Category: PSP

FIFA 13 announced, promises major changes

FIFA_13Not wasting any time, EA has announced FIFA 13, the next release in the annual football franchise. And this time they’re offering a “revolutionary set of game-changing innovations.”

So, what does this hyperbole translate to? First off, the AI has been improved. They’ve also enhanced the dribbling system and have redone the Player Impact Engine. The career mode has also had some “major changes” in response to fan feedback.

The game is coming out on PC, PS3, Xbox 360, PS Vita, Wii, PSP, PS2 (!), 3DS, iOS, and other mobile platforms. It will also support Kinect and PlayStation Move.

GameStop removing PSP inventory in 1/4 of all stores

It’s been seven years since the PSP launched, and the platform is only just retiring. New PSP games are still occasionally coming out, though it’s clear that gamers have moved on to new platforms such as 3DS and PS Vita, if not iOS or Android. Matching the diminishing demand for PSP games, GameStop is removing inventory from 25% of its stores.

The handheld and its games will still be offered at bigger GameStop stores, as well as online. The PSP may not be dead just yet, but it’s slowly fading away.

Journey creator and Sony: PSN users are more ‘adult-minded’

tgc-jenova-chenSpeaking to VentureBeat, Journey creator Jenova Chen commented that he believed the PlayStation Network has more adult-minded users, pointing out that Sony has a “more artistic and adult-focused taste. They care about how grown-ups feel toward their games.”

Jack Buser, senior director of PlayStation digital platforms agrees, too. “Our primary PSN audience is indeed more adult, and many of our best-selling titles appeal to this demographic,” he stated.

He pointed out the success of games like Heavy Rain, Flower and Journey, noting that “users enjoy the emotional and thematic sophistication of their games, especially with our digital offerings.”

While it’s true that Sony does have more ‘artistic’ games, it is difficult to define what “adult-minded” exactly means. If we take on the basic meaning, then games such as Braid and Limbo are definitely targeted towards the more cerebral users. I Am Alive and Alan Wake’s American Nightmare also, quite rightfully, fall within such a broad category.

Harry Potter gets another blocky treatment

LHP2_TeaserArt_RGB_FINALThe Lego madness continues in Lego Harry Potter: Years 5-7, the final installment in the series. Set for release this holiday season on PS3, Xbox 360, Wii, PSP, DS and PC, the game, as the title suggests, will explore the last three books.

There’s not much to say about it other than the fact that it’s going to include new family-friendly spells (what, no death curses?) and bonus content for kids of all ages. That, coupled with Lego humor and Voldemort looking all blocky, makes it an interesting title for everyone.

Enjoy the cheesy box art.

Ridge Racer gets PSN re-release

Get your racing cars ready, because Ridge Racer Type 4 is coming to town! The PS1 classic is hitting PlayStation Network next month for both PS3 and PSP.

It was originally released in 1999 to raving reviews. The game offers arcade-style drift racing that is synonymous with the series. The re-release features 48 cars, over 300 variations, eight tracks, two-player split-screen and enhanced graphics. No price was given.

A new Ridge Racer game is also in development for PC, PS3 and Xbox 360. They are also making a Nintendo 3DS version.

Patapon 3 demo coming this Tuesday

4754272920_2255e33e4a_o

You’ll be moving with the rhythm this coming Tuesday as the demo for Patapon 3 will hit PlayStation Network. And to make things even better, PlayStation Blog notes that it will be a multiplayer demo – a sampling of Internet multiplayer will be included.

Thankfully, you won’t need to be a PlayStation Plus subscriber to download this. Clear some space on your memory stick for this piece of gold.

Red Dead Redemption feels lonely at the top, beats Italian plumber and sweaty fighters

rdr lonely at the top

Red Dead Redemption continues its sales domination as NPD Group reveals the sales data for May 2010. The game has sold a combined 1.5 million units across the PS3 and Xbox 360. This has pushed the Italian plumber’s latest adventure down the gutter to third position.

Top Ten U.S. Console Games – Reporting May 2 to May 29, 2010

    1. Red Dead: Redemption (Xbox 360) – 945.9K
    2. Red Dead: Redemption (PS3) – 567.1K
    3. Super Mario Galaxy 2 (Wii) – 563.9K
    4. UFC 2010: Undisputed (Xbox 360) – 221.1K
    5. UFC 2010: Undisputed (PS3) – 192.3K
    6. Wii Fit Plus w/ Balance Board (Wii)
    7. New Super Mario Bros Wii (Wii)
    8. Alan Wake* (Xbox 360)
    9. Pokemon Soul Silver (NDS)
    10. Skate 3 (Xbox 360)

Hardware sales was quite good, though numbers were down compared to last year. The best-selling console was the DS followed by the Wii. The Xbox 360 beat out the PS3 by a rather wide margin, and the PSP languishes at the lowly bottom.

U.S. Hardware Sales – Reporting May 2 to May 29, 2010

    1. DS: 383.7K (down 57.1K)
    2. Wii: 334.8K (up 57.6K)
    3. Xbox 360: 194.6K (up 9.2K)
    4. PS3: 154.5K (down 26.3K)
    5. PSP: 59.4K (down 6.1K)

G-Force Game Announced

Not just any force of guinea pigs is headed our way, as Disney Interactive Studios today announced that they have enlisted an elite force of guinea pigs to star in the upcoming G-Force video game, inspired by the forthcoming Walt Disney film.

Scheduled for release this July on PC, PS2, PSP, PS3, Xbox 360, DS and Wii, the action-platform game has guinea pigs use high-tech gadgets and specialized talents to complete dangerous missions. Here’s the scoop:

Players control Darwin, the G-Force team leader, and housefly surveillance commando Mooch. Darwin and Mooch team up with the rest of G-Force to use their unique high-tech gadgets, stealth mastery, and pint-sized teamwork to save the world from a robot army of evil household appliances. G-Force features innovative gameplay with a unique sense of scale and puzzle solving that requires players to manipulate environments or enemies, including evil household appliances like waffle irons, water coolers and vacuum cleaners to complete their mission.

It is being developed by Eurocom, while the DS and PSP versions are being handled by Keen Games.

Fallout 3 Game of the Year at GDC 2009

The Game Developer Choice Awards ceremony was conducted last night where they announced the winners. The game of the year award went to Bethesda’s open-world action-RPG Fallout 3. Check out the list of winners.

Game of the Year
Fallout 3 (Bethesda Softworks)

Best Game Design:
LittleBigPlanet (Media Molecule)

Best Writing:
Fallout 3 (Bethesda Softworks)

Best Technology:
LittleBigPlanet (Media Molecule)

Best Visual Arts:
Prince of Persia (Ubisoft Montreal)

Best Debut Game:
LittleBigPlanet (Media Molecule)

Best Handheld Game:
God Of War: Chains Of Olympus (Ready at Dawn)

Innovation Award:
LittleBigPlanet (Media Molecule)

Best Audio:
Dead Space (EA Redwood Shores)

Best Downloadable Game:
World Of Goo (2D Boy)

Recipients for the evening’s special awards were:

Lifetime Achievement Award
Hideo Kojima

Pioneer Award
Alex Rigopulos and Eran Egozy

Ambassador Award
Tommy Tallarico