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Comic download service hitting PSP by end of year in Japan

by Andrew Yoon { Jul 8th 2009 at 12:30PM }

Remember when we discovered an early prototype of a downloadable comics service for PSP? Well, it looks like it's coming to fruition. According to a release by PlayStation Japan, comics will be made available through the PlayStation Store by year's end. The comics will take advantage of the high resolution screen offered by the PSP, and will be compatible with all versions of the PSP, from the original 1000 to the new PSP Go.

SCEA and SCEE have not announced plans to follow in Japan's footsteps. However, we're hopeful that by year's end, PSP owners will be able to read both English and Japanese comics on the go.

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]

SCEE: PSP Go takes advantage of early adopter 'premium'

by Andrew Yoon { Jun 25th 2009 at 1:30PM }

Michael Pachter retracted one of the most correct statements he's ever made: the PSP Go is a "rip off" for consumers. The PSP Go takes away the expensive-to-manufacture UMD drive and replaces it with cheap flash memory -- and yet it still costs more than the current PSP-3000. Fun fact: You can buy a standard PSP and 16GB Memory Stick Duo Pro right now for less than a PSP Go.

Sure, the new form factor looks nice, but Sony should have no manufacturing costs to pass down to the consumer. MCV asked SCEE's Andrew House if R&D or retailer markups were the reason behind PSP Go's high price. "Those aren't the factors," House admitted. "When you introduce a new piece of hardware you have the opportunity to say there is a certain premium that is associated with it, and we took that into account."

Essentially, House is admitting you can charge more for technology when it's new. It's unsurprising, but it certainly leaves a bad taste knowing Sony can easily charge less for the PSP Go. Perhaps Sony will follow the iPhone's footsteps and suddenly drop the price of the PSP weeks after early adopters pay their "premium" price.

PSP devs given 'opportunity to look at non-gaming applications'

by Jem Alexander { Jun 25th 2009 at 12:00PM }

PlayStation's Al De Leon was sneaking around New York with a prototype of the new PSP Go and, when asked about possibility of developers producing non-game applications for the device (and, in turn, other versions of the PSP), stated that content "will mostly be games, but there's an opportunity to look at non-gaming applications." Speaking to CNET, he demonstrated the new device in a video, which you can see after the break.

With rumors pointing to a non-gaming section of the PSP Store set to be revealed at Gamescom Cologne in August, we could be seeing some interesting non-gaming additions to the PSP library soon.

[Via Edge-Online]

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Go to have same battery life as standard PSP

by Andrew Yoon { Jun 12th 2009 at 7:45PM }

You'd think that by removing the battery-draining UMD drive, the new PSP Go would have an improved battery life over its predecessors. That doesn't appear to be the case, as the European PlayStation.Blog notes "the battery life is equivalent with the current models." According to the site, that means "approximately 3 to 6 hours for gameplay and approximately 3 to 5 hours for playing back videos."

The smaller system obviously contains a smaller battery, but we're still surprised Sony hasn't managed to engineer better battery tech for the upcoming handheld. Seems like those that want the most juice out of a PSP will want to stick with the 2000 series, equipped with the extended life battery.

[Via Shacknews]

A 'majority' of back catalog PSP games available to download Oct. 1, all first party titles thereafter

by Alexander Sliwinski { Jun 10th 2009 at 2:00PM }

Sony has confirmed that "just about" every PSP game releasing after October 1 -- the release date of the PSPgo -- would be available for download. PlayStation Blog's Jeff Rubenstein stated on Sunday (via Destructoid) that he couldn't speak about the availability of third party titles at that time.

We followed up with Rubenstein today and he told us, "The majority of back catalog PSP games will be made available for download around the launch of the PSPgo." We made sure to ask if he was speaking strictly about first-party titles and he told us he meant "the majority overall."

So, as of October 1: A "majority" of past PSP titles will be available for download.
After October 1: All first party titles will release as downloads on the PlayStation Network.

Gallery: PSP Go

Impressions: Invizimals

by Andrew Yoon { Jun 8th 2009 at 7:00PM }

While conducting some tests for SCEI, a researcher at Sony's HQ in Japan realized that the PSP Go!Cam could see a visual spectrum far beyond human vision. Scattered throughout the world is a mystical energy that only the PSP camera could detect. Clearly, this is the beginning of something big!

However, what if this energy fell into the wrong hands? Couldn't someone harness the energy for the purposes of evil? What if someone were to create a weapon with this mysterious energy?

This meta-story sets the stage for Sony's upcoming camera-required PSP game, Invizimals. Those lucky to see the behind-closed-doors demonstration at E3 were charmed by its high-tech devilry and innovative concept that many have been quick to call "Pokemon ... on crack."

Gallery: Invizimals

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PSP Go and buy all-new accessories

by Randy Nelson { Jun 6th 2009 at 1:00AM }

click to enlarge

Sony had a spot in its press-only booth area reserved for showing off the various accessories that will be available for PSP Go when it hits US shelves on October 1. There were cases, wrist straps, Sony-branded screen protectors ... and wait, what was that? Since the handheld doesn't have a standard mini USB port like the PSP-3000, we'll have to buy all new accessories? Sad, but true.

The PSP Go has a new multifunction port on its base (check out the video!) that is used for everything from data transfer to charging to video output. While asking owners of the older model to change a USB cable is not really a big deal, the fact that more expensive existing accessories -- such as component A/V cables, voice headsets and pretty much anything made to work with the 3000 -- are completely incompatible is cringe-worthy. That's not even taking into account third-party add-ons, or things like Sony's own GPS module.

