Motorstorm: Arctic Edge races to retail Sept. 29, download Oct. 1

If you're looking to get downright chilly in Sony's upcoming Motorstorm: Arctic Edge, know that you won't have to sweat the summer heat much longer, because PlayStation Blog has confirmed that the PSP version of the game will slide into retail September 29 and become available as a PSP Go launch download on October 1. Both releases are priced at $39.99 and include 12 reversible tracks and eight vehicle classes.

If, however, you were hoping for yet another excuse not to upgrade your console hardware (but how can you resist?), you're going to have to a wait a bit longer for the PS2 version of Artic Edge, which will release "later this fall." The console port features everything in the PSP game, plus an old-school, in-your-face, split-screen multiplayer mode.

Motorstorm: Arctic Edge races to retail Sept. 29, download Oct. 1 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 28 Aug 2009 12:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Koei's Warship Gunners 2 sailing to PSP

It seems like nearly half of the games released nowadays are Japanese nautical combat simulators for the PSP -- regardless, Koei is set to heap yet another of these ever-popular titles on the pile. This time around, it's a port of the PS2 title Naval Ops: Warship Gunner 2 -- though its PSP iteration has been given a more appropriate moniker: Warship Gunner 2 Portable. Release date details will likely drop when the game's official site goes live on September 4.

The title places players behind the wheel (rudder?) of a massive warship, forcing them to fight through waves of enemy vessels and proceed through the story and unlock new customizable parts for their own boat. Basically, it's a more complex version of Battleship, only without all the choking hazards. Unless you consider a UMD a choking hazard, but, man,vyou'd really have to try pretty hard to manage that.

Koei's Warship Gunners 2 sailing to PSP originally appeared on Joystiq Playstation on Thu, 27 Aug 2009 16:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

GameTrailers shows what it's like to be Batman's roommate in Home

In short, being Batman's roommate is kind of a sucky gig.

That's the feeling we came away with after watching GameTrailers' video preview (posted after the jump) of the Batcave Home space that's bundled with the PS3 version of Batman: Arkham Asylum. Seriously, he keeps all of his sweet toys in inaccessible display cases, he hangs all his vehicles precariously over the kitchen, and makes it so all the TVs in the place run footage of him beating up insane people.

We don't know how Robin put up with it for as long as he did.

Continue reading GameTrailers shows what it's like to be Batman's roommate in Home

GameTrailers shows what it's like to be Batman's roommate in Home originally appeared on Joystiq Playstation on Thu, 27 Aug 2009 14:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Splash Damage has big plans for Brink franchise

We've spoken to Splash Damage's Richard 'Rahdo' Ham in the past, so we know he's no stranger to a certain amount of exuberance about the game he's working on, Brink. In his latest interview with Eurogamer, his excitement reaches a fever pitch and he confirms plans for a "second and third" in the Brink series.

"We already have big plans for that," Ham said. He hopes that Brink's integration of online play -- a combination of Burnout Paradise's freeburn mode and an FPS -- will best reigning multiplayer kingpins Halo and Call of Duty. Of course, upcoming new entries in each of those franchises are certain to put up a fight before succumbing to Mr. Ham's ambitions.

Splash Damage has big plans for Brink franchise originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 27 Aug 2009 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

David Cage explains Heavy Rain's striptease

We were personally scandalized by the Heavy Rain scene that featured one of the lead characters, Madison, stripping as a means to gain information. But Quantic Dream's David Cage explained to Eurogamer that it was all part of the plan. "You need to go through different emotions," Cage said, "and showing this scene in particular was for us a test to see if we can make people feel like Madison, having to get naked to do a striptease in front of this ugly guy, and obviously it worked because people felt very uncomfortable."

Cage later added, "Besides, did you see the sales numbers for Indigo Prophecy? Either we added a striptease or space marines with giant guns shaped like John Madden." ... No, no, he didn't say that. But he had to be thinking it, right?

