Sunday, May 31, 2009

PSPgo - As it Happened, What We know, Strange Things On Top Of It.

Yesterday saw the leaked release of news regarding the PSPgo. Whilst it seems that most of the big news sites knew about this, they were all beaten to the news by little known Gaming Console Network. Whilst i'm sure there may have been other sites not mentioned in the article, this is how it happened yesterday for me.

Once news got out (and it didn't take long) little bits of information sprung up all over the place. first this video was released, the first leaked footage from the June Quore Episode. (unfortunately the original Youtube link has been removed, but this is what was shown)



Once NEOgaf got hold of the information, it didn't take them long to dig out more information
and pictures for the PSPgo and for a thread to start.
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=363406

Playstation Lifetstyle, the ones who leaked Trico last week, came in and showed the insider information they had...but also then made the comparison with the boxart for the PSPgo to the PS3 Slim with this picture.
http://playstationlifestyle.net/2009/05/30/psp-go-box-pics-look-strikingly-similar-to-ps3-slim-box/
This picture itself began all sorts of talk regarding the PS3 Slim again, and what went from a dismissed rumour suddenly became alot more concrete.

The first "big" site that responded to to all this was Eurogamer. they released official pictures for the PSPgo. http://www.eurogamer.net/gallery.php?game_id=&article_id=587698#anchor

Finally someone uploaded the full length episode of Quore which showed even more information regarding the PSPgo.


Lastly, Kotaku did a feature showing, an estimate of, the PSPgo against the PSP, DS, DSi, and iPhone. firstly it's obvious to see how small the device actually is in comparison.

http://kotaku.com/5273302/portable-size+off-how-the-psp-go-measures-up?skyline=true&s=i

So what do we know?

Specifications:

  • Offical Name - PSP Go
  • 3.8″ LCD Screen
  • 43% Lighter then PSP-3000 (3.8 ounces now)
  • 16GB Flash Memory
  • Memory Stick Micro Support
  • BlueTooth Support - HeadSet and Cellphone Support
  • All Digital Content (No UMD)
  • Slide Out Controls
  • Remote Play Support (just like PSP-3000)
What Is On Top Of It?
as a owner of the PSP GO
Cam, i was wondering where on the PSPgo would i put it. after looking at the HD version of June's Quore episode (which was in this article earlier) i took a screen grab of the PSPgo at a point when the top of the PSPgo is most clear.

As you can see from the Pic, the two shoulder buttons are clear to see, pretty big and silver. but whats in the middle? the volume controls are no longer with the buttons, so it's possible the middle piece could be the volume controls. the two buttons, one next to each shoulder buttons, could also be volume buttons, making the middle thing perhaps a cover for the Mini USB port on the PSP. if this was true, the two screws would then be used to secure the PSP GO Cam/GO Explore in place much like previous PSP Models.

I'm sure more will be announced come E3, when the original release of the PSPgo was meant to happen.

Saturday, May 30, 2009

Star Trek Online Update - Excalibur Class

Cryptic studios have unveiled a new starship for Star Trek Online. this time they have taken the iconic Constitution Class, USS Enterprise and USS Enterprise A for example, and modernised it to create a cruiser that's able to fill a variety of roles for Star Fleet in the 25th century.


Following previously announced vessels this is also designed to be very modular, a way for them to explain why the player can customised their vessels whilst keeping it a part of the Star Trek Universe. because of this, it is more versatile than a ship designed specifically for science or battle.

Due to it's versatility, they explain that its used alot for cargo runs and resupplying, perhaps a hint of missions in the game, and also able to help evacuate civilians. in battle, they say when talking about its Warp Core, "...transfer power to damaged ships or extend its shields to protect an ally without impacting its own defenses or systems. Engineers on an Excalibur-class starship can reroute that power to boost its tractor beams, allowing it to grapple enemy ships that could easily break away from lesser vessels..." perhaps hinting at control schemes, being able to mange power from one thing to another.

They finish off the article by saying ""We can send her anywhere and she can do anything," said Graarvin Narl, primary designer of the Excalibur class. "The Excalibur will carry Starfleet into the 25th century, and she'll do it with style." suggesting that this will be a fairly common class, differenced by the user picking different modules for it.

Information from http://www.startrekonline.com/ships/excalibur
Picture from http://media3.startrekonline.com.s3.amazonaws.com/img/ships/excalibur.jpg

Re-Cap of Yesterdays News (oldest to newest)

Sony Pictures - Ghostbusters Gear Will be in Home from June. Expect T Shirts, Figurines, Costumes and more - Press Release

Sony Pictures have announced a collaboration with Loot to provide Home with various branded interactive items such as figurines, T Shirts, Costumes and more.
Expect mini-Stay Puft Marshmallow man, Slimer ghost, Ecto-1 car and ghost trap which can be bought individually or together in a Fan Pack.
The Ghostbusters Firestation will also be re-created, as a Home Space, with Full size Ecto 1 and Slimer ghost and a special Stay Puff Head for your Avatar.
All items will be Priced from $0.49 to $4.99 and will be avaliable from june.



