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The best of the Tokyo Game Show (so far)
How does lining up for 40 minutes to play five minutes of a new game sound? It's definitely a trade-off, but it's often (usually) worth it. At this year's Tokyo Game Show, we saw a giant 20-foot griffin thing play ball, nothing from Microsoft and a lot of games that are unequivocally geared toward Japanese gamers. Anime tie-ins and Dynasty Warriors-esque crowd-em-ups aside, there was still plenty for us to play. These are the ones that left an impression.
'Danganronpa 3' brings the weirdness to both PS4 and PS Vita
If you've not played (or heard of) Danganronpa, they're a visual novel series that lie somewhere between Battle Royale and a high school dating sim: it's all about as murderous and plot-twisty as you might expect. Populated with anime characters and obeying the same stretched rules of logic as Phoenix Wright, the dark (sometimes very dark) series is getting now another sequel. Danganronpa v.3 made its first appearance at Sony's TGS press event -- two days before the thing officially starts -- sans release date, but with the fact that it'll land on both PS4 and Vita. Monochrome murderous bears for everyone.
PS Vita gem 'Gravity Rush' is getting a PS4 port and sequel
Gravity Rush leapt onto the PlayStation Vita in 2012, when the console was in desperate need of some "triple-A" titles to compliment its blossoming indie library. It was a beautiful game with a few novel gameplay mechanics -- to traverse the world and land on different objects, you were forced to jump in the air and pull gravity down in new, unusual directions. The handheld title was received favourably but, like Tearaway, never reached a large audience on the Vita -- so Sony is giving it the Unfolded treatment with a port-remaster-remake-thing on the PlayStation 4. It'll be coming out on December 10th in Japan -- no word yet on an international release -- followed by an all-new sequel called Gravity Daze 2 (the original was also called Gravity Daze in Japan) next year. For fans of Kat and her occasionally headache-inducing adventures, this is an unexpected treat from Sony.
Sony's aqua blue PS Vita hits GameStop November 2nd
In Japan, Sony's PlayStation Vita console has come in a host of colors for years now, but other countries haven't been so lucky. For the most part, US buyers have been limited to only black or white options, but Sony just announced that'll be changing soon. An "aqua blue" version of the second-generation PS Vita is coming to GameStop on November 2nd, and you can pre-order it now for $199.99. Other than the color, the console is identical to the version out in the market now, but it does appear to be a striking piece of hardware. (We'll have to withhold full judgement until we see it in person, though.) The timing is a little odd, as the Vita isn't getting any younger and developer support is definitely starting to wane. But if the blue color is enough to push you over the edge, you should probably pre-order soon -- Sony says this model won't be around for too long.
PlayStation Now game streaming officially arrives on Vita and PS TV
If you've been itchin' to give PlayStation Now's streaming a go on your gaming handheld, the wait is over. The subscription service officially arrived on the PlayStation Vita and PlayStation TV, delivering access to over 125 games on those two devices. PlayStation Now had been available on the Vita and PlayStation TV in beta form for months, but now it's making a proper debut after hitting the PS3 back in May. In addition to equipping two more gaming gadgets with the service, five new titles are being added this month. Joining the library of titles in August are Dynasty Warriors 8, MX vs. ATV Supercross, Bomberman Ultra, The Last Guy and, most importantly, God of War III. With new games being added on the regular and Sony offering newcomers a free one-week trial, there's really now excuse for PlayStation owners to take the service for a test drive. [Image credit: Getty Images]
Dear Veronica: Is this the end of portable gaming devices?
#fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-820880{display:none;} .cke_show_borders #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-820880, #postcontentcontainer #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-820880{width:570px;display:block;} try{document.getElementById("fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-820880").style.display="none";}catch(e){} First things first, I wanted to let you guys know that you can now subscribe to Dear Veronica on iTunes! We'll have an RSS feed up soon for you non-iTunes people, so don't think we forgot about you. These things just take time. Episode-wise, I'm excited to welcome onto the show my friend and my former Tekzilla co-host Patrick Norton of TekThing! He's going to set you straight on the best home automation setup. Plus, we talk about following (or not) awkward acquaintances on Instagram. Keep sending in those questions to me via email, or on Twitter using the hashtag #DearVeronica. See you next time!
