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PSN Thursday: Folklore keeps telling tales while others sleep
It's pretty safe to say at this point the team behind Folklore is quite happy to keep adding extra content and value to their game through downloadable content. This week the PlayStation Store gets another serving of Folklore content with the "Nightmares" and "Visions of the Tower" packs. Of course, the Rock Band DLC is available as per usual, and if you're looking for something cheeky, there is a free PixelJunk Monsters theme to download. Even though the Folklore team says this is its final add-on for the game, why not keep reaping the rewards of absent competition in the space?Check out the complete list of content after the break and wander over to PS3 Fanboy for the European update details.
flOw swims to PSP
Thatgamecompany's flOw is finally floating from the PS3 over to the Playstation Portable, CVG reports. The PSN title (which started out as a graduate thesis) will soon be available for purchase and download from the PC-based Playstation Store, where it can be beamed to the PSP for on-the-go underwater trippy creature-eating... stuff. According to CVG, the PSP version will likely remain largely unchanged from the PS3 original. Though no release date was given, CVG speculates that flOw may appear alongside today's scheduled PSN update. We can't confirm, but that would be neat.
How's about some portable flOw?
It seems Sony Computer Entertainment Europe have leaked out a bit of information regarding a PSP port of thatgamecompany's title, flOw. The game received warm reviews when it was released on the PlayStation Network last year and plays sort of like a nap -- trust us, that's a good thing. It's very relaxing. The game will pop up as downloadable through the PlayStation Store sometime soon during the regular Thursday update. [via Gamasutra]
Undertow team creating Orson Scott Card's Ender's Game's game
A new collaboration between renowned author Orson Scott Card and Undertow developer, Chair Entertainment, will see the popular sci-fi novel Ender's Game adapted into a series of video games "across all next-generation consoles, handheld platforms, and PC." The first offering is expected to begin development later this year and will be released in downloadable format. As the story of Ender's Game revolves around the protagonist's experiences within the "Battle Room" -- home to a simulation of futuristic combat -- it should come as no surprise to learn that Chair Entertainment's goal is to place players into the very same virtual environment. Turning Ender's fictional game into a "real" one certainly makes sly sense within the context of the book, though we would be slightly concerned if the people on our Xbox Live friends should start turning up dead. In a recently published interview, N'Gai Croal managed to catch-up with the Mustard brothers, Donald and Geremy, founders of Chair Entertainment. They described the Unreal-engine game with great relish, noting that the "the unique characteristics of the Battle Room will make a very compelling, competitive game play experience." Let's hope it can make up for the bad taste left in our mouths by one of their previous Card collaborations, Advent Rising. [Image: "Ender's Game(s)" by Penny Arcade]
PSN sales surprise even Sony CEOs
The PlayStation 3 is experiencing a power surge. No, it didn't ingest PowerThirst, but people have been purchasing the system and utilizing the PlayStation Store more than even Sony expected. SCEE president and CEO, David Reeves, expressed that very sentiment in regards to the European market: "We've gone from zero to almost double-digit millions in terms of what people have purchased in euros." Awesome.If this is any indication of Sony's 2008 domination (relative to their performance in 2007), we're off to a great start. We wonder how PSN sales are doing in the US and Japan, because quite frankly, Europe has often gotten the shaft when it comes to downloadable titles. We can only imagine if there will be another surge when Home releases, or if we'll get a surprising lull. Who knows.[via CVG]
Rumor: FFXIII director predicts demo in 2008 [update]
We know that Final Fantasy games, much like fine wine and Radiohead albums, take some time to come together nicely -- still, it's hard for us to believe that Final Fantasy XIII (in all its shapes and forms) will be dropping any time soon. We've had our hearts broken so many times by delays for hotly anticipated titles that we've sadly come to expect them.Fear not, for the long wait for the Fabula Nova Crystallis collection will be over soon enough. According to FinalFantasyVersusXIII.net's translation (there appear to be conflicting versions), game director Motomu Toriyama teases that a playable demo for FFXIII would be arriving in 2008 to show off the game's revamped battle system. So don your steepled hat and cuddle tight your cactuar plushie -- your chance to sit down with the unluckiest chapter in Square Enix's seminal RPG franchise may have just gotten a teensy bit closer.[Update: We originally posted an incorrect interpretation of the original translated comments. The post has been corrected and Joystiq apologizes for the error.][Update 2: Square Enix has released an official response – and we eat more crow.]
PSN Thursday: PixelJunk Monsters with a touch of Devil May Cry 4
The PlayStation Store gets another heap of PixelJunk today, as Monsters replace Racers in Q-Games sophomore effort, offered for a mere $7.99 ... for a limited time. The update is rounded out by a pair of demos (this one and that one) and a lonely PS1 game, in addition to a smorgasbord of DLC – nope, not the new Guitar Hero tunes.Check out the complete list of content after the break, including PC Store additions – or head over to PS3 Fanboy for European update details.
