Worldwide PSP releases for the week of Nov. 25

Filed under: Software

Another week goes by and there's nothing for us poor North American gamers. Like last week, the Europeans get several great games, though.

NA Games

• No new releases

EU Games

• Alien vs. Predator: Requiem
• Football Manager Handheld 2008
• Medal of Honor: Heroes 2
• Syphon Filter: Logan's Shadow

Asia Games

• Disgaea: Hour of Darkness Portable
• PQ2: Practical Intelligence Quotient
• SOCOM US Navy Seals Tactical Strike
• The Cube

It seems like we'll be spending another week playing our backlog of games like Silent Hill Origins. Speaking of which, has there ever been a game with more locked and barricaded doors?

THQ to give away Warhammer 40K themed PSPs

Filed under: Warhammer

It seems THQ read our latest post about its lack of publicizing Warhammer 40,000: Squad Command because it's now actually starting to do its job as a publisher. On its website, THQ is holding a contest to give gamers the chance to win a very limited supply of Warhammer 40K themed PSPs.

You see, this is the kind of thing it probably should have been doing during the weeks leading up to its release, but we have to give them props for at least getting its act together before it's too late. That's something that can't be said for Sega and its horrible job at pushing Crush.

For a chance to win one of these awesome PSPs, copies of the game and t-shirts, you must be a registered myTHQ member and go here to answer a "fiendishly difficult" trivia question about the game.

The top PSN games we'd love to see on PSP

Filed under: Store

The release of Go! Puzzle on the European PSP PLAYSTATION Store heralds the beginning of what we hope is a long-running trend: the porting of downloadable PSN games to the PSP. Here are some of favorite games that are currently only available on PS3, which we hope to see on our favorite handheld some time soon ....

Everyday Shooter
Jon Mak's music-shooter is perfect for PSP fans already familiar to Q? Entertainment's Lumines and Every Extend Extra. The game's unique album presentation will be great for gamers on the go: play a single song, or enter Shuffle mode and play 'em all. With a good pair of headphones on, we'd find ourselves lost in the killer soundtrack for hours. The minimalist graphics are perfect for the PSP's small screen too.

Calling All Cars
This is actually confirmed to be heading to PSP. The twisted mind behind God of War and Twisted Metal crafted a simple, but terrifically fun multiplayer game that will also work well with the PSP. Imagine: downloading the game, jumping online and playing against other PSP and PS3 owners. Even cooler would be if you could Game Share and play against friends in a local area. The simple controls can be easily mapped to the face and shoulder buttons of the PSP. We can't wait to find out more about the PSP version of this PSN classic soon.

fl0w
thatgamecompany's unique motion-controlled game "experience" was a fun, but brief, experiment that combined high art and gameplay. You can easily remove the tilt controls of the game and create an equally compelling title for PSP that can be controlled with the analog nub. Each of the various creatures has its own unique gameplay, and those that need a moment to de-stress while on the subway will love to have quick access to this innovative title any time from their PSP's Memory Stick.

Go! Sudoku
Everyone loves sudoku, right? A PSP version of this oft-forgotten PSN downloadable title is an easy must for the PSP Store. Hopefully, it'll use the same pricing model as the PS3 original: give you a small sample of puzzles for free, but then charge for unlockable packs that'll keep you coming back for more.

Lemmings
The PS3 version had some great maps, and even more terrific HD graphics. The PSP may lose some of the visual presentation of its big console counterpart, but we're more than certain players will appreciate the simple fun of a downloadable Lemmings title.

More Black Friday deals spotted

Filed under: Software

Here are a few more online PSP bargains, courtesy of amazon.com. Great for those (like yours truly) that doesn't want to leave the house to do some holiday shopping:

• Puzzle Quest for $9.99. Some things are great together: puzzle and RPG elements, peanut butter and jelly, and dicks and boxes.
  
