We still have no idea how many full-sized PSP games will be available, and how much they'll sell for.
True, but if they do around $20 for older titles (like they currently do in the UMD legacy section) and full price for new titles that's not a dealbreaker for me.
So it probably got lost under the big PS3 price drop announcement, but Sony is adding a new section to the PSN store: PSN Minis. Think XBLA, the Apple AppStore, or DSIWare but for the PSP. 100MB size limit.
More importantly, Pac-Man: Championship Edition is confirmed for the service. I knew it was coming out for the iPhone, but I'm thrilled that it's coming out on a portable system that I actually intend to own soon.
I nearly lost my shit when I found out about that yesterday too. Not content with GOTY 2007, Pac-Man CE may take Portable GOTY 2009!
Okay, it's decided. Between this announcement & the announcement that the majority of the PSP's library of games will be available as digital downloads at the Go's launch, I'm going to be buying a PSP Go and at launch if I can manage it. I'll admit that the $250 price tag was hard to take at first, but when you think about it, the price difference between the 3000 & Go is about what you would pay for a 16GB memory stick anyway (which I would want to buy if I was getting a 3000) so it's just down to whether or not you'd rather have the option for UMDs or the sexier machine. Since I don't really want to use UMDs due to the increased load times & drain on the battery, it's sexy machine all the way for me.
I was sorely tempted when I saw the pics for the white PSP Go, but as someone who still owns a perfectly good white PSP-2000, I'm passing on the Go. I'm very curious to see how Sony handles its digital pricing on PSP games, though, and if they match the MSRP of the retail PSP games.
We still have no idea how many full-sized PSP games will be available, and how much they'll sell for.
And Brainiac, there actually ARE hardcore boardgame snobs out there.
I just can't think of any comeback to that.
Really? I almost want an explanation or anecdote, but I know I'll regret it.
If you look hard enough in decent-sized cities, you can find board game stores that sell hideously complicated board games that nobody has ever heard of, yet every single one will have thousands of absolutely rabid followers. Think Comic Book Guy from the Simpsons if he were to rattle on about Carcassonne or somesuch.
So it probably got lost under the big PS3 price drop announcement, but Sony is adding a new section to the PSN store: PSN Minis. Think XBLA, the Apple AppStore, or DSIWare but for the PSP. 100MB size limit.
More importantly, Pac-Man: Championship Edition is confirmed for the service. I knew it was coming out for the iPhone, but I'm thrilled that it's coming out on a portable system that I actually intend to own soon.
I nearly lost my shit when I found out about that yesterday too. Not content with GOTY 2007, Pac-Man CE may take Portable GOTY 2009!
As much as I'm against Digital Distribution, something like Pac-Man: CE is perfect for such a service and I'll likely pick it up.
Now if they release Space Invaders Infinity Gene we're talking, as I refuse to buy that on the iPod Touch.
So it probably got lost under the big PS3 price drop announcement, but Sony is adding a new section to the PSN store: PSN Minis. Think XBLA, the Apple AppStore, or DSIWare but for the PSP. 100MB size limit.
More importantly, Pac-Man: Championship Edition is confirmed for the service. I knew it was coming out for the iPhone, but I'm thrilled that it's coming out on a portable system that I actually intend to own soon.
I nearly lost my shit when I found out about that yesterday too. Not content with GOTY 2007, Pac-Man CE may take Portable GOTY 2009!
As much as I'm against Digital Distribution, something like Pac-Man: CE is perfect for such a service and I'll likely pick it up.
Now if they release Space Invaders Infinity Gene we're talking, as I refuse to buy that on the iPod Touch.
....because you're a silly billy. Space Invaders Infinity Gene is absolutely awesome, has music you'd love, and controls flawlessly. Hell, it actually wouldn't control as well on a PSP, I'd wager.
I think sony is going for a Guinness record here. Most SKUs for a single item.
At this point they won't even have to make a PS4, because by the end of the "10 year life span" of the PS3, it will have metamorphosed into something wholly different.
Cameron_Talley on
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I think sony is going for a Guinness record here. Most SKUs for a single item.
At this point they won't even have to make a PS4, because by the end of the "10 year life span" of the PS3, it will have metamorphosed into something wholly different.
