November 30, 2006
Filed under: Interviews
Newsweek’s N’gai Croal (awesome name) had a chance to talk to Electronic Arts’ CEO, Larry Probst. Love them or hate them, EA is a major player in the industry, and their games have the power to move hardware units. Croal asked Probst about making original games for the PSP, something that seems outrageous to the CEO: I’m not so sure that I agree with the premise that we’re strategically focused on building original product for the PSP. “That’s news to me. It’s more likely that we would target platforms like the PS3, Xbox 360 or Nintendo Wii if we had an original in mind. Our strategy on PSP has typically been to take the franchises that we build on other platforms and exploit them on the PSP.”
Croal points out the success of Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories as one reason why publishers should look into making exclusive games for the handheld. However, Probst believes that without more units out there, the chances of original PSP games from EA is slim. Like the rest of the sane world, he notes that Sony should lower the price, and maybe even make a redesigned console, in order to reinvigorate sales.
Check out the rest of the interview to see Probst’s other PSP thoughts, and why Nintendo matters.
See also:
Fun = DS, not PSP, says EA exec
EA makes a lot of money on PSP
[Via Joystiq; Image via Games Blog]
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Originally Syndicated via RSS from PSP Fanboy
Filed under: News
Sony Computer Entertainment Europe and Game Developer’s Association of Australia are teaming up to give PSP gamers more original games. The two companies will work together to foster development teams specifically for the PSP platform.
Zeno Colaco, SCEE’s Vice President commented, “SCEE are excited to work closely with the GDAA to kick start this initiative in the region. PSP has rapidly established itself as a global format for today’s digital consumer. Our goal with this programme is to nurture new talent and widen the spectrum of content providers with traditional and new products which use the full breath of PSP’s powerful functionality.”
This seems like a win-win situation for everyone involved: the Australian games scene is certainly ready to boom, and PSP gamers are always eager for original content, regardless of what EA thinks.
[Via IGN]
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Originally Syndicated via RSS from PSP Fanboy
Filed under: News
You can expect to see more from SCEA’s chief Kaz Hirai (of Riiidge Racer fame), as he’s moved on up on the corporate ladder. He’ll be replacing “you-can-experience-4D” Ken Kutargai, who’s been criticized by his rivals as being too “arrogant.” There’s been speculation that the slow sales of PSP, the disastrously delayed PS3 launch, and the loss of potential PS3 exclusives, like Grand Theft Auto IV and Assassin’s Creed, are behind this shuffling.
Regardless, Kutaragi will remain in Sony’s corporate arms as chairman and group CEO. While this theoretically is a promotion, it will certainly free up Kaz and new SCEA chief Jack Tretton from correcting the mistakes of a potentially senile leader. Hey, it worked for Nintendo when they got rid of even-more-insane Yamauchi.
[Via Joystiq]
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Originally Syndicated via RSS from PSP Fanboy
Filed under: Star Wars, Video
Egad! It seems like Star Wars: Lethal Alliance is coming out next week. It’s usually not a good sign when a game sneaks past everyone’s radar until right before it ships. Maybe Ubisoft isn’t too confident in their first PSP Star Wars offering? (Anyone know why Ubisoft, and not LucasArts is publishing this?) The new videos that IGN have put up showcase a weird mix of the Star Wars and Matrix universes, with the main character being far more nimble and acrobatic than I’m accustomed to. Unfortunately, it appears that the game looks nowhere as nice as it does in the still shots (shown above). The textures seem a lot worse, and the framerate appears to barely chug along.
Maybe I’m wrong (and I hope I am!). I’d love to see a decent Star Wars game on our platform. Read IGN’s impressions to find out more.
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Originally Syndicated via RSS from PSP Fanboy
Filed under: Video, Metal Slug Anthology
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The Metal Slug Anthology is finally coming out next week on the PS2, Wii and PSP. Of course, there’s really only one platform you’ll want this on: the PSP. Handheld 2D carnage to go sounds like a blast, and this new trailer proves it. But with Metal Gear also coming out on the same day, PSP gamers will have a rough choice to make. (Of course, the best course of action would be to get both!)
