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PS3 Xmas freebie: Gran Turismo HD Concept
Unlike Nintendo's $5 (or 500 Wii Points) Christmas treats and more like their free Wii web browser, Sony's poised to really spread that holiday cheer with a holiday freebie. As promised, Gran Turismo HD -- recently re-imagined as a technology demo and not a full title -- will hit the PlayStation Store on December 24th (that's Christmas Eve) for the eminently reasonable price of $0 (or 0 Wii Points). Today, they've announced that offer applies to North America as well as Japan. Thanks, Sony!The important info: one track (the Eiger Nordwand course), two game modes ("Time Trial" and "Drift Trial"), ten cars (with 10 additional "tuned" variations unlockable), and the much vaunted 1080p. Of course, the only online action you're going to be getting is downloading the game from the PlayStation Store. Like Kaz said, "For the genuine implementation of 'Online Car Life Simulation', please wait for Gran Turismo 5."
New PSOne downloads in Japan, new PSP firmware everywhere
Sony has dropped nine more PSOne games into Japan's PlayStation Store. The process is still tedious, the files still only playable on PSP (and only downloadable with a PlayStation 3). A new PSP firmware update (v3.03) is required to play the newest oldies; and although the update is available for all to install, it's useless to those outside of Japan -- or those in Japan without access to PS3's PlayStation Network.Here's a rundown of the PSOne games you won't be playing on your PSP today: Dino Crisis Gekitotsu Toma L'Arc: L'Arc-en-Ciel vs Tomarunner Global Force: Shin Sentou Kokka Migi Hadari U-SA Migi Hadari USA Mr. Driller R-Type Rhapsody: A Musical Adventure Taiyou no Shippo: Wild, Pure, Simple Life The Conveni: Anomachi o Dokusenseyo
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More PS-One games hit the PS-Store in Japan
Damn! Japan gets all the good games in the PlayStation Store (no offense to the ones available to anyone not in Japan). These games will go live on 12/21, which is to say, tomorrow. Let's take a peek: R-Types Taiyo no Shippo U-SA Dino Crisis Gekisou Tomaranna Global Force Maru Oukoku no Ningyou Hime Mr. Driller A really long Japanese hamster simulation game title Maybe we spoke too soon about all the good games... but, R-Types, Dino Crisis and Mr. Driller! Can we then safely assume we'll also be getting some new titles in the near future? Maybe not in time for Christmas but perhaps the New Year, since the last US batch arrived later than the Japanese titles, but we'll get some more soon. We'd bet a match on Resistance. Now then... when will we be able to download these and play them on the PS3, as opposed to the PSP? C'mon, Sony!
Lemmings & Sudoku appear on PS3 store
PlayStation Store's downloadable PlayStation 3 games catalogue doubled yesterday with the arrival of Lemmings and Go! Sudoku. These aren't exactly huge blips on the radar, but it's good to see Sony adding content, even if it's a sporadic effort.The updated version of Lemmings, trying players' leadership skills across 50+ levels, is being offered for $2.99 $5.99; the basic Sudoku package tops that. It's free. Additional puzzle packs (bundled by difficulty) are $2.99 a pop. The number of puzzles per pack has not yet been verified, but Sony hopes to offer roughly 1,000 grid variations in all.
New downloadable titles for your PS3!
Thanks to our resident tipster Colin, we can report today that there are a couple new titles for your downloading needs -- assuming your wallet won't mind a little tickling. The first is Go Sudoku which is, well, Sudoku. What's sudoku, you ask? Why, all the trendy hipster rage! In fact, we're not going to explain it if you don't know. There's a demo that's free to download, so go for that! Learning is experiencing, they say. Or is it experiencing is learning? It doesn't matter... all I can think about is capital restructuring and the weighted asset costs of capital... among other financial mumbo-jumbo. Where was I? Ah, yes, games. The other game is a 720p remake of Lemmings. Wonderful, empty-headed Lemmings that will follow your command to their very doom. In 40 different levels, no less. If you want to pay for the full versions, each game costs $2.99 which isn't that bad. Sudoku has a few different difficulty levels and have different prices for each, but really, the demo should be enough. Unless you're into hardcore number-puzzle solving. That's it for me for the bulk of today -- zero hours of sleep and a final at 8am. I'll be passed out in my bed for the bulk of the day by the time you read this! Not that it matters. I'll cook up some more good news later on today![thanks, Colin!]
