game-sharing
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Steam Family Sharing now requires two-step process, approval
Do you like sharing games with your friends on Steam? Well good, because you can still do that - you'll just need to assure Steam that you actually know your friends before they can start digging into your library. An update to the Steam Family Sharing community page explains that in addition to authorizing the machine your friend accesses your library from, you'll also need to give clearance to the account they're using. You'll now be able to grant 10 accounts and 10 machines access to your games and DLC, unless of course they require a third-party key or registration. The post explains that the added need to clear accounts allows a library's owner more control over who is accessing it. The change also decreases "the risk of VAC or other bans resulting from an unknown user accessing and abusing shared games on an authorized machine." What kind of friend would troll from a friend's Steam library to the point of drawing administrative attention? Absolutely no one we've ever met, right?
Rumor: Steam beta update file suggests game sharing is coming
Those who opted into the Steam client beta may see some interesting language alluding to game sharing in the "steamui_english" file of the latest update. It's suggested that Steam users will be able to set a shared game library – when the original owner logs into the game, the game sharer gets a prompt to quit out. If you want to see the file for yourself, you'll need to be running the beta version of Steam – go into Steam settings and opt in, then restart the client. Then, you'll need to head into your public folder and open the "steamui_english" file in a text editor like Notepad. Final step: crack open a cold soda, sit back and feel good about being a computer genius.
PSA: New PSN game sharing restrictions in effect
Cancel your plan to go in with four friends on that copy of Altered Beast. Yesterday's protracted PSN maintenance ended in the activation of Sony's new game sharing policy, which restricts use of newly purchased games to two PSP or PS3 systems each. Previous purchases still hold to the old policy, which allowed for sharing between five PSP and PS3 systems. If you've suddenly got too many devices in your house and you want to deactivate one, Sony offers instructions here.
PSN game sharing to become more exclusive
There were five of you: Timbit, Stan, Rickyface, Darla D and Phillipe. The five of you didn't have anything in common, unless you count not wanting to pay a lot for downloadable games. For years, your little club split the cost of every PSN game that's come down the pike, but now the PS3 Game Buddiez may be on their last legs. Beginning on Nov. 18, PSN licenses can be tied to only two PS3s or two PSPs, a policy change that only affects games purchased after the start date. While you'll be able to deactivate and reactivate consoles online, the days of five friends sharing an account are over. While the news came via the EU PlayStation Blog we have every reason to think a policy shift this big will be shutting down PS3 Game Buddiez clubs all over the planet, an assumption we're currently trying to confirm with Sony. [Update: The US PlayStation Blog confirms that this is a worldwide policy.
Steambot Chronicles Battle Tournament coming to PSP this Summer
Ha! Did you really think Atlus was done announcing PSP games for this year? The PSP love continues with Steambot Chronicles Battle Tournament, scheduled to arrive in the US this Summer. This four-player mech battling game lets you create your own robots and use them in hot robot-on-robot action. Take on missions, kick some ass, get new parts, upgrade your robot, and repeat.One of the most exciting features supported by Steambot Chronicles is the Ad-Hoc Game Sharing mode. With this feature, four PSPs can play against each other with just one copy of the game. It's a good way of giving friends a small taste of the action.%Gallery-49798%
Blokus Portable: Steambot Championship launches early 2008
Long-time readers of PSP Fanboy have already tried Blokus Portable. We offered a Japanese demo months ago. Now, Majesco is ready to bring this anime-infused puzzle game to the States. "With three million units sold and credit as the most acclaimed game of the century, the Blokus board game is clearly an international sensation," said Gui Karyo, Executive Vice President of Operations, Majesco in a recent press release. "Based on this incredibly successful property, Blokus Portable combines strategic gameplay with 16 player support to make it the perfect social puzzle game that's easy to pick-up, yet hard to put down."Up to 16 players can compete in Ad Hoc wireless mode. More exciting, however, is the addition of Game Sharing. Up to four players can compete using a single UMD. This rarely used feature is ideal for puzzle games. Best of all, Majesco plans on releasing the title at a budget price -- $19.99.
Sonic Rivals 2 adds Knockout brawl mode
If Sonic doesn't end up in Super Smash Bros later this year, it looks like you'll have to resort to the PSP-exclusive Sonic Riders 2 for some hedgehog-on-hedgehog action fighting.Also in the upcoming Sonic Rivals sequel is the ability to play multiplayer with just one UMD, a feature that we love to see in PSP games. Now with this added battle mode and Game Sharing, it looks like Rivals 2 will greatly expand upon the previous game's offerings.
Bomberman Land hits PSP in January
We've been impatiently awaiting Hudson's announcement when it would release Bomberman Land stateside, and today, our long wait is over. Bomberman Land, which was released earlier this year in Japan, will hit the PSP in January 2008.Bomberman Land will feature a traditional single-player story mode, more than 50 mini-games and will support Game Sharing. "Gamers are going to be blown away by the sheer amount of content they get in the Bomberman Land series," said John Greiner President and CEO of Hudson Entertainment.In the single-player mode, you will have the unenviable and no doubt maddening task of restoring "peace and tranquility to the beleaguered Bomberman world" by solving quests and puzzles. And to win over the series faithful, the "classic multiplayer" Battle Pack Mode makes a return.
Naruto to take advantage of Game Sharing
We've received more details about the newly announced Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Heroes for PSP. Although the game may look similar to the Japanese PSP game, we've confirmed that the game truly is exclusive for the US and Europe.The game will feature multiplayer, but it is unfortunately limited to Ad-Hoc (no Infrastructure play, sorry!). However, the game will take advantage of PSP's oft-forgotten Game Share functionality, which allows players to compete against each other, even with just a single copy of the game. It's as if the game is mirroring Naruto's ability to replicate himself ... and that's really awesome.
