-Mann hears it’s fantastically ambitious and will further flesh out the PS3 LBP experience.”
This shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone for a few reasons. With the success of LittleBigPlanet and Sony owning another piece of hardware like the PSP — it only seems like a smart business decision to bring it to the handheld. And if you could communicate with the console version, it only seems like a natural fit.
Also, over a month ago, Media Molecule’s boss Mark Healy spoke about his interest to bring a PSP version down the line. He explained about how he would not only like to have the level editor include with the game, but feature an actual music maker.
However, according to Kotaku, Media Molecule is not working on the project, but a different studio is developing it. So, does that take Healy’s idea of creating music and throwing it out the window? Probably not — Even though MM is not working on it, it doesn’t mean he won’t have some kind of influence on the project.
Yesterday, Apple announced the iPhone surpassed the Motorola Razor as the best selling mobile phone on the market. The phone features the best mobile phone internet browser, music player, GPS, and the 3G network. There is also no denying the device has the ability to become a pretty powerful portable gaming machine. And with the App-Store – the handheld could become a major force in that specific market.
However, the head honcho in marking for the iPhone Greg Joswiak, seems to think the mobile phone is already the future of portable gaming devices.
“There are already so many games and as we look at it, to us it really seems this is the future of gameplay. Whereas a lot of these devices [Nintendo DS and Sony PSP] are more in the past. And a big part of that is not just the device itself, which is easier to carry, and has the touch display and accelerometer which is great for gameplay, but it’s the electronic distribution of the apps as well.”
Before hardcore gamers ask for his head — let’s all make sure we read his quote correctly. First of all, he didn’t blast the ‘competitors,’ or even say the iPhone is a superior machine. He simply believes what the iPhone is doing — is the future. And you know what, we agree with him. Let’s face, the phone is extremely powerful, so powerful that John Carmack thinks it can run the same games the PS2 could play. But instead of having to go into a store, purchase the game and put it inside the unit — you just download it…from anywhere. There is no question and every piece of gaming hardware will at some point; follow suit.
But right now, I still prefer playing my DS and/or PSP over the iPhone. Why? Obviously the games are considerably better. Until the iPhone can reproduce the quality of gameplay those handhelds can do and please both the casual and hardcore gamer — I’m sticking to them.
Tim Lincecum has just won the best honor in Major League Baseball today — being the cover athlete for the 2K9 baseball game. Oh and he apparently won another award for being the best pitcher in the National League — the Cy Young. Not a bad move by Take-Two, who obviously rigged the ballots for the exclusive MLB award. Senior VP of 2K Sports Greg Thomas said the following about their new athlete representative:
We couldn’t have selected a more naturally talented and exciting player to represent Major League Baseball 2K9 next season, and given that he’s an avid gamer, it will be a lot of fun working together,”
The San Francisco Giants pitcher also talked about winning both honors, “Winning the Cy Young Award is truly an amazing honor, and now having the opportunity to be on the cover of Major League Baseball 2K9 is another dream come true and an absolutely surreal experience,” he said, ” “Whenever I’m hanging out at home or traveling on the road, you can find me playing video games, and I’m definitely the best gamer in the clubhouse by far. I’m incredibly stoked that 2K Sports picked me to represent Major League Baseball 2K9, and I look forward to lending my baseball knowledge to the development process.”
Picking Tim Linecum was a safe bet, but I’m also going to read into it. Greg Thomas revolutionized baseball video games with bringing a pitching meter in MVP Baseball. Could picking a pitcher for a cover athlete predict more emphases on the pitching aspect of the game? We think so…
Wow, talk about being a true diva. Superstar singer Beyonce Knowles refused to fly to Monaco for the ‘World Music Awards‘ unless she got what she wanted. Organizers of the show already had plans to fly the “Bootylicious” star in the same private jet that had flown such legendary artists Frank Sinatra and Elton John. It recently even transported Jennifer Lopez.
However Beyonce, being the brat that she is, demanded that the show fly her in a ‘newer’ aircraft but also include a few video games, a source said;
“She also wanted 14 seats, including two for herself. And staff were told to give her whatever she wanted - including an Xbox, PSP, Jacuzzi and a pizza.”
Even though I find her being a bit spoiled because she wanted a better jet, than the already awesome one that was offered — I can understand her wanting an Xbox. I mean seriously, Gears of War 2 has just been released — SHE NEEDS TO PLAY IT!
Since Sony announced the PSP-3000, many loyal customers were wondering if it would be worth buying another PSP if they already own the PSP-2000. Then in the last few days, some gamers who did purchase the handheld have spoken out against the system because the screen tends to ‘blur’ on occasion.
Up top is a video thanks to gamevideos, that compares both the 2000 and 3000 models. The video goes into detail about the difference and according to them, they believe the newer model is better but not worth owning if you already have the PSP-2000. And we agree with them. Heck, if you own the original device we recommend just sticking with that. Check out the video up top.