David Cage explains Heavy Rain's striptease originally appeared on Joystiq Playstation on Thu, 27 Aug 2009 13:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

PSP Go comes apart

Somehow, Levelup.cn got access to a PSP Go, which they proceeded to disassemble for our amusement. You can browse through the thirteen-page gallery (!) and really look for the UMD drive that must be hidden in there somewhere. You can also see the internal memory and the battery, which is now non-removable (and, Sony hopes, non-moddable as well).

Perhaps of greatest interest to old-school PSP owners is that the D-pad and buttons are very clearly separated from the screen hardware by quite some distance. There shouldn't be any square button issues this time!

[Via Engadget]

PSP Go comes apart originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 27 Aug 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

First screens of Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars PSP hijacked

Click to steal more screens.

PSP owners expecting a Liberty City Stories-styled facelift for the upcoming port of Chinatown Wars may be a little disappointed. One glance at the first batch of PSP screenshots shows that the game hasn't strayed far from its DS origins. Sure, the enhanced lighting effects and widescreen presentation are noticeable improvements, but it's clear that this GTA isn't pushing the hardware in any significant way.

Hopefully, the visuals won't stop PSP owners from checking out the game. It may be a port of a DS game, but it's a port of one of the best DS games ever. Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars will be available on UMD and PSN on October 20.

First screens of Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars PSP hijacked originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 27 Aug 2009 11:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Rock Band Network Store coming to PS3, Wii players out of luck

Aspiring artists that want to publish their songs in the Rock Band Network will have to stick with Xbox 360. The tools, which were developed through Microsoft's XNA program, can't be ported over to Sony's machine. However, PS3 owners will still be able to access a large number of user-uploaded songs through the Rock Band Network Store, which will be patched into Rock Band 2 late this year; most likely in mid-November.

Not every song from the Rock Band Network will be available for PS3 owners. The option to bring a song over to the PS3 version of the Store will be offered at Harmonix's discretion, and even then it will be entirely "opt in." Artists will have to do some paperwork to properly port their songs onto the PlayStation Network, a process Harmonix believes no one will refuse. "It's more revenue, right?"

Essentially, PS3 owners will have access to the "greatest hits" of the Rock Band Network, while members of the Xbox 360 Creator's Club will be able to play and review every song that passes through the servers. Wii owners, on the other hand, are completely out of luck. "We would love to get it running on the Wii," Harmonix told us. However, the studio doesn't have the ability to patch games on Nintendo's platform. Until Harmonix discovers a workaround, Wii owners can only purchase additional songs officially distributed through Rock Band Weekly.

Rock Band Network Store coming to PS3, Wii players out of luck originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 27 Aug 2009 06:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

SCEA deploys 'Director of Rumor Confirmation' in new marketing campaign

Maybe Sony read our blog and saw our complaining. SCEA is working on a brand new marketing campaign to promote the $299 price of the redesigned slim PS3. Unlike previous ads from Sony, some which involved creepy robot babies crying, this campaign is meant to be humorous and less abstract.

The figurehead for the new ads will be Kevin Butler, Director of Rumor Confirmation. Most likely, Sony will play on its apparent inability to keep the PS3 Slim (and simultaneous price drop) a secret. Don't expect Sony to eat too much humble pie, though. The previously uncovered "It Only Does Everything" slogan will be the official tag line for the campaign.

For more pictures of the upcoming ad, visit IndustryGamers.

SCEA deploys 'Director of Rumor Confirmation' in new marketing campaign originally appeared on Joystiq Playstation on Wed, 26 Aug 2009 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Biomass Review: Batman: Arkham Asylum

Visually, there could not be a more stark contrast between the Joystiq staff and the Joystiq Biomass. While we're all impressively fit, tanned skin stretched across the sinew of our typing fingers, the Biomass is an amorphous, million-faced blob whose opinions are forged from the unmitigated madness of our community.

