Echochrome
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Echochrome explained in Japanese trailer
Still don't know how to play echochrome yet? Well, even if you don't know Japanese, just sit back, enjoy the mellow tunes and allow this newly released trailer to help clear things up for you. As you can see, when one pathway is blocked by an inconveniently placed hole, all it takes is a rotation of the structure to magically clear the obstruction. The rest of the video is pretty self explanatory, but if you leave here without even the slightest twinge of excitement, please run to the phone to call your doctor, cause there's obviously something wrong with you.
PSP Fanboy Theatre: Volume 49
Echochrome Japanese trailer (17.8MB) Also featured: The Club, Hot Shots Golf: Out of Bounds, Wipeout Pulse, Barkley, Shut Up and Jam: Gaiden
Echochrome cheaper on PS3 or more on PSP; a matter of perspective
Like an MC Escher drawing, this news could be seen a handful of different ways: either Sony is doubling the price of Echochrome for the PSP UMD release or is halving the PS3's downloadable price. Either way, Siliconera reports that when the game is released in Japan on March 19, the PSP version will cost ¥3980 (about $37) while the PS3 release will cost ¥1800 (about $17). Update: The price discrepancy is due to the former version containing twice as many puzzles -- the value of which is debatable considering you can make your own. Sure, the price could change for the North American market (as Siliconera sagely points out, several games from Jeanne D'Arc to Patapon have been cheaper here) but what about our Japanese gamer brethren? With Patapon going for a ridiculously low $20 on UMD, could they really charge much more for the simple, yet similarly bewitching, Echochrome? %Gallery-11823% [Via PSP Fanboy]
echochrome doubles in cost on PSP [Update]
Our friend Spencer from Siliconera laments over the strange pricing of Sony's echochrome. The title will be available in Japan as a downloadable PS3 title (via PSN) and as a stand-alone UMD game on PSP. We can understand why the PSP version would be more expensive (it costs money to print those discs!), but the price difference is quite staggering. "A physical UMD disc for the PSP costs 3,980 yen ($37) while the downloadable PlayStation 3 edition only costs 1800 yen ($17)."Other than having an inverted color scheme, no differences between the two have been announced. Hopefully, if SCEA decides to pick up the PSP version, they'll do the smart thing and release it on the PLAYSTATION Store (for the cheap!).Update: Apparently, the UMD version of echochrome contains two times the levels as the PS3 version. At least you're getting your money's worth!
Japan gets Echochrome in March
We've wanted to test our ability to solve some Escher-like puzzles since we first saw Echochrome. The date is drawing closer and closer for its release, with a March release in Japan. Maybe we're crazy, but we doubt there will be much localization to do for other countries so we'd think it'll show up shortly after the Japanese launch. The Japan-only PSP version of the game releases on March 19th, the same as the PSN title. Will the two be compatible in any way? Share puzzles? We'll see.
Handheld echochrome ready for Japan in March
Unfortunately for US gamers, echochrome is still unannounced for PSP in the States. While the PS3 version will be ready in the coming months, SCEA has made it unclear if they intend to bring the portable version out to America. Fear not, though. According to Siliconera, Japan is getting the game in March, and thanks to the PSPs region-free gaming, puzzle fans will be able to import the title. Hopefully, it won't come to that, though.%Gallery-4920%
PS Fanboy Wallpapers: Volume 15
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 Sony's upcoming PSN title, echochrome.
Joystiq hands-on: echochrome (PSN)
What a difference two buttons can make. We tested a new build of echochrome, and we found the new demo to be even more enjoyable than our last session at TGS. Why, you ask? (Amuse us, if you will.) There are two reasons: the Triangle and X buttons. Granted, they may have been in the Tokyo demonstration, lost to us in our inability to firmly grasp the Japanese language. Regardless, these two new buttons change the overall flow and feel of the game. A press of Triangle allows you to pause the game action, giving the player time to think, adjust the perspective and find the best route through the level. However, each puzzle is a race against the clock. Time is still ticking, and levels will end if players can't figure out a way to reach the echoes quickly enough. Players will be able to regain some lost time by pressing X, which forces your echo to run faster. Each puzzle can be approached in a number of different ways. For example, in the level we played, we moved the camera to move our character from one adjacent platform to another. It took us quite some time, as we traversed through the stage in seemingly the longest way possible. The SCEA representative played the same level and cleverly manipulated the middle block, allowing it to connect to any other point in the stage. He was able to cross the echoes in a time that simply shamed our pathetic attempt. We only saw five levels, but we're hopeful that later levels in the game will all feature multiple solutions. %Gallery-11823%
PS3 Fanboy hands-on: echochrome
What a difference two buttons can make. We tested a new build of echochrome, and we found the new demo to be even more enjoyable than our last session at TGS. Why, you ask? (Amuse us, if you will.) There are two reasons: the Triangle and X buttons. Granted, they may have been in the Tokyo demonstration, lost to us in our inability to firmly grasp the Japanese language. Regardless, these two new buttons change the overall flow and feel of the game.A press of Triangle allows you to pause the game action, giving the player time to think, adjust the perspective and find the best route through the level. However, each puzzle is a race against the clock. Time is still ticking, and levels will end if players can't figure out a way to reach the echoes quickly enough. Players will be able to regain some lost time by pressing X, which forces your echo to run faster.Each puzzle can be approached in a number of different ways. For example, in the level we played, we moved the camera to move our character from one adjacent platform to another. It took us quite some time, as we traversed through the stage in seemingly the longest way possible. The SCEA representative played the same level and cleverly manipulated the middle block, allowing it to connect to any other point in the stage. He was able to cross the echoes in a time that simply shamed our pathetic attempt. We only saw five levels, but we're hopeful that later levels in the game will all feature multiple solutions.%Gallery-4918%
Echochrome includes a level editor
We'll be getting our hands on echochrome tomorrow. However, early previews suggest that the Escher-inspired puzzle game includes a level editor, so that players can craft their own diabolical designs. The interface, we assume, is similar to the original PC program that this upcoming game is based on. (Check it out here.)While the game will hit both PSP and PS3 in Japan, MTV has learned that the game is only confirmed as a PSN (for PS3) download in the US. Hopefully, the kind folks at Sony will realize that a downloadable PSP game through the PC Store will be ideal for handheld owners. Stay tuned for more.
