Joystiq [Playstation]

Xav de Matos

Toronto, Canada - http://

I'm the Internet's Xav de Matos. I write about games for a living. Strange?

EMAIL: xav [at] joystiq [dot] com
TWITTER: @XAV

Stack 'em up and watch this Socom: Fire Team Bravo 3 dev diary

by Xav de Matos { 5 days ago }

Hold on to your helmets, soldiers, because SOCOM: Fire Team Bravo 3 is breaching stores on January 12, 2010, and the game's dev team is excited. How excited? Excited enough to sit in front of a camera and talk about the PSP title's action-packed story and "authentic" gameplay. SOCOM: Fire Team Bravo 3 is set to continue the series' (sadly forgettable) storyline and includes online co-op and over 70 weapons to show terrorist scum who's boss.

Still undecided? Here are some more PSP Digital Comic samplers

by Xav de Matos { 7 days ago }

If you're on the fence about Sony's upcoming PSP Digital Comics service, the PlayStation UK blog has a few more sampler comics to decide whether the feature piques your interest. Available for lucky users in the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa are two sampler comics, featuring the service's highly touted Autoflow feature -- which mimics the way your eyes read a page. Following the release of the PSP's 6.20 firmware, PlayStation released comic samples of Transformers: All Hail Megatron and Aleister Arcane.

Free sample first-issues of Star Trek: Enterprise Experiment and Astro Boy: The Movie Adaptation are available until December 16. In order to grab your sample, make sure to first download the Comic App via the "Extras" section of the XMB (or through this link) for your PSP and use the redemption codes available on PlayStation's UK blog. Then prepare to use your amazing 3D hardware to ... read!

Shoot on sight: PixelJunk Shooter's first level

by Xav de Matos { 9 days ago }

For those anticipating the release PixelJunk Shooter, VG247 has footage of the first level in action to whet your appetite. Or drive you bonkers because you aren't the one playing it. Clocking in at around 12 minutes, the video gives you a taste of the game's unique blend of shooting and puzzle solving.

Sadly the game isn't set to hit the PSN until December 10, according to VG247. So for now, all we can do is wait... and dream of a brighter future. Check out the game in action after the break.

Gallery: PixelJunk Shooter

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LittleBigPlanet Creator's Edition DLC delayed, producer apologizes

by Xav de Matos { 12 days ago }

Budding LittleBigPlanet PSP level designers who invested in the game's Creator's Edition were promised exclusive DLC via a redemption code included in the package; however, technical issues have made the content unavailable, according to senior producer Mark Green. In a letter posted on the PlayStation UK blog, Green apologized for the "technical hurdles," promising the content would release in early December with additional bonuses, as an apology for the wait.

"We need to ensure that these issues are resolved properly so that you have the best possible experience with the game," Green wrote. The content is currently undergoing a "rigorous" quality assurance process and should be made available around December 7 -- unless other hurdles come up. So, just a few more weeks until Creator's Edition players are able to develop their exclusive (and probably phallic) levels.

Media Molecule wants to share PS3 memory tool with devs

by Xav de Matos { 18 days ago }

Media Molecule lead architect Paul Holden said he would like to make a proprietary memory monitoring tool his company developed for the PlayStation 3 available to other studios. Speaking at the Montreal Game Summit, as reported by Develop, Holden said the tool helps map and control memory usage in games, which became necessary during the development of LittleBigPlanet.

"It would be great if we could release it for people to use," Holden told the crowd during a Q&A session following his keynote address. "We could definitely get it released to PS3 developers with little difficulty." The tool, named HeapMon, allows software to make and manage numerous requests of the PS3's hardware memory.

However, before Media Molecule is able to hand the "very simple tool" off to other development teams, Holden clarified that Sony would first need to approve the decision. We suspect an online petition is in the works, because they work.

