New York police unions cranky with Saints Row 2

Well we knew this sort of thing had to eventually happen again - a violent videogame becomes the object of scrutiny to some prominent members of society. In this case Saints Row 2 which was released on October 14, 2008 in North America, is being called out by police unions in New York as well as Manhattan District Attorney candidate Leslie Crocker-Snyder.

A CBS 12 (WPEC-TV) news story out of Florida is reporting the New York police union officials see the game as an abomination as it’s dehumanizing officers and making light of violent situations. They believe the game is a negative influence on children despite the fact that Saints Row 2 has a Mature rating which is meant to prevent children from purchasing the game.

We could look at Manhattan District Attorney candidate Leslie Crocker-Snyder’s stance on speaking out against Saints Row 2 as an attempt to get the police on her side for when election time rolls around, or she and others could just be more misinformed citizens on the subject of videogame ratings and retail store policies.

I doubt controversy over Saint’s Row 2 will spread as wide as we’ve seen with the GTA series since a lot of non-gamers have never heard of it before.

Read [CBS 12 (WPEC-TV)] Also Read [ VG Watchdog]

PSP-3000 now available, bundled with Ratchet & Clank game

The PSP-3000 is the latest iteration of Sony’s handheld Playstation Portable (PSP) game console. It follows the PSP-2000 and features a shiny silver body, improved screen with “anti-reflection technology” for improved usage in natural light and a built-in microphone compatible with multiplayer games and Skype.

Sony announced via press release today (October 15, 2008) that the PSP-3000 is now available for purchase from retailers across North America. As an additional incentive for consumers to pick up the new model, a family-friendly bundle that includes Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters has also been made available.

The Ratchet & Clank PSP Entertainment Pack, to give the bundle its full name, also includes Nicolas Cage’s National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets on UMD, a voucher for the Playstation Network puzzle title Echochrome and a 1GB Memory Stick PRO Duo. Plus, of course, the “Mystic Silver” PSP-3000 itself.

The full bundle (pictured above) is currently being sold for a manufacturer suggested retail price of $199.99.

Read [Destructoid] Product Page [US.PlayStation]

Resident Evil’s zombie evolution

Just in time for Halloween, the kind folks at 1up have a very cool little video on the “evolution” of Resident Evil‘s zombies. Featuring clips from each of the franchise’s many survival horror classics, the video is a fun look at how the monsters have changed from 1996’s pixelated brain-munchers to the vicious (and seriously scary) creatures of the upcoming Resident Evil 5.

Man, the zombies of Resident Evil (that is, the original PlayStation version, not the GameCube freakfest) are looking about as scary as the tooth fairy these days - you can find a freakier crowd any day of the week on a city bus. Any city bus. Remember when those things were terrifying?

Think of it as a seasonal, spooky history lesson. It’s also a great way to rev up the desire to go back and play through the earlier games - tis’ the season, after all!

Watch:

Resident Evil 'Zombie Evolution' clip

Read [1up]

EA’s Littlest Pet Shop games unleashed

The virtual pet game section in your local store is about to get a bit more crowded - Littlest Pet Shop games have been released. EA has just released five games based on the series of tiny children’s toys. Each game is a pet sim, where players can adopt three Littlest Pet Shop pets and care, play and raise them.

While the DS, PC and Wii versions of Littlest Pet Shop all have their own special touches, they all share the central pet-raising theme. You pick your first pets, then play mini-games to earn Kibble Coins. You can then buy outfits and playsets for your pets. Also, playing the mini-games will unlock new types of pets - so eventually PC and Wii players will have 32 different pet options and DS players will have 20. The DS version also allows players to have pet parties with their friends.

If you’re interested, or know a young child who would be (which is far more likely), there are three options. Windows PC and Wii owners can pick up Littlest Pet Shop for $29.99 or $39.99, respectively. DS owners will have to make a difficult decision though, as there are three games with three different themes - Littlest Pet Shop: Garden, Littlest Pet Shop: Jungle or Littlest Pet Shop: Winter. Each one is $29.99.

Read [MAX CONSOLE] Also Read [Gaming Nexus]

Naruto Ultimate Ninja Storm preorder deal detailed

Namco Bandai has just announced an amazing incentive to preorder Naruto Ultimate Ninja Storm for the PS3 at certain stores - downloadable content (dlc). That’s right, you’ll get free stuff, only available by a direct download, if you decide to preorder the game at GameStop/EB Games or GameCrazy. There is a dilemna though - each store will have a different preorder deal.

If you stop by your local GameCrazy and preorder, you’ll receive a download card with your game that will unlock the Hidden Leaf Village’s Second Hokage as a support character and also provide a new single-player mission. If you decide to go to GameStop/EB Games’ website or store and preorder, you’ll get a card that unlocks the First Hokage support character and another single-player mission. Since these are going to be cards that unlock downloads, they’ll most likely be good for one download only, so you’ll have to decide which Hokage you think looks best.

The full version of Naruto Ultimate Ninja Storm comes out November 4, 2008. There’s a standard version, which only includes the PS3 game, for $59.99. For $10 more, you can get a limited edition version that comes with a soundtrack and some other special stuff.

Read [PS3 Fanboy] Product Page [GameStop] Site [Hokage’s Room] Site [Naruto Ultimate Ninja Storm]

The quest for ambidexterity continues in Left Brain Right Brain 2

Apparently, last year’s Left Brain Right Brain DS training game did pretty well. Majesco has just announced that it is planning to bring the sequel, Left Brain Right Brain 2, to the US in December, 2008. I think Majesco should step up and try to release it on December 4, 2008, since the original debuted on December 4, 2007. Currently, the release date is set for December 18, 2008.

Left Brain Right Brain 2‘s basic goal is the same as Left Brain Right Brain - to make players ambidextrous. You hold your DS like a book, and then perform mini-game challenges with each hand. The game then judges your accuracy, association, memory, recognition, speed and stragedy to determine how well you’re doing. It looks like the sequel has better graphics and a new line-up of tests.

I hope they made Left Brain Right Brain 2 more difficult. The original Left Brain Right Brain was incredibly easy. My cousin always gets educational games from a relative, so I was able to try the original out. It claimed I was already nearly ambidextrous. Let’s hope this version’s a bit more accurate.

Read [Beta News] Site [Majesco]

Japanese Rep suggests Konami “looking into” Metal Gear Solid 4 for Xbox 360

As one of the Playstation 3’s defining exclusive titles, Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots has long been the subject of multiplatform rumors that its creator, Konami’s Hideo Kojima, has consistently sought to deny by pointing to the game’s reliance on the PS3’s hardware and the Blu-ray disc format. And yet, the rumors continue.

Speaking with Japanese stock investment research firm Morningstar, a Konami public relations representative named Yoshitaka Arai has reportedly confirmed that the company is “looking into” an Xbox 360 port of the game due to extensive consumer demand.

