E3 2009: XSEED lineup includes Yuusha 30, Lunar, more
May 31, 2009
XSEED's E3 2009 press release got buried in the mass of press releases we've seen over the past couple of weeks, but I just had to post it even if it's a bit late since it confirms US releases for two PSP games I've been watching out for.
First is Marvelous Entertainment's Yuusha 30, which has been renamed to Half-Minute Hero. This game has one of the quirkier gameplay mechanics I've seen recently. Second is Lunar: Silver Star Harmony, Game Arts' PSP remake of the classic Lunar RPG. Both games are scheduled for fall releases.
Other notable entries in the XSEED lineup are Suda51's Flower, Sun and Rain for the Nintendo DS and Namco Bandai's Wii RPG, Fragile: Farewell Ruins of the Moon. Here's a complete list of what XSEED will be showing off at E3 along with their release targets:
- Lunar: Silver Star Harmony (PSP) - Fall 2009
- Half-Minute Hero (PSP) - Fall 2009
- Fragile: Farewell Ruins of the Moon (Wii) - Winter 2009
- Arc Rise Fantasia (Wii) - Winter 2009
- Flower, Sun and Rain (DS) - June 16, 2009
- JU-ON: The Grudge (Wii) - October 2009
- Little King's Story (Wii) - July 2009
- Ragnarok Online (DS) - Winter 2009
- Valhalla Knights: Eldar Saga (Wii) - Summer 2009
Related articles:
- Famitsu whips out screens for the remake of Lunar: Silver Star Story Complete
- Yuusha 30 multiplayer mode detailed
ESRB: Final Fantasy VII rated for PS3, PSP
May 31, 2009
Fans have been clamoring for it, and it looks like Square Enix and Sony will be delivering. Final Fantasy VII has been rated by the ESRB for PSP and PS3, which means we could be seeing it soon on the PlayStation Store as a PSOne Classic.
Along with the PlayStation One classic, the following games were also rated for PSP and PS3: Spec Ops: Airborne Commando, XS Junior League Soccer, Ford Racing, Dead in the Water, Contra Legacy of War, and Mobile Light Force.
As of this time, there's no date nor official confirmation yet, but E3's just around the corner so we'll probably hear more about it then. Stay tuned.
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PSP Homebrew Weekend Warrior: Custom firmware comes to the TA-088v3 mobo
May 31, 2009
A lot of applications made for the ChickHEN homebrew enabler were released this week, and arguably the one that made the most noise was Xenogears and Becus25's Custom Firmware Enabler. We also saw quite a few homebrew games this week, but the emulators were the ones who hogged the spotlight in the homebrew gaming scene. Read on for the rest of the PSP Homebrew Weekend Warrior.
Homebrew Applications
- Ultimate VSH Menu v2.00. Link
- ChickHEN Mod: run ChickHEN enabler much smoother. Link
- PSPVC v3.71 now available. Link
- DayViewer Plugin Beta 2. Link
- SK8 DICE for PSP. Link
- Homebrew Portal Launcher v2. Link
- Hellcat's Recovery Flasher v1.60 released: adds detection for HEN mode, supports CFW 5.00 M33-6, more. Link
- Custom Firmware Enabler for ChickHEN
- PSP Java mobile games emulator - PSPKVM v0.5.2. Link
- PSP Homebrew - UO gpsp kai 3.4 test 1 build 2. Link
- PSPHUGO v1.3.0: PC Engine emulator for PSP updated. Link
- Megaman 2.5D now has a multiplayer video - MegaMan and ProtoMan. Link
And that's it for this week, folks. See you again next time for the next edition of the PSP Homebrew Weekend Warrior.
PSP Weekend Warrior: the PSP Go leak before E3
May 31, 2009
Much has been said about the UMD-less, sliding-screen PSP Go. Rumors and speculation will be put to the test next week during E3, but it seems a little bit of Sony's thunder was stolen by this week's biggest PSP-related headline: the alleged confirmation of the PSP Go in a suspiciously early release of Sony's own video mag, Qore.
Is it the real deal? It definitely seems like it. We'll find out more next week. For now, read on for the rest of the PSP Weekend Warrior.