• The Getaway for $9.99. It's cheaper than buying it on the PLAYSTATION Store.
• And MLB 2005 for $4.99 ... if you really want an old sports game that features old rosters (but the same gameplay ... )

[Via CAG]

Downloadable games may not feature same content as UMD

Filed under: Store

The PSP Store is not only offering original downloadable content, such as beats and Syphon Filter: Combat Ops. It's providing archived UMD games, such as Wipeout Pure and B-Boy. Darren Carris spoke to GI.biz about how the Store and UMD games will intermingle: "I don't think that this would give us any cause for concern over UMD, I think they sit very well together. When you talk about the more casual games, pick-up-and-play games, you would definitely want to put them through the Store rather than have disc production, in to retail, and so on."

Thankfully, the PSP Store has no size limit, and some games are already topping 1GB. However, future downloadable games may not have all the features of their UMD counterparts. "Full titles won't necessarily include all content found on the corresponding retail UMD," the article notes.

Senators call for ESRB review after Manhunt 2 fiasco

Filed under: News

Will we ever be able to enjoy our violent video games at peace without having to worry about the politicians in Washington screwing it up? Apparently, not as several Senators including Presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton and the anti-gamer Joe Lieberman have signed a letter calling for a review of the ESRB rating system in the wake of the Manhunt 2 fiasco.

A portion of the letter reads, "As you know, in June 2007, the British Board of Film Classification refused to rate Rockstar's Manhunt 2 videogame ... stating that it contains 'unremitting bleakness and callousness of tone. In October 2007, the BBFC again refused to rate a revised Manhunt 2 stating that 'the impact of the revisions on the bleakness and callousness of tone ... is clearly insufficient. [The ESRB, however,] reduced the revised version's rating to "Mature," effectively opening the door to its widespread distribution and its licensing approval by game system manufacturers Sony and Nintendo."

We think it's fair to say the last thing the ESRB needs to be is more strict on the content it reviews. Moreover, It's growing increasingly clear that the video game industry may never reach the societal acceptance that the movie industry enjoys with its violent content.

(Via IGN)

Finding the best PSP deals on Black Friday

Filed under: Software

Black Friday is the biggest shopping day of the year in America. Coming the day after Thanksgiving, it heralds the beginning of the Christmas shopping season, and the biggest sales of the year. PSP fanboys, as you start getting ready for Thanksgiving, let's look at some of the best deals for you to take advantage of:

Buying a New PSP:

• Gamestop is offering a used PSP Phat for $120. Good way of saving $50 if you don't want TV out functionality.
• Meijer is giving away a free starter kit and Mercury Meltdown game with the purchase of any PSP system.
• Target is giving away five free UMD movies with the purchase of any PSP. Movies include: Talladega Nights, Open Season, Jumanji, Air Force One and Casino Royale.
• FYE is offering a $50 mail-in rebate when you buy a PSP and two of the following games: Jackass, Final Fantasy Tactics, NFS Carbon, Naruto Ultimate Heroes, and Star Wars Battlefront.

For the rest of you that already own a PSP system, the best software deals are after the break.

Best Software Deals:

• Gamestop will put select UMD movies on clearance for $4 or less. Rainbow Six Vegas, Mortal Kombat Unchained and Virtua Tennis 3 will be $10 each. Tony Hawk's Project 8, Call of Duty : Road to Victory, and Full Auto 2 will be $15 each. Finally, Tomb Raider Anniversary will be $20.
• Toys R Us hates you by only offering Dave Mirra, Brunswick Bowling, Legends Power-Up, and Spelling Challenge for $10 each.
• Best Buy is offering EA Replay for $5. GTA: Liberty City Stories and Midnight Club 3 is $10 each.
• Circuit City is offering EA Replay, Guilty Gear Judgment and Bust-A-Move for $5 each. Napoleon Dynamite (game) will be $10.
• Target is offering The Simpsons Game for only $17.
• KB Toys is offering buy one get one free on all video games.

We'll provide another update later in the week as more deals become apparent. So far, this year's Black Friday isn't offering very good deals. Our pick? Gamestop's cheap prices on Call of Duty and Tomb Raider Anniversary.
[Via CAG]

Today's deals: After Burner, Marvel Trading Card, 4GB MS

Filed under: Software

It's not even Black Friday yet, and there's tons of good deals for PSP owners to take advantage of:

• After Burner: Black Falcon for $15. This arcade classic gets revived for PSP, and at this price, is a great deal.
• Marvel Trading Card Game for $10.
• 4GB Memory Stick for $30. With the Store open, you'll want to get more storage ...

