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Nokia's new mobile racer turns your neighborhood into a speedway

by Randy Nelson { Feb 3rd 2010 at 8:00PM }

Released as a free download for owners of its Symbian^1 based phones (including the N97 and Nokia 5800 Navigation Edition), Nokia's Ovi Maps Racing uses GPS and satellite map data to let players create courses based on nearby streets. The game, developed by RedLynx (Trials HD), is a top-down racer reminiscent of, well, the company's own DrawRace.

We've seen games that utilize satellite maps for their levels before -- most notably (and recently) Sony's The Last Guy -- but the user-focused creation element of this title is certainly an intriguing one. Check out a video of Ovi Maps Racing after the break, and, if you have the game, let us know how it is in comments.

[Via Engadget]

Continued →

Free PSP navigation app finds its way to Japan

by Andrew Yoon { Jan 25th 2010 at 5:45PM }

Here's a nifty app that's almost guaranteed not to make its way to America. x-Radar Portable released stealthily on the Japanese PlayStation Store yesterday for free. The app can detect a user's location and display a map with nearby points of interest. Users can take advantage of the PSP GPS accessory for the most accurate results, but PSPs only equipped with wi-fi access will still be able to use the service. PlaceEngine can determine your location via wi-fi, or you can manually input a train station to see what's nearby.

While most cell phones are equipped with similar services, x-Radar adds a few game-like attributes to make it distinctly PlayStation. For example, users will be able collect spots throughout the country and build a collection to share with friends. Like foursquare, the service will reward you as you discover new places, and you'll even be able to level up an avatar. It's certainly worth a look, provided you live in the land of the rising sun.

New Gran Turismo 5 trailer shows Toyota FT-86 concept driving through your dreams

by Mike Schramm { Jan 16th 2010 at 1:00AM }

It's time for another edition of Expensive and Awesome Stuff That You'll Never Be Able to Do!

Over at the Tokyo Auto Salon 2010, Polyphony Digital showed off a "GPS-track day unit," which is a little box with a card slot in it that you install in a very expensive car like, say, the Toyota FT-86G Concept, as seen above in the new trailer for Gran Turismo 5. That unit will then record your likely very expensive real-life run around a driving track like the famous Nürburgring lap, at which point you'll be able to pull a card out, plug it in your PS3, and then see the real-life run simulated inside the video game itself, where you can watch or even ghost race against it.

It was also mentioned at the Auto Salon that there will be a 3D version of GT5 out "as soon as 3D TVs become available on the market," so presumably later this year. Thanks for watching! Next time on Expensive and Awesome Stuff That You'll Never Be Able to Do: land your very own helicopter on your very own superyacht.

[Thanks, Steliosco!]

Fuel: post-apocalyptic 'GPS' navigation included

by James Ransom-Wiley { Apr 24th 2009 at 2:15AM }

After the coming apocalypse, when the world devolves into an open-world racecourse, we'd be seemingly lost without the Garmins and TomToms of the bygone era. Fear not, though, for it seems a result of the globe-altering warming featured in Codemaster's Fuel is the appearance of giant, airborne ... pointers -- conveniently "pointing" out the path to the finish line. (All that's left, you see, is the finish line.) We suppose then, these guiding arrows are a fair trade for the vicious tornadoes and blinding sandstorms that also -- naturally -- plague this fascinating vision of the future.

Find your way home with the Ranger GPS for DS Lite

by Richard Mitchell { Apr 15th 2009 at 6:15PM }

Don't throw away those DS Lites just yet! GBalpha has announced the Ranger GPS system. which, if it does everything it's supposed to, sounds pretty sweet. The unit plugs into the GBA slot of your DS Lite (and presumably your old DS Phat), features a u-blox GPS module, support for Google Earth and Google Maps and even packs a rechargeable battery.

Sadly, the price remains a mystery, which doesn't really matter as the unit doesn't appear to be available anywhere just yet. Let's just hope it releases before E3; LA traffic is a nightmare.

[Via Engadget]

Rumor: North American GPS still en route for this year

by Majed Athab { Jan 13th 2009 at 9:00AM }

[Update: We're now classifying this story as a rumor, as there is no verifiable press release sent during CES 2009.]

Sony hasn't forgotten about North American GPS for the PSP; though, we suppose you have. We've heard since mid-2008 that the much-sought after service could be coming to North America in 2009, but since then, talk about peripheral had died down. However, according to PSP World, Sony reiterated interest in bringing the guidance system over at the Consumer Electronics Show this past weekend, suggesting that it could very well be on its way to release this year. The peripheral has already been implemented in Europe for several months now and in Japan since 2006.

Spotted @ Comic-Con: the PSP GPS peripheral

by Andrew Yoon { Jul 24th 2008 at 12:00PM }

It's really real. Trust us.After making a debut at CES earlier this year, the GPS accessory disappeared off the face of the earth, with only vague promises that the device will be coming within the next nine months. We don't know what the hold up is, but IGN spotted a working unit at San Diego Comic-Con. Of note, they saw that the device can give different directions based on whether you're in a car, bike or simply on foot. Can Sony please just release this thing already?