SOCOM: Fireteam Bravo 3 multiplayer deets uncovered

by Xav de Matos { 22 days ago }

Over at the PlayStation Blog, details for the competitive multiplayer modes for SOCOM: Fireteam Bravo 3 have spilled out revealing the game will feature 16-player competitive multiplayer games across eight maps and seven new modes. The modes -- which are available both locally and over the Internet -- include a "Leader Mode" allowing players to designate team captains and a "Tug-of-War" mode, where teams fight for tickets similar to the Battlefield franchise.

Playing SOCOM: Fireteam Bravo 3 online also allows worldwide players to experience tournaments, clan modes, character customization and voice chat. Voice chat, you say? Finally our dream of bringing hateful language on the go can be realized.

Comet Crash update brings new content and features

by Xav de Matos { 24 days ago }

A new (and free) title update, now available for the PSN-exclusive Comet Crash, introduces new levels, maps, battle settings and an "expert" difficulty mode to the Tower Defense-style game. What sets Comet Crash apart from other titles in the genre is the game's offensive gameplay, allowing players to send waves of their own forces against an ongoing alien threat. Aliens as enemies in a video game? Creativity! According to the PlayStation Blog, the 1.03 update includes:

"Expert" difficulty setting for seasoned Comet Crash players.
4 new Resurgence levels -- one unlocked at the end of each comet during the Campaign.
4 new Battle maps.
Battle timer setting. After the timer runs out, all mobile units generate at 8x the normal rate.
Thorium setting to tweak available resources in Battle mode.

Race against the Motorstorm: Arctic Edge devs tomorrow

by Xav de Matos { 1 month ago }

The development team at Bigbig Studios -- who are ironically comprised of employees under 5 feet tall on average* -- will face off against Motorstorm: Arctic Edge players tomorrow in an evening multiplayer event. According to the PlayStation UK Blog, the event will take place on European servers from 17:30 GMT (1:30PM EDT) to 19:00 GMT (3:00PM EDT).

Along with (probably) destroying the community at the PSP racer they made, the developers will offer a live Twitter commentary to the Europe-only event. That's right. Bigbig Studios is so confident they will destroy the opposition they will be tweeting as they race. That, kids, is called confidence.

*This information is probably not accurate.

PlayStation UK Blog brings BioWare doctors in for Dragon Age live chat

by Xav de Matos { 1 month ago }

BioWare fans should start polishing up their Dragon Age: Origins related questions, because the good Canadian doctors from the famed studio will be on hand for a live chat with fans this Friday, October 23, on the PlayStation UK Blog.

Beginning at 7PM BST (2PM EDT), BioWare co-founders Ray Muzyka and Greg Zeschuck will be on hand taking questions about its latest role-playing game. The hour-long event will give fans a chance to ask about upcoming content, exclusive bonuses and what it's like working with ~~that evil clown from Steven King's It~~ Tim Curry.

Dizzee Rascal gets first keys to Home's new SingStar VIP space

by Xav de Matos { 2 months ago }

British artist Dizzee Rascal will headline the European launch of the new SingStar VIP space during an online PlayStation Home event on September 24 at 20:00 BST (UK time)/ 21:00 CEST (Mainland Europe). The Mercury Award-winning rapper will be on hand to promote his upcoming fourth album Tongue N' Cheek and answer fan questions, but not before taking the stage to perform some of his chart topping jams and his upcoming single.

If you need more incentive to connect, Home users who join the artist's launch party can get their hands on a free Dizzee Rascal mask (as terrifyingly seen above) for 48 hours. With an accessory as crazy as that, we hope to see a quick Quincy resurgence.

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September Qore heads to Skywalker Ranch, subscribers get MAG beta

by Xav de Matos { 3 months ago }

September's episode of Qore features a view from Skywalker Ranch, as the soundtrack to Naughty Dog's Uncharted 2: Among Thieves is mixed and mastered at George Lucas' famous estate. Qore also sits down with gear head Jay "Retired for 10 Seconds" Leno and talks about his involvement with PSP's long-in-development installment of Gran Turismo. But, the real meat of this month's episode is access to the upcoming MAG beta -- for gamers not lucky enough to have been invited already.