Oaxis' health devices track your water, weight and workouts
You may not have heard of Oaxis, but it's determined to get on your radar if you're a health maven. The young firm is crowdfunding a Wellness Suite that includes not just the obligatory fitness bands (the O2 and Ji Cheng), but also a smart water bottle (the Vita) and a scale (the Glo). To us, the highlights are the non-wearables. The Vita helps track your hydration levels, and will tell you whether or not your water is both chilly and safe to drink. The Glo, meanwhile, keeps tabs on everything from your total weight to subtle factors like your body fat index and metabolic rate. Ironically, the bands are the most humdrum items here -- the Ji Cheng is a "fashion" band that measures daily activity, while the O2 is built for exercise with real-time heart rate updates.
Your favorite pigeon-dating simulator hits PS4, Vita in July
Hatoful Boyfriend, the best game about a human dating birds in a creepy post-apocalyptic world, is coming to PlayStation 4 and Vita on July 21st. The PC version launched on Steam in September to critical acclaim and public bewilderment -- and then some public acclaim, too. Hatoful Boyfriend literally is a video game about a human girl navigating high school life in a world run by birds, though after the dating aspect of the game fizzles out, the story gets dense and fairly dark.
Shuhei Yoshida on China and why PlayStation can never go Home again
One does not simply get enough of Shuhei Yoshida, the head of Sony PlayStation's Worldwide Studios. So following our nice, long chat with him at E3 (seriously, go read it), we managed to get hold of him again in Hong Kong and picked his brain with more questions about Project Morpheus. These include the VR headset's final form (you're looking at it), its compatibility with other devices and whether it'll revive the now-defunct PlayStation Home. We also took the opportunity to ask about the challenges of bringing PlayStation games into China.
'Volume' is a Robin Hood origin story for modern gaming
"Honestly? Volume is my inner 12-year-old," gushes Mike Bithell one evening. The game in question is a futuristic stealth-puzzler; a non-violent Metal Gear Solid played to the rhythms of Hotline Miami. Its protagonist is a man named Robert Locksley who, after stumbling over a military training program, decides to televise simulated robberies against Britain's most well-to-do -- an audacious move that soon garners the attention of a powerful enemy. If all this sounds a little familiar, it's because folklore had Robin Hood doing the same for 800 years already.
PlayStation Plus gets an answer to Xbox Live's subscriber-only sales
Sony has long been willing to discount certain PlayStation games if you're a Plus subscriber, but it hasn't offered the certainty of Xbox Live's Deals With Gold. You don't know that you're going to get a steady stream of bargains, especially not for newer titles. That doubt should disappear after today, though. Sony has launched PlayStation Plus Specials, a sale program that gives you a break on games and add-ons that are still relatively fresh. How fresh? To start, you're getting 20 percent off Bloodborne in the US -- a sweet deal for a big PS4 hack-and-slash that's only a couple of months old. It's too soon to tell whether these offers will be as tempting down the line, but it's also hard to object to getting more savings for your money.
How would you change Sony's PlayStation Vita TV?
It's a PlayStation Vita that you can connect to your TV, but that doesn't mean you should automatically go out and buy one. When we reviewed the hardware last year, we found that the low price and ability to play retro games were great, but the media streaming let the side down. That said, it was a much better crafted piece of hardware than some Android-powered consoles our reviewer could have mentioned. So, what we want to know is do you like your Vita TV and if so, why? Hop over into our forum and share the love, the hatred and everything in between.
Claim your PlayStation Vita settlement credit now
If you've been anxiously waiting to claim the credit Sony owes you after it settled with the Federal Trade Commission over misleading PlayStation Vita ads, you'll be glad to hear that you can finally take action. The company handling Sony's settlements has launched a website that lets you file a claim so long as you bought a Vita in the US before June 1st, 2012. The options are fairly tempting. You can receive a $25 check or PSN credit if you're only concerned about the bottom line, but you can also choose from one of three bundles with decent (if aging) games like the God of War Collection and Uncharted: Golden Abyss. Be sure to move quickly, whatever you do -- you have to file for compensation by June 29th.
'Broken Age Act 2' drops on April 28th for PC, PS4 and Vita
Get ready for the curtain call: The second and final act in Double Fine's Kickstarted adventure series Broken Age launches for PC in North America on April 28th (29th in Europe), IGN reports. Plus, the full game -- Acts One and Two -- will hit PlayStation 4 and Vita on those same regional dates. Broken Age Act 1 launched January 28, 2014, and we found it to be a sincere, optimistic adventure that had us yearning for more.
