Chris Powell
Articles by Chris Powell
Blu-ray movie releases for the week of Jan. 13
Whew, what a week! We've seen more Blu-ray announcements and rumors last week than we can remember. Even though HD-DVD is still technically alive, you can rest assured that it's against the ropes and is gasping for air. With that outta the way, let's see what treats are in store for us this week! Good Luck Chuck Mr. Woodcock Breaker Morant Suburban Girl Went to Coney Island on a Mission from God...Be Back by Five Yeah, we don't really see a whole lot, either. We'll pass on Dane Cook's failed attempts at comedy, and we certainly don't want to witness Billy Bob desecrating his good name. If nothing interests you this week, don't be too bummed out though, because there will be some good titles trickling out this month.
Worldwide PSP releases for the week of Jan. 13
It seems as if it's another slow week in the PSP world as there's only one game releasing this week across all major regions.North America Games FlatOut: Head On Europe Games No new releases Asia Games No new releases If you like big crashes in your racers, then FlatOut: Head On will probably be of interest to you. It features several modes of play including a destruction derby, ragdoll stunt mode and WiFi multiplayer.
Gasp! Another Armored Core title is on its way
Historically, the Armored Core franchise has seen little evolution from each installment, but Armored Core: for Answer looks as if it could change that trend. Not only sporting bigger play areas compared to Armored Core 4, the game will also support online co-op and transformable battle mechs. And oh yeah, this new Japanese trailer for the game is godly amazing. Armored Core: for Answer is set to release in Japan on March 19, but it currently doesn't have a release date elsewhere as of yet.
PSP Fanboy Theatre: Volume 46
CES 2008 interview with John Koller (28.6MB) Also featured: Wipeout Pulse, SoulCalibur IV, LittleBigPlanet and Downstream Panic!
Yikes! Condemned 2 looks scarier than ever
Watching this newly released video of Condemned 2: Bloodshot only serves to remind us of all the sleepless nights spent huddling alone in our beds like scared little girls after playing through the first game. Only Condemned 2 is upping the stakes quite a bit with scarier monsters, way more violent gameplay and oh yeah, Ethan has gone absolutely crazy, which will only make the line between reality and hallucinations even fuzzier. After watching the video, one thing is for sure, Ethan is ready to kick some ass! [Update: It appears some people are having a hard time viewing the video. Instead of inputting your birthdate like it says in the video, try this method: MM/DD/YYYY.]
PS Fanboy Wallpapers: Volume 16
Every week, PSP and PS3 Fanboy will bring you new backgrounds for your Sony consoles, in resolutions up to 1080p. Download them directly to your PS3 by accessing PS3 Fanboy on your system. Download PSP wallpapers directly to your PSP by accessing the site wirelessly at m.pspfanboy.com.This weekend, we're focusing on EA's upcoming PS3 title Burnout: Paradise.
PS Fanboy Wallpapers: Volume 16
Every week, PSP and PS3 Fanboy will bring you new backgrounds for your Sony consoles, in resolutions up to 1080p. Download them directly to your PS3 by accessing PS3 Fanboy on your system. Download PSP wallpapers directly to your PSP by accessing the site wirelessly at m.pspfanboy.com. For those having trouble accessing the site on your PS3, please visit m.ps3fanboy.com or disable Javascript.This weekend, we're focusing on EA's upcoming PS3 title Burnout: Paradise.
Taking down the bosses in Patapon
Sure, Patapon happens to be one of the cutest games we've ever seen, but that doesn't mean it's going to be a cakewalk. Just take a look at this newly released gameplay video featuring one of the game's bosses. Defeating your foes will consistently hitting the correct button combinations to order your pint-sized tribesmen to attack, defend and advance through the level.We just can't wait to get our hands on this game when it releases in February.
Sony discontinuing 20GB, 60GB models in Japan
The last bastion of safety for the 20GB and 60GB PlayStation 3s is nearing its end as Sony Computer Entertainment Japan announced that it shipped its last batch this month. Instead, Sony will focus on the 40GB model in Japan and will "vigorously promote the expansion of the PS3 platform."Of course, this doesn't come as much surprise as Sony has discontinued both models in North America and Europe, and it only makes sense since the 40GB is currently the best deal money can buy when it comes to the PlayStation 3.We bid you a fond farewell 20GB and 60GB, for we barely knew you.