GPS games could be heading your way next year

by Andrew Yoon { Jul 22nd 2008 at 2:00AM }

It only took, y'know years, but American PSP owners will be able to enjoy GPS navigation some time next year. Not only will the platform support navigation and maps, as expected, but John Koller wants to offer something a bit more. SCEA is investigating game development which can take advantage of GPS technology. Koller told MTV Multiplayer the upcoming peripheral "changes the dynamics of GPS but also changes the way developers think about games on PSP because you can start integrating GPS into it." According to Koller, Sony will introduce the GPS solution to third party publishers and is currently brainstorming ideas within its first-party studios. "There's been a number of things that our first-party worldwide studios have looked at, and they've been trying to look at different options," he said.

Sony: iPhone not a threat, GPS coming within 9 months

by Alan Tsang { Jul 18th 2008 at 2:45PM }

PSP brand manager John Koller has spoken out about the prospects of the PSP for the rest of 2008: he is confident that like the first half of 2008, key titles like Crisis Core: Final Fantasy and God of War: Chains of Olympus, along with multimedia functionality, will set the system apart from its competitors. Koller also believes the key to maintaining strong sales is to add "new features, new functionality." He also confirms the Go!Explore GPS will go on sale in the States in the next nine months and hopes to convey to consumers the PSP is part of a "broader cultural trend for content on the go."

Addressing the new iPhone App Store, which has many games available for download on it, Koller feels that the iPhone "is more of a threat to DS than anything else" because of its nature as a secondary gaming device, hence attracting more casual gamers. We agree -- with an onslaught of specialized exclusives coming up like Resistance: Retribution, Papapon 2 and Dissidia: Final Fantasy, it certainly seems the PSP is poised to have a bright future.

Video: PSP app uses GPS to remix tunes as you walk

by Randy Nelson { Jul 4th 2008 at 6:00PM }

It's not often (in fact it's never) that you see a game tagline line this: "Make music with a disc of 510 067 420 km² = the Earth." But that's what Oterp, a hombrew PSP app by Antonin Fourneau does.

Oterp uses the PSP GPS add-on to track your relative position on the planet and alters music in real time based on your movements. Its developer has also hard-coded numerous "collection" spots around the globe into the software. Travelling to these locations will unlock new music and effects, similar to unlocking characters via GPS in the Japanese release of Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops. Sounds pretty cool, huh? More videos of it in action can be found at the Oterp site.

[Via MAKE]

More details on the US release of the PSP GPS and keyboard

by Andrew Yoon { May 22nd 2008 at 10:30AM }

It's taking long enough. GPS for PSP is available in many territories around the world, but the US has been trailing behind. Still scheduled for within the next twelve months, the American version of the GPS peripheral will have a few enhancements over its earlier incarnations. The navigation software, created by Tele Atlas, will run entirely in 3D. The software will be available on UMD, and as a downloadable to store directly on Memory Stick. It will be priced between $100 and $200, and will include a carmount. According to Gizmodo, the GPS experience may be enhanced in the US: "Sony is thinking about treasure hunts, friend locaters and other geo-coolness."

In addition, more details about the mysterious PSP keyboard have been unearthed: the keyboard will plug into the AV/headphone port at the bottom, and will flip over to cover the PSP screen when not in use. Other than that new tidbit, the keyboard remains an elusive mystery. Hopefully, we'll learn more during E3.

Go!Explore GPS system on French amazon.com: July release

by Andrew Yoon { May 13th 2008 at 10:00AM }

The Go!Explore pack looks to be a rather fun and useful addition to the PSP's lineup of features. The GPS system is hitting France (and perhaps other parts of Europe) on July 2nd, if amazon.com's French site is to be believed. There are packages bundling both a GPS and PSP system: giving brand new consumers the chance to jump on the PSP bandwagon. We hope SCEA will announce a similar program in the not-too-distant future.

[Via MAXCONSOLE]

Video: PlayStation Day demonstration of PlayTV, Go!Explore

by Andrew Yoon { May 9th 2008 at 8:00PM }

Europe gets all the fun stuff! Watch David Reeve's PlayStation Day presentation about the PSP, which talks about two key PSP products available across the Atlantic: PlayTV and Go!Explore. PlayTV gives PSP owners access to DVR content, through connectivity with PS3. Go!Explore is an affordable GPS utility, which adds yet another fancy tool to PSP's ever-expanding features list. C'mon, SCEA! Give us GPS ... now!

Rumor: New accessories coming in April

by Andrew Yoon { Mar 11th 2008 at 10:05AM }

A supposedly leaked PowerPoint presentation revealed some potentially new accessories from Sony. If this information turns out to be true, PSP owners can anticipate a new traveler case and Media Manager software this coming April/May. Both will retail for $20. More exciting, however, is the potential for a Skype Headset Kit. Currently, PSP owners must purchase two separate accessories in order for Skype to work. Providing one easy to purchase solution is far more ideal.

The same PowerPoint presentation also mentions that SCEA is planning to release the GPS peripheral in America for under $150. Unfortunately, when asked for comment, a SCEA rep informed us that "any information is speculation and rumor."

Spotted@GDC: the PSP GPS receiver

by Andrew Yoon { Feb 25th 2008 at 11:45AM }

We know GPS is coming to PSP some time this year (in fact, we predicted it). So, when we see the peripheral being touted at GDC at Sony's booth on the show floor, our interest gets piqued. Considering the booth was underground, the device apparently had trouble figuring out a precise location. Oh well.

Let's hope for more news on an official release soon.

[Via Engadget]