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Video: Adding yen to a Japanese PSN account
Epileptic Gaming goes through the process of adding yen to a Japanese PSN account. It's not a task that most will want to endure through, but for importers that love getting their hands on early Japanese PSN releases will be sure to enjoy this information. Downloadable games work on any PS3 from any region, so this might be fun for those that aren't afraid of a little language barrier.
SOE moved under SCEI to strengthen PlayStation 3
Sony Online Entertainment (the group behind EverQuest, Star Wars Galaxies, and other landmark MMO titles, for the types of readers who need answers to questions like "Vhat eez zees ... 'video game' theeng?") is relocating within the Sony empire. Starting April 1, SOE will operate under the Sony Computer Entertainment, Inc. banner.That means that SOE prez John Smedley will be reporting directly to Kazuo Hirai, who is President and CEO of SCEI, and one of the masterminds behind the success of the PlayStation brand. According to the press release, they're making this move so that Sony can use the talent and resources at SOE to push its online gaming agenda on the PlayStation 3 console. Currently, SOE reports to Sony Pictures Digital.SOE has already been working on PS3 projects for a while now, including the spy-themed shooter MMO The Agency, and Free Realms, a family-friendly, microtransaction-fueled endeavor. Even though the press release didn't come with new game announcements, it's big news. There's been a lot of debate about whether the XBox 360 or the PS3 is the best online gaming platform, but this new structure could give Sony a new edge.
Joystiq gets hands-on with Capcom's upcoming PSN titles
Capcom recently hosted a Gamer's Day for its upcoming digital distribution titles, all coming to PSN. Joystiq had a chance to get some hands-on time with the following titles: 1942: Joint Strike Plunder Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix Wolf of the Battlefield: Commando 3 It's great to see Capcom supporting downloadable tiltes as heavily as it is. Let's just hope their upcoming efforts are a bit more inspired than Rocketmen: Axis of Evil! Gallery: 1942: Joint Strike (XBLA/PSN) Gallery: Plunder (PSN/XBLA/PC) Gallery: Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix Gallery: Wolf of the Battlefield: Commando 3
Joystiq hands-on: Wolf of the Battlefield: Commando 3 (XBLA/PSN)
Call it another old-school remake/update; Wolf of the Battlefield: Commando 3 will be out on XBLA and PSN this Spring. The angled, overhead shooter draws on its MERCS origins, bringing three-player destruction to those systems for $10 or 800 Microsoft Points.At a recent demo, I played the 360 version of the game. Controls felt good, with walking assigned to the left stick and shooting to the right. I lobbed grenades and launched super attacks with other buttons; the arsenal held my interest. Vehicles should be a big part of the game, too. In my demo, we drove in an armored truck, shooting from our different seats, and floated down a river raft. Hopefully the full game will feature lots of these breaks, since on-foot battles could grow monotonous.%Gallery-18256%
Joystiq hands-on: Street Fighter II HD (XBLA/PSN)
I'm not a Street Fighter fanatic, but I've enjoyed the series over the years. So with this casual approach, I recently tried the XBLA beta of Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix, available soon to buyers of Commando 3 on XBLA. The full version will be out this Summer for that system and PSN.Frankly, I don't even remember which character I played. It doesn't help that my only choices were Ken and Ryu, who have nearly the same moves. My helpful opponent reminded me how to do some of the special attacks; I was far out of practice on the Hurricane Kick, but I could throw fireballs right away.%Gallery-9066%
Joystiq hands-on: Plunder (XBLA/PSN/PC)
Certain Affinity is close to finishing Plunder, a downloadable real-time strategy, multiplayer pirate game. The Capcom-published title will be released in late Spring or early Summer for XBLA, PSN, and PCs. Pricing has yet to be announced. With inspiration from Settlers of Catan, Certain Affinity decided to create a hex-based game but with a real-time twist. Each player -- up to four on one system and eight online -- uses a pointer to guide their own ship. Teams win by capturing a certain number of towns or holding the majority when time runs out. I played a few test games on an Xbox setup, tapping the A button to issue movement orders. Much of the rest of the game is automated, with ships attacking towns and enemy pirates when within range. Neutral and enemy towns pelted my boat with canon balls until I pummeled them into submission. If I held the defeated town for a moment, I'd claim it, causing it to attack only opposing boats. %Gallery-18253%
Joystiq impressions: 1942: Joint Strike (XBLA/PSN)
Capcom and Backbone Entertainment are shipping 1942: Joint Strike for XBLA and PSN this Summer. The HD remake -- hmm, part of a bona fide trend -- takes inspiration from 1942 and the other 194X games. But the top-down WWII shooter strives to be its own title, with unique levels, enemies, and updated weapons. I recently checked out an alpha version of the game on a 360. The graphics looked sharp, with light sepia effects evoking a news-reel quality at times. Other times, colors popped against high-definition backgrounds. While the 3D world exists in a top-down angle, tall buildings leaned with the perspective, adding another visual hook to the shooter. %Gallery-18258%
PS3 firmware 2.17 addresses stability of online titles
Before Sony's social media manager, Jeff Rubenstein, came to the rescue via an informative blog post, our research had concluded that the latest PlayStation 3 firmware update implements the following changes: Cell division by zero no longer possible Cross media bar lightened up, no longer cross Fun patch applied to "Go! Sky Diving" Triceratops tranquilized Placebo.exe installed for faster load times Unfortunately, it seems our analysis was wholly inaccurate, as Rubenstein explained that Firmware 2.17 merely improves "the operating stability of some online PS3 titles." You'll be prompted to download the update the next time you sign on to the PlayStation Network.