[Via CAG]

New PSP ad highlights features in familiar way

Filed under: Video

Man, we remember this ad campaign from the PSP's launch, nearly three years ago. A new ad has been created, to highlight the incredible things that PSP can do now. A few years into the life cycle, PSP can do things it couldn't possibly dream to do at launch. Now, it can connect to the PS3, get free wi-fi from T-Mobile hotspots, and more. Check out this stylish and well-crafted ad.

beats for PSP is finally unveiled

Filed under: Video, Store

A long time ago, we stumbled upon an ESRB rating for a then-unannounced PSP game, beats. It looked quite revolutionary, as it would allow you to play with and share music in new, innovative ways. It's available on the European PS Store, and we'll be checking it out soon. Until then, enjoy this new trailer of this exciting music game.

A step by step guide to the PlayStation Store

Filed under: How-tos, Syphon Filter, Store

Welcome to the PlayStation Store. Now, you'll be able to download game demos, videos and more from your Windows PC to your PSP. It's simple to use ... all you need is a PSN account to begin. So, PS3 owners won't have to register a new account to make purchases for the PSP. Sweet!

After creating a PSN account, make sure you have the Network Downloader. It's only 2 megs large -- the installation is quick and painless. Read on to see more, and see what's available on the PS Store!

Now, we're going to download Syphon Filter: Combat Ops, one of the new downloadable titles for PSP. It's only $10 and comes in at only 67.5MB. Once you go through the checkout area, you'll see an option to download the game.

When you open the file, the Network Downloader will pop up, and will ask you to connect your PSP. Just connect your system via USB, and the transfer will automatically begin. Note: You cannot run more than one download at a time.

Once the download completes, you'll see the game from your PSP XMB: Game -> Memory Stick:

Interestingly, a software manual is included with your download when you press Triangle:

What else is available on the PS Store today? A lot of stuff. Here's a list:

Trailers

• Beats
• Haze - Origins
• Killzone 2
• LittleBigPlanet
• Metal Gear Online
• MGS4 Gameplay Video
• PLAYSTATION Eye
• PSN Video
• PSP Videos

PS1 Games

• Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
• CoolBoarders
• Crash Bandicoot
• Destruction Derby
• Hot Shots Golf 2
• Jet Moto
• Jumping Flash!
• Medievil
• Rally Cross
• Spyro the Dragon
• Syphon Filter
• Twisted Metal 2
• Wipeout
• 2Xtreme

Full Games

• Gangs of London ($19.99)
• Syphon Filter: Combat Ops ($9.99)
• Wipeout Pure ($14.99)

Demos

• SOCOM: Tactical Strike
• Syphon Filter: Logan's Shadow

Stay tuned. A plethora of updates is hitting PSP Fanboy in the coming days.

Sony unveils Bleach: Heat the Soul 5

Filed under: Bleach, Imports

Sony's semi-annual update of the PSP-exclusive Heat the Soul series continues as they've announced Heat the Soul 5. We're huge Bleach fans (don't look for my cosplay of Ichigo, please), but even we think it's a bit much to announce five games from one franchise in such little time. Supposedly, this iteration will feature the most updates, but the games are pretty good as-is ... what else can they possibly add? A better question to ask may also be: when will a Bleach PSP game arrive to the States?

[Update: Scan available on Jeux-France.]

Patapon and Yuusha box arts revealed

Filed under: Imports, Patapon

Japan is getting two hotly-anticipated PSP games soon. First is the rhythm + cuteness + war game, Patapon. This game has you controlling a rather vicious group of adorable cuddly things on their conquest to destroy everything in their sight. Of course, you do so with the power of music.

Yuusha no Kuse ni Namaikda is a RPG where you try to stop potential heroes with your minion horde. This reverse-dungeon crawler features some old school graphics, but maybe that's part of its charm.