But occasionally, when its wailing gurgles become too overpowering, we must unlock its hermetically-sealed cage and let it have its say. Today, when the Biomass reviews Batman: Arkham Asylum, is such a day.

Continue reading Biomass Review: Batman: Arkham Asylum

Biomass Review: Batman: Arkham Asylum originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 26 Aug 2009 16:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

PS3 Slim 'Play Face' ads invade Shibuya Station

Sony's marketing gurus are pulling out all the stops to make sure people hear about their newly emaciated console -- in Japan, they're even making special efforts to totally creep people out as they do so. The "Play Face" campaign has expanded beyond the realm of bizarre television advertisements, and landed squarely on the walls of Tokyo's super-busy Shibuya station. Japanese tech blog AndriaSang captured the haunting sight, seen in the image above.

We briefly considered sending in our own countenance to the Play Face campaign's website, but we're not sure that our current look of complete and utter confusion would help sell any hardware.

[Image]

PS3 Slim 'Play Face' ads invade Shibuya Station originally appeared on Joystiq Playstation on Wed, 26 Aug 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The pre-order bonus of your dreams: A Bakugan pillowcase

Let the losers keep their night vision goggles and Batarangs, those of you pre-ordering Bakugan Battle Brawlers at Game Crazy are going to get the real premium: A pillowcase featuring BBB's lead character Dan. Just imagine how cool it's going to look this October as the neighborhood bully spirits it into the night, filled with your freshly collected Halloween candy.

What's that? Still not convinced? Did we mention that the reverse side features Dan's guardian Bakugan Dragonoid? Seriously, check it out after the jump.

Continue reading The pre-order bonus of your dreams: A Bakugan pillowcase

The pre-order bonus of your dreams: A Bakugan pillowcase originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 25 Aug 2009 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

GTA: Chinatown Wars runs over PSP and PSN on October 20th

The upcoming PSP port of Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars will be available -- in both UMD and PSP Go-friendly downloadable formats -- on October 20th. Rockstar Games still hasn't shown what kind of enhancements will be made to the one-time DS game, nor have they released any screenshots of the game in action. We understand Rockstar's penchant for secrecy, but considering this is one of the few titles Take-Two has planned for the holiday season, we recommend they get the hype-wagon (pictured above) revved up soon.

GTA: Chinatown Wars runs over PSP and PSN on October 20th originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 25 Aug 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Sony spends �82 million in new European marketing campaign

£82 million. €94 million. $135 million. Any way you put it, that's a large amount of money. The new ad campaign, which focuses on the redesigned, slim PS3 and new PSN services, is the first major campaign from SCEE since the highly criticized "This is Living" campaign from the system's launch over two years ago.

The first of the "Start" series of ads focuses solely on entertainment services offered on PS3, like VidZone and the included Blu-ray player. However, future ads will also talk about the bread and butter of the system: games. But before Sony continues with the campaign, we'd recommend the company fix its Google search recommendation. Right now, the ad ends telling viewers to search "PS3 Start." Unfortunately, this pops up as one of the first results for that search term. Ouch.

Sony spends �82 million in new European marketing campaign originally appeared on Joystiq Playstation on Tue, 25 Aug 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2010 dated, detailed

Other than a recent countdown offered by THQ, we haven't heard much about the publisher's next effort in its longtime wrestling franchise, WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2010. Today though, THQ announced an October 20 release date for the game, along with a clear marketing push towards online play.

Nelo Lucich, a senior VP at licensor JAKKS Pacific, leads the charge, saying, "The vast array of creative and online options allow players the ability to create their own unique Superstars, right down to their tattoos and customized ring gear." He goes on to tout the game's "Community Creations interface" and other options for online play, remaining confident. And maybe he should be, considering the game's October release now has a much better chance of standing out in a delay-riddled holiday season than ever before.

WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2010 dated, detailed originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 24 Aug 2009 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Metareview: Batman: Arkham Asylum (PS3, 360, PC)

We had hoped that, at this point, this kind of glowing criticism would be enough to make your buying decisions for you. But, sadly, it seems you still want to hear what others have to say about Batman: Arkham Asylum. Very well. Though it pains us, we oblige:

• Game Informer (95/100): "Batman: Arkham Asylum is this year's BioShock, not just from the connection established with the world, but from its ability to innovate where new ideas are needed, and moreover, deliver an adventure unlike any other.
• Strategy Informer (95/100): "A full repertoire of moves makes playing as Batman an experience that's not only uniquely satisfying, but also incredibly empowering - exactly as it should be. The Dark Knight is a superhero, and in Arkham Asylum, he actually feels like one, stalking enemies with a predatory prowess befitting of the iconic character."
• Play.tm (94/100): "So, is Arkham Asylum finally the game that Batman deserves then? Yes. Yes it is. And a whole lot more besides. ... It is to games what Batman Begins and The Dark Knight are to movies - Batman: Arkham Asylum is without doubt the most definitive videogame realisation of the character yet. It's also unreservedly brilliant to boot."
• Eurogamer (90/100): "Most of the gameplay concerns are minor when taken in the context of how much Arkham Asylum gets so gloriously right. Rarely does a game do a character justice in such a satisfying way. Arkham Asylum finds room for every major aspect of Batman's enduring appeal, and it does so in a game compelling enough to work even without its masked star."

Metareview: Batman: Arkham Asylum (PS3, 360, PC) originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 24 Aug 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

TRU will give you $30 to buy Batman

We feel like we've already given you plenty of reasons to buy Batman: Arkham Asylum (chief among them: it's rad) but Toys 'R' Us is offering 30 more. Those who buy the game at the toy retailer between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. tomorrow will receive a gift card good for half of the game's purchase price (that's $30 for the mathematically deficient). One caveat: You have to be a member of the company's Rewards 'R' Us program to participate.

If you're averse to friendly giraffes, you can also dip into your local Best Buy, where an Arkham Asylum purchase will net you Batman: The Animated Series films Mr. Freeze and Mask of the Phantasm, as well as a $10 gift card. Plus, unlike the TRU offer, this one's available online. Take that, Canada!

TRU will give you $30 to buy Batman originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 24 Aug 2009 15:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Sony cuts bandwidth fees, publisher penalties from PSP Minis service

For its PSP Minis service, Sony is doing away with many of the fees associated with other digital networks to attract the attention of developers. As discovered by GamerBytes, the PlayStation Network's bandwidth fee -- for which publishers are charged per gigabyte of data transferred over PSN -- is revoked for the PSP Minis service. It's a somewhat odd decision, considering each Minis game will be limited to under 100MB. Certainly, a bandwidth charge would be one of the smallest fees a PSP Minis developer would have faced.

The PSP Minis program also does away with many of the practices common to WiiWare and Xbox Live. Unlike WiiWare, there is no minimum sales quota for developers to reach before they get paid. Additionally, PSP Minis publishers are allowed to choose their own release dates, instead of joining the growing queue of games awaiting release on both the PlayStation Store and Xbox Live Arcade.

It's clear that Sony is taking measures to make the Minis service appear lucrative to third-party developers, especially indie studios. The question is: Will PSP gamers buy into this new platform, or will Minis be a retread of the floundering Xbox Live Indie Games project?

Sony cuts bandwidth fees, publisher penalties from PSP Minis service originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 24 Aug 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Square reboot Thexder NEO revealed by ESRB listing

Square Enix has its finger in a whole lot of pies right now -- but if a recent ESRB listing is any indication, the developer might be preparing to sully its digits in yet another pastry. Said listing is for a PS3 and PSP title called Thexder NEO -- a new entry in a classic Square-developed franchise, which first appeared on the prehistoric NEC PC-8801 platform before making its way to PC and NES. Considering Square held the reins of this IP back in 1985, we're assuming the company will develop this new title -- but until we get more details, there's no way to be sure.