The article in question can be found on Morningstar’s official website, but because it is written in Japanese, we are left to rely on translations by Kotaku and IGN. The former, who references Yahoo! as their source, quotes Arai as having said:

The worldwide demand for an Xbox 360 version (of MGS4) is quite high, and it is something we are currently looking in to.

IGN, on the other hand, sources Morningstar directly and translates Arai’s comment as saying that Konami is “actively looking into a release for the Xbox 360.” IGN also goes on to confirm that Konami’s U.S. division has yet to comment on the remark in regards to its validity.

Read [Morningstar] Via [IGN] Also Read [Yahoo] Via [Kotaku]

BlizzCon 2008: World of Warcraft to get character upgrade microtransactions

Diablo III lead designer Jay Wilson and World of Warcraft (WoW) production director J. Allen Brack recently took to the stage at a BlizzCon 2008 press conference in California to answer fan questions about Blizzard Entertainment’s highly anticipated sequel and its ever popular massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) respectively.

In addition to confirming that Blizzard is looking to monetize Battle.net — news that was later elaborated on with confirmation that Diablo III won’t be subscription based — Brack responded to the recent confusion regarding the discovery of a Wrath of the Lich King beta file baring the title “Paid Character Customization.”

So, will the most successful subscription-based MMORPG of all time be seeing microtransactions (a la the Cash Shop in Nexon’s MapleStory) in the future? Yes, says Brack, according to WarCry.

After dodging the question initially, Brack eventually returned to the issue to confirm that WoW will be getting paid character customization options but the exact details have yet to be worked out.

Read [WarCry] Via [GameDaily]

Rumor: Ghostbusters game to be resurrected by Atari

Once again proving my point that if 50 Cents’ Blood on the Sand can be picked up, then somebody would eventually pick up Ghostbusters. Our fine friends over at Kotaku have posted that Dan Akroyd, or as anyone from the eighties would know him as Raymond Stantz, has stated to a local Dallas radio station that the game has been picked up by Atari.

Alas fair buster fans, if Akroyd, the guy who co-wrote the original flick, says it’s a “go,” then dagnabit, it’s a go. The bad news is that Akroyd also mentioned that the game has been pushed back a year.

The game was originally supposed to ship this month but with that whole Sierra thing going down it seemed as though the game was dead in the water.

So until Ghostbusters has an official release date, I will light a single candle and play Ray Parker Jr. once a day until I have a copy of the game in my hand.

Read [Kotaku] Also Read [Gamertell]

Stargate Worlds’ closed beta starts October 15, 2008

Cheyenne Mountain Entertainment’s (CME) upcoming massively multiplayer online role-playing game Stargate Worlds will enter a closed beta phase on Wednesday (October 15, 2008), according to a press release issued by Firesky, the game’s publisher.

If you are interested in taking part in the closed beta but have yet to receive an access key, you can still sign up via the game’s official website, StargateWorlds.com. Beta testers will be granted access to the game in waves, so you’re not necessarily out of luck if you aren’t chosen by October 15, 2008.

Stargate Worlds is based on MGM’s popular Stargate SG-1 television series, which concluded its final season in 2006. Future expansions will also take inspiration from Stargate Atlantis, which is set to complete its fifth and final season later this year. CME has yet to confirm whether features from Stargate Universe, the upcoming third Stargate TV series, will be included at a later date.

The final build of Stargate Worlds is currently slated to launch in early 2009. It will allow players to chose from a variety of “archetypes” including races from the show such as the “Human”, “Asgard” and “Goa’uld”, as well as different classes such as “Scientist” (a la Samantha Carter) and “Solider” (a la Jack O’Neill).

Read [Eurogamer] Site [Stargate Worlds]

BlizzCon 2008: Blizzard may start charging fees for Battle.net

Joystiq reports that our worst fears have been hinted at. When asked, “Will Battle.Net remain free?” at the Diablo III gameplay panel at BlizzCon 2008, Blizzard’s Julian Wilson gave Blizzard fans a startling answer: “We are looking to monetize Battle.Net so that we get to keep making these games and updating features, we kind of have to.”

This news comes especially dark seeing as how Blizzard recently announced it is breaking Starcraft II into a trilogy.

While gamers are used to paying for previously free services (eg. Windows Live monetizing online PC gaming) and with the current state of the economy and the high cost to develop games, it is still a little bit disheartening to hear that gamers will have to dig further into their pockets.

Battle.net is Blizzard’s (formerly) free online service that allowed players of Warcraft, Starcraft and Diablo play with or against one another. The service was highly praised for Blizzard’s strong focus on the community, offering up tournaments, holding a Map of the Week showing for user created maps, and of course, heavily patching and maintenance to insure a smooth experience (even though there were plenty of bumps thanks to dial-up). Even today, the service is still heavily used for all three games.

While nothing is yet official, how much more money are you guys willing to give Blizzard? Is paying for Battle.Net the drawing point? Let us know your reactions in the comment section below.

Read [Joystiq]

Molyneux says PC game market in “tatters”, PCGA disagrees

As the key person responsible for a slew of classic PC games including Black & White and Dungeon Keeper, Lionhead boss Peter Molyneux has a unique insight into the PC game market that few others can match. With his recent focus on the highly anticipated Xbox 360 exclusive Fable II Molyneux told VideoGamer that he believes the PC game market is “in tatters,” pointing towards a limited selection of “high points” in the current line-up as the main cause.

“If you look at the gamer market on PC, I’ll be quite honest with you, it’s in tatters. There aren’t that many releases on PC. There are some high points like Crysis and what Blizzard is doing, but other than that you are restricted to The Sims and World of Warcraft, they seem to be dominating the PC side.”

Moylenux went on to talk about copy protection, specifically the massively-publicised limitations Electronic Arts has placed on Spore. While he suggested that the limit of three authorisations per game doesn’t sound “that bad,” he “understand[s] people being very upset” and clarified that he personally “hate[s] any copy protection.”

Since the interview’s publication, the PC Gaming Alliance (PCGA) has responded to Molyneux’s claims, calling him “way off-base with his assessment of the PC gaming industry.” PCGA president Randy Stude goes on to suggest that the industry is in fact “stronger than ever,” with more than 10.7 billion made in revenue last year (2007).

Read [VideoGamer] Via [GameDaily] Also Read [VideoGamer]

Man receives support from CBLDF in manga possession case

In Iowa, a 32-year-old man may spend 20 years in prison for possession of Japanese manga and will face penalties under the PROTECT Act (18 U.S.C. Section 1466A). Christopher Handley is still in big trouble because of the manga he purchased from Japan in May 2006 that the government claimed was obscene and depicted minors engaged in sexual acts.

Luckily for Handley, he no longer has to face the court system alone as the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund has decided to provide their expertise as a consultant to the defense and provide funds for use to support in obtaining expert witnesses.

