According to the Gameindustry source, thirteen games are being developed internally for release in the Playstation Store. Sony is also hopeful that more developers will jump at the chance to make downloadable games, as the cutting out of the middle man — fuck you, Gamestop — will make it more lucrative for both Sony and the publisher.

While this sounds amazing in theory, I have my doubts as to whether it will actually happen as they say. Sony is not in a position where they can screw with retailers, as evidenced by the release of Warhawk in both retail and downloadable forms, making we here at ESG pretty sure that whatever games come out for download will be released in some sort of retail form as well (hellllooo game bundles).

Chufmoney

Medal of Honor Heroes 2 (PSP, Wii)

Kane and Lynch (360)

Star Wars Battlefront: Renegade Squadron Hands-on Multiplayer (PSP)

Star Wars Battlefront: Renegade Squadron (PSP)

Jam Sessions (DS)

Penny Arcade Adventures: On the Rain Slick Precipice of Darkness Episodes I (PC, 360, Mac, Linux)

So, as you can see, I have been busy. Lots of meetings, talks, travels to game companies. All in all, it’s been amazing. Either way, just wanted to share, some of these games are looking pretty good.

Chufmoney

For those of you who were waiting for a new PSP, it probably made you really happy to hear about its features: the smaller size, slimmer profile, video out, and built in flash memory.

Wait, what the fuck?

Where is the longer life battery? It is missing! That’s because the new slim PSP only gets 3-6 hours of game play per charge with the stock battery. However, for those of you who hate that idea you can take the old PSP battery and put it in your new PSP and it will make the life much longer. However, this also ruins the slimness of the system. Sony will be offering new battery covers for those who wish to put the fat battery in their slim system.

Seriously Sony, why did you shit on the good thing you were doing?

Chufmoney

[via PSP fanboy]

Chufmoney

[via joystiq, via PSPfanboy]

As a result of the firmware update and its inherent homebrew hack via Lumines, Gamasutra reports that the sales of the game on Amazon have gone up by 5,900%! This places Lumines at the top of Amazon’s PSP sales chart.

Sony has not taken this situation lightly though. They just released their 3.51 firmware update, which, unlike the previous update, does nothing to help out the performance of the system. This update merely changes it so that the Lumines exploit is no longer accessible.

Chufmoney

Before you go getting really upset that you won’t have access to the speed upgrade all the time you should keep in mind that the higher speed is more taxing on the battery life.  The speed increase that is accomplished in homebrew firmware has been said to increase frame rates and load times but at the cost of battery life and supposedly some infrastructure problems.

If you don’t want to use unofficial software, the 3.50 firmware is good news for the future of your PSP gaming experience.  Future PSP games can now program to take advantage of the full power of the system, which will hopefully result in better looking games.  My bet is that this is the precursor to the God of War PSP release.  The way that game looks it probably needs the extra power.  1up.com sees it as evidence that the PSP redesign is in the works.  Guess the rest of us with the regular ol’ battery are fucked.

[from shacknews via 1up.com]

Chufmoney

Well friends, that has now changed.

THQ has officially announced a new title for both the DS and PSP called Warhammer 40,000:  Squad Command.  While almost no details appear to be available for the DS version, Gamasutra did have a few tid bits to reveal about the PSP version.  The PSP version will have a 13 missoin single player campaign, destructible 3D battlefields, online and offline multiplayer, and can support up to 8 players.  The game also will be turn based, alleviating some of the worries I had about having to manage an RTS with an extremely limited interface.

The title is scheduled to release this Fall for both hand held platforms.

Chufmoney

Man it’s been hard sitting on that for a couple of months.

Oh, and the PSP version is a buggy mess, with pronounced technical problems that will not likely be fixed in the final retail version. To lock on to targets, you have to hold down both shoulder buttons, which also control the camera, and to switch targets, you have to briefly (ever, ever so briefly) release the right shoulder button. Which makes the camera go nuts for a moment. Basically, it’s going to be a piece of crap. So let it not be said that you weren’t warned.

-Aegies

For those of you who don’t own this game and own a PSP you could also wait because it should have a price drop soon due to the fact that it went platinum.  I believe this means the game should hit that ever coveted 19.99$ price very soon.  Also if you are still on the fence about the game you can get a demo from the playstation website.

But what does it all mean?!  I insinuated in my title that I knew what it “could mean.”  I believe that this could very well be something that in the next year becomes a unique selling point for the PSP.  If the PSP really emphasizes its ability to give games downloadable content as well as game demos it could have the effect that Live has had for the 360.  While the DS can go online and can download demos from demo stations in game stores there has yet to be an efficient way for DS gamers to get demos.  Furthermore due to the lack of expandable memory for the DS there is a limit to what demos could be like.  And, as far as downloadable content is concerned, the DS essentially cannot do it because it has no memory that the player has access to do whatever they want with it.

The PSP really needs to press this advantage if they want to gain more marketshare.  Not the PSP is dead or even in need of saving, but if it wants to garner a larger install base it needs to show gamers that it can do some things better than the DS (besides graphics).