Press Release

CULVER CITY, CA – May 28, 2009 - The cult-classic sci-fi movie Ghostbusters is coming to PlayStation®Home, thanks to “Loot,” a group of innovative developers dedicated to creating branded interactive entertainment products and experiences for Sony Computer Entertainment America’s PlayStation Home, and Sony Pictures Consumer Products. Loot (http://www.twitter.com/lootgear) will provide PlayStation Home with an array of interactive Ghostbusters-branded items – such as figurines, t-shirts, costumes and more – in conjunction with the worldwide release of Ghostbusters on Blu-ray the week of June 16, 2009 from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment and the simultaneous launch of “Ghostbusters: The Video Game,” the highly anticipated videogame from Atari, celebrating the film’s 25th anniversary.

Ghostbusters is one of our most popular franchises and, thematically, it was a natural fit for the social gaming world of PlayStation Home,” said David Sterling, VP of Business Development for Sony Pictures Digital Authoring Center and General Manager of Loot. “We’ve created an experience where fans can virtually participate in the movie environment.”

Starting today, Ghostbusters figurines – including mini-Stay Puft Marshmallow man, Slimer ghost, Ecto-1 car and ghost trap – go on sale individually or as a Fan Pack, followed by Ghostbusters regular and logo T-shirts and Ghostbusters Proton- Pack Costumes in the coming weeks. Among the products to be released is the Ghostbusters Firehouse On-Location, which is a replica of the three-story firehouse from the movie featuring a fireman’s pole, a full-size Ecto-1 car, a flying Slimer ghost and exclusive furniture as well interactive stage set cameras. With the purchase of the Firehouse, users get a bonus Stay Puft Marshmallow man costume head.

All of the Ghostbusters-branded interactive items, created by Loot and offered in conjunction with Sony Pictures Consumer Products, and selected by Sony Computer Entertainment America will be available for purchase in the coming weeks from the PlayStation Home Mall. Prices range from US$.49 to US$4.99.

Directed and produced by Ivan Reitman (Meatballs, Stripes), with the screenplay written by Dan Aykroyd (My Girl, The Great Outdoors) and Harold Ramis (Knocked Up), Ghostbusters stars Bill Murray (Meatballs, Stripes), Dan Aykroyd (My Girl, The Great Outdoors), Sigourney Weaver (Aliens, Copycat), Harold Ramis (Knocked Up), Annie Potts (TV’s “Designing Women”), and Rick Moranis (Honey I Shrunk the Kids, Spaceballs).

The Infogrames group, including the Atari brand and the massively multiplayer online game company Cryptic Studios, is a global producer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment software for all market segments and all interactive game platforms including consoles from Microsoft, Nintendo and Sony, advanced smartphones, Personal Computers, web and online. Its games are sold in more than 60 countries through an international distribution network and direct to consumers via www.atari.com.

Atari’s extensive catalogue of popular games is based on original franchises (Test Drive®, Alone in the Dark®, V-Rally®, My Horse & Me®, Backyard Sports franchise, Total Annihilation®, Outcast® etc.), Cryptic Studios titles (StarTrek Online™, Champions Online™), publishing properties (Ghostbusters®, The Chronicles of Riddick, The Witcher, Race Pro etc.), international licenses (Dragon Ball Z®, Dungeons & Dragons®, Jamie Oliver etc.) and classic games covering the entire history of the video game industry (Pong®, Missile Command®, Asteroids® etc).

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment is a Sony Pictures Entertainment company. SPE is a division of Sony Corporation of America, a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Corporation. SPE's global operations encompass motion picture production and distribution; television production and distribution; digital content creation and distribution; worldwide channel investments; home entertainment acquisition and distribution; operation of studio facilities; development of new entertainment products, services and technologies; and distribution of filmed entertainment in more than 100 countries. For more info on Blu-ray Disc™, visit www.sonypictures.com/bluray.

Sony Pictures Consumer Products Inc. (SPCP) is a division of Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc. (SPE) based in Los Angeles which handles the merchandising and branding efforts for some of the most recognized properties in film and television.

Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) is a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America (SCA), a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Corporation. SPE's global operations encompass motion picture production and distribution; television production and distribution; digital content creation and distribution; worldwide channel investments; home entertainment acquisition and distribution, operation of studio facilities; development of new entertainment products, services and technologies; and distribution of filmed entertainment in more than 130 countries. Sony Pictures Entertainment can be found on the World Wide Web at http://www.sonypictures.com.

