All Topics Gaming older than one year ago

#art Last year, Briton Ashley Browning gave the world a great set of minimalist video game character faces. Now, Justin Russo gives us minimalist video game...chests. More »

Inside MGC has posted a list of achievements for Microsoft's upcoming Game Room for the Xbox 360. If you're surprised to hear that a series of "interactive menus" has Achievements attached, you're not alone -- we didn't really expect there to be so many points hooked into this thing. There are a full 1,000 achievement points to be had in 56 achievements, and they seem squeezed in there pretty tight -- you'll get points every three medals, and even some points for just spending time in the arcade (36 hours total).

In short, Microsoft really, really wants you to play in the Game Room a lot. There's less than a week left until it releases on March 24, so we'll see then if an enticement like this pays off.

[Thanks, Jason Y!]

#blizzard Some of you already in the StarCraft II multiplayer beta are about to become more popular. According to some lucky beta testing tipsters, Blizzard is sending out e-mails with extra StarCraft II beta keys to share with a friend. More »

For those of you who have yet to decide to boycott Sonic the Hedgehog 4, Sega has released some new media of the downloadable rodent-racing platformer. Including ... the second known character to appear in the game. Okay, before more of you start boycotting, it's just Eggman (or Dr. Robotnik, or whatever). And he's shown in one of his spheroid flying vehicles, implying that he's in the game in boss capacity only.

The site also features a few screens, music and a description of Splash Hill Zone, which can be summed up as "Green Hill Zone in HD." And that's a good thing, right?

#syndicated Jason McIntosh, producer of television show The Gameshelf and writer of the blog of the same name, explores the similarities between the video game and comic book markets of the past and present. Here, his second entry on the subject. More »

For that cross-section of the PSP audience that likes both PixelJunk Monsters and tangible objects, Q-Games's Dylan Cuthbert has announced a UMD release of PixelJunk Monsters Deluxe, due to launch in North America at "participating retail outlets" on April 27 for $19.99. The tower defense title has been available digitally since last fall.

Interestingly, Cuthbert originally cited piracy as the reason for the lack of a worldwide release for the UMD of Deluxe, previously released in Japan and elsewhere in Asia. Try not to pirate this one, so we can see more nice discs like this in the future.

Looks like the anime Baka to Test to Shokanju has some big fans of Nintendo working on their show! Thanks to Greenyz for the heads up!

Codemasters reveals the first details and screenshots for its next cricket title.

#northamerica This week's North American PlayStation Store update features the highest concentration of Lady Gaga to date, thanks to the addition of four new Rock Band tracks from the pop star. There are some new video games too! More »

This was actually made out of one of the 1up candy tins that we’ve featured on the site. I think the candy went bad… Thanks to Remo for the heads up!

#bungie Bungie is making some important and dramatic changes to multiplayer matchmaking in Halo: Reach, with a revamped set of online options that cater to the hardcore (see Arena mode) and new social settings that improve everyone else's experience. More »

Though we don't possess the thorough comprehension of the Japanese language required to understand what's happening in the video posted above, we know that we like what we see. If you've got some time to kill, check out the ten minute co-op demonstration of Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker at the top of this post. It shows of a few of the game's neat multiplayer tactics, including an invisibility gun and the increasingly iconic "four-legged tank maneuver." Judging by those two alone, it certainly looks like Peace Walker's capacity for hijinks is going to be near-limitless.

[Shacknews]
Up until now, we were content with what few details we had about the Halo: Reach beta: its date of arrival and all of that sexy jetpack stuff. According to some details over at Shacknews, there's plenty more to get excited about than just atomic teabagging: new matchmaking and UI features, of course!

The first big addition is Arena playlists, a set of Slayer and Team Slayer playlists for the more hardcore players, complete with its own ranking system. Ranks will be determined through a variety of factors, and will section off players into one of five groups: Onyx, Gold, Silver, Bronze, and Steel. As such, Ranked and Social will now be one combined playlist.

Other improvements come to the lobby system, giving players the power to vote on potential games that come up in matchmaking and an auto-queue feature that lets you join friends immediately after they complete a match. There's even a throwback to Halo 2 in the Active Roster screen, an area that shows all of your friends who are playing the game.

You’ve asked for it. You’ve demanded it. You’ve even submitted a formal request for it.

Your wish is granted: PlayStation.Blog is coming to the East Coast. This coming Tuesday (March 23rd) we’ll be in New York, and two days later we’ll swing up to Boston for PAX East (Thursday, March 25th).

