Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogobig.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Impressions: The Agency (PS3/PC)]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/26/impressions-the-agency-ps3-pc/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/26/impressions-the-agency-ps3-pc/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/26/impressions-the-agency-ps3-pc/#comments
Last month, during Sony Gamers' Day, we ventured deep inside SOE Seattle's secret lair -- no joke, the building's not even marked with the company name -- to get an updated look at its spy MMO, The Agency, for PS3 and PC. Now that details of the event have finally been declassified, we're pleased to share our impressions of the eyes-on demo with you.

The actual event began with a fairly lengthy presentation by key figures from the SOE Seattle team, featuring Matt Wilson, Hal Milton and Corey Dangel. All three had previously worked for Microsoft (which would explain why the studio is located just two blocks from Microsoft's main HQ), and, between them, they have assembled an impressive resume, including work on Asheron's Call, Dungeon Siege, Wing Commander, Ultima Online, Total Annihilation and critical darling Psychonauts. Of course, as Wilson highlighted, SOE Seattle's primary objective is to deliver console-based MMOs, a vastly underdeveloped market, in which very few developers have experience. Enter The Agency.

Gallery: Sony Gamers Day: The Agency

Continue reading Impressions: The Agency (PS3/PC)

JoystiqImpressions: The Agency (PS3/PC) originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 26 May 2009 16:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>mmosoesony-gamers-day-09the-agencyTue, 26 May 2009 16:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Joystiq interview: Zipper Interactive's Russ Phillips on MAG]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/30/joystiq-interview-zipper-interactives-russ-phillips-on-mag/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/30/joystiq-interview-zipper-interactives-russ-phillips-on-mag/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/30/joystiq-interview-zipper-interactives-russ-phillips-on-mag/#comments
(click to massive size)
Last week we had the honor of being some of the first people outside Sony to try out MAG, Zipper Interactive's first game on the PS3. While you can find out a lot of information from our hands-on report, we wanted a bit more insight into one of the most ambitious shooters to come along in recent memory. Russ Phillips, art director for MAG, was kind enough to answer some of the questions that came up during our extended demo of the game. Hit the jump for the full interview.

With competitive shooters these days, one of the things that really drives the community is online integration. The ability to log on, see your character and his stats, see how your clan is doing, etc. Is that something that you guys are looking at integrating into MAG?

Definitely! We want you to be able to follow your character, build a career with him, and be able to get on any time of the day -- especially to follow your Faction's progress and what is actually going on in the 'Shadow War' so we'll have websites dedicated to providing this information. I think any player that has played a game like this will want to know where they sit and and where their faction sits. So yeah, we've given a lot of thought to that.

Gallery: MAG

Continue reading Joystiq interview: Zipper Interactive's Russ Phillips on MAG

JoystiqJoystiq interview: Zipper Interactive's Russ Phillips on MAG originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 30 Apr 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fpsinterviewmagmassive-action-gamemmoruss-phillipszipperzipper-interactiveThu, 30 Apr 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Joystiq hands-on: MAG - part 2]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/29/joystiq-hands-on-mag-part-2/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/29/joystiq-hands-on-mag-part-2/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/29/joystiq-hands-on-mag-part-2/#comments

You can choose to stay in the game as you "bleed out," but knowing there weren't any friendlies close enough to heal us, we chose to respawn.

After we were able to take down the bunker, we moved forward -- further into the base. Here we got another FRAGO to take out a mortar gun which was causing chaos for one of the platoons on the other side of the base. Foolishly, we ignored that and ran towards a bridge that the enemy had been using to snipe us and as we turned a corner, we ran right into a full squad of Raven soldiers. After quickly being turned into Swiss cheese, we found ourselves back at the respawn screen. You can choose to stay in the game as you "bleed out," but knowing there weren't any friendlies close enough to heal us, we chose to respawn.

The respawning system is familiar to anybody who has played Battlefield, and gives players a chance to switch classes or pick a new spawn point. How you died or how many times you die doesn't effect how long it takes you to get back into the action; instead the game sends out 'reinforcements' every 15 seconds, so depending on where you come in during that 15-second period, you could be back in the action in just a few seconds. It helped keep the action going at a good pace, and since you'd spawn back in with other people, it meant you almost always had fellow soldiers around.

As we ran back to the mortar FRAGO, I got there just in time to score the XP bonus as one of my squad mates successfully destroyed it with another C4 charge. Once destroyed, we got the unfortunate news that the enemy had rebuilt the bunker at the front line, making reinforcements difficult -- so our platoon leader directed us over to an AA gun that had been keeping our planes and helicopters from supporting us. We were able to take it down fairly quickly, which gave us a new spawn point right in the middle of the base in the form of a helicopter with twin player-controlled machine guns. It's worth pointing out at this point that while there are driveable vehicles in the game, players will not be able to manually jump into the cockpit of a jet or a helicopter. A minor disappointment, but considering how many people in Battlefield used fighter jets as 30 million dollar one-use transports, it's not that big of a deal.


From a personal perspective, I've got to say that I came away impressed.
Eventually, we were able to get to the final goal, a large, heavily fortified garage where the high-tech transports were stored. This was a heated battle with multiple squads from both sides converging on the garage as we desperately tried to extract the vehicles. We probably died six times just trying to get the garage open in a mad dash of desperation, but once we started coordinating our attacks we were able to get on of the armored transports out and started back towards our base.

While the Raven soldiers were suppose to make sure that we didn't steal any of the vehicles, once we did steal one, their goal changed to making sure we didn't leave the base alive -- and if that meant blowing up the vehicle ... so be it. As some of our troops escorted the vehicle towards the front line, others stayed behind to try to slow down the enemy as much as they could. Unfortunately, the soldiers left behind died quickly in the onslaught of incoming Raven troopers and a well placed airstrike stopped our attempted grand theft auto in an abrupt and violent manner.

That was the end of our hands-on (though we did get to play the Raven side later, which was quite a bit of fun and much easier).

From a personal perspective, I've got to say that I came away impressed. I'm a long-time Battlefield player and love first-person shooters as a whole, and MAG nailed it in all the right places for a competitive shooter. A solid framerate ("at least 30fps at all times"), no lag, responsive controls, a great command structure, and a persistent world where your actions contribute to your faction's ultimate goal of ruling the world, makes for what could be the top shooter of the year, on any console. Modern Warfare 2, I hope you're listening -- this is the one to beat.

<< BACK COMMENT

JoystiqJoystiq hands-on: MAG - part 2 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 29 Apr 2009 12:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Wed, 29 Apr 2009 12:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Joystiq hands-on: MAG]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/29/joystiq-hands-on-mag/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/29/joystiq-hands-on-mag/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/29/joystiq-hands-on-mag/#comments Little has been heard about MAG, Sony's ambitious 256-person online shooter that was announced during last year's E3. In fact, other than the CG trailer shown at the conference, there has been an almost total lockdown on any information related to the game. Last week, however, all that changed during Sony's Seattle Gamers Day event.

The event was held at developer Zipper Interactive's Redmond, Washington headquarters, where studio heads Jim Bosler and Brian Soderberg took the stage to explain MAG, the technology behind it, and how the game actually works with 256 people.

With a long history of making online shooters (the developer was the first to bring an online game to the PS2 with the first SOCOM), Zipper has been working hard to make sure that players will experience a smooth and pleasant experience, even when playing against a couple hundred other people. In fact, it's been running weekly 256-player tests since late last year with SCEA folks in California in order to test the network technology -- Zipper says it's already achieved smooth gameplay.

