Capcom and Sony to Work Together to Support Monster Hunter Freedom Unite. [Updated]

[Update: changed the PSP Picture. SCEE Press have given a picture of theMonster Hunter PSP box, and it's clear that we are not getting the PSP which i had orignally displayed in the article. (http://www.blogcdn.com/playstation.joystiq.com/media/2009/04/pspmh2580.jpg was the picture before) ]

Sony and Capcom are going to be spending millions to help promote the game Monster Hunter Freedom Unite, which is set for a June 26th release. Their aim is to try to emulate the huge success that the game series has had in Japan.

There will be a Demo before the game is released. it will have three quests which you can play alone or in a group of four people. There will also be a PSP Bundle with a specific Monster Hunter Design and colour.

Expect to see more about the game in newspapers, Home, the internet, and television over the next few months.

SCEE Press Release

London – April 28, 2009 – Capcom® a leading worldwide developer and publisher of videogames, has today announced that it will be working in partnership with Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE) to support the release of the upcoming Monster Hunter Freedom Unite game for PSP™ (PlayStation® Portable). The game which is scheduled for release on the 26th June will be heavily backed by a multi-million promotional campaign throughout PAL territories.

“We are looking forward to working closely with Capcom to promote Monster Hunter Freedom Unite,” commented David Reeves, President SCEE. “With the combined efforts of both companies we want to emulate the success that the title has had in Japan.”

Key to the huge success of the Monster Hunter series in Japan has been the social aspect of multiplayer hunts. Across PAL territories gamers will be able to sample the phenomenon of Monster Hunter before the games release with the launch of the demo available to download on PlayStation®Network. The demo will feature three quests to prepare players for the arrival of Monster Hunter Freedom Unite in which you can choose to play alone with the aid of your feline companion or in a team of up to four players to get a real taste of the social gaming side of Monster Hunter that’s taken Japan by storm.

Retail initiatives include an exclusive PSP hardware bundle which contains a specially designed Monster Hunter branded PSP skin and pouch along with a copy of the game.

Michael Pattison, Senior Marketing Director of Capcom Europe stated “Working closely with Sony Computer Entertainment Europe to promote the latest title in the Monster Hunter franchise allows Capcom access to all of Sony’s promotional channels, including Playstation websites, community pages and Playstation Home. A series of events and print and on-line advertising will support a heavy weight TV advertising program. The support of Sony on this title is a clear indication that Monster Hunter can be successful across the West.”

Further details about the upcoming promotional activity will be released shortly. For more information about Monster Hunter Freedom Unite please visit www.capcom-europe.com

Re-Cap of Yesterdays News (oldest to newest)

• Marvel Vs Capcom 2 Picture shows the three types of character models, Classic, Smooth and Crisp. http://tinyurl.com/djulkk

• 360: Dead Rising 2 trailer is now online. hit the link for a video. http://tinyurl.com/c55fmx

• iPhone: Noby Noby Boy on the iPhone is bait to get more funds for continuous development of the PS3 version. http://tinyurl.com/cfemsx

• PS3: Noby Noby Boy update 1.10 is out now. it comes in at 563MB!

• Wii: The Wii is widely available in the UK. no price rise, yet, as they are selling old stock at the old price. http://tinyurl.com/c6d2rv

• Super StarDust HD Dev's are working on three new games. 1 PSN exclusive, 1 Multiplatform and Self published Rope. http://tinyurl.com/d8dzkj

• Wii: Resident Evil Archives, the Wii Port of the Gamecube remake of a PS1 game, is set for June 23rd Release. http://tinyurl.com/d7l9mj

• Wii: Resident Evil - The Darkside Chronicles trailer is now online here. http://tinyurl.com/dhs9ow

• A New MotoGP game is currently in development by Monumental Games. set for 360 and PS3.a new direction for series http://tinyurl.com/cxnx4k

• 360: Left For Dead 2 will feature multiplayer. as yet known what type tho. http://tinyurl.com/dcryw6

• Debut trailer for Red Dead Redemption set for release next week. http://tinyurl.com/covly2

• iPhone: ts rumored that Worms could be coming to the iPhone. there is also a video of what may be a early build. http://tinyurl.com/ca38ga

