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Patapon 3 multiplayer demo moves to the beat next week
Demo-demo-demo! That's what we imagine you'll be screaming to yourself as you download the Patapon 3 demo from PSN this upcoming Tuesday. To make things even better, the PlayStation Blog informs us that it's a multiplayer demo -- a sampling of the internet-based functionality that will be included in the franchise's third installment. Now, before you ask, the demo isn't exclusive to PlayStation Plus subscribers, so one and all looking for their taste can get it. Clear up some space on your Memory Stick -- you're going to want to check this out on Tuesday, July 6.
LGJ: Dawn at the Great Pyramid (Scheme)
Mark Methenitis contributes Law of the Game on Joystiq ("LGJ"), a column on legal issues as they relate to video games: [Photo by exothermic] GDC 2010 has come and gone, but many of the discussions I had with various developers, publishers, attorneys and other great attendees have actually left me with some curious issues to explore with you here on LGJ. The first such issue is one that actually relates to the long-known (but always fuzzy) area of the law that deals with multi-level marketing systems, the more legitimate cousin of what are commonly known as "pyramid schemes." These are the slightly more legitimate looking cousin of the Ponzi scheme (most recently in the news because of Madoff), but nonetheless create a "business model" doomed to fail. Accordingly, there are statutes in nearly all 50 states and in many countries barring these types of arrangements. But why is this relevant to gaming at all? The advent of the referral model picked up by many social and online games is the potential problem area, and while the model itself may not suffer the same faults as a traditional pyramid scheme, it could nonetheless violate the laws in that area. After all, those laws don't contemplate digital goods, which can suffer no scarcity and basically no cost to product.
Vertex aluminum pyramid PC case looks better in the forest than on your desk
Something about the mystical look of the pyramid must entice and seduce people into shaping PC casemods into them, because this isn't the first one we've seen. This one -- called the Vertex -- is laser cut aluminum, has an LED power indicator, Scythe Kama-Flex sleeved fans, and suspension for the hard drive. The case also comes with a motherboard, power supply, and a DVD bay, plus side-mounted USB, Firewire and audio ports. For $400, one of these can be yours in red, black or blue, but don't blame us if it doesn't make your desk seem less cluttered -- looks like a real space hog to us. There's one more photo after the break... if you dare.[Via Technabob]
Pata with a friend: Patapon 2 multiplayer trailer
Sony has released a trailer for Patapon 2 featuring its new multiplayer mode. The multiplayer mode allows up to four Hero Patapons to play at once, with the overall goal being to carry a magical egg to the end of the level. As we learned during our hands-on time with the game at TGS last year, all four players will have to execute their commands in unison. If not, everyone has to start again -- ouch. See it all for yourself in the trailer after the break.
Pyramid PC casemod will look really cool on your desk next to your Crysis poster
Casemods range from the peculiar to the spaceage, but this one -- a pyramid PC case -- kinda takes things to the next level of outrageousness. Weighing in at 7.5 pounds (just for the case) this 25-inch high beast is not exactly compact, with a 19 x 19-inch base. Modder polo360x made it from a customized Luxor pyramid case, and, and in our opinion, it fits in nicely with his home decor choices. Check out another two shots and hit the read link for many, many more, plus a full specsheet.[Via Geeky Gadgets]
Carbon-neutral Ziggurat pyramid could house 1.1 million in Dubai
As we learned from Wall-E, people with half a mind for themselves probably won't be kosher with living with 1.1 million or so other inhabitants within a pyramid. That being said, there's always the brainwash approach to getting 'em in there, and if hordes of people were ever filed into the conceptual Ziggurat, Mother Earth would surely appreciate it. The 2.3-square kilometer building would be able to house over 1 million people and be "almost totally self-sufficient energy-wise." By tapping into the planet's renewable resources, designers assert that it could practically be carbon-neutral, and given that transport within the machine would be connected by an "integrated 360-degree network," fuel-burning cars would be pointless. As with most things in Dubai, this one seems larger than life, but if the Burj Al Arab is any indication, there's at least a minuscule chance this thing comes to fruition.[Via Inhabitat]
AoC Testlive patch addresses dungeons, drops and more
Details have now emerged of the Age of Conan changes announced yesterday, and a new patch is currently in testing over on Testlive. As promised, two of the popular AoC dungeons - Pyramid of the Ancients and Toirdealbach's Tomb - have been revamped. The latter has had its level shifted to 46-48, though no other changes are mentioned apart from a concomitant shift to loot levels.Meanwhile, the changes to the Pyramid look much more interesting: 'New Quests have been added to enhance your questing experience. Bosses have been upgraded to present a challenge to solo (or small groups) of players. Pay careful attention to the items they drop - they could be the key to defeating more challenging enemies.' The Pyramid is a very popular questing area already, so more quests to do are always welcome. The biggest uproar on Testlive comes from a major change to gems, which has drawn so much comment that the lead item designer has come forth to explain it in detail. Funcom also may be coming down on the gold farmers. We're seeing reports from Testlive that drops from grey bosses have been severely nerfed, with bosses that used to drop 18-30 silver now dropping 3-5.