Concept-wise, the idea behind MAG was to be able to re-create battles on the scale of Blackhawk Down, with hundreds of well trained soldiers engaging in highly coordinated battles across large areas. In order to do this, the developer has created one of the most robust command systems we've ever seen in a videogame.

Gallery: MAG

Continue reading Joystiq hands-on: MAG

JoystiqJoystiq hands-on: MAG originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 29 Apr 2009 12:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>magmassive-action-gamemmosony-gamers-day-09zipperzipper-interactiveWed, 29 Apr 2009 12:01:00 EST<![CDATA[PAX 2008: Insomniac confirms drop-in/drop-out Resistance 2 co-op]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/05/pax-2008-insomniac-confirms-drop-in-drop-out-resistance-2-co-op/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/05/pax-2008-insomniac-confirms-drop-in-drop-out-resistance-2-co-op/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/05/pax-2008-insomniac-confirms-drop-in-drop-out-resistance-2-co-op/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Last weekend at PAX, we sat down with Bryan Intihar, the Community Manager / Hand Model (yes, that is on his business card) for Insomniac to go over Resistance 2. We were able to get some fascinating details about the secretive co-op mode (drop-in/drop-out confirmed!), as well as some interesting story tidbits (evidently this time around, Hale remembers he can talk).

To start things off, could you give us a quick rundown of changes from the first Resistance?

Sure, there's a lot of course -- but in terms of the campaign we've put a lot more emphasis on Nathan Hale and that comes through in the story and how we're presenting the story. In R1, it was much more of a narrative approach with Rachel Parker telling the story, giving it a third-person feel. This time around it's all about Hale.

Gallery: Resistance 2

Continue reading PAX 2008: Insomniac confirms drop-in/drop-out Resistance 2 co-op

JoystiqPAX 2008: Insomniac confirms drop-in/drop-out Resistance 2 co-op originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 05 Sep 2008 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>insomniacjoystiqfeaturespax-08pax-2008PS3resistance-2Fri, 05 Sep 2008 08:30:00 EST<![CDATA[PAX 2008 hands-on: Resistance 2]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/03/pax-2008-hands-on-resistance-2/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/03/pax-2008-hands-on-resistance-2/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/03/pax-2008-hands-on-resistance-2/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Out of the many games that Sony was showing off at PAX this year, the one that easily dominated their show booth was Resistance 2. They had 16 stations setup, each linked into the ongoing private beta servers so that expo attendees could get a true taste of 60 player online action. While it was a bit disappointing that Sony wasn't showing off anything from either the single player or co-op portions of the game, it was great being able to try out the actual scope of Resistance 2's multiplayer matches.

One of the first things you'll notice when you pick up the controller, is that the controls have been subtly improved. The awkward weapon select wheel and the slight aiming stiffness of the first game have been replaced with a two-weapon system and a considerably more fluid aiming / moving mechanic. While it's still not on par with the tightness of Call of Duty 4's controls, they are much more comfortable now and definitely made running around the level easier.

Gallery: Resistance 2

Continue reading PAX 2008 hands-on: Resistance 2

JoystiqPAX 2008 hands-on: Resistance 2 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 03 Sep 2008 06:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>insomniacpax-2008PS3resistance-2Wed, 03 Sep 2008 06:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PS3 Fanboy interview: Eye of Judgment's Yusuke Watanabe]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/07/ps3-fanboy-interview-eye-of-judgments-yusuke-watanabe/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/07/ps3-fanboy-interview-eye-of-judgments-yusuke-watanabe/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/07/ps3-fanboy-interview-eye-of-judgments-yusuke-watanabe/#commentsFiled under:


A couple of weeks ago, we helped unveil the first look at the upcoming expansion for Eye of Judgment, Biolith Rebellion 2. Since then, Sony has been slowly unveiling more and more juicy details about the new cards on their official blog. Today, we are happy to present an interview with the creator of Eye of Judgment, Yusuke Watanabe.

How did you originally come up with the idea for The Eye of Judgment? Was it always planned as a PS3 game?
The trigger was a demo of the CyberCode's image recognition technology, originally developed for use on PC. We transplanted CyberCode to PlayStation format so I could share my surprise with as many users as possible. We worked with CyberCode based on the technical information of PlayStation 3 that, at the time, had just started becoming open, and based on the findings, we found that PS3 was the best console to maximize the potential and appeal of The Eye of Judgment in terms of the specifications.

Has Sony thought about releasing a higher quality gameboard? The fabric one is nice but is lacking for people who play on the ground or uneven surfaces.
Through a trial and error process using many kinds of materials, the fabric material was the only mat that cleared our standards for endurance, storability, design, and cost. However, we are very interested in creating a high quality luxury mat or board to encourage heated matches.

Continue reading PS3 Fanboy interview: Eye of Judgment's Yusuke Watanabe

JoystiqPS3 Fanboy interview: Eye of Judgment's Yusuke Watanabe originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 07 Mar 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eye-of-judgmentinterviewjoystiqfeaturesFri, 07 Mar 2008 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PSP Fanboy review: Patapon]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/20/psp-fanboy-review-patapon/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/20/psp-fanboy-review-patapon/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/20/psp-fanboy-review-patapon/#commentsFiled under: ,


If there is one genre that has really flourished on the PSP, it would be rhythm games. Titles like Lumines, beats, Parappa the Rapper, and Gitaroo Man have made Sony's handheld a must-have for any fans of the rhythm genre. And while all those games were fantastic titles, Pyramid's most recent PSP title, Patapon, manages to blows them all away with some of the most unique rhythm-based gameplay you'll ever experience.

Combining gameplay from a wide swath of genres, developers Pyramid managed to create a game that is part rhythm-based, part RPG, and part RTS. It's not always easy for developers to successfully combine genres to create a greater whole, but Pyramid absolutely nailed it with Patapon. The resulting gameplay makes Patapon one of the most unique titles to come along in years, on any system -- not just the PSP.

You play the roll of a long missing deity to a tribe of big-eyed warriors, called Patapons, who have been banished from their land and have lost the will to fight. In order to help the Patapons regain their former glory and achieve their final hope of seeing the mysterious 'it' at the end of the world, they need you and your mighty war drums to whip them into shape and get them motivated for some serious combat.

Continue reading PSP Fanboy review: Patapon

JoystiqPSP Fanboy review: Patapon originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 20 Feb 2008 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>joystiqfeaturespataponreviewWed, 20 Feb 2008 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[PS3 Fanboy exclusive: first card revealed from the upcoming Eye of Judgment expansion]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/15/ps3-fanboy-exclusive-first-card-revealed-from-the-upcoming-eye/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/15/ps3-fanboy-exclusive-first-card-revealed-from-the-upcoming-eye/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/15/ps3-fanboy-exclusive-first-card-revealed-from-the-upcoming-eye/#commentsFiled under: ,


This spring, Sony and Wizards of the Coast will be releasing the first expansion to their augmented reality/CCG experiment phenomenon, Eye of Judgment, and we have the very first look at one of the cards from the new set. Not only that, in anticipation of the upcoming release of the new expansion -- we will also be posting an interview with the creator of the game, Yusuke Watanabe, in the coming weeks. Also, keep checking the official PlayStation.Blog today for their official unveiling of the first Eye of Judgment expansion.

In the meantime, hit the jump for the first look at 'Lament for Clare Wil' and marvel at its ninja-stopping powers.

