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New Hot Shots Golf swinging to PlayStation fore
A new Hot Shots Golf - or as its known in Japan, "Everybody's Golf" - is in development for PlayStation 4, Sony announced during their pre-Tokyo Game Show conference. According to Sony Worldwide Studios President Shuhei Yoshida (as translated during the stream by Sony), the game will feature "open world entertainment focusing on golf." The Hot Shots Golf series has been off the green for some time now; the last major entry developed for console specifically, Hot Shots Golf 5, appeared on PS3 in 2008, while Hot Shots Golf World Invitational took golf on the go by way of the Vita before coming to the PS3 later. No release window or official name was announced for the new game. [Image: Sony]
Hot Shots Golf Vita coming to PS3 in Japan
Arcade golfer Hot Shots Golf: World International will be making the jump from Vita to PlayStation 3 in Japan. PlayStation Japan revealed the news on its website, along with a Japanese release date of November 22. Given the series' history, it's likely that we'll see a Western version of the PS3 game hitting retail shelves at some point. We've reached out to Sony for confirmation of that.The PS3 version will run in 1080p HD, and will support PlayStation Move as did the previous Hot Shots Golf game. It will also support cross-platform play, letting PS3 golfers tee off against Vita opponents and vice versa. In terms of extras, there are two new modes, including one exclusively made up of Par 3 holes. The PS3 version will also receive two new courses and two new hyper-cute, hyper-deformed characters. Aww.
Uncharted, Killzone, Resistance, LBP ... and Little Deviants among 'NGP' games in development
Sony's bringing out its biggest guns for its new little game machine, the device currently known as "NGP." A slide revealed franchises currently in development for the newly announced handheld, including familiar names like Hot Shots Golf, LittleBigPlanet, WipEout, Killzone, Resistance, and PS3 showpiece Uncharted. Sony's Shuhei Yoshida showed off the Uncharted game, and revealed some controls new to the series: you can touch the screen (or press X) to jump, swing the NGP back and forth to swing on vines, and climb using the device's rear touch panel "as if you're climbing a vine with both hands."The new IPs sound a bit more, um, eclectic: Gravity Daze, Reality Fighters (an augmented reality title), Smart As, Broken, and the delightful-sounding Little Deviants. Update: PlayStation Blog confirms the complete list of game franchises noted at PlayStation Meeting 2011 with NGP iterations in development: Call of Duty Broken Gravity Daze Hot Shots Golf Hustle Kings Killzone LittleBigPlanet Little Deviants Reality Fighters Resistance Smart As Uncharted WipEout
Found Footage: Sony attacks iPhone gaming in new PSP ad
Well, when you get big enough, there's a target painted on your back. Sony has gone after the iPhone and the App Store in a new ad for their PSP gaming system. As you can see above, the ad comes from the "Marcus PSP" series (starring 30 Rock's hilarious Bobb'e J. Thompson as an advice-giving kid), and calls out iPhone gamers for not playing "big boy games." The ad then shows games like Twisted Metal: Head-On and Hot Shots Golf: Open Tee, bragging that they are all available for $9.99 (though the small text confirms that they are $9.99 each, not together). Very interesting. Truth be told, the ad is kind of weak -- it doesn't tell you to not own an iPhone, just that phones are better meant for texting and calling. But the biggest attack point here is that iPhone game developers are amateurs compared to Sony's stable, with a Doodle-esque "Game Castle" going up against high profile franchises. Nintendo has pretty much ignored iPhone gaming in the past, admitting that Apple is an eventual enemy, but generally staying unconcerned about the App Store, even as its share of handheld gaming grows. But this is the first time a competitor has publicly acknowledged the competition to consumers, and given Sony's rough history with the PSP lately, it looks a lot like a guppy trying to bite a shark.
Sony Europe launches 'PSP Essentials' budget line
Sony is encouraging European PSP owners to take a trip through the console's back catalogue, with a new line of budget games priced at just €9.99. The new "PSP Essentials" line is launching June 2 with a selection of 20 games, including Daxter, Patapon 2, Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters, LocoRoco and more. They'll be available at the same price on UMD and as downloads on PSN. In the PlayStation Blog post announcing the line, SCEE's Mayumi Donovan indicated that in addition to these 20 games, "there will be more games to follow." The line is slated to launch in Australia and New Zealand later in 2010. See the launch lineup after the break.
