Nick Doerr
Articles by Nick Doerr
Konami apologizes for Metal Gear Online problems, has no solution yet
Have you been playing Metal Gear Online? Experiencing some major technical difficulties, login problems, or getting overcharged on the MGO shop? Konami has apologized for all of these hiccups, not expecting the game to get such overwhelming traffic on a regular basis. The "Gene Expansion Pack" is the cause of many issues and those overcharged in the shop have had their money refunded. Konami, however, has "no permanent solutions we can announce at this present moment" in regards to the technical snafus the game has run into. They are working on it, and plan to resolve the issues in the quickest amount of time possible. So, if you're having troubles, don't worry. A patch will come, but no date is set.
Buy 'Hakufu's milk' to celebrate the release of Ikki Tousen
Are you thinking of importing the upcoming PSP fighting game Ikki Tousen? While that is all well and good, we thought we'd bring to your attention some other Ikki Tousen goodies you'll miss out on unless you live in Japan. In celebration of the game's arrival, the Cure Maid Cafe have added a milk pudding dessert to their menu dubbed "Hakufu's milk pudding". The attention to detail is impressive -- there's even a small bulge in the middle of these, er, milk pudding globs. Has anyone been able to try this out? Whatever the case, Ikki Tousen is coming out October 2nd in Japan.[Via Otaku International]
PS3 Poll Police: E3 is over. Was it good for you, too?
It's over. E3 has come to an end and the Sony camp has stolen the show. To some people. To others, they did nothing. Still others claim their opinion lies somewhere in the middle. Today, the Poll Police are putting these different opinions to the test: will more people think back on E3 positively or negatively? How did you feel about this year's E3 for Sony? E3 is over. Was it good for you, too? Yeah, it was a great show. I thought it was okay. It wasn't anything special. Really, it was sort of bad. Worst. E3. Ever. I've got an opinion different from these choices. pollcode.com free polls We looked back at everything that was announced or displayed at the Sony press conference and there actually was quite a bit worthwhile mentioned. However, did the Final Fantasy XIII announcement overshadow a smattering of decently good things? Were the Sony offerings not your cup of tea? Whatever your reason, it is justified simply because it is your opinion. That's what matters. Our last poll relied on your opinions, too, and look how that turned out.[Update: we had a snafu where two polls were displayed. The error has been corrected and we apologize for any inconvenience and confusion.]
The Last Remnant roundtable discussion: still no PS3 release date
Don't let the subject line fool you -- while there's still no firm release date set for The Last Remnant on the PS3, it's coming and it's about time we learned a little more about the game. A bunch of press members sat down with the game's producer, Nobuyuki Ueda, then tried to get some information about the game's battle system and storyline. We'll summarize the important bits and let you decide if you want to read the whole thing.The game is supposed to appease both Western and Japanese gamers. English development is ahead of Japanese, so the English dub is proceeding along smoothly, Ueda says. The battles are as large-scale or as small-scale as you'd like. You have control over five "unions" with five members in each union, but it seems like you directly control either one at a time or the leader of each union during battles. Once battle starts, a timer is in place that'll signify when more enemy units will join in the brawl. The greater the number of enemies you choose to encounter, the greater the reward. Think of the DS title The World Ends With You to get an idea what they're going for. The morale meter does not indicate rewards; it helps you see how well other units will pay attention to your orders. While the game sounds like it keeps many traditional RPG elements, it also sounds like it may be more hands-off than expected. We don't know for sure, so we'll not make any judgments until we play it for ourselves.
Kaz Hirai: PS3 operations to turn profit by March '09
As many Sony fans know, the PlayStation 3 hasn't exactly been a financial success for Sony quite yet. Every console sold has not necessarily led to profits for the company, but that trend is to change soon if you believe what Sony head honcho Kaz Hirai had to say. He believes that overall PS3 operations will start to bring in a profit by the end of this fiscal year -- that's the end of March, 2009. Keep in mind "overall" PS3 operations means more than simply selling the console. This means peripherals, software, and downloadable titles will contribute as well. It might not seem like something important to the gamer population, but unless the PS3 can do this, shareholders and other decision-makers may start to question the longevity of the console. We're not worried, though.
