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Final Fantasy VII’s Midgar is the latest grimy locale coming to 'PowerWash Simulator'
The free Midgar Special Pack brings five levels based on 'Final Fantasy VII' to 'PowerWash Simulator' in March.
'PowerWash Simulator' players can now aid mental health research
Help researchers study the link between gaming and wellbeing as you blast muck away from a playground.
Vita shooter Velocity Ultra free this week on PlayStation Plus
FuturLab's Velocity Ultra is this week's featured addition to the PlayStation Plus Instant Game Collection, giving subscribers a chance to check out an underrated PS Vita gem free of charge. Velocity Ultra is both a vertically scrolling shoot-'em-up and a frantically paced puzzler, challenging players to warp back and forth throughout each level to rescue survivors and uncover hidden collectibles. We liked it quite a bit, even though the final few trophies remain elusive. Drat those impossible high-speed levels! Plus subscribers get an additional round of discounts throughout PSN's Golden Week sale, starting tomorrow. This week is also the last chance for PlayStation Plus members to pick up free copies of Mercenary Kings on the PlayStation 4 and the PS3 version of Batman: Arkham City before both games return to full price next Tuesday. [Image: FuturLab]
Velocity 2X blends shmups with Metroid platforming on PS4, Vita
Indie developer FuturLab has detailed Velocity Ultra's upcoming PlayStation 4 and PS Vita sequel Velocity 2X, showcasing an in-progress alpha version in the newly launched trailer above. While its predecessor Velocity Ultra was an overhead-view shooter that encouraged players to backtrack throughout each level to find hidden switches and item pick-ups, Velocity 2X takes these exploration elements to new extremes, introducing side-scrolling platforming segments that bridge short bursts of shoot-'em-up gameplay. During each level in Velocity 2X, players infiltrate enemy strongholds and search for survivors from a Metroid-like side-scrolling perspective. Gameplay maintains the same frantic pace throughout, and players retain the ability to teleport through walls in both shooter and platforming sequences. Velocity 2X is due to hit the PlayStation 4 and PS Vita via the PlayStation Network later this year. [Image: FuturLab]
Velocity Ultra dev's electric match-3 puzzler charges onto Vita next week
Surge Deluxe is the next PS Mobile-to-Vita game from Futurlab, the UK studio that turned Velocity into Velocity Ultra. Sure, the world has plenty of match-3 puzzlers, but this one has rainbow neon lights, lightning-like currents, and super high scores that make "CYBORG" appear on the screen - as every self-respecting match-3 puzzler should. According to Futurlab, the Vita-enhanced version features a redesigned scoring system to better reward top players and negate grinding, a couple of new blocks to ramp up those multipliers and chains, and some clever colorblind-friendliness: Affected players will be able to distinguish the colored blocks thanks to their different shapes. No word on prices yet beyond a tweet saying "under a fiver" for euro-types, but the release dates are locked in: February 4 for North America, and the day after for Europe.
Velocity Ultra enters Steam's orbit on December 12
Indie-friendly publisher Curve Studios announced that FuturLab's twin-stick scrolling shoot-'em-up Velocity Ultra is set for a PC release via Steam on December 12. Originally released for the PlayStation minis service, Velocity was significantly overhauled for its Ultra upgrade on the PlayStation 3 and PS Vita, bringing a unique combination of arcade-style shooting and reflex-based puzzling to Sony's portable platform. Curve revealed that the upcoming PC port will feature an optional keyboard-and-mouse control scheme in addition to controller support, and will be priced at £6.99.
Twin-stick puzzle-em-up Velocity Ultra also heading to Steam
Velocity Ultra is bringing its mix of vertical shooting and teleport puzzling to Steam, as well as PS3. The PC port of FuturLab's Vita game is being handled by Curve Studios, the same team working on the PS3 port. According to Curve, the PC version runs at 60 frames per second, and should make for a nice stocking stufffer when it arrives around Christmas time. FuturLab, meanwhile, is working on PS4 and Vita sequel Velocity 2X, as announced at Sony's Gamescom conference. 2X features top-down shooting and side-scroller platforming, which Futurlab hopes to weave into "one seamless experience."
