Reports from UK Web site The Register (linked above) indicate that SEGA is planning to release a 'PSP beater' in 2009 called the SEGA Vision.
It will be a portable media player with video game functionality, as well as having the ability to play films and being able to capture images and video. Other features include a built in TV Tuner and e-book viewer.
To quote: Sega will next year launch a portable media player boasting enough functionality to threaten Sony’s PlayStation Portable, the Register Hardware can exclusively reveal.
The PMP is to be called the Sega Vision and it’ll work as a videogames machine, in addition to playing films. The unit will feature an integrated camera for capturing still images and video. A built-in TV tuner will provide yet another form of entertainment. Video below!
Square Enix Ltd., the publisher of Square Enix® interactive entertainment products in Europe and other PAL territories, today announces that STAR OCEAN®: First Departure™ will be released across all PAL territories on 24th October 2008, exclusively on the PSP® (PlayStation® Portable) system.
Press Release: Following the exploits of humankind's journey across the stars, the STAR OCEAN saga begins with the completely remastered STAR OCEAN: First Departure. Featuring a revised game engine, an improved battle system and fully-voiced, all-new animated scenes displayed in 16:9 widescreen. With a newly added layer of character interaction, players can enjoy their journey into the rich STAR OCEAN universe like never before.
John Yamamoto, president and chief executive officer of Square Enix Ltd. comments, "STAR OCEAN has already proved to be a popular series in Japan, we now hope that players around the world can discover why by experiencing the origin of... More »
Microsoft Corp's Xbox 360 outsold Sony's PlayStation 3 in Japan in September, beating the rival machine in monthly unit sales for the first time in Sony's home market, a game magazine publisher said.
Strong sales growth came after Microsoft cut prices for its game console last month.
Microsoft sold 53,547 units of the Xbox 360 in the four weeks to September 28, compared with 33,071 units of the PS3, data from Enterbrain showed on Friday.
Nintendo Co Ltd safely maintained its leading position in the Japanese console market, having sold 109,548 units of the Wii during the month.
Although popular in the United States, the Xbox 360 has been struggling to compete with the PS3 and the Wii in Japan, home to both Sony and Nintendo.
In a bid to lift sales, Microsoft on September 11 cut the price of the Xbox 360 Arcade, which comes without a hard disk drive, by 8,000 yen ($76) to 19,800 yen. It also lowered the price of the high-en... More »
PushingPlay.com (linked above) has shared 7 things consumers should take note of while comparing the new DSi to the 'old' DS Lite. To quote:
Camera - While 2 cameras have been added, only one is visible while playing your games (the other is on the backside). This camera subscribes to the apple webcam mentality that you should ALWAYS have a lens pointed at you.
Finish - The DS Lite had a slightly shiny glossed finish, while the new one seems to be a bit more matte. Maybe this will mean less greasy fingerprints!
Power button - The DS Phat had the power button on the face. The Lite went with the power slider on the side of the system. It looks like the new DS is bringing it back to the old school and putting a power button on the face of the unit. It looks like it doesn’t stick out at all so it is probably pretty hard to hit accidentally.
Screen - Although it’s tough tell in pictures because the systems aren’t to scale, the new DS... More »
Per Grace Chen (Senior Manager, PLAYSTATION Store) today:
Hey, everyone. It’s time again for the PLAYSTATION Store weekly update.
Note: Qore Episode 05 debuts next week on Thursday, 10/9 celebrating Halloween with a scary game roundup featuring Fallout 3, Resident Evil 5, and Dead Space. Plus monster snowboard and skate master, Shaun White takes us on a tour of his new game. Episode 05 also features exclusive access to SEGA’s Valkyria Chronicles demo and some other creepy surprises.
Add-on Game Content
NBA Live 09 Oklahoma City Pack (free)
This pack contains the up-to-date uniforms, logos, arena art and cheerleaders for the recently announced Oklahoma City Thunder NBA franchise.
File size: 42 MB
NBA Live 365 ($19.99)
Get NBA LIVE 365 for daily updates to Dynamic DNA all season long. Dynamic DNA brings unprecedented realism to NBA LIVE 09 with real world results driving Player DNA that d... More »
D3Publisher has announced plans to offer a downloadable PS3 version of Puzzle Quest.
The game will come bundled with the Plague Lord expansion this winter. No price has been mentioned, although we'd guess at around 10 pounds it feels right.
There's little more we can say about Puzzle Quest other than "buy it"; the game has appeared on just about every other system since the DS and PSP originals caused a riot in 2007.
Puzzle Quest is a blend of Bejeweled and an RPG; there's a fantasy tale to unravel, but monsters and baddies met along the way must be defeated in head-to-head puzzles. Those battles are spiced up with the arrival of abilities and spells as players progress.
Pete Smith, Sony Producer for LittleBigPlanet, was recently asked about the potential for a LittleBigPlanet spin-off on the PSP.
Smith refused to comment on the issue though. Earlier this year, Future Publishing rumored that LittleBigPlanet was in development for PSP at Sony Studio Liverpool, and that the game would apparently link up with the PS3 version of the game.
To quote: For all their transparency, the Media Molecule guys are still keeping some plans to themselves. One of them is any potential spin-off on the PSP, something on which Smith refused to comment. Then there are the company's thoughts on just how well LittleBigPlanet is going to do.
Will it meet the rising expectations being build up by incessant media coverage? "We know it's going to have a long tail," is all Smith would say. "With this game it's been really quite tricky to say who's the target audience because it's so broad."
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