Keiji Inafune is one name that every self respecting gamer knows alongside the likes of Shigeru Miyamoto and Sid Meier. He’s credited as being the creator of Mega Man and was instrumental in the development of many franchises that Capcom still publishes regularly including Resident Evil, Dead Rising and Lost Planet. He left Capcom a few years ago and is waging a singular war to reinvigorate the Japanese gaming industry.
Inafune’s first step is a 3DS game that takes the classic Chinese epic, Romance of the Three Kingdoms, and places it in a pirate setting. His next game for the PS Vita – Soul Sacrifice – is turning a lot more heads though. The game is all about sacrifice. For the player to perform amazing feats of magic, they must be willing to give up something precious. One example is the player must rip out their own spine to create a sword.
It’s this theme that Inafune is trying to convey when he talks about “reality blended into a fantasy world.” He recently published his thoughts on the PlayStation blog where he also announced that the game would be hitting North America.
What I wanted to illustrate in this game was a “reality blended into a fantasy world.” The word “fantasy” normally points to a story that is fictitious; however, with Soul Sacrifice I wanted to illustrate a “reality” within a fantasy that wasn’t sugar-coated. It’s not about focusing on the strange, but to flip the commonly held concept of what a fantasy theme should be with the concept of “reality.”
Cruelty is a reality in our world, and we have to make sacrifices and pay costs on a daily basis. I wanted to blend this “reality” theme into a fantasy world, one filled with magic, and create a new type of gaming experience that relied on the player making sacrifices in order to obtain great power.
There is a “dark pleasure” lying in between fiction and reality that none of us knew was there. If you simply think of it as a “dark fantasy,” then your expectations will be betrayed – but in a good way. Please look forward to Soul Sacrifice. It will be a game that players around the world will surely enjoy.
That’s some pretty hard hitting stuff coming from the man who created the goofy world of Mega Man. That’s the point though as Inafune is hoping to challenge the kind of themes that we’re used to seeing in video games. It’s very rare to see mature subject matter beyond petty violence and sexuality being addressed in games. The indie movement has surely helped push larger game developers to question their own motivations and move toward games that task the player to think as much as they act.
Check out the first trailer for Soul Sacrifice below. It’s looking to be a good one and is one more reason that I have to get a Vita sooner than later. Sony promises to show more of the game off at E3 so look forward to that as well.
Today on the Playstaion Blog we got confirmation that Drinkbox Studios, the makers of Mutant Blobs Attack, have announced that their new game titled “Guacamelee will be a PS3/PSN/PSVITA exclusive title. The side scrolling, action, puzzle solver will feature a lucha libre type character and has an art style that seems vaguely similar to Shank.
In this game you have the ability to change between 2 world, that look like a light and dark world or a world of the dead and world of the living type of thing. You have to smash walls and do combos to get through some areas, you also have the ability to turn into a chicken to solve some puzzles. here is the description of the game from Drinkbox:
“Set in a world inspired by Mexican culture, Guacamelee! features a down-on-his-luck agave farmer named Juan Aguacate, who sets out to save the world when El Presidente’s Daughter is kidnapped by an Evil Charro Skeleton. The story takes place in and around a small village in Mexico, and has the player travelling through “The World of the Living” and “The World of the Dead” on his quest to rescue the girl he loves.”
The game looks kind of cool, it includes co-op which is always a bonus and I for one can’t wait to turn into a chicken and beat this game.
Another week, another Playstation Store update. This week features two massive things. One is the much needed AAA title for the PS Vita titled: “Resistance: Burning Skies”.
“As New York fire fighter and National Guardsman Tom Riley, you’re about to come face to face with the brutal Chimeran invasion force in this blistering shooter built from the ground up for the PlayStation Vita.”
Check out the trialer her:
Also featured this week is the introduction of the PS3 Ultimate Edition Bundles. They put together nine games and all of their downloadable content (DLC) into easy to buy packs. Not only did they do this, but if your are a Playstation Plus subscriber you can get all of these packs at a substantial discount. Some of the discounts are better than others, but all of them make these games almost worth buying if you have been hesitant about it.