Hot Shots Tennis: Get A Grip on June 29
It feels like it's been too long since the last Hot Shots game. That'll change in late June, though, with the arrival of Hot Shots Tennis: Get a Grip for PSP. According to PlayStation Blog, this isn't a port of the 2007 PS2 Hot Shots Golf spin-off, but rather a new Hot Shots Tennis game, featuring an "all-new tennis adventure." And by adventure, they mean it. The new Story Mode will require exploration, as you travel the world "spreading tennis love to everyone and anyone you meet." Sounds a bit like Mario Tennis, no? New to the US version of Hot Shots Tennis will be the Killzone Helghast character (pictured). Finally -- a Killzone game filled with color! Get a Grip will launch simultaneously on UMD and PSN on June 29.
Hot Shots Golf, Beats top list of PSP downloadables
The PSP Go may not be available yet, but that doesn't mean the PlayStation Store is devoid of PSP games. In fact, Sony has been ramping up the number of UMD legacy games on the Store every month, with 50 available on the Store as of July 2009.Gamasutra looked at the top sellers on the PlayStation Store, with a specific focus on PSP games. They discovered that the highest selling UMD legacy game on the Store is Hot Shots Golf: Open Tee, the PSP-exclusive golf game that debuted at the system's launch. It's available currently for $15.99 -- more than the cost of buying the UMD at amazon.com.The PlayStation Store also hosts a number of games that are available exclusively through the PlayStation Network. So far, the most successful PSP venture to date is beats, London Studios' rhythm game, which transforms music stored on Memory Stick into interactive experiences. It's one of the first PSN games ever developed for PSP, and also one of the cheapest. At $5, no wonder it tops the list. To check out more of the best-selling PSP games on PSN, visit Gamasutra.
Sackboy joins the Hot Shots Golf cast [Update 2]
The LittleBigPlanet stars are tired of platforming in all your user-created levels. They're taking a break by joining the cast of Hot Shots Golf. Update: The content will be available tomorrow, March 12th. According to the PlayStation.Blog, acquiring the various Sackboy costumes will involve buying the premium DLC and downloading a patch.Update 2: It's not free! Sorry folks! Price should be revealed in Thursday's PSN update.%Gallery-47495%
Deals: PSP Brite pack with free God of War, Hot Shots Golf $13
Amazon has two deals for you that are only valid today -- the first of which is a free copy of God of War: Chains of Olympus with the purchase of a PSP Brite Ratchet and Clank Entertainment Pack (the one that comes with a silver PSP and echochrome). Interested parties should head here for this deal.Don't need another PSP? Hot Shots Golf: Open Tee 2 is on sale today for $12.98. That's more than half off the retail price of $29.99. We gave in the game a solid 8.0 in our review, so check it out if you are on the fence about the game. Take advantage of this deal here. Source -- Amazon via CAGSource -- Amazon via CAG
Hot Shots Golf: Out of Bounds' latest patch brings voice chat
Voice chat is now available via a patch for Hot Shots Golf: Out of Bounds, PlayStation.Blog reports. In addition to this often requested feature, developer Clap Hanz also added a number of costumes for the characters in the game. Check out all of them in the seven new screenshots below. So, dear readers ... are you going to use voice chat for some ol' fashioned trash talk, or will you be using it to compliment your fellow golfers?%Gallery-11629%
What happens when you cross Mainichi Issho and Hot Shots Golf?
That cat from Mainichi Issho is showing up everywhere nowadays! In addition to making an appearance as a costume for the Japanese version of LittleBigPlanet, Sony's favorite kitty cat Toro is also getting a 600 yen (about $6 USD) game that crosses over with Hot Shots Golf: Out of Bounds (Minna no Golf 5 in Japan). Titled Minnya no Putter Golf, the add-on stars Jasmine and Toro in a tee-off in a golf course within the Mainichi Issho game. This looks and sounds like something that will stay strictly Japan-only.Wanna know how this crossover works out? Check out the video after the break:
Kratos wields 'clubs of chaos' in Hot Shots Golf tomorrow
The PlayStation Blog announced today that the God of War himself will be available tomorrow as a downloadable character for PS3's Hot Shots Golf: Out of Bounds. Kratos, sporting the "clubs of chaos," is taking some time off from battling the gods of Olympus to try and sink a couple putts.The Kratos DLC will cost $2, but this isn't just a fancy new character model for the game. We give Sony props for bringing in T.C. Carson, the voice of Kratos, to record some new lines for the Ghost of Sparta to use in the game. Don't expect any of Kratos's trademark rage, though, as the game will continue to be rated "E."