We know Sony is planning a trade-in program for UMD games; somehow we think the company won't be extending the same offer to include cables, peripherals and other accessories.

One hand-on with PSP Go

by Alexander Sliwinski { Jun 2nd 2009 at 5:30PM }

Here's the PSP Go that we got a hold of on the show floor playing Little Big Planet. Of course, the thing that kinda threw a wrench into the works is that the handheld was locked open -- which kinda defeats the whole point of showing the device. Otherwise, the device is about the size of an iPhone collapsed and there's still only one analog stick.

Gran Turismo for PSP finally parking October 1st

by Mike Schramm { Jun 2nd 2009 at 2:55PM }

Hot on the heels of the PSP Go announcement, Sony also tells us at E3 that Gran Turismo may finally see release on the system. They say that even though the game will be on the tiny system, it will be packed with content: 800 cars to race around on 35 tracks with multiple variations that actually allow for 60 different race route. In singleplayer, you'll be able to run singleplayer time trials, and there will also be a mode to help your driving improve. Multiplayer will bring ad hoc four player racing as well as the ability to trade cars back and forth with your friends.

The game will release on October 1, right alongside the new PSP system.

Report: Developers told of PSP rental plans at GDC

by Andrew Yoon { May 21st 2009 at 12:30PM }

It looks like Sony's been thinking of doing a PSP games rental service for quite some time now. A consumer survey we discovered yesterday gauged interest in a PSN-powered games rental service for the PSP. Through the hypothetical service, PSP owners would pay a monthly fee to gain access to a library of new and archived games on the PlayStation Store.

According to a report by Develop, Sony pitched plans of a rental service to developers at GDC last March. Certainly, a PSN-centric PSP would be far more attractive to developers that have shied away due to piracy concerns. Offering a rental service would be yet another nail in UMD's coffin, and would perhaps incentivize PSP development once again.

PSP targeting youngsters for the first time

by Justin McElroy { May 20th 2009 at 2:25PM }

OK, so the all-candy PSP was an impractical (if noughaty) way to reach the world's youth. The company's having another go at them with its new initiative, PSPinyourhands.com, which lets families upload pictures of their interests into 3D galleries and share them. ... No, we don't get it either, but whatever, it's not our money.

What's of more interest to us is this quote from Claire Backhouse, UK product manager for the PSP: "PSP is going for a younger market, which isn't something we've really done before." So, you haven't been marketing your game system to kids? We think we just pieced together why Sony is losing the portable war.

[Via Edge]

America gets not-special Limited Edition Dissidia PSP bundle

by Jem Alexander { May 14th 2009 at 7:15PM }

Click for high-resolution box art.

Square Enix loves bundling its PSP games with hardware. It's the company's way of single-handedly getting more systems into the wild so that more people will buy its next game -- and there's always a "next game." Strangely, these bundles tend to be more common in Japan and Europe, but not anymore. The PlayStation Blog has just announced that a Dissidia bundle is headed to the US of A, exclusive to Gamestop.

For $199.99 your new Dissidia bundle, available on August 25, will contain a copy of Dissidia, a copy of Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children, a 2GB memory stick and a ~~special branded Dissidia PSP-3000~~. Oh, wait -- it's just a bog standard Mystic Silver system. Where's the limited edition Dissidia unit that was available in Japan? Oh well, if Crisis Core is anything to go by, Europe will probably get it when it finally releases there in the year 2051.

Gallery: Final Fantasy Dissidia

Joystiq Review: Patapon 2

by Jem Alexander { May 4th 2009 at 3:30PM }

At a glance, Patapon 2 looks almost identical to its 2008 predecessor. However, Sony's Japan Studio has, as it did with Loco Roco 2, expanded upon the original game, resulting in a sequel that retains the simple gameplay and charm of the original but offers a much larger list of features and levels.

Once again, a sequence of drum beats is used to issue commands to your Patapon troops, though the sequel adds new layers on top of these mechanics. It's as addictive as its predecessor, with the extra bells and whistles making it just that little bit deeper -- though not at the expense of its immediate simplicity. You'll be humming "Pon Pon Pata Pon" before you know it.

Gallery: Patapon 2

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One more thing: Soulcalibur Broken Destiny heading to PSP

by Andrew Yoon { Apr 28th 2009 at 8:05PM }

Wait, Namco Bandai wasn't done announcing PSP games. Just an hour after their Tekken 6 announcement, the company also revealed a brand new Soulcalibur game for the handheld. Soulcalibur: Broken Destiny is a PSP-exclusive version of Soulcalibur IV. Gone are the Star Wars bonus characters, but in their stead will be at least one new character: Dampiere.

Broken Destiny will feature all the dressings of a console fighter, with arcade, versus and survival modes. New to the PSP version will be a new single-player mode meant for beginners struggling to learn the intricacies of the battle system. It will function, essentially, as an enhanced tutorial mode.

The PSP version will also feature new lighting effects that allow players to fight in stages at different times of day. Other gameplay components, such as the critical finish and armor destruction are also supposedly improved. Finally, Broken Destiny will offer Ad-Hoc wireless play, although according to Gamespot, Infrastructure might be a possibility. Expect Soulcalibur to hit your no-longer-defunct PSP this summer.