Xclusive - Astro Tripper 1.2 Update.

The kind folks at Pom Pom Games have kindly given me a quick/short list of the changes that 1.2 bought to Astro Tripper.

"friends now shown on high score page, (though not quite in the right order!)*

a new entry on the high score table shows those below it correctly
before the table sync

spider point trophy - description of how to get clarified

odds and ends"

* a further email with Pom Pom Games has made clear that a future patch will be released to fix this issue.

Woo, well happy. it's nice when i ask a company a question that they reply.
it's not some block buster news i know, but those who read the weekly "What Have You Played This Week?" will know that i do love this game, will know that it matters to me, and it's something i wanted to know.
and besides...baby steps, lol.

What Have You Played This Week?

Killzone 2 - PS3 - i finally moved onto the single player part of the game, and really enjoying it. interesting battle scenarios, good level design, and wow...the graphics are still really good.

Peggle - 360 - The game that broke my previous 360 finally got played. not much to say, it's Peggle, it's addictive and i'm really enjoying it.

Shadow Of The Colossus - PS2 - finished the game, and soo proud that i played it. such an interesting game, whether its the graphics, music, story or gameplay. none of it disappointed, and the ending was superb.

Final Fantasy VII: Crisis Core - PSP - only done a little bit more of story and side quests. i find it's a good game to play when you have some free time to fill.

Street Fighter IV - PS3 - as much as i want to be good at the game, i suck. i practice, i play the arcade on easiest, and yet i still suck. but i'm not going to give up yet!

Astro Tripper - PS3 - was surprised that it had a update, but welcomed. still stuck on the last boss of the game...i'm further along killing it than i ever have been, but i'm finding it tough...but i've come so far and i won't be beaten. still a great cheap game.

Feel free to comment on anything i've played and what you yourself has played over the last week.

Star Trek Online Update - Oslo Class

Cryptic have updated their site with a new StarFleet Vessel, the Oslo Class.
the vessel looks very familiar to the Norway and Akira from Star Trek, but the site also mentions that it's similar to the Zephyr Class which is not a known class of Star Trek and is most likely a new Class for Star Trek Online.
Cryptic say the reason for the similarities is because "Starfleet Corps of Engineers championed a plan that called for modular ship designs, with components that could easily be switched out or replaced."

in their talk about the ship, they let slip a possible parts of the game mechanics, "The modular design allows ship's crews to be able to make more repairs in the field and enables salvaged components to be reused on a variety of ships. An added benefit of modular construction is that starships can be modified for specific missions or to accommodate crew needs." This backs up the customisation that the game allows of ships, giving a legitimate reason why it's possible, but it also hints at salvage missions, being able to salvage parts from a battle site.

This particular class is known as a Heavy Escort Class, limited medical facilities and scientific as well. it's not built for sustained attacks, but it's new weapons provide alot of clout. again, Cryptic might have let slip another game mechanic "...it will often work in concert with other ships that have improved sensor arrays and laboratories. Being able to coordinate with an engineering vessel will keep the Oslo fighting for longer than it could without such support, making it an ideal vessel for battle groups and fleet actions." perhaps hinting at how battles/missions can work with other people, being able to use their ships either to help another ship or to be that fighter amongst the science vessels.

UK PSN Update 26/03/09

Uk Finally get the Unreal 3 Titan Pack and the Resistance 2 multiplayer DLC. not much else this week.

PS3 Games
Little Big Planet - Buzz Costume Pack [£1.59]
Tom Clancey Endwar - Veteran Map Pack [Free]
Unreal III - Titan Mutators Bonus Pack [Free]
Pain - El Chile Grande [£0.69]
Pain - Smack Pack [£3.19]
Resistance 2 - Multiplayer Skin Bundle [£2.39]
Resistance 2 - Ravager Multiplayer Skin [£0.59]
Resistance 2 - Ranger Variation Multiplayer Skin [£0.59]
Resistance 2 - Rachel Parker Multiplayer Skin [£0.59]
Resistance 2 - Female Soldier Multiplayer Skin [£0.59]
Resistance 2 - Cloven Multiplayer Skin [£0.59]
Resistance 2 - Black Ops Variation Multiplayer Skin [£0.59]
Resistance 2 - Aftermath Multiplayer Map Pack [£3.99]
Call Of Duty World At War - Map Pack 1 [£7.99]
Burn Zombie Burn [£6.29]

Demo's
NONE

Guitar Hero - World Tour
"C-Lebrity" by Queen and Paul Rogers [£1.59]
"Fat Bottomed Girls" by Queen [£1.59]
"We Are The Champions" by Queen [£1.59]
"The James Bond Theme" by Richard Fortus [£1.59]
Queen Track Pack [£4.39]