Users are automatically entered into the beta test -- set to begin later this month -- if they are Qore subscribers. If you're thirsty for large-scale online battles, users who subscribe to Qore on or before September 17 will also be invited. Sadly, purchasing September's episode alone will not net you the beta access. Even sadder, we're used to having to pay our way into these exciting bonuses.

Check out a preview for this month's episode after the break.

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US SingStore adds Blondie, individual Coldplay tracks

by Xav de Matos { 3 months ago }

Brace your faces, karaoke fans -- SingStar's US store has added even more content to help you sing the night away. This week the US SingStore has added a Blondie song pack comprised of five hits from the 70s-80s phenom as well as individual Coldplay tracks, originally released together as a package a few months ago.

The store is also adding a few international flavors with tracks from (the awesome) Los Delinquentes with fellow Spanish star Bebe and Portugal's ironically named (because he's totally not a giant) Sir Giant. Full track listing can be found after the break.

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Cage: Multiple playthroughs of Heavy Rain could 'kill the magic of it'

by Xav de Matos { 3 months ago }

In a recently posted excerpt from a GamesCom 2009 interview, Quantic Dream's David Cage told G4TV that multiple playthroughs of the upcoming Heavy Rain could "kill the magic of it." Cage's hope is that players approach the title as they do life -- with no second chances -- but the dev understands (and accepts) that players will eventually attempt to relive the experience.

"The right way to enjoy Heavy Rain is really to make one thing because it's going to be your story. It's going to be unique to you. It's really the story you decided to write." While Cage is fine with players going back to experience the title multiple times, we have a sneaking suspicion that Quantic is working on an Inspector Gadget style self-destruction feature for Heavy Rain's retail release.

Gallery: Heavy Rain: The Origami Killer

Fallout 3 DLC Trophies show up in player profiles

by Xav de Matos { 3 months ago }

New trophies tied to the downloadable content for Fallout 3 have appeared on player profiles recently, leading some to ~~pray with all their might~~ believe Bethesda could release the content early. Originally planned for a late-June release, the first of Fallout 3's DLC was delayed by Bethesda to the "end of September." Whether the appearance of the trophies signify an early release for the DLC or not, it appears the content is just around the corner for those clamoring for an excuse to revisit the Wasteland.

Whenever it releases, the first downloadable content for the PlayStation 3 version of Fallout 3 will be the level-raising adventure 'Broken Steel' -- originally the third DLC pack for Xbox 360 users. If Fallout 3 has yet to make its way into your library and you're the inquisitive type, you can check out the new trophy listing [via Kotaku] after the break.

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Tanaka on bringing FFXI character names into Final Fantasy XIV

by Xav de Matos { 3 months ago }

When it was announced at E3, Square Enix mentioned the development team was looking for a way to allow players to bring their existing Final Fantasy XI character names into Final Fantasy XIV. At the recent GamesCom event in Cologne, Final Fantasy XIV producer Hiromichi Tanaka wouldn't confirm the feature would be included, but noted Square Enix would like to give incentives for players of its first MMO outing.

Tanaka notes the process of allowing names to carry over into a new Final Fantasy MMO could cause conflicts, but proposes one solution that could work: Force people to add a surname. "Players can keep their main name, but they can add something else to their surname -- that way players with overlapping names can keep their names from FFXI, but they can add something on to it to make it unique," Tanaka told the PlayStation Blog.

Tanaka also discussed Final Fantasy XIV's combat system, which -- as already revealed -- will not be based on a job system. FFXIV's armory system will allow players to switch weapons and abilities within the game, to best suit players who prefer to go solo or as part of a team. As players use weapons and equipment more frequently, the statistics of those items grow, building a stronger class of character without grinding for experience points.

While Tanaka was asked to name his biggest MMO-based inspiration, he quietly brushed the question aside, noting the community was his biggest influence. But clearly Tanaka's biggest MMO influence is Final Fantasy XI ... what else is out there?