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Stories By Jem Alexander

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PlayStation

PlayStation By Jem Alexander

LittleBigPlanet PSP 'purchased levels' section spotted

When was the last time you paid for new levels in LittleBigPlanet? There are only three answers to that question -- "never," "when I originally bought the game" or "when I bought the Metal Gear Solid pack." Despite almost weekly DLC packs since LittleBigPlanet's October release, players continue to clamor for more levels. With only one level pack having been released, it's an understandable request -- after all, in the same timeframe players have amassed over one million levels themselves. If a "purchased levels" section of the PSP version -- discovered at a recent Sony event by Siliconera -- is to be believed, we could be seeing plenty more level packs coming in the future. To the PSP version, at least. You wouldn't have a dedicated section built in without some content to fill it with, right?
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PlayStation

PlayStation By Jem Alexander

Rumor: PS3 now 70 percent cheaper to manufacture

If statements made during a Sony international investor conference call are to be believed, the company has managed to cut PS3 manufacturing costs by "about 70%, roughly speaking." Sony Corp CEO Nobuyuki Oneda stated that this was "on schedule." Concrete numbers haven't been revealed, but based on various reports since the PS3's inception, estimates are that the console now costs around $240 (£146) per unit -- way down from the original cost of $800 (£485).The upshot of all this is that at the current price Sony is guaranteed to be profiting from each machine sold -- and about time too! -- but there's also enough leeway for the company to announce that much-requested $100 price cut and still be profitable. Whether this will happen or not depends on how much Sony values consumer satisfaction and increased userbase over recouping some of those hefty losses the PS3 suffered in the early years.[Via Edge-Online]
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PlayStation

PlayStation By Jem Alexander

PSN Thursday: Fat Princess gains weight, Joystiq loses writer

Just another American PSN update today. A little better than normal updates perhaps, thanks to the inclusion of Fat Princess, but it's also a red letter day. As I'll be moving on next week, it's the last time this blogger will be handling the weekly PSN updates -- both American and European -- after over two years. Wow, updates were different back then. Don't worry, though, you'll be in the safe hands of Alexander Sliwinski, who I took over this very post from back when Joystiq underwent restructuring in January. Anyway, what are you still doing here? You've got weighty princesses to rescue! Choose your platform to view the corresponding release list: (Note: Continue past the break to view both release lists.)
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PlayStation

PlayStation By Jem Alexander

Fat Princess Home space arrives tomorrow, Trophy list arrives now

Tomorrow, Fat Princess begins its invading spree. First it'll invade the PlayStation Store, then it'll invade PlayStation Home and then, finally, the game will invade our hearts. The European Home Events space will be decked out with Fat Princess characters and you will be tasked with answering eight questions about the game in order to win slices of cake. Obtaining all eight slices will net you a Princess Throne for your Home apartment. We're not sure whether this space will be available in the US version of Home too, but don't worry Americans, we've got something for you here, too. The Trophy list for Fat Princess has been handed to us on a crumb-littered silver platter, and you can check out some of the hilarious names the devs have dreamt up right now. Our favorite? "The Cake Is Not A Lie," obviously!
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PlayStation

PlayStation By Jem Alexander

Trophies: Fat Princess

0 Platinum0 Gold0 Silver21 Bronze Difficulty: Moderate Online Trophies? Yes Time to Completion: 15 hoursDLC Trophies? No View Trophy List Read More About the Game %Gallery-28044%
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PlayStation

PlayStation By Jem Alexander

European PSN releases for July 30

Do not adjust your computer internet monitor screens! Yes, today is Wednesday. We know, it's confusing, but you'd best get used to it. SCEE intends on giving us a head's up on the week's PSN content drop a day ahead of release from now on, allowing us 24 hours to get our wallets prepped. This week we're sure you've got your sights firmly set on Fat Princess, but there's also the second episode of Watchmen: The End is Nigh, a Numblast demo and a couple of full PSP titles. Not to mention all the usual rhythm-game DLC for both PS3 and PSP. Choose your platform to view the corresponding release list: (Note: Continue past the break to view both release lists.)
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PlayStation

PlayStation By Jem Alexander

Sony confirms EyePet US release this holiday

Sony has confirmed to us at a holiday showcase event in New York City tonight that the PlayStation Eye game, EyePet, will definitely be heading to the US in time for the holidays. Our roving reporter, Andrew Yoon, says that the game will be available standalone as well as bundled with the PlayStation Eye camera. Previously, the game was only announced for a European release after it was first revealed at Leipzig GC last year. We're happy to see the adorable simian-dog-thing will be making the jump across the Atlantic and won't be suffering from the chronic case of Q1-2010 flu that's making the rounds. If you're hungry for more, check out Engadget's video from today's event, or our impressions from E3.
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Gaming