Check out the full update list below:
photo courtesy the Playstation Blog
Full Game Trial
-Assassin’s Creed Revelations
-Rayman Origins
Full Game Trial
-PS3 Games
-Rayman Origins (PS Plus Price: $23.99)
PS3 Ultimate Edition Bundles
-MotorStorm Apocalypse (PS Plus Price: $35.34)
-Bioshock 2 Complete Edition (PS Plus Price: $19.59)
-Call of Duty: Black Ops Bundle (PS Plus Price: $46.54)
-inFAMOUS 2 Complete Edition (PS Plus Price:$23.79)
-Just Cause 2 Ultimate Edition (PS Plus Price:$14.69)
-L.A. Noire: The Complete Edition (PS Plus Price: $19.59)
-Mafia II Bundle (PS Plus Price:$14.69)
-Mortal Kombat Bundle (PS Plus Price:$24.49)
-Red Dead Redemption and Undead Nightmare Collection (PS Plus Price:$19.59)
Avatars
-Rayman Origins: Globox Toe-grab avatar (PS Plus Price: FREE)
-Rayman Origins: Baby Dragon avatar (PS Plus Price: FREE)
-Rayman Origins: Darktoon avatar (PS Plus Price: FREE)
Theme
-Robot Dynamic Theme (PS Plus Price: FREE)
PSN Games
-Mad Riders ($9.99) Mad Riders is an adrenaline-fueled off-road arcade racing game that sets new standards for the racing genre on PlayStation Network. ESRB rated E File size 1.25 GB
-Pure Chess ($7.99) Experience the game of chess like you’ve never seen it before. Download Pure Chess to see how stunning and beautiful chess can really be, and find out if you are a Grandmaster in the making. ESRB rated E File size 365 MB
PS Vita Games
-Pure Chess ($7.99) Experience the game of chess like you’ve never seen it before. Download Pure Chess® to see how stunning and beautiful chess can really be, and find out if you are a Grandmaster in the making. ESRB rated E File size 347 MB
-Resistance: Burning Skies Full Game ($39.99) As New York fire fighter and National Guardsman Tom Riley, you’re about to come face to face with the brutal Chimeran invasion force in this blistering shooter built from the ground up for the PlayStation Vita. ESRB rated M File size 2.84 GB
PS3 Full Games
-Assassin’s Creed Revelations ($59.99) In Assassin’s Creed Revelations, master assassin Ezio Auditore walks in the footsteps of the legendary mentor Altair, on a journey of discovery and revelation. ESRB rated M File size 7.8 GB
-Rayman Origins ($29.99) The critics have spoken – “Rayman Origins is Living, Breathing Perfection” -Gamefan. 9.5/10 – IGN, 9 /10 – PlayStation The Official Magazine, 9/10 – Destructoid, 5/5 – Joystiq, 4.5/5 – Gamepro. ESRB rated E10+ File size 1.42 GB
Game Demos (free)
-Mad Riders Download the demo for Mad Riders now! Mad Riders is an adrenaline-fueled off-road arcade racing game that sets new standards for the racing genre on the PlayStation®Network. Perform aerial stunts, use your boost wisely, and open shortcuts to dominate your friends on 45 tracks in stunning tropical locations across the globe. ESRB rated E File size 1.25 GB
PS Vita Demos (Free)
-Gravity Rush Manipulate gravity to save your world from destruction. Gain a new perspective as you take on the role of Kat, a strong-willed girl seeking the means to protect her future in a world that’s crumbling to pieces. Tilt and move the PlayStation Vita, taking gravity into your own hands to deliver devastating attacks, uncover the secrets to your past and explore a mysterious world. ESRB rated T File size 472 MB
-Resistance: Burning Skies As New York fire fighter and National Guardsman Tom Riley, you’re about to come face to face with the brutal Chimeran invasion force in this blistering shooter built from the ground up for the PlayStation Vita. The latest installment in the hugely successful franchise focuses on the initial days of the assault boverwhelming Chimeran forces on the U.S. eastern seaboard and intense multiplayer. Download the trial today and experience portable shooting redefined! ESRB rated M File size 2.84 GB
PS3 Add-ons
-Mass Effect 3: Rebellion Multiplayer Expansion The Rebellion Multiplayer Expansion opens two new fronts against the Reapers: Firebase Jade’s jungle reservoir and Firebase Goddess on Thessia. File size 145 MB