Continue reading PS3 Fanboy exclusive: first card revealed from the upcoming Eye of Judgment expansion

JoystiqPS3 Fanboy exclusive: first card revealed from the upcoming Eye of Judgment expansion originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 15 Feb 2008 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eojeye-of-judgmentFri, 15 Feb 2008 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Konami (once again) confirms there will be no MGS4 demo]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/24/konami-once-again-confirms-there-will-be-no-mgs4-demo/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/24/konami-once-again-confirms-there-will-be-no-mgs4-demo/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/24/konami-once-again-confirms-there-will-be-no-mgs4-demo/#commentsFiled under:


When it comes to Metal Gear Solid 4, there are two rumors that will just not die. First up, of course, is the zombie-rumor that the game is going over to the Xbox 360. Second only to that though, is the often denied rumor that there will be a MGS4 demo coming out prior to the game's release. Now, Konami has gone on the record a number of times to say that it is not happening, but yet still fans hold out hope.

Unfortunately, PSX Extreme reports that once again Ryan Payton has denied the reports of an upcoming PSN demo in his regular Kojima Production Report podcast. While it's annoying we won't be able to get a taste of MGS4 until this Summer, it's important to remember that demos aren't always a good way to really sample a game (think about Heavenly Sword's demo). Instead take solace in the fact that all the development cycles that are involved in making a demo are instead focused towards making MGS4 one of the top exclusive PS3 games of 2008.

JoystiqKonami (once again) confirms there will be no MGS4 demo originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 24 Jan 2008 23:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>kojimametal-gear-solid-4mgs4Thu, 24 Jan 2008 23:30:00 EST<![CDATA[PS3 Fanboy review: Burnout Paradise]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/23/ps3-fanboy-review-burnout-paradise/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/23/ps3-fanboy-review-burnout-paradise/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/23/ps3-fanboy-review-burnout-paradise/#commentsFiled under:


When Burnout was first released in 2001, it did the amazing feat of instantly re-defining the idea of an arcade racer. Gone were the days where adrenalin junkies looking for their fix had to play yet another Ridge Racer title or suffer through impossibly average games like the Rush series. Burnout introduced a sense of speed, control, and visceral excitement that simply had not been seen in racing games before. Crashes made you physically wince and high speed races would have you sweating like you were actually in the car itself as you hurtled down a busy downtown street going 130 mph. It was one of the most refreshing changes of pace that a stale genre has ever experienced -- and yet few people in America were even aware of this British developed title.

Things would change once Burnout 2 came about though, with its larger variety of cars, tracks, and modes (including the dementedly entertaining party mode called Crash) attracting a much higher level of attention than the previous game. The series' popularity only accelerated once Burnout 3: Takedown came out, with Criterion Games experimenting with more and more ways to jack up the level of adrenalin and carnage with each game. In fact, experimenting with the Burnout franchise would become one of Criterion Games signature traits -- just because a feature was in a previous game, didn't mean it would show up in later games (as Alex Ward once famously said).

Continue reading PS3 Fanboy review: Burnout Paradise

JoystiqPS3 Fanboy review: Burnout Paradise originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 23 Jan 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>burnoutburnout-paradisecriterionjoystiqfeaturesreviewWed, 23 Jan 2008 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Patapon price point confirmed at $19.99]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/21/patapon-price-point-confirmed-at-19-99/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/21/patapon-price-point-confirmed-at-19-99/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/21/patapon-price-point-confirmed-at-19-99/#commentsFiled under: ,


The price point for Patapon has just been announced over at the PlayStation.Blog and the news is darn good. The upcoming Sony-developed rhythm/RTS title is getting released at the ridiculously low price of $19.99 when it hits the stores next month. While this is normally the price of one of their Greatest Hits titles, Sony was worried that the unique and odd-ball nature of Patapon may result in it getting lost amongst the other big upcoming PSP titles.

If our hands-on report hasn't gotten you excited about Patapon yet, hopefully this new development will pique your curiosity. It is seriously one of the most bizarre and entertaining experiences on the PSP yet, and definitely should not be missed. Pon Pon Pata Pon!

[Thanks Hasbrown_hunter!]

JoystiqPatapon price point confirmed at $19.99 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 21 Jan 2008 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>pataponMon, 21 Jan 2008 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[PS3 owners want HD porn - Digital Playground delivers]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/20/playstation-3-owners-want-porn-and-digital-playground-is-list/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/20/playstation-3-owners-want-porn-and-digital-playground-is-list/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/20/playstation-3-owners-want-porn-and-digital-playground-is-list/#commentsFiled under:

If there is one thing that PlayStation 3 owners like even more than games -- it's porn. Okay, well maybe not *all* owners, but enough to convince the formerly HD-DVD exclusive porno company Digital Playground that they should be releasing their titles on Blu-ray as well, starting with the big budget smash hit, Pirates. As DP founder Joone (yes he has a one word name, evidently he doesn't want his mommy to know what he does) explained, "A lot of people were e-mailing that bought a PlayStation 3 and they were basically saying, 'When are you guys going to release Blu-ray?'"

While the news of naughty films on Blu-ray isn't exactly breaking news, it is interesting for a number of reasons. First off, Joone is the fellow that oh-so-long-ago said that Sony was blocking them from releasing their 'adult entertainment' movies on Blu-ray. Evidently, this isn't the case any more as Joone has changed his tone and said the real problem originally was the price of producing Blu-ray movies (which is quite a bit higher than HD-DVD movies).

The other thing that is interesting is that this is the first time that we have heard of the PlayStation 3 explicitly causing such an increased demand for HD movies that a studio changes its exclusivity stance in the HD format wars. For a long time, the HD-DVD camp has said that PlayStation 3 owners don't buy movies. Well if porn is any indicator, looks like PlayStation 3 owners luuuv their high-def movies -- as long as there are naked people in them at least.

[Via High-Def Digest]

JoystiqPS3 owners want HD porn - Digital Playground delivers originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 20 Dec 2007 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>digital-playgroundnaughtypiratespornThu, 20 Dec 2007 23:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PS3 Fanboy review: PAIN]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/10/ps3-fanboy-review-pain/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/10/ps3-fanboy-review-pain/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/10/ps3-fanboy-review-pain/#commentsFiled under:


There were a lot of great titles shown off at Sony's Gamers Day in May of this year, but one of the surprise hits was the PSN title, PAIN. Maybe it was just because it was so different than everything else shown at the event, but the ability to launch your character from a giant slingshot and bounce him around an active city seemed to grab the attention of quite a few of the journalists attending. Though praise was high, there were concerns even early on that there might just not be enough gameplay in PAIN. Sure the idea of smashing some Jackass-esque guy into a wall is fun, but would it be able to keep our attention for more than an hour or two? Seven months later, PAIN has been released to the general public and we have the answers to that question -- unfortunately, it turns out that some of the fears about longevity were definitely warranted.

The basic gameplay of PAIN revolves around firing your character (a rather Xtreme looking fellow named Jarvis) out of the world's largest slingshot and trying to cause as much havoc and chaos as possible across the city. Though it sounds pretty basic, there is actually a surprising amount of depth in just how you cause your destruction. Even before the launch, you can adjust the angle and power of the slingshot using the analog sticks. It's once you've launched yourself into the air that you realize there is more going on that just sitting back and watching your guy smash into walls and monkeys.

After you've fired your guy towards the city, you can help guide him in any direction using the analog sticks, as well as change his poses for extra points and the ability to hit specific objects that you might not normally reach. You can also grab onto pretty much anything by pressing one of the face buttons in the direction of the item you want to latch onto. The timing can be a little tricky but it's pretty satisfying flying through the air, grabbing a swinging girder, and whipping around to land on some cantankerous old lady.