Gaming By Jem Alexander

Remember The Force Unleashed? It's getting Trophies

Of course Star Wars: The Force Unleashed isn't dead. Who told you that? Not only was a new version announced to be released this fall, but the LucasArts twitter feed has revealed that the original PS3 version will be receiving a Trophy patch around the same time. The only catch: You'll need to start a new game in order to begin earning Trophies; they aren't retroactive with existing saved games.Sure, you'll still need to pony up the cash for the Ultimate Sith Edition if you intend on playing one of the new missions, but if, like us, you still have an unopened copy of the original sitting around from the Great Game Flood of Q4 2008, you'll no doubt welcome the excuse to finally crack it open. Apparently it's pretty good. For a Star Wars game.
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PlayStation

PlayStation By Jem Alexander

inFamous costume hitting LittleBigPlanet on August 6

inFamous may be two months old at this point, but it's never too late to reignite the flame with some LittleBigPlanet downloadable content. That's exactly what you'll be seeing next week, August 6, when two new costumes will be made available on the PSN store. Both of the costumes allow you to recreate the likeness of inFamous' Cole MacGrath though, just like in the game, you'll be able to decide whether your Sackboy will be good or evil. You can check out the good costume after the break. With this DLC already having been pushed back, it doesn't look like we'll be getting any new LBP content this week. There's also no pricing info for this inFamous costume, but we're expecting it to cost as much as other similar packs.
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Gaming

Gaming By Jem Alexander

Interview: Rhianna Pratchett

With Rhianna Pratchett's most recent projects -- a trio of Overlord titles -- complete, the game scribe took some time out to discuss what it was like to write for three games at once, what she's looking forward to in the future, and why Faith in Mirror's Edge wasn't quite as talkative as originally planned:Did you have any difficulties writing for three different platforms? What are the differences and limitations of writing for one platform over another?It was mainly a question of age ratings. I'm sorry it's not more of an exciting answer. The Wii and DS, Dark Legend and Minions, were aiming for a lower rating than Overlord II, so there were certain things that I couldn't talk about in the scripts -- mainly to do with excessive violence and debauchery. You know, all the really fun stuff. You can certainly get away with more by taking a comedic angle, but games ratings are actually pretty stringent. I don't think it impacted too much on the Overlord feel, although it was a shame to lose things like drunken minions and mistresses. Okay, in Dark Legend the lead character is only 16, so a harem might have been rather wishful thinking.There was a definite need for economy of language when it came to the DS, which was a little more restrictive. Condensing a loquacious character like Gnarl was quite a challenge. Other than that it was really just trying to capture the right Overlord tone.
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PlayStation

PlayStation By Jem Alexander

Fat Princess waddling onto PSN worldwide this week

The release date for Fat Princess -- which has been nebulous for a while now -- has finally been nailed down. You'll be playing some class-based cartoony multiplayer (with a dash of bloody ultraviolence) this Thursday, July 30. This is a simultaneous release for American, European and Asian regions -- though a Japanese release date has yet to be confirmed. While the adorable cartoon protagonists will be losing arms and legs liberally, you'll be able to keep yours firmly attached thanks to a reasonable asking price of $15. No doubt European and Asian prices will be announced soon. Make sure you check out the PlayStation Blog for a PlayStation Eye interview with the developers from Titan Studios.
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PlayStation

PlayStation By Jem Alexander

PSN Thursday: Comic-Con Edition

Yeah, the PSN update's a little late today. You can blame Comic-Con Craziness for that, but the sheer amount of content should be enough to calm you down, now that it's out. As if Killzone 2 and WipEout HD DLC wasn't enough, Shatter sees a release today, alongside some PS1 games. As for PSP owners, you've got two Tomb Raider games to grab. Not to mention that Dissidia demo and some more Rock Band Unplugged DLC. Choose your platform to view the corresponding release list: (Note: Continue past the break to view both release lists.)
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PlayStation

PlayStation By Jem Alexander

European PSN releases for July 23

There's plenty of content to nom on in this latest PSN update. WipEout HD Fury and the Killzone 2 pack make up for the fact that there's no LittleBigPlanet DLC this week. Not only that, but Shatter is now available and has been joined by a surprise addition in the form of Final Fantasy: Crystal Defenders. PSP owners have much less content to choose from, and if you don't own Rock Band Unplugged or Dynasty Warriors Strikeforce, there's nothing for you here. Choose your platform to view the corresponding release list: (Note: Continue past the break to view both release lists.)
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Gaming