In honor of our first swing through the Northeast, we’re bringing out the big guns: attendees will be the first PlayStation fans to go hands-on with PlayStation Move! Of course, we’ll be doing the usual meetup things as well, namely free food and raffles for prizes.

Here are the details you need to know:

For New York, we’ll be meeting up at the Tribeca Grand Hotel from 4-7pm this Tuesday, March 23rd. Because the room capacity is not huge (and we have limited kiosks), we’ll have to do this one in two 90-minute shifts of about 75 people each. The hotel staff requests that you don’t wait in the lobby, but rather line up along 6th Ave (Ave of the Americas), where you’ll be able to get direct access to the PlayStation setup. I photochopped the Google Street View pic below to give you a better idea of where to line up. Note that you’ll need to be 21 or older to get in, as we will have adult beverages on hand. IDs will be checked, as usual, by men whose necks are barely visible.

Special NYC Bonus! Our friends at Engadget have invited you to join them this Saturday for a taping of the Engadget Show, where Dr. Richard Marks will be talking about and demoing PlayStation Move! Click here for more details. For those of you *not* in NYC, we’ll be streaming the show live here on the PlayStation.Blog.

OK, let’s talk Boston! We’ve got a swank setup at the Colonnade Hotel, which is super convenient if you’re in town for PAX East; it’s right across the street. We’ll be meeting from 5-8pm on Thursday, March 25th. First 150 people get in for free food, prize drawings, and become the first Bostonians to try out PlayStation.Move. Kick off your PAX right!

Both events are first come, first served, so don’t pass up your one chance to try out PlayStation Move way before anyone else! Make sure you RSVP here for New York or here for Boston.

Any questions? Hit us up in the comments. See you next week!

#zipperinteractive The first batch of downloadable goodies for owners of the PlayStation 3 massively multiplayer shooter MAG will arrive next week, according to Zipper Interactive, bringing fresh outfits, disorienting grenades and all-new guns guns guns! That new stuff is all free. More »

This video gives fans a sneak peek at the fun-filled humor that awaits players later this year!

Has your former friend Billy been playing StarCraft 2 for the longest time before you've even had a chance to check it out? Well, you probably should have opted in for the beta last year, but we're not here to point fingers. We're here to tell you that Blizzard has sent out a wave of fresh beta codes to everyone who's already in the beta, so you should hold off on throwing that brick through Billy's window and make with the nice-nice.

The codes are coming via email right now, so log in and check your inbox for that hot new string of characters. And, hey, give it away to a friend or somebody you don't even know -- don't be a jerk and try to profit from it or anything.

Max: Lissssten to my voice, you will pre-order Sam & Max: The Devil's Playhouse for $30.

We will pre-order Sam & Max

Max: You will also watch the next episode of The Tester.

We will also ... wait, do we have to?

Check out the full PSN update after the break.

Choose your platform to view the corresponding release list:
(Note: Continue past the break to view both release lists.)

Hi Everyone – It’s time for the weekly PlayStation Store Update.

Price Updates

• 1942 Joint Strike Sale (now $4.99, original price $9.99)
• Trine Permanent Price Drop (now $14.99, original price $19.99)

Downloadable Games

Groovin’ Blocks ($9.99)
It’s time to get your PlayStation Network groove on! Groovin’ Blocks is the ultimate combination of challenging puzzle game set to irresistible musical beats. Match three or more gems and watch them disappear; explode gems to the beat of the music to double your multipliers and increase your score! Groove with your friends in local co-op or head-to-head modes. Groovin’ Blocks features three skill levels from casual mode to fiendish hard mode.
ESRB Rated E
File size: 180 MB

Sam & Max: The Devil’s Playhouse Pre-order ($29.99)
Pre-order the first Sam & Max game to hit the PlayStation 3 to lock down all 5 episodes!
ESRB Rated E10+
File size: 100 KB

The Tester

The Tester Episode 5
This week’s episode is called “Buzz In or Buzz Off.” The remaining six (only 6!) gamers take on a BUZZ!-themed quiz challenge testing their mastery of all things PlayStation. Things heat up when SCEA’s Director of First Party Quality Assurance, Jeff Wilkerson, joins the panel this week to evaluate who might have what it takes to work on one of his QA teams. There’s no place to hide in this episode and somebody is bound to crack under the pressure.
File size: 385 MB (SD) 864 MB (HD)

PSone Classics

One ($5.99)
Discover the secrets of your past as you make your way through a strange future. Only one thing will protect you along the way: RAGE
ESRB Rated T
File size: 37 MB