EA explains Army of Two's regional lockout
Though reviews haven't been consistently kind, most critics seem to label Army of Two's cooperative, fist-pounding gameplay as the best reason to start shooting. The promise of leaving a bloody terrorist trail with a buddy-in-arms does come with one caveat though: The members of your army can't have an ocean between them. Army of Two's online modes are restricted according to region, with the US, European and Asian versions unable to exchange so much as a salutation, let alone a barrage of bullets. Consequently, we spoke to EA Montreal's Reid Schneider, senior producer on Army of Two, in the hopes of learning more about the decision to introduce a territorial lockout across Xbox Live and PSN. While the explanation is unlikely to dissolve your disappointment (not to mention that of Claus, your Swedish best friend), it does spring from EA's belief to do what was best for its game. We don't believe it was the best decision for modern, borderless gamers, but Schneider assured us that the developer is "actively looking into" retooling the game in the future. "We are looking to find a way where we can do it," said Schneider," and not expose users to super slow connections..."
What ever happened to Tiki Games?
Remember Tiki Games? They're the guys that were working on an independent PSP title called Galaxy's End, a very solid RTS game we were able to test at last year's GDC. Our coverage on PSP Fanboy netted the development team a lot of prospects, but ultimately the team wasn't able to secure a publisher for Galaxy's End. Instead, the team moved on to their next project: a PS3 title that we hinted at many months ago (rather obscurely, in the comments section).NovaStrike is hitting the PS3 as a downloadable title. Nodding its hat to retro gaming, this shooter looks like a very energetic addition to the PSN. We're hoping it does well, because we know the guys at Tiki are dying to make some PSP titles. If NovaStrike gets the attention we hope it does, Tiki might be able to get Galaxy's End into our hands afterall. Gallery: NovaStrike
Official EU PS3 forums linking up with the PSN later this month
The official European PlayStation forums will be undergoing a big change this month. After three days of downtime, starting from March 17th, logging in to the forum will only be possible with a PlayStation Network ID. People who already have a username on the forums will need to link their PSN ID before March 17th or risk starting over with a new account. The forum will also be updated with various unannounced new features. We hope that these new features are worth the hassle - it seems people aren't very impressed with losing their usernames (which will change to your PSN ID after the switchover). One of the questions on the FAQ hints at future PSN functionality within the forums, but it won't be this month.[Thanks Mattias]
Novastrike shooting up PSN in Q2 '08
Independent developer Tiki Games has announced a refreshing return to good old-fashioned xenophobia in Novastrike, a top-down arcade shooter that dispenses with all the diplomatic, lovey-dovey pleasantries we've recently exhibited towards extra-terrestrials. Scheduled to arrive on the PlayStation Network during 2008's second quarter, Novastrike will have you annihilating aliens (the "Draelus," in this round) across seven "expansive challenging stages." As you might expect, you'll be able to terminate the intergalactic immigrants with the aid of upgradeable weaponry and a host of friendly fighters, bombers and useful-sounding destroyers.Considering the glut of omni-directional shooters currently clouding our digitally distributed sky, we hope Novastrike can at least match the genre's top dogfighters. Make it like that one with the colorful shapes, or the one with the asteroids, please.%Gallery-18141%
PSN Thursday: Rocketmen blast off, Echochrome marches onto Japanese PSN
Just like XBLA, Rocketmen: Axis of Evil is the only new game offering on PSN this week. Sure, there's the Rock Band and GHIII DLC, but its a pretty tame week overall. Now, for those with access to the Japanese PSN it's a different story. Those people should go grab echochrome immediately and twist their brains, Escher-style. Check out the complete list of this week's content after the break. Wondering what the Europeans got? Take a little trip down the yellow brick road to PS3 Fanboy. %Gallery-2571%
American PSN updates for March 6th
As promised, flOw headlines this week's update. Check out our review, and then point your internet browser to store.playstation.com on your PC to start downloading this great content.PSP Software: flOw ($7.99) Ape Escape: On the Loose ($14.99) Game Videos: God of War: Chains of Olympus Ape Escape: On the Loose Wallpapers: Warriors Orochi Enjoy!