2D fighter Dengeki Bunko: Fighting Climax will reach the West
Following its Japanese debut last November, Sega has announced plans to publish Dengeki Bunko: Fighting Climax on the PlayStation 3 and Vita handheld in Western territories later this year. As the title suggests, Dengeki Bunko: Fighting Climax is a dream match of sorts that pits characters from the Dengeki Bunko line of Japanese light novels against one another in fairly traditional (if visually spectacular) 2D combat. Because Sega's publishing the game, Dengeki Bunko: Fighting Climax also features some notable characters from the company's extensive history in games, including Selvaria Bles from Valkyria Chronicles and Virtua Fighter icon Akira. No specific launch date has yet been nailed down for Dengeki Bunko: Fighting Climax, but Sega plans to release the game to both retail and the PlayStation Network at some point this Summer. [Image: Sega]
Visit exotic locations and grind on them in OlliOlli 2
The debut trailer for OlliOlli 2: Welcome To Olliwood (sequel to the addictive skateboarding platformer OlliOlli) promises "bigger tricks, epic new locations" and a "silky new style and flow," alongside locations ranging from Aztec temples to carnivals populated by zombies. [Image: Roll7]
Transistor, Yakuza 4 heading to PlayStation Plus next month
Sony has revealed next month's PlayStation Plus lineup, announcing that subscribers will receive free downloadable copies of Transistor, Yakuza 4, and more starting next week. Featured PlayStation 4 freebies for next month include Supergiant Games' Bastion follow-up Transistor and Alien Trap Games' side-scrolling action game Apotheon, while PlayStation 3 owners can expect to see Sega's open-world crime drama Yakuza 4 and Eidos Montreal's first-person stealth game Thief. The PlayStation Vita will host Jaywalkers Interactive's Kick & Fennick, and Cellar Door Games' roguelike platformer Rogue Legacy will be freely downloadable across the PlayStation 4, PS3, and Vita. All featured games will be available as free downloads for PlayStation Plus subscribers after the PlayStation Store updates on February 3. [Image: Sony]
Sony pulls support for Vita's Maps, YouTube apps
In a brief Twitter message, Sony has announced that official support for the Maps and YouTube apps found on the Vita handheld will soon come to an end. The message offers links to support pages for both apps which reveal exactly when the software will cease to function. While all features of the Maps app (and unspecified features of the Near app) will go dark as part of an update planned to launch in March, the YouTube app will be gone by April 20. Today marks the final day the Vita's YouTube app will be available for download from the PlayStation Network store. Despite the removal of the apps, Vita owners will still be able to access YouTube and numerous (superior) online maps via the handheld's web browser. Our attempts to reach Sony for an official explanation of this decision have so far gone unanswered. [Image: Sony]
PSN Store Update: Phrasing!
Alright, let's talk about dying lights, grim fandangos and how life is strange. No, not that recent rumor, silly-billy! We're totally referring to this week's new releases on the PlayStation Store, which include Techland's Dying Light ($60), the Grim Fandango remaster ($15) and the debut episode of teen drama Life is Strange ($5). All three of those are on PS4, while you'll also find Life is Strange on PS3 and Grim Fandango on Vita. By the by, Grim Fandango is cross-buy; if you buy it on PS4 you'll unlock it on Vita for free, and vice versa. Meanwhile, Life is Strange won't be available until Friday, January 30.
Sony accepting claims on 2011 PSN data breach settlement
If you were a PSN, Qriocity or Sony Online Entertainment user at the time of the April 2011 Sony hack that disrupted the PlayStation Network for nearly a month and compromised 70 million user accounts, now's your chance to get a piece of the class action settlement levied against Sony last year. To qualify, you must have held a PSN, Qriocity or Sony Online Entertainment account on or before May 14, 2011. Each service is eligible to receive different claims, but PSN users are able to receive either one or two games - if you already received a free game in Sony's 2011 "Welcome Back" promotion, you're only eligible for one; if not, you're eligible to choose two - from a list that includes standouts like LittleBigPlanet and God of War HD. Notably, none of the games on offer are for the PlayStation 4. If none of the games tickle your fancy, you can instead choose free dynamic themes for your PlayStation 3 or free PlayStation Plus subscription time. After wading through multiple pages of bureaucratic legalese, you'll find everything you need to make your claim at the PSN-SOE settlement website. [Image: Sony]