Puzzle shooter Velocity Ultra making a light-speed dash for PS3 this year
FuturLab's hybrid puzzler and shoot-'em-up Velocity Ultra will hit the PlayStation 3 later this year in an HD-rendered port co-developed by Curve Digital. Originally launched as part of the PlayStation minis catalog, Velocity Ultra saw an upgraded PlayStation Vita release earlier this year that added twin-stick gameplay mechanics and a variety of new challenges. Velocity Ultra mixes brain-teasers with manic alien-blasting action, challenging players to teleport back and forth throughout each vertically scrolling level to rescue hidden survivors amidst enemy swarms. The PlayStation 3 version of Velocity Ultra will share leaderboards and trophies with the PS Vita edition when it debuts on the PlayStation Network by the end of 2013.
Velocity Ultra: One tiny ship's journey through hyperspace
This is Portabliss, a column about downloadable games that can be played on the go. Shoot-'em-ups often cater to a hardcore niche, so it's encouraging to see developer FuturLab take an alternate approach to the genre with its recent PlayStation Vita release Velocity Ultra. The finished product effectively blends its core shoot-'em-up mechanics with puzzle elements, resulting in a novel experience. Velocity Ultra resembles a typical vertically scrolling shoot-'em-up on its surface. Players blast enemy ships on the way through each timed level, rescuing survivors in order to boost scores and post-stage rankings. The timer gives the game a frantic pace, but it's never so strict as to make gameplay frustrating. If you don't care about your rank on the leaderboards, you can casually stroll through the majority of the game's levels with more than enough time left over. Giving the player control over pacing is a brilliant move, and Velocity Ultra encourages new strategies as its challenges ramp up in ferocity. Each level scrolls at a leisurely pace by default, but if you're the competitive (or over-caffeinated) type, you can hammer on the Vita's right shoulder button to engage hyperspeed and scream through every level as quickly as possible. It's a risky decision, but it pays off in the form of post-level accolades and unlockable trophies.%Gallery-175909%
Velocity Ultra launches on PS Vita July 2
Sony-funded indie studio FuturLab announced that an enhanced version of its puzzley shoot-'em-up Velocity will premiere for the PlayStation Vita in North America on July 2. Originally released last year as part of the PlayStation Minis service, Velocity Ultra is a vertically scrolling shooter with a unique teleportation mechanic that allows players to dart around the screen at will. Players are also equipped with teleportation pods, allowing them to explore alternate pathways and return to earlier points within each level in order to rescue survivors. Velocity Ultra features new touchscreen-based gameplay mechanics, along with trophy support (including a Platinum trophy) and PSN leaderboards.
PS Plus Europe explores Amalur, Demon's Souls, Ico/SotC in June
European PlayStation Plus subscribers have plenty to keep themselves busy with when the rain inevitably lashes down on Wimbledon next month. June's Plus update brings two very different breeds of RPG to the PS3's Instant Game Collection in Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning and Demon's Souls, as well the Ico and Shadow of the Colossus HD Collection. All three games arrive a wee bit early on May 29. Meanwhile on Vita, June features Rayman Origins and Coconut Dodge Revitalized for the portable. Both Vita games join the Collection on June 5. Coconut Dodge Revitalized is the next Futurlab PS Mini to get the HD treatment. As before, the self-explanatory (or not) 2D high-scorer gets leaderboards and trophies support on Vita. As ever, the revolving door that is PS Plus means new arrivals are countered by departures. Hitman: Absolution, Joe Danger 2, and Dead or Alive 5 leave the service on May 29, followed by Sine Mora on June 5, and Futurlab's Velocity Ultra on June 12.