Charles Brownstien of CBLDF told ICv2 that he finds the case “troubling” because Handley is being prosecuted as “a private collector for the possession of art” and although CBLDF has defended the first amendment rights for retailers and artists, this would be their first experience dealing with the federal government according to Brownstien who finds the Handley case especially troubling because “the government is prosecuting a private collector for the possession of art. Never before have we experienced the federal government attempting to strip a citizen of his freedom because he owned comic books.”

According to CBDLF’s site, Handley’s situation began in May 2006 after a postal inspector at his local post office in Glenwood, Iowa, intercepted a package addressed to Handley from Japan and searched its contents. After deciding the content of the books depicted minors engaged in sexual acts, the inspector applied for a search warrant. The post office allowed Handley to pick up the package and law enforcement officers pulled his vehicle over and eventually followed him home.

At Handley’s residence, the police then seized his collection of manga, DVDs, VHS tapes, laser disks, computers and various documents. In a follow-up article, Handley’s case took a small victory but the case is far from over. In an updated report by Anime News Network, some of Handley’s charges were dropped July 2, 2008.

Kind of makes you wonder the next time you order a movie from a foreign site or receive a gift from a friend or relative living overseas and it looks like somebody already went through it.

Read [ICv2.com] Also Read [CBLDF press release] Site [CBLDF official site] Also Read [Anime News Network] PDF [Iowa Southern District Court docket]

Gamertell Review: The Horus Heresy: Descent of Angels by Mitchel Scanlon

Title: The Horus Heresy: Descent of Angels
Author: Mitchel Scanlon
Publisher: The Black Library
Release Date: 2007
Price: $7.99
Rating: Two thumbs sideways, 73/100, C, ** out of five.
Pros: Great character development, exciting when the story isn’t slowed down by itself, gives a completely different view of the events of the Horus Heresy
Cons: The story takes too long to develop.
Overall: It’s a fresh perspective in the series that just didn’t realize its potential.

Even at its lowest point, The Horus Heresy had never put out a truly average installment. That’s what I would be saying if Descent of Angels didn’t fall flat on its face by bringing an entirely new view on the Heresy.

This sixth book marks a low spot for the series. Even the heavily flawed False Gods came across as a stronger product. Mind you the problem with False Gods was the attention to detail was ridiculously inconsistent but the story still moved. In this case it goes into a painful amount of detail consistently. While the characters are some of the best developed characters in the series and description is some of the best in the franchise, the storyline occasionally gets held up by these details. This makes a fantasy/sci-fi war novel just a bit

It just moves too slow. With books like these there’s a balance that has to be made between action and story development and this book simply moves way too slow. False Gods took one extreme and Descent of Angels took the other. False Gods had too much action for story development. Descent of Angels had too little action to build upon the character development and building up of events. It also doesn’t bode well if it is a fantasy/sci-fi war novel that the majority of the action happens in the last 85-90 pages of the book.

Now if this had been another style, it really wouldn’t be an issue. However, Warhammer Fantasy and Warhammer 40,000 is about never-ending war with constant epic sweeping battles. You only get a true taste of the franchise toward the end of Descent of Angels. Everything before then just ends up tiresome because of the level of details and the agonizingly slow pace.

Yes, you do see the birth of the Dark Angels Space Marine legion. That alone is incredible, since you see the First Legion evolve into its more brutal form after they find their Primarch on the planet of Caliban. However, it just seems empty without the amount of action that the other books had. Yes sometimes too much action can be a bad thing, but don’t have enough or have a book that’s all development and details, you might as well have a second book released simply for the addition of the story.

It’s hard to bash the merits of the book though. It’s one of the best developed stories in the series with some of the strongest developed characters in the series. However, it can get painfully boring.

If you want to see some of the events of The Horus Heresy well before Warmaster Horus Lupercal was corrupted by the taint of Chaos, read the book. If you’re an absolute die hard Warhammer 40,000 fan, get the book. If you’re not within either of the two groups just listed, avoid the book.

Other books in the series:

• The Horus Heresy: Horus Rising by Dan Abnett
• The Horus Heresy: False Gods by Graham McNeill
• The Horus Heresy: Galaxy in Flames by Ben Counter
• The Horus Heresy: Flight of the Eisenstein by James Swallow
• The Horus Heresy: Fulgrim by Graham McNeill

Site [The Horus Heresy: Descent of Angels] Read [Lexicanum] Also Read [The Emperyan] Also Read [I Can’t Stop Reading!]

Deal of the Week: Best Buy tossing in Xbox 360 with select HDTVs

Video games are meant to be experienced with the most state-of-the-art television we can possibly find. The problem is HDTV penetration is not at its ideal level right now and some gamers are still playing in standard definition. Best Buy is looking to bring gamers into the realm of HD by offering bundles that include Xbox 360 Arcade Consoles and HDTV’s made by Panasonic.

At the end of Best Buy’s circular for October 11, 2008, are two deals shown side by side. The first is that Best Buy is selling a 32 in. LCD Panasonic 720p HDTV with the Xbox 360 Arcade console for $699. This deal will continue throughout the week until next Sunday (October 19, 2008) The Best Buy website lists a Panasonic television with similar specs for $699.99. I guess you can say we’re getting the Xbox for free.

The other bundle includes a Panasonic 42 in. Plasma 720p HDTV and the Xbox 360 Arcade for $899.99. A similar television on the site itself sells for $999.99.

Read [Punch Jump] Also Read [Xbox Square]

Wii Virtual Console update for October 13-19, 2008

It’s official - Nintendo has gotten it’s downloadable games act together. This week, we have two very tantalizing VC titles - including a Street Fighter II iteration and Secret of Mana, a SNES action-RPG classic. We’ve also got some very cool looking Wiiware games - especially World of Goo, an indie-made puzzler with very cool physics. As usual, the titles are available on the Wii Shop channel, with a fresh batch arriving every Monday at 9 AM Pacific time. Wii points can be purchased at a rate of $1=100 points.

WiiWare

World of Goo (2D Boy, 1-4 players, Rated E for Everyone—Comic Mischief, 1,500 Wii Points): World of Goo is an award-winning, physics-based puzzle/construction game made entirely by two guys. Grab living, squirming, talking globs of goo to build structures, bridges, cannonballs, zeppelins and giant tongues. The millions of Goo Balls that live in the beautiful World of Goo are curious to explore—but they don’t know that they are in a game, or that they are extremely delicious. World of Goo Corporation is contractually obligated to state that everyone is a winner, and is enthusiastic to celebrate everyone’s Goo building opportunities equally.