Worldwide PSP release for the week of Nov. 18

Filed under: News, Software

The next few weeks are going to be pretty boring for U.S. PSP owners as it's looking like we'll have to wait until early December before we get any meaningful releases. However, the outlook isn't quite as bleak for our friends across the pond as they're getting a few games this week.

US Games

• No new releases

EU Games

• Jackass
• Crash of the Titans
• Warhammer 40,000: Squad Command

Asia Games

• Ape Escape Racing (PSP the Best)

While it's certainly a bummer not to have any new games, we can always fall back on recent releases like Silent Hill Origins and Warhammer 40K: Squad Command to get us through these dark times.

Japan's 1seg advertisement

Filed under: Video

Here's yet another international PSP commercial. This time, we're taking a look at the 1seg device, a handy peripheral which allows Japanese PSP owners to access digital television signals over the air. Unfortunately, 1seg isn't available in America, and the likelihood of us seeing something similar is zero. At least we have the PlayStation Store, right? Wait a minute ...

PSP Store arriving 'after Christmas' in Europe

Filed under: Store

Click for full resolution image.

The PC-compatible PLAYSTATION Store will arrive in Europe "after Christmas," according to a new e-mail sent out by SCEE today. The Store will feature "games, themes and wallpapers" and "trailers, music and films." This ambitious revamp of downloadable content for PSP certainly can't come soon enough!

There's still no word on the US release yet.

[Thanks, Zach M.!]

PSP sales up 120% due to redesign

Filed under: News

The PSP's redesign has revived Sony's flagship portable, much like Nintendo's redesigned DS Lite did. According to SCEA: "The PSP sold 286K units at retail for the month of October. Overall sales of the PSP are up 120% year over year due to the popularity of the slimmer and lighter PSP, which includes video-out capabilities for $169."

Of course, the hardware isn't the only reason why the system is doing so well. The "PSP has no games" argument has been banished to only the most oblivious of internet forum lurkers. As Sony notes, "With 24 first and third-party software titles being released this holiday season, such as SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Tactical Strike and Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of The Lions, as well as new spots for the wildly popular "Dude, get your own" campaign, the PSP will undoubtedly continue to gain momentum through the coming months."

We love seeing the PSP doing well -- being a PSP fan has never been as cool as it is now.

Video: the PSP does a lot of stuff

Filed under: Video

It seems like Sony is trying to re-educate people on the incredible variety of things that PSP can do. This video, for European audiences, painstakingly uses stop-motion photography to explain all the capabilities of the PSP. It's a bit long, but at least it looks cool.

Hudson announces Dungeon Explorer for PSP

Filed under: News

Hudson Entertainment a bringing a classic gaming franchise to the PSP next year in the form of Dungeon Explorer: Warriors of Ancient Arts. The game is due out in February and will feature improved graphics and features while still maintaining the same dungeon crawling gameplay of the original. Dugeon Explorer for the PSP will feature a huge selection of different weapons, armour types and equipment. There will also be more than 150 different kinds of fighting arts and the game will be playable with up to two other people in Ad-Hoc mode. There's no mention so far of an infrastructure mode, sadly.

We have a great selection of screenshots of the game in the gallery below. Be sure to check them out and prepare yourself to explore some dungeons shortly after the new year comes around.

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Today's wackiest video: Exit

Filed under: Exit, Video

It's been a while since we wrote anything about Exit. Then, we saw this video and it changed our lives. This puzzle game from Taito has you safely escorting people out of a burning building -- but you wouldn't know that considering how truly zany and wacky this video is. Maybe it's not the most PSP-related story out there, but it's certainly the most entertaining today. Enjoy!

[Via PlayStation Boards]

See also:
Exit downloadable demo

Reading ... reading ... reading and playing! Anata wo Yurusanai

Filed under: Imports, Video

This ad for the PSP-exclusive adventure game, Anata wo Yurusanai feels a lot like a DS ad. Firstly, it emphasizes reading, something you won't really find in a video game ad that isn't created by Nintendo. Thankfully, the ad also highlights "playing" because we doubt that many people will want to do this weird reading thing for too long.