• 360: Capcom aiming for Lost Planet 2 demo during E3. link also has loads of pictures from the game. http://tinyurl.com/cmg72w

• PS3: Killzone 2 Online championship announced for the USA. 4 players a team, aged 13+, can win various prices. http://tinyurl.com/cd68qq

• PSP:Tekken 6 has been confirmed for the PSP, set for release with the console versions, it comes with many extras http://tinyurl.com/cxjdey

• iPhone: Mass effect Jacob's Story announced. it's a top down shooter, stylish with a cartoonish look. http://tinyurl.com/dbyart

• Wii: Capcom Vs Marvel 2 is too big for Wii Ware. there is no retail release for the game. Game not coming to Wii. http://tinyurl.com/cojz6c

• PSP: Soul Calibur Broken Destiny is heading to the PSP. Set to hit this summer. Star Wars characters no included. http://tinyurl.com/dgev6b

Re-Cap of Yesterdays News (oldest to newest)

• Konami has decided against releasing the much lambasted game, Six Days In Fallujah". http://tinyurl.com/d2amk8 3 minutes ago

• PS3: inFamous is set for a UK release of May 29th. http://tinyurl.com/dylbp4

• PS3: days after people found Alpha Zone 2 in Home, it now has officially opened. http://tinyurl.com/ckzasj

• UK online shop Zavvi has a major sale on. games like Little Big Planet and Bioshock can be bought for £8.95. http://tinyurl.com/d8zwr9

• 360: Max Payne 1 and 2 are now available on XBL Originals. both are 1200 Microsoft pioints. http://tinyurl.com/cfmwvr

• PS3: Joystiq has indepth hands on with Uncharted 2 Co-op Multiplayer http://tinyurl.com/c7j8xt and Deathmatch http://tinyurl.com/cm5mht

• PS3:More Uncharted 2 news, Multiplayer beta starts June 3rd! Say working on multiplayer has helped single player. http://tinyurl.com/dlto4g

• Mr T is in a new game. he will take on Nazis. It even has Will Wright (The Sims creator) in . http://tinyurl.com/cmfzbt

• Free Realms Beta Ends. Goes Live Tomorrow! it's free, tho paying $4.95 a month grants extra features. http://tinyurl.com/d24gsc

• Burnout Paradise DLC, Cops and Robbers will cost $9.99/£7.99/800MS Points. set for release this Thursday. http://tinyurl.com/d8fob4

• PS3: Uncharted 2 will have a party system. "You’ve got it! The party system is already in and working great!" http://tinyurl.com/dlto4g

• PS3: its rumored that MAG And The Agency Betas are coming soon. http://tinyurl.com/d6v7hy

• QTE Blog: QTE Impressions – Free Realms – PC http://tinyurl.com/cbgocw

• PSP: Unreleased gun controller patent for PSP found. it was made for the PSP 1000. http://tinyurl.com/cmnobf

• 360:recent survey hints of wearable achievements for the NXE Avatars as well as other changes. http://tinyurl.com/dhfe79

• PS3: Noby Noby Boy gets update tomorrow. it adds the off line multiplayer and other minor changes. http://tinyurl.com/ddwmbg

• Marvel Vs Capcom 2 coming to XBLA and PSN in the summer.the PS3 will get a demo this week. HD upscalling and more http://tinyurl.com/dlncas

QTE Impressions – Free Realms – PC

Free Realms is a MMO for the PC, and later the PS3. It had a very short Beta test over the last few weeks, and whilst I didn't play it extensively, I feel I can write some valid impressions. The game is set for release from Tomorrow for free, or you can pay a small monthly subscription to get new jobs, items and more.

For the PC, Free Realms is basically a Browser game. Because of this, certain restrictions will apply to the game. It's not a graphical power house, but it never looks compromised by this. The game has a very unique, approachable style to the Free Realms Universe that suits the game play and how it plays. It can look a bit sparse and the textures may all the look the same in an area, but this is not critical to the game, right from the off it shows how it's more Style than Graphics.

The gameplay is very simple. It helps you a lot in the beginning, with the option for the user to ask for it when it “takes the training wheels off”. Its very similar to many MMO's in that you get quests from people, Do the quests, get rewards. What it does to distinguish itself from others is by making some of the quests into mini games. These can be very simple, and easy to do, but if you want to put effort into perfecting them, you get a greater reward from it.