Rock Band
"Black" by Pearl Jam [£0.99]
"Deep" by Pearl Jam [£0.99]
"Even Flow" by Pearl Jam [£0.99]
"Garden" by Pearl Jam [£0.99]
"Jeremy" by Pearl Jam [£0.99]
"Master/Slave" by Pearl Jam [£0.99]
"Oceans" by Pearl Jam [£0.99]
"Once" by Pearl Jam [£0.99]
"Porch" by Pearl Jam [£0.99]
"Release" by Pearl Jam [£0.99]
"Why Go" by Pearl Jam [£0.99]

Videos
NONE

Wallpaper
Crash Commando - War Wallpaper
Rag Doll Kung Fu - Fists Of Plastic
Command & Conquer Red Alert 3 Ultimate Edition - Allied Cryocopter
Command & Conquer Red Alert 3 Ultimate Edition - Empire Tsunami Tank
Command & Conquer Red Alert 3 Ultimate Edition - Apocalypse Tank

Theme
Command & Conquer Red Alert 3 - Soviet Theme

PS1 Classic
Magic Carpet [£4.79]

PSP
Buzz Brain of The Uk [£19.99]

My 360 Replacement Experiance.

It only took a week, but i got my 360 back. i must admit i'm impressed with the speed it took, only a week. it would've been here yesterday but UPS were delayed a day.
of course this may not be the same for everyone, thinking about it the main reason for such speed would be that my console had no repairs. it was a very early model and i doubt that the parts for it exist, and they probably decided that it would be simpler just to sent me a new one.
i have to say that i do no have one of the new chipsets. i'm a little disappointed, but i understand why; the 360 i sent was a original one, which means that i have a original power brick, the new chipsets use a different power brick...and unfortunately older bricks do not work with the newer models, which means it's cheaper to send me a a newer version of the original model.

getting it replaced was a interesting experience. it's all done online now, even trying to phone in tells you to go to the website. the website relies on you being online, with a live account and being registered, which thankfully i am which made it very simple, fill in the boxes, say whats wrong. if you have a RROD, the site automatically adds 3 years of warranty which should make the process free. the emails are a little confusing, they cover all bases by sending a email with all the information possible which can make it difficult to pick out your own info, and you have to provide your won box. thats the only issues i have, everything else went smoothly.
i'm impressed, but i guess they have had alot of experience, it was smooth, didn't take long, and relatively out of my hands. i'd say good overall.

Zero Puncuation - Reisdent Evil 5

Ah, back on form with this great review of Resident Evil 5. whilst he's known for making exaggerated negative comments towards a game, today's episode has echoed alot amongst the gaming community...this just makes it funny... "Capcoms not racist...they're just idiots"

GDC - 2 New Consoles enter the market?!?!?

it's early days at the moment at GDC, mostly it's been new trailers, like Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 but there was suprise news as two new consoles have been announced!

The first is "OnLive". This could singlehandly change the future of gaming. i know it's a bold statement. it may be a bold statement, but there is nothing like it and it could bring gaming to everyone with a phone line. comparisons to youtube are just, all the games, processing, are done online.

for those without a PC, this box is all you need. as all the work is done online, a console sized box is not needed, all it needs to do is connect to a controller, a tv, and the internet. for those with a PC, they offer a in broswer experiance (much like the new quake online) requireing only a small download.
You internet connection is the only limitation for the device. the slower it is, the lower the resolution you'll see.

it is a subscription based service, but the list of publishers already linned up for the service is impressive. EA, Take-Two, Ubisoft, Eidos, Codemasters, Epic, Atari, WB and 2D Boy to start, and it takes very little effort to add more.
More on this will come later, read Joystiq or IGN articles for more information.

The second console is Zeebo. whilst not as revolutionary as OnLive, is still a important announcement. it's not going against the Wii, 360 or PS3, but it is aimed at the emerging/poorer markets.

the console is less powerful than the Wii, but like the Wii it's a descision which keeps the cost of the console low, and makes it less complicated. it's a download only serive, games being downloaded over the 3G network in a bid to reduce piracey. brazil is the first market to see the Zeebo, at a price around a third less than the Wii ($199 compared to $1000) before beind released India, eastern Europe and China (by 2011).
so far around 300 games are planned for the console, costing between $5 to $15, coming from a vairty of publishers big and small.
for more infor, Gamasutra has a indepth article and engadget has a brief overview.