Continue reading PS3 Fanboy review: PAIN

JoystiqPS3 Fanboy review: PAIN originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 10 Dec 2007 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>PAINMon, 10 Dec 2007 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PS3 Fanboy review: Soldier of Fortune Payback]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/04/ps3-fanboy-review-soldier-of-fortune-payback/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/04/ps3-fanboy-review-soldier-of-fortune-payback/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/04/ps3-fanboy-review-soldier-of-fortune-payback/#commentsFiled under:


The Soldier of Fortune series of games has long been a guilty little pleasure for many gamers. Developed by Raven Software (the guys making a little title called Quake 4), the first game starred a real-life mercenary named John Mullins and was made popular due to its unusual (for the time) real-world topical settings and violent, visceral combat. A sequel was made two years later in 2002, also starring John Mullins, titled Soldier of Fortune: Double Helix and upped the ante considerably in terms of gore and violence due to their much publicized GHOUL 2.0 dismemberment system.

Though neither game was ever considered a top-tier quality title, both Soldier of Fortune games have managed to attract and keep a solid cult following with many gamers (including myself) playing one or both of the games even to this day. So when Activision suddenly announced earlier this year that they were bringing the violent series back, many people were quite excited -- if a little confused by the news that Raven Software was no longer the development company. Things didn't get much better when it was found out that a small company named Cauldron out of the Slovak Republic would be handling the development, but still people held out hope. I mean how can they mess up with such solid groundwork already laid in place by the previous games?

Unfortunately, it doesn't take long for cracks to start showing in Soldier of Fortune Payback's facade. Right off the bat, you find out that they've ditched the series protagonist John Mullin in favor for a generic faceless mercenary who sounds like he's trying to pass an unusually large kidney stone every time he opens his chew-filled mouth. The rest of the voice acting in the game varies from much worse to slightly better and completely fails at drawing you into the characters or the story itself.

Continue reading PS3 Fanboy review: Soldier of Fortune Payback

JoystiqPS3 Fanboy review: Soldier of Fortune Payback originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 04 Dec 2007 19:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionjoystiqfeaturespaybackreviewsoldier-of-fortuneTue, 04 Dec 2007 19:35:00 EST<![CDATA[Eye of Judgment updated to 1.01 -- network and AI fixes included]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/15/eye-of-judgment-updated-to-1-01-network-and-ai-fixes-included/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/15/eye-of-judgment-updated-to-1-01-network-and-ai-fixes-included/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/15/eye-of-judgment-updated-to-1-01-network-and-ai-fixes-included/#commentsFiled under:


Gamers firing up the incredibly addictive CCG/videogame Eye of Judgment tonight will find that they have an update waiting for them. Bumping the game version way up to 1.01, this is a mandatory update for anyone who wants to play EoJ online. Without further ado, here is a list of the official updates:
  • Main revised functions (no, we don't know what that means either)
  • Reinforcement of COM AI in Battle Arena Mode
  • Optimization of network connections for Online Mode
It is great to see that Sony is updating EoJ already, but they still haven't addressed one of the largest complaints of playing the game online -- the fact that anybody can join your private game while you're waiting for your friend to accept his invite. And really Sony, does the computer need any more help in kicking our asses?

[Thanks Woo!]

JoystiqEye of Judgment updated to 1.01 -- network and AI fixes included originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 15 Nov 2007 00:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eojEye-of-judgmentThu, 15 Nov 2007 00:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PS3 Fanboy review: Stranglehold: Collector's Edition]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/14/ps3-fanboy-review-stranglehold-collectors-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/14/ps3-fanboy-review-stranglehold-collectors-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/14/ps3-fanboy-review-stranglehold-collectors-edition/#commentsFiled under:


Though Midway's Stranglehold has been out on the Xbox 360 and PC for quite some time, due to the well publicized problems with adapting the Unreal Engine to the PlayStation 3, our version has only just come out. And while it is frustrating to have such a long delay between releases, it's not all bad for once. Midway has used the time to tighten up the performance of Stranglehold on the PS3 to a very solid framerate as well as add on one of the coolest video game bonuses of all time -- a high-def re-mastering of Hard Boiled, the fantastic John Woo Hong Kong shoot-em-up that serves as the primary inspiration to the game itself.

While only the Collector's Edition of Stranglehold includes an HD copy of Hardboiled, this is one of those unusual bonuses that actually makes the game itself better. Taken on its own, Stranglehold is "just" another shooter with a story of revenge and the ability to blow the hell out of pretty much everything in the environment. Taken with the movie as well, you see a continuation of one of the greatest stories to come out of the Hong Kong action genre from the early 90s, as well as a continuation of the style and cinematography of the movie. Characters that seem flat or unnecessary suddenly become interesting and special effects that seem like simple next-gen window dressing gain added meaning.

Movies like Hard Boiled are what started the whole concept of tough guys with dual Berettas who can dive through the air backwards while taking out half a platoon of villains. It's hard to remember sometimes, but the action in games like Max Payne (as well as the bullet time in The Matrix) are direct homages to John Woo's early movies. Slow motion shooting, dive-shots, and heavily stylized combat were all traits of movies like Hard Boiled, Bullet in the Head, and The Killer, so in some ways it's surprising that it's taken this long for John Woo to just come out and make his own video game.

Gallery: Stranglehold

Continue reading PS3 Fanboy review: Stranglehold: Collector's Edition

JoystiqPS3 Fanboy review: Stranglehold: Collector's Edition originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 14 Nov 2007 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hard-boiledhardboiledjoystiqfeaturesreviewstrangleholdWed, 14 Nov 2007 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PSP Fanboy review: Manhunt 2]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/09/psp-fanboy-reviews-manhunt-2/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/09/psp-fanboy-reviews-manhunt-2/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/09/psp-fanboy-reviews-manhunt-2/#commentsFiled under:


Manhunt 2 has had an interesting development cycle. It's hard to think of another game that has been so steeped in controversy, politics and debate. But while the politicians and TV talking heads can go on and on about violence, corporate responsibility and protecting the children, the people who the game is actually made for (you know, gamers) are much more curious about how Manhunt 2 actually plays.

The game starts off with a massive lightning storm temporarily causing a blackout at a rundown and dingy insane asylum, which rather inconveniently causes all the cell doors to pop open, spewing forth a small army of violent crazy people. Your character, Daniel Lamb, suddenly snaps into consciousness while strangling an old female doctor as your cell door opens. Shocked at what you're doing, you drop her body and stumble out into the hallway in what segues into a mini-tutorial on how to sneak and kill. It also nicely showcases some of the ... questionable aspects of the game, since in the first five minutes you are peed on, spit on, and throw up twice.

Of course, the most controversial part of Manhunt 2 is not the urination -- it's the wide variety of grotesque ways you can kill people. While it is possible to engage enemies in normal hand-to-hand combat, this will almost always mean your death. The way you're 'suppose' to kill someone is by sneaking up behind them with a weapon and performing an execution. If done correctly, you will be treated with a short cutscene of you horribly eviscerating your opponent. Well, at least you'll assume you just eviscerated the perp, since Rockstar edited the cutscenes to appease the ESRB and ended up making them an unintelligible mess of quick cuts, bad camera angles, and blurred effects. Unless you're extremely squeamish, you're not going to be disturbed by the violence of the executions, but the cutscenes may give you epilepsy.