P.S.P. to see M.A.C.H. A.S.A.P.
For those too impatient to wait for Planet Moon's Afterburner update, soon you'll be able to get your mach speed on with M.A.C.H. According to Gamespot the game is set to be on store shelves in the US on February 20th for $39.99. Developed by Kuju Entertainment and to be published by Sierra, the game has you flying in underground competitions and customizing your flying death machine all the while hoping to keep down your lunch. It also allows for game sharing with the multiplayer, so you can still play the game even if your friends are cheap. The game is rated E10+ which means even if you can't legally pilot a real plane, you can substitute that desire with the game.
New puzzler, Cube, encourages sharing
When I first saw an update for a new PSP game called Cube, I got scared. Was it a game adaptation of the film "Cube," one of the worst films I have ever seen? Thankfully, no. It's a new puzzle game from D3 Publisher. While the PSP is certainly not lacking in the puzzle genre, Cube deserves a bit of attention due to it being of the few games to take advantage of PSP's unique capabilities. Firstly, the game includes a level editor, allowing you to upload and download new content from other Cube owners. More excitingly, the game also features Game Sharing multiplayer, allowing gamers with just one copy of the game to go head to head. The lack of complexity in the graphics and presentation probably makes it possible for Game Sharing to work, and to be honest, I'm excited that it does. It's hard enough to find a PSP owner to play against; Game Sharing will make it infinitely easier to go head-to-head with a person next to you. Expect more updates as the game's February release gets closer.[Via IGN]
MGS:PO interview confirms game's awesomeness
The fine folks at IGN have interviewed Ryan Payton, Associate Producer at Kojima Productions, to kick off their week-long hype-fest on the soon-to-be-released Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops. Just in case you weren't excited enough for this project, Mr. Payton reveals a few nice tidbits that will surely please any PSP owner. "Single and multiplayer modes are totally integrated, thus prolonging the life of the campaign mode. Online is accessible from the campaign mode for good reason -- players bring one of their 1P Sneaking Units to the online arena." "We have a number of Wi-Fi-enabled modes. First off is Game Sharing, allowing you to play MPO multiplayer with friends who don't own a copy of MPO." (Yes!!!) "The official soundtrack is coming to Japan. It's a forty-four track, beast of a soundtrack. Norihiko Hibino, best known for his composition of the Snake Eater theme, is back with some really cool tracks for MPO." Oh, and two more things:IGN: Are there plans to port Portable Ops to the PS2, in the event that the game receives poor sales on the PSP? Ryan: Absolutely not.IGN: Will there be sequels if this proves to be the PSP's killer app? Ryan: Absolutely. If the response to MPO is as good as we're expecting, you can look forward to new chapters in the Big Boss legacy on PSP. We still have many stories to tell about the early years of Metal Gear Solid -- I hope we can continue to do that on PSP.::jaw drops::
Activision joins the return to retro
A slightly old news story about games that are very old. If you aren't sick of retro games yet, then Activision would like for you to read up on their offering of repackaged classics. Activision Hits Remixed will feature more than 40 games from the Atari 2600 era, such as Pitfall, Kaboom!, Chopper Command, Stampede, and Keystone Kapers. Thankfully, games that feature multiplayer will utilize the Game Share feature of the PSP, so that you and a friend can duke it out with a single UMD.The disc will also feature "modernized front-end graphics" (as fancy as the PS3's front-end?) and unlockables. I would get excited, but I'm too busy not caring.[Via Gamespot]
KAZooK is yet another mini-game compilation
Really? How many games do we need that feature quirky art styles and short mini-games. Sure, you can fight zombies, wrestle sumo-style and pilot a UFO, but with WTF and HOT PXL both coming out for the handheld, isn't this genre already a bit too crowded? The game features 30 mini-games, which seems to pale in comparison to HOT PXL's hundreds. It also features 16 characters and wi-fi multiplayer. It also featured Game Sharing, but don't get too excited: you can only play 5 of the games through this feature.Don't you agree that maybe KAZooK will be too little, too late? Especially when HOT PXL features downloadable levels to extend its life. Check out shindakun.net for more pics.[Thanks, steve!]
Capcom Classics trailer travels through time
The retro hits just keep on coming today! This newly released trailer of the upcoming Capcom Classics Reloaded compliation shows off the game in action, and it gets a retro-loving gamer like myself pretty excited. Not only will it feature Street Figher II, and Ghouls 'n Goblins, it'll also come with game-sharing so that you and your friends can play using just one UMD. The compliation will feature more than 15 games, and will collect stats, and save things like cheats and music in galleries that you can easily access. Best of all, it has a nice budget price of $27 shipped on amazon.com. The game comes out October 24th.
New over-enthusiastic Bomberman trailer!!!
We knew a new Bomberman was on the way, but ever since it got quietly announced back in April, we haven't heard much from our pyromaniac friend. Well, it appears that Hudson has made a brand-new trailer, and it's filled with so many exclamation points, it's explosive. Get it? I'll stop my bad puns and let the trailer do the talking: All new levels, boss enemies, and power-ups! Network up to 4 players with one UMD game! You can play Bomberman ANYWHERE! ANYTIME! The Game Sharing feature is what gets me the most excited. It's great to see more great games are taking advantage of this sorely underused feature. (Now, when are we going to get Infrastructure multiplayer?)