Nyko will make Rock Band, GH III compatible guitar
Just weeks ago, it felt as if the stalemate between Activision and Harmonix would never end. Both companies blamed the other for the lack of compatibility between guitar peripherals for Rock Band and Guitar Hero III. Thankfully, Nyko has come to save the day as it recently announced that it would develop a guitar that's compatible with both games.Coming in March, Nyko will make available the Front Man wireless guitar. The peripheral will feature a dongle with a switch that must be set for whichever game a budding guitarist is currently playing at the time. The guitar appears to have all the features that are present in the controllers offered by Activision and Harmonix but also promises up to 80 hours of continuous play time using three AA batteries.We're pretty sure both companies will settle this silly argument at some point in the future, but it sure feels good to know a true solution is only weeks away.
PSP games to look for in 2008: part 3
Q2%Gallery-12720% Lucasarts has already proven with Star Wars Battlefront Renegade Squadron that it knows how to make great games for the PSP, and we fully expect Star Wars: The Force Unleashed to not disappoint. Bridging the gap between the third and fourth movie in the series, the game will have you being Darth Vader's understudy while you hunt down those pesky Jedi. What's more, the PSP version will have exclusive levels not found in its console counterparts!Read more The Rest%Gallery-12721% We like mini-game based games as much as the next guy, but we'd prefer them to be ... ya know fun, right? Well, that certainly wasn't the case with Ape Escape Academy, but we're wiping the slate clean in 2008 and giving Sony a fresh start with Ape Escape Academy 2. Let's just put a few more cups of fun juice in there this time, kay? Read more Beaterator If mixing music is your thing and just happen to be a fan of Timbaland, you'll most certainly be interested in Beaterator, Rockstar's musical addition to the PSP library. Rockstar already has a more pint-sized version of Beaterator available to play on its site, but expect a more fleshed-out game when it hits the PSP. Read more %Gallery-4920% Picking up the baton right where Crush left it, echochrome promises to be one of the PSP's most original titles this year. In this Escher-inspired puzzler, players will be forced to constantly change perspectives while adhering to five strict laws. We were able to get our hands on a demo during Tokyo Game Show and were pretty impressed. To make it all the more sweeter, echochrome will also include a level editor, which Crush, unfortunately, didn't have. Read more %Gallery-8260% Although Secret Agent Clank's departure from the standard platforming genre may upset a few of the die-hard Ratchet & Clank fans, we're optimistic that High Impact Games will once again come through with an enjoyable title. Sure, the game will still feature platforming, but it will also add in stealth and timing gameplay styles, as well as allowing the player to take control of some of the other cast like Captain Quark. Add in the fact that Secret Agent Clank will support PS3 connectivity, and it's hard to deny that this game could have a very bright future. Read more %Gallery-3965% There certainly isn't a plethora of shooters available on the PSP, so don't blame us if we're pretty darn excited for Xyanide Resurrection. Promising at least 10 hours of gameplay, PlayLogic's new shooter features a branching level structure, so once you beat the game the first time, you can always go back and play through a few levels you missed the first go around. Additionally, Xyanide Resurrection will also support wireless multiplayer, pitting players against each other to see who can score the most points. Read more
PS3 games to look for in 2008: part 3
Q2PS3 Exclusive%Gallery-4722% There is perhaps no other PlayStation 3 title more hyped up than Killzone 2. Despite not looking quite as amazing as the infamous E3 trailer, more recent gameplay footage has proven Killzone 2 is a force to be reckoned with. Sure, the PS3 will have several exclusive FPS games by the time Guerilla Games' big title hits, but we all really know what we're waiting for. Read more PS3 Exclusive%Gallery-3199% Innovative. Cute. Original. All these words have been used to describe LittleBigPlanet, but its most important adjective that it certainly has is "fun." Promising a top notch physics engine, four player co-op and an extremely deep level creator, LittleBigPlanet will serve to cement the PlayStation Network's status of the platform where original games are made. Read more %Gallery-12716% Set in between Episodes III and IV, Star Wars: The Force Unleashed will shed more light on Darth Vader. Yeah, we really don't need to hear any more to realize this game is going to kick major ass. But just in case you're not convinced, you'll take the role as Darth Vader's evil apprentice, who's job it is to travel to the deepest ends of the