Just as we discussed on our latest podcast, I truly believe that from this generation on Internet integration via demos and betas will be something that will define the future of gaming.  Players will become connected in more intricate ways with those who make the games.  The PSP certainly has the best potential in the hand held market for pushing us forward on this path.  Its time for them to seize that idea and run with it.

Am I reading too much into a little piece of DLC?

Chufmoney

God of War: Chains of Olympus (PSP)

It’s a brand new GoW game that takes place before Kratos has become disillusioned with the Gods. And it looks like it might very well be the best looking hand held game created to date. With the pedigree that it has backing it, it is sure to be a big seller. (note: EGM also has a great spread about the game so you should go buy it and support game journalism)

Ninja Gaiden Sigma (PS3)

While it is another iteration of the Ninja Gaiden that came out for the original Xbox, it does look stunning and promise some new content. A must own for those who never got a chance to play the franchise.

Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune (PS3)

Developed by Naughty Dog, this action adventure game looks beautiful and might very well deliver a true immersive experience if the game lives up to the hype. Players will mix both exploration with shooting in what looks like a very Tomb Raider-esque fashion.
(Aegies’s take: it could be amazing, but the protagonist and enemies run like they have something uncomfortable inserted in a private area.)

The Eye of Judgement (PS3 w/Sony EYE)

While this game will only suit a certain niche of gamers, it does look like Sony is pushing their creative envelope. Players play cards that the EYE then animates on the screen. For instance if the player played some sort of dragon card the dragon would leap to life once it was placed in front of the EYE. Sounds almost like Magic if things would actually happen in real time as you played cards. And yes, you can play it online.

Warhawk (PS3)

While this game has received a lot of mixed impressions due to the fact that it is multiplayer only and doesn’t exist only as a game where the player flies Warhawks, it has alot of potential to be the biggest thing to hit the PSN in 2007. The game has a very Battlefield-esque sort of feel. But don’t take my word for it; you can sign up for the open beta now.

Lair (PS3)

The developer, Factor 5, has done a lot of great Star Wars game that involved a lot of the same mechanics: flying and shooting. While this game strikes out into a lore that is entirely conceived for this release, it looks to have all the fun (and hopefully not the frustration) of previous Factor 5 flyer/shooters.
(Aegies’s take: unfortunately, a lot of previewers sound more despondent every time they post new coverage of Lair; as it comes closer to release, it appears that there are some major issues with control, with objectives, and most importantly, with fun. We’re crossing our fingers that it turns out well, but things seem cloudy for Lair right now.)

Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction

Awesome adventure games and beautiful graphics. What more can I say?

Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots

Is this truly an exclusive? Hideo Kojima has said as much, but with the more than likely push of the game back into 2008 who really knows.

So there you have it. A tenative list of some pretty A list games that will be hitting Sony gamers in 2007 (and possibly 2008). Yes the 360 and Wii also have some pretty big exclusives but we here at ESG wanted to take some time to point out that Sony is doing some things right this year too; especially as far as first party games are concerned.

Chufmoney

For a more in depth look at some exclusives for the PS3 and PSP ESG highly recommend that anyone without an EGM subscription go out and support the mag!

Really there is no concrete story behind the possible PSP store beyond the few choice words Sony shared earlier.  SCEA’s Jack Tretton, speaking at the Sony Gamer’s Day, stated that, “the advent of a long awaited and quite frankly long overdue ability to deliver a downloadable service for the PSP will help us out a great deal.”

Damn straight it would help out a lot.  If there is something the PSP desperately needs it is an edge that it can hold over the DS.  The PSP will most likely never achieve the level of sales that the DS has, but it could help draw out more consumers if it could brag that it has the ability to download games via the internet.  It would certainly make the memory sticks a whole lot more valuable, too.

The real question that this brings to mind is what type of downloads would the store offer?  While movies are an obvious choice, I doubt they have the draw to pull enough people into the PSP market.  Besides most people who go out and spend the cash to get a PSP probably already have some sort of portable MP3 device that can play videos on (and if they are ipod users they get the convenience of itunes).

Sony would have to focus on the games.  Movies, whether in a downloaded format or UMD, are never going to be a strong system selling point.  And the PSP is definitely not going to take any significant marketshare away from dedicated MP3 players.  Thus games must be the platform’s strong suit.

Sony should take a lesson from Nintendo and release a back catalog of PS1 games.  This would help add a cheap library of games to the PSP and avoid most of the control confrontations that would arise out of the PSP’s lack of a second analog nubbin.  If Sony could secure rights to other emulated games that would also be quite amazing.  People are already modding their PSPs or getting firmware hacks, so if Sony could make a legitimate market for downloaded games it could definately cut out some of the market that is not savvy enough to figure out how to get downloaded games illegally.

If nothing else the prospect of an online store will bring positive buzz about the PSP.  2007 could very well shape up to be a decent year for the often bemoaned hand held.

Chufmoney

[via Joystiq] 

Chufmoney

Knowing this you can understand why I almost cried tears of joy at the news that Silent Hill 5 was on the way.  More importantly it has been stated that it will be much more in line with the way part 2 was made which is, needless to say, amazing.  We’ll have to wait to see screens, but the important thing to know is that it is releasing on both the 360 and the PS3.  Guess the Wii will have to wait.