Faceplates available for hardcore PSP-2000 owners

Filed under: Peripherals

Already tired of the look of your PSP-2000? Then, get a new faceplate for it! CoolMods is offering faceplates in a variety of colors, such as this rather swag looking gold color. At £9.99, they're a bit pricey, but those that desperately need to have a different looking system will want to pick one up.

[Via PSP GadgetZ]

Imabikisou goes to PSP ... through Remote Play

Filed under: News

Long-awaited Japanese horror game Imabikisou is playable on the PSP ... so long as you have a PS3, a wireless connection and Remote Play enabled. This makes the Sega-published visual novel game the third PS3 game that's playable on the PSP (Lair being the biggest game to use the feature so far).

Calling the game text-heavy would be an understatement. Considering the lack of action sequences in the game, the slow pace and engrossing atmosphere of Imabikisou make it perfect for those that have the equipment (and language skills) necessary to play on the go.

[Via Siliconera]

LocoRoco team looking for new recruits

Filed under: News, Loco Roco

The team behind the award-winning LocoRoco is working on a brand new PSP game ... and they're looking for help. Imagine! You could be working on the next game from this imaginative group ... provided you live in Japan. We're glad to see the team moving onto something new, something Kouno has been hinting at for quite some time now.

[Thanks, Joe! Via Team ICO Gamers]

A closer look at Japan's awesome Castlevania package

Filed under: Imports, Castlevania

Japan continues to get the primo packaging for its games. The Dracula X Chronicles comes with a fancy art book, keychain, PSP pouch and more in the deluxe Japanese release. PSP GadgetZ was able to get their hands on the incredible package and they have a ton of pics right here. It may be pricey at $100, but the hardcore Castlevania fans may want to lay down some cash.

Haruhi box set includes everything a fan could want

Filed under: Imports

The lucky few that were able to order the Haruhi PSP special edition box will find themselves inundated with a mountain of goodies, including a pouch, a PSP stand, game case, headphones, stickers, wrist strap and more. Oh, it also comes with the PSP-exclusive game, if that's what you're in to. The premium box will be available later in December, so importers may want to get their credit cards ready.

[Via PSP Hyper]

PSP Fanboy Theatre: Volume 40

Filed under: Theatre

Medal of Honor Heroes 2 (8.0MB)

Also featured: Haze, Pain, Assassin's Creed, Kane & Lynch

Haze - "Brits" (88.4MB)


Pain (9.2MB)


Assassin's Creed - Launch (11.9MB)


Kane & Lynch - Multiplayer (5.7MB)

PSP-exclusive wrestling legends on view

Filed under: WWE

The PSP version of the upcoming WWE Smackdown Vs. Raw features a few classic wrestlers you won't find in the console versions of the game. The three included for Sony's handheld are: Jim Neidhart, Sgt. Slaughter and Eddie Guerrero. IGN has the profiles of these wrestling legends, and a few videos too. Hopefully, the inclusion of these additional characters isn't meant to make up for what the series has become notorious for: infamously long load times.

Super happy fun fun Downstream Panic screens

Filed under: Downstream Panic!

Are you ready for? Are you ready for super happy fun fun time with Downstream Panic? This upcoming PSP puzzle game has you saving fish in a super-ultra-sunshiney happiness land. Everything is filled with saccharin goodness, from the visuals to the music to the gameplay. Atari's trying to make the next Loco Roco here ... will they succeed?

Check out our new screens in our updated gallery:

%Gallery-7752%

Unsurprising: Oblivion on way to cancellation

Filed under: Elder Scrolls

The mysterious Elder Scrolls Travels game that was supposedly in development for PSP has been considered vaporware for quite some time. Now, Kotaku is reporting that GameStop stores are calling the unfortunate few that pre-ordered the game, telling them that the game is canceled.

This comes as unsurprising news, especially when one considers the incredible lack of news surrounding the title. Although GameStop is saying the game is dead, Bethesda still refuses to comment on the game. "We haven't changed our stance that we are not talking about this title right now," says Pete Hines, V.P. of Marketing and Public Relations at Bethesda.