©2009 Atari Europe SASU. All rights reserved

For more information, please contact:

SPE Press Line
(p) 310.244.7737

Friday, May 29, 2009

Koei - E3 Linup announced - Press Release

Koei have announced that at E3 the recently announced Trinity: Souls Of Zill O'll will be shown, as well as Warriors: Legends of Troy, Monster Racers and Warriors Orochi 2.


Press Release

Burlingame, CA, May 29, 2009 -- KOEI, recognized worldwide as the premier brand of strategy and action games, today announced its lineup of titles that will be showcased at the 2009 Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), June 2-4 in Los Angeles. Among the games to be shown, the company will unveil two new titles at the Los Angeles Convention Center. This will be the first time in KOEI’s history that the company publicly debuts new titles outside of Japan.

For over 30 years and counting, from classic games rich with history to world-renowned action mega-hits, KOEI consistently delivers the best in entertainment. This year will be no exception. In fact, we’re raising the bar,” said Amos Ip, senior vice president of KOEI Corporation. “At E3, KOEI promises an explosive array of action and role-playing games that will keep gamers on the edge of their seats.”

Gamers can follow @koeicorp on twitter for up-to-the minute news and behind-the-scenes happenings from the KOEI booth, E3 events and more.

The KOEI booth will be located in the South Hall #822. KOEI’s exciting portfolio of console and handheld games includes:

TRINITY: Souls of Zill O’ll™ - For years, Omega Force has transcended the action genre to create one of video gaming’s most legendary franchises. Now they will unleash their imaginations on the realm of fantasy with the upcoming TRINITY: Souls of Zill O’ll.

Warriors: Legends of Troy™ - Three thousand years ago, a poet sang of heroes strong enough to stand alone against an army. For love, they sailed the world. For family, they made the greatest sacrifices. For honor, they stood and faced the will of gods, and fought a war which shook the earth…

Monster Racers™ - Monster Racers for the Nintendo DS™ will take you on a quest around the globe in search of monsters to train, nurture, and race. For the first time in the genre, your skill in controlling your monster will be a key factor to winning each challenge. Races are filled with obstacles that will test your skills in controlling speed, jumping ability, and reaction time. By combining real-time racing, platform-style action, and role-playing with the fun of monster collecting, KOEI is bringing to life a colorful and unforgettable world where everyone can be a champion. This product is rated “E” (Everyone) by the ESRB.

WARRIORS OROCHI®2 - The best-selling DYNASTY WARRIORS® and SAMURAI WARRIORS® crossover comes to the PSP®(PlayStation® Portable) system with continuing storylines. WARRIORS OROCHI 2 features three new game modes: Dream, VS and Survival, plus VS mode “Tag Team”-style matches that pit fighters in deadly head-to-head combat! New features for the PSP include 96 playable characters, 2-Player VS and Co-op and new scenarios. This game is rated "T" (Teen – Mild Suggestive Themes, Violence) by the ESRB.

About KOEI Corporation
Based in Burlingame, California, KOEI Corporation established operations in 1988 as the North American subsidiary of KOEI Co., Ltd. of Japan. KOEI is respected worldwide as the premier brand of strategy and simulation games, and is the innovator of the Tactical Action genre. The company's Warriors series of games have generated a combined 18 million units in global sales.

KOEI develops, publishes, and distributes interactive software for video game systems and personal computers. For fiscal 2008, KOEI posted worldwide revenues of $286 million. KOEI maintains operations in Japan, the U.S., the UK, Canada, China, Korea, Taiwan, Singapore and Lithuania. More information about KOEI and its products can be found atwww.koei.com.

TRINITY Souls of Zill O'll, Warriors: Legends of Troy, Monster Racers, WARRIORS OROCHI, DYNASTY WARRIORS, SAMURAI WARRIORS, and the KOEI logo are registered trademarks or trademarks of KOEI Co., Ltd. ©2009 KOEI Co., Ltd. All rights reserved. “PlayStation”, “PS” Family logo and “PSP” are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. Memory Stick Duo™ may be required (sold separately) for certain functionality. Nintendo DS is a trademark of Nintendo. ©2004 Nintendo. The ratings icon is a trademark of the Entertainment Software Association. All other trademarks are properties of their respective owners.

Press Release ©2009 KOEI Co., Ltd.