galaxy seeking out and vanquishing the remaining Jedi. You might want to get a napkin, cause we think your mouth is watering. Read more PS3 Exclusive%Gallery-3205% SingStar's greatest rival might have just recently launched on the PS3 in the form of Rock Band. However, while Rock Band's downloadable set list can be counted on a few hands and feet, Sony promises that more than 300 songs will be available to download when SingStar hits. What's more is Sony's karaoke beast features the song's actual music video, so music buffs are sure to flock to SingStar like moths to the flame. Read more %Gallery-3898% Arguably, the true creator of survival horror, the next entry in the Alone in the Dark series is shaping up to everything that fans could possibly hope for. One interesting departure from tradition is the game's use of episodic structuring for its levels. Broken down in about a half hour, each episode will end in a cliff hangar to make it that much harder to put the game down. We just hope that Atari's recent financial problems don't mean Alone in the Dark will never see the light of day. Read more Free Realms Whoever said the Wii is the only console with software aimed at children and families? Well, that's certainly not true! Case in point, is Sony's upcoming Free Realms, which shoots for a lighthearted take on the MMO genre and features entirely free online play. Supporting a plethora of customizable content for user's characters, Sony will also provide additional customization for a charge. Hey, they gotta make money somehow, right? Read more %Gallery-3566% Grand Theft Auto IV promises to bring us the biggest, baddest and best-looking game yet in the series, and we can't wait. While it doesn't appear that Rockstar is changing up the recipe too much, we just can't wait to take another stroll through the streets of Liberty City leaving dead hookers in our wake. Read more PS3 Exclusive%Gallery-12719% While a few of the previous iterations in the Metal Gear series feature online modes, Metal Gear Online promises to hone it to perfection. Supporting up to 16 player combat, MGO will include such standard gameplay modes like Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch and King of the Hill, it will also give player's the ability to give their character's three unique skills that will increase as you play. Read more PS3 Exclusive%Gallery-12717% If you haven't realized it by this point, 2008 is looking a lot better than last year in terms of the heavy hitters rolling onto the PS3, and there may be none bigger than Metal Gear Solid 4. Staying true to its tactical roots, MGS 4 will once again have you controlling Snake, but the big change is that you'll be smack dab in the middle of a huge war. From everything we've seen so far, Konami looks to have another great title on its hands. Read more PS3 Exclusive%Gallery-3236% Sure, Home has been delayed more times than Michael Jackon's had cosmetic surgery, but one thing is for sure - once it's here, it will be truly awesome. Allowing users to create a highly customizable avatar complete with his own apartment, players will literally have a virtual living space for when you just get bored of your real house. Promising other great features like a Trophy Room where you can actually show what you've accomplished in a game is just a small taste of what sets Home apart from anything the competition is doing. Read more The princess is in another castle. Go to Q3. >
Worldwide PSP release for the week of Jan. 6
Last week was pretty bad since there wasn't any PSP release across all major regions. However, we told you that there'd definitely be something coming out this week, and here we are.North America Games Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law Europe Games Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters Platinum Asia Games Wipeout Pulse Zero Shiki Kanjou Sentouki Ni Now see there? Hopefully, everyone will be pleased with what will be new to the PSP section this week. Of course, North American gamers are finally going to experience all the fun those DS guys had with Phoenix Wright when Harvey Birdman drops.
Blu-ray movie releases for the week of Jan. 6
The week keeps getting better and better for Blu-ray supporters. First Warner Bros. chose to go exclusive to Blu-ray and now we have a very nice line-up of movies to choose from. 3:10 to Yuma Sunshine The Rock Con Air Dragon Wars Man on Fire Night of the Werewolf / Vengeance of the Zombies Killing Machine / Shogun's Ninja Sister Street Fighter / Sister Street Fighter II If you somehow missed 3:10 to Yuma when it went through theaters, we highly suggest you check it out. It's hard not to include it along some of the best Westerns of all time. However, things aren't all rainbows and gumdrops. Also released this week is Dragon Wars, one of the most horrible movies to ever grace the Silver Screen. We won't ruin it for you, but the ending of the movie is so bad that you might want to at least rent it for a good laugh.