According to the ESRB listing, Thexder NEO is "a side-scrolling action game in which players control a transforming robot through a series of maze-like levels." Stop right there, ESRB listing. You had us at "robot."

Square reboot Thexder NEO revealed by ESRB listing originally appeared on Joystiq Playstation on Mon, 24 Aug 2009 10:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Everybody is kung fu fighting in this Invincible Tiger gameplay footage

The kung fu action of Invincible Tiger: The Legend of Han Tao is crane-kicking the Xbox Live Marketplace and PlayStation Store sometime soon, and we've got a pair of gameplay videos to showoff the over-the-top action. Sweep in and take on wacky enemy forces in an arena style combat game. One-inch punch Evil Overlord's (yes, that's the bad guy's name) minions and reclaim the Star of Destiny. Do some other karate named thing and be, uh ... awesome? You get the idea. Check out more Invincible Tiger action after the break.

Continue reading Everybody is kung fu fighting in this Invincible Tiger gameplay footage

Everybody is kung fu fighting in this Invincible Tiger gameplay footage originally appeared on Joystiq Xbox on Sat, 22 Aug 2009 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

XVII new screenhots of Final Fantasy XIV

click to massive-size

If you're feeling ye olde fashioned and footage of Final Fantasy XIV in action is just too newfangled for you, don't fret. Square-Enix has released a fresh batch of perfectly still images from the game during GamesCom -- and they're very, very ... green. Hey, at least they're more exciting than the previously released scenery shots. These are full of the good stuff: menus, characters and -- most of all -- action. Well, as much action as there can be in a static picture.

XVII new screenhots of Final Fantasy XIV originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 22 Aug 2009 04:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Persona 3 Portable intro shoots awesome bullets into your eyes

Do you know how cool Persona 3 is? It's so cool that it made shooting yourself in the head seem awesome.*

The upcoming PSP version of the game will have some significant changes, like this new opening intro sequence and new song done by Shuhei Kita (the same performer behind Persona: Trinity Soul's intro). In addition to being able to take control of a female lead, the gameplay has also been tweaked with brand new Beginner and Maniac modes. Players will also be able to move to any location they want from the menu -- a much improved experience for handheld play. Finally, you'll be able to issue commands to square mates directly, a pretty significant change from the original PS2 game.

All in all, we have to say we're very excited for Persona 3 Portable. Now, we just need Atlus to get working on an English version ASAP!

*Shooting yourself in the head is not awesome. Do not attempt at home. Persona 3 is a video game, and real-life results may differ. Please consult a physician before shooting yourself in the head.

Persona 3 Portable intro shoots awesome bullets into your eyes originally appeared on Joystiq Playstation on Fri, 21 Aug 2009 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Modern Warfare 2's 'Special Ops' missions detailed

We really enjoyed the "Mile High Club" mission unlocked upon the completion of Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare -- despite the fact it was completely out-of-continuity, it was one of the most thrilling segments in the entire game. Fortunately, it seems Infinity Ward has taken a cue from this airplane-combat scenario -- the developer recently explained that it's using it as inspiration for Modern Warfare 2's "Special Ops" missions, which were briefly demoed at GamesCom 2009.

Billed as the game's co-op mode, Special Ops allows players to perform standalone missions either on their lonesome or with a friend via online or split-screen co-op. Different difficulty tiers are offered for each Special Ops mission -- those bold enough to tackle the harder echelons will receive greater in-game unlockables.

We got a chance to see someone play through "The Gulag" at GamesCom -- a seeming recreation of the shower room from The Rock. The player armed himself at a Left 4 Dead-esque ammo dump, then run-and-gunned his way through a series of enemy-infested rooms. While lacking in the airborne panache that made "Mile High Club" so memorable, it was a neat little slice of gameplay -- we can't wait to see what other precarious scenarios Infinity Ward drops us into when Modern Warfare 2 hits store shelves this November.

