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Calling All Cars delayed another week... or two
It's really closer to three. David Jaffe's insanely hyped downloadable game, Calling All Cars, was supposed to hit the PS-Store right around the launch of the European PS3. Obviously, that is no longer the case, as the title has been pushed back to mid-April. Why? No idea. No word from Sony on it, but we're going to assume it's because there's already a lot coming out at the end of March -- Sony wants Jaffe's game to get as much attention as possible.While we're on the topic of downloadable games, what is your favorite? We'll include game demos here because, well, sometimes demos can be really, really fun. I've had the most fun with flOw... not myself, but because I enjoy everyone else ask to play it and grin as they awkwardly begin learning the SIXAXIS, then smile softly once they've mastered it.
Aussie PS-Store games priced
Here's another quick story for our Australian readers. Wonder what the downloadable games will cost you? Sony has priced them and they are as follows: Demos are free, of course Tekken 5: Dark Resurrection -- A$16.95 Blast Factor -- A$8.45 GripShift -- A$8.85 Lemmings -- A$13.37 There are supposed to be more games due out upon launch, but they've not been confirmed/priced or something. We imagine most will be in the A$8.45-A$13.37 range. Probably. We don't see Super Rub-a-Dub getting a massive price tag. That's it. See ya.
PS-Store pricing clarification
Last October, some people had a small flag-waving party when Phil Harrison announced that the cost of downloadable titles would not exceed $14.99 -- a number rendered incorrect due to Tekken 5: Dark Resurrection. IGN asked Sony's PR manager, Al de Leon, what the deal was.Al de Leon (nice name, by the way... sounds very heroic if mushed into one word: Aldeleon... maybe Aldelion would be slightly better) said this: "The pricing announced at the October Gamers Day was specific to titles at launch. We haven't announced a specific price range or cap for downloadable games since launch, but as you can see on the Store, PS3 owners can purchase content at a variety of price points -- including demos and trailers for free, classic titles like Q*bert for $4.99, and full arcade ports like Tekken 5 for $19.99. For your reference, the PlayStation Store retail price for a piece of content depends upon the wholesale price set by the publisher. So while some titles could be priced at above $15, there will be plenty of games, expansion packs, etc., that will continue to fall into the $15 or less range."So it's still up in the air. But we don't expect this to be a major concern -- not that expensive downloadable content isn't annoying, but we won't have that many full arcade ports, you know? So that $19.99 price won't creep up too often. What do you guys think? Should there be a standard pricing like the Wii's virtual console or is the PS-Store pricing things just dandily?
More details on PlayStation HOME... lots more
The semi-official ThreeSpeech has gotten some extra-juicy details about HOME that you may or may not have been wondering about. Some of this has already been talked about, but there's quite a bit that's not as well-known. Time for a list! Imagine a collective quotation around the whole thing. "Is the first of its kind on a computer entertainment console A unique blend of community, user-generated content, collaboration and commerce that is the future of computer entertainment. Will broaden the online community market in the same way that the PlayStation brand has broadened the gaming market Will take the mystery and the geekiness out of online interaction, and make it as easy as text messaging or picking up the phone Is inclusive and welcoming, not exclusive and daunting like current offerings Is the gateway and start point for a whole raft of future PlayStation Network services" "Not exclusive and daunting like current offerings"? What? Maybe the codes needed to make friends on the Wii, but XBox Live hasn't really been described as exclusive or daunting. Whatever. There's a lot more to be read on this subject... so please, click the continued link and prepare to read about HOME.
RUMOR: Phil Harrison's GDC Keynote speech in full detail
Phil hasn't given his speech fo' realz yet, but someone got a hold of a copy of it, or listened in on a rehearsal (do you think they have rehearsals or just wing it?) or something and have compiled a list of key... notes about the speech. Here's what's important: March 8th is the big firmware update. It includes: More refined PS Store frontend PlayStation Network "integrity enhanced" Wallpapers from pictures Ability to change background colors Sony Connect Store for music and movies added to the PS Store. Hundreds of trailers/full films/songs Videos and mp3's available for download. Playstation Card option in PS Store enabled. Playstation Lifestyle- Similar to my space/youtube. User generated content and experiences are the key. + more. Removal of Emotion Engine chips will come stateside and to Japan in April. Upscales certain PS-One and PS2 games to 720p/1080i. Game announcements: Warhawk in June/July, Heavenly Sword delayed, Killzone 2 and Metal Gear Solid 4 in late 2007. New PS-Store stuff being added on the 8th include: Tekken 6 trailer Lair demo & (new?) trailer Rainbow Six Vegas demo EA: Skate trailer Battlefield Bad Company trailer Warhawk demo Virtua Fighter 5 demo Virtua Tennis 3 demo & trailer GRAW 2: trailer Mortal Kombat 2 game Killzone 2 trailer... demo to come in May May we just say one thing? "Superfantabulous!" Sounds like a kickin' keynote address, except for the Heavenly Sword being delayed thing. But that's so all the first-party and semi-first-party games get their own time to shine instead of competing with one another. What do you guys think? Badass or assbad?