Art Style: CUBELLO (Nintendo, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone, 600 Wii Points): Art Style: CUBELLO mixes the strategy and feel of a traditional puzzle game with the precision and reflexes required in a shooter. As each stage begins, various colored cubes form into one large object called a Cubello, which floats and rotates as you play. Launch additional cubes from your magazine and try to connect four or more of the same color, removing them from the Cubello and eventually leaving only its core. Take on the challenge of either Stage or Endless mode and watch what happens when Bonus Time is activated. The straightforward controls and goal ensure that anyone can play, while offering enough depth that even advanced players will find themselves quickly addicted to the unique world of Art Style: CUBELLO.

Virtual Console

SECRET OF MANA (Super NES, 1-3 players, Rated E10+ for Everyone 10 and Older—Mild Fantasy Violence, Mild Suggestive Themes, 800 Wii Points): Good and evil battle for a young warrior’s heart. There is one force in the universe that keeps good and evil in perfect balance. It is called the tree of Mana. But a magic sword has tricked a young warrior into upsetting this balance, spreading evil throughout the land. Thus, the warrior must undertake a dangerous journey to find the seeds of the Mana tree, which have been hidden for centuries. Only then can perfect harmony be restored. In this incredible adventure, things are not as they seem. Magic swords release evil as well as fight it. Treasure chests hold booby traps. Monsters are friends and friends are enemies. Potions give power, black magic takes it away. Dragons fly, weapons change. It’s a world turned upside down that you must help the warrior make right. And the only way to succeed is to solve the Secret of Mana.

STREET FIGHTER II: SPECIAL CHAMPION EDITION (Sega Genesis, 1-2 players, Rated T for Teen—Violence, 800 Wii Points): STREET FIGHTER II: SPECIAL CHAMPION EDITION was the first STREET FIGHTER game released for the Sega Genesis console. The STREET FIGHTER series can be considered one of the first fighting games to popularize competitive video game fighting. This version of the game contains both the CHAMPION and HYPER rule sets, from the two editions released in the arcades. It also introduced an exclusive Group Battle mode that is now a general feature in most fighting games. Play as one of 12 different characters, each with their own distinctive fighting style. Try single-player mode or challenge a friend in this legendary, classic fighting game.

Read [Virtual Console Reviews] Also Read [WiiWare World]

Sony announces USB AC adapter for PS3 accesories

Tired of clogging your USB ports with your SIXAXIS controllers and Bluetooth headsets? Tired of leaving your Playstation 3 on just to charge these accessories because you either lack a computer or just like to waste electricity? Well then, Sony has just the product for you.

Sony has announced an AC adapter that will charge two accessories at as time including SIXAXIS and DualShock 3 controllers, wireless headsets, or whatever other gadget you have that charges via USB. Dubbed the PS3 AC Adapter, this little gadget will allow users to charge their peripherals via a electrical outlet rather than having to clog up USB slots.

Now, users that need a little power in their controllers will no longer have to get up to plug them into their PS3’s using the rather short charging cable that came with the system.

While there is no word on whether or when it will come to North America, the adapter is slated to arrive in Japan just in time for Christmas (December 18, 2008) for 2,800 yen, approximately US$28.

Read [Joystiq]

TGS 2008: Tekken 6 Announced For 360, PS3

Namco Bandai Games has confirmed that Tekken 6, the latest installment in its popular Tekken fighting series, will be coming to the US for both the Playstation 3 and Xbox 360 in Fall 2009. The game was originally launched in Japanese arcades last year (November 26, 2007).

According to a recent press release, Tekken 6 will boast the “largest character roster” of the series to date. Although a full character cast has yet to be to detailed, you can find a list of the 39 characters that appeared in the arcade version of the game on the official Japanese Tekken site.

Speaking at the Tokyo Game Show earlier this week (October 8, 2008), Xbox Live corporate vice president John Schappert also confirmed that the Xbox 360 version of the game will include the “Bloodline Rebellion” update, which introduces Alisa Boskonovich and Lars Alexanderson as playable characters.

In addition to an extensive character roster, Tekken 6 — the first entry in the series to appear on a non-Sony home console — will boast high definition visuals, enhanced character customization features and online multiplayer.

Read [Kotaku] Site [Tekken]

Big ol’ list of Trophies for Resistance 2

Resistance 2 will be the latest game in the Playstation 3 library to benefit from Trophy support. These additions will permeate themselves through the game’s single-player and cooperative campaigns, along with the game’s online multiplayer modes.

Courtesy of VG Chartz, a full list of achievements can be found below:

• Covert Ops - Collect 5 pieces of Intel in the Single Player Campaign.
• Secret: Recycler - Defeat the Goliath in the Single Player Campaign.
• Secret: Fried Calamari - Defeat the Kraken in the Single Player Campaign.
• Secret: Exterminator - Defeat the Mother Spinner in the Single Player Campaign.
• Secret: Flyswatter - Defeat the Swarm in the Single Player Campaign.
• Secret: The Bigger They Are - Defeat the Leviathan in the Single Player Campaign.
• Secret: Big Game Hunter - Defeat the Marauder in the Single Player Campaign.
• Nowhere to Hide - Tag and kill 30 enemies with the Bullseye in the Single Player Campaign.
• Sharpshooter - Get 30 headshots while scoped in with the Fareye or Marksman in the Single Player Campaign.
• Explosives Expert - Get 150 kills with the Carbine 40mm, LAARK, or Frag Grenade in the Single Player Campaign.
• They Go “Boom” - Get 30 kills with the Magnum secondary fire in the Single Player Campaign.
• Pyromaniac - Set 100 enemies of fire with the Bellock Semi-Automic, Air-Fuel Grenade, Spider Grenade, or environmental hazard in the Single Player Campaign.
• Spitting Lead - Kill 50 enemies using the Wraith with the force barrier engaged in the Single Player Campaign.
• I See You - Kill 50 enemies through solid matter with the Auger in the Single Player Campaign.
• Talk To The Hand - Use the Auger force barrier to stop 150 incoming enemy shots in the single player Campaign.
• For Close Encounters - Get 10 one-hit head-shot kills with the Shotgun in the Single Player Campaign.
• Pincushion - Get 50 kills with the Hedgehog in the Single Player Campaign.
• Up Close and Personal - Get 50 melee kills with any weapon in the Single Player Campaign.
• Wrecking Machine - Destroy 40 vehicles in the Single Player Campaign.
• Mind Your Surroundings - Get 50 indirect kills using explosive objects in levels in the Single Player Campaign.
• Salute Me - Achieve the rank of Lieutenant.
• Exotic Weapon Collector - Get 20 kills with each weapon in the Single Player Campaign.
• Master Spy - Collect all the Intel documents in the Single Player Campaign.
• Snipe Hunt - Kill 30 Spinners in the Single Player Campaign.
• Xenocide - Kill 1000 enemies in the Single Player Campaign.
• Secret: R.I.P. Jordan Shepherd - Defeat Daedalus, Complete the Single Player Campaign.
• Secret: OMGWTFBBQ - Complete the Single Player Campaign on Superhuman.
• Berserker - Use every berserk at least once in Online Competitive Multiplayer.
• Point Man - Earn 1 million XP from ranked games in online Competitive mode.
• Killing Machine - Score 10,000 kills in ranked matches in Online Competitive Multiplayer.
• Specter Recon - Collect 50 pieces of gray tech in the Cooperative Campaign.
• Specter Initiate - Complete 20 missions in the Cooperative Campaign.
• Team Player - Complete 5 missions with a full party of 8 in the Cooperative Campaign.
• Tour of Duty - Complete one mission on each region in the Cooperative Campaign.
• Specter Officer - Reach max level (35) with one class in the Cooperative Campaign.
• Primarch Hunter - Kill 200 Elite Chimerans in the Cooperative Campaign.
• Specter Intel - Collect all Intel in the Cooperative Campaign.
• Secret: Platinum Trophy - Obtain all Gold, Silver, and Bronze Trophies for Resistance 2