Gallery: Manhunt 2

Continue reading PSP Fanboy review: Manhunt 2

JoystiqPSP Fanboy review: Manhunt 2 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 09 Nov 2007 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>joystiqfeaturesmanhuntmanhunt-2rockstarFri, 09 Nov 2007 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PS3 Fanboy review: Ratchet and Clank Future]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/31/ps3-fanboy-review-ratchet-and-clank-future/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/31/ps3-fanboy-review-ratchet-and-clank-future/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/31/ps3-fanboy-review-ratchet-and-clank-future/#commentsFiled under:


Ratchet and Clank's debut on the PS3 is one of the most anticipated games on Sony's fledgling console. Though it's arriving only a year after Insomniac released the best launch title on the PS3 (Resistance: Fall of Man), Ratchet and Clank: Future Tools of Destruction oozes so much polish and love that you would have thought it had been under development for years.

Going with the "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" philosophy, Ratchet and Clank doesn't necessarily try to reinvent the franchise in its leap to HD. It merely takes everything that defines an R&C title and refines it to diamond-like perfection. Sporting some of the most fantastic graphics on any next-gen platform yet, Insomniac once again proves that they know the tech of the PS3 inside and out. But, they don't forget the important bit parts of what makes a game a Ratchet and Clank game: tight platforming, inventive weapons, and surprising amounts of genuinely humorous dialog.

Part of what makes Ratchet and Clank so great is its fast-paced and satisfying gameplay. Sporting a ridiculous amount of weapons and gadgets, there is so much variety to just combat alone that you will never be without some new way to blast, incinerate, or transmogrify your enemies. Beyond just shooting monsters to tiny pieces, the game also features some of the most satisfying platforming gameplay in years. It is easily the best platforming action in a next-gen game so far (although the competition has been sparse).

Continue reading PS3 Fanboy review: Ratchet and Clank Future

JoystiqPS3 Fanboy review: Ratchet and Clank Future originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 31 Oct 2007 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>joystiqfeaturesratchet-and-clankreviewWed, 31 Oct 2007 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[PS3 Fanboy review: The Eye of Judgment]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/24/ps3-fanboy-review-the-eye-of-judgment/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/24/ps3-fanboy-review-the-eye-of-judgment/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/24/ps3-fanboy-review-the-eye-of-judgment/#commentsFiled under:


It would've been interesting to be in the board room when the developers of The Eye of Judgment were giving their pitch to the Sony higher-ups. I can just imagine the crazed looks the developers got when they tried to explain their game was an augmented reality collectible card game using a peripheral that had previously been only used for party games. Everything about The Eye of Judgment's concept suggests that it shouldn't work -- it's way too esoteric, the barrier of entry is too high, and the technology behind it had never been tested before.

Luckily for us, Sony has much more forethought than I have, since The Eye of Judgment turns out to be one of the most innovative games in years. It's a darn good CCG as well. Utilizing the just-released PS Eye to turn your cards into actual 3D models on the screen, The Eye of Judgment offers the best example of augmented reality in videogames yet.

You place a card on the included cloth game mat and the camera identifies the card on the fly via a bar code type system, and a creature pops up on the screen. The game will keep track of all the gameplay elements for you, like how many cards you have in your library and your hand, what turn it is, and creature stats. The combination of holding real cards in your hands while also playing a video game is strangely thrilling, and not having to juggle all the rules and stats in your head is a nice change of pace from classic CCGs like Magic: The Gathering which have a rather ... complicated rule set.

Continue reading PS3 Fanboy review: The Eye of Judgment

JoystiqPS3 Fanboy review: The Eye of Judgment originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 24 Oct 2007 15:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eojeye-of-judgmentjoystiqfeaturesthe-eye-of-judgmentWed, 24 Oct 2007 15:10:00 EST<![CDATA[PS3 Fanboy review: NBA 2K8]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/22/ps3-fanboy-review-nba-2k8/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/22/ps3-fanboy-review-nba-2k8/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/22/ps3-fanboy-review-nba-2k8/#commentsFiled under:


It may be hard to believe, but in our long tenure PS3 Fanboy has never reviewed a sports game (and no Go! Sports Ski doesn't count -- we're trying to forget that game even exists). It's not that we dislike sports games per se, we more just tend to be fans of RPGs, FPSes, and action titles in general. Well all that is changing as we boldly explore the depths of sports gaming with our review of NBA 2K8.

NBA 2K8 is the latest iteration in 2K's basketball series and comes out to a crowded market on the PlayStation 3. Unlike EA's monopoly on NFL branded football games, there are three different NBA series and they all hit the PS3 at the same time. Historically speaking, the 2K series has been the best of the bunch -- beating out Sony's NBA series and EA's NBA Live series, so it seemed like a good game for a player who's been out of the basketball loop for as long as I have (we're talking years here).

Featuring six different gameplay modes, there is definitely no lack of content in NBA 2K8. You have a ridiculously deep franchise mode called the Association, you can play full seasons with your favorite team, do a quick game of street ball (called NBA Blacktop), practice your moves on an empty court, or even setup special scenarios (like being down 8 points with 20 second on the clock) to show off your skills. There's a ton of stuff here, and hardcore NBA fans will have enough to keep them busy for months.

Continue reading PS3 Fanboy review: NBA 2K8

JoystiqPS3 Fanboy review: NBA 2K8 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 22 Oct 2007 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>joystiqfeaturesNBA-2K8reviewMon, 22 Oct 2007 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ratchet and Clank is coming out on the 23rd [Update]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/18/rumor-control-ratchet-and-clank-is-not-coming-out-on-the-23rd/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/18/rumor-control-ratchet-and-clank-is-not-coming-out-on-the-23rd/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/18/rumor-control-ratchet-and-clank-is-not-coming-out-on-the-23rd/#commentsFiled under:


Various blogs and news aggregators have been reporting that Ratchet and Clank: Future Tools of Destruction may be getting released earlier than expected, with the evidence being recently changed EBGames and amazon.com sales date (to the 23rd instead of the 30th) as well as Insomniac's recent confirmation that R&C has gone gold. We contacted Sony to get the official word, and unfortunately it looks like there is going to be no early release for Ratchet and Clank.

Jennifer Clark, the Sony PR contact for Ratchet and Clank, confirmed to PS3 Fanboy that production is complete and some copies are starting to ship out to retailers now, but that the official release date is still October 30th and won't be changing. She did mention that some a lot of stores may release the game early. So go get your Ratchet on if you can find it.

JoystiqRatchet and Clank is coming out on the 23rd [Update] originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 18 Oct 2007 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ratchet-and-clankThu, 18 Oct 2007 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PS3 Fanboy review: Go! Sports Ski]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/09/ps3-fanboy-reviews-go-sports-ski/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/09/ps3-fanboy-reviews-go-sports-ski/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/09/ps3-fanboy-reviews-go-sports-ski/#commentsFiled under:


Go! Sports Ski is the latest title from Sony in their casual Go! series of downloadable games on the PlayStation Store, following the Go! Puzzle pack released earlier this year. Dubbed a 'ski simulator' by Sony, Go! Sports Ski offers the usual bundle of features for most of Sony's PSN offerings -- including 1080p support, online leaderboards, and a cheap price (a mere $2.99).

What sets Go! Sports Ski apart from many of the other recent titles is fairly robust online multiplayer support. The game has several different online gameplay modes, including time trials, battle runs and slaloms -- as well as the ability to download the ghosts of the top players in the world. Once you've downloaded the ghosts you can either watch them for tips or compete directly with them in the single-player game. It's a nice little inclusion and I hope that Sony starts offering this level of online multiplayer support for all of their upcoming PSN titles.