The Hardware:
- PSP Go:
- Rumor: UMD-less PSP announcement next week, PS3 slim after summer. Link
- PSP Go revealed in June Qore, with pics and video. Link
- A clearer look: Images of the new PSP Go. Link
- Europe getting Vibrant Blue PSP-3000 bundle. Link
- Capcom opening public gathering hall in London for Monster Hunter Freedom Unite. Link
- Atlus talks Crimson Gem Saga, details new Ambush and Critical Combo systems. Link
- From Software PSP ports will get enhancements. Link
- DLC #1 lands for Disgaea 2 Portable -- in Japan. Link
- Nomura: Agito XIII will be pinnacle of handheld RPGs. Link
- SOCOM Fireteam Bravo 3 to have 4 Player Co-op mode. Link
- Star Wars Battlefront: Elite Squadron
That's it for this week's edition of the PSP Weekend Warrior, folks. Yeah, it's a bit sparse, but we're sure to have more next week after E3 2009.
Need for Speed SHIFT car roster, track list revealed
May 31, 2009
It's a varied list, alright. But each car selected is certified to be top notch. What's more, you'll get to take a couple of them babies out come E3 (in the game, I mean, not in real life. But yeah, I wish...). For the E3 presentation, you'll get to rev up right on the track.
Said Patrick Soderlund, Senior Vice President for EA Games Europe,
SHIFT is the evolution of racing genre. We're delivering the first truly immersive driving game by combining perfectly modelled cars and tracks with the dramatic realism of the true driver's experience.
And apart from the car roster list, we also have the track list for NFS Shift. Check out the lists below. But first, do take note that Shift will be making its way to Europe on September 17, and for the US, on September 22, 2009.
Need for Speed SHIFT car roster:
- 2006 Aston Martin DBR9
- 2009 Audi R8 LMS
- 2008 Audi R8
- 2008 Audi RS 4
- 2007 Audi S3
- 2007 Audi TT 3.2 quattro
- 2006 Audi S4
- BMW M3 E36
- BMW M3 E46
- BMW M3 E92
- 2008 BMW 135i Coup
- 2009 BMW M3 GT2
- 2007 BMW Z4 M Coup
- 2008 Bugatti Veyron 16.4
- 2006 Dodge Challenger Concept
- 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10
- Falken Tire 2010 Ford Mustang GT
- 2010 Ford Shelby GT500
- 2007 Ford Focus ST
- 2006 Ford GT
- 2006 Need For Speed Shelby Terlingua
- 1996 Ford Escort RS Cosworth
- 2009 Chevrolet Camaro SS
- 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt SS
- 2006 Chevrolet Corvette Z06
- 2006 Honda Civic Si
- 2000 Honda S2000
- 2006 Koenigsegg CCX
- 2008 Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4
- 2007 Lamborghini Murci lago LP640
- 2007 Lamborghini Revent n
- 2006 Lotus Elise 111R
- 2007 Lotus Exige S
- 2005 Maserati MC12 GT1
- 2008 Mazda MX-5
- 2006 Mazda RX-8
- 1995 Mazda RX-7
- 1994 McLaren F1
- 2007 Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren 722 Edition
- 2007 Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG
- 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer EVOLUTION
- 2006 Mitsubishi Lancer EVOLUTION IX MR-edition
- 2003 Infiniti G35 (V35)
- 1997 Nissan 200SX (S14)
- 2009 Nissan 370Z (Z34)
- 2006 Nissan 350Z (Z33)
- 2009 Nissan GT-R SpecV (R35)
- 2008 Nissan GT-R (R35)
- 2000 Nissan Silvia (S15) spec.R AERO
- 1999 Nissan Skyline GT-R (R34)
- 1972 Nissan Skyline 2000GT-R
- 1992 Nissan 240SX (S13)
- 2006 Pagani Zonda F
- 2010 Pagani Zonda R
- 2008 Porsche 911 GT2
- 2009 Porsche 911 GT3 RSR
- 2006 Porsche 911 GT3 RS
- 2004 Porsche Carrera GT
- 2007 Porsche Cayman S
- 2008 Renault M gane RS
- 2007 SEAT Leon CUPRA
- 2006 Subaru Impreza WRX STi
- 2007 Lexus LF-A Concept
- 2008 SCION tC
- 1986 Toyota Corolla GTS (A86)
- 2008 Volkswagen Scirocco
- 2006 Volkswagen Golf GTI
Need for Speed SHIFT track list:
1. Alpental
2. Autopolis International Racing Course
3. Ambush Canyon
4. Brands Hatch
5. Dakota
6. Ebisu Circuit
7. Glendale
8. Hazyview
9. Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca
10. London
11. Miytomi
12. Nordschleife
13. Road America
14. Rustle Creek
15. Silverstone
16. Circuit de Spa Francorchamps
17. Tokyo
18. Willow Springs
Related NFS Shift Articles:
Kaz Hirai on a mission: bring back games division to profit
May 31, 2009
It's been a pretty tough year (make that three, actually) as Sony Corp. continues to struggle to get out of the red zone, with its profits for the game division plunging deeper. But newly appointed CEO for game and network businesses, Kazuo Hirai, is adamant that they will be able to bring back the division to some good, old, crispy profit.Just early this year, in January, Sony's financial report showed that the PlayStation hardware sales had gone down. In 2008, the division clocked in a 58.5 billion yen operating loss, while the company a a whole reported their biggest-ever group operating loss amounting to a whopping 230 billion yen, and then some.