What's new in the PS Store? Lots.
After peeling myself away from reading Homer's The Odyssey and completing a research paper in a Marketing course (the subject was Electronic Gaming Monthly, actually), I recalled that I had yet to announce all the new goodies available on the PlayStation Network. Many of you may know this by now, but we're going to tell you nonetheless.First up, that long-awaited PSP-gone-PS3 title, Tekken 5: Dark Resurrection is up and waiting for your $19.99... and you know what? It's games like these that really show the power of the PlayStation Network -- downloading a full game, with tons of little extras, and load times that make the PSP cry. Seriously, battles are nigh instantaneous. Also available now is a behind the scenes look at MotorStorm. Not really sure why you'd go for that, but if you just can't get enough of motors or of storms, it's probably extremely interesting to see how it all came together. Personally, I'll have to pass. Excited for MotorStorm, but not that excited. There's also a Ridge Racer 7 demo and a trailer for the Nancy Drew movie. Well, hope you guys are enjoying your PS3's! I've noticed a lot more people online a lot more often the past week. Glad to see it!
Europe's PS-Store game release schedule
This one's for all of you across the Atlantic! We've got a good idea what you should expect on the PS-Store when you crack that lovely black mirror out of its box and get it all updated n' stuff. Here you go:March 23 Tekken 5: Dark Resurrection (GPB 6.99) Blast Factor (GPB 3.49) Gran Turismo HD (GPB 0.00 -- free!) March 30 Super Rub-a-Dub April 6 flOw April 13 Go! Sudoku April 20 Go! Puzzle Future 36 Calling All Cars GripShift Lemmings The end. Looking for something in particular? You seem to be getting some heavy-hitters on launch day.
Super Rub a Dub screens and info... too cute to refuse!
Ever since Phil Harrison unplugged the drain on this title, a torrent of screens have flooded the internet. Well, that didn't exactly work as planned, but you get the idea. Tubs, water, etc? It was about 46% clever. Super Rub a Dub is a new downloadable title due out at some point in the future (March 23rd, the European launch) that lets you control that cute little rubber duckie you've loved your entire life. In secret. Using the SIXAXIS, you guide mama duck and her little babies through a series of interestingly designed bathtubs. Anyway, check out the screens, go "aww", then return to blowing stuff up. Or whatever.
Get your PS Store shoes on, cuz we're going shopping!
Do you have a pair of shoes that are lucky, or get worn only under certain circumstances? We've all got our own personal traditions -- mine is to stop shaving once I begin studying for an exam until it's over. I pretend that the hair on my face is the knowledge of the material hanging off of me and when the test is over, I cut it all away. Shut up! It makes perfect sense! It's important to have these personal traditions, or else... oh, what the hell are we talking about? Three new items hit the PlayStation Store today: flOw, Q*Bert, and a Ridge Racer 7 demo. Now everyone can go around saying "Riiiiiiidge Racer" all they want since the demo is theirs for the taking. The former two have a price tag ($7.99 and $4.99 respectively), but neither are much to complain about. Ridge Racer 7 is, of course, a free demo. If they aren't at the store now (not near my PS3), they should be around before dinner. Just a guesstimation. Enjoy them, guys!
New PlayStation Store stuff released just for you!
Yes, just for you. Exactly like how those Girls Gone Wild commercials say that "these girls can't wait to get naked just for you" -- don't believe us? Watch Comedy Central after the Colbert Report. Sorry, claims like that are really annoying. It's just for me, not you. Anyway, the PS-Store has released a few new things for you to enjoy. Sadly, no demos. But there is a PS-One classic for your PSP!If you just can't wait for flOw, there's an HD video up for download and what can we say? It looks darn sexy. Sounds sexy, too. There's also a new game for the PSP, 2 Xtreme, which some could say is the sequel to a cult hit. There's also a movie trailer for Lucky You, but whatever. Maybe after the European launch we'll see some demos. Until then, we're counting the days to flOw and that rubber duckie game... Super Rub-a-Dub. Best idea ever. This yellow duckie can't wait to take a bath, just for you![Thanks for sending this in, guys!]
Japan gets a handful of new downloadable titles from the PS-Store
Well, you've asked for it... Sony delivers it -- to Japan. Yeah, we're talking about another batch of PlayStation Store titles getting released in Japan for the PSP (soon to be playable on the PS3, if rumors of the "big March update" are true). We've (meaning North America) actually got one of the titles already -- see if you can spot it! Spectral Force A IV Evolution Global Vampir: Kyuuketsuki Densetsu Crash Bandicoot Rally Cross Souryu: Logical Mahjong You know, we had no idea Japan was in the middle of a Mahjong explosion -- must be like the US and Sudoku puzzles. Anyway, if history taught us anything, we can expect a few titles to appear stateside in a week. Possibly one that Japan has had for a while but we haven't... like... say... Silent Bomber? Please?
