Super Stardust HD gets secretly updated
by Jem Alexander 
{ Dec 16th 2007 at 11:00AM }
The game now has full support for Dual Shock 3 rumble controllers, as well as a new online store section in the main menu. Currently this contains two add-on packs, a "Single Player expansion" and a "Multiplayer expansion", both of which are marked as "coming soon". The high score table now shows score, highest rank, session time and the time that the score was submitted. Along with the new game statistics section, you can keep a scarily accurate tally of how long you've played, how many of each enemy you've killed and how many times you've completed each level.
We've saved the best for last, though. The new version has full support for custom soundtracks. These can be edited from within the game utilising any music on your PS3's hard drive. Playing Super Stardust HD to Sufjan Stevens' "Songs for Christmas" is an amazingly cathartic experience. We currently have no idea if the US PSN Store has the upgraded version of the game yet, or when its official release is supposed to be. We will keep you informed.
[Thanks Withnail!]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
drdre74 @ Dec 16th 2007 11:34AM
sounds like a cool update for the game. Can't wait for the US update of it. Why is it the PSN games are getting in game music but they haven't done it for all games yet? Is that just something Sony is being lazy about and making the Devs put it in games.
SuperFist @ Mar 8th 2008 11:40AM
The in-game music on the XMB is not something that is feasible at this point. You have to wait for Home to see if they will implement this feature. Oh, and by the way, just because it's on the Xbox 360 doesn't mean its a good thing, either. Each console has their own unique features and shortcomings. Why can't everyone leave this in-game music thing alone, already?! It's better when it's implemented by the game developer anyway.
Case in point, the GTA Trilogy. On the original Xbox, it was within the game and it allowed you to change your music on either tapes or CDs depending on the GTA version; however, when you played the same game on the Xbox 360, this is disabled because they figure you can just play your own music "over everything else" which is not cool because it doesn't cut out when other people are talking like it did on the original Xbox. In otherwords, on the Xbox 360, the music doesn't fully integrate with the events of the game, so it's not all that great, in my opinion. Plus, I NEVER USE IT!!!
Popfrogs @ Dec 16th 2007 1:28PM
@superfist: Actually this feature has been available to devs for quite a while. It just seems that PS3 developers would rather you listen to their music than your own.
Noshino @ Dec 16th 2007 4:24PM
yes, like Popfrogs metioned, this has been available for a while, the thing here is that Sony (based on some other articles) has given the devs the flexibility to add it or not, I guess its much harder to add it into a normal game, hence why some PSN titles have it....
meh, after all, we just have to wait and see, not much we can do =(
Extinction @ Dec 16th 2007 11:36AM
I just checked and the North American version is not updated yet
TripleTags @ Dec 16th 2007 11:57AM
I have always wanted to play this game to Pendulum (they do the opening track for motorstorm or a track in motorstorm the drum and bass one) .. i hope that multiplayer expansion means online that would revive this game for me to weekly status ;).
Chris Rah Osiris @ Dec 16th 2007 11:51AM
this needs to hurry to the states. I want this update
just1gamer @ Dec 16th 2007 12:44PM
I hope the multiplayer pack includes online AND splitscreen, i love playing multiplayer but hate being tethered to the other person do to the movement restrictions. I can't wait!
linebeginstoblur @ Dec 16th 2007 1:01PM
If you have to pay for the single- and multiplayer expansions, and this update is mainly for DualShock 3 support, don't you think that this would be offered as a free patch, and then the expansions would be purchasable add-ons? I hope so. I thought that the rumble feature should be something that's offered for free.
I just finally bought this game a few days ago, literally. But of course, it's not in the news until just when I buy it and they start talking about re-buying the game. Lol.
ill trooper @ Dec 16th 2007 1:46PM
I like the music that the game has! I like having the option though.
SuperFist @ Dec 16th 2007 1:59PM
I know this feature has been available to developers since the PS3 debuted but the fact of the matter is people don't want the developers to supply it, they want Sony to make it a part of the interface like the XBL Dashboard: to be able to access every function on the XMB, while the game is paused in the background - it ain't gonna happen, people! Wait for Home, it will be better than what the XBL currently offers with the 360.
thatdidnthurt @ Dec 16th 2007 3:08PM
Ummm, this feature is already in the bowling game and it works just fine.
rockmanjoey @ Dec 16th 2007 2:33PM
Very good update, the DualShock 3 support is good, the custom soundtrack feature is great also. Just played Daft Punk to Stardust HD ^____^
The graphics look updated aswell, the stats have more detail as PSFanboy has said.
