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Ridge Racer Slipstream overtakes rivals on iOS, Android this month
Namco Bandai announced that the next entry in its long-running Ridge Racer series will premiere for iOS and Android platforms later this month with 20 playable tracks and a wide variety of customization options in tow. Ridge Racer Slipstream features 12 vehicles that can be outfitted with over 300 customization items unlocked during gameplay. Slipstream follows up on the recent free-to-play Ridge Racer Driftopia on PC, and is the second game in the series to hit iOS since 2009's release of Ridge Racer Accelerated. Ridge Racer Slipstream will launch on December 19.
Green flag waves for F2P Ridge Racer Driftopia PC beta
Ridge Racer is drifting into the free-to-play lane this week with the launch of Ridge Racer Driftopia's PC beta. Cars, repair kits and XP can be purchased by players looking for an immediate advantage over their competition. You can sign up for the beta here.
Ridge Racer Driftopia is 'free-2-drift' on PS3 and PC
Ridge Racer usually breaks ground by being a launch game on ... pretty much every platform ever. Now it's innovating by adopting a new model, free-to-play, and bringing it to a new level of silly nomenclature by calling it "free-2-drift."Ridge Racer Driftopia, developed by Ridge Racer Unbounded's Bugbear Entertainment, is a racing game in which you can buy cars, "repair kits," and XP packs. Namco previously experimented with a similar business model with Ridge Racer for Vita, which shipped with a small number of cars and courses, and sold the rest as DLC. Of course, that game had a $30 MSRP. So this is progress! It's due out this year, Namco says.
Ridge Racer skids onto Vita March 13, free DLC in tow
It wouldn't be the launch of a new PlayStation device without a new Ridge Racer game, and while Ridge Racer for the Vita may have missed launch day, it'll be making making up for its zero-to-retail time with free cars, music and tracks when it launches on March 13.Initial retail copies of Ridge Racer ($29.99) will include a "Ridge Racer Gold Pass," which nets the buyer five additional cars, three bonus courses, two new songs and an extended remix of an existing song. PSN copies of the game ($24.99) also include the Gold Pass goodies, provided they're purchased before April 30. An additional "Silver Pass" DLC pack will also be available in April, albeit at an undisclosed price.Aside from free DLC, Ridge Racer's North American launch also includes a system update, which improves the game's frame rate and adds "crisper graphics." It's fitting, since the only other thing more "PlayStation" than Ridge Racer is a system update.
Ridge Racer Vita's development cycle was also a race
This may or may not be a surprise to you, depending on your level of cynicism about the relative lack of content in Ridge Racer for PlayStation Vita, but it was developed at a quick pace. A Famitsu interview with director Hideo Teramoto (translated by Andriasang) notes that development started in "spring," which likely refers to March at the earliest -- giving the team about eight months to have the game ready for the Vita's Japanese launch. Teramoto said that the development schedule was "tight," as Andriasang puts it, but that the Vita hardware was easy to develop for, with the development kit in an "advanced state." The content was in an advanced state as well, on account of having already been designed for other Ridge Racer games. Oh, there we go being cynical again.
Report: These are the Vita games that require a memory card
Some PlayStation Vita games will let you save to the internal memory on the cartridge; others require you to have an external memory card, in a situation reminiscent of the Nintendo 64's confusing "Controller Pak." Kotaku Japan compiled a list of the Japanese launch games and their memory requirements, allowing us to see how common the external memory requirement is. Known launch window games requiring separate memory cards include Ridge Racer, Uncharted: Golden Abyss, Disgaea 3: Absence of Detention, Sega's golf game @Field, Hot Shots Golf 6, the AR title Monster Radar, and the assuredly Japan-only Dream Club Zero Portable. Everything else saves to memory included on the game itself -- with one exception: the status of (sigh) Touch My Katamari is unannounced. That's for the retail versions of these games. Here's the list of games whose PSN versions require you to use an external memory card for save data: All of them
Ridge Racer Vita gets insane teaser trailer, fairly tame screens
YOU WILL GET A NEW "MACHINE," the teaser trailer for the obligatory PS Vita version of Ridge Racer promises. We have ... just, literally no idea what that means. The screenshots posted below, however, are a lot more clear-spoken.
Ridge Racer Unbounded gameplay video ruins dozens of sidewalk cafes
Ridge Racer Unbounded, the newest entry in Namco Bandai's ever-present racing series, has historically played its cards fairly close to its chest. Little has been revealed about the racer since it was first announced back in February, and ridge-racing veterans have expressed concern over the decidedly extreme direction the series appears to be taking. Thanks to the magic that is Gamescom, however, we now know quite a bit about Unbounded's core gameplay mechanics. As explained by producer Joonas Laakso in the video above, the title's "crash race" mode slots neatly between Ridge Racers of yore and Split/Second: players fill a power meter by drifting, which can then be used to open shortcuts or destroy other racers. Environments are also highly destructible, with points awarded for destroying "collateral" that has been deemed "inconsequential." Chewing up the scenery with your front fascia will be instrumental in finding the fastest lines, as well as earning the highest scores. At the moment, we're intrigued by the racer's dramatic cinematics and minimalistic UI presentation, however it's also possible that we've simply been entranced by Joonas Laakso's accent. Unbounded is due out in 2012, so we'll just have to wait and see if the title can hold up without European charm.