Jigsaw Madness ($5.99)
Piece together 150 different pictures in this digitalized version of the timeless puzzle!
ESRB Rated E
File size: 208 MB

Game Demos (free)

Brain Challenge Demo
Play Brain Challenge now for free with this trial version! Boost your brain and relieve stress through 25 Visual, Memory, Logic, Math and Focus mini-games. Get detailed evaluations of your performances in personal training sessions with your coach. Challenge other players online/offline and determine who’s the best in the delirious multiplayer Card Game!
ESRB Rated E
File size: 220 MB

Add-on Game Content

Aliens Vs. Predator Multiplayer Swarm Map Pack ($6.99)
Four additional multiplayer maps for Aliens vs Predator.

• Docks – a dockyard on the waters of BG-386
• Outpost – the original site of the Weyland-Yutani colony on BG-386
• Machine – this facility provided electrical power to the colonists at Freya’s Prospect
• Hive – The Xenomorph hive. Beware all who enter here.

File size: 427 MB

Dragon Age: Origins Awakening ($39.99)
The archdemon lies dead–and yet in coastal Amaranthine, strange darkspawn still plague the land. As the newly appointed commander of the Grey Wardens, you must rebuild your shattered stronghold, recruit new Wardens to the cause, and defeat this terrifying menace.
File size: 1.57 GB

Dragon Ball: Raging Blast Ultimate Warriors Pack 2 (free)
“Dragon Ball: Raging Blast” Character Pack #9 is now available! The ninth release is the “Ultimate Warriors Pack 2!” This pack contains Majin Vegeta, Frieza, Android #17, Android #18 and Cell! The ultimate fighters with exceptional abilities join the Raging Blast battles! Can you control their incomparable powers?!
File size: 116 KB

Dynasty Warriors: Strikeforce Quest Pack #2 (free)
Quest Pack #2 – Enhance your Strikeforce experience with these new missions and challenges. Also includes all previous Quest Packs. The following quests will be added to the city’s “Noticeboard”. To learn more about this pack and about Dynasty Warriors: Strikeforce go to www.tecmokoeiamerica.com/strikeforce.

• Battle of Ru Xu Kou
• Linked Chains Plan
• Martial Contest 2

File size: 101 KB

Need for Speed SHIFT Exotic Racing Series ($9.99)
The all-new Exotic Racing Series for Need for Speed SHIFT introduces seven phenomenal new cars, including the McLaren MP4-12C and the legendary BMW M1, and the amazing new Riviera track. Over fifty exciting new events have also been created just for these cars, so you’ll have plenty of time to revel in these beauties. Completing the Exotic Racing Series are an additional 125 points worth of trophies for undertaking various exciting challenges.
File size: 215 MB

Guitar Hero 5
For all song credits please visit www.guitarhero.com.

• “(No More) Paddy’s Lament” by Flogging Molly ($1.99)
• “Requiem For A Dying Song” by Flogging Molly ($1.99)
• “The Seven Deadly Sins” by Flogging Molly ($1.99)
• Flogging Molly Track Pack ($5.49) – Downloadable Track Pack featuring “Requiem For A Dying Song”, “The Seven Deadly Sins”, and “(No More) Paddy’s Lament” by Flogging Molly. Please Note: Many songs are available both as singles and as part of a Track Pack, so please carefully consider your purchases before downloading.

File sizes: 31 MB – 36 MB (singles), 99 MB (track pack)

Rock Band
Build your Rock Band library by purchasing these song game tracks. For song credits, visit www.RockBand.com.

• “It’s Not My Time”— 3 Doors Down ($1.99)
• “Control”— Mute Math ($1.99)
• “Lady Gaga’s ‘Poker Face’ (South Park Version)”— Eric Cartman ($1.99)
• “Oh Yeah”— The Subways ($1.99)
• “Rock & Roll Queen”— The Subways ($1.99)
• “The Who Super Bowl S-mashup”— The Who ($1.99)
• “Bad Romance”— Lady Gaga ($1.99)
• “Just Dance”— Lady Gaga ($1.99)
• “Monster”— Lady Gaga ($1.99)
• “Poker Face”— Lady Gaga ($1.99)
• Lady Gaga Pack 1 ($6.99) – Build your Rock Band library by purchasing this song game track pack: Lady Gaga Pack 1. This pack includes “Bad Romance,” “Just Dance,” “Poker Face,” and “Monster” by Lady Gaga.

