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JBO: Joystiq Box Office, June 29 - July 3

by Kevin Kelly { Jul 3rd 2009 at 8:30PM }

We can't be gaming all the time, despite our best efforts, and from time to time we'll actually take advantage of the movie-playing abilities on our gaming systems. JBO features our top picks for XBL, PSN, Netflix's Watch Instantly, and Blu-ray each week.

Recommendation of the Week:

Sunshine (Blu-ray: $29.99): We all know about Danny Boyle and Slumdog Millionaire; winning a few Oscars will do that to your movie, particularly if it's great. However, his sci-fi masterpiece Sunshine is severely underrated and underwatched. The Sun becomes an ominous character in this taut thriller, which, granted, has a plot point that could be completely jettisoned to make for a perfectly streamlined film. However, the sound, the action, and the attention to detail in this movie make this a must see in HD.

Read for the full list on a system by system basis just after the break, this time with a bent toward the upcoming Independence Day holiday this Saturday. As usual, we'll see you at the popcorn st ... well, actually we won't see you at all. But you catch our drift.

Continued →

Telltale engine doesn't support PlayStation ... yet

by Andrew Yoon { Jul 3rd 2009 at 2:45PM }

Telltale has been churning out some fantastic adventure games as of late. The team responsible for Sam & Max, Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People and Wallace & Gromit has found its games on both WiiWare and Xbox Live Arcade. But why no love for the PlayStation Network? It's "easy," explains Dave Grossman to The Guardian. "Our engine doesn't run on the PlayStation yet."

We'd like to think that the developers are working on making the engine that powers these games fully multi-platform. We don't see why Telltale couldn't handle the PS3, especially considering the success found by the folks behind Penny Arcade Adventures.

Trine dev: Project is 'a big mess'

by Justin McElroy { Jul 3rd 2009 at 11:00AM }

To be clear, Frozenbyte spokesman Joel Kinnunen wasn't saying that the company's fantasy action platformer itself is a mess, but everything surrounding it -- like price point disparity between regions and territories -- has become quite the kerfuffle.

The problem, apparently, is that Trine started life as PC game before migrating to PSN and (maybe) XBLA. While that may be good for getting the game to as many people as possible, it's not ideal for a game launch.

"Trine as a project is a big mess," Kinnunen said, "as opposed to Trine as a game, which is pretty sweet. Ultimately it's the game part that really matters and helps us sleep at night, though."

Watch cougars and spoiled brats for free on the PlayStation Store

by Andrew Yoon { Jul 2nd 2009 at 6:00PM }

For a limited time, you'll be able to download free episodes of two Bravo reality shows from the PlayStation Store. The first episodes of The Real Housewives of New Jersey and NYC Prep are available to download for free. These reality shows will lift your spirits, making you thankful for not being these people. Watch comedy ensue as cameras follow a series of desperate New Jersey housewives banter about their hair, and a group of spoiled rich kids complain about how rich they are.

Ain't television grand?

PSN Thursday: The Punisher will shock you to your Qore

by Jem Alexander { Jul 2nd 2009 at 5:00PM }

The American PSN update today isn't quite as interesting as the European one, but it's still got an okay amount of content. Punisher: No Mercy has been released, alongside the latest episode of Qore and the normal amount of DLC. PSP fans can choose from a selection of new games, including Capcom Classics Collection Remixed. There are also some more PS3 and PSP themes and some Rock Band Unplugged DLC.

Choose your platform to view the corresponding release list:

(Note: Continue past the break to view both release lists.)

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Final Fantasy, Street Fighter and Castlevania top the PSone sales charts

by Andrew Yoon { Jul 2nd 2009 at 4:15PM }

Sony is printing money with its slowly expanding library of PSone classics on the PlayStation Store. Playable on both PSP and PS3, these downloadable titles have been an easy way to prey upon gamer nostalgia. Unsurprisingly, the most iconic games of the PS1 era take the top of the PSone downloads chart in the month of June:

Final Fantasy VII
Street Fighter Alpha
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
Crash Bandicoot
Twisted Metal 2
Spyro the Dragon
Crash Bandicoot: WARPED
Crash Bandicoot 2
Wild Arms
Tekken 2

It shouldn't be too surprising to see multiple Crash Bandicoot games take positions in the top 10. He was, after all, PlayStation's official mascot back in the day. Let's remember him with some classic PS1 ads after the break.

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Battlefield 1943 declares war next week, starting July 8

by Alexander Sliwinski { Jul 2nd 2009 at 9:47AM }

Battlefield 1943 is ready to let bullets fly and bombs drop on July 8th and 9th for Xbox Live Arcade and PlayStation Network, respectively. The final declaration of release was made by the official Battlefield 1943 Twitter account, intriguingly named "officialbf1943."

Remember, the "Coral Sea" map can only be unlocked through community collaboration. If you won the game through our Joyswag efforts, don't forget to submit your codes!

Gallery: Battlefield 1943 (05-14-09)

Vandal Hearts delayed for XBLA and PSN, still hearts you

by Randy Nelson { Jul 1st 2009 at 10:30PM }

If you had your heart set on downloading Vandal Hearts: Flames of Judgment via XBLA or PSN this September, prepare to have it broken. Konami has confirmed to Joystiq a report by Eurogamer that the return of the company's classic strategy RPG franchise has been delayed until "winter."

No reason was provided for the postponement of the game, which we first caught a glimpse of earlier this year. Let's hope the developer's equipment wasn't ... wait for it ... vandalized. (That one was from the heart.)