Contact:
Jarik R. Sikat
KOEI Corporation
(650) 692-9080 ext. 230
sikat@koei.com

Sony Online Entertainment - Free Realms teams up with The Dares to create a Theme Song. In Game Performance Coming. - Press Release

Sony Online Entertainment have teamed up with The Dares to create a theme song for Free Realms. The Dares will perform live In Free Realms and at E3 on Tuesday June 2nd



Press Release

Behind-The-Scenes Video of Up-and-Coming Pop/Punk Band, The Dares, Recording Free Realms Theme Song Now Available for Download

The Dares will Perform Live at Sony Online Entertainment's E3 Booth and Simultaneously in Free Realms on Tuesday, June 2 at 4pm



Activision - Wolfenstein 3D coming to PSN and XBLA from June 3rd - Press Release

Activisioon have announced that the classic game Wolfenstein 3D is coming to the PSN and XBLA. The game is out on the XBLA on June 3rd, PSN for June 4th.

Press Release

SANTA MONICA, Calif., May 29, 2009 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX News Network/ -- Activision Publishing (Nasdaq: ATVI) and id Software announced today the legendary first-person action title, the original Wolfenstein 3D(R) will be available for download on June 3 on Xbox LIVE(R) Arcade for the Xbox 360(R) video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and June 4 on PLAYSTATION(R)Network for PLAYSTATION(R)3 (PS3(TM)). The famed title that created an entire video game genre, Wolfenstein 3D offers players a chance to experience the intensity of escaping from Castle Wolfenstein all over again. Classic enemies like Hans Grosse and Mecha-Hitler await players in the six episodes that span 60 levels. Wolfenstein 3D is rated M by the ESRB for Animated Blood and Gore and Animated Violence.

Gamers taking the challenge to defeat the twisted Nazi regime also will earn accolades and be awarded gold for customizable weapon upgrades in id Software's all new, Wolfenstein(TM). The newest addition to the famed blockbuster franchise, Wolfenstein is scheduled to be on store shelves on August 4 on Xbox 360, PS3 and PC and is rated M by the ESRB for Blood and Gore, Intense Violence and Language.

About id Software

id - defined by Freud as the primal section of the human psyche; id Software, located in Mesquite, Texas, was founded in 1991. From inception to present day, id Software has relentlessly provided technical, design and artistic leadership as an independent game developer and technology provider. Transcending the games industry, id's iconic brands such as Wolfenstein, DOOM, QUAKE and Enemy Territory have become staples of popular culture for generations of gamers. More information on id Software can be found atwww.idsoftware.com.

About Activision Publishing, Inc.

Headquartered in Santa Monica, California, Activision Publishing, Inc. is a leading worldwide developer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment and leisure products.

Activision Publishing maintains operations in the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Sweden, Spain, the Netherlands and Australia. More information about Activision and its products can be found on the company's website,www.activision.com.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking Statements: Information in this press release that involves Activision Publishing's expectations, plans, intentions or strategies regarding the future are forward-looking statements that are not facts and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Activision Publishing generally uses words such as "outlook," "will," "could," "would," "might," "remains," "to be," "plans," "believes," "may," "expects," "intends," "anticipates," "estimate," future," "plan," "positioned," "potential," "project," "remain," "scheduled," "set to," "subject to," "upcoming" and similar expressions to help identify forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause Activision Publishing's actual future results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements set forth in this release include, but are not limited to, sales levels of Activision Publishing's titles, shifts in consumer spending trends, the impact of the current macroeconomic environment, the seasonal and cyclical nature of the interactive game market, Activision Publishing's ability to predict consumer preferences among competing hardware platforms (including next-generation hardware), declines in software pricing, product returns and price protection, product delays, retail acceptance of Activision Publishing's products, adoption rate and availability of new hardware and related software, industry competition, rapid changes in technology and industry standards, protection of proprietary rights, litigation against Activision Publishing, maintenance of relationships with key personnel, customers, vendors and third-party developers, domestic and international economic, financial and political conditions and policies, foreign exchange rates, integration of recent acquisitions and the identification of suitable future acquisition opportunities, Activision Blizzard's success in integrating the operations of Activision Publishing and Vivendi Games in a timely manner, or at all, and the combined company's ability to realize the anticipated benefits and synergies of the transaction to the extent, or in the timeframe, anticipated, and the other factors identified in Activision Blizzard's most recent annual report on Form 10-K and any subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. The forward-looking statements in this release are based upon information available to Activision Publishing and Activision Blizzard as of the date of this release, and neither Activision Publishing nor Activision Blizzard assumes any obligation to update any such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements believed to be true when made may ultimately prove to be incorrect. These statements are not guarantees of the future performance of Activision Publishing or Activision Blizzard and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond its control and may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations.

(C) 2009 Id Software, Inc. All rights reserved. Wolfenstein is a trademark and ID is a registered trademark of Id Software, Inc. in the United States and some other countries. Activision is registered trademarks of Activision Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved. Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox Live, Windows and Games for Windows are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. All other trademarks and trade names are the properties of their respective owners.

SOURCE Activision Publishing

http://www.activision.com

Copyright (C) 2009 PR Newswire. All rights reserved