File sizes: 21 MB – 89 MB (singles), 165 MB (track pack)

Game Videos (free)

Pulse 3/18 Edition
Join host Christina Lee for PULSE presented by the PlayStation Network. In this edition, get a sneak peek at God of War III, get the lowdown on a huge expansion pack for Dragon Age: Origins, and take a look at the top PSP downloads so far this year. New video releases include the Wachowski brothers’ Ninja Assassin and the intriguing ABC series, FlashForward.
File size: 262 MB (HD) 452 MB (1080)

make.believe – Creating Magic Gaming Moments
File size: 63 MB (HD) 104 MB (1080)

SOCOM 4 – Announce Trailer
File size: 55 MB (HD) 92 MB (1080)

“Sam & Max” The Devil’s Playhouse Trailer
File size: 133 MB (1080)

Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Future Soldier
File size: 42 MB (HD)

Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands Gameplay Reveal Trailer
File size: 133 MB (HD)

Heavy Rain Immersion Video
File size: 240 MB (HD) 418 MB (1080)

Heavy Rain Story Video
File size: 214 MB (HD) 365 MB (1080)

Heavy Rain Testimonials Video
File size: 124 MB (HD) 211 MB (1080)

Army of Two: The 40th Day Chapters of Deceit Trailer
File size: 41 MB (HD)

MLB 10 The Show Pick Off Trailer
File size: 72 MB (HD) 121 MB (1080)

MLB 10 The Show Catcher Mode Trailer
File size: 54 MB (HD) 90 MB (1080)

MLB 10 The Show Launch Trailer
File size: 66 MB (HD) 112 MB (1080)

Music

Heavy Rain Soundtrack ($9.99)
File size: 83 MB

PS3 Themes

Heavy Rain Mars ARI Dynamic Theme ($2.99)
File size: 3.77 MB

Acid Trip Theme ($1.49)
File size: 6.38 MB

World of Outlaws Sprint Cars Theme ($0.99)
File size: 6.26 MB

Wallpaper (free)

Feeding Frenzy 2 Shipwreck Showdown Wallpaper
File size: 212 KB (SD) 865 KB (HD)

PlayStation Store for PSP

Downloadable Games (also available from PS3 Storefront)

Patchwork Heroes ($9.99)
The fate of a city is in your hands! Act quickly in 30 levels to save cities from giant looming warships in this fun action game. Become a hero by controlling a powerful destructive vehicle that can cut enemy ships apart into patches of different sizes that crash to the ground. Dodge enemies, rescue trapped comrades, and use special attacks to beat each ship before time runs out!
ESRB Rated E10+
File size: 229 MB

The Red Star ($14.99)
Set in a Russian-inspired parallel universe, The Red Star thrusts you into a gritty futuristic world of chaotic warfare, industrial technology and arcane magic.
ESRB Rated T
File size: 216 MB

LUXOR Bundle – LUXOR Wrath of Set & LUXOR Pharaoh’s Challenge ($9.99)
Join the adventure and travel through more than 200 levels of marble-shooting adventure in this LUXOR Two Pack! Including LUXOR Wrath of Set and LUXOR Pharaoh’s Challenge, you’ll wield your scarab shooter from the Nile delta deep into Egypt.
ESRB Rated E
File size: 40 MB

PSP minis (also available from PS3 Storefront)

BreakQuest ($3.99)
File size: 66 MB

Add-on Game Content (also available from PS3 Storefront)

LittleBigPlanet PSP Metropolis Costumes (free)
PLAY, CREATE, SHARE…Everywhere. LittleBigPlanet’s critically acclaimed “PLAY, CREATE, SHARE” experience, makes its way to the PSP system with a completely new Sackboy adventure. Get five costumes from the Metropolis level of the PS3 version of the game.
NOTE: Manual Update required
File size: 2.53 MB

LittleBigPlanet PSP Metropolis Theme Pack ($2.99)
PLAY, CREATE, SHARE…Everywhere. Download a new set of costumes and CREATE materials to create your own Metropolis levels! The Metropolis Theme Pack includes 10 Costume items, 25 CREATE Materials, 14 Stickers, 1 Music kit, and 1 Background.
NOTE: Manual Update required
File size: 2.66 MB

BUZZ! Quiz World Rock Idols Quiz Pack ($3.99)
Are you ready for a solo? Show the competition how much you know about some of the best rock acts in music! This BUZZ! Quiz World PSP quiz pack features hundreds of questions about rock music to play in any of your favorite BUZZ! Quiz World PSP game modes. Download this quiz pack today and turn your party into the ultimate trivia showdown. Challenge friends and family and “Show ‘em Your Trivia!”
File size: 44 MB

