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Well, Japan has had this one for almost a year now and it's finally North America's turn to get their hands on it. Star Ocean: First Departure, which is a remake of the first Star Ocean game, will be hitting the states on October 21st. The game looks pretty solid and if you're a Star Ocean fan, you should be seriously considering picking this one up.
According to Sony's Jack Tretton, PS3 sales are 100% higher than they were this time last year. And 30% higher than Sony were expecting for this financial year, meaning that if "something" were to happen to PS3 sales - let's say, hypothetically, like a recession - the console should still hit its target of 10 million sold for the year. Tretton says PSP sales are also "20-30 percent ahead of plan", and goes on to warn that the PS3 may be in short supply this Christmas, with the company only "able to meet somewhere between 80-90 percent demand".
Sony says PlayStation 3 sales better than expected [Reuters]
While the PSP has been out for quite awhile now, developers are just beginning to scratch the surface of the handheld's true potential. First SOE boss John Smedley talks PSP MMOs, and now Media Molecule co-founder Mark Healy talks about the possibilities of bringing LittleBigPlanet to Sony's portable.
"There's definitely scope for a PSP version," said Healy in an exclusive interview with (GamesIndustry.biz) sister site Eurogamer TV, to be broadcast next week. "We've had discussions and talks, [but] nothing concrete at the moment."
So the idea has certainly been kicked around, which is lovely indeed. What could be sweeter than a portable version of LittleBigPlanet? How about portable LittleBigPlanet utilities?
Could full-on, traditional MMO games play a part in the future of Sony's PSP? Speaking with MTV Multiplayer at the New York Games Conference on Friday, Sony Online Entertainment president John Smedley expressed great interest in the PSP as a MMO-delivery device.
"We started to get very interested in [the PSP] when we switched over from Sony Pictures to Sony Computer Entertainment back in April," he explained. "And as we've kind of got our heads up looking around the world within Sony Computer Entertainment, we're really starting to see a big push for PSP. We think it's a world-class device... In the future, we see full MMOs that are designed for the PSP."
While we wait for a full MMO on the handheld, Mr. Smedley tossed out a couple ideas for integrating the PSP into existing games, including a virtual pet that ties in with a pet in the family-friendly MMO Free Realms, or mini-games that let you level up your character offline. Great ideas both, really. I love my PSP, but it isn't exactly burning up the handheld market right now. Fresh ideas and unique applications are very welcome indeed.
Sony Online Considering MMOs On PSP [MTV Multiplayer]
Look, I know that Hawaii is a very laid-back sort of place. Bright sunshine, sandy beaches, news reporters who wear Hawaiian shirts on broadcast television even when not covering a luau, but it can be taken too far. For instance, if you are driving a city bus filled with passengers on a busy street in Honolulu, it's probably not a good idea to break out the PSP and play a couple rounds of Hot Shots Golf.
"With two hands... at times, while he was driving in traffic, yes," (bus passenger Denita) Waltz said. "And also at the stoplights, and at that point I was very scared."
The driver, an 18-year veteran with The Bus, has been suspended without pay pending further investigation. Not sure what further investigating they need to do here, really. What game he was playing? His high score? Does that affect putting people's lives in danger?
Hell yes it does.
Bus Driver Suspended For Playing Games While Driving [KITV Honolulu]
Panic adverted! Yesterday, we brought word that there are currently fewer third party PSP titles — leading some to say devs are "abandoning" the platform. Not entirely so! As Sony's John Koller explains, the reason is that there's a decline is PSP games is that "Decisions made 20-22 months ago from a development cycle perspective are affecting the quantity of titles available today." Oh, so third party companies were abandoning the PSP, but now they're not. Whew. Optimistic, Koller adds:
I think going into next year we're going to see significant growth. We're counseling retail to be ready for it. We have a number of very strong franchise games on the docket that will be launching next year. We haven't gone public with those, and many third-parties have not yet either because they're concentrating on holiday, but we have a number of very strong titles coming.
There's even been a demographic change for the PSP: Sony research says that over the next 12 months, young mothers will have the "highest propensity" to buy the handheld for their young children. Not exactly the urban hipsters it was originally targeted at.
While the PSP continues to sell well in Japan, game site EDGE has a piece up on third party devs leaving the PSP platform. From the piece:
Without a killer app in the West on the level of Japan's Monster Hunter series, the PSP may just be crowded out of a competitive marketplace, an appealing piece of hardware people buy and never use.