After reading this list, I prefer the “Up Close and Personal” and the “Xenocide” achievements among the list that is there. Achieving melee kills in any first-person shooter game is a challenge, so it is nice to see that honor recognized. Also challenging is killing 1000 enemies; unless you happen to possess a great deal of skill.

Resistance 2 is due to ship November 2008. Once the game finds its way into my system, I will do my best to earn every single achievement.

Read [1UP] Also Read [PS3 Fanboy]

New Ninja Blade Trailer unveiled at 2008 Tokyo Game Show

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A new trailer for From Software’s Ninja Blade for the Xbox 360,was unveiled at the 2008 Tokyo Game Show. The trailer features an individual with dual swords and a grappling hook traversing a monster infested city.

While this may cause gamers to immediately think of Ninja Gaiden, From Software has enough experience under its belt as the developers of titles including Armored Core 4 for the Playstation 3 and Otogi for the original Xbox to distinguish itself from what Ryu Habayusa has to offer.

Be sure to check out trailer below for this game, which is slated to see release in 2009.

I enjoy hack-and-slash games, so I should have no problem in looking past whatever shades of familiarity are brought to the table.

Read [G4] Also Read [Fragland]

Microsoft to aid users unable to take advantage of “New Xbox Experience”

Microsoft is set to unveil its “New Xbox Experience” to eager 360 owners on November 19, 2008. This update is set to revamp the 360’s entire dashboard and introduce “avatars,” which are characters that players can customize to suit their own whims.

This “new experience” will come at a cost of 128 MB of hard drive space; while this may not be a problem for 360 owners who have purchased sufficient memory sources, there remains a large amount of individuals who have not. For these people, Microsoft has promised to come to their aid.

According to Microsoft, this aid will come in the form of alternate storage solutions. However, the company was not clear as to what these solutions were and advised its fans to keep tabs on its site, Xbox.com.

I am expecting either an external USB drive or free memory cards. Microsoft has to come up with something. Right?

Read [Gamepro] Also Read [Xbox Evolved]

Gamertell Review: NHL 2K9 for Wii

Title: NHL 2K9 (aka NHL 2009)
System: Nintendo Wii
Release Date: September 8, 2008
Publisher (Developer): 2K Sports (Visual Concepts Studios)
ESRB Rating: Everyone 10+
Pros: Solid hockey action. Intuitive controls. Fun fighting system.
Cons: Hazy graphics. Occasional frame rate drops. Horrible menu system. Horrible manual.
Overall Score: One thumb up and one thumb down; 75/100; C; * * 1/2 out of five.

I’ve come to understand there are gamers who have no interest in hockey as a sport but love hockey video games. I am not one of these people because I love hockey. Despite living in an area of Ohio where talk of hockey is still followed up with, “Aren’t they all on strike?” there is no other sport I’d rather be watching.

This is why I was so tremendously looking forward to NHL 2K9 for the Wii and why it also left me somewhat disappointed.

He Shoots, He Scores!

The idea of using the Wii Remote to get off a one-timer or to fight with the WiiMote and Nunchuck attachment combo just sounded too cool, and it really is. Developer Visual Concepts Studios did a great job with the control system. Although you’re not holding/swinging the remote like an actual hockey stick (thereby saving your home and friends from irreparable damage), you will be moving around to get off your best shots.

Puck control is automatic although you can use the d-pad on the Remote for some fancy tricks to fake out your opponents and the analog stick on the Nunchuck to control your direction. Combining this with buttons allows you to skate with extra speed for a short time, or to handle the puck while always facing the opposing team’s goal.

The skating controls are very responsive and well done, but they really shine in passing and shooting. To pass, you point the remote at the player to whom you want to pass. A blue triangle will quickly appear over his head, and a push of the A button will send the puck his way. The same system is used for relays. It’s very responsive and much simpler than the multiple button system of other hockey games, provided you don’t mind raising your arm to point the Remote at the TV for three periods.

Goaltending is a mixture of vision-cone control and gesture-based saves, and the combination of the two works pretty well. The Wii will normally handle goaltending for you but transition is smooth when you are given control.

Since the gameplay camera never really strays from its north/south viewpoint, you’ll likely find yourself preferring a specific end of the ice for attacking and defending. I found it easier to set up an offense when shooting away from the camera, and easier to defend when the attackers were staking towards the camera.

The Gloves Are Off

Of course, there are fights. Although fighting isn’t as important to the game as the hockey-illiterate think, fights do happen often, and they’re well-represented here. You’re not just throwing punches with the WiiMote and Nunchuck. Rather, you punch with Nunchuck and use the WiiMote to maintain your balance. This is actually fairly true to life, where hockey players generally will grab the opponent’s jersey for leverage, then swing with their free hand. I’m not sure I understand what winning a fight does for you in NHL 2K9, but it’s a fun diversion from the hockey action now and again, almost like a mini-game. Speaking of which…

What, No “Fog Game” Option?

Aside from standard gameplay, NHL 2K9 doesn’t really bring much to the ice. You’ve got your tutorials but no Wii-specific mini-games like those in sports titles from other publishers. You get pond hockey and mini-rink play but neither really changes the gameplay from the standard quick game or franchise/season mode. Even worse, there’s no online multiplayer option. This is a huge negative, as sports games aren’t nearly as fun when playing the system.

Unfortunately, the problems with NHL 2K9 don’t end there. The graphics feel hazy and dated, even for the Wii. I could easily forgive this (Wii owners kind of have to) if it led to better gameplay but it doesn’t. There are framerate issues and choppy video segments where players bounce around illogically and flip around the goal as if passing right through it. It feels as if the developers needed another few months to finish up the game but instead rushed to get it released before the start of ‘08/’09 season. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the menu system, which is a terrible mess of options that don’t seem to relate to one another.

The instruction manual, which is more of an instruction pamphlet, offers no help on anything other than the basic controls. By the time you actually get to the game, you have such a bad taste in your mouth that you can’t actually enjoy yourself until well into the second period. I’ve been playing the game for a month now, and I still have no idea how to win a face off.