-Atelier Meruru add ons (x2) ($2.99 – $3.99) Various add on content. File size 111 KB – 135 KB
-Batman Arkham City – Harley Quinn’S Revenge ($9.99) As the dust settles in Gotham, Batman is lured back into Arkham City by its last remaining super-criminal; Harley Quinn. Now more dangerous than ever and leading a homicidal gang of her own, she is hell-bent on taking her revenge against the Dark Knight. File size 818 MB
-Dragon’s Dogma add ons (x2) ($0.99 – $2.99) Various add on content. File size 707 KB – 11 MB
-Elevator Action HD – Additional Stages -5 ($1.99) New DLC for ELEVATOR ACTION DELUXE has arrived! This update gives you five new stages to explore and master. Sneak or fight? Disguise is the key to success in these stages! Put an end to the enemy’s ambitions! Will you rise to the challengeFile size 11 MB
-LittleBigPlanet 2 Starhawk Minipack ($2.99) Download the Starhawk Costume Minipack to dress your Sackboy in these exciting costumes: – Emmett – Cutter – The Outlaw To download this costume pack, you must already own LittleBigPlanet 2. File size 110 KB
MotorStorm RC add ons (x3) ($0.25 – $0.49) Various add on content. File size 100 KB each
-Prototype 2 Excessive Force Pack ($4.99) Introducing the “Excessive Force” Pack, the most insanely over-the-top pack Radical Entertainment® has ever created!! “Excessive Force” is about to become your middle name. File size 5.04 MB
-Pure Chess Park Game Pack ($1.99) Check out all the Pure Chess additional content available for download. Each pack contains a stunning new location and incredibly detailed set of chess pieces. This pack features an Autumnal park and an ornate set of park animal chess pieces. File size 79 MB
-Rocksmith – My Chemical Romance Song Pack ($7.99) File size 9.63 MB
-Rocksmith – Na Na Na (Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na) By My Chemical Romance ($2.99) File size 2.6 MB
-Rocksmith – Planetary (Go!) By My Chemical Romance ($2.99) File size 3.12 MB
-Rocksmith – Welcome To The Black Parade By My Chemical Romance ($2.99) File size 3.91 MB
-Test Drive Unlimited 2 add ons (x9) ($0.99 each) Various add on content. File size 101 KB each
Rock Band 3
Build your Rock Band library by purchasing these song game tracks. For song credits, visit www.RockBand.com.
-“SCREAM AIM FIRE” – Bullet for My Valentine ($1.99)
-“TEARS DON’T FALL” – Bullet for My Valentine ($1.99)
-“YOUR BETRAYAL” – Bullet for My Valentine ($1.99)
-“BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE PACK 01 ($5.49) – Build your Rock Band library by purchasing this song game album: BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE PACK 01. This pack includes “Scream Aim Fire”, “Tears Don’t Fail” and “Your Betrayal”. By Bullet for My Valentine. File size: 31 MB – 35 MB (singles), 97 MB (track pack)
Rock Band Network v2.0
-“DESCONOCIDO” – Leche de Tigre ($0.99)
-“HALF CAB” – Quartered ($0.99)
-“I AM S/H(IM)E[R] AS YOU AM S/H(IM)E[R] AS YOU ARE ME AND WE… ” – Giraffes? Giraffes! ($0.99)
-“MARTYR TO SCIENCE” – Deadlock ($0.99)
-“THE FALL OF PSILANTHROPY” – Chaotrope ($0.99)
File size: 20 MB – 50 MB (singles)
PS Vita Add-Ons
-Hustle Kings add ons (x2) (Free – $1.99) Various add on content. File size 1 MB – 21 MB
-MotorStorm RC add ons (x3) ($0.25 – $0.49) Various add on content. File size 100 KB each
-Pure Chess Park Game Pack ($2.49) Check out all the Pure Chess additional content available for download. Each pack contains a stunning new location and incredibly detailed set of chess pieces. This pack features an Autumnal park and an ornate set of park animal chess pieces. File size 76 MB
-Resistance: Burning Skies Online Pass ($9.99) Various add on content. File size N/A
One of the best announcements that came out of E3 last year was Sly Cooper getting a fourth game. At the time, it was announced as a PS3 exclusive. Considering that the PlayStation Vita is pretty much a tiny PS3, it was only a matter of time before it was announced for the portable. It seems that time is now.
