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How to play Minis on your PS3: a Halfbrick tutorial
As promised, the PlayStation Store has been updated with Minis that actually work on your PS3. The process of finding new and old Minis to play on your PS3 system couldn't be simpler; but, just in case you're a little baffled by firmware 3.15, Minis developer Halfbrick has created a tutorial video explaining the process. If you've already purchased Minis and want to play them on your home console, all you have to do is go to the Download List of the PlayStation Store. We tested a few Minis on the PS3, and we'd have to say that the PSP upscaling is good, but not perfect. While the games are very playable on a TV, it's clear they're still low-res games being played on a high-res screen. Still, it's a good value-add for those that have both a PS3 and PSP system. Check out the walkthrough after the break.
PSA: Full PS3 Minis support to begin December 17
Did you download last night's optional 3.15 firmware update on PS3 only to find that none of your PSP Minis were working on the PS3? You're not alone! The team at PSN Stores has compiled a list of all the Minis that work on Sony's home console -- a whopping five: Blast Off, Echoes, Kahoots, Stand O' Food and Zombie Tycoon. But what about the remaining Minis? Unfortunately, you'll have to wait a week before the whole lineup is expected to work on the PS3. That means, at least for one week, your copy of Sudoku will remain exclusively on your PSP. Why Sony decided to release the firmware update so long before the feature, ahem, works is beyond us.
PSA: PS3 Firmware Update 3.15 available now
Looking to try out that PSP Mini on your preposterously sized high definition television? Though we can't promise the results will be particularly gorgeous, we're pleased to announce that the option is now available to you. Sony just launched PS3 Firmware Update 3.15, which allows you to play PSP Minis on your decidedly un-Mini console. In addition, the patch makes it easier to transfer files between PS3s using only a LAN cable. Read here to learn more about this functionality, and simply go to the System Update option on the XMB to get the patch!
PSP Minis playable on PS3 with firmware update 3.15
PS3 is getting yet another firmware update -- this time optional -- "very soon" according to a post on the European PlayStation.Blog. The pre-Christmas update brings a feature we reported on earlier: support for PSP Minis on the PS3. Like PSone classics, a single purchase from the PlayStation Store will work on both platforms. If you've bought a Mini and want to play it on your PS3, you'll be able to access it from the Store's archived Download List. In addition to adding Minis support, update 3.15 will simplify the process of moving data from one PS3 to another. For example, if you own both a PS3 Phat and Slim, you'll be able to connect the two systems via a LAN cable and transfer data from one system to the next. For more details on how to do just that, visit the PlayStation.Blog.
Rumor: PSP Minis playable on PS3 before Christmas
Since the launch of the PSP Minis digital platform alongside the PSP Go back in October, Sony has showed little more than a passing interest in promoting its bite-sized game service. After playing a decent chunk of games at launch and then barely hearing a whisper since, we've been wondering when the company would show more support for Minis. If what we're hearing from a handful of reliable sources is true, however, the PSP Minis will finally get some attention in the near future as they become playable on the PlayStation 3. It'll happen "before Christmas," says one source (confirmed as "this month" by others independently), allegedly with the entire selection of Minis (and presumably upcoming releases) to be playable on PlayStation 3 consoles -- with a resolution bump to boot. As for Sony: "We don't comment on rumor or speculation.", so we'll have to leave it in the rumor department for now.
Retro-inspired Cubixx kicks off on PSP Minis
We want to be more upset at Laughing Jackal's wholesale appropriation of the Qix concept -- even going so far as to use a similar title -- for its PSP Minis game, Cubixx. But the fact is that Qix is awesome, whether Taito is making it or not, and it's relatively unexplored compared to other arcade classics like Pac-Man. And Cubixx does add an interesting wrinkle to the Qix gameplay: a cube, in which you attempt to draw lines to cover the area of all six faces. Cubixx will be released in Europe on Thursday 3rd December at a £2.49 price point. See some footage on the other side of the post break.