Heading to Overtime

NHl 2K9 should do well enough with hockey-starved Wii owners, simply because there’s no competition. The action is pretty good when you get to it, and the game is good enough overall to keep players happy. Next year, though, if EA brings NHL ‘09 to the Wii and 2K Sports takes the time needed to polish up NHL 2K10, gamers will wonder why they ever bothered with NHL 2K9.

Site [NHL 2K9]

Play Quantum of Solace web game, win a PS3

The only thing better than watching Quantum of Solace is playing Quantum of Solace and winning a PS3 at the same time.

Entering the contest is a bit easier than training to become a secret agent. All you have to do is register at the Quantum of Solace website to obtain some Activision credentials. Then you’ll be free to access the online strategy game based on Quantom of Solace by entering your information and game code here. Activision will be giving away one PS3 each week beginning October 8, 2008, until the promotion ends in eight weeks.

In the Quantum of Solace strategy game you can play as an Agent or as Henchmen. Your goal as the agent is to transport the Villain to the exit while either eliminating or avoiding the Henchmen. The Henchman must rescue the Villain by killing the Agent or by occupying the same square as the Villain. The Agent has access to a machine gun while the Henchmen have either a sniper rifle, dual handguns, or a submachine gun. It’s surprisingly robust for an online game as it includes unlockable content, voice chat, and leaderboards.

The film will be in theaters November 14, 2008, and the full game will be available November 4, 2008 (election day) for PS2, PS3, Xbox 360, Wii, PC and Ds.

Site [Quantum of Solace] Read [Gamers Platform]

Repeat Rumor: Xbox 360 to get external Blu-ray drive

Remember when the Xbox 360 had that external high definition DVD drive that nobody wanted and eventually became the most expensive paper weight ever?

It seems Microsoft is learning from its mistakes, rescinding its claim to not make a Blu-ray drive and preparing to cash in on the Blu-ray craze. GamesIndustryBiz is reporting that Microsoft has contracted Toshiba-Samsung Storage Technology Corp to manufacture the device with a rumored price between $100 and $150.

Since Microsoft discontinued the HD-DVD player, rumors have been swirling for the longest about the possibility of integrating Blu-ray technology with the Xbox 360. If the Xbox 360 actually does create a Blu-ray player that could possibly be bundled with the cheaper Microsoft console, the company could have a huge win this holiday season.

When consumers go to the store to decide between the cheaper Xbox 360 and the pricey PS3, they may have a tougher choice choosing a system with Blu-ray being an option for both console. However, this is merely speculation as no date has been given for release and it’s already October 2008. The turnaround on something like a new Blue-ray device takes time.

Read [GamesIndustry.Biz] Also Read [X-Bit Labs]

PWNorDIE website for gamers

There is nothing better than sharing (aka showing off) our gaming experiences with the world. Sites like YouTube and PoeTV can be very cluttered and, when you're searching for a video on how to proceed in a level, you end up with dozens of videos of some guys cockatiel who whistles the entire theme song to Mario Bros. Pwn or Die is a website dedicated to just gaming and gaming videos. Not so much birds.

On the site you can see screenshots of games, gamer reviews, trailers, interviews, fan made videos and, most importantly, videos of gamers playing video games.

Just like YouTube, it's free to join, so all you have to do is come up with a user name and password. Once registered, you can talk about yourself, upload videos and rank your favorite videos on the site for others to see. Or, if you are already a member to the website FunnyOrDie, then your login and password will transfer over.

Now you are ready to post the 100 videos you made of you making your friends head explode in World of Warcraft. Or, maybe you have a helpful clip of you beating a hard level in Metroid that you think will be beneficial to others. Either one will work.

Even if you don't have a clip to post and you just want to check out a great site specifically for gaming content, you should check out Pwn or Die.

Site [Pwn or Die] Read [Video Game Examiner]

Target gets exclusive version of Shaun White Snowboarding

When Shaun White Snowboarding comes out on November 16, 2008, you may want to stop by your local Target. At least, if you’re buying the PS3, Xbox 360 or Wii version of the game you will. A limited Target edition of the game is going to be sold, featuring extra locations, moves and characters.

Normally, the store-exclusive versions of games come with an unlockable code, which just unlocks a new item or outfit. This definitely isn’t the case in Shaun White Snowboarding. The two locations are Target Mountain, a whole new area to snowboard in, and a Target Chalet, to socialize in when you don’t feel like hitting the slopes and the game’s only indoor area. There will also be extra characters, jibs (snowboard tricks you do over terrain not covered in snow) and even extra scenes as well.

Shaun White Snowboarding comes out this November, and Target is currently carrying $5 pre-order cards in stores, which you can purchase to reserve your copy of the exclusive version. The Xbox 360 and PS3 editions of the game will be $59.99, and the Wii verison (Shaun White Snowboarding: Road Trip) will be $49.99. Standard editions of Shaun White Snowboarding are also being released on the DS, PSP, PS2 and PC on the same day as the next-gen versions.

Read [Forbes] Site [Shaun White Snowboarding]

Mid-Ohio-Con 2008: Comics, games, Hulk, Jay and the Batmobile

After getting shut down, resurrected by new owners, moved to a new venue and taking place two month earlier than normal, the Mid-Ohio-Con (aka MOC) was this past weekend (October 4-5, 2008) at the Columbus Convention Center in Columbus, OH (USA). The convention is typically a showcase for Ohio area comic book artists and stores with a smattering of additional celebrity guests and other goodies.

There were two videogame booths a the MOC, one for Ninja Gaiden and the other was promoting Soul Calibur IV. At the Ninja Gaiden booth, there were three nice monitors and two ladies sanding around who I guess were supposed to engage passers-by, but really talked to one guy for about three hours and didn’t seem to hand out any of the T-shirts or wrist bands they were holding. One kid did manage to play at one station for the entire first day which seemed OK to others since no one else was really stopping. At least he scored a T-shirt (he eventually stopped playing to put it on).

The Soul Calibur IVbooth had three screens as well and one larger screen that looked like the guy just didn’t bother to take out of the plastic wrap. He also spent a lot of time tapping on his phone and then was at a laptop for a while I assume playing that game. There were a couple freebies at this booth for grabs, but the shoestring lanyard and two small linticular cards (not even the Yoda or Darth Vader images) are not even worth slapping on the scanner to show you.

Of course, comics and comic book talent are the real reason to head to a comic book convention. About 40% of the Convention Center was occupied by comic book stores and another 40-50% with talent. The bigger names got their own booths with the tri-colored curtains for backgrounds and others were at rows of smaller tables in the way back. It seemed like they tried to group things together, like celebs in one aisle, big name artists together, which caused some clogging in the center section.