Of course there's a Ridge Racer game for PlayStation Vita
Namco Bandai didn't have much to show at Sony's post-keynote gathering of playable games, but an interactive "trailer" running on the PlayStation Vita was expressly designed to show the publisher's commitment to the handheld. As always, Namco's courtship of new hardware begins with Ridge Racer. There's not much game to speak of at the moment, as the nondescript trailer consisted of little more than a camera swooping over an extravagant 3D car. Swiping across the screen, poking the rear touchpad and tapping the shoulder buttons introduced some visual effects and altered the soundtrack, but this served no real purpose other than to impart assurance that Namco knows exactly what the PSV can do. A Namco representative wouldn't commit to a Vita launch debut for the game, but readily acknowledged Ridge Racer's day-one traditions. After all, a new platform just doesn't seem real until Namco plays its part.
Ridge Racer Unbounded will be a brand within a brand
Some of you in the Ridge Racer hardcore may have been a little put out by early video of the edgier Ridge Racer Unbounded, but it appears you needn't worry. During Namco Bandai's Level Up event in Dubai, product manager Kevin Chadine said that the Ridge Racer brand is becoming a larger umbrella with several series underneath it, much like EA has done with Need For Speed, saying of Unbounded that "This is just a different branch." So don't fret, Ridge Racers. Think of Unbounded less as a new direction and more a sidepath, a shortcut that's being explored. And, assuming this is the first of many, let's hope the side streets down the road have better names.
Ridge Racer 3D review: Classic car, new finish
It's difficult to imagine a new hardware launch that isn't accompanied by a new Ridge Racer game (sorry, Wii). So, with the dawn of glasses-free portable 3D gaming upon us, the seminal 3D -- as in polygons -- arcade racing series is idling at the starting line, ready for you to take the wheel. It may seem like a cash grab, with the game arriving at launch more or less unchallenged and bearing a well-known name, but while there's probably some element of that at play, there's no denying that Ridge Racer 3D is as strong an entry in the series as there's been in years.%Gallery-114688%
Ridge Racer Unbounded colliding with Xbox 360, PS3 and PC in 2012
Namco Bandai Games VP of marketing, Carlson Choi, describes Ridge Racer Unbounded as "very different from the Ridge Racer you've come to know." if you've ever bought a game console at launch, you've probably come to know Ridge Racer very well, and you'll easily recognize the face of Reiko, the franchise's seemingly immortal mascot. Her behavior in the Unbounded trailer shows a turn for the worse -- she crashes her expensive car through a busy intersection, implying that Ridge Racer is about to adopt a more dangerous and careless approach to racing. Another, more obvious clue: It's being developed by Bugbear Entertainment, creator of chaotic arcade racer FlatOut. Ridge Racer Unbounded is set to arrive on Xbox 360, PS3 and PC sometime in 2012.
Watch these lucky people play Nintendo 3DS before you can
As if you needed any more proof that the Japanese public has more carefully manicured hands that you do, the videos we've embedded after the break of folks playing Nintendo's 3DS on Japan's MX TV feature nothing short of the prettiest thumbs we've ever seen. Also, tons of 3DS gameplay (in 2D), so there's that.
'Ridge Racer Accelerated' trademark filed
You weren't there, man! You don't know what it was like. Pity is not an emotion one should ever feel for a man whose salary dwarfs the combined income of your entire staff, but there we were, dying inside for Kaz Hirai presenting Ridge Racer at E3 2006. The mere memory of that still causes those who were in the audience to sympathize for the executive, the way one would for a dog unable to use its hind legs and instead relying on a wheelie contraption. With all that said, Siliconera has found a Namco Bandai trademark application for Ridge Racer Accelerated. We don't know if enough time has gone by for us not to desperately exclaim "Riiiiidge Racer!" every time we hear the title, but perhaps enough time has gone by for the corporations to think we won't.
UK Deal of the Day: Ridge Racer 2 less than 1
Ridge Racer 2 is essentially the PSP launch title, Ridge Racer, with only ten new tracks (we're really not kidding about this folks). That doesn't mean it's a bad game ... it just means it's a bad deal.That is, until now. UK PC World stores will give you the title for a mere £0.97. You're getting a full game for almost the same cost as the free downloadable demo. We say: deal.[Thanks, Monkston!]