Gravitate to Halfbrick's newest PSP Mini, Blast Off
Listen, you're going to need a solid handheld game if you're going to survive tomorrow's family-fueled Thanksgiving festivities. You know, something discreet you can hide under the table, or perhaps behind a towering pile of yams. Indie developer Halfbrick has you covered -- the studio released its second PSP Mini onto the PSN yesterday: An "interstellar arcade game" titled Blast Off. The game, which arrived on the PSN storefront for the bargain price of $2.99, places you behind the controls of a rocket ship. Whilst piloting said spacecraft, you must navigate through the gravitational fields of planets, asteroids and black holes to rescue lost astronauts. It sounds like an neat little diversion to help you get through the post-pumpkin pie family bonding time.
Dracula -- Undead Awakening coming to PSP Minis next week [update]
iPhone-owning fans of twin stick shooters have probably gotten their hands on Chillingo's vampire-slaying app, iDracula. If you haven't gotten a chance to check out the title, you may want to wait for the developer's next, similarly vamp-based project: Dracula -- Undead Awakening, a PSP Mini that will land on the European PSN next Thursday, November 26. Much like the company's previous title, Undead Awakening is a top-down shooter with unlockable weapons, abilities and perks, all of which presumably make you better at turning fangfaces into small clumps of Transylvanian ash. We've contacted the folks at Chillingo to find out if the game will also come stateside next week, how much the game will cost, and how exactly we're supposed to pronounce their company's name. (Chill-in-go? Chill-ing-o? Chillin'-jo?) Update: A Chillingo representative responded to our query, telling us that the game would come to the U.S. PSN "ideally pre-Christmas," though they haven't settled on a price for the title quite yet. Also, he informed us that the company's name is phonetically pronounced "Chih-lingo." Now we know -- and knowing is half the battle!
PSP Mini 'Bubble Trubble' pops up on PSN Nov. 12
Posting on the PlayStation Blog, Creat Studios has detailed the release plans for its upcoming PSP Mini, Bubble Trubble. Featuring both survival and challenge modes, the bite-sized burst-'em-up will launch on PSN this Thursday, November 12, for $4.99.The color-matching gameplay has you connecting (presumably trubblesome) bubbles together, with similarly colored spheres fusing, expanding and then exploding in space-clearing catharsis. The commentary on humanity's self-destructive propensity for greed and the dangers of corporate conglomeration is perhaps a little too obvious, but the colors are nice.
Halfbrick reveals price and date for Echoes, a new PSP Mini
Ever have one of those days when you're up really late, just lookin' at art, and then you end up getting sucked into a dreamworld where you have to run through a series of levels based on surrealistic paintings, collecting crystals while avoiding nightmarish monsters? It's an extraordinarily relatable experience, and one that's serving as the premise for Halfbrick's soon-to-be-released PSP Mini titled Echoes. A recent press release from Halfbrick has revealed a Nov. 19 release date for the game, which will sell for the low, low price of $2.99. If you're curious what being inside a painting feels like, check out the game's debut trailer, which we've posted after the jump. Otherwise, just load up this image and put your face really close to the screen.
Zombie Tycoon reanimates PSP minis movement today
Just when we were really starting to wonder, Frima Studio dropped a note on PlayStation Blog to cease our concern. A new PSP mini, Frima's Zombie Tycoon, will be released later today as part of SCEA's weekly PSN update. Zombie Tycoon breaks a four-week dry spell for minis releases in North America and is the first new mini since the massive PSN update that coincided with the launch of PSP Go on October 1. [Correction: Zombie Tycoon is the first new announced mini since the October 1 update. There have been a few mini releases that have appeared on the PlayStation Store despite not being mentioned in SCEA's official release listings.] "Let's be clear, Zombie Tycoon isn't a port from a phone game, it's a whole new strategy game designed specifically for PSP," executive producer Martin Brouard proclaimed on the European PlayStation Blog. "This unique tale of intrigue and betrayal spans over 10 challenging levels, allowing you to attack humans AND the places they call home." Zombie Tycoon isn't priced like a phone game, either. At $7.99 (£3.99/€4.99), this particular mini is on par with previous minis' costs, which have been the topic of much discussion. Perhaps you'll form a value judgment of your own after checking out the Zombie Tycoon trailer posted after the break.