Sony is disappointed, but unsurprised, by the FFXIII announcement
At a conference with game writers at E3, SCEA boss Jack Tretton spoke about Sony's feelings toward the announcement that a flagship title, Final Fantasy XIII, will also see a simultaneous release on the Xbox 360. His feelings: "Am I disappointed by it? Yes ... Am I surprised? No." We suppose we shouldn't be too surprised either. With the cost of game development growing as it is, holding onto third-party franchises is much more difficult. The game is still PS3-only in Japan, but we should really expect this generation to revolve around first-party developers. Everything else will more likely than not see release on more than one platform.[Via CVG]
Developer walkthrough on Home shows off neat diversions
You may have read about our E3 coverage regarding Home -- specifically learning the virtual world will be region locked. Even so, there are plenty of things to do in Home as this developer walkthrough video shows. Fun activities for all, but regrettably, we won't be able to enjoy said diversions with our pals across the ocean. Any ocean. You can invite them into your personal apartment, though. Maybe down the line an option will be added for you to place an arcade machine, chess board, or more in your apartment. We'll see.
Yep, Mana Khemia is making its way to PSP's outside of Japan
Even though it saw release on the PlayStation 2 a few months ago, NIS America has confirmed the rumors that Mana Khemia is making its way onto PSP's in the US. This enhanced port will feature the core game, plus some new multiplayer support options. You can also choose to install portions of the game onto a memory stick to reduce load times. This enhanced port will make its appearance this September.[Via PSPHyper]
More LittleBigPlanet levels to look at, minus the audio
Here's another gameplay video of LittleBigPlanet. Pull up your favorite song to play alongside the video, since this footage decided to leave out any audio. It's possible there was a lot of background noise going on, so if that's the case, we're grateful for the silence. We're always impressed by the level designs that keep popping up and this video is no exception. Hopefully, you all agree!
Alternate Resident Evil 5 trailer focuses on supposed villains
It's called an alternate trailer, but really its a trailer with the same intro and then a completely different focus. Instead of staring at Chris Redfield's hair for two minutes, you see a woman dressed like a Greek goddess and a guy who took his wardrobe right from the Xenogears and Xenosaga dressing rooms. Then, around the one minute mark, it's the same ol' trailer from before. Enjoy!
Divineo's new 5-in-1 charger stand for PSP does it all
There aren't usually a lot of devices who can follow through on their claim that they can 'do it all'. Sure, being able to vacuum and cook up a delicious waffle is interesting, but then your carpet smells like a waffle, too. This is why we're pretty interested in the potential of this new PSP charger stand -- it does it all! While your PSP charges on the stand, you can listen to music and even play stuff on your TV. It comes with built-in headphone jacks and multi-card slots. It's essentially got all the functionality of a non-charging PSP, and it's just under $17. If you're looking for a charging solution, this might be your cup of tea.[Via DCEmu]
Far Cry 2 video interview discusses day/night system
In this video interview with the developers of Far Cry 2, Ubisoft gives you a brief rundown of the story: track down an arms dealer supplying goods to both sides of some warring factions. There's also a lot of different ways to approach the game: there's a night and day system in place and depending on your actions during the day or night, the game will play out differently. Of course, the time of day will have coinciding strategies that will work to your advantage, whether you want to sneak Metal Gear Solid style or run in with guns blazing. It sounds interesting and we hope to hear more as the game nears completion.