TGS hands-on: echochrome
After its shocking E3 debut, we desperately wanted to play echochrome, the mind-bending Escher-inspired puzzle game that has players changing their perspective. Available on the PS3 as a downloadable title and as a PSP game, echochrome excited audiences with its truly innovative concept. But, how did the publicly playable PS3 demo play? Well, it works exactly as you expect it to. The demonstration features an English-speaking monotone voice that seems a perfect match with the game's ultra-minimalist presentation. She'll explain the five rules of the game that control the way your perspective, the world, and your character, all interact with each other. Each sequence has players testing out a single new device, such as being able to block obstacles by hiding them from the player's vision. Through this brief tutorial, players will be gifted with the ability to start playing through the game's mind-destroying puzzles. The single level available in the demonstration had us attempting to collect echoes, shadows situated in various points in the stage. As simple as that may sound, imagining the total destruction of object permanence is not something we're readily accustomed to. The on-screen avatar acts like a lemming, constantly going forward, even if it means certain doom for the character. This means players will have to act fast, and position the level correctly as the avatar makes its way forward. This is where we found that the camera rotates a bit too slowly for our tastes. We ended one of our lives trying to cover a hole, but couldn't rotate the level quickly enough to save our character. Thankfully, each echo that one walks into acts as a checkpoint, so that the level we played didn't become frustrating. However, we hope that Sony will make moving the camera a bit speedier. echochrome is a simple, innovative, and more importantly, fun title that continues to deliver on the PlayStation Store's promise of offering gamers unique gameplay experiences. Although we didn't get to play much, it's clear that Sony has something truly special in their hands.
Echochrome teaser site has been unleashed
First unveiled a couple of months ago at E3 to a silently stunned crowd, echochrome looks more complicated than weaving a wicker basket. But like with all things, it will become easier over time and eventually we will understand the ins and outs of the title. To help us along, a teaser site has been upped by Sony and while it's in Japanese, we can help you out with navigation.After you click the title of the game, a pop-up window appears and shows you what's up. We clicked the bottom right button to skip the intro and were greeted with a small menu on the lower left. The top choice brought us screenshots and the bottom choice played the E3 trailer. Simple, right? We thought so, but playing the game is going to be quite the brain-teaser. If anyone played Xenosaga III, there was a mini-game in that, whose title escapes me, that's essentially the same as this, except less artistic and abstract. So, you can at least get a little practice in before this hits at the end of this month.
Echochrome teaser site unveils PSP screenshots
First unveiled a couple of months ago at E3 to a silently stunned crowd for the PS3 and PSP, echochrome looks more complicated than weaving a wicker basket. But like with all things, it will become easier over time and eventually we will understand the ins and outs of the title. To help us along, a teaser site has been upped by Sony and while it's in Japanese, we can help you out with navigation.After you click the title of the game, a pop-up window appears and shows you what's up. We clicked the bottom right button to skip the intro and were greeted with a small menu on the lower left. The top choice brought us screenshots and the bottom choice played the E3 trailer for the PS3. We've added the PSP screenshots as a gallery, so check it out. You'll be happy to see that the colors have been reversed, so your PSP won't be shooting off thousands of white pixels. It'll also reduce the issue of sun glare, if you're playing outside. The site lists the game for an 8/31 release and since there's not much translating to be done, we expect it around that time.%Gallery-4920%
Koller talks PSP to MTV: reveals US GPS plans, downloadable PSP games, and the fate of Dark_Alex
Sorry, Colin! The headline simply can't reveal how many small details were revealed in Stephen Totilo's incredibly extensive interview John Koller for MTV News. In the interview Koller revealed that all upcoming PSP games developed by Sony will take advantage of the system's full 333MHz speed, with no negative impact to battery life. Other accessories for the US include the upcoming GPS peripheral, which is currently being "tweaked" with an expected release in the next 10-12 months. The PSP camera "may get a spec change" before coming to America -- but the TV tuner will never make its way to the US.Bringing downloadable games to PSP is one of the next things to tackle for Sony. echochrome was originally meant to be a downloadable PSN game for PSP, but it became much larger than anticipated. "It was initially going to be a download-service-only game," Koller said. "We changed it to a UMD because it's a very rich game. That's where their mind is. They're developing that kind of game." Thankfully, other downloadable PSP games are in the works. When can we expect them? In the next six to eight months.In regard to the homebrew scene, Koller says that there were no talks between Sony and Dark_Alex, saying that "I think he's taking a hiatus." For even more, please visit MTV News for more.