PSP minis developer surprised by cost of ESRB ratings [Update]
Here's one reason why PSP minis are more expensive than their iPhone counterparts: the ESRB. Sony doesn't enforce any control over the pricing of minis, but they do mandate getting approval from the ESRB ratings board. That, apparently, has been a significant hidden cost some developers didn't expect. "You have to invest some money into dev kits and into getting ratings for your game. The costs of ratings such us ESRB is significantly more then we had realized," Fieldrunners developer Sergei Gourski told Gamasutra. According to a posting at GameDev.net, the cost of getting an approval is $2,500. [Update: The ESRB responded to our story, correcting the price. "ESRB has a reduced fee of $800 for games that have development costs under $250,000, which would likely apply to virtually all PSP Minis."] Content developed for the iPhone doesn't need to go through the ratings board, an oversight which, surprisingly, has yet to attract a media call-to-arms. Should the ESRB succeed in courting Apple as the defacto ratings system for the iPhone, the high cost of approval should curtail one of the largest problems facing the iPhone store today: having too much content, a sentiment shared by Minigore developer Kimmo Vihola. Vihola noted that "[Apple's] process is starting to crack from the seams," and pointed out that Sony's turnaround time on minis is much faster than Apple's store. Sony takes three to five days for approval, while Apple varies "from a couple of days to up to six weeks."
Interview: SCEA's Eric Lempel on PSP minis, scrapped UMD conversion
In the second part of our interview with SCEA's Eric Lempel, we chatted about the simultaneous release of PSP Go and PSP minis. In addition to discussing the hands-off approach Sony is taking with the pricing of minis, we talked about the possibility of the minis program moving to PS3, and eventual Mac support for the PSP's MediaGo application.Joystiq: Are any Sony first-party studios working on PSP minis? Eric Lempel: Right now, to my knowledge, they're not. That could change, again, but right now, I don't believe any of the studios are working on minis.What determines the pricing of PSP minis?There are a couple of rules, or maybe there's just one rule. They have to come in at $9.99 or under.If someone wanted to release at $1.99, they could?Yes, absolutely.
SCEA: Developers responsible for keeping PSP minis prices competitive
PSP minis are supposed to introduce bite-sized iPhone-esque games to Sony's handheld. While minis feature small file sizes and reduced functionality, they certainly don't carry smaller price tags. The first batch of minis have all been priced between $4.99 and $9.99, making them no cheaper than the average PlayStation Network exclusive. Which sounds like the better deal for $9.99? Yet another version of Tetris ... or the 3D online multiplayer shooter Syphon Filter: Combat Ops?Even worse, many of these minis are priced higher than their iPhone counterparts. While Hero of Sparta costs $1.99 on iPhone, it costs $5.99 on PSP. Fieldrunners costs $2.99 on iPhone, but $6.99 on PSP. We chatted with SCEA's Eric Lempel to talk about the lack of apparent value in the minis program. He explained that Sony has no hand in determining the prices of minis. "As far as pricing goes, the publisher of the title sets the pricing," he explained. When quizzed if publishers were allowed to create a $1.99 game on PSP, he told us: "Yes, absolutely."Lempel agrees that publishers must seriously think about the kind of prices they're setting on the Store, to ensure their content offers the same value as other PSP titles. "I think they have to carefully look at that, carefully price their content. Minis was intended to be something a little different and we wanted to see a lot of different types of content through minis. If it's not priced correctly, consumers may be turned off at the proposition and say 'I'd rather just go for this kind of stuff instead of minis.'"