Joystiq Guide: PSone downloads hit the PSP (by way of the PS3)
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/gaming_news/Joystiq_Guide_PSone_downloads_hit_the_PSP_by_way_of_the_PS3/'; Sure, a larger and cheaper selection of PSone titles hit Japanese PlayStation 3s a couple weeks ago but Sony has released the service stateside this week. The initial list includes Cool Boarders, Crash Bandicoot, Hot Shots Golf 2, Syphon Filter, and Tekken 2, all available for the exceptionally reasonable price of $5.99. Unfortunately, the list comes up notably short in the large jumping robotic rabbits category but, for now, we're just happy we're getting anything (see the full break down of Japanese versus American titles after the break). While the process of getting these PSone games from the ether and onto your handheld isn't quite as elegant as we'd like to see -- you need a difficult-to-find PlayStation 3 to download the games from the PlayStation Store and onto the PSP, even though you can't play those games on that PS3 -- the technology worked flawlessly and is an impressive display of the PSP's versatility and the potential interactivity between the handheld and its console big brother.Enjoy our photo guide for getting PSone games onto your PSP using nothing only $5.99 in virtual cash, a USB cable, and some time (then some more time) ... oh yeah, and a PS3.
Sony and Nissan collaborate to keep the GT5 engine turning
This blogger has fond memories of Nissan, his parents having driven one of that illustrious Japanese company's cars back when it went, in foreign climes, by the infinitely cooler name of Datsun. Today, Nissan is mostly known for its powerful Skyline sports motor (which is sold in the States under the infinitely sillier name of Infiniti G35). As there's a new model of Skyline in production at Nissan -- and what with Sony's dramatic Gran Turismo HD rethink -- there's no time like the present for the two companies to announce a big love-in. Or, more appositely, a "collaboration." We're not sure of the details of the "collaboration," but it's given Sony cause to post a two-minute video clip on the Japanese PlayStation Store this lunchtime. We downloaded it to our PS3 and reminisced about childhood journeys to the zoo and, thanks to Sony's Japanese website, you can do the same even if you don't have a PS3 (but you do need one-time Datsun-owning parents). Click for the HD flick, or peep the embedded version below.
Buy your PSOne to PSP games from the PS3 store now!
Wow, that subject line can actually be fairly daunting if you're not paying much attention. Luckily, the principles behind it are easy to understand. It seems that the time has come to download some classic Sony-approved titles onto your PS3 and move them onto your PSP after that. The one covered on the NeoGAF forums is Syphon Filter, which many will recognize and a few will love (I want to say the second or third was the "amazing" one and it fell apart after that, but I honestly don't remember). It seems Sony did a damn fine job of moving the complete game, instruction manual, and controller options onto their online store -- now if only we could figure out how to move them onto the PSP. Anyone got both to try it out?Also, thanks to a reader's input, we've also been brought aware to some other titles currently available: Crash Bandicoot, Cool Boarders, Tekken 2, Hot Shots Golf 2, and a few others. Wait, wait, wait... no Silent Bomber!? We need to take a stand. Inundate Sony with requests, people! That game needs to get some love on our shores (again). Perhaps it will pop over sooner or later, but... I'd rather play it than Crash Bandicoot... the failed mascot of Sony. A final note: the games cost $5.99 and are a little over 400MB, so make sure you've got some space (so if you're ripping Blu-rays onto your hard drive, you're sacrificing good game space). Later.