I originally bought from the US PS Store but for £4.99 I couldnt refuse the update, plus its 148MB which is 152MB smaller than the US Download!
Anyways back to Stardust HD!
Imbro @ Dec 16th 2007 4:00PM
A lot of people like to complain about not being able to access their music list, and voip while playing a game. However adding this is in as a standard is not as good as you might think. If a developer chooses not add it, it is cpu and memory which can be used in other areas of the game.
Foom Man @ Dec 16th 2007 4:06PM
Anyone know if redownloading the game works in the US yet? I tried earlier to no avail.
White_hell @ Dec 16th 2007 4:10PM
Got the update
fairly good
Visual update isnt noticable for me to be honest
The main feature i would say is the custom soundtrack
This is making me want in game custom music for all games (which before i didnt want as much)
great update!
Foom Man @ Dec 16th 2007 4:18PM
White Hell, are you from the USA?
Rolento @ Dec 16th 2007 4:40PM
you guys at PS3fanboy do realize that if you downloaded something, it's removed from the store so you don't accidentally buy it again. In order to redownload it without paying again, just go to your account info and choose the download history. redwonload and money saved... I'm just surprised a PS3 focused site didn't realize this. keep up the good work though.
Christian @ Dec 16th 2007 5:09PM
I think you misunderstood what they said. They said it disappeared from their download list, which is what you are referring to. Because of that, they had to go to the store and purchase it again. And I cannot wait for the expansion packs for this game. I love this game, just got tired of it after a while when new games began to come out.
Beano @ Dec 16th 2007 5:40PM
Downloaded the new version (no re-purchase required for me in Europe)... rumble is well implemented (I got a DS3) and the custom soundtrack works well. However I really can't see any improvement to the graphics... but nice update after all ;)
Guy Gildersleve @ Dec 16th 2007 5:50PM
Foom Man
no i am not from the US
im from the UK
snsr @ Dec 16th 2007 6:01PM
"Why can't everyone leave this in-game music thing alone, already?! It's better when it's implemented by the game developer anyway."
Poster has obviously never used a 360 with selectable in-game music from their connected ipod. It rocks.
SuperFist @ Mar 8th 2008 11:39AM
"Poster has obviously never used a 360 with selectable in-game music from their connected ipod. It rocks."
Ummmm...actually, I have... and it's nothing to brag about. I'd rather be able to transfer my MP3 files freely to the harddrive from CDs, external harddrives or iPods, but wait, I can't do that with my Xbox 360, only with my PS3. That's probably why my 360's been collecting dust in the corner... maybe if they opened that functionality up, paying $180 for a 120GB harddrive might make a little bit of sense. What's the use of all that space if you can't transfer anything? I can already play movie files from my PC on my HDTV, so streaming is useless to me.
Anything else?
mizkhak @ Dec 17th 2007 6:45AM
I could download it again with no problem, no money necessary (EU here).
As for enhanced graphics, they added some yellow glow behind your spacecraft, it's slightly more visible whenever the action on screen gets hectic.
The music thing is fun for contrasts, though. Shooting down space debris to a soundtrack featuring Japanese enka is fun, I just discovered. I always put my collections into shuffle mode. Must try some classical opera...
Don't set all your hopes on the single and multiplayer modes, though, because I've seen the pricing in there: EUR 4.99 for SP, but EUR 29.99 for MP? Excuse me? But let's be fair and see what they have in stock for us when they finally release that stuff.
Foom Man @ Dec 17th 2007 12:27AM
I rrrreeeeally want to know when I'll be able to redowload the game here stateside.
craig @ Dec 17th 2007 6:47AM
-> Superfist
Why would you want to spend $120 on a larger hard drive in order to transfer music/videos/photos? Isn't that one of the major selling points of wireless technology. For someone who obviously is up to date on technology (you own both major consoles), you are somehow very behind in utilization of the technology. I don't need the redundacy, I've already got RAID on my PC. Give me custom soundtracks from iPod/iPhone and wireless streams and then you'll impress me. The 360 custom soundtracks are perfect, no one cares about an isolated instance with a backwards compatible title that no one plays anymore.