There's data and numbers, too! It's not all gloom and doom. Here's the irony: "The numbers here show PSP hardware sales are growing at a steady clip every year, which is the proper behaviour for a healthy platform." So there you go.
Third Parties Abandoning PSP [EDGE]
Sure, the Nintendo kids can rock a party with their Korg emulator, but with this somewhat excessive PSP mod, you could BE the party.
30 LEDs went into producing this disco monster - all linked to the sound output and set to pulse in time with whatever bangin' choons the owner (Travis) wishes to inflict upon the world.
This PSP is available for weddings, birthday parties and Bah Mitzvah's.
A very cool and very bright PSP modification [Maxconsole]
When Sony announced the PSP-3000 in Japan, they also announced three bundle deals. One of those was for a Gundam bundle, which would cost ¥24,840 ($230), and feature Gundam vs Gundam and a limited edition Gundam PSP. Anyway, here's the PSP! Hardcore fans and those standing right next to the unit will see that those darker bits are a bunch of giant robots. Everyone else, though? They'll think you're a clutz, can't stop dropping the thing, have scratched the crap out of the paintjob.
新型PSP（PSP-3000）とセットになった『ガンダムVS.ガンダム』プレミアムパックの詳細が判明 [Famitsu]
Hey! Don't make Sony Worldwide Studio boss Shuhei Yoshida sad, three parties. Your lack of support for the PSP is totally bumming the dude out. Just listen to Yoshida:
Koei hasn't given up on ya, PSP! The Japanese developer has announced Shin Sangoku Musou: Multi Raid (or rather, Dynasty Warriors: Multi Raid). Slated for this winter in Japan, it's hack-and-slash Dynasty Warriors, but with a multiplayer spin. The game will also offer weapons upgrade and character transformation to boot. Neato!
三國無雙 Multi Raid [Games Animation Forum via PSP Hyper]
Dear Namco Bandai,
Please publish Macross: Ace Frontier for the PSP in the West. Please.
Kind Regards,
Everybody.
The latest issue of Shonen Jump shows Final Fantasy IV hero Cecil Harvey in its latest update on PSP title DissidieFinal Fantasy. He's standing across from FFIV bad guy Golbez. The game launches this December with three more characters to still yet be revealed. Ah yes, drip-fed PR.
Dark Knight Cecil Confirmed For Dissidia [PSP Hyper]
Who loves you, PSP? Capcom does! While Monster Hunter already selling oodles of PSPs, the company continues to show its support with hack-and-slash title Sengoku Basara Battle Heroes for the Sony portable. The game features 2-on-2 battle and will also support up to 4-players via the ad hoc wireless mode. Game drops in Japan next spring.
Sengoku Basara Battle Heroes Announced [PSP Hyper]
We know that Sony are working on an official keyboard add-on for the PSP but that won't be here until mid 2009. Why wait that long when there is a perfectly good Xbox Chatpad just sitting on the table over there...
..NO! Heresy! Microsoft and Sony were never meant to be combined in this way! That is right up there with co-habiting dogs & cats, that is.
A depraved hardware modder over at AcidMods has taken an Xbox 360 Chatpad and performed unholy rituals upon it to make it work with the PSP. There was probably solder involved. Solder and goat's blood.
PSP Phat and Slim Open Keyboard in action!!!!! [AcidMods via PocketGamer]
Let's face it, the Nintendo DS is the most successful handheld. Like ever. It's hard for Sony to go against such a juggernaut. The PSP is making big gains in Japan. People forget that! Sony Computer Entertainment of Europe exec David Reeves tells game site MCVUK:
We're very, very happy and comfortable with our PSP business... And I don't think we're necessarily in the shadow of DS - they have different types of games and we have a different positioning for PSP which is not just about gaming, but Go Explore and everything else that comes with it... So we're very very happy with its progress and the more and more we go to publishers with it the more they are coming on board.
Keyword: Happy. Just look at David Reeves. That man is THRILLED.
Action 'Stations [MCVUK via CVG]
D3Publisher is bringing its PSP library to the PlayStation Store, meaning that games like Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords and WTF: work time fun will shed their UMD mortal coils, becoming glorious digital downloads at prices well below their real world retail predecessors. Over the next two months, the following PSP games will be added to the PlayStation Stores on both the PlayStation 3 and PC, giving you a chance to play some potentially missed gems without having to get up off your arse.