Skype support will be limited to PSP-2000
The rumors of Skype support coming to the PSP have now been confirmed by Japan's Nikkei Net news organization. Unfortunately for most PSP users, however, the news service stated that Skype support will be limited to the PSP-2000, but that it may come as soon as this month.Skype service will be free for PSP-to-PSP and PSP-to-PC calls and vice versa. Additionally, users can register for a dedicated number for around $20 every three months for what should provide support for landline and cellphone calls. The software will more than likely be part of a future firmware update, and users will use an external microphone for communication.At this point, we're not entirely sure why service is limited to the PSP-2000. Could there be some other hardware addition to the updated handheld that we didn't previously know about, or could this be a diabolical scheme to get us to upgrade our PSPs? Whatever the case may be, we know we certainly want to use this new technology that more or less answers the question whether Sony is interested in a PSPhone.[Via Gamespot, Thanks for the tip, Jay!]
Harvey Birdman video bonanza
Believe it or not, Capcom's Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law is actually going to be the first PSP game released in 2008, and judging by everything we've seen up to this point, it could be everything Phoenix Wright fans and PSP owners have been waiting for. However, some critics might argue it's more of an interactive cartoon than a full-on mystery/courtroom sim, but we won't know for sure until we get our hands on it when it releases Jan. 8. Either way, we're sure fans of the series will be in for a treat.
New Hail to the Chimp trailer curiously familiar
Despite what some may say to the contrary, we can't help but see Hail to the Chimp as anything other than a combination of the Dreamcast's Fur Fighters and Power Stone. However, that's not a bad thing at all since they happen to be two of our favorite DC games. But instead of trying to defeat evil General Viggo or collect the mighty Power Stones, you're fighting against your friends in the animal kingdom to win the crown and be the new king. Interestingly enough, you'll be able to choose from a wide variety of combatants ranging from Toshiro the octopus to Santo the armadillo. Oh my, how the racial stereotypes abound! Hail to the Chimp is set to hit the PS3 sometime in mid-2008.
Metal Gear Saga video now translated
Despite the fact that Metal Gear 20th Anniversary: Metal Gear Solid Collection still hasn't seen a Western release, we can now enjoy at least one part of the collection. Included in the box set is the Metal Gear Saga video, which is narrated by an unnamed character who apparently had a run-in with Solid Snake sometime in the past.Since the video was entirely in Japanese we couldn't understand what was being said until the guys at MetalGearSolid.org recently translated the video. It's a pretty interesting and definitely a treat for Metal Gear fans.
How to play Eye of Judgment without a PS3
Eye of Judgment has one major advantage over just about every other game ever made - you can play it anywhere you want, even without the console it was designed for. It's true, because at its core, Eye of Judgment is just like any other collectable card game. Of course, by doing this, you won't get all the fancy schmancy graphics, heavy metal tunes and you'll actually have to keep up with a lot of the goings-on either in your brain or using the dying technology of pencil and paper.However, Tyler Tinsley, a tabletop game designer, has made it all the more easy for those wanting to take EoJ into the furthest reaches of the world. He's constructed a printable tabletop kit that consists of everything you need to play. To make it even easier on the players, he printed health meters on the tiles to make to keep track of your monster's health.We're not sure how many EOJ veterans like ourselves would be interested in playing without their PS3s, but it could be a good way to convince your naysaying friends just how amazingly fun this game is. Big thanks to Tyler for creating this and having it available to gamers everywhere for free.
Cheap UMD movies at Circuit City this week
Believe it or not, major retailers are still carrying UMD movies, but Circuit City is most definitely the place to go to add to your collection this week. Through Sunday, the retail chain is offering several great titles for only $7 a piece. Here's the full line-up: Spider-Man 2 Spider-man XXX Men In Black Big Daddy Bad Boys Underworld S.W.A.T. Hitch Click If you'd like our personal picks, we'd have to go with Men in Black and Underworld. Both take interesting twists to their respective genres and are damn entertaining. While you're there, look for Mortal Kombat: Unchained, because it's on sale for $14.