Over on the PlayStation blog, Sony announced a Vita version of Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time. The announcement is definitely news enough, but Sony was kind enough to provide a gameplay demo as well. From the video, it’s pretty clear that the Vita is still the powerful machine that I love it for. The Vita version of Thieves in Time will also take advantage of all the prerequisite features that are found on the Vita including the accelerometer and touch screen.
Sly Cooper on Vita probably signals the beginning of Sony’s new strategy with the handheld that other publishers have started to take advantage of as well. You’re going to start seeing more and more PS3 games being announced for the Vita. This means that the players can transfer their saves between the two systems and take the PS3 game with them on the go. I don’t know how many people are going to want to buy the same game on both the PS3 and the Vita, but the more platforms the better.
Check out the debut gameplay below and see for yourself what the Vita is capable of:
I had the pleasure to participate in the beta for the very first LittleBigPlanet in 2008. It was my first Beta and was a great experience. Well now the boys over at Media Molecule are offering to you the same thing that was offered to me, the ability to participate in a LittleBgPlanet beta.
The LittleBigPlanet games are fairly unique in the sense that every game feature 4 player co-op and the ability to create your own levels from scratch. And people have, from completely working games of “Tetris,” to people making costumes for their Sackboys. LittleBigPlanet for the Vita is the newest game in Sony’s “Play, Create, Share” initiative that includes Mod Nation Racers and the upcoming LittleBigPlanet Karting.
All you have to do to sign up is go here, and enter in a little information about yourself such as your Playstation Network ID, your email address, and your date of birth. Then it asks you 3 questions. Which LittleBigPlanet games have you played before?, Do you own a PS VITA?, and Have you ever created and shared a level in any of the above mentioned LittleBigPlanet titles? Thats all, do that and you might get a beta code to help make the game!
After just launching their app on Windows Phone on Monday, Skype is coming to another one of your handheld devices: your PS Vita. The all new Skype app for PlayStation Vita is set to hit the PlayStation Store sometime later today.
The app supports free Skype-to-Skype voice calling, and it supports the use of the PS Vita’s front and rear-facing cameras in its video chat. Skype credits can also be used to make audio calls to any number.
Since this new Skype app is on the PS Vita, there should be some sort of feature that’s good for gamers – and in fact there is. The most exciting feature is its “background mode,” which allows it to run in the background while you play games or use any other app. If you’re in-game and receive a Skype call you’ll be notified, and with a single tap will be able to pause your game and take the call. Later, you can return to gameplay without losing any progress.
When the PS Vita hit the States back in February, is launched with a few important apps like Flickr, Netflix, and Twitter client LiveTweet.
A couple of weeks ago we got an awesome live action Mortal Kombat trailer for the soon to be released PS Vota version. Well, today they released a live action Mileena video. It’s not as cool as the first trailer, but it is still pretty neat!
Mortal Kombat for the Playstation Vita is set to be released on May 1st, 2012. The game will be Kross Kompatible with the Playstation 3 version and will feature all of the characters from both games.
Almost a year after first announcing the Playstation Suite initiative, Sony is finally rolling out it’s beta program to developers. The beta program, which will run until later this year, will let you create, debugging and testing, and it has a forum for support from other developers.
Not much info is given in the FAQ about things such as how much the apps will cost, but it does say that In order to sell developed content in the PS Store, you will be required to sign a separate contract, which includes a fee (US$99 per year).
The Playstation Suite SDK features 3 main things:
1. Create: You can develop games and applications that utilize physical buttons and touchscreen by using the integrated development environment (IDE) and simulator for the PC which are both included in the PlayStation Suite SDK.
2. Test and Debug: You can test and debug games and applications developed with the PS Suite SDK on the PlayStation®Vita system and PlayStation™Certified devices.*After the Open Beta period, you will be required to sign a separate contract.
3. Discuss: In the Developers Forum, you can discuss issues and exchange information with developers throughout the world. Of course, you can also interact with SCE employees, who will participate in discussions and offer development support.
