minna-no-golf
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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%
Two Minna no Golf downloadable demos
Two demos! For the price of ... well, none. Get some portable golf in these two new Japanese Minna no Golf Portable 2 demos.Demo 1 (Beginner)1. Download the demo zip file.2. Extract the contents of the zip file.3. Connect your PSP to your computer using a USB cable.4. Go to the PSP/GAME folder.5. Copy NPJG90016 folder into the GAME directory. Make sure there are no sub-directories in this folder.Demo 2 (Intermediate)1. Download the demo zip file.2. Extract the contents of the zip file.3. Connect your PSP to your computer using a USB cable.4. Go to the PSP/GAME folder.5. Copy NPJG90017 folder into the GAME directory. Make sure there are no sub-directories in this folder. Check out our demos site:demos.pspfanboy.com
Sleazy dude headlines the US Hot Shots box
Click for high resolution image. Unfortunately, it looks like us US residents are stuck with a much less attractive box for the upcoming PS3 exclusive Hot Shots Golf: Out of Bounds than our Japanese friends get to enjoy. Instead of focusing on the totally cute characters of the Japanese release, we have this somewhat shady, somewhat sleazy looking man (it's the combination of the gelled back hair and sunglasses) gracing the cover of our game. Granted, the heart of the game is still going to be good. In fact, a recent PlayStation.blog entry elaborates on the new Advanced Shot swing mode of the game, for those of you that want a slightly less HUD-intensive approach to golf. Don't worry, though. The traditional three-click method is still intact for the traditionalists. %Gallery-11629%
Hot Shots Golf 5 gets March 2008 release
Click for high-resolution image. One of the best PS3 games to come out this year never made it to the States. Hot Shots Golf 5 tore up the Japanese sales charts thanks to its attractive graphics, accessible gameplay and ultra-cute characters. PS3 Fanboy has learned that SCEA will finally release one of our favorite games in the States in March 2008. We're certain that a downloadable demo will strike the PSN before that, though. Check out new screenshots from the game in our gallery: %Gallery-11629%
New videos and screenshots of Minna no Golf Portable 2
Korean gaming site Ruliweb.com has more than a small handful of new screenshots and videos of the upcoming golf game, Minna no Golf Portable 2. While pictures are telling, it's the videos that say the most -- and the site offers a MP4 file that's compatible with your PSP. Neat! Check out all the pictures and videos here. [Thanks, Zach M!]
New Minna no Golf Portable 2 screenshots
The Magic Box has found new images of Claphanz's next PSP outing, Minna no Golf Portable 2 (also known as Hot Shots Golf in the US). This Infrastructure-enabled sequel is hitting Japan later this week, and we can't be more excited. There's something truly charming about the series' art style and accessible gameplay, and we're certain that this will be able to move a few more PSP units into the loving hands of Japanese gamers everywhere.
TGS hands-on: Minna no Golf Portable 2
There weren't too many PSP games on display at Sony's Tokyo Game Show booth, but the few that were available drew in consistent crowds. Patapon easily drew the largest audience, but right next to it is Minna no Golf Portable 2, a new online-enabled sequel to the original Hot Shots Golf for PSP. Anyone that's played a Minna no Golf game will quickly find themselves at home with the sequel. The presentation nearly matches the recently released PS3 Hot Shots Golf 5, but obviously features graphics typical of a PSP game. The golfing mechanic hasn't changed at all: you line up your shot, manage your swing power, and attempt to hit the mark in the swing meter. There's nothing really surprising about Minna no Golf Portable 2. The franchise has been known for its charming Japanese style, and this sequel doesn't stray from series tradition. With solid golf mechanics and new online play, Minna no Golf Portable 2 is a predictably good game that will satiate PSP golf fans.
Minna No Golf 5 PS3 bundle on its way to Japan
The Japanese love their golf. In particular, they love Minna No Golf (you might know it better as Hot Shots Golf). They love it so much, in fact, that to date there have been over 300,000 pre-orders for the latest iteration of the series on the PS3. Seeing this as an opportunity to boost system sales in Japan, Sony have announced plans to release a Minna No Golf 5 bundle pack.Interestingly, the bundle will come in both 20GB and 60GB form, so there's no sign that the 20GB system is being dropped yet as it has elsewhere. The bundle allows a saving of almost 4000 yen when compared to buying the system and the game separately. That works out to about £16 or $32, so nothing special. Still, that coupled with the light and airy box art (as opposed to the "forbidden evil" design that the boxes have now) may allow for a surge in console sales.Japan is an important market for the PlayStation 3 and, as of yet, the decent game offerings have been a bit western for their tastes. With FolksSoul released tomorrow and Minna No Golf 5 next month, we could be seeing the real start of the Japanese PlayStation adoption taking place quite soon.[Via IGN]
Sony uses GPS to target new PSP crowd
Watch out Nintendo, you're not the only one catering to the mom crowd. Sony's GPS-enhanced Minna no Golf series allows golfers to get data on real-world courses in Japan. A new lengthy ad in Japan highlights the PSP's GPS capabilities, and is targeted solely at the adult crowd. Is Sony trying to broaden their appeal? Certainly. However, will someone that picks up a PSP for the sole purpose of GPS pick up any other game on the system? Most likely not. Thankfully, Sony's going to release a handful of different UMDs with different golf courses to explore. That should make their golf-targeted endeavor more than profitable. Check out the ad, after the cut.
Minna no Golf ad highlights GPS functionality
While the rest of the world watches, GPS continues to gain support and popularity in Japan. The latest commercial for Minna no Golf showcases a happy woman playing golf. Then, she uses the GPS device on her PSP to get details on the course she's actually playing on. Yatta! It's interesting to see SCEJ promote the GPS peripheral so strongly in Japan. Certainly, the diminutive device deserves to get all the attention it can get. When will the rest of the world be able to join in? [Update: IGN has revealed more details about the GPS support of Minna no Golf Ba. The game spans two UMDs due to the incredible size of these maps. "The first disk will include sixteen courses from southern Chiba along with one special course. The second disk will include fifteen courses from northern Chiba." Additional volumes are planned to be released later on, featuring even more golf courses throughout Japan.]
Sony reveals partial TGS lineup
The Games Convention is Germany has just begun, but that doesn't mean we can't look towards the next big gaming event: Tokyo Game Show. Sony will have a huge presence there, ready to show off the bleeding edge PlayStation 3 and maturing PlayStation Portable lineup of games. Here's what PSP fans can expect from the show:PSP Boxer's Road 2: The RealMonster Hunter Portable 2Jan Sangoku MusouMetal Gear Solid: Bande Dessinee (Graphic Novel)Metal Gear Solid: Portable OpsJeanne D'ArcSarugetchu Piposaru RacerTenchi No Mon 2 (Kingdom of Paradise 2)Ratchet and Clank PortableAce Combat X: Skies of DeceptionGundam Battle RoyaleTales of World: Radiant Mythology PSP GPS Software Navigation Software (temporary title)Metal Gear Solid: Portable OpsHomestar PortableMinna no Golf (temporary title) I can't wait to see Metal Gear Solid and its newly announced GPS support in action. Jeanne D'Arc, Monster Hunter, Ratchet and Clank, and Tales are all pretty high-profile, and as you should know, Gundam will eat Japan. Go to Siliconera to see PS3's lineup. [Via Siliconera]