Kratos joins the Hot Shots Golf lineup
Yeah, you read that right. Kratos will be a bonus downloadable character for Hot Shots Golf: Out of Bounds on PS3. Available on the PS Store tomorrow, he'll be purchasable for $2. It's good to see Kratos venting out his anger in a slightly less than M rated manner.%Gallery-30102%
Deal: Hot Shots Golf PS3 for $26, PSP for $20
Who doesn't love Hot Shots Golf? The answer is: nobody. While we're not enthusiastic fans of the sport on television, we do love picking up the virtual golf club and playing a few rounds of Hot Shots Golf with a few friends. Today's amazon.com Deal of the Day is all about Sony's famed golf franchise.The PS3 version of the franchise, Out of Bounds can be picked up for only $26 -- that's more than half off! The latest PSP game, Open Tee 2 can be picked up for $20. Both feature robust online multiplayer, and a plethora of content that'll have you swinging for hours. Either way, you win.[Via CAG]
Deal: Hot Shots Golf PS3 for $26, PSP for $20 [Update]
Who doesn't love Hot Shots Golf? The answer is: nobody. While we're not enthusiastic fans of the sport on television, we do love picking up the virtual golf club and playing a few rounds of Hot Shots Golf with a few friends. Today's amazon.com Deal of the Day is all about Sony's famed golf franchise.Update: PS3 game is out of stock, it appears. The PS3 version of the franchise, Out of Bounds can be picked up for only $26 -- that's more than half off! The latest PSP game, Open Tee 2 can be picked up for $20. Both feature robust online multiplayer, and a plethora of content that'll have you swinging for hours. Either way, you win.[Via CAG]
Reminder: Siliconera and PSP Fanboy present the Hot Shots Golf: Open Tee 2 charity tournament
Hey, Hot Shots Golf fans! Siliconera told us about a great promotion they're doing, and we couldn't help but join them! Pick up a copy of Hot Shots Golf: Open Tee 2 and you'll not only be eligible for some prizes, but you'll be helping a good cause too. There's a lot at stake: signed copies of the game from Clap Hanz and other swag provided from Sony Computer Entertainment America. Are you ready? Setting up an online Hot Shots Golf: Open Tee 2 tournament is a bit tricky so please read the rules carefully. %Gallery-20551%
Preview the new Hot Shots course before you buy
Not sure whether to drop that five bucks (or three quid) on the new Hot Shots Golf course or not? A new preview on the PlayStation.Blog might help you make up your mind. Technically, you already have the new Oceania Resort Course, as it's included in the latest game patch. You simply need to unlock it with the key, which is on the PSN Store right now.The course is promised to be one of the most difficult yet, and includes many features of the Australian outback, including kangeroos, alligators and ... giant lobsters? There will be official tournaments coming up especially for the Oceania course, which we should hear about before too long. If you want to see more images of the course, be sure to check out the preview post over at the PlayStation.Blog.
PSP Fanboy review: Hot Shots Golf Open Tee 2
It's not easy reviewing Hot Shots Golf. Why? It's not because it's particularly bad -- no, in fact, the game is quite good. The franchise has a long legacy of high quality titles that date back to the PS1 era. However, how does one explain the merits of a game that has so subtly changed? Each iteration adds a bit more functionality, and refines the gameplay. However, the core mechanics have remained largely unchanged for a decade. Open Tee 2 expands upon the original Open Tee game by adding more courses, more customization options and the biggest selling factor, online Infrastructure gameplay. For those that are familiar with the franchise, these additions may be enough to warrant another purchase. However, those that want more than the series' traditional 3-click swing mechanic have no reason to upgrade from the already-excellent original Open Tee. %Gallery-20551%
Firmware 3.96 included on Hot Shots Golf disc
If you absolutely must have the latest PSP firmware, you may want to pick up Hot Shots Golf: Open Tee 2. The UMD comes packaged with firmware 3.96, although the contents of said firmware are unknown at this time. Considering the small numerical leap from the previous official release (3.95), we're assuming that the new firmware adds no significant new functionality.We've contacted SCEA for a comment.[Thanks, Shawn R.!]
This Open Tee 2 vid is all about online play
Here's a pretty video clip showcasing some of that online gameplay from Hot Shots Golf: Open Tee 2. There is a robust 16-player online mode for gamers to take part in, and there's also an 8-player ad hoc mode. Of course, if you're planning on not doing any of those things, then there's still the single player game -- it's not going to just get up and run out on you. Open Tee 2 comes out this June 3, so it won't be long before you start hitting the course again on your PSP ... or have the urge to buy yourself some plaid pants.