PSP Fanboy Theatre: Volume 27
Finally, after a long E3-related hiatus, PSP Fanboy Theatre is back with an all new edition. Every weekend, PSP owners can download files wirelessly via m.pspfanboy.com.Instructions: Save all movie and thumbnail files to the VIDEO folder. These high resolution 480x272 videos require firmware 3.30 or above. (Note: OE custom firmware will also play these videos.)New for PSP: Get selected videos delivered automatically to your PSP via our new RSS feed. echochrome [PSP, PS3]Download MP4 (7.40MB) | Download JPG The following videos are featured after the break: Metal Gear Solid Portable Ops + (PSP), Patapon (PSP), Silent Hill Origins (PSP), SWAT: Target Liberty (PSP)
echochrome tutorial gets a dash of color
You should be more excited about echochrome. This upcoming PSP/PS3 application has brilliance oozing out of it. Watch this video tutorial of the OLE Coordinate System, the foundations of echochrome is based upon. Surprisingly, there's a dash of color to the demo, as players can add color to this monochromatic world. Watch, and tell us what you think. [Thanks, Random!]
Want to play echochrome now? This is the closest you'll get
echochrome, Sony's upcoming PSN downloadable title, looks set to bend our minds in ways we've never experienced. If you want to see the software that inspired the game, then check out the OLE Coordinate System here. This flash Java version allows you to create "levels" and populate them with artist dummies and floor-holes. While not as fully featured as the version shown at E3, the mind-bendiness of the whole thing is still very much apparent. Something we've found quite entertaining is creating a few lone blocks then attempting to drop dummies directly on top of them from a great height. When you've mastered this, try having two layers of blocks, the top layer of which has holes in them so that the dummy falls straight through to the bottom one. There you go, two games for the price of none. Don't say we don't ever give you anything.[Thanks Rabish12]%Gallery-4918%
Play with echochrome's OLE Coordinate System now
echochrome surprised everyone at Sony's E3 press conference. The mind-bending puzzler has players looking at perspective in a whole new way ... and now you can try it for yourself on your computer.The technology behind echochrome is something called the "OLE Coordinate System." Through this Java demo, you'll be able to create your own echochrome-styled levels. It's not the full game -- but it's a small taste of things to come.[Thanks, Rabish12!]%Gallery-4920%
Behind Sony's Echochrome is the OLE Coordinate System
Echochrome was one of Sony's E3 surprises, captivating audiences with its simple elegance and twisted, conceptual gameplay. Appearing like an M.C. Escher take on Lemmings, just the sight of this PS3 and PSP title was puzzling in its own right. While it deserves praise for originality, Sony shouldn't get all the credit. Meet the Object Locative Environment Coordinate System: the heart of Echochrome. Developed by Japanese designer Jun Fujiki, his OLE Coordinate System is directly inspired by the famous paintings of M.C. Escher, going on to say that his program allows users to "create and experience their own Escher-esque worlds." The concept of eye tricks is the fundamental core of the OLE Coordinate System, making it so objects drawn at one angle have one meaning, while looking at it from another view can give it an entirely different one. We still have no idea how Echochrome will play out, but now we can at least understand what we saw.
Stick-figures get their hero in Echochrome
Enter Echochrome, one of the most interesting and engaging new titles popping up at this year's E3. "Least graphics, most game play is their angle," said Sony's Phil Harrison, as he introduced Echochrome in the midst of Sony's E3 keynote. In addition to our earlier description as, "Jenga blocks, plus stick figure man plus acid," game play seemingly bears a distant resemblance to games like Crush (PSP) and the upcoming PC release Portal. Echochrome looks like it will have players assembling the game world to steer the stick-figure hero to his end goal. An orchestral score keeps an ambient atmosphere, which should help for those ultra-tricky sections that will be sure to induce cold sweats. Ah, the intense pleasures of a great puzzler. Echochrome certainly looks promising and the fact it will arrive on both UMD for the PSP and the PlayStation Store as one of the "more than 80 first-party games available" makes it all the more desirable.