Go! Sports Ski's real hook though is that it is controlled exclusively by the Sixaxis motion controls. Yes, like Lair and Super Rub-a-Dub, you control your character entirely via tilting the controller around -- the surprising thing is that it actually works pretty darn well. To move your skier forward, you tilt the controller forward. To turn your character to the right, you tilt the controller to the right. To do a sharp turn, you tilt the controller in the direction you want to turn and tilt it back at the same time. To jump, you simply jump the controller up quickly. While there is a bit of a learning curve (like all motion controlled games), it only takes a couple runs to get comfortable with the controls -- and once you do, you'll be surprised at the precision that is possible with it.

Gallery: Go! Sports Ski

Continue reading PS3 Fanboy review: Go! Sports Ski

JoystiqPS3 Fanboy review: Go! Sports Ski originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 09 Oct 2007 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>go!-sports-skijoystiqfeaturesreviewskiTue, 09 Oct 2007 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Star Wars Battlefront week: Colin's impressions]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/02/star-wars-battlefront-week-colins-impressions/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/02/star-wars-battlefront-week-colins-impressions/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/02/star-wars-battlefront-week-colins-impressions/#commentsFiled under:


All this week, the writers of PS Fanboy will share their impressions of Star Wars Battlefront: Renegade Squadron. Make sure you come back every day, as we'll be giving away five limited edition Darth Vader PSP-2000 systems.

Like Andrew, when I first heard that the next Star Wars Battlefront title would be an exclusive PSP title, I was pretty surprised. While the PSP is a great system, the smaller userbase and the pure scope of Star Wars Battlefront: Renegade Squadron made focusing 100% on a handheld version a controversial decision. It seemed like an odd gamble for such a successful franchise, but at the time was considered a nice win for the PSP which had (and has) been lacking in solid original content -- especially from third parties. Fortunately, it looks like developers at Rebellion have come through in most regards, as our hands-on with the review code has proven (largely) positive.

At first blush, Renegade Squadron can be a daunting experience to jump into. There's a variety of different game modes, the customization options are vast and not really explained, and the gameplay itself has so many facets that it was almost overwhelming at first. Luckily there are training videos, as Andrew mentioned, and I'd strongly recommend checking them out -- especially if you didn't play the first Battlefront on the PSP.

When you first get into the game, the controls are a little obtuse. Eventually, I got used to them but I definitely had to run through a couple battles before I felt comfortable. It's not a horrible learning curve, but compared to Warhawk, getting used to the controls was a bit of a chore at first. Once I got a grasp of the different commands I felt a lot more comfortable and was able to run around blasting stormtroopers and flying around with a jetpack with no problems. Unfortunately, ground vehicles such as the tank suffer from pretty bad control and in cramped areas can frequently cause the death of you. As such, I tended to avoid driving the land based vehicles.

Continue reading Star Wars Battlefront week: Colin's impressions

JoystiqStar Wars Battlefront week: Colin's impressions originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 02 Oct 2007 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Renegade-Squadronstar-warsTue, 02 Oct 2007 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PS3 Fanboy review: Heavenly Sword]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/26/ps3-fanboy-review-heavenly-sword/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/26/ps3-fanboy-review-heavenly-sword/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/26/ps3-fanboy-review-heavenly-sword/#commentsFiled under:

Sony has recently started up their holiday blitz by releasing three highly anticipated games for the PlayStation 3; Warhawk, Lair, and Heavenly Sword. While Warhawk was released to almost universal praise, Lair was largely met with torches and pitchforks. So where does Heavenly Sword fall? Does it achieve the soaring greatness of Warhawk or is it doomed to languish in the used sales bin at your local videogame store like Lair?

Continue reading PS3 Fanboy review: Heavenly Sword

JoystiqPS3 Fanboy review: Heavenly Sword originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 26 Sep 2007 19:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Action-AdventureBeat-Em-UpHack-and-Slashheavenly-swordjoystiqfeaturesreviewsSCESCEASonySony-Computer-EntertainmentSony-Computer-Entertainment-AmericaWed, 26 Sep 2007 19:15:00 EST<![CDATA[New Crisis Core video makes us very very jealous]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/14/new-crisis-core-video-makes-us-very-very-jealous/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/14/new-crisis-core-video-makes-us-very-very-jealous/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/14/new-crisis-core-video-makes-us-very-very-jealous/#commentsFiled under: ,

GameVideos has a new clip of one of the gorgeously rendered cutscenes from the just-released Final Fantasy VII: Crisis Core. In it, Zach stands outside a small village and argues with a way-too-pretty man who then busts out a Sepiroth-like single wing from his back and flies away into the sky. And then the village blows up. Yeah, we don't get it either but we neeeeds it.

With no solid American release date for Crisis Core yet, videos like this just make the wait all the more painful. Has anybody out there imported it? If so, how gaijin friendly is it?

JoystiqNew Crisis Core video makes us very very jealous originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 14 Sep 2007 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>crisis-coreff7Fri, 14 Sep 2007 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Limited Edition FF VII PSP Slim causes huge lines in Japan]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/13/limited-edition-ff-vii-psp-slim-causes-huge-lines-in-japan/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/13/limited-edition-ff-vii-psp-slim-causes-huge-lines-in-japan/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/13/limited-edition-ff-vii-psp-slim-causes-huge-lines-in-japan/#commentsFiled under: ,


Wired's Chris Kohler is reporting that the just released Final Fantasy VII PSP Slim pack is causing long lines in Japan and he's got the photos to prove it. While initially it didn't appear that the lines were that long, when he picked up his ticket he found out he was 551 in line. After waiting around with a bunch of homeless guys, he was finally able to drop the 25,000 yen to pick up one of the coveted PSPs.

The limited edition package comes with Final Fantasy VII: Crisis Core, a special numbered PSP with artwork on the back by Tetsuya Nomura, Final Fantasy earbuds, and a Buster Sword cell phone strap. While he wasn't overly impressed with the package, it still seems like a pretty damn cool purchase to us. It will be interesting to see what the release of the limited edition PSP and Final Fantasy VII: Crisis Core will do to the weekly sales in Japan. It seems like it could pretty easily double the normal sales rate of the handheld there. Final Fantasy is magic like that.

[Via N4G]

JoystiqLimited Edition FF VII PSP Slim causes huge lines in Japan originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 13 Sep 2007 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>crisis-coreff7Thu, 13 Sep 2007 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[American PSN releases for September 13th]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/13/american-psn-releases-for-september-13th/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/13/american-psn-releases-for-september-13th/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/13/american-psn-releases-for-september-13th/#commentsFiled under: ,


Sony has updated the PlayStation.Blog with the full list of new releases for the North American PlayStation Store. Once again they've pulled out all the stops and have released a pretty damn big update. Check it out:

Downloadable titles:
o. PixelJunk Racers ($6.99) - A single and multi-player slot car racing game, with 32 modes, 10 tracks and online rankings.
o. High Stakes on the Vegas Strip: Poker Edition ($9.99) - Ante up! Play limit or no-limit poker in five different game types. There's single player mode or you can play up to five others online.

Demos: (free)
o. PixelJunk Racers
o. Tony Hawk's Proving Ground
o. NHL 08
o. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
o. FIFA 08

Trailers, wallpapers, etc: (free)
o. Everyday Shooter trailer
o. Warhawk trailer
o. Lair Behind the Scenes video
o. Feel the Noise trailer
o. Juiced 2 trailer
o. High Stakes on the Vegas Strip: Poker Edition trailer
o. Soul Calibur IV trailer
o. High Stakes: Poker wallpaper
o. 2 PixelJunk Racer wallpapers
o. Folklore wallpaper
o. Lair music track

Recommended downloads are High Stakes on the Vegas Strip, the Tony Hawk's Proving Ground demo, and the Soul Calibur IV trailer (if only to check out Taki's latest 'enhancements'). What are you gonna download?