The beta version is currently free to download and features PlayStation Suite SDK version 0.98 PS Suite SDK and is a “software package for developing applications that can be run on the PlayStation Vita system and PlayStation Certified devices. PS Suite SDK includes PC applications such as PC Suite Studio, as well as PS Suite UI Composer for laying out UI components. Further, in addition to basic graphic and sound libraries, PS Suite SDK also includes GameEngine2D for games using 2D graphics, Physics2D for 2D physical engine, as well as superior libraries such as the UI component library UI Toolkit. Rather than providing only basic samples for explaining each basic API, the SDK also gives you access to samples of games and applications using 2D and 3D graphics.”
Sony announced today the release of their new “nasne”! The “nasne” is a 500GB networked recorder and media storage device with digital terrestrial and satellite broadcast tuners. As of now the new device will only be available in Japan for about $200. In essence the “nasne” is an external HDD/digital tuner specifically for your Sony devices. It does have cool stylings that are very reminiscent of the Playstation 3. The device hooks up with either coaxial cable directly from the wall, or wirelessly form your PS3/Vita/Vaio/Experia. I would not ever expect to see this kind of thing in America due to the TV service companies(Tivo, DirecTV) being so protective of how their services and technologies are used.
Here are some key highlights from Sony about how the “nasne” can and will connect to each Sony device and what benefits they have:
PlayStation 3
PS3 users will be able to watch and record (3) digital terrestrial and satellite broadcast through LAN cable by installing “torne” version 4.0, a dedicated application for PS3, which will come bundled with “nasne.” By connecting a maximum of four “nasne” units to their PS3, users can simultaneously record up to four television programs. Those who already have a “torne” device connected to their PS3 will be able to connect a maximum of four “nasne” units to their PS3 and record up to five television programs. Details of “torne” version 4.0 for PS3 will be announced separately.
PlayStation Vita
PS Vita users will be able to watch and record digital terrestrial and satellite broadcasts through “torne for PS Vita” (tentative name), a dedicated application for accessing “nasne” from anywhere within the same home network via Wi-Fi connection . “torne for PS Vita” will become available within this calendar year. By leveraging the ability of “nasne” to simultaneously create an export file while a television program is being recorded, users can quickly transfer recorded content through Wi-Fi connection and easily enjoy them on the go on their PS Vita’s beautiful 5-inch OLED. Details of “torne for PS Vita” will be announced in due course.
VAIO PC
VAIO PC users will be able to watch and record digital terrestrial and satellite broadcasts through “VAIO TV with nasne” (beta version)(5), a dedicated application for accessing “nasne” from anywhere within the same home network via Wi-Fi connection or LAN cable. “VAIO TV with nasne” (beta version) will become available concurrently with the release of “nasne.” Key features of “VAIO TV with nasne”: Recorded television programs on “nasne’” can be copied to Blu-ray Disc and DVD, or transferred to VAIO PC’s HDD or State Solid Drive (SSD). Up to eight digital terrestrial and satellite broadcasts can be simultaneously recorded by connecting a maximum of eight “nasne” hardware units to VAIO PC. Television programs can be searched by keywords. “VAIO TV with nasne” will become available for Windows 7 equipped VAIO PCs through “VAIO Update,” an automatic free update service for VAIO PC users.
“Sony Tablet” / Xperia
Sony Tablet / Xperia users will be able to watch and record digital terrestrial and satellite broadcasts through dedicated applications for Sony Tablet / Xperia for accessing “nasne” from within the same home network via Wi-Fi connection.
The games for the Playstation Vita are really starting to pick up! Today over at the European Playstation Blog, we got to learn more sweet details on the multiplayer aspect of the Resistance game for the Vita.
Resistance: Burning Skies features an all new campaign set in the world of Resistance. It also offers a multiplayer experience that includes up to 4 v. 4 combat, a full leveling up system, and the ability to modify and customize your weapons.
Resistance: Burning Skies is set for a worldwide release on May 30th, 2012. It is being designed by Nihilistic Studios which was founded in March 1998 and is responsible for titles such as: Vampire: The Masquerade – Redemption, Marvel Nemesis: Rise of the Imperfects, Conan, Zombie Apocalypse, and PlayStation Move Heroes.
This is what the developers of the game, Nhilistic Studios, had to say:
We at Nhilistic Software are excited to finally be able to pull the wraps off of Resistance: Burning Skies, coming May 30th for the Playstation Vita.