Capcom reveals list of PSP and PS1 games coming to PSN

by Jem Alexander { Jul 1st 2009 at 5:30PM }

Capcom is making good on its promise to release a ridiculous amount of PSP and PS1 titles on the PSN and has announced, via the PS Blog, the next batch of games that will be available to (re)purchase. Resident Evil fans won't be disappointed with the rest of the PS1 franchise entries making their way to the PSN, alongside Dino Crisis. PSP fans will also get their hands on seven titles, including two Mega Man games, two Capcom Classics collections, Darkstalkers and Power Stone Collection.

It's a pretty good bunch of games and you can see the full list after the break. Other than Capcom Classics Remixed, which releases in America this week, none of the other games have been dated for any territory, nor even confirmed for European release. We've contacted Capcom Europe to ask, but release dates for the US will be revealed on the PlayStation Blog over time.

Continued →

SOCOM: Confrontation DLC available later this summer

by Xav de Matos { Jul 1st 2009 at 4:00PM }

SOCOM: Confrontation will soon join the DLC fold, with new content scheduled to drop later this summer. While details on the new content are slim, the game's official site promises more information will be made available in the upcoming weeks. What we do know is the content will include a new area of operation, a new game mode, along with new maps (teased in the tiny image above), characters, weapons and attachments.

Audiophiles will also be happy to hear the game's music will be updated and players can select a new voice-over when the content arrives. Now that SOCOM: Confrontation has evolved beyond its original feature-sparse retail release, we're excited for new ways to get tactical on our online enemies.

Gallery: SOCOM Confrontation

Topatoi spinning to European PSN this week

by Jem Alexander { Jul 1st 2009 at 2:00PM }

We haven't heard much from Topatoi, the spinning 3D platformer developed by Ukrainian developer Boolat Games, since it was announced last November. Now, suddenly, the European PlayStation Blog has revealed that the game will be released this week -- but only in Europe. Boolat's PR manager calls Topatoi "the first part of the saga" and notes that the game will include split-screen multiplayer, with future updates providing more multiplayer modes.

No word on an American release yet -- but it definitely won't be this week. The official Boolat website says an announcement will be coming "soon."

Gallery: Topatoi

See more of PSN's Shatter in motion

by Justin McElroy { Jun 30th 2009 at 12:45PM }

OK, before you watch the video after the break: Imagine if someone traveled into the future, killed all the guys in that Yatta! video and used their blood sacrifice to revive a recently murdered Daft Punk. If they made a game about that, it would be Shatter. Now, you may watch.

We weren't cool enough to hear about Shatter on the E3 show floor, so we, much like yourselves, are just now climbing on the bus. And what a freaked out, Breakout-esque bus it is too.

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PS3 Serious Sam HD could happen if consumers want it

by Majed Athab { Jun 29th 2009 at 5:15PM }

Speaking to G4, Croteam CEO Roman Ribaric said the company originally also wanted to do a PSN version of Serious Sam HD alongside the PC and XBLA releases, but cited time constraints as the major factor holding it back. "[We] couldn't get additional financing to support [the] extra development time needed," said Ribaric. "It was either to do PSN by the same date or forget about it."

Luckily, Croteam hasn't gone with the latter and hasn't completely ruled out releasing a PSN port sometime after the PC and XBLA versions. The Croteam CEO says he's heard from different offices in the industry that consumers are disenchanted with late ports; however, he's still interested in listening to what PS3 owners think. Is it worthwhile for Croteam to pursue? Would you wait for the PSN version? Send Croteam an e-mail or maybe start a petition online -- this might be one of the few times developers will actually listen.

Clap Hanz working on new Hot Shots sports game

by Andrew Yoon { Jun 29th 2009 at 5:00PM }

The Hot Shots series has seen golf and tennis. What's next for the franchise? Well, we're about to find out, as Sony and Clap Hanz are working on a brand new sport for the franchise. A brand new teaser site hides the full name of the game, but we'll find out soon enough: a playable demo will be released simultaneously with the game's reveal this Friday.

The demo will be available for PSP, and will most likely be downloadable through the Japanese PlayStation Store. (So you'll need to register for a Japanese PlayStation Network account, folks.) We can't wait to get our hands on the next Hot Shots game. Hot Shots Bowling? Hot Shots Soccer? Hot Shots Curling? All will be revealed soon enough.

[Via andriasang.com]

Trine PSN costs 2/3 of PC version, scheduled for July release [Update]

by Andrew Yoon { Jun 29th 2009 at 2:45PM }

By now, you're probably familiar with the ambitious, multiplayer puzzle-platformer, Trine. Shacknews is reporting that the upcoming PC version of the game will have an "official" price of $40, with Steam pre-orders available for a discounted $30. (Check out a downloadable demo at BigDownload. Update: We received a clarification from SouthPeak, publisher of the PC game. All versions of the PC game, retail and digital, will cost $30.) Those who want to experience Trine in the most affordable way possible will want to download the PSN version of the game, priced at $20.

Obviously, that's a rather high price point for a downloadable game. However, developer Frozenbyte says the high production values merit the sticker tag. "Trine is far from a game created by a solo hero developer (we have over 20 employees and Trine has contributions from a double amount of people) ... we are very confident that we can deliver a full retail experience with Trine."

Our early impressions of the game suggest Frozenbyte is right. We'd much rather buy this than, say, the equally priced Watchmen: The End is Nigh. While an official PSN date isn't set, the publisher is expecting a July release. An Xbox 360 version of the game, which ~~will support online co-op~~ (a feature not included in the initial PC or PSN releases), is also in the works. [Update 2: Developer Frozenbyte has said that news of online co-op support is "just speculation at this point."]