Guitar Hero III 'Classic Rock' pack now live
Last week, we told you of the rumor that Guitar Hero III would be getting a handful of new classic rock tunes. This morning has proven it to be true, with Foreigner's "Juke Box Hero," Journey's "Any Way You Want It" and Boston's "Peace of Mind" all landing on Xbox Live for 500 points, or $6.25 in Earth dollars.What we don't know is if these songs will be appearing on PSN later in the day, but since this is Thursday, we're thinking it's likely. If you're unfamiliar with any of the new tracks (for shame!) we've put samples of them after the break.
X3F interviews Bionic Commando Rearmed producer
Can't get enough of Bionic Commando Rearmed, the 2D remake coming to PSN, XBLA, and PC? Head on over to Xbox 360 Fanboy and read their interview with Ben Judd, Capcom Japan's producer in charge of the Bionic Commando brand, to get the skinny on the production, their plans for the franchise, and the rationale for cutting out online co-op. %Gallery-14181%
Condemned 2 dated March 11, multiplayer detailed
Sink your hooks into Condemned 2 come March 11, Sega says. If that's not enough to whet your appetite for macabre delights, the publisher has also revealed several multiplayer modes that look standard on paper, but are decidedly vicious in practice (see videos after the break). Aside from the usual Deathmatch and Team Deathmatch modes, there's "Bum Rush" (one team has 3 minutes to survive a ... bum rush) and "Crime Scene," which attempts to incorporate Condemned's analytical investigations into the otherwise chaotic blood sport as one team tracks evidence while the other 'protects' it – Quick! Lose that 2x4 and grab a mop for that bloodstain! Multiplayer matches support up to eight players on both Xbox Live and PSN. %Gallery-5081%
Rumor: Metal Gear Solid 4 demo coming after all?
Sure, if Kojima Productions' Ryan Payton is to be believed, there won't be a Metal Gear Solid 4 demo, but if you're a reader of the Ultimate PlayStation 3 Mag, you're probably scratching your head right now. That's because after previewing a level from the game in the January issue, they say the stage they played will be available on the PlayStation Store in February.While this most certainly isn't concrete proof of the demo heading our way, it does certainly keep the hope alive. After all, would it really be that much trouble for Konami to throw its diehard fans a bone?
Screenshots: Bionic Commando Rearmed
After just a few short hours of exclusivity over at IGN, Capcom has unshackled the screenshots of Bionic Commando Rearmed upon a clamoring internet. Check 'em out in the gallery below, or enjoy the trailer in something besides IGN's awful player after the break. %Gallery-14181%
Rock Band songs tops 2.5m downloads, 200+ songs in pipeline
Rock Band wannabes have downloaded more than 2.5 million additional songs trumpets MTV, exceeding the game publishers expectations and opening up a new stream of revenue for a "challenged" music industry. The most popular downloads have been 3-song packs, led by the Metallica bundle, and The Police and Queens of the Stone Age collections. As for individually downloaded tracks, the "Juke Box Hero" cover has taken top billing, followed by the "Fortunate Son" cover and Weezer's "Buddy Holly". Not surprisingly, all of the top downloads except "Buddy Holly" were included in the first DLC release. With more songs arriving each week, Rock Band has made Guitar Hero III's sporadic DLC updates look like an amateur act (though Activision's sequel has a considerable lead in total software sales) – and there are no signs that MTV and company are letting up. More than 200 downloadable songs are currently in the pipeline for 2008, including long-awaited full album releases and music directly related to gaming (similar to GH3's Halo track), reports IGN. Paul DeGooyer, Senior Vice President of MTV Games, explained that this massive DLC commitment "changes the approach [for a sequel] from one that's purely about new music to one that's about new features." This suggests that if there is a Rock Band sequel, we'll be able to tote our millions of downloads along for a second tour. Rock on!%Gallery-3923%
PSN Thursday: Turok demo shows, PlayStation Eye games watch
While the rest of the Xbox 360-owning world enjoys the Turok demo, North American players are left waiting ... unless they have a PS3, in which case the demo for both Turok and FIFA Street 3 are available in the latest PSN Thursday update. In addition, there are two PlayStation Eye "games" (read: interactive screensavers) available for $2 a pop, those MotorStorm maps we told you about, some Rock Band DLC, and a bunch of videos and themes. Check out the full list of offerings, neatly indexed into adorable little groups, after the break. European? Check out what's in Store for you at PS3 Fanboy.
