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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.
Jetpack Joyride lands on PlayStation Network
After going free-to-play on iOS and Android (and undergoing a subsequent Facebook port), Halfbrick's Jetpack Joyride has made its way to PlayStation Network today. Jetpack Joyride is available for $3.99 on Sony platforms right now under the Minis section, making it compatible with PSP, PlayStation Vita and PS3.Jetpack Joyride features the most recent version of the game, replete with waves of nigh-unending challenges, a store full of unlockable jetpacks, outfits and other virtual goods. Plus: lasers. There are so many lasers in this game.Jetpack Joyride on PSN also includes gadgets, like coin magnets and gravity belts, which were introduced in the 1.3 update.
Here are the PSP games that will work on Vita at launch [update: more compatible games spotted]
Sony has posted a how-to guide on downloading PSP titles to the PlayStation Vita and, along with it, a list of the 275 PSP titles and Minis that will be compatible with the Vita at launch. Obviously, it's a pretty hefty lineup, though some favorites are certainly missing, including Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker, Valkyria Chronicles 2, Lumines and others.That said, Sony promises more titles will be added in "the coming weeks." Head over to the US PlayStation Blog for the current list. And, before you ask, yes, of course Dragon's Lair is compatible.Update: A couple of industry tweets reveal that some games not mentioned on the official list are already compatible with the Vita, notably Valkyria Chronicles 2 and PixelJunk Monsters Deluxe. It would appear that Sony's official list may not be entirely comprehensive. Then again, the public won't actually get its hands on the Vita for another week, so maybe there's still some tweaking going on.
Where is my Heart? Oh, it's on PlayStation Minis
There are cute things, and then there are adorable things, and then there's Where is my Heart?. This experimental indie platformer transcends the known boundaries of cuteness to such a dramatic extent that even tiny baby hippos like this one pale in comparison. Beneath that deliriously endearing aesthetic, however, lies a truly unique and captivating design philosophy. The game, available for free to PlayStation Plus members on Nov. 8 and to everyone else for $6.99 on Nov. 22, is based on a somewhat traumatic episode experienced by Die Gute Fabrik designer Bernie Schulenburg: While on a hiking trip, Bernie and his parents became lost in the woods, the stress of the ordeal highlighting their various personality shortcomings. Serving as a metaphor for the event, Where is my Heart? tells the tale of a family of monsters searching for their lost Heart Tree, wherein all three monsters must work together in order to progress through the wilderness. The game's screen is divided into sections, forming a stained glass windowpane of gameplay scenery which may or may not be directly connected to the adjacent panels. What's more, these panels rearrange themselves, heightening the player's sense of disorientation and serving as a visual metaphor for the emotional confusion the story represents. It sounds like an endearing, poetic work of art; here's hoping that ends up being the case.
Portabliss: The Impossible Game (PSP Minis)
Did you know that you can download handheld games now? That's amazingly convenient! The only inconvenient part of it is finding the right games to buy -- and that's where we come in, with our Portabliss column. In each installment, we'll tell you about a downloadable game on the iPhone, iPad, Android device, DSi, 3DS, PSP, etc. Today: The Impossible Game. The Impossible Game might actually be impossible -- just really, really damn difficult. That difficulty is belied by a total visual and mechanical simplicity. And yet, despite my persistent lack of success, I keep trying, fascinated by the simple gameplay. Essentially, it's an even more streamlined, more rhythmic version of my beloved Bit.Trip Runner, albeit without all the variety. As ... a square, you jump to hit platforms and avoid obstacles in auto-scrolling levels, moving very quickly and with a very limited view. Make one mistake and you have to start over. These levels are all timed to the tune of accompanying music, so your jumps occur on beat. That's it. But understanding how to play isn't the same as being able to play! The stages move so quickly, and the obstacles require split-second timing and precise jumps, or you start over. And, I'm afraid to say, the game keeps a running count of your attempts, in big print on the top of the screen. Yes, The Impossible Game is intensely frustrating, which makes it ideal for portable play. You play for a few minutes until you get angry, then put it aside. The fact that it's designed for just a few minutes is the "ideal" bit, by the way. I'm not saying it's important to be angry while you're traveling. The Impossible Game is available from the PlayStation Store for $2.99. It's also available on Xbox Live Indie Games, iOS, Android, Windows Phone, and even the Nokia Ovi Store. We're always looking for new distractions. Want to submit your game for Portabliss consideration? You can reach us at portabliss aat joystiq dawt com.
SNK classics Alpha Mission, TNK III, Vanguard II on PS Minis today
SNK continues its piecemeal release of SNK Arcade Classics 0, comprising PlayStation Minis versions of the arcade games that the company sold in Japan as a UMD collection. Today, when the PlayStation Store updates, you'll be able to get three more vintage SNK arcade games for play on the PSP or PS3. 1985's vertical shooter Alpha Mission (above), the tank game T.N.K. III from the same year, and the 1984 shooter Vanguard II, will be available today for $3 each. You might know T.N.K. III's sequel better than the original if ... you happened to play a lot of NES games; it was released on that platform as Iron Tank. Other people played Iron Tank, right?
Download themes to vote for your favorites in PSN Gamers Choice Awards
Sony's giving you the chance to honor some of the best games on PSN -- and, more importantly, get some free XMB themes for games like Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, Costume Quest, and God of War: Ghost of Sparta. The company announced the first PSN Gamers Choice Awards, which will allow PS3 and PSP users to vote on their favorite downloadable game for each platform -- among the nominees pre-selected by Sony, anyway. From Feb. 22 through March 1, users will be able to vote for their favorite downloadable PSP or PS3 game, Mini, and PSN-exclusive by downloading a free XMB theme corresponding to that game. The winning game in each category will be discounted 30% for all PSN users and 50% for Plus members during this year's edition of the Spring Fever promotion. Find all the nominees after the break. Spelunker HD is not one of them, but there are already free XMB themes available on the PlayStation Store that will allow interested parties to pretend it is.
Young Thor studio unveils A Space Shooter for Two Bucks!
No, Frima Studio didn't receive two dollars to unveil its new game -- rather, the new PlayStation Mini from the Young Thor/Zombie Tycoon developer is called A Space Shooter for Two Bucks! You can guess both the genre and price from the title. Despite the low price, Frima Studio has included full voiceover for both the pilot character and his sarcastic AI companion, as well as every other character who, for some reason, has lines to speak in a shmup. If you have PlayStation Plus, you'll be able to get A Space Shooter For Two Bucks! for free when it launches on December 21.