JoystiqAmerican PSN releases for September 13th originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 13 Sep 2007 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>high-stakespixeljunk-racersreleasesThu, 13 Sep 2007 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Hot Shots Golf Portable 2 hits Japan this December]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/12/hot-shots-golf-portable-2-hits-japan-this-december/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/12/hot-shots-golf-portable-2-hits-japan-this-december/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/12/hot-shots-golf-portable-2-hits-japan-this-december/#commentsFiled under: ,

According to the guys at NeoGaf, Famitsu has announced that PSP gamers in Japan will be getting the first true sequel to Minna no Golf Portable (Hot Shots Golf) this December. The first game, released during the launch of the PSP in 2004 became one of the top sellers for the handheld and fans have been eagerly awaiting word of a sequel.

Minna no Golf Portable 2 sounds like it's adding a ton to the series, including 16 player (!) infrastructure support, 20 characters, 12 courses and a massive host of customization options for your avatar. While it's unlikely that this title will propel the PSP to the top of the weekly hardware sales chart, Japan loves themselves some Hot Shots Golf so it will most certainly sell a crap load of PSPs. No word on an American release yet, but you can pretty safely assume a spring 2008 release over here.

[Thanks Joe!]

JoystiqHot Shots Golf Portable 2 hits Japan this December originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 12 Sep 2007 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hot-shots-golfHot-Shots-Golf-Open-Tee-2Minna-no-Golf-PortableWed, 12 Sep 2007 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Monster Madness: EX coming to the PS3 in early 2008]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/12/monster-madness-ex-coming-to-the-ps3-in-early-2008/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/12/monster-madness-ex-coming-to-the-ps3-in-early-2008/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/12/monster-madness-ex-coming-to-the-ps3-in-early-2008/#commentsFiled under:


Monster Madness is one of those games who's exclusivity has gone back and forth for ages before it finally settled on being just a Xbox 360 title. Unfortunately, the four-person party brawler game turned out to kind of suck.

Well they've brought in a new developer (Psyonix) who is updating the game for the PS3, under the moniker Monster Madness: EX and they've promised to fix many of the issues with the X360 version of the game, including things like tightening controls and the camera, adding in a bunch of mini-games and tweaking the graphics.

Monster Madness: EX will be released on the PlayStation 3 in early 2008, so people looking for an interesting looking party brawler may want to keep an eye out for it.

[Via N4G]

JoystiqMonster Madness: EX coming to the PS3 in early 2008 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 12 Sep 2007 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>monster-madness-exWed, 12 Sep 2007 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Loco Roco Cocoreccho available next week on the UK PSN for cheap]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/12/loco-roco-cocoreccho-available-next-week-on-the-uk-psn-for-cheap/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/12/loco-roco-cocoreccho-available-next-week-on-the-uk-psn-for-cheap/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/12/loco-roco-cocoreccho-available-next-week-on-the-uk-psn-for-cheap/#commentsFiled under: ,

According to UK videogame site CVG, Loco Roco Cocoreccho is rolling onto the UK PSN next week for the budget price of just £1.99. This puts it significantly cheaper than the Japanese release, which at 800 yen puts it at almost 2x the cost of the UK release.

It is assumed that the reason for the cheap cost is that this isn't a full fledged game per se, but some kind of weird bastard child of a Loco Roco game (with full tilt controls evidently) and um, a screensaver. They haven't mentioned HOW it's a screensaver, but considering the title has online leaderboards and actual gameplay so it's going to be a pretty damn in-depth screensaver.

So with the British and the Japanese getting Loco Roco Cocoreccho next week, where's the American love?

JoystiqLoco Roco Cocoreccho available next week on the UK PSN for cheap originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 12 Sep 2007 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>loco-rocoloco-roco-cocorecchoLocoRocoLocoRoco-CocorecchoMusicSonySony-Computer-EntertainmentWed, 12 Sep 2007 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony playing 'Dress'-up?]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/11/sony-playing-dress-up/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/11/sony-playing-dress-up/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/11/sony-playing-dress-up/#commentsFiled under: ,

Kotaku has dug up an interesting Sony Computer Entertainment trademark in the US Patent and Trademark Office's online database. According to the site, Sony has registered something called Dress (see logo on right). One of the things it was registered for (besides x-ray tubes), was the following:

PROVIDING EXHIBIT SPACE OF VIRTUAL REALITY ENVIRONMENTS IN THE INTERNET FOR COMPUTER GENERATED 3-DIMENSIONAL DESIGN OF CLOTHING

ON-LINE RETAIL STORE SERVICES FEATURING DOWNLOADABLE VIDEO GAME SOFTWARE, SOFTWARE FOR CREATING DRESS AND WEARS FOR VIRTUAL REALITY AVATARS, SOFTWARE USED FOR CREATING VIRTUAL REALITY AVATARS, AND SOFTWARE FOR COMPUTER GENERATED 3-DIMENSIONAL CLOTHING FOR AVATARS

Could this be a Home add-on of some sort? It seems like it would fit perfectly into the plans for Home and allow users to create truly unique content -- though it's just going to increase the amount of Second Life comparisons if that's the case ...


JoystiqSony playing 'Dress'-up? originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 11 Sep 2007 22:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dressTue, 11 Sep 2007 22:20:00 EST<![CDATA[German Castlevania trailer features boobies / human sacrifice]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/11/german-castlevania-trailer-features-boobies-human-sacrifice/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/11/german-castlevania-trailer-features-boobies-human-sacrifice/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/11/german-castlevania-trailer-features-boobies-human-sacrifice/#commentsFiled under: ,

Gametrailers has a new German/Japanese trailer for Castlevania: Dracula X Chronicles and it features some gratituous cleavage as well as a bit of the ol' virginal human sacrifice. The trailer appears to be the opening CG scene from the game and it looks appropriately gorgeous. It's only a couple more months until the game is released and vids like this don't make the wait any easier.

JoystiqGerman Castlevania trailer features boobies / human sacrifice originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 11 Sep 2007 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>castlevaniadracula-xTue, 11 Sep 2007 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[*Updated* GT 5 Prologue's price tentatively announced]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/11/gt-5-prologues-price-tentatively-announced/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/11/gt-5-prologues-price-tentatively-announced/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/11/gt-5-prologues-price-tentatively-announced/#commentsFiled under:


*Update*
According to IGN, Sony has stated that the 45 Euro price is 'categorically incorrect' and that cost has not been decided yet.

The Netherlands based site PS3 Only have received pricing information from Sony in regards to the Blu-ray version of Gran Turismo 5 Prologue. According to the site, Sony has stated that the retail version of GT5 Prologue will run a slightly-expensive 45 Euros (about $60 American).

Though it might seem like a lot of money for a glorified demo, Sony was quick to point out that GT5 Prologue really is a full game, with over three dozen cars, five tracks and online play with up to 16 people. Also just announced was a cool new feature called GT TV, where gamers can download auto-enthusiast TV programs along the lines of Top Gear. According to PS3 Only, the programs will also be tailored for different regions -- so Japanese, American, and European gamers will all get localized content.

The addition of GT TV definitely adds some value to GT5 Prologue, but while it clearly has way more gameplay than GT HD it will be curious to see if gamers are willing to drop that much money on what amounts to GT5-lite. Gran Turismo fans are pretty hardcore though, so it's hard to tell.