The game is obviously aimed at a younger audience, my first MMO for example, but there is enough depth for people who want to take it more seriously. The choice of character is limited, the customisation ok. What sets it apart is the jobs. There are the traditional MMO jobs, but then there are some pretty unique jobs like a Postman, Racer and Cook. The game cleverly integrates them into the Free Realms Universe, giving them appropriate quests vastly different from other classes.

Thinking of how it could be a PS3 game, you have to think that it'll be a PSN game. Still no word on its release though. With it releasing so close to the Beta, I would personally wait a week or two before signing in. I personally had a few issues with bugs, but that is to be expected with Betas.

This was one of the games i was playing that i could not talk about. the reason for being so vague in the article is because it is still not out, and all current talk of it has been vague. at present i can't talk about the other game i'm playing but look out for impressions when i can.

Re-Cap of Yesterdays News (oldest to newest)

• 360: Battle Field Bad Company 2 has gone from 24 players online to now 40! http://tinyurl.com/dfygvv

• PS3: New Pain expansion detailed, adds two new environments, new modes and new trophies. http://tinyurl.com/cwuxdk

• Prototype Developers are rumored to be making the next Spiderman game. http://tinyurl.com/dgepmh

• PS3: Alpha Zone 2 has been found in Home. not much is known apart from it wasn't hacked (like Alpha Zone 1 was) http://tinyurl.com/d6r2m5

• 360:Street Fighter IV "Power Up Pack" DLC is now online. the free pack weighs in at 16mb and brings new features. http://tinyurl.com/cp5vu4

What Have You Played This Week?

Well this week it's been a mixed bag of games. Killzone 2 took a lot of my time, trying to get badges, whilst one of the unknown games started to take more and more of my gaming time.

Killzone 2 – PS3 – i'm trying to get the player type badges. Got all apart from the Air Support, which is far too hard to get (espescially when others are stuck trying to get it when you are) and the C4, which has taken longer for me to work out how best to use it.

Football Manager 09 – PC – got promoted to league 1. wish this was on the ps3, I bet it would run faster. The more years you play, the slower it gets.

Little Big Planet – PS3 – I like going back to this game, playing some of the user levels, and again not disappointed. I played a level called Sci Fi II which was soo impressive. Can't wait to see what the PSP version offers.

Final Fantasy VII: Crisis Core – PSP – done a load of mini quests, I really like that aspect of this game, being able to finish it without doing the mini quests but if you do if gives you more to work with within the game.

Ico – PS2 – I had a demo of this game and loved it. This is my current rented game, and even after playing Shadow Of The Colossus, i'm still blown away but the developers. The art style, so simple yet so effective. The gameplay makes the game soo easy to play, but with so much unknown, you really feel part of the story.

? - ? - I can't say what this one is. When I can i'll write about it in depth, but for now I can't. It's pretty good so far. Maybe a little simple, but in a way it makes it a more casual experience which could work in favour of the game (when you look at it's competition)

? - ? Another game I can't talk about. All i'll say is it's fun, good to look at, controls so simply and is non stop! When I can, i'll try to write up about it.

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

Re-Cap of Yesterdays News (oldest to newest)

• Driver:The Recruit has been trademarked by Atari. The BBC reported last year that a Driver game was int he works. http://tinyurl.com/co47jh

• Wii:it looks like Nintendo are checking Wii's, sent to them for repair,for homebrew activity and penalizing users http://tinyurl.com/cfaqum

• 360: Fallout 3 DLC, The Pitt and Operation Anchorage, is set for a Disc Release. http://tinyurl.com/dam3ob

• Wii: the contents of the Limited Edition of The Conduit include, 24 page art book, multiplayer skin and more http://tinyurl.com/c6wcot

• Possible pictures from Aliens Vs Predator 3 have emerged. http://tinyurl.com/cp9m69

• 360: Gears Of War 2 set for a forth title update. http://tinyurl.com/c4mxxd

• PS3: was there a super secret Sony event in Seattle....and was there some mega announcement? this guy think so. http://tinyurl.com/ccfmca

• 360: Silver members will be given gold status from May 1st to May 4th. tournaments and more are planned for this. http://tinyurl.com/cnkj3u