Bionic Commando Rearmed for XBLA and PSN is a looker
You've gotta hand it to the folks at Capcom, they've done gone and gotten us excited about Bionic Commando again. No, not the big-budget remake featuring Nathan (née Radd) Spencer (we're still not sold on that one), we're talking about the 2D remake bound for Xbox Live Arcade and PlayStation Network, revealed today by IGN to be Bionic Commando Rearmed. Just tossing an HD upgrade of the game onto either service wouldn't have piqued our interest quite the same way this reimagining has. Terrorists in this Bionic Commando? Nope, Hitler Master D and the Badds are back. Fancy three-dee graphics? Well, yes, but with that same old 2D gameplay you remember. Check out the video after the break to watch Radd do his swing-thing in motion.
Japan gets Echochrome in March
We've wanted to test our ability to solve some Escher-like puzzles since we first saw Echochrome. The date is drawing closer and closer for its release, with a March release in Japan. Maybe we're crazy, but we doubt there will be much localization to do for other countries so we'd think it'll show up shortly after the Japanese launch. The Japan-only PSP version of the game releases on March 19th, the same as the PSN title. Will the two be compatible in any way? Share puzzles? We'll see.
PixelJunk Monsters to invade PSN on Jan. 24
We recently discovered that we've been playing tower defense real-time strategy games completely wrong all along. It's not entirely our fault, mind you, as the genre's name misled us to believe we had to, you know, defend the towers as opposed to using them to protect an utterly hapless village. We'll improve our understanding when PixelJunk Monsters erects itself on the PlayStation Network next Thursday, January 24th, and encourages us to throw in the tower as often as possible.Developed by Q Games and illustrated with hand-drawn 2D artwork, PixelJunk Monsters sees players constructing all manner of defensive towers in a bid to wipe out marauding monsters. Destroying a lush forest provides the material and the gold and gems looted from fanged corpses provide the financial power to your gauntlet of startlingly efficient death. Really, it's just the sort of cute game Japan needs to overcome its weird PSN phobia. %Gallery-14037%
Famitsu: Bionic Commando remake bound for XBLA, PSN
According to information published in a recent issue of Famitsu magazine (translated by IGN), Capcom plans to release a 3D update of Bionic Commando on Xbox Live Arcade and PlayStation Network in Japan this Spring. That would be the Famicom classic featuring Hitler, mind you, not the forthcoming corn-rowed franchise revival bearing the same name and the same multifaceted appendage. Initial details suggest that "Bionic Commando: Master D Revival Plan" will feature 3D graphics, a simultaneous two-player mode and an undoubtedly tenuous "connection" to the new Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 game. IGN also presumes that the gameplay will remain of the side-scrolling variety, making Master D Revival Plan akin to Capcom's criminally unappreciated PSP Mega Man remake, Mega Man: Powered Up. We've contacted Capcom's US office to learn more.
Sony Online Entertainment plans to invade PSN in 2008
What's Sony Online Entertainment up to? Surely you'd think they've got big plans for the PS3, since it's got a huge, open online network to spread their wings and make some stuff for. It seems they are planning stuff for 2008 and we're glad that most of what's planned sounds pretty darn good.The basic plan is this: Free Realms will launch for PS3 six months after it releases on the PC. The Agency and the DC Comics game will launch simultaneously on PC and PS3. As for the PlayStation Store, SOE is making downloadable versions of classic games like Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy. There may be tie-ins with the TV shows for those games and both will be integrated into Home. Also, the film Hancock, starring Will Smith, will have a downloadable game available around the film's launch in July. SOE has a busy year ahead of them, but we'll follow them every step of the way to keep you up to date on their plans.[via NeoGAF]
Resistance 2 to feature 60-player online, 8-player co-op, 2 campaigns
As pictured, the February issue of Game Informer blows the lid off Insomniac's Resistance 2, and thanks to a few good-mannered subscribers posting on NeoGAF (please thank your mommies and daddies for teaching you to share) we get a peak inside the cookie jar. And my, what cookies await!The Resistance sequel will apparently feature two separate campaigns, one dedicated to single-player and a second for multiplayer. While the second campaign supports two-player split-screen for local play, once taken online, as many as 8 players can take on the Chimera invasion – or will we be fighting the Cloven this time? But the real treats seem to be stored in the competitive multiplayer modes, as Resistance 2 promises to support up to 60 players online – and not just 30-on-30 chaos. Some multiplayer modes will divide participants into 4- to 8-player squads each with its own virtual lobby. Squads will be tasked with unique objectives, and gameplay will be further diversified through three basic character classes: heavy weaponry, special ops (think: sniper) and medic. Insomniac's even promising an extensive stat-tracking database on MyResistance.net, coupled with faster matchmaking than any game of 2007. Oh snap! You listening to this, Bungie?[Via Evil Avatar]
