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Hatsune Miku: Project Diva F synthesizing North America this August
Sega has announced that its rhythm game/simulated-girl simulator Hatsune Miku: Project Diva F will be released for "both PlayStation 3 and Playstation Network" sometime this August, with a demo available June 11, according to the PlayStation Blog. Originally released for the Vita last August, Project Diva F includes 38 jams by Miku and her Vocaloid friends, as well as "over 90 different costumes and accessories" with which to customize her look, in addition to an Edit Mode that allows players to create their own Miku music videos. The North American version of the game will be equal to the most-recent Japanese releases in terms of graphical updates and feature parity, according to the announcement. For those of you outside of the thriving digital-girl loop, Hatsune Miku is a Japanese pop star that doesn't actually exist. She was created as a mascot by Crypton Future Media, and her voice is fabricated entirely by Yamaha's Vocaloid 2/3 software. During her live shows – yes, live shows – she appears as a holographic projection, much to the chagrin of her enthusiastic, die-hard fans. If that sounds at all familiar, don't get it backwards: Tupac got the idea from Miku, not the other way around.
Watch The Last of Us' Outskirts level demo right here
Those that don't have a copy of God of War: Ascension won't be able to play the free Outskirts level demo from The Last of Us until the game launches on June 14. To alleviate the pains of said folks, YouTuber HystericalGamez uploaded a full 14-minute video of their playthrough of the demo. While watching the Outskirts level isn't the same as playing it, we recommend clicking the full-screen option and holding a PS3 controller while the demo video plays. Be wary of your boss believing that you're playing games at work, though. [Thanks, Fabian!]
Ace Attorney 5 files demo with 3DS eShop in Japan next month
The Japanese 3DS eShop will host a new demo for Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Dual Destinies next month, according to Gematsu. When contacted regarding the potential for a North American demo, Capcom provided the following statement: "We haven't announced any plans for a Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Dual Destinies demo in North America at this time." Dual Destinies launches on the 3DS eShop in Japan on July 25; the North American localization is due some time in autumn.
PSA: The Last of Us demo unlocked in God of War: Ascension
If you have a copy of God of War: Ascension, you can check out a free The Last of Us demo today. Access the demo through Ascension's main menu, which will auto-direct to the PlayStation Store and queue up the download. The demo contains the Outskirts level of The Last of Us, where Joel, Ellie and Tess must take on multiple infected - including the clickers we tussled with earlier this year. The Last of Us is Naughty Dog's latest, the story of mankind's attempt to survive the fungi-infected remnants of an apocalyptic outbreak from two decades ago. Protagonists Ellie and Joel will also need to avoid other human beings on their journey across a ravaged United States.
Nintendo lists Best Buy E3 demo locations
The recent Nintendo Direct had a "one more thing" finale when company prez Reggie Fils-Aime announced a special partnership with Best Buy to demo the company's E3 line-up. Nintendo released the list of over 100 stores from across North America hosting the special events this morning. Nintendo doesn't specify which games it'll show at E3 will be playable at the Best Buy locations, but it does give the time parameters... and they are tight. The demos are playable 4-8PM local time on Wednesday, June 12, and 1-5PM local time on Saturday, June 15. Then the Pikmin must return to the ship. Although the web page isn't live as of this writing, Nintendo says to go here for the most up-to-date list of locations. Find the currently announced list of locations after the break.
Resident Evil: Revelations demo dated for May 14
Those cautiously curious to see how Resident Evil: Revelations translates to bigger screens can try out a demo on May 14 from the Xbox Live Marketplace, Wii U eShop, Steam, and PlayStation Network. On the Wii U, that translation includes touchscreen integration, off-TV play, and some Miiverse extras too.
Trials Evolution: Gold Edition PC demo out now, sale starts May 9
Ubisoft has released a free demo version of RedLynx's racing-platformer, Trials Evolution: Gold Edition, via Steam in advance of an upcoming sale later this week. The sale, which starts May 9 and continues through May 13, will drop the price of Trials Evolution: Gold Edition from $19.99 to $14.99, or from £15.99 to £11.99 for buyers in Europe. Trials Evolution: Gold Edition includes all content from 2012's Xbox Live Arcade release Trials Evolution, along with all tracks from its predecessor Trials HD. The game also includes an in-game track editor and level-sharing functionality, giving players access to a treasure trove of virtual injuries and other motorcycle-related mishaps.