PSone games on PSP: $5.99 to $10.99
While the service launched in Japan today, and the PSP's firmware has been updated, we're still waiting for the nascent PSone download service to be available to Western gamers. Yeah, you'll need a PS3 to get those games to your PSP. Yeah, we know they're sort of hard to come by. But we're still bristling with anticipation! Sony isn't talking about release dates yet, but they are talking prices. Downloadable PSone games will be available for $5.99 to $10.99; a little bit more than Japan's $4.50, but an incredible value compared to some of Nintendo or Microsoft's digitally distributed offerings. Before we get all upset about the bizarre PS3 interoperability -- the games need to be downloaded on the PS3 but aren't playable on it -- remember they're still working on making the games playable on the PS3. Whether or not we'll be able to download games directly onto our PSPs without the need of a PS3 (although we like the idea of using the home console as a storage point) remains to be seen. For now, we'll take whatever they've got ready!
From PSone to PSP, via PS3: a Sony love triangle
We logged in to the Japanese PlayStation Store this morning and found nine PSone games available for download to our dusty PSP -- and at only ¥525 (US$4.50) per title. The selection includes two volumes of Konami's MSX Collection, the Director's Cut of Biohazard, as well as "lost classics" Jumping Flash and Bishi Bashi Special (so that's where we left them!). The smallest file sizes among these nine launch titles, if we can call them that, are 40MB each for the Konami Antiques MSX Collections. The full list of games and their tuned-for-PSP file sizes: Arc the Lad (320MB) Biohazard Director's Cut (380MB) Bishi Bashi Special (160MB) Jumping Flash (280MB) Konami Antiques MSX Collection Vol. 1 (40MB) Konami Antiques MSX Collection Vol. 2 (40MB) Minna no Golf 2 (210MB) Silent Bomber (200MB) Tekken 2 (550MB) We've heard from Japanese friends that these games look far more impressive on the PSP's small screen than they did back in The Day. And as the games are played from Memory Stick, loading times have been reduced to zero. But they would say that. They can download them. Unfortunately for little us, as we lack a Japanese credit card, we couldn't pay Sony for these games even if we wanted to. And listen to this, Sony: we actually do! Please, Sony, take our good money for your robotic rabbit. Please?
Get ready to download some crap for your PS3!
Tomorrow, ladies and germs, you will be able to download some of your ol' time favorites via the Game Archives in the PlayStation Store -- and you will probably play them with a retrospective smile (of course, you've got to be in Japan for this). These titles are PSP-compatible, priced at a tax-inclusive 525 yen (that translates to not much at all in US dollars). What's available? List, go! Resident Evil Director's Cut (Capcom) Konami Antiques MSX Collection Vol.1 (Konami) Konami Antiques MSX Collection Vol.2 (Konami) Bishi Bashi Special (Konami) Arc the Lad (SCEJ) Jumping Flash! (SCEJ) Hot Shots Golf 2 (SCEJ) Silent Bomber (Bandai Namco Games) Tekken 2 (Bandai Namco Games) Oh, my, gosh! Silent Bomber! I haven't played that game for a long, long time! Guys, if you take any recommendations from this site seriously, give that game a try. It's a lot of fun! Fast-paced action with a bit of bomb-tossing strategy. Resident Evil and Arc the Lad are also A-plus games. Not sure about the others, but Tekken is generally decent. Don't have a PSP, but still want these classics? You can either search through bargain bins like a rabid dog or you can wait until next year, when Sony plans to release an update allowing you to play, nay, emulate these games on your PS3 directly. If you do have a PSP, make sure you've got firmware 3.0! Also... international Game Archive news will surface shortly. If anyone grabs any of these titles, let us know!