The bigger the name the longer you had to wait in line. Artist Alan Davis, for example, had a pretty high price for his sketches and one group of guys told eme they had been in line for three hours, and the line never seemed to have less than 20 people in it at a time. Alan Dean Foster (writer) was rarely at his booth signing and was, seemingly, in panel discussions most of the day. Chris Claremont (writer) was moved to the other side of the center to make room for his line which seemed to be the longest. Artist and legend Joe Kubert also made a limited appearance at the con but was represented with two booths, one for himself and the other for his art school.

I stopped and chatted a while with the very friendly Patrick and Shelly Block, the Disney Comics writing and art team (who were doing free sketches, a rarity at any con), as well as artist Jamie Snell, who was “grandfathered into a booth” (which is why he had only the curtains behind him). Theirs and a few other tables were surprisingly empty from curious conventioneers who spent much of their time in the store booths and waiting in line for the “bigger name” artists.

The back, the Creators Commons was a good place to pick up some inexpensive comic or comic-related art by unknown and independent artists trying to start their own careers or simply make a few bucks from their own versions of recognizable heroes. (Batman on old planks of wood? Really?) I was only accosted by one and slightly insulted by one other, but pretty much all of them were really nice and willing to hold a conversation about what they do.

As for other fun stuff an celebs, this year you could sit in the 1977 TV series Batmobile and get your picture taken (for $20) and, less than ten feet away, shake hands with Lou Ferrigno and get his autograph and then scoot sideways to get Jason Mewes‘ (aka Jay from Clerks, who we barely recognized) autograph when he wasn’t taking a smoking break. Between Lou and Mewes was Cathy St. James with nary a visitor. Across an aisle from Lou (and the Batmobile) was Doug Jones who seems to play a lot of roles where someone else does he voice acting, including Silver Surfer in Rise of the Silver Surfer and Abe Sapien in the Hellboy flicks.

With the Batmobile, my son’s favorite thing at the event, I likely conclude my 2008 trifecta of BatTastic goodess: The Batpod from Dark Knight, the BatCopter from the 1977 Batman movie and the Batmobile from the 1977 TV series. Who thought Ohio would be such a hotbed for BatNostalgia?

There were also plenty of costumes to oogle, including a Master Chief, several Boba Fetts, a couple Storm Troopers, a Wonder Woman, a Rancor Trainer (!?), a little pink and glittery Batman (cutest costume ever in the 8-14 age group, complete with boot covers), a pair of Ghostbusters, a Batman (or two?), a Wolverine, an Imperial Guard, Beast ("One kid told his dad I was Wolverine without the blades,") and an unoccupied Darth Vader costume in, of all things, the costume booth. The most popular non-costume garment was the green Green Lantern T-shirt (I counted nine by 3 pm on Saturday).

I snapped photos of most of these as well as the Batmobile and booths, so make sure you check out the photo gallery from Mid-Ohio-Con 2008.

The MOC seemed to be well enjoyed by everyone, with fans not having to wait in huge lines and getting a few deals at the store booths and artists only feeling overcrowded when other appreciating he larger venue. There were not many freebies for conventioneers aside from a few movie posters and a pen and a luggage card cover with the MOC logo on it. The organizers seemed a little disorganized but it was only noticeable if you stopped at the MOC Information Booth (and especially to media members). At least one Ohio artist I had spoken with said he was unable to get a booth this year due to some mixup with the new owners, signage to the side room events was hard to find and the program table was nearly always empty until the foud someone to stay at it the last half of the first day.

Announcements were rarely made and when they were, they were kinda useless with Bart Simpson style stupid phone jokes. They could have been a bit more useful to announce the films being shown in one of the side rooms, the two rooms of panel discussions and the other two special stage events. Again, signage wasn’t very helpful.

The program was printed like a comic book, which is rather nice, with a montage of Marvel heroes on each side, depicted in two different stylers. The inside was a map of the floor, a list of guests and exhibitors and some bios. It had only two ads, one on the inside of each cover (likely to help pay for the printing).

The MOC is certainly an interesting convention, not nearly as big a deal or flashy as the San Diego Comic Con but, as several fans and exhibitors said, respectably improving in quality. If you want to skip some of the lines for the bigger names, get there right as the doors open to essentially camp out, then you’ll be able to do a bit more shopping and meet a few other artists. It’s certainly a small enough venue to allow for quality time with artists and shop yet large enough to warrant at least a full day.

See [Photo Gallery] Site [Mid-Ohio-Con] Read [PWTheBeat] Also Read [News Askew] Also Read [TheForce.net] Site [Heads Up Studios]

Screw the PS4 rumors: PS3 will keep us busy for years

I just bought a PlayStation 3 console when I read the rumors of a PlayStation 4 coming out soon and all the mind blowing possibilities of the theoretically new console. I could barely afford the PS3 much less worry about what its going to cost for a PS4. But, based on what Paul Holman (Sony Vice President of Technology) told TechEBlog in 2006, the PS4 will not be out until at least 2010.

Then there’s the rumor that the future PS4 will use the same existing cell processor that the current PS3 uses, according to a Japanese tech news site PC Watch. I’m not sure about that because if this rumor does prove to be true, I’d be sorely disappointed. For the most part, why invest in all these upgrades for the PS3 coming out soon only to purchase a PS4 which as we experienced with the PS3, having limited to no backwards playability again?

They just came out with a PS3 Bluetooth headset for the console, not to mention a possible controller that will function like the controllers of a Wii. Sony is still upgrading the PS3 and making it more backwards compatible for those of us still clinging to our PS2 to play our favorites.

What I found out about the new upgrades, which are done through firmware installs, will make the PS3 more media centric and help players become more social with the newest firmware upgrade using the trophy system. This current feature works like the Xbox 360 Achievement system that is displayed in your new profile complete with bronze, silver and gold trophies depending on a player’s game rank. According to Arstechnia this will encourage the social aspect of gaming.

The director of PlayStation Network Operations, Eric Lempel explains the newest update on his blog with a video on the PlayStation Blog website.

According to the blog, the games currently using the Trophy system include:

• BUZZ! Quiz TV
• LittleBigPlanet
• MotorStorm Pacific Rift
• NBA 09 - PS3
• PAIN
• PixelJunk Eden
• Resistance 2
• SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Confrontation
• Warhawk

To add to the excitement of the new update, Lempel wrote that the players currently using Playstation Network will have their friend’s list doubled to 100. Seriously, with all this investment in the PS3 continues to grow. In future firmware updates, the introduction of third-party applications may evolve according to PlayStation’s website further upgrades coming to the PS3 include a wireless keyboard which can snap over the system’s Sixaxis or DualShock 3 controller. Date of release for this item is unknown at this time but will give PSN users the same capability of downloading music and videos to their PS3.