Gaming By Jem Alexander

Borderlands release date set for October 20

It's approaching that time. Development cycles are coming to an end, the summer trade-show circuit is in full swing and Christmas is fast approaching. That means publishers are starting to nail down release dates for this year's must-have X-mas present. Borderlands is the latest game to be dated and it will be available to grab off store shelves in October, as planned. October 20, to be exact.That's the American date, anyway. Europeans can expect to wait three days more to get their hands on Gearbox's RPG shooter with a much improved art style, on October 23.[Via Big Download]
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PlayStation

PlayStation By Jem Alexander

God of War III playable at Comic-Con, replica Blades of Chaos available to pre-order

Kratos will be out in full force at Comic-Con this week. Not only will attendees be able to get hands on with God of War III, but they'll also be able to grab a signed poster featuring artwork from the upcoming God of War III comic book series. Check out the PlayStation Blog to find out when and where the signings will be taking place.In other non-Comic-Con-but-still-God-Of-War news, that blade you see above is a real piece of merchandising. It's a replica Blade of Chaos -- as if you didn't already know -- and it's being manufactured by United Cutlery. The blade section alone is longer than a 30cm ruler and you can pre-order one at BUDK. It's pretty reasonably priced (you know, for a sword) at $124, and it even comes with the snazzy display stand. Only problem is it's pretty useless without a second Blade of Chaos to make a pair. That's how they getcha.
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Apps

Apps By Jem Alexander

Pac-Man: Remix coming to iPhone soon

Namco has announced that a new version of Pac-Man, titled Pac-Man: Remix, will be coming to iPhone. Due to Apple's silly non-disclosure policies, the fact that we know the game is coming means that it's coming soon. Basically, it's Pac-Man, but this time there's a little more to it (though, little you haven't seen before). The eponymous yellow sphere can jump over ghosts and walls and there will be boss battles and power-ups, too.Pac-Man: Remix will set you back $5.99 which, if you ask us, is a little steep for another Pac-Man title. There are plenty other, cheaper, iPhone games to spend that money on. Still, we thought you'd want to know that it's coming, just in case there are any die hard Pac-Man fans in the Joystiq audience.
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News

News By Jem Alexander

Wait, what? Watchmen game-plus-movie hybrid Blu-ray comes on two discs

In February it was revealed that Sony was working on making game-plus-movie hybrid Blu-ray discs. A great idea that appeals to something movie-goers and gamers share -- an inherent laziness. The first game to feature this was to be Warner Bros' comic book masterpiece, Watchmen, which includes the downloadable game Watchmen: The End Is Nigh on the disc. Well, on a disc, at least. The game and the movie are on separate discs which sort of renders the entire process pointless. Whoops! Still, at least you get the game and the director's cut for for $50. Plus, now you can throw away your copy of The End Is Nigh once you realize how bad it is, without parting with your copy of the movie. Still, bit of an epic fail all around, really.
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Xbox

Xbox By Jem Alexander

E3 Natal demos created with Unreal Engine 3

Microsoft's E3 demo for Project Natal include two game demos -- Paint Party and Ricochet. We assumed that these minigames were developed from scratch, specially for the E3 demonstration, but Epic's Mark Rein has stated in an interview with OXM that they were made using the Unreal Engine 3.That makes UE3 the first middleware to support the new motion control system, meaning developers who utilize it shouldn't have much difficulty adding Natal functionality to their titles. UE3 isn't quite as commonly used as it was in 2007, but this does mean there's no excuse for Gears of War 3 not to support Natal. We suspect a great many of you would enjoy a bit of motion-controlled chainsawdomizing.
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PlayStation

PlayStation By Jem Alexander

Bionic Commando Rearmed Trophies are almost here

Hey, remember Bionic Commando Rearmed? Probably not, seeing as it came out almost a year ago. It was a pretty decent remake of the NES classic. Only one problem -- it didn't have Trophies. Still, Capcom promised they'd patch them in. Then they canceled that promise. Then they promised again. Now, finally, we've been told via the company's official Twitter account that the Trophy patch has been approved for the US, with Europe scheduled to be approved in the next few days. The upshot of which is that you "may" be getting your long-awaited Trophies within the next "7 to 10 days." We're pretty sure most of you will have moved on by now, but it's the thought that counts.
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PlayStation

PlayStation By Jem Alexander

Surprise! Final Fantasy VII tops June PSN charts

The top 10 chart for PSN releases in the month of June is now out, and it's quite an interesting list. It's no surprise that Final Fantasy VII is sitting pretty at the top, but we're intrigued to see that Wolfenstein 3D managed to hit the number two spot. Not only that, but it beat out Metal Gear Solid, which got no higher than number four, directly below Resident Evil, which released in May. So PS1 games seem to be selling pretty well. After two years of consumers clamoring for more PS1 classics, we're not surprised, but hopefully this will spur publishers to release more in the near future.
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TV & Movies