In addition to its all new single player campaign, Burning Skies features an online (via Wi-Fi) multiplayer in which you and up to seven of your friends can compete over the PlayStation Network! We know you’ve all been asking about multiplayer in Burning Skies, so please enjoy the first look at it in this new trailer.
When designing Resistance: Burning Skies, our goal was to bring the high-quality console experience to a handheld, and thanks to the power of the Vita, we’ve ended up with an unprecedented mobile FPS experience. Experience the Dual Analog Sticks for precision aiming, Touch screen interactivity for precise and quick Secondary Weapon fires, and portable Online connectivity.
We’ve just featured something in NYC event showing off some of the cool things we’re doing with online:
-8 player multiplayer – small games feature intense 2 vs. 2 combat and large games going all the way up to 4 on 4 action. Choose between Quick Match: a fast and easy way to get up and playing immediately or Party with Friends: use the Vita’s cross-game Party application and Party up with friends to join private matches and take advantage of Party with voice chat.
-Rank Up! – Killing enemies and winning matches is the easiest way to earn XP and Rank Up. Be rewarded with bonus XP for your daring feats of skill. For Example, you may find yourself well rewarded for killing multiple enemies with a skilled grenade toss. Unlock all your favorite weapons and upgrades from the story campaign as you Rank up.
-Modify & customize your weapons – Upgrades you purchase can be slotted and unslotted from weapons at will, with some even giving your weapons a distinctive visual look. Purchase upgrades for weapons that best suit your personal playstyle. For example, the fan favorite Bullseye can be upgraded with Explosive Tag – which gives your Bullseye Tags and extra explosive kick. But keep in mind if you’re killed, your enemies may pick up your upgraded weapons and use them against you.
Online play in Resistance: Burning Skies will feature three game modes – Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch, and a very unique third mode which we’ll be revealing next week. There will be six playable maps, taking you everywhere from the streets of Staten Island to the docks of Bayonne. You’ll be able to vote prior to each match, allowing you to take the battle between the humans and Chimera to a variety of locales from the game.
Connect with the PlayStation community via Wi-Fi and 3G through social features including leaderboards and “near”, PlayStation Vita’s location based service. Through “near”, Resistance: Burning Skies introduces a new social perk awarding players valuable XP multipliers to carry into multiplayer battle.
Stay tuned for more details.
The God Of War franchise is one of Sony’s biggest and best things it has going for it right now. Today, on the Playstation Facebook page, a strangely vague promo post is up that says “Will Vengeance Bring Redemption?” and it features the date 4.19.2012, which is next Thursday.
The general consensus on the Facebook page is that this is for a new God of War announcement. This also falls in line with job openings last year at Sony Santa Monica which hinted at a multiplayer portion in the new GOW whenever it would come out.
“This is not the end of God of War,” Sony Santa Monica studio boss John Hight said after God of War 3 was released. “This is definitely the end of the trilogy, but we’re [going to] continue to do God of War games. We’re [going to] be very careful about what we do. We’re the keepers of the franchise and we don’t want to see it ruined or polluted.”
I have a feeling it could also be a God of War game for the Playstation Vita…..but I guess we’ll find out next week!
6 days after we got firmware update v1.66, which was 1 day after v1.65, we get firmware v1.67. The update was a surprise to people who originally went to the Playstation Store to download the fist free-to-play game called Montezuma Blitz.
The update is prompted as soon as you turn on your Vita and is the same size as the last update which was 97MB. Because there was no changelog included in this update, we aren’t exactly sure what was changed. Some people are speculating that they are still trying to get the buggy v1.65 to work.
The Playstation Vita was released worldwide on Feb 22, 2012. The sales numbers were underwhelming at first, but they have slowed down in recent weeks. The Vita looks to be the biggest gaming failure that Sony has ever had.
@Smoolander Steve SmoothyHelp me twitter, turned on Vita for first time and can’t connect PS account without system update. Yet can’t find out how to do this.5 minutes ago via web · Reply · Retweet · Favorite · powered by @socialditto
Mortal Kombat: Fatality Lives for the PS Vita finally has a release date and a great new commercial to go with it. The game being made by NetherRealm Studios will feature touchscreen fatalities and x-rays! The game will also run at a smooth 60 fps.