PlayStation Store download limbo (PS3 annoyance #004)
Learn from your competitors' mistakes. When Xbox 360 shipped with crippled downloading functionality, we were all over it -- for months. When the problem was eventually corrected with a spring update, we figured our suffering had ended. Enter PlayStation 3.That Sony's new console lacks background downloading and a download queue is maddening. It represents an utter failure on Sony's part to use these past 12 months to orchestrate a console launch that exceeds the precedent set by Microsoft. Sure, a firmware update could fix this, but why is Sony launching with a feature that gamers deemed unacceptable a year ago?Update: As noted in Comment #6, if cancelled, downloads can't be resumed later (file must be re-downloaded in its entirety).PS3 delights vs. PS3 annoyancesXbox 360 delights vs. Xbox 360 annoyancesWii delights vs. Wii annoyances
Sony is doing some things right
Hardcore Casual Gamer highlights two decisions that suggest Sony is handling some PlayStation 3 issues correctly. First, the online PlayStation Store will not confuse or frustrate shoppers with a deceptive points system; and second, downloadable (original) PlayStation games will cost just $5.We're tired of shelling out for pre-paid Microsoft Points, and then doing a mental conversion every time we want to know how much a chunk of downloadable content really costs -- and we're not looking forward to doing the same on Wii. So we're thrilled Sony has cut that step out of the process; and in doing so, is making that straight-up-five-dollar PlayStation joint look a lot more tempting. Isn't Nintendo charging the same amount for NES games? Wait a minute ... gotta do the conversion ...
Cash Money Chaos allows PSP versus PS3 multiplayer
A kitten dies every time the PSP loses an exclusive game. Thankfully for us PSP owners, it appears that PSP games that get ported to other systems lose something in the translation (like multiplayer in Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories, or well, everything in Lumines). However, the PS3 version of once PSP-exclusive Cash Money Chaos seems to lose only one thing: price. The game will be downloadable to the PS3, as part of Sony's new digital distribution strategy. Sony went on record saying that PLAYSTATION 3 downloadable games won't cost more than $15, which means this game will certainly cost less than the PSP's UMD version. Bah humbug!At least it seems like the game plays well, according to our overlords at Joystiq. They note that once the PSP version comes out in February, you'll be able to play multiplayer between the PSP and the PS3 versions. I'd love to see that functionality extended to even more games soon.
PlayStation Store launch inventory revealed
Sony has outlined some of the downloadable content that will be available in Japan during the PlayStation 3 launch window. The strategy looks to closely mimic Microsoft's, albeit with fewer items than were available during the Xbox 360 launch. Strangely, Blast Factor is the only confirmed full-version e-Distribution title, but demos of flOw, Kazuo, Lemmings, "Puzzle" (working title) will be playable, along with a Ridge Racer 7 demo available on launch day. There were also be a free daily news download hosted by Sony mascot Toro the cat. Slim pickings, no?A clump of downloadable PlayStation (One) titles should give the PlayStation Store grand opening a boost though, but remember, these games will only be playable on PSP at launch. PSP News has posted this list of initial titles (to be released in Japan): Bio Hazard Director's Cut (Resident Evil) BishiBashi Special Everyone's Golf 2 Jumping Flash! Konami Antiques MSX Collection Vol.1 Konami Antiques MSX Collection Vol.2 Mister Driller Silent Bomber Tekken 2 Eurogamer also mentions Arc the Lad and notes that Sony plans to add roughly ten PlayStation titles to the PlayStation Store each month.
PS3 DRM: Downloads support five systems
Games bought through the PlayStation Store will be able to run on five-or-fewer systems. Of course, if you own more than five systems, you can probably afford to pay for the game again on the sixth. (Hah, we kid; you didn't get so rich by wasting money on a game you already bought.) The important application for the five-or-less rule is that you can log in to the PlayStation Store at a friend's house and re-download a game for free.When you leave your friend's house, Sony says that you can leave the game there. If the title is an online multiplayer game, only one of you can use it at a time. But if it's an offline game, we were told that the multiple systems can continue to play it.Sounds like you and your four best friends may be splitting PS3 game downloads.See also: Share XBLA games on two Xbox 360s... legally