Catherine stalks PS Plus EU on May 1, Velocity Ultra shoots in May 15
Raunchy puzzler Catherine is one of the five games coming to Europe's PlayStation Plus next month. The not-so-sheepish Atlus game joins Malicious and the previously announced Hitman Absolution in the PS3's Instant Game Collection on May 1.Meanwhile, Vita-owning subscribers can power up with a couple of shoot-em-ups. First up is the oddball steampunk of Sine Mora on May 8, and that's followed by Velocity Ultra on May 15. The Vita upgrade of Futurlab's Mini was penciled in for May in North America, so its arrival on PS Plus EU likely means it'll be released on PSN the same week.As ever, newbies shooting up the place forces old stuff to scream in terror as it flees the service. F1 Race Stars, Okami HD, and Quantum Conundrum leave a collective puff of smoke on May 1, with Zero Escape: Virtue's Last Reward and Thomas Was Alone soon scampering after on May 8 and May 22 respectively.
Velocity pacing onto Vita as Velocity Ultra, guesstimated for May
What's this? PS Mini Velocity is evolving into a full-fledged Vita game called Velocity Ultra! Good thing we didn't press the B button. Yes, British developer Futurlab is working on a Vita upgrade of its critically acclaimed shoot-em-up. While Ultra doesn't have a release date yet, Futurlab is "guesstimating" an arrival on Sony's handheld in May 2013.Futurlab describes Ultra as the "director's cut" of Velocity. As the before/after gallery below shows, the differences are chiefly visual, with a new cartoon art style in favor of the original's pixel art, and additional visual effects to provide a crisper, more striking look.Velocity Ultra is the first Vita game announced by Futurlab since the studio acquired funding from Sony to bring new IP to the handheld. At the time Futurlab opened a website for its next project, "Fan Powered Flight," and that project is now revealed to be Velocity Ultra. While we didn't get our genetically engineered flying penguin, we suspect Futurlab's fans are happy with what they got. %Gallery-175909%
PS Minis developer Futurlab inks deal with Sony to fund new Vita IP
Futurlab, the developer of PlayStation Minis and Mobile games Velocity, Surge and Fuel Tiracas, has acquired funding from Sony to develop titles for the PlayStation Vita. The deal also includes the added bonus that allows Futurlab to retain control of its intellectual property."We're incredibly excited to be working closely with PlayStation over the next year, bringing our particular brand of twitchy fun to the PS Vita," Futurlab Managing Director James Marsden says. "Sony has provided a great package that means we retain full control of our IP, which is a perfect deal for us."It's kind of like mommy giving you the credit card and telling you to only buy stuff for yourself. The website for Futurlab's next project is titled "Fan Powered Flight" and currently has a countdown clock with two days remaining, along with the text, "You asked for it," across the top. You're right, Futurlab, we did ask for a penguin with the capability of flight, and we can't wait to see what you've genetically engineered. You're so sweet.
You can name Futurlab's upcoming Minis space shooter
Coconut Dodge developer Futurlab is working on yet another game for the PlayStation Minis platform -- this time a space shooter. The studio already has a concept: mixing classic vertical shooting with a new teleporting gimmick; and it already has some music. What it needs now is a name. This is where you come in. Like PixelJunk Shooter, the developer is asking for your suggestions, awarding prizes for the best name ideas. Of course, it's hard to name a game without knowing more about it. "In our shooter, there is a reason the world scrolls vertically, and a reason that you can't turn around," explains Futurlab, "everything is being sucked into a giant black hole!" Additionally, you'll be able to "save other people that are being sucked into the black hole" via your ship's unique teleporting ability. And ... well, that's all we know. Hopefully, you can come up with something a bit more fitting than our suggestion -- COOKIESz.
Coconut Dodge bounces to PSN May 19 in Europe, 'soon' in US
Coconut Dodge, the first PlayStation Mini game from Flash developer Futurlab, is coming to Europe on May 19 and "as soon as possible" in the US, according to a recent developer tweet. It's a rather simple game, where you must do exactly as the title suggests: dodge coconuts. There is some depth, though, as evidenced by the addition of hard-to-reach silver treasures and a bouncing ball, which players must balance to receive various bonuses. Coconut Dodge will debut with a limited promotional price of £1.99 on the EU PlayStation Store (until July).