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Originally Syndicated via RSS from PSP Fanboy
November 29, 2006
Filed under: Homebrew
After an extended absence, it appears that the programmer Booster is back. There was a scare back in August, when Sony approached the coder with some legal action. Now, nearly three months after firmware 2.80 was decrypted, a new version of DevHook is available for the homebrewing crowd out there. The latest version allows you to run homebrew directly from emulated 2.82 firmware, so there’s less need to messily switch between firmwares. The latest version also includes an enticing folder called “3.0,” but that doesn’t seem to be in effect… yet. With DevHook, you can run most modern legal games and whatever homebrew applications you already have. Once again, it seems like the emulated firmware is better than the real deal.
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Originally Syndicated via RSS from PSP Fanboy
Filed under: News, Lumines, Imports
I praised Lumines II’s soundtrack for its breadth and diversity. However, it looks like the upcoming Japanese release of this puzzle favorite will improve the already impressive song lineup by adding more Japanese music into the game. 1UP reports that artists like DJ Ken Ishii and the Genki Rockets will have additional songs, making this version of the game something importers and Mizuguchi collectors will certainly want to keep an eye on.
The game’s still far off: February 15th for 4980 yen ($43). The game won’t be published by Bandai Namco, as previously expected. Rather, it will be self-published by Q? Entertainment, making their very first foray into publishing.
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Originally Syndicated via RSS from PSP Fanboy
Filed under: News
“The consumer will have to make a decision: does he want a standalone gaming device with a limited browsing capability or a phone with an MP3 player, a camera and a bloody good games platform? I think consumers will be prepared to spend £300 on a phone that offers all those different things rather than £100 to £150 for a standalone games machine.”
Martin O’Driscoll, the new head of Nokia’s games division, is getting ready for a fight, according to Mobile Entertainment. After the colossal failure called the “N-Gage,” Nokia is ready to go back into the portable games market, reinvigorated. As previously reported, it appears that Nokia will attempt to one-up Sony’s strategy with the PSP, by offering even more functionality than Sony’s portable. However, one should make note that more features doesn’t necessarily equate to more sales, as the DS has proven in the handheld wars.
Will Nokia be able to survive a battle against Sony and Nintendo? Maybe, maybe not. However, if gaming cell phones catch on, Sony’s sure to have backup ready.
[Via Esato]
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Originally Syndicated via RSS from PSP Fanboy
Filed under: Sega Genesis Collection
The Sega Genesis Collection has been earning some good reviews from critics. Featuring 28 games at a bargain price, it’s certainly a steal (especially compared to the insane prices of Sega’s Virtual Console offerings). However, Modojo points out the titles that could’ve been part of this collection to make quite possibly the greatest game anthology ever. Here’s but a sampling of their suggestions:
- Gunstar Heroes Treasure’s action game is beloved by hardcore gamers everywhere. It’s probably not included in the Collection simply because people like myself will be buying it on the Wii Virtual Console… at least two times.
- Toe Jam & Earl Yet another game that Nintendo Wii owners will be downloading. Classic platforming.
- Sonic the Hedgehog 3 Well, the first two are in the collection.
- Sonic & Knuckles See above.
- Streets of Rage It’s only like, totally, the best beat-em-up, like, ever created.
- Streets of Rage 2 See above.
- Disney’s Aladdin I think this breaks the rules, as the game was developed by Capcom. However, this is licensed platforming at its best.
- Michael Jackson’s Moowalker No comment.
Considering how many more classics remain in the Genesis library, it wouldn’t surprise me if Sega didn’t make yet another compilation of these games, and more. In fact, if Sega made a compilation of just these games alone, they’d be more than worth the price of admission. C’mon Sega! Let me give you more money!
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Originally Syndicated via RSS from PSP Fanboy
Gangs of London *