Cube - September 18, 2008 for $US 9.99.
Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords - September 18, 2008 for $US 14.99.
WTF: work time fun - October 2, 2008 for $US 9.99.
PQ: Practical Intelligence Quotient - October 2, 2008 for $US 9.99.
PQ2: Practical Intelligence Quotient 2 - October 16, 2008 for $US 14.99.
Dead Head Fred - October 16, 2008 for $US 14.99.
You know, for ten bucks, I could maybe see some PQ: Practical Intelligence Quotient in my life.
Thanks to the ever-busy PSP homebrew community it is now possible to link a PC and a PSP together via USB Cable and a little plugin by the name of RemoteJoy Lite. Using the app you can hook up your Windows PC with your handheld and play PSP games on the PC screen.
Truly, we live in a Golden Age.
The video above gives a rough idea of what the app can do. As ever with homebrew software, you are responsible for your own device - don't come running to us if it makes your PSP implode into a nugget of dark matter that ultimately leads to the creation of an alternate universe where your evil doppleganger has a beard.
And it's a long one. Bring tea, and biscuits. Or, if you're a raving mad Square Enix fan, those two plus whatever else it is you'll need for 5:13 of hot, one-on-one Final Fantasy fisticuff action.
[thanks everyone who sent this in!]
Just as the PSP-3000 gets released in Japan in mid-October, Sony will be putting out two more PSP Gundam titles in its "the Best" line later that month. Both Gundam Battle Chronicle and SD Gundam G Generation Portable both go on sale October 23rd for ¥2,800 ($US 26). Not a bad price if you're into giant robots and Sony handhelds!
Press release after the jump.
European PSP owners are going to get a few former PlayStation Network only titles in cold, hard physical media format, as SCEE is planning on releasing two collections of PSN titles on UMD. The PlayStation Network Collection releases, unearthed by Siliconera, consist of one Power Pack, containing flOw, Syphon Filter: Combat Ops and Beats, and the Puzzle Pack, featuring Lemmings, Go! Puzzle and Go! Sudoku.
Handy, even if one of those is a very odd mix of genres, but we thought we'd be seeing less UMDs, not more. No pricing yet, so try not to get too excited about the big big savings.
PSP PSN downloadable games get UMD collections [Siliconera]
The video gaming industry was devastated to learn recently that the recently announced PSP 3000, with its new, brighter screen, built-in microphone and fancy new PS button, may lead to shorter battery life. GameSpot reported recently, based on a conversation with SCEA's John Koller, that higher consumption may reduce battery life by "about 20 minutes". Just soul crushing...
Square Enix announced it would be bringing Final Fantasy XIII Agito to the PSP in August, sparing fans of the series much mobile platform kvetching. And while Square Enix character designer Tetsuya Nomura says that the title is currently running on PSP hardware and spitting out new screen shots, don't expect it any time soon.
He tells Dengeki, by way of Final Fantasy-XIII.net, that Agito won't see the light of a UMD drive until after both Final Fantasy XIII and Final Fantasy Versus XIII publish. Yes, that's from the same source as the Squenix might charge for the standalone FFXIII demo business, so have some Mrs. Dash on hand to stave off hypertension.
Suppose it all makes sense, from a publishing standpoint, but that doesn't make epic wait feel any less daunting. At least we'll all have jet packs and snazzy silver jump suits by then...
DISSIDIA: Final Fantasy has been dated: the action RPG hits Japanese PSPs on December 18th. Tetsuya Nomura did the character designs, and while the game has a good buzz, it'll be good to see Square Enix get the title out the doors. You know, so Nomura can focus on more important things. Final Fantasy Versus XIII, we're looking right at you.
DISSIDIA is priced at ¥6,090 ($US 56).
PSP用ソフト「ディシディア ファイナルファンタジー」 [IT Media]
Well, we've seen how the new PSP (PSP-3000) stacks up against the old PSP-2000 — we've even gotten to read about it in English. But for those who like to look at pictures, we've got more pictures. Lots more. Pictures that do a nice job of showing how different the PSP-3000 display is. Right up there, is the PSP-2000 and the PSP-300. Can you spot which is which? And what are the cosemtic differences?
After the jump, the PSP's backsides.