North American PSN releases for June 1st -- Prepare to be bored
In another rather underwhelming PlayStation Store update, Sony has released the SOE remake of the arcade classic, Championship Sprint, for the standard price of $4.99. Be warned though, even compared to the previous Midway classic remakes, the reviews have been pretty bad on this one. In addition to Championship Sprint, Sony also included a handful of new tutorial videos for their baseball sim MLB 07, for people just dying to know how to play the game. Not particularly interesting for the general market though.Namco also chipped in this week and released a boatload of Ridge Racer 7 add-ons with dozens of new events and car decals for free. They've also released pack of 20 background songs for the game, but rather surprisingly they actually cost money. The songs can be bought individually for 99 cents or as a package for $14.99. The new events and decals are pretty cool -- it's kind of fun whipping around corners with a Katamari decal plastered on you car. Plus they're free, which is always a nice bonus. The background music is kind of a write off though unless you're really into Ridge Racer tunes. And finally, rounding out the update are two theatrical trailers; one for the Pixar flick Ratatouille and one for the um ... stuntman movie Hot Rod. Nothing real special here, but if you combine this with the European PSN update -- it's almost a worthwhile release.
PSP price drop extends to Europe on May 4th
The price of a PSP in Europe is set to be violently assaulted with a sharp object next month, when Sony plans to slash at it wildly in the hopes of trimming a few pounds. And Euros, obviously, but as with the US price drop earlier this month, that particular currency simply doesn't suit the rapid weight loss imagery we're going for.A report on GamesIndustry.Biz indicates that the retail price of the PlayStation puny will drop by £20 in the UK to £129.99 on 4 May. The rest of the continent will pay €169.99 following a drop of €30. The change in price will be accompanied by a cheaper £14.99 tag for Platinum titles, with Ridge Racer 2, Tekken: Dark Resurrection, Killzone: Liberation, LocoRoco and Moto GP all being included in the range and fighting against the argument that the system doesn't have any games.
Sony unfurls Q2 release list for PlayStation platforms
Prompted by a panicked glance at a nearby calendar, Sony has blasted out a list of "key titles" slated for release on all manner of PlayStation devices during the second quarter of 2007. Starting over two weeks ago and ending on the last day of June, this period of time sees us paralyzed by F.E.A.R. and having to resort to Calling All Cars to save us from The Darkness brought by ninjas, pirates and Transformers. We'll likely run the Gauntlet in a Final Fantasy of Harvest Mooning... oh forget it. Just read the list. PSN Calling All Cars -- 18 May Nucleus -- 25 May Super Stardust HD -- 15 June Championship Sprint Gauntlet II Joust Mortal Kombat II Rampage World Tour Super Puzzle Fighter II HD Remix Rampart [Note: PSN release dates as published by "semi-official", semi-accurate Sony blog, ThreeSpeech.]
Crime and punishment: Thieves make off with Sonic the Hedgehog
Though the choices that lead one down a path of crime are rarely considered to be wise, the weekend actions of an unknown number of thieves seem to imply that one bad turn often leads to another. The Argus reports that UK police were called to "Currys" after £1,700 worth of PlayStation 3 games were discovered to have illegally departed the store, presumably tucked inside someone's jacket, pants or some other article of clothing that would result in awkward movements. Police expect the kleptomaniacs to cash in on current PS3 euphoria and either attempt to gain refunds elsewhere or sell the game to unsuspecting folks. Sadly, it looks like crime might not fully pay on this occasion, as the robbers' loot included three copies of Splinter Cell: Double Agent, two copies of Ridge Racer 7, four copies of World Snooker Championship 2007 and, err... four copies of Sonic the Hedgehog. Being unable to sell those to any normal human beings, said ne'er-do-wells will likely attempt to play the game and then promptly turn themselves in. You get what you pay for, lads. [Via PSX Extreme]
Resistance and Motorstorm topping charts in UK (not Europe)
After briefly, mistakenly and idiotically reducing the entirety of Europe, with all its many cultures, languages and shoes to just the UK in an article yesterday, we've taken steps to reinforce the pathways that connect our brains to our rapidly typing fingers. Said fingers insist that we now draw your attention to the PS3's continued success in Madagascar the United Kingdom, with launch titles Resistance: Fall of Man and Motorstorm perching comfortably atop the Chart Track software list for the week ending 24 March.Insomniac's first-person shooter debuted in the number one spot, with the muddy Motorstorm slotting into second position. Virtua Fighter 5 is all the way down in 14th position, bested by Namco's symphony of slide, Ridge Racer 7 (11th) and the comparitively out of tune F1: Championship Edition (7th). Finally, historically accurate crab battle simulations find themselves relegated to 16th position. With these PS3 exclusive (for now, in the case of Virtua Fighter 5) titles making a splash in the charts alongside the PS3's strong launch performance in Guam the UK, it seems the doom and gloom impression that resulted from so many dead launch events was unwarranted. The coming weeks will show us whether or not the PS3 can maintain its momentum in both hardware and software sales.