Get the echochrome demo on your PSP
You're heard the critics lavish praise on the monochromatic, perspective-twisting goodness of echochrome, and now you PSP owners can finally take the game for a spin. How, you ask? Why, with a free, downloadable demo of course. Our friends at PSP Fanboy have all the instructions. We hope you dig the demo, because without a release date for the game currently, there's not telling how long you'll need to make this sliver of echochrome last. Enjoy.
Full Gran Turismo 5 Prologue vehicle and track list announced
We're not terrifically interested in paying top dollar for what is tantamount to a glorified demo, so we aren't that excited for the April 17 release of Gran Turismo 5 Prologue. But, as Gary Coleman taught us, it takes diff'rent strokes to move the world, so far be it from us to withhold the torrent of GT5P news we were bombarded with this morning.In addition to a full car and track list (which you can find after the break) we learned the North American version will include a Drift Mode, the ability to tune your car, two-player split screen racing and a new set of race events. It's still not enough to justify the $40 price tag for us, but if you're a fan, it sounds like it could be a bargain.
PSP Fanboy review: flOw
The best-selling PSN title will be available on the PSP tomorrow. This experimental title received a lot of attention when it sailed to the PS3 due to its unique style and premise. Less of a "game" and more of an "experience," players titled their SIXAXIS controllers to guide an ever-growing creature through a series of primordial stages. Players would consume other creatures along the way, expanding in size and capability. flOw is a rather accurate recreation of the PS3 title -- an impressive feat, considering the reduced processing capabilities of the handheld. Just like the PSN original, flOw will look and feel unlike anything else on the system. However, those that have played the original will find little reason to revisit the title, and many may find the technical shortcomings of this SuperVillian-developed effort to be an ebb to an otherwise engrossing experience. %Gallery-15561%
New details on SOCOM Confrontation
Since the announcement was made last May, Sony has remained somewhat tight-lipped on the topic of SOCOM Confrontation, the multiplayer-only PS3 entry into the Navy-oriented series. The May issue of EGM will end all that, however, with a massive feature on the anticipated title, including all new details and screens.To whet the pallet, Sony has revealed two new screenshots of Confrontation in action, with accompanying information about what players are seeing. The above image displays a ruined shopping mall, on a map that supports 16 player combat, but can expand to fit up to 32. A second screen features Crossroads, a classic SOCOM map that will make an HD reappearance in Confrontation. In addition to a new over-the-shoulder camera, the classic SOCOM camera option will still be available in Confrontation, for those of us frightened by change. Check out high-res versions of both screens, as well as all the screens released so far, in the gallery below. %Gallery-3180%
Counting Rupees: Royalty Screwed
Each week Jeff Engel and Geoff Brooks alternate in contributing Counting Rupees, a column on the business behind gaming: Gamers were outraged in recent weeks by a rumor that Xbox Live Arcade royalties were being cut in half for developers; in fact, some developers were reportedly considering moving development from XBLA to the PlayStation Network because of the cuts. It was less clear why Microsoft would do something like this: At first glance, it appears to stifle independent game development and reduce the overall quality of XBLA as a platform. Clearly, Microsoft is just being greedy, right?Perhaps, but it's certainly not as clearcut as it seems at first glance. Although any changes to the royalty structure will mean changes -- and potentially significant ones -- for XBLA, they may still be beneficial in the long run for some people, possibly even increasing indie development.As is often the case with rumors, there's more to the story than a simple royalty cut. Let's think first about what the costs and benefits of the changes are to both developers and Microsoft, after which we can decide why the action might have been taken in the first place and what it all means to us as gamers. From a developer's perspective, the cost is pretty clear: Up to 35% of the total revenues of a game. Does the developer receive any benefits? Yes, some: As reported, developers will no longer have to pay for features like worldwide ratings or localization, which both reduces costs and potentially provides access to a larger international market. And from Microsoft's standpoint, the costs and benefits are essentially reversed: It no longer has to pay the royalties, but it does need to provide some additional services.
10 reasons the PlayStation 3 is relevant again
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/playstation/10_reasons_PlayStation_3_is_still_relevant'; Sony is expecting a big year for PlayStation 3 -- it might even turn a profit in the next fiscal year, according to SCEI President and CEO Kaz Hirai. The folks at PS3 Fanboy think it's got a fighting chance, and here are ten reasons we expect a better year for the console.