TV & Movies By Jem Alexander

Prince of Persia movie getting the graphic novel treatment

There's every chance that the Prince of Persia movie, like so many game-to-movie adaptations before it, will be tripe. Having said that, the recent poster reveals – coupled with the news today that a graphic novel will be released soon after the movie – may be improving our expectations. The book will be written by the creator of the Prince of Persia series, Jordan Mechner, and will feature cover art by comic book legend Todd McFarlane. Inside, the artwork will be completed by "some of the most talented names in comics," and will feature six self-contained prequel stories. So even if the movie does suck, at least this graphic novel should be worth picking up.The graphic novel will be discussed during a panel at San Diego Comic-Con, hosted by Mechner, McFarlane, Bernard Chang, Tommy Lee Edwards and Cameron Stewart, so expect to hear more information out of that.
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Gaming

Gaming By Jem Alexander

We really want this Brutal Legend statue, and so will you

We already know you want this 1,000-of-a-kind Brütal Legend statue, even though you haven't yet perused the gallery of images found below, so we'll cut to the chase. These are going to be pretty hard to come by. All we know right now is that you'll find more information on how to get your hands on one of these hyper-detailed, 17-inch beauties -- depicting protagonist Eddie Riggs in mid-dismemberment -- on the official Brütal Legend website and Twitter feed. With 1,000 available, we have a suspicion some may eventually be available to buy, rather than win, but if that happens don't expect them to be cheap. And good luck winning one -- you've got us to compete with. %Gallery-68364%
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Gaming

Gaming By Jem Alexander

Battlefield 1943 weapons will return in Bad Company 2

If you're reading this, the chances are pretty high that you're completely addicted to Battlefield 1943. You're probably beside yourself with worry that when Battlefield Bad Company 2 hits, those fancy-schmancy present-day weapons will be just too complicated for you. You may be in luck, however, if a recent tweet by @OfficialBF1943 is to be believed (and why wouldn't it -- it's official, after all.) The tweet says that 1943's semi-auto rifle, sniper rifle and sub machine gun will all be usable in Bad Company 2. Whether that's in multiplayer only, an added bonus for 1943 purchasers or part of the game's story mode is yet to be revealed, but we're as anxious as you are to find out closer to the game's release.
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Gaming

Gaming By Jem Alexander

Official Valkyria Chronicles 2 site launches

Famitsu may have spilled the beans with regards to the Valkyria Chronicles 2 announcement, but Sega has now officially opened the game's website for business. There's not much there right now except for the first page in the developer's blog, though it contains a few screenshots from the game, one of which you can see above. It looks like the style of the original has been maintained, despite the lower-resolution PSP graphics. The developer diary -- handily translated over at Andriasang -- notes that the game has been bought to the PSP "to expose the series to a greater variety of users," and is keen to state that "this is a true sequel." The game is set three years after the first game, with no sign of any of the characters from the original, though we'd be very surprised if one or two didn't make at least cameo appearances in the sequel.[Via Andriasang]%Gallery-68217%
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Gaming

Gaming By Jem Alexander

Dissidia demo expected July 23

Have you seen the latest episode of Pulse, the fortnightly PSN content highlight video? If so, you will have noticed that a demo for Square Enix's next PSP release, Dissidia: Final Fantasy, will be available to download on July 23. That's the expected release date, at least, but don't be surprised if it slips back down the slippery slope leading to the PSN servers. It wouldn't be the first time. For many of us this will be the first time to see how the game actually works, as screenshots and videos have shown nothing more than a lot of mindless mid-air hacking and slashing. For a game which apparently lasts for over 40 hours, there's got to be a little more to it than that. [Via VG247]
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PlayStation

PlayStation By Jem Alexander

European PSN releases for July 16

Sorry we're so late with the European update today. You probably know what's been added by now, but in case you haven't seen this week's relatively disappointing releases you can see the full list after the break. It consists mostly of a Trash Panic demo, Disney's Tarzan PS1 game, the usual DLC and ... well, that's about it. At least PSP fans have the opportunity to grab Tomb Raider Anniversary, Brothers in Arms D-Day or some new Rock Band Unplugged DLC. Choose your platform to view the corresponding release list: (Note: Continue past the break to view both release lists.)
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PlayStation

PlayStation By Jem Alexander

PSN Thursday: The Summer Sale begins

Decent selection of content this week, from Namco Museum Essentials -- which unlocks in-Home arcade cabinets -- to demos of FUEL and Trash Panic. There's also a new PS1 game, Spec Ops: Ranger Elite and, for PSP fans, a few new games and more Rock Band Unplugged DLC. Not only that, but a bunch of great games have had some price drops -- including PixelJunk Eden and WipEout HD, which have both dropped $5. Choose your platform to view the corresponding release list: (Note: Continue past the break to view both release lists.)
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