PS3 Soulcalibur IV pre-orders trumping competition
According to online retailer amazon.com (data collected by PunchJump), Namco Bandai's upcoming fighter, Soulcalibur IV has been far more popular on PS3 than on the Xbox 360. Pre-orders for the fighter have been impressive on Sony's console. The PS3 versions of the game have amassed 72% of sales (52% premium, 20% regular edition) compared to the 360 versions' combined 28%.Such impressive numbers show that a third-party title can perform just as well, if not better, on PS3 than on Xbox 360. What can account for such an impressive showing by PlayStation fans? Could it be the series regulars from the PS2, the superior D-Pad, or the dark allure of Darth Vader over Yoda?[Via N4G]
Rumor: Ubisoft and Jade Raymond may reveal I Am Alive at E3
Ubisoft has a new project up their sleeves -- this one's believed to be called I Am Alive and produced by Jade Raymond, of Assassin's Creed fame. The game may come out as soon as Spring of 2009 and has been in work at Ubisoft's Parisian studio for three years.But what exactly is this game? Why has it been kept secret for so long? I Am Alive is rumored to be a first-person action title set in Chicago after a massive earthquake. Your character survived and it's up to you to make sure he or she continues surviving. An announcement may come at E3 and a playable demo may be available in August at Leipzig, but it's all hearsay at this point. We'll keep you posted.[Via Eurogamer]
Crush developer Zoe Mode opening new office in London
Did you play the game Crush? We did -- and we loved it. Now the developers, Zoe Mode (previously Kuju Brighton), are expanding their offices into London and are seeking new faces to help their staff grow. They've got two projects lined up already for their new office opening in September. It's not like this new studio is full of empty faces -- the office already has their current Zoe Mode executive producer, Nick Rodriguez, as well as a core team from their Brighton office. If you're in the London area and are qualified for the positions of producer, art manager, or senior programmer, check out their website. [Via Gamespot]
Mirror's Edge video interview teases multiple play modes
You saw the animated story trailer earlier today, but now you get to listen to a little more behind-the-scenes information about Mirror's Edge and Faith from the developers. For example, did you know that for combat scenarios, you'll be limited to just an "attack" and "disarm" button? It sounds too simple, but the mechanics ebb and flow with your momentum and how you are moving Faith around. Simple to execute, difficult to master is the theme, you could say. There's also more to the game than the story mode -- but mum's the word until Summer.
Midway's PS3 lineup for E3 revealed
In an official press release, Midway listed the titles that will make an appearance at E3. The PS3 titles are all multi-platform, but are also multi-genre. They'll be showing off Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe, Wheelman, TNA iMPACT!, Blitz The League 2, and This is Vegas -- most are due out this Fall, but This is Vegas has been pushed into 2009. As Midway CEO Matthew Booty put it, "these games truly reflect our product strategy to develop top quality titles in a wide range of genres that appeal to all segments of the market." This is a fair statement: we've got a fantasy fighting game, an intense driving/action title, wrestling, football, and a sandbox-style simulation game. It's a wide spread, so we'll see if they get any thumbs up at E3 next week.
'What we know so far' about Final Fantasy XIII
The fansite FinalFantasyXIII.net has posted a pretty good summary of all the known details regarding Final Fantasy XIII in a ten-minute video. It is commonly believed there's almost nothing known about the game since its first showing two years ago. This is mostly true, but the video makes a few connections you may have missed out on. Still, if you need a refresher course, this video does the job and gives you another look at some of the cinematics you may have missed out on. Perhaps a new video will appear in the coming months, but for now, this is all that is known about Final Fantasy XIII. Enjoy![Via PS3Forums]%Gallery-12752%
Resident Evil 5 welcomes Sheva Alomar into its fold
It seems Gamekyo got a hold of a magazine scan that reveals a small detail for those keeping up with Resident Evil 5. It's nothing groundbreaking or any sort of news landmark, but it's still something worth knowing. Either wow your friends or yourself by knowing the name of Chris Redfield's new partner -- revealed in the scan as Sheva Alomar. Not sure what else the scan talks about -- Japanese-fluent readers, help us out! Chris and Sheva, alongside some other cast members, will be popping some mutated enemies early next year. Look forward to it!
Admit yourself to Sarah's Emergency Room
Finally, a time-management style of game that doesn't revolve around the culinary arts. Developers Gameinvest have created Sarah's Emergency Room and are attempting to move it onto the PlayStation Network, among other places, boasting that the game "revives the time management genre with fun, challenging levels and a frenetic pace with simulation management skills." We'll just see about that.The game is just what it sounds like -- you're a poor college student and you've landed a gig as a nurse. Take care of every patient as they come into the hospital with the correct tools and such. It's most likely Diner Dash with less food and more needles. Gameinvest is seeking a publisher and distributor, so when they find one, expect more details to emerge.