Shenanigans were afoot in Sony's efforts to throw bloggers (such as yours truly) off the scent of the just-announced PS3 Slim in the FCC, and we've got to give them credit -- filing the thing as a "Computer Entertainment System" manufactured by "Sand Dollar Enterprise, Inc." managed to do the trick. Well played, Sony. Anyhow, it turns out that Sand Dollar's address is registered to Sony Computer Entertainment of America, which in turn leads us to the matter at hand: test documents for this sneaky bugger reveal a second model number, CECH-2001B, listed as a 250GB version of the console. For the math challenged, that's over two times the storage of the only SKU announced thus far, so if they can get this out for a reasonably modest bump in MSRP (we doubt it) and get it out quickly, it might be worth the wait. Why it's legal for a company to falsify its name with the feds like this is unclear, but we'll admit, we respect and admire the effort. In fact, we'd be even more likely to buy a Slim if it came from a company called Sand Dollar, we think.
Well, if they bothered to file it with the FCC then it's looking pretty certain that they're serious about going forward with this madness. Of course they could always change their mind and kill it, but that would imply more common sense than Sony's shown on the whole this generation.
I guess it's alright, as long as they don't pull something devious like supply constraint the $299 SKU and flood the market with the $399 SKU, hoping to pull you into the store with the former, but buy the $399 when you get there and find the $299 SKU sold out.
Controllers became the number one accessory to gouge on in the N64 era. Basically they used the excuse of the analog stick to really increase the cost of the things.
It's just gotten worse every gen. This gen we happen to have three decent to great controllers but at a huge price.
Xenogears of Bore on
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SirUltimosDon't talk, Rusty. Just paint.Registered Userregular
edited August 2009
That Rockband79 deal doesn't work in Canada, does it?
I still don't understand why Backward compatability is such a huge deal to so many people. The SNES, N64, and GameCube weren't backward compatible. They still played games just fine and I enjoyed them. Heck, the SNES instruction book even has a section about how to hook up your NES in tandem with the SNES. No reason to throw these old consoles away.
I don't throw away any old consoles, but it is incredibly convenient to not have to haul them out. I've used the Wii's GC compatibility quite often.
Plus it is a standard, expected feature these days. Your argument could be used for online as well: the NES wasn't online, it played games just fine and was a great system. Why does anyone want online all of a sudden?
Why have we bothered moving to four-player consoles anyway? Two player consoles were just fine. Who cares about four player?
For me, it's a matter of Sony having written a cheque that they decided to no longer back, not because it would actually cost them money to plop a small amount of software somewhere in the PS3's firmware, but because they could. Whenever Sony does something bizarre like this without an explanation, I just stare at them blankly and wonder. Now is no different.
Controllers are expensive...but only if you buy them retail. I finally got off my butt and paid $14.70 for a Dualshock 3, new, online. And there are more available.
Besides the obvious lack of multiplayer, they've also removed the "multi-plane" aspect of the levels:
Additionally, further tweaks to LBP PSP include downsizing the game field to one 2D plane (no foreground and background planes) and so-called improvement upon the original's floaty jump mechanic.
Hah, I called that way back when it was announced. I really don't think multiple planes would've worked that well on a small screen, so I think they've made a smart move.
DS still dominates by far, Wii still riding the MH3 train.
Interesting how close the 360 and PS3 numbers are, though. Only a 400 unit difference. That's pretty damn close.
As far as software, I'm glad to see that MH3 is still selling reasonably well, despite the "rumors" that it's zomg stopped selling. But even if it did completely stop selling, pulling in at nearly 800k sales in Japan alone is pretty outstanding. I can't think of another 3rd party game pulling these numbers in Japan for any system this gen so far on any home console.
Online and split-screen local are not mutually exclusive. Or does your 360 fire your Halo 3 disk at you at supersonic speeds if you accidentally try to play a local game?
My (limited) understanding is that splitting the screens effectively halves or quarters the resources available to rendering each scene. Back in the Goldeneye days we just didn't care about framerates as much. Nowadays it seems that most games are already too demanding on the hardware while rendering one screen, so splitting it up just presents problems that nothing but the most big-budget developers care to address.