Also in Silent Hill news was a Game Informer feature about the PSP game Silent Hill Origins.  It is good to see that this game had not faded away and become an unfinished project.  No news had come of this game for quite some time, but you can see the screens by checking out the Game Informer website.

The PSP Silent Hill definitely looks like it has some cool new features to offer fans of the series.  It will have music done by Akira Yamaoka, who did the music to part 3 and 4.  It also will have a more in depth combat system.  By that I mean that you can now move while attacking and your melee weapons will break after extended usage, much in the same way they did in Dead Rising.  

And, if you are wondering how they are going to tackle the PSP’s lack of Dual Analog greatness the hand’s on preview goes on to say that there is a new camera system.  Essentially the camera now follows you and does the work itself.  If you are bothered by the camera angles the game gives you can always center the camera behind your main character.

I don’t know about you, but it pleases me to see a PSP game that will actually scare me.  Perhaps what is most notable here though is that it will be a PSP game that is not a port and looks to be a full and gritty entry into the survival horror genre.

Steel thy fears.

Chufmoney

That song comes to mind when I think of the Worms franchise. I know that people either love or hate these games, but I have always felt that they are top notch for playing with your friends; so when THQ announced that they were going to be releasing a new Worms game for DS and PSP with online capability I just about shit my pants with joy. Yeah, I know that is a weird way to celebrate, get off my back.

Why should someone be excited about yet another Worms game? Look, although Worms games are fun to play single-player, they are exponentially more entertaining to play with friends. And the PSP has yet to get a Worms game, and the DS does not have one that takes advantage of the Nintendo Wi-fi connection. So now you can blast people from anywhere in the world with some of the most ridiculous weapons ever conceived in a turn based strategy game.

This new iteration of Worms will of course be similar to all the other Worms games you have played in the past but it will also have some new features, including new weapons and game modes, as well as the ability to make custom team flags and even the possibility of custom landscapes. Perhaps the greatest addition though comes in the form of online leaderboards. Now you can check just how much Worm ass you kick (or how much ass you suck. -ed) compared to everyone else.

This is definitely a game to look out for if you have been a fan of the series or even if it has ever perked your interest nubbins. It is slated for a summer release for both handheld platforms.

Alas, Sony has let down the gamers once again. It turns out that the islandofrhodes.org website, you know the site that had an epic countdown for over two weeks, has turned out to just have videos of God of War 2 level walkthroughs with commentary. To call this dissappoiting is an understatement I feel Dan Dormer of 1up stated this best in his report on the release of this content when he said, “Countdown timers scream grand reveals, not nice additions.”

Why do you build me up just to bring me down Sony?

Chufmoney

Update: So, granted, the conclusion of the countdown to development commentary was anticlimactic to be charitable, but there’s more to the site than was initially thought; playing around with the site by the online community has uncovered some additional tidbits, including puzzles and webgames that lead to a higher res, true progressive mode (which is not, contrary to Kotaku’s post, actual HD, but that I’ll nonetheless be checking out when I get home), as well as, wait for it… another timer. With letters that appear over time. I think it may be too early to call this an addition to the blunder list (which is so, so long), but a countdown to another countdown is playing with gamers’ emotions Sony. You’d better know what you’re doing. (Aegies)

I for one hope that this is true.  I do not think that Sony should or would abandon the PSP, but it definitely could use a redesign to help boost its sales.  A redesign will give Sony a chance to launch a new and aggressive ad campaign where they can actually show off some of the better titles that the system has now as compared to when it originally released.

We still do not know if the screen will be brighter or if it will have built in flash memory, but if they manage to make this system smaller than perhaps they will be able to make it cheaper.  The Games Industry article suggests this and I certainly hope that it is true.  I feel the PSP needs to at least be closer to the NDS’ 129$ price point in order to have even the slightest chance of securing a larger portion of the hand-held market.

Chufmoney

Wait, really?

Granted, this officially is only a rumor, at least according to Kotaku’s headline. However, it seems like they are pretty convinced that not only is this project a go, but apparently it’s already in the works. Personally, I’m not entirely sure about the chances for a 2007 release date, especially since we’ve heard nothing about it up until now. However, if it indeed ships with all of the features listed in the article, then I may just have to pick one up myself.

Anyone hear anything that confirms this “undeniable” rumor?

-Bedlam-

The game, based off the Clone Wars cartoons, will be headed by ex-EA employee Feargus Carroll. You might have seen his name in the credits for Battlefield: Modern Combat. There is not really a whole lot more pertinent information available at this time. I would be willing to be though that like previous LucasArts games it will release on both PSP and DS. Let’s hope that they don’t screw this one up as bad as the last hand-held title. They already have an awesome art style to base the game on, so at least they got that going for them. But, we also know that LucasArts can make some of the best and worst titles you will ever play.

Chufmoney

[via www.computerandvideogames.com]

As more news becomes disclosed about the future of GoW on PSP you can be damn sure I will let you know.

Chufmoney