Read [GameCyte] Read [TechEBlog] Also Read [Smarthouse] Also Read [Arstechnica] Also Read [PlayStation Blog]

Metroid Prime, Pikmin get Wii-made

Just after I reported on all the remakes coming to the Wii, Nintendo announced a slew of excellent Gamecube games getting a Wii makeover. 1up reported that adventure-FPS classics Metroid Prime 1 and 2, along with garden-strategy hybrids Pikmin 1 and 2 will receive the upgraded treatment. Also on the list of Wii-makes are Mario Tennis, Donkey Kong Jungle Beat and Chibi-Robo. The games will reportedly feature Wii-mote controls for maximum Wii enjoyment. It all begins this December.

Yes! I don’t even care anymore that half of the decent games on Wii are remakes, updates or ports of old games. Quality is quality, and I can’t wait to dive back in to Metroid Prime and Pikmin all over again.

Read [1up]

Punch-Out those Wii memory issues.

This is what happens when you’re out of town for a day. A massive amount of Nintendo news dropped yesterday, courtesy of a company press event… and here I was, on a road trip for a friend’s wedding.

Anyways, hardcore gamers are no longer getting le shaft from the big N. In one fell swoop, Ninty announced a solution to the Wii storage problem and a new Punch-Out game. GameDaily reported that Wii users will be able to download their content (like Virtual Console and WiiWare games, dlc for Rock Band, etc.) onto SD cards. The SD swapping fun begins in Spring 2009 - and while it may not be an ideal solution (a hard drive may have been better for big downloaders), it’s certainly a help.

Also announced was a Wii MotionPlus-enhanced new Punch-Out. If it’s anywhere near as good as the NES original, but with motion controls - it’ll be a must buy.

So, what do we think? Too little, too late, or are you already in training to capture virtual titles?

Read [GameDaily]

Runes of Magic draws in 100,000 potential players

Runes of Magic has nearly hit a milestone, according to Frogster Interactive. Frogster has just announced that over 95,000 users have registered to try and take part in the closed beta of its new, free-to-play, MMORPG. Not quite 100,000, but very close. Plus, since all these people registered just in the hopes they’d be picked to participate in the beta, its still cause for some celebration.

The Runes of Magic closed beta test II is going to begin October 9, 2008, and Frogster is going to call upon some of those 95,000 to participate. Initially, only a few will be given permission to play, but Frogster is planning further beta phases where 30,000 of the people who registered will be allowed to create accounts.

The open beta of Runes of Magic is tenatively set for December 9, 2008. In an official press, release, Frogster hopes that the MMORPG will draw in an additional 150,000 people that date (to bring the overall count up to 250,000). The original Chinese version of Runes of Magic (known as Radiant Arcana in China), is in open beta.

Read [GamersHell.com] Also Read [MCV] Site [Runes of Magic]

How To: Create a Japanese Playstation Store account

Well, it happened. PlayStation Portable demos from the Japanese PlayStation Store are now exactly like domestic demos. This means there’s a copyright signature, where you have to sign into the store and download it directly to your PSP or it won’t work.

So you can’t just go to the ever so wonderful and convenient PSP Fanboy demo page and download demos of Prinny: Ore ga Shujinkou de Iinsuka? (aka Prinny: Is it okay if I’m the hero?) or Yggdra Union.

The time has come to provide for yourself when it comes to new Japanese game demos. You need to set up a Japanese Playstation Store account and here’s how.

Step 1.

• First, on your computer, go to the PlayStation Store site and choose Japan as your country.
• Then, click the last button in the upper right corner of the page to make an account.

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Step 2.

• Once the log-in page appears, click the first option below the log-in portion. This will let you create an account.

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Step 3.

The next portion begins the process.

• Enter your date of birth using the drop-down options.
• Then click the bottom right button to proceed.

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Step 4.

After this, it will ask what kind of account you are creating.

• Choose the first option to create a Master Account.

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Step 5.

Now for Terms and Conditions.

• Click the button to the right to agree. (The Terms and Conditions are basically the same as the US Playstation Store’s.)

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Step 6.

There will now be an image generated, to make sure you are a human being and not some robot.

• Enter what is shown into the box, then click the button directly below.

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Step 7.

Finally, we get into account creation.

• Give an email address (note: you can’t use the same one as your home country’s Playstation Store account) and a password.
• Then enter any word you like as the answer to the security question shown. I recommend writing down this information for later.
• Click the button directly below all this to proceed.

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Step 8.

The process then stops momentarily. An email has been sent to the address you have to verify it.

• You can close this window now.

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Step 9.

You’ll receive an email from DoNotReply(AT)ac.playstation.net.

• Check your email.
• There’ll be a link in there - click it to verify your email address.

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Step 10.

You’ll be taken to a page that continues the registration process.

• Click the button there.

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Step 11.

Now you need to enter an ID.

• Type something in the box, and then press enter. Don’t click the red button.

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Step 12.

Next is a name and address section.

• You need to enter your name twice (last name, first name, last name, first name).
• Then you need to enter a Japanese address. I recommend looking up a Japanese city on Google and getting the postal code.
• Enter the postal code in the first box.
• Click and pick any option in the drop down box below.
• Then enter a few random letters in the two lines below the drop box.
• Finally, in the box directly above the red button, enter in the city that goes with the postal code you entered.
• When you’re done, click the bottom right, white button.

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Step 13.

The page after that will ask for credit card information.

• Click the second option to proceed.

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Step 14.

• Once again, on the next page that appears, click the right-most button.

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Step 15.

Now all of the information you have entered will be displayed.

• Check everything over.
• Then click the bottom right button.

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Step 16.

You’re almost done - this page shows you the ID you will be using to log in to the Japanese Playstation Store website.

• Make a note of it, then click the white button.

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Step 17.

Congratulations -You have an account! One more step to go.

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Step 18.

• Now go back to the main Japanese PlayStation Store page.
• Click the right-most button that you clicked in Step 1.
• Enter the account ID shown in Step 16 in the first box and the password you set in Step 7.
• Then click the first blue button.

You will now be logged in and able to download PSP demos.

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Now for the demos.

Let’s say you’re dying to play the 12mb Prinny: Ore ga Shujinkou de Iinsuka? demo. It requires firmware version 4.05 and the latest version of the PlayStation Store Downloader to download and play though, so be prepared.

• On the main page, the first section will have a new demos area. The icon with a Prinny on it is the one you want. Click that.
• Then click the button next to the orange button on the demo page.
• Your download should immediately start. If it doesn’t, and a shopping cart logo appears, then click the cart logo in the upper right corner of the page.
• Then click the bottom right blue buttons on the next two pages.
• Then you should be able to get your demo.

You’ll also receive a prompt saying your PSP is connected to another account. To play the Prinny, Yggdra Union and other demos, you’ll have to temporarily make your Japanese account your connected account. Any demos on your PSP won’t work when your PSP is connected to your Japanese account. So if you want to play those demos, you’ll have to shift and download a US store demo to switch back.

Site [PlayStation Store] Photo Gallery [Gamertell]