PSA: Fuse demo sparks up XBLM, PSN today
The demo of Insomniac's Fuse, formerly Insomniac's Overstrike, melds with the Xbox Live Marketplace and PlayStation Network today. It's already available on XBLM (all 1.45GB of it), while PSN gets it later today. The demo lets you play a portion of the four-player shooter's campaign either offline with AI partners, or online. If you go online you can play solo with the option to invite friends, or with friends able to join you at any time. You can also play co-op via matchmaking.
Fuse demo available May 7
Co-op shooter Fuse will let you take it for a test drive on May 7. Available through Xbox Live and PlayStation Network, the demo supports solo play, four-player co-op (or two player split-screen), allowing a group to try out the four operatives of the Overstrike squad. "When it comes to Fuse, the biggest thing we've noticed when sharing it with others for the first time is that playing is believing," said Insomniac CEO Ted Price. Players can use the LEAP function to jump between the four characters, making it accessible to solo players as well. Fuse is scheduled for retail insertion and home extraction on May 28 and 31 in North America and Europe, respectively.
New Chasm demo released as Kickstarter crosses $100k
Discord Games has released a new demo version of its side-scrolling action-RPG Chasm as the game's Kickstarter project enters its third week with over $100,000 in pledges.Playing like a mashup of Symphony of the Night and Wanderers from Ys, Chasm challenges players to plumb a procedurally generated mineshaft for stat-boosting equipment and other valuable artifacts. The demo version includes the game's first village and a handful of dungeon floors, and gives a good idea of the kind of hack-and-slash action that will be featured in the final release. Watch out for those bats, by the way – they're total jerks.Discord Games seeks $150,000 to fully fund the project, and notes that Chasm currently ranks at #17 in the Steam Greenlight charts.
Resident Evil: Revelations getting demo 'soon'
3DS defector Resident Evil: Revelations is revealing a chunk of itself through an upcoming demo. Capcom didn't provide due dates for the bite-sized portion, but did say it's coming to all platforms - that's PS3, Xbox 360, PC, and Wii U.Capcom recently announced pre-order details for Revelations, which in turn revealed four DLC packs for the updated HD port. Capcom prophecies the full game will hit retail shelves on May 21.
The surrealistic Dragon's Dogma tech demo
What you're looking at is an internal Capcom video made by the team behind Dragon's Dogma, designed to demonstrate the ease with which the game's character creation system can make universal use of animation data, regardless of a humanoid creature's size or configuration.Aside from being an effective measure of the technology's capabilities and a surprising glimpse into the lighthearted nature of Capcom's internal development process, it's also a surreal, often hilarious and pointedly bizarre carnival sideshow of bulging eyeballs and dancing cyclopes.As you may have noticed, it doesn't really look like footage from a fairly recent game, and there are two main reasons for that: First of all, this is an internal production that was never originally intended for mass consumption. Moreover, this is an early prototype from five years ago, when development on Dragon's Dogma was first underway, and the game still went by its original codename: BBS-RPG.You may have also noticed that this video has no sound, which is more of a legal issue than an effort to enhance the production's already potent hypnagogic qualities. Since Capcom never intended for this video to be distributed to the public, it had to have its uncleared soundtrack removed before the developer could share it with us. If you're willing to have two tabs open, however, we thing we've found an elegant alternative.
Soul Sacrifice demo progress transfers to the full game
TheA Soul Sacrifice demo out on PSN today gives you an early look at the first chapter of the game. Progress made in the demo will transfer over to the main game, the PlayStation Blog revealed, allowing you to fully commit to the demo without sacrificing your free time on repeats. You even get an exclusive item, the "Spirits' Heart," for transferring data.The demo also includes multiplayer co-op for up to four locally or online, just like the final game. Soul Sacrifice will be available in North America on April 30.