Game Videos (free)

The Tester Episode 5
File size: 156 MB

Pulse 3/18 Edition
File size: 44 MB

Heavy Rain Immersion Video
File size: 38 MB

Heavy Rain Story Video
File size: 34 MB

Heavy Rain Testimonials Video
File size: 20 MB

SOCOM 4 Announce Trailer
File size: 8.12 MB

PSP Themes (also available from PS3 Storefront)

Acid Trip PSP Theme ($1.49)
File size: 480 KB

Underwater Disco PSP Theme ($1.49)
File sizes: 530 KB

Abstracted – 1st Wall PSP Theme ($0.99)
File size: 621 KB

Abstracted – 2nd Wall PSP Theme ($0.99)
File sizes: 641 KB

Is it just me, or is Samus getting sexier with each new game she appears in? I have a feeling she’ll be in some really skimpy things in Metroid: Other M. Normally I would complain about that sort of thing, but this time…I’ll let it slide!

The RTS Genre will be taken to a completely new level with this game.

The amount of latency between a user's input on a game controller and the in-game reflection of that input is an incredibly important factor when comparing motion controllers. Sony has been boasting that the input latency for the PlayStation Move would be "under a frame" -- though Digital Foundry concluded otherwise during its brief tech demo with the sphere-tipped peripheral.

Digital Foundry conducted a fairly rudimentary experiment in which a person filmed himself sharply moving the controller, then counted how many milliseconds it takes for the screen to reflect his movement. Though there were a few variables to the experiment (such as the unknown, natural latency of the television display used in the demo), Digital Foundry estimates the device's latency to be in the ballpark of 133ms (around eight frames), which they claim is "fine for most of the applications you would want from such a controller." You can check out a video of Digital Foundry's simple latency experiment on Eurogamer.

It looks like the Where’s Waldo title that saw release in the states is going to hit DSiWare and WiiWare in Europe/Australia. I’m guessing this is the retail title split into parts, since there are listing for multiple ‘travel packs’. A digital release for these titles seems to make a lot more sense. And [...]

#playstationnetwork Another week, another 1GB worth of PlayStation 3 hard drive space eaten by The Tester, the PlayStation Network's first reality show in which 11 hopefuls fight for a spot to play buggy PlayStation games until they're less buggy. More »

As the first PixelJunk game from Q-Games, Racers was largely misunderstood by most. Now, after the success of Monsters, Eden and Shooter, Q-Games is ready to go back to its first concept and give it a second chance. PixelJunk Racers 2nd Lap isn't just an add-on to the original PSN game, but a new game (with new features like Trophies) that warrants a second look from fresh PixelJunk fans.

Like the original, 2nd Lap is a unique interpretation of classic top-down racers of yore. However, Q-Games' take on the genre makes it more of a puzzle or rhythm game, rather than a racing game -- an easy mistake for players to make, considering both the game's look and title. While some modes do require "winning" a race, most are about achieving rather specific goals. For example, you may need to complete a number of laps in a constantly-accelerating vehicle, while avoiding all the other cars on the road. "Sunday Drive" will have you trying to get past as many slow-driving cars as possible. It's a frustrating recreation of being stuck in traffic, yet it's oddly compelling.

In its second iteration, PixelJunk Racers remains essentially a collection of car-themed minigames, with the ultimate goal of scoring as high as possible on the leaderboards. Thankfully, 2nd Lap has been made considerably easier and more accessible than the first game, easing players into a much easier single-player experience. The addition of YouTube recording support should appease the show-offs, while the presence of PSN Trophies may make the overall package far more rewarding. (Don't worry Trophy hunters, Q-Games' Dylan Cuthbert told us that they've learned from PixelJunk Eden and Monsters, and will make the Trophies much easier, akin to PixelJunk Shooter.)

Retailer not expecting drought to end anytime soon.

Q-Games is teaming up with Japanese artist Baiyon once again for another PSN collaboration. Baiyon, who created the visuals and sound for PixelJunk Eden and Encore, is directing an interactive music visualizer for the PS3, to be distributed via the PlayStation Network.

Unlike Q-Games' Earth visualizer, this upcoming project will not be built into the PS3 operating system. Instead, this will be a standalone application, akin to .deTuned. This is terrific news for Trophy hunters, as they should be familiar with how easy it is to get PSN XP with these standalone art applications.

#valve Remember when Valve opened up the development of new Team Fortress 2 weapons and hats to the Team Fortress 2-loving community? No? Well, that first batch of player-made things is now available as part of the latest TF2 update. More »