Newly acquired CEO for Electronic Arts John Riccitiello has been very vocal since he started to become head boss. From talking about how EA’s lineup is the strongest compared to other gaming publishers to how the DRM complaints are overrated.
He has spoken once again while responding to EA dropping the game Tiberium earlier in the month and how they’ll keep on doing the same thing to other games…forever!
“When something’s not meeting expectations… you can course correct by giving it more time, more money, changing the concept or killing the game. If you’re committed to quality, you take one of those paths. If you preclude any one of those paths, quality will suffer.
EA will kill a game or two a year — Forever.”
Before we run to EA’s head building and scorch Riccitiello — just stop and think. Why would anyone disagree? If a game isn’t meeting expectations and the company feels in the end they’re just going to loose money by funding more into the project — than why would they continue to make it?
Remember a year ago when we used to bitch about how EA would just milk franchises and come out with utter crap? Now, they have a new philosophy — if the game isn’t good enough, than it won’t see the light of day. I’m okay with EA trying to build a reputation of quality over quantity. And in fact — I welcome it.
Just like everyone else in the world, Sony has decided to join the trend — they now have a youtube page. The page is supposed to be a way for gamers to get the latest videos for the PS3 and PSP. Obviously, the videos will consists of trailers, behind-the-scenes of games in development, cheats and exclusive teasers.
As of now, Sony has released 54 videos, but nothing of to much interest at this point. But our guess, one day they could have something down the line — so it might not be the worst idea to subscribe if you have an account with youtube. And if you don’t, why not!?
The upcoming PSP game Resistance: Retribution is going to be the first game to take advantage of a new feature called ‘PSP Plus.’ PSP Plus is a program that will allow PSP owners who own a PlayStation 3 connect the two units together and use the DualShock 3 controller to play the game. The point of the option is to allow the gamer use both analog sticks that are provided on the PS3 controller and control the game like a traditional first/third-person-shooter.
Not only will the gameplay be improved because of the DualShock, but will also include rumble. As of now, Resistance Retribution is the only game to support PSP Plus but we figure more games down the line are going to feature it.
I wonder if Sony will ever offer Resistance for the PSP as a download through PSN — after the game is out for the handheld for a long period of time.
Source: joystiq
With all the crazy amount of hype surrounding Sony’s LittleBigPlanet, I was thinking just a few days ago if Sony and Media Molecule would ever consider developing a PSP version. Of course they have a large hump to overcome with limitations of the PSP hardware. But if they somehow could figure out a way of doing it, I don’t see a reason why they wouldn’t choose to go that route.
While speaking with Eurogamer TV, Media Molecule co-founder Mark Healy discussed the possibility of a PSP version of LBP:
“There’s definitely scope for a PSP version. We’ve had discussions and talks, [but] nothing concrete at the moment. It’d be great to make, for the people who are really into the Create side, some kind of companion products that allow you to create things while you’re on the train.”
“One thing that I’d love to add is the ability to create you’re own music, for example, that you can import into the game. That seems like an obvious one to do and it’d be quite easy really.”
Besides the fact the game would be a “companion” version, I’m wondering how they could pull it off. While stating the obvious, graphically the game couldn’t even compete with PS3’s LittleBigPlanet, but it could maintain one of the more important visual factors of the game — it’s extreme cuteness. I consider the PSP to be pretty close to the last generation of consoles in-terms of power (PS2, Gamecube), and one way I always found that worked for the systems visually back then and still holds up today is cel-shading (Wind Waker, Jet Grind Radio)
I know last generation overdid the whole cel-shading thing, but I believe if done right, could be the best why to keep the feel of the game on a handheld system.
To further prove Media Molecule is at the very least thinking about creating a PSP LittleBigPlanet, a job ad for a “PSP Game Engine Lead,” for the company emerged online last week. I think it’s a pretty safe bet that Sony and Mm are in the early stages of releasing LBP for the handheld.
Thanks to gamesindustry.biz
Sony is set to destroy this year’s Tokyo Game Show and showing an incredible number of 14 unannounced games according to the website siliconera. Of course not every game is going to be for their home console the PS3, we bet we’ll hear a couple PSP games and maybe even some for the PS2. Although siliconera is reporting nine of the games are PS3 titles, while the PSP is going to have three games announced at this year’s show.
The same site also mentioned 12 of the 14 games will be published by Sony and Konami and Irem are coming out with the other two. The TGS is scheduled to start on October 9th and ends on the 12th. After the Jump, check out the announced games Sony is expected to show during the Japanese gaming trade show. (more…)
Even though critics didn’t praised Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, that didn’t stop a million people from buying LucasArt’s game. According to vgcharts, Star Wars sold over one million copies in just five days worldwide. The best sold console version was the Xbox 360.
Although the game didn’t get awful reviews (we liked it), the scores it received usually does not translate well into sales. Hand it to LucasArt’s marketing, because that sure didn’t stop consumers eating up the game.
I guess the name ‘Star Wars‘ might have helped push a few games out of stores.