I can't think of the last console that didn't have some way to get more than two players somehow.
4 players standard is the lasting legacy of the Nintendo 64 as far as I'm concerned.
Incidentally, the Atari 5200 had 4 front controller ports.
Unfortunately that system was a waste of time.
Take it back! The Atari 5200 was my first console and I had a ton of fun with it. Yes, the controllers were a piece of junk, but it had a solid library (fewer games than the Atari 2600, but hey, Pac-Man actually looked and played like Pac-Man & Pitfall 2 was all sorts of awesome).
But they should address it. It's a smaller screen, so drop the res or texture quality or something. 4 player local was and should be the standard. Otherwise, why even bother having 4 controllers this gen?
Wanted to play some 4 player L4D or CoD Zombie Nazis and can't because the developers are lazy. They spend enough already it can't be that hard to make it work. If Halo 3 can do it, anyone can implement it. There's something different from playing against/with 1 other friend, and playing with 3 friends. It just adds so much more to the fun and enjoyment.
So this was discussed a bit in the slim PS3 thread, but it's buried now. Here's Sony's print ad for the PS3:
It's not inherently horrible like the exploding Rubik's Cube silliness, but it kind of leaves me cold since Sony's been flogging "it does everything!" since the beginning.
Also, there's something missing in the ad. Can't put my finger on what it is.
It lists photo slides and DVDs as a feature. I am of the opinion that you shouldn't use a shotgun approach to listing features in ads. Just list the ones that are important.
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And Brainiac, there actually ARE hardcore boardgame snobs out there.
True, but if they do around $20 for older titles (like they currently do in the UMD legacy section) and full price for new titles that's not a dealbreaker for me.
Zeboyd Games Development Blog
Steam ID : rwb36, Twitter : Werezompire, Facebook : Zeboyd Games
I nearly lost my shit when I found out about that yesterday too.
I was sorely tempted when I saw the pics for the white PSP Go, but as someone who still owns a perfectly good white PSP-2000, I'm passing on the Go. I'm very curious to see how Sony handles its digital pricing on PSP games, though, and if they match the MSRP of the retail PSP games.
I just can't think of any comeback to that.
Really? I almost want an explanation or anecdote, but I know I'll regret it.
Beat me on 360: Raybies666
I remember when I had time to be good at games.
Steam ID: slashx000______Twitter: @bill_at_zeboyd______ Facebook: Zeboyd Games
If you look hard enough in decent-sized cities, you can find board game stores that sell hideously complicated board games that nobody has ever heard of, yet every single one will have thousands of absolutely rabid followers. Think Comic Book Guy from the Simpsons if he were to rattle on about Carcassonne or somesuch.
As much as I'm against Digital Distribution, something like Pac-Man: CE is perfect for such a service and I'll likely pick it up.
Now if they release Space Invaders Infinity Gene we're talking, as I refuse to buy that on the iPod Touch.
Switch: 6200-8149-0919 / Wii U: maximumzero / 3DS: 0860-3352-3335 / eBay Shop
....because you're a silly billy. Space Invaders Infinity Gene is absolutely awesome, has music you'd love, and controls flawlessly. Hell, it actually wouldn't control as well on a PSP, I'd wager.
Also, since I know you like sales and good deals, you need to look at this.
The Pipe Vault|Twitter|Steam|Backloggery|3DS:1332-7703-1083
....
Well, it was a good 28 hours or so with no gaffes on the Playstation front, eh?
At this point they won't even have to make a PS4, because by the end of the "10 year life span" of the PS3, it will have metamorphosed into something wholly different.
3DS Friend Code: 0404-6826-4588 PM if you add.
The PS3...60?
Ohshi-
The Pipe Vault|Twitter|Steam|Backloggery|3DS:1332-7703-1083
http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/18/sony-sneaks-ps3-slim-through-fcc-under-pseudonym-250gb-model-di/ Another source:
http://www.gamespot.com/news/blogs/rumor-control/909119209/27004345/sony-planning-250gb-ps3-slim.html
Well, if they bothered to file it with the FCC then it's looking pretty certain that they're serious about going forward with this madness. Of course they could always change their mind and kill it, but that would imply more common sense than Sony's shown on the whole this generation.