Modern Warfare 2's 'Special Ops' missions detailed originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 21 Aug 2009 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Engadget seduces PS3 Slim, removes hard drive

We jokingly throw the word "technophile" around when referring to our colleagues over at Engadget -- but their most recent video preview of the PS3 Slim gives us serious cause for concern. You'll need to watch it (posted after the break) to see what we mean. We're not really disturbed by the way former Joystiq writer Ross Miller pries the svelte console's HDD from its innards. No, it's the soft piano music playing in the background and general tenderness exhibited by the cameraman that give the whole production an unsettling, Graduate-esque feel.

"Oh, hey, PS3 Slim. Look at you. You're looking mighty shapely this evening. Why don't you turn around for me. Yeah, real slow. Let me feel those buttons. That's nice, that's nice. Would you like some wine? We've got a lovely decanter of Garrafeira, imported straight from ... no? Are you comfortable? Good. Let's see that hard drive."

Continue reading Engadget seduces PS3 Slim, removes hard drive

Engadget seduces PS3 Slim, removes hard drive originally appeared on Joystiq Playstation on Fri, 21 Aug 2009 13:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Confused about Metal Gear Solid's timeline? So is Hideo Kojima

Don't feel bad if all the convoluted relationships and multi-generational storylines of the Metal Gear Solid series are occasionally too much for you. During an interview with Eurogamer, Metal Gear creator Hideo Kojima expressed a similar sentiment. "Actually, strange you ask, because I personally get confused too about the whole timeline and saga of Metal Gear Solid," Kojima said when asked about organizing his thoughts (which become the games' head-scratching reality). "This is especially tricky when you create the future first and then go back in time to create something new. There are a lot of small aspects where sometimes it doesn't match completely."

On the subject of the future, Kojima explained that Metal Gear Solid Rising is a good fit for younger KojiPro staff, while Peace Walker requires the Kojima Touch(R). "The younger staff couldn't really understand [Peace Walker's] background, and since I made the concept and overall storyline, I thought that I would go more deeply in, because for me it was more understandable a setting." Rising, however, is a new story set in the future, without so much influence from Kojima's existing storyline.

Confused about Metal Gear Solid's timeline? So is Hideo Kojima originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 21 Aug 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

First Majin: The Fallen Realm trailer is charming

If you want to demand innovation in your games, you have to be willing to embrace things when you don't totally get them. Take this trailer for Majin: The Fallen Realm. for instance. We don't exactly understand the relationship between this young boy and his mossy Wild Thing, but we're ready to clasp both of them to our bosom until we "get it."

The picture painted of the friendship seems like a really interesting one, especially in that last shot. Honestly, we're just glad to see man and monster's relationship evolving beyond oppressive slavery.

First Majin: The Fallen Realm trailer is charming originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 21 Aug 2009 09:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

DJ Hero coming Oct. 27 in US, 'late October' worldwide

Speaking to Joystiq at GamesCom, Activision has officially confirmed what retailer listings have indicated for quite some time: DJ Hero will wind up on shelves starting October 27th in the US and "late October" elsewhere -- likely the week of the 27th. However, the retailer-derived price of $120 (and $200 for the pictured "Renegade Edition") has yet to be confirmed.

DJ Hero will come with 93 mixes, comprised of 100 individual tracks. The game's guitar mode will be compatible with Rock Band axes and microphones. Yes, microphones. Though plugging in a microphone offers no major gameplay additions, the peripheral can be handed to the drunkest person in the room for random shoutouts and other foolish remarks. USB mics are a go, but we're following up to see if wireless mics will also be accepted.

DJ Hero coming Oct. 27 in US, 'late October' worldwide originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 21 Aug 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.