Developing Mortal Kombat for PS Vita was an incredibly rewarding experience for the team here at NetherRealm Studios. The ability to utilize the numerous new features available on PS Vita was a very gratifying mission, and we are delivering the best possible on-the-go fighting experience for fans.
Our design team jumped at the opportunity to devise 150 new Challenge Tower missions that incorporate the DLC characters (like Freddy Krueger!), while also integrating the front touchscreen and accelerometer in ways that made sense and enhanced the complete Mortal Kombat experience.
The artists enjoyed creating some excellent new costumes (still to be revealed!), as well as re-creating an iconic MKII arena that integrates the rear camera that will give players the ability to literally Fight Anywhere.
Our programmers worked diligently to make sure the players’ experience of Mortal Kombat on PS Vita was pristine and up to NetherRealm standards: fine tuning controls (while adding new controls, such as touchcreen Fatalities and X-Rays!) and displaying gameplay at a smooth 60 frames per second.
With all of these features, two new exclusive modes (Test Your Balance and Test Your Slice) and both ad-hoc (local) and WiFi (intrastructure) Versus mode options, we had an amazing time this past weekend at PAX East 2012 showing Mortal Kombat for PS Vita to fans. We had quite a few fans come back and bring their friends to show them the
new features—and to challenge them to some old-fashioned 1 vs 1 Kombat. It definitely made all of the work and love we put into this version of Mortal Kombat worth it.
This new trailer definitely captures the spirit of what we were trying to do with Mortal Kombat for PS Vita. Give it a watch and let us know what you think in the comments!
Yesterday Playstation released a firmware update for the Playstation Vita. Less than 24 hrs later, firmware v1.66 is up and running and available for download. The reason why apparently was something technical so Playstation quickly pulled the update.
-The [System Music] setting in Settings > [Sound & Display] now affects BGM in PS Store, near and Sign-Up screens as well as the Home menu.
-When searching for location data, users now have the option to ‘Retry’ and ‘Cancel’ when a failure occurs.
-A progress bar is introduced for application installation.
-A direct link to PlayStation Store is made available for new applications that users may discover on near.
-Users can now update data at any time within near, provided they are within the same location.
-The display time of notification alerts has been reduced from 5 seconds to 3 seconds.
-Functional improvements have been made in the following games and applications: Unit 13, Gravity Daze, near.
These updates will be on top of what was updated yesterday:
-A “Notification Alert” option will be added to Settings, so you can toggle alerts on or off
-“After 10 minutes” will be added to the time options under Power Save Settings
-An Arrow icon will now appear when PS Vita finds new activities in the LiveArea
-Caps Lock will be supported in the On Screen Keyboard
As always there are several ways to update the firmware on your PS Vit. You can select “System Update” under the “Settings” menu and download the firmware directly to your PS Vita over Wi-Fi or you can connect your PS Vita to a PS3 or a PC/Mac and update via Content Manager.
The latest edition to Sony’s Playstation Vita is the new firmware update v1.65. The update will include several fixes and a couple of added features.
These are the new things being offered by the firmware update. There are four “major” parts of this, first there is that a “Notification Alert” option will be added to Settings, so you can toggle alerts on or off. This feature is a lot like push notifications on your iPhone. Now you can choose wether to see them or not. Next an “After 10 minutes” will be added to the time options under Power Save Settings to keep your battery from draining out in case you find yourself away from your vita for too long. the 3rd part is that An Arrow icon will now appear when PS Vita finds new activities in the LiveArea alerting you to any other people have a Vita and are doing stuff. Finally Caps Lock will be added to the on screen keyboard, not sure why this is useful, but there you go.
As always there are several ways to update the firmware on your PS Vit. You can select “System Update” under the “Settings” menu and download the firmware directly to your PS Vita over Wi-Fi or you can connect your PS Vita to a PS3 or a PC/Mac and update via Content Manager.
About a month ago we reported that hackers had confirmed Sony’s worst nightmare and found a way inside the newly released Vita. Sony quickly responded by taking the exploitable file, Motorstorm: Arctic Edge, off the PSN permanently. They did this but not before several thousand people were able to hack their Vita to run homebrew games and ports like Doom:
A new exploit was just discovered in a new game. This time “Everybody’s Tennis” a title that is available on the European and Asian PSN, and followed it up with a blog post on their official Wololo.net blog:
“Dear Sony, it has come to my attention that one of the PSP games available on the playstation Vita has a vulnerability that could lead to the execution of external code by some malicious users. Therefore I am writing this blog post so that you can patch the game or remove it from the PSN store as soon as possible. Preferably, I suggest you take the money from your clients first, and prevent them from downloading the game afterwards, just like you did with Motorstorm Arctic Edge, 3 weeks ago. This way it will be a win-win situation for you, and you can always blame it on the hackers later on.