Undoubtedly. Remember, this is the company that charged $400 for the goddamn 2GB Rolly.
I'm thinking so. They're likely pack-in a game or two, movie or PSN download however.
It'd be nice if they had a package that included two controllers like in the NES/SNES days.
Switch: 6200-8149-0919 / Wii U: maximumzero / 3DS: 0860-3352-3335 / eBay Shop
It's just gotten worse every gen. This gen we happen to have three decent to great controllers but at a huge price.
Why have we bothered moving to four-player consoles anyway? Two player consoles were just fine. Who cares about four player?
For me, it's a matter of Sony having written a cheque that they decided to no longer back, not because it would actually cost them money to plop a small amount of software somewhere in the PS3's firmware, but because they could. Whenever Sony does something bizarre like this without an explanation, I just stare at them blankly and wonder. Now is no different.
Controllers are expensive...but only if you buy them retail. I finally got off my butt and paid $14.70 for a Dualshock 3, new, online. And there are more available.
4 players standard is the lasting legacy of the Nintendo 64 as far as I'm concerned.
Yeah I saw that. Pity, Rock Band might've sold kinda well in Europe if they'd done it.
Hah, I called that way back when it was announced. I really don't think multiple planes would've worked that well on a small screen, so I think they've made a smart move.
Incidentally, the Atari 5200 had 4 front controller ports.
Unfortunately that system was a waste of time.
Steam ID: slashx000______Twitter: @bill_at_zeboyd______ Facebook: Zeboyd Games
link
(Please do not gift. My game bank is already full.)
Interesting how close the 360 and PS3 numbers are, though. Only a 400 unit difference. That's pretty damn close.
As far as software, I'm glad to see that MH3 is still selling reasonably well, despite the "rumors" that it's zomg stopped selling. But even if it did completely stop selling, pulling in at nearly 800k sales in Japan alone is pretty outstanding. I can't think of another 3rd party game pulling these numbers in Japan for any system this gen so far on any home console.
Steam ID: slashx000______Twitter: @bill_at_zeboyd______ Facebook: Zeboyd Games
And yet both the 360 and PS3 have MANY games which only support 2 players locally........
So annoying.
MC and Famitsu seem to be having trouble tracking MH3.
(Please do not gift. My game bank is already full.)
Or worse, one.
Really bad that the Conduit had to follow that horrible next gen example as well.
It's not an oversight, it's deliberate.
I'm kind of glad we've generally moved past local multiplayer.
I hope we never move past local multiplayer, there should never not be an opportunity to play directly with friends.
EDIT: I mean as an ideology, COD4 was fine in splitscreen, but better online. I just don't think local play should be discarded.
Beat me on 360: Raybies666
I remember when I had time to be good at games.
The Pipe Vault|Twitter|Steam|Backloggery|3DS:1332-7703-1083
My (limited) understanding is that splitting the screens effectively halves or quarters the resources available to rendering each scene. Back in the Goldeneye days we just didn't care about framerates as much. Nowadays it seems that most games are already too demanding on the hardware while rendering one screen, so splitting it up just presents problems that nothing but the most big-budget developers care to address.
Take it back! The Atari 5200 was my first console and I had a ton of fun with it. Yes, the controllers were a piece of junk, but it had a solid library (fewer games than the Atari 2600, but hey, Pac-Man actually looked and played like Pac-Man & Pitfall 2 was all sorts of awesome).
Zeboyd Games Development Blog
Steam ID : rwb36, Twitter : Werezompire, Facebook : Zeboyd Games
Wanted to play some 4 player L4D or CoD Zombie Nazis and can't because the developers are lazy. They spend enough already it can't be that hard to make it work. If Halo 3 can do it, anyone can implement it. There's something different from playing against/with 1 other friend, and playing with 3 friends. It just adds so much more to the fun and enjoyment.
It's not inherently horrible like the exploding Rubik's Cube silliness, but it kind of leaves me cold since Sony's been flogging "it does everything!" since the beginning.
Also, there's something missing in the ad. Can't put my finger on what it is.
Thank God Sony's including free online G, though.