Break off a Soul Sacrifice demo April 16
If you'd like to try Soul Sacrifice, it won't cost you an arm and a leg. A demo will be released on PSN in North America on April 16, two weeks ahead of the gruesome action RPG's release date.The demo features the opening of the game, in which you, after being captured by a mage and marked for sacrifice, meet a talking book who forces you to live its contents. In other words, the frame tale for Soul Sacrifice is that you're experiencing a book's memories of fighting monsters and sacrificing comrades.
No online pass for Fuse, demo 'closer to release'
Insomniac Games will present a demo prior to Fuse's launch on May 28, for both Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 players, the developer has confirmed in an online FAQ. Fuse will support split-screen and online play, lacks micro-transactions and will not ship with an online pass.Originally billed as Overstrike, Fuse was delayed earlier this year before a final launch date of May 28 was settled upon. All pre-orders unlock additional gear for each of the headless four protagonists.
Experience Injustice firsthand with demo starting April 2
Batman, Wonder Woman, and Lex Luthor will face off in Gotham City, in a demo of Injustice: Gods Among Us coming out April 2 on PSN in North America, and April 3 on PSN in Europe and XBLA worldwide. The full game is due two weeks later.Strangely, the announcement of a demo featuring these characters was paired with the release of a new trailer featuring Black Adam. Now, we don't claim to be experts in the immense world of DC Comics lore, but we don't think Black Adam is any of those three characters.
PAX East 2013: Hands-on with WildStar's Spellslinger and Warrior
When you start following a game, you always worry that it won't live up to your expectations. It's inevitable, really. I didn't fall in love with WildStar after years of playing; I fell in love based upon a trailer and a design philosophy that appealed to me. The game itself could be far removed from my first impressions, or it could be a cocktail of half-finished systems and unsatisfying gameplay. Without some personal experience in Nexus, all I could to do was wait for the game and hope that it matched my hopes. Of course, WildStar hit the ground running at PAX East 2013. I wrote on Friday about my experiences with the new housing video and some of the game's zones, but that's no substitute for playing the game. So it was with a slight sense of apprehension that I found myself standing behind the demo station controls and jumping in for the first time at PAX. Would I be satisfied, or would this turn out to be a love affair that didn't survive contact with the game itself?
Microsoft updates its Windows Phone web demo for WP8, hopes you'll update your phone too
Microsoft remains convinced that you'll like Windows Phone if you only give it a try. Accordingly, it just recently updated its web-based demo to reflect all the changes in Windows Phone 8. If you let the web app access Facebook, you'll get a personalized sample of the OS on your desktop or mobile browser that includes resizable home tiles, Kid's Corner and other newer additions. No, it's not a full-fledged simulator, but it does give about as good a taste as you'll get without the real hardware in your hands. We also can't say that everyone will be sold on the concept -- still, it's worth a spin for anyone keeping their smartphone options open.
God of War: Ascension enables The Last of Us demo May 31
Synergy! The demo for Naughty Dog's upcoming fungi-fueled survival game, The Last of Us, will be accessible on May 31, 2013, through copies of God of War: Ascension. The demo will be accessible through the front menu of God of War: Ascension, as Sony has previously revealed.We've contacted Naughty Dog for further clarification as to whether this demo will ever be available to those without God of War: Ascension. The Last of Us was originally due on May 7, until it was pushed back to June 14 worldwide.
New Nintendo eShop releases: Pokemon Mystery Demo, Kersploosh
This is a good week to have a 3DS and an internet connection, with an overwhelming amount of downloadable stuff to enjoy. For free, there's a demo of Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Gates to Infinity (more of a gate to finity in the demo, we suppose); for relatively cheap, there's the new Kersploosh!, Virtual Console oldie Wrecking Crew, and a week-long discount on the excellent Sakura Samurai.There are also retail-ish releases, led by Renegade Kid's ATV Wild Ride 3D, a new 3DS update of a game originally released on DS. At $8, it's cheaper than retail. Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D launches on eShop today as well.