PSN Thursday: All systems are PSP Go for a massive update
If a PSN Update could be a classified as a zombie invasion, consider this humble paragraph the red door keeping the horde at bay. Once you click past the break, be prepared for an update the likes of which you've never seen. It's big, it's scary and it's going to eat your brains ... in a good way. Choose your platform to view the corresponding release list: (Note: Continue past the break to view both release lists.)
Fieldrunners dashes onto Euro PSN Oct. 1
The European PlayStation Blog has announced that iPhone mega-hit Fieldrunners will be a PSP Minis launch title on October 1. The tower defense game went straight to the top of the App Store charts (and won an IGF mobile award) for its intuitive design and beautiful visual style, which appears to have made the trip over to PSP -- along with new maps and towers.No word from Sony America on whether the game will make it onto the next PSN update in the States or not. We've been told the next update will be gigantic because of the PSP Go's launch, so keep an eye out for an earlier-than-usual PSN Thursday and the mega update.
First details of Earthworm Jim remake unearthed
GamerBytes has some details about the remake of invertebrate warrior Earthworm Jim's first outing. Speaking with Gameloft, the graphically updated title will be based on the Sega Genesis version, but will have "smoother animations" and feature several difficulty levels. The game will also include the bonus "Big Bruty" level that was featured in the Sega CD and PC releases of the original.Earthworm Jim will blast onto Xbox Live Arcade first, followed by PSN and WiiWare. Gameloft is currently "considering" a PSP Minis version.
BreakQuest delivering PSP Mini-sized Arkanoid clone
The world currently faces a crisis of epic proportions -- a global shortage of Breakout-esque games. Without competition, the few entries in this brick-smashing genre have monopolized the market, leading to a lack of competition, which will lead to another gaming industry crash, which will lead to complete economic collapse, which will lead to the nuclear apocalypse. Fortunately for us, indie developer Beatshapers will try to save our world this October with a ball-and-paddle PSP Mini titled BreakQuest. Okay, the demand for Arkanoid clones is considerably lower than the previous paragraph may have indicated, but we admit -- BreakQuest looks pretty stylish. Well, as stylish as an under-100MB Breakout title on the PSP could look. Check out the gallery below for a fresh batch of screenshots. [Via IGN] %Gallery-73940%
Vicious Engine offered to PSP Minis developers
We've seen a few titles which will soon be offered as bite-sized PSP Minis, but a recent Vicious Cycle Software press release makes us think we're about to see a whole lot more. The company recently partnered up with Sony to grant access to its Vicious Engine to PSP Minis developers in order to "create quality downloadable titles both quickly and cost-effectively." Though you may not be familiar with the technology, you've probably played a title or two built upon the Vicious Engine -- Puzzle Quest, Dead Head Fred and Eat Lead: The Return of Matt Hazard all used the engine as their building blocks. Sounds like fairly versatile programming -- it even caters to the increasingly popular "hotel training sim" genre.
PSP minis lack network features for fast approval time
Speaking at Austin GDC, Justin Cooney from Sony Computer Entertainment spoke about the upcoming PSP minis program to a crowd of developers eager to start creating games and applications for the system. They promise an extremely fast process to get onto the PlayStation Network: no stage one or two approvals, and very light Q&A. They're hoping to average three to five days for approvals, which contrasts with up to two weeks for normal-sized PSP games.The minis program is also fairly limited. You can't develop network or online features for it (goodbye multiplayer), it doesn't support DLC, and you can't use it to work with peripherals. Developers will also have to have their game approved by the ESRB, which costs money. You can also release your titles in all three territories, but you need to sign agreements with each territory (North America, Japan, Europe) in order to do so.Sony is definitely taking an iPhone App Store approach to this process, and Cooney himself dropped the iPhone name a few times. We're wondering if they've considered that there are over 20k games now on the App Store, and if they've prepared themselves for the onslaught and how they'll be devoting a lot of time to minis approvals. So, look for PSPFart to be available for download sometime soon.%Gallery-73355%
