Something for everyone this week! Resistance 2 hits the US while LittleBigPlanet finally sees a European release. Valkyria Chronicles also makes its way to American soil. Here's the full release list:
US Games
• Resistance 2 (Collector's Edition)
• Valkyria Chronicles
• James Bond 007: Quantum of Solace
• Tom Clancy's End War (Headset bundle)
• Naruto Ultimate Ninja Storm (Collector's Edition)
• Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa
• History Channel Civil War: Secret Mission
EU Games
• LittleBigPlanet
• MotorStorm Pacific Rift
• Tom Clancy's End War (Headset bundle)
• Legendary
• WWE Smackdown Vs Raw 2009
• Disney Sing It (Microphone bundle)
• Guitar Hero World Tour
Asian Games
• Tom Clancy's End War
Don't forget that your PS3 is region free. If you see anything on this ... More »
Today Sony's semi-official blog Three Speech has made available SCEE's release dates for all of the first-party PlayStation 3 and PSP titles coming next month in Europe.
To quote: Wondering how to fill up a cold November? Not any more - you’ve got gaming to do! There’s a glut of great first-party games coming out on PS3, PS2 and PSP over the next month. We’ve got the release schedule right here - and the first game is out today...
PS3
Buzz Quiz TV Special Edition - October 31st
LittleBigPlanet - November 5th
MotorStorm Pacific Rift - November 7th
SingStar Volume 3 - November 14th
SingStar ABBA - November 14th
Resistance 2 - November 28th
PS2
SingStar Singalong with Disney - November 7th
SingStar ABBA - November 14th
EyeToy Play PomPom Party - November 14th
EyeToy Play Hero - November 14th
Per Grace Chen (Senior Manager, PlayStation Store) today:
Hey, everyone. It’s time again for the PlayStation Store weekly update.
Downloadable Games Penny Arcade Adventures: On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness, Episode One ($14.99)
The first installment in the RPG-adventure game series based on the web comic Penny Arcade. Create your character in the classic comic style, and join Gabe and Tycho in the alternate 1920s universe of New Arcadia, where you’ll combat savage enemies, solve mysteries, meet bizarre new characters, and discover their distinctive adult humor for a 100% authentic Penny Arcade experience!
ESRB Rated M
File size: 215 MB
Prince of Persia Classic ($9.99)
The original action adventure game comes to the PlayStation Network! Rescue the Princess from the clutches of the evil Jaffar in a redux of the original 1989 action-adventure that redefined the platform genre. All set for the HD... More »
According to the official Japanese SCEJ site, the current closed PlayStation 3 Home BETA is due to end in a matter of weeks, presumably then opening up the final 1.0 version to a wider public.
Additionally, here’s a list of companies that have signed up as partners for Home, providing content, spaces etc:
- IREM
- Activision
- Acquire
- Atlus
- Walt Disney Japan
- SNK
- EA
- Capcom
- Q Entertainment
- Game Republic
- Genki
- Koei
- Konami
- Spike
- Sega
- D3 Publisher
- Tecmo
- Nippon Ichi Software
- Hudson
- Bandai Namco Games
- Ubisoft
Finally, Home has a major presence at TGS this year, as can be seen by these photographs from the show.
Thuway, a member of NeoGAF, claims that he has learned at PAX that LittleBigPlanet will have Official Disney downloadable content.
In addition to this revelation, Infamous is targeted for a May 2009 release.
To quote: (BTW- Insomniac, he is seriously one of the most genuine PR guys I've ever met. He is truly a class act.)
Secondly, while the majority of people at the event just play the previews, I like to take time out and actually talk to the developers and get insight into gaming production. I found out some amazing bomb shells, most of which I have my mouth zipped on, but here are two things that won't get me in trouble I hope.
1. LBP will have official Disney DLC.
2. Infamous is targeted for May 2009.
Finally, major props to the editors at 1up, and Bombcast. The Gameworks after party was pretty rad. The guys did a great job of showing that they were gamers, just like you or I, and had a great time trea... More »
In a recent editorial Patrick Goss, an MSN journalist, is asserting that it is time for Nintendo to retire Mario. He draws comparison to Disney's Mickey Mouse, who no longer stars in their headline films but still serves as a mascot for the company.
If Mario retires, then Nintendo will focus on more creativity and innovation and not resort to plugging Mario everywhere. So what you do think, time for the plumber to hang up his plunger?
To quote: Take a company like Disney. Even though Mickey Mouse is still the company’s mascot and a worldwide megabrand, he no longer stars in their headline films.
And perhaps without Mario to fall back on Nintendo will continue on their brilliant track of creativity and innovation - and not resort to forcing the old workhorse into cameos in games not worthy of his presence.
So, for me, Mario should be allowed to bow out on a high, leaving a legacy that I don’t think any gaming character wil... More »
PSU writes: In a beneficial turn of events for the home entertainment industry, Blu-ray sales continue to rise drastically despite the staggering U.S. economy.
As DVD sales decline, Blu-ray has been filling in the gap, generating more than $200 million in the first half of 2008. This is in stark contrast to the same point last year, where Blu-ray earnings were less than 33% of current figures.
“We are trending 8% Blu-ray sales [per title], and at the end of the year, we will be between 10% and 12%," stated Mike Dunn of 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment.
Lori MacPherson, general manager for Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment, North America contributed her thoughts.
“I think people are becoming pickier on what they spend their money on, but home entertainment always represents a good value. Thirty dollars for a Blu-ray movie that you can watch over and over again is still a great value,” she commented.
More »
WildTangent Chief Executive Alex St. John never fails to amuse, entertain and stir the pot. And that was certainly the case during his 45 minute talk at the Casual Connect game conference in Seattle today.
St. John, who has built WildTangent into the one of the bigger online gaming networks over the past 10 years, made the bold prediction that video game consoles will be "extinct" by 2020.
He started his talk with an image of Moses on the screen and this rapid-fire comment:
I am going to make some outrageous claims today. And then I will attempt to substantiate them. Feel free to disagree with me. Just remember, that I am right.
St. John called the console business an "extremely fragile business" which has been subject to major collapses over the years:
We are looking at the last generation of consoles right now. I am going to predict to you that the PS3, the Wii and the X-box are the last generation of consoles t... More »
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