Famitsu: Patapon 2 marches on Japan PSPs this Winter
The latest issue of Famitsu (via PSPHype) reveals a sequel to Patapon is in the works and coming to Japanese PSPs this Winter (no US or Europe release mentioned). The game is being developed by Pyramid Studios, who made the previous game and LocoRoco. The magazine also has a two-page spread of LocoRoco 2, although gives no release date for any region. No matter how many times you shout pata-pata-pata-pon, the game won't get here any faster.[Via PSP Fanboy; Image via Penny Arcade]
Second Life places: Visit Mexico Ruta Maya
The Visit Mexico Ruta Maya sims are sponsored by the Mexican Tourism Board. And they've done a great job -- so many sponsored sites are like someone has tried to create a real-world expo and transport it to Second Life. Visit Mexico Ruta Maya is not like that at all. It presents a solid Second Life experience, that happens to make you want to go to Mexico and find out what it's like with scent, touch and taste. %Gallery-23630%
Rumor: Patapon Spin-off?
According to EGM's Quartermann, their top guy for all things rumorlicious, something "Patapon-related" will be popping up on the PlayStation Network. It seems that this unique rhythm game might actually be getting some sort of spin-off. Patapon has barely just been released in the west and already we're hearing rumblings of a sequel or a spin-off. Hey, we're not complaining; we're just a little surprised. It would be nice to have another Patapon game, little eye people and all.[Via 1UP]
Who is the man responsible for Patapon?
We're really enjoying Patapon over at PS Fanboy HQ. The game is unique, unlike anything before it. The PlayStation.blog features a few new factoids about the game. For example, "the development team for Patapon is called Pyramid, but is being produced by Japan Studios, the same studio that developed and produced LocoRoco." So, saying it's from the same team as LocoRoco is, in fact, a little incorrect -- but not entirely. The creator of the game is actually Hiroyuki Kotani, the man responsible for the cult PS1 game Devil Dice. Of course, his greatest accomplishment (in our opinion) is Mad Maestro!.
Maingear's Prysma does Viiv Egyptian-style
We knew that shady Viiv spec had a few tricks up its sleeve, and apparently they involve completely pointless (well, rather pointed in this case) yet strangely mesmerizing form factors. The new pyramid-shaped Prysma Media Center PC from game PC manufacturer Maingear has support for the Viiv spec, and though the $1752 base configuration has a mere 512MB of RAM, 80GB HDD, and integrated graphics, there's plenty of room to grow. Of course, in keeping with the Viiv spec, there is gigabit Ethernet, 7.1 Intel HD Audio, and a Pentium D 920 Dual Core 2.8Ghz processor, so the PC should at least be able to push around a bit of HD content if you can manage to find some. Maingear rounds out the Prysma with dual NTSC tuners and some pricey ($299) custom color options.