Rumour: Another Metal Gear Solid PSP title in the works

Filed under: News

EGM's resident rumour-monger, Quartermann, has suggested in the latest issue that Kojima Productions have another PSP Metal Gear Solid game planned. This is completely unconfirmed and, at this stage, nothing more than a rumour but, to be honest, we wouldn't be surprised.

There are no other details other than the implication that the game will be based on the early days of Snake's career. Makes sense really, seeing as how Metal Gear Solid 4 will be the last chapter of Snake's story - going backwards in the timeline is the only choice left.

$5 UMD deal returns to GameStop

The UMD format might be dead, but that doesn't mean you can't pick on its remains for cheap! Great movies, like Ghostbusters, Kung Fu Hustle, and Final Fantasy VII Advent Children are all available for $5 each. Check out the massive selection at GameStop here. With PSP-2000's ability to output video at full DVD resolution, these deals taste even better.

Make sure you use coupon code SAVER to get free shipping.

[Via CAG]

PSP Fanboy interview: Atari Classics Evolved

Filed under: Interviews, Atari Classics

We recently had a chance to chat with Atari Classics Evolved producer Matt Rush. Atari is bringing yet another compilation of retro games to the handheld, but this time there's a twist. The games are getting a graphical overhaul. But what else is featured in Atari's upcoming retro revival? Read on to find out more.

Atari is well-known for reviving its classic arcade games. Do you think that these icons are still relevant to today's gamers?
Oh absolutely, without a doubt. The games featured in Atari Classics are not just classics, but forerunners to some of the biggest games throughout history. I think that although these games may look simplistic on the surface to some of today's gamers, the core elements found in all of these games will seem instantly familiar because they've had so much influence on the games that followed them, even until now.

Why remake it for the PSP? How has the team taken advantage of what PSP has to offer?
The games featured in Atari Classics were originally designed with limited hardware capabilities way back when, so remaking them for the PSP provides more than enough resources to deliver an entirely new experience. For us, the PSP was the perfect platform for this title because it represents the best of both worlds in terms of what we were trying to do with this game. It has than enough power to provide the enhanced versions of these games with amazing graphics, rich sound and features like peer-to-peer multiplayer. It also provides players the portability to take these games with them wherever they go and play them whenever they want.

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Are there improvements beyond graphics? Has the gameplay been updated to feel more modern? What changes have been implemented?
Absolutely! These evolved versions are complete evolutions of the classic titles. You'll see not only totally upgraded graphics but new music and sound effects. Also, as mentioned previously you'll be able to use wireless peer-to-peer to play multiplayer against other players on titles where multiplayer is available.

Are there in-game achievements? How will players feel rewarded for their accomplishments?
There are in-game Awards for the 11 main titles which in turn will unlock the 50 plus Atari 2600 games that take on a whole new beauty on the PSP!

Is Game Sharing (the ability to send game data from one PSP to another) something you're considering?
That's definitely something we are considering for the future. Our priority was to offer something that had never been done before, like AdHoc multiplayer for Battlezone and Warlords.

Sony has been talking a lot about the PSP Store, where you can download games directly to your PSP. Will Atari look at using this distribution model in the future?
The PSP Store is something that Atari is excited about supporting and as development continues on other projects ways for utilizing the service are being explored.

God of War II director leaves SCEA

Filed under: News, God of War

David Jaffe passed down the reigns of the God of War franchise to Cory Barlog, who took over the director's seat for the critically acclaimed God of War II. However, it looks like Barlog is also leaving the house of Kratos. "We can confirm that Cory Barlog, game director for God of War II, is leaving the SCEA Santa Monica Studio and we are grateful for his work and creative vision for the critically acclaimed God of War franchise," says a Sony spokesperson to 1UP.

This surprising announcement will not affect the upcoming Chains of Olympus or the never-really-officially-announced God of War III for PS3. "Moving forward, we are confident in the God of War team, as they are an extremely talented group of people that are passionate about the franchise and dedicated to creating even more epic content with God of War: Chains of Olympus for the PSP and God of War III for PS3."

[Via Joystiq]