As a matter of fact, I have discovered that some “hackers” (I prefer to call them terrorists) have already prepared a tool wich, using this vulnerability, could allow people to run software that would be extremely dangerous for your business, such as 20 year-old 8 bit games and 154 different versions of pong.
I think this puts your business at risk, and I’ve tried to stop those vilains by all means necessary, but sadly it seems they are not breaking any law. Hopefully, giving you the name of the game will help you to take some efficient action. Those people are clearly wrong in their mind to try to play crappy open source software, when they could enjoy a great game such as Ridge Racer for less than 10$ a track, (which is clearly not a ripoff compared to the price one would have to pay in the real world to drive cars that completely defy the laws of physics. Although on that subject I woud like if you could help me, as my version of the game seems to be blocked in “demo mode” for some reason. All the 5 cars have exactly the same specs, so surely there’s something I’ve done wrong somewhere.)
I digress. The name of the game is Everybody’s Tennis. It is also known as Minna no tennis in Japan. Thankfully the game is not available on the US Vita store, so this should limit the problems on your end. I heard however that these hackers have prepared a US version of the hack just in case that version is being sold somewhere such as the HK store. I also heard people can buy the UK version from the US if they buy some PSN cards from resellers on ebay and other sites. If I may give some advice, I think this is not secure enough. True, you did a good job in preventing people from buying games outside of the country they live in (and being a French living in Japan, I can’t tell you how much I appreciate the fact that I can’t buy any game on the French PSN, this is exactly how globalization should work, and it helps me sparing lots of money by not buying any game), but I think in order to avoid future hacks, you should simply prevent everyone from buying games on the PSN, which will guarantee you a complete control of the market.”
Toying with Sony is something of a joy for these people, obviously. In response, Sony has already taken down the game but has not given details about how it would go about replacing the game if a user who already bought it wanted to re-
Sony Entertainment Network today announced the debut of the Music Unlimited service on the PlayStation Vita. With a global library of 15 million licensed songs from all of the major labels, leading independent labels, and major publishers worldwide, the Music Unlimited service offers users convenient access to the entire music catalog and millions of other tracks on a wide range of mobile and in-home devices, anytime they want it.
New to the service and featured on the PS Vita system, users can cache playlists and channels letting them listen to music even when a 3G or Wi-Fi connection isn’t available, or when they want to conserve battery life or curb data usage. Additionally, the device’s vibrant five-inch, high definition OLED touch screen makes it easy to navigate menus and search for music with the tap or swipe of a finger.
“PS Vita’s incredible processing power and media capabilities enabled us to offer a powerful mobile listening entertainment experience to consumers, giving them access to the music they want wherever they are,” said Tim Schaaff, President of Sony Network Entertainment. “Adding PS Vita to Sony Entertainment Network’s ecosystem gives users another choice of where and how to access their games, music and video, offering a truly personalized entertainment experience.”
If there’s one thing that the PlayStation brand is known for, it’s Ridge Racer. Well, the PlayStation brand is known for a lot of things, but Ridge Racer is always there at every launch. My first PSP game was Ridge Racer, and many early adopters first PS Vita game will probably be Ridge Racer as well.
While Ridge Racer did miss the actual launch of the PS Vita this time, it will make up for it on its March 13 launch. Namco Bandai said on the PlayStation blog that the game was delayed to hear feedback from players in Europe and Japan to deliver the best Ridge Racer experience possible in North America. The game will launch at retail for the great price of $29.99 and be available for download on the PSN for $24.99.
Going back to making up for the late launch, Namco Bandai will be offering a free DLC pack to everybody who picks up the game at lauch. Inside retail boxes will be a code for the Ridge Racer Gold pass that will unlock the free DLC. Players who decide to buy the digital version will have until April 30 to unlock the free DLC. What does this free DLC entail? The three things Ridge Racer is best known for – cars