Said Kaz, "We need to quickly bring our PlayStation business on a break-even level and later to profitability." The company has also taken some cost-cutting measures, and are looking as well into expanding its network services.
"We need a strategy where buying a hardware is not the endpoint but instead a starting point that can offer new experiences to our customers."
Related Articles:
- Sony's Kaz Hirai: we're the official leader, Ninty in a different world, MS lacks longevity
- Sony restructures, PS Network to be integrated into other Sony products
- Microsoft to Kaz: we'll outsell the PS3 through the entire generation
Phi Harrison steps down as Atari president, assumes non-executive role
May 31, 2009
In an official statement made by Atari, as part of their fiscal year report:
Because of a shift of business operations to the US, Phil Harrison will move from the role of President to that of non-executive Director of the Group. As all Board Members, he will continue to assist, support and guide the Company's strategy.
"Non-executive"... that sounds synonymous to "teethless", don't you think? But we've yet to hear from Harrison himself, and from Atari, as to how this "step down" occurred, and who will be taking Harrison's place as Mr. Prez.
We'll keep you posted on the details.
Related Phil Harrison Articles:
- Phil Harrison now president of Infogrames
- Phil Harrison talks about Atari, reason for quitting, opportunities for gaming
Phil Harrison steps down as Atari president, assumes non-executive role
May 31, 2009
In an official statement made by Atari, as part of their fiscal year report:
Because of a shift of business operations to the US, Phil Harrison will move from the role of President to that of non-executive Director of the Group. As all Board Members, he will continue to assist, support and guide the Company's strategy.
"Non-executive"... that sounds synonymous to "teethless", don't you think? But we've yet to hear from Harrison himself, and from Atari, as to how this "step down" occurred, and who will be taking Harrison's place as Mr. Prez.
We'll keep you posted on the details.
Related Phil Harrison Articles:
- Phil Harrison now president of Infogrames
- Phil Harrison talks about Atari, reason for quitting, opportunities for gaming
A clearer look: Images of the new PSP Go
May 30, 2009
It actually doesn't seem that fugly anymore. If you look closely, you'll notice that it also has Bluetooth. It still looks like a black mylo though, and the placement of the analog stick concerns me a bit. Playing games like Monster Hunter, with its cumbersome camera control setup, is gonna be hard on this thing.
Related articles:
PSP Go revealed in June Qore, with pics and video
May 30, 2009
According to Gaming Console Network, the PSP Go looks like this:
Okay. Kinda fugly, but that's alright. GCN also said that it will have 16GB memory (this is on-board, I think) and another memory slot, presumably for a memory stick. The price is still TBA and the release is this fall. Also, the PSP Go won't be replacing the PSP 3000. Instead they'll be both sold side by side.
Here are some shots of the PSP Go packaging from PlayStation LifeStyle:
And finally, here's a video of the Qore episode that talks about the PSP Go. Listen carefully for the launch titles. I heard LittleBigPlanet, Gran Turismo (which will supposedly be announced at E3), Jak and Daxter, and a new Metal Gear Solid. Is this the new Metal Gear that's being teased?
Goddammit E3, hurry up and answer all our questions!
Note: Had to replace the video since the first one got pulled.
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