PlayStation News Message Board older than one year ago

Mach Kobayashi is an effects artist at a little computer animation house called Pixar. His newborn son, Dyson, just might end up in the games industry one day, thanks to the work of a family friend. Mach wrote in to share photos of Dyson's nursery, painted by professional set designer Asaki Oda to look like it's smack dab in the whimsical world of Sony's LocoRoco. Both Mach and his wife Tracy are big fans of the games, and we're just guessing little Dyson will be inclined to be one too, growing up looking at this amazing artwork.

The mural work was done while the couple was in India to get Dyson and must have made the return home that much more memorable. Soda has documented the process in an online photo album so the whole world can see how the room -- its walls overflowing with multicolored LocoRocos and their friends the Mui Mui -- took shape.

If you're reading this, Asaki, expect a call soon -- we all want our entire houses redone by you!

Things continue to look up for the movement to change the classification system.

Things continue to look up for the movement to change the classification system.

Tetsuya Nomura plans another release this year.

Sony stops by to talk piracy, PSPgo, the problem with Minis, and the PSP's future.

Getting into Sony's portable now that it's half a decade old? Don't miss these games.

Five things we want out of Sony's portable before it's time to say goodbye.

The Age of Zombies developer talks about how to make a good Mini and why other companies are missing the mark.

If you have to go outside and pick flowers, fine. But take your PSP with you.

Sony's system is warming up. Our picks for the hottest games of the season.

Become a guardian.

Happy birthday, PSP! Today, you're five years old. In that time, you've launched 520 games on UMD, 300 games on PSN, sold over 50 million units worldwide, updated your system firmware over 50 times, and gone through three hardware revisions (2000, 3000 and Go). So, think you have five more years left in you?

To commemorate this milestone, each of the Joystiq staff has listed their two most favorite PSP games over the past five years. Let us know what some of your favorites are!

Five years of analog nubbin.

Jeff was kind enough to welcome me into SCEA’s offices to film an interview and record some footage to show off the forthcoming Blue Toad Murder Files for PS3/PSN. What you can’t see in the video is that they kindly supplied a background of rain and cloud, just to make me feel more at home!

(Editor’s note: You may notice some slight flickering in the video. Please note, this was caused by an issue with our capture system, NOT the game.)

Blue Toad Murder Files – The Mysteries of Little Riddle will be available on the PlayStation Store tomorrow, March 25. Episodes 1 – 3 can be bought together for $14.99 or individually for $7.49 per episode. I hope you have fun solving the puzzles and uncovering the ‘Whodunnits’ in each episodes. If you enjoy the first three episodes, there’s not long to wait until April 29 when episodes 4, 5 and 6 launch.

Happy detecting!

It doesn't sound like Sony's going to jump on the 3D handheld bandwagon right away. SCEA Director of Hardware and Marketing John Koller told IGN that Sony's interest in 3D technology is limited to the PS3 -- you know, the system that can sell Bravias. "Our focus on 3D right now is on the console," Koller said. "There's a tremendous amount of opportunity on PlayStation 3 with 3D. The amount of interest in 3D from the retail side and game publishers is off the charts. We know we have a hit with 3D on PS3, and we're going to concentrate our efforts there."

While that in itself isn't a definitive dismissal of adopting whatever 3D tech is in the Nintendo 3DS for a new PSP model, Koller's followup statement makes clear his skepticism about the competitor's new strategy: "I think it remains to be seen where Nintendo goes with 3D on a portable," he said. "Having been in the portable space for quite awhile, I think it's an interesting move, but one I'd like to see where they go from a demographic standpoint. 8- and 9-year-olds playing 3D is a little bit of a stretch given where some of our research is right now."

Of course, having been in the portable space for quite awhile, Koller must have some suspicion that a new DS could be a massive hit -- as Nintendo handhelds tend to be -- and create a market for 3D handhelds. In the meantime, PSP players looking for a 3D experience have the third-party V-Screen and Solid Eye peripherals at their disposal.

March 24, 2005 will always be known in PlayStation history as the day we debuted the PSP system in North America. At midnight launches across the country, hundreds of you waited with great anticipation in lines at local retail stores for the PSP system. With its best-in-class, 4.3 inch high-resolution LCD display, vast library of software titles and built-in wireless communications, the PSP system was the first integrated handheld entertainment system to introduce console-quality gaming and comprehensive entertainment capabilities to the portable market. Half a decade later, PSP is still going strong and continues to provide the best portable gaming experience and offer incredible value to consumers.

With more than 520 PSP software titles, including God of War: Chains of Olympus, Gran Turismo, LittleBigPlanet, Resistance: Retribution, and SOCOM: Fireteam Bravo as well as more than 20,000 movies and TV episodes, “minis,” digital comics, original programming, and more than 300 games available on the PlayStation Network, it’s easy to understand why you have grown to love your PSP.

As we move further into 2010, the innovation and technological prowess of the PSP system continues to be evident. We have a plethora of exciting new games, some of which have yet to be announced, coming later this year that will continue to deliver the same unparalleled gaming experiences that you know and love.

