After a fairly lengthy stint as a Community Manager, maintaining websites for Konami, Square, Namco, and others, I became absorbed by the Joystiq crew, and work blog full-time. I was the lead of the PlayStation Fanboy sites, and currently operate as the Joystiq Network East Coast Editor.
Noteworthy games: Ikaruga (DC), Pokemon (GB), Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask (N64), Half-Life 2 (PC), Metal Gear Solid (PS), God of War II (PS2), Resident Evil 4 (GC), Mario Kart: Super Circuit (GBA), Otogi (XB), Chrono Trigger (SNES), Gitaroo-Man Lives! (PSP), Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan! (DS), Braid (360), Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Wii), Everyday Shooter (PS3)
Don't want to wait for a Blu-ray disc from Netflix? Wish you could watch an HD program instantly (provided your internet connection is robust enough)? The PlayStation Store will be updated today with HD movies for purchase from all six major studios. Previously, movies for purchase were relegated to SD options, whilst HD movies were available exclusively for rent. According to a press release from SCEA, "PlayStation Network is the first to offer high definition movies for purchase from all of the major movie studios," including 20th Century Fox, Walt Disney, Paramount, Sony Pictures, Universal, and Warner Bros.
The HD update will be available today on the PlayStation Store in the US, with "plans to launch soon in the U.K., France, Germany, and Spain." (Sorry, Canada!) While we still prefer owning Blu-ray discs, this downloadable option is yet another way for people to access content.
It's been nearly two years since EA Sports called it quits on the NASCAR franchise (a little less if you count NASCAR Kart Racing). NASCAR gamers are growing impatient and, for better or for worse, will have to wait for the perpetually-delayedGran Turismo 5 to get their NASCAR fix.
At the very least, fans can take comfort in knowing that Blake Davidson, managing director of licensed products at NASCAR, has incredible faith in the game. "They're going to do it better than anybody's ever done it before," he stated in a video posted on the PlayStation.Blog. "It's really the next step for us, it's the best depiction of what NASCAR cars are in any driving game to date." Certainly a bold statement, considering NASCAR is just one feature in the racer.
According to Davidson, one of the reasons why NASCAR teamed up with Polyphony Digital is the recommendation of one of the sports most famous racers today. "Dale Earnhardt, Jr. himself actually came to us and said 'you really need to look at Polyphony Digital. They're a great developer, the best in the world at what they do.'"
The DS has been gifted with games that force players to hold the system in all sorts of weird ways: upside down, to the side, and sometimes even completely closed. PSP is joining the play-your-system-the-wrong-way trend with the newly announced Advance! Protect! Fight!. According to Andriasang, you hold the system vertically. The analog stick is used to move the cursor, with the R button used to click. Essentially, it's meant to simulate a mouse.
Advance! Protect! Fight! should be interesting to play on the PSP Go. In fact, you could probably play the game with just one hand with the Go. Too bad Tecmo couldn't think of this control scheme first, right?
Like good, sane people, our friends at AOL Radio are huge fans of God of War. They've not only managed to add the entire God of War III original soundtrack to the Video Games Score station, but they're also giving away a free downloadable MP3 from the upcoming PS3 game. "Brothers of Blood," composed by Cris Velasco, has everything you'd expect from a God of War instrumental track: a brass-heavy orchestral score with dramatic choral singing.
Should you want your morning commute to get a little more vengeance-y, head over to the AOL Radio blog to download the MP3 onto your favorite MP3 player.
There may be a disappointing lack of beer and laser-shooting owls in this new set of screenshots from The Flying Hamster. But don't worry, the game still looks absolutely insane. The upcoming side-scrolling shooter for the PSP stars -- what else? -- an adorable flying hamster, as he makes his way through levels clearly designed by a Mad Libs book. Seriously, what's going on in this image? We have no idea.
Check out the rest of the images in our gallery below. The Flying Hamster should be available for download via the PlayStation Network later this year.
It looks like the PlayStation "Virtual Console" is expanding beyond PSone and TurboGrafx-16 games. Siliconera spotted updates to a number of classic NeoGeo titles, including Metal Slug, The King of Fighters '94 and Fatal Fury. All of these titles have been re-rated to include the PS3 and PSP.
Other NeoGeo games to appear on the ESRB database include Alpha Mission II and Baseball Stars 2. Like the listings above, these games also support both the PS3 and PSP. Hopefully, these downloadable NeoGeo games will feature the same functionality as PSone classics, specifically the ability to download to both the PS3 and PSP for no additional charge.
Perhaps the most significant complaint against early PSP games was about lengthy load times. Modern PSP games have largely alleviated this problem, sometimes with the help of a middleware solution from CRI called "File Majik Pro." If that sounds familiar, its because the same tech was made available for PS3 developers two years ago.
The tech allows developers to better compress files, and rearranges data in the most efficient way possible. It also offers the ability to install data onto the Memory Stick, for quicker loads on UMD-based games. Already, major PSP games have taken advantage of the tech, including Persona 3 Portable, Soulcalibur: Broken Destiny, and Valkyria Chronicles 2.
So, how will players be able to identify PSP games that take advantage of this technology? One way is to look for the "Criware" logo on the box. It's likely you've seen their logo load before a game -- and now you know what they do.
Although it commanded a large presence at E3, Sony has been otherwise quiet about God of War III. With the game's release only weeks away, Sony has opened the floodgates, revealing new footage, highlighting new levels, and most importantly, advertising the game on TV. The European markets are treated to an ad which simply states "Revenge Starts Here." The ad doesn't need a gimmick: it simply relies on real-time footage of the game.
The station plays songs randomly, so you may not immediately hear all of these ditties; however, it should give you a good idea of what's included in the $100 premium box you probably already pre-ordered.
How far would you go ... to have better box art for Heavy Rain? Thankfully, you won't have to go much farther than a color printer. The "wet t-shirt" Heavy Rain box art shipped to North American retailers today can now be replaced by the much classier -- and far more representative -- European box art. Make sure you use high quality paper and ink. "I'd recommend printing it on an 11 x 17 and cutting along the lines so it fits just right," SCEA's Cristian Cardona advises.
If you haven't picked up Heavy Rain yet, you may want to check out our review. Then, check out a new trailer after the break.
Valkyria Chronicles is the gift that keeps on giving*. Good thing, because it has a small, but loyal fanbase that's always hungry for more cel-shaded SRPG action.
Next Thursday, the PlayStation Store will update with another pack of Valkyria Chronicles DLC: "Edy's Detachment" will include six missions, each focused on mastering a certain class, including Scout, Shocktrooper, Lancer, Engineer, Sniper, and Tank. It's a small sampling ofcontent (price: TBD) before Valkyria Chronicles 2 hits PSP later this year.
It seems almost every PSP game franchise wants to take a page from Monster Hunter Portable (for obvious reasons). Project Ace's upcoming Ace Combat: Joint Assault unsurprisingly adds four player co-op -- but with its aerial combat, it should prove a refreshing change from hunting monsters, eating gods, and peace walking.
While the graphics of Joint Assault have taken an obvious hit from its transition down to PSP, we're impressed by the locales shown by the trailer. It seems dogfights will blaze through the skies of Tokyo, San Francisco, London and Egypt. Hopefully, we'll see more of the game before it releases later this year.
PlayStation Home will be getting a near-lethal injection of cuteness tomorrow, thanks to the brand new LocoIsland Estate. Available in Europe for £3.99 (US release TBA), the virtual island features a giant tree house and, even more exciting, a virtual cruise. The Estate also grants access to mini-games, like LocoReverse and a Domingo race.
In addition to the LocoRoco space, PlayStation Home will also be getting a MotorStorm space. The MotorStorm Carrier is a decommissioned aircraft carrier that also features its own mini-games, quests and rewards (just like real-life aircraft carriers!). Check out trailers for both new spaces after the break.
It's no secret that shmup fans love inflicting pain on themselves. That's why they'll undoubtedly love the news that the upcoming PSN-exclusive shooter Soldner-X 2 will feature a new "Challenge" mode -- as if the game wasn't going to be challenging enough! In this new mode, players will have to complete a variety of tasks in order to earn Trophies, bonus items and additional credits. Considering the near-impossible task of earning a 100 percent in the first game, this new mode is sure to further frustrate and delight hardcore gamers.
Soldner-X 2 will be available on the PlayStation Network some time this Spring.
Didn't check out Creat Studios' Digger HD when it released on PSN last year? Don't worry, as you'll be able to get a free taste soon. A free downloadable demo will be added to the PlayStation Store on February 18th in Europe, and February 25th in North America.
For the uninitiated, Digger HD is (unsurprisingly) an HD remake of the classic Digger arcade game from the 80s. You control a construction vehicle that must go through an underground maze, digging to collect treasures and power-ups, while avoiding monsters.
After a fairly lengthy stint as a Community Manager, maintaining websites for Konami, Square, Namco, and others, I became absorbed by the Joystiq crew, and 