[Via N4G]

Joystiq*Updated* GT 5 Prologue's price tentatively announced originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 11 Sep 2007 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gran-turismogt5-prologueTue, 11 Sep 2007 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Future Plus teams up with Sony for high-end advertising in the UK]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/11/future-plus-teams-with-sony-for-high-end-advertising/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/11/future-plus-teams-with-sony-for-high-end-advertising/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/11/future-plus-teams-with-sony-for-high-end-advertising/#commentsFiled under: ,


Sony is continuing their treatment of the PlayStation 3 as the Ferrari of consoles by teaming up with customer publishing agency Future Plus, to produce a 60 page, high-end brochure for UK consumers. The glossy PS3 novella will be distributed by Sony across the British Isles at special events and kiosks scattered throughout the area.

Over 250,000 copies of the 'lavishly produced' brochure will be handed out to consumers in the pre-Christmas ramp-up period. The publication will be separated into four different sections highlighting the HD capabilities of the PS3, upcoming Blu-ray movie titles and games, as well as the console's robust online features. The hope is that the brochure will provide prospective PS3 owners with all the possible information they need to convince them that Sony's console is the one to choose this holiday.

It will be interesting to see how well Sony's high-end marketing campaign will work in the UK. The cost of the PS3 there is astronomical (by American standards at least) so embracing the luxury market may be a good idea. At the same time, it might not do much for the actual sales of the PS3. Think about it -- who sold more cars last year? Ferrari or Toyota?

Full Press Release after the jump

Continue reading Future Plus teams up with Sony for high-end advertising in the UK

JoystiqFuture Plus teams up with Sony for high-end advertising in the UK originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 11 Sep 2007 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>future-plusPlayStation-3Tue, 11 Sep 2007 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[High Stakes on the Vegas Strip hits the PSN this Thursday]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/11/high-stakes-on-the-vegas-strip-hits-the-psn-this-thursday/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/11/high-stakes-on-the-vegas-strip-hits-the-psn-this-thursday/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/11/high-stakes-on-the-vegas-strip-hits-the-psn-this-thursday/#commentsFiled under: ,


SOE's multiplayer poker game, High Stakes on the Vegas Strip will be released this Thursday through the PlayStation store. The title will go for $9.99 and supports a variety of features, now fairly standard for Sony PSN releases. High Stakes will support 1080p resolution, online play with up to six people, audio chat and online leaderboards.

The game is looking to offer a lot to the hardcore poker fans out there, with five different types of poker, online tournaments and extremely detailed statistics on players. In addition as you play you'll win points to unlock extra content like special items and clothing for your in-game avatar so that you can customize your character to your liking. Supposedly, there will even be 'bling' so that everybody at the table knows what a ballah you are. Any other poker fans out there looking forward to High Stakes?

JoystiqHigh Stakes on the Vegas Strip hits the PSN this Thursday originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 11 Sep 2007 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>high-stakespokerTue, 11 Sep 2007 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ask PS3 Fanboy: Volume 4]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/08/ask-ps3-fanboy-volume-4/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/08/ask-ps3-fanboy-volume-4/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/08/ask-ps3-fanboy-volume-4/#commentsFiled under:


Welcome to this week's addition of Ask PS3 Fanboy. This week we look at cooling options, Linux install locations and more. Have additional questions that you don't see answered here? Let us know!

Question:
Hi guys, just a quick question. My PS3 is in a cabinet among other devices and not long after playing it becomes really hot. I leave the cabinet door open to allow some airflow but i was wondering what is/are the best cooling systems available for the PS3.

Answer:
There are a couple solutions, including the Pelican Air Flo and the Nyko Intercooler. IGN gave the Pelican a 7.9 and gave the Nyko a 8.3. Both seemed to work well, and only cost about 30 dollars. If possible though, it's best to move the PS3 someplace more open. It's not always possible with everybody's setups, but overall thats the best way to ensure the health of your PS3.

Continue reading Ask PS3 Fanboy: Volume 4

JoystiqAsk PS3 Fanboy: Volume 4 originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 08 Sep 2007 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>askps3fanboySat, 08 Sep 2007 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony buys a PS3 for the kid who saved his father]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/06/sony-buys-a-ps3-for-the-kid-who-saved-his-father/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/06/sony-buys-a-ps3-for-the-kid-who-saved-his-father/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/06/sony-buys-a-ps3-for-the-kid-who-saved-his-father/#commentsFiled under:

Remember that 9-year-old boy who saved his father's life and felt that he deserved a PlayStation 3 for it? Well Gaming Target is reporting that Sony has come through for the family and have given the kid his very own PS3 with a bunch of games as well as a reward. It's great seeing Sony take some time out from their normal world domination plans and kick down some love to the (very) little man.

So there you go, if any of you out there cannot afford a PS3, you now know how to get one for free from Sony. Simply save your father from imminent and painful death, score a TV interview saying that you want a PS3, and then bam -- free loot. Easy, no?

JoystiqSony buys a PS3 for the kid who saved his father originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 06 Sep 2007 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Thu, 06 Sep 2007 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Valhalla Knights 2 coming to Japan in 2008]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/06/valhalla-knights-2-coming-to-japan-in-2008/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/06/valhalla-knights-2-coming-to-japan-in-2008/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/06/valhalla-knights-2-coming-to-japan-in-2008/#commentsFiled under:

According to Famitsu, Marvelous Entertainment are developing Valhalla Knights 2, a sequel to the critically panned dungeon crawler that got released in America earlier this year. Though the game was known for its sharp graphics and good overall technical presentation, it got ripped for repetitive and punishing combat and a lack of any kind of real story.

Hopefully, Marvelous will address some of the complaints in the sequel, though it already sounds like they're going in the right direction. The game will have over 350 different pieces of armor and weapons for your characters, as well as 60 scenario quests and outdoor levels (which will hopefully break up the nonstop dungeon crawling). The title is scheduled to come out in Japan in 2008 with no American release mentioned.

[Update: First images of the game have surfaced at Jeux-France.]

JoystiqValhalla Knights 2 coming to Japan in 2008 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 06 Sep 2007 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>valhallaknights2xseedThu, 06 Sep 2007 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Network issues with 1.92? Sony is aware and trying to fix it]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/05/network-issues-with-1-92-sony-is-aware-and-trying-to-fix-it/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/05/network-issues-with-1-92-sony-is-aware-and-trying-to-fix-it/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/05/network-issues-with-1-92-sony-is-aware-and-trying-to-fix-it/#commentsFiled under: ,


We've received many, many complaints from PlayStation 3 owners who are complaining that after upgrading to firmware 1.92, they've been unable to connect to the PlayStation Network, the Store, or the Warhawk servers. The problem seems to happen immediately after the upgrade, but for some people (PS3 Fanboy writers included) the issue will crop up randomly days later.

We contacted Patrick Seybold, Sony's Senior PR manager, about the ongoing network issues and he confirmed that Sony is indeed aware of it and are actively working on a fix. When he gets more details, he said he'd pass it on to us and of course we'll let you know as soon as we hear anything.

It's frustrating when a minor firmware patch breaks something major, but it's good to know that Sony is actively researching methods to ease our pain. Put down your pitchforks and torches folks, hopefully we'll all be playing Warhawk again soon.

JoystiqNetwork issues with 1.92? Sony is aware and trying to fix it originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 05 Sep 2007 18:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1.92networkissuesWed, 05 Sep 2007 18:15:00 EST