In celebration of the PSP’s fifth anniversary, check out the snapshot below of some of the PSP platform’s most notable milestones.

The PSP platform has seen tremendous growth in the last five years and we have you to thank. We’re extremely grateful for your enthusiasm and feedback because without it, the PSP system wouldn’t be what it is today. We look forward to providing you with more great content and many more years of portable entertainment in 2010 and beyond.

We’d love to hear how you’re planning to celebrate PSP’s big day so feel free to share your feedback in the comments below. Happy Anniversary PSP!

State of Play: Why should every game cost $60?

Company to focus on 3D console space.

Company hoping to improve Japanese language support for Unreal Engine 3.

Hello everybody!

This is Dave Connelly, President of Coresoft, letting you know that we have some great additions coming this week that will enhance your High Stakes on the Vegas Strip: Poker Edition experience. First off, we have added 30 trophies to the game so now you can show off your poker skills to all your friends and everyone else on the network. We’ve gone global, bringing you eight languages to the North American version so you can select games by region or by the language.

We are also excited to announce that we have developed a brand new add-on, coming to the PlayStation Network this week. You can now play the all new Connelly Card Club, created with high-definition detail. Included with the CCC 3D environment are four new game variations including Double-Flop Hold’em, Deuce to Seven Triple Draw, Five-Card Triple Draw, and Five-Card Stud where you can earn an additional 15 trophies.

We hope you enjoy the update and add-on and we’ll see you at the tables!

Move support for PlayStation 3 sequel.

The Singapore-based games show won't return in 2010.

We answer questions about DLP TVs, LED tech, PS3 backwards compatiblity, and more!

Do you ever look at those iPhone gaming ads and say, "Gee, I wish I could do that on my PSP?" Well, if just buying an iPod is out of the question, Datel may have a solution for you. The TiltFX is a new accessory that promises to add motion controls to "all games" on the PSP. According to a press release, the device features a three-axis MEMS sensor and is able to replace the functions of the standard D-Pad and analog stick. Additionally, Datel is offering customized profiles for specific games, like WipEout, LocoRoco, and Super Monkey Ball. Presumably, these will tweak the controls for a better tailored experience.

We haven't had a chance to test the TiltFX for ourselves, but it is advertised as compatible with all PSP systems, minus the Go -- meaning owners of PSP-1000, 2000 and 3000 series systems can use the device. According to a Datel representative, the device won't require custom firmware to operate. (It seems the device is sending control data via the PSP's headset port.) Apparently, it's available now and has a MSRP of £14.99 or $19.99. You can check out a commercial after the break.

Montreal studio set to create high-end titles.

Want to heckle us and then drink and eat for free?

How Grand Theft Auto (and a lot of physical therapy) saved one editor's life.

New initiative offers paid "demos" prior to full game launches, say analyst.

New initiative offers paid "demos" prior to full game launches, say analyst.

Hi there, BUZZ! fans! I have excellent news for all of you Facebook fanatics. You’ll be able to experience the PS3’s first true in-game Facebook publishing features by posting cool stats from your BUZZ! Quiz World PS3 games to your Facebook wall!

To get in on the fun, just sync your PSN account to your Facebook account by signing into PSN via the XMB, opening the account management menu, selecting the Facebook option and choosing to share game event information.

Once your accounts have been synced, you’ll be offered the option of posting stats like what place you finished in and what buzzer noises your friends used, once you’ve completed a BUZZ! Quiz World PS3 game. All you have to do is hit the red button on your BUZZ! Buzzer to accept and these fun stats from your game will be added to your Facebook wall. So fire up your PS3, hop into a game of BUZZ! Quiz World and get ready to tout your triumphs to all of your Facebook friends!

If you’re a BUZZ! Quiz World PSP buff, I’ve got great news for you as well. We’ve been busy publishing PSP-optimized versions of your favorite downloadable Quiz Packs. Check out the PSP-optimized Rock Idols, Comedy and Sci-Fi Quiz Packs, now available on the PlayStation Store. Test your trivia skills with fun questions like these:

Rock Idols PSP-Optimized Quiz Pack

WHICH BAND TOOK ITS FANS BY SURPRISE WITH ‘BLACK ICE’ IN 2008?

• BLACK SABBATH
• AC/DC
• MEGADETH
• NINE INCH NAILS

Comedy PSP-Optimized Quiz Pack

IN WHICH 2006 CAPER DOES JACK BLACK GET IN THE RING WITH SATAN’S CAVEMEN?

• NACHO LIBRE
• NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM
• THE BREAK-UP
• TENACIOUS D IN THE PICK OF DESTINY

Sci-Fi PSP-Optimized Quiz Pack

WHAT SPECIES IS THE ‘STAR TREK’ CHARACTER WORF?

• FERENGI
• ROMULAN
• KLINGON
• VULCAN

With the addition of these recently released Quiz Packs, the PlayStation Store now offers well over 1,000 additional questions for BUZZ! Quiz World PSP, so you’ll never run out of questions while you’re on-the-go!

Thanks for checking in! Stay tuned to the PlayStation.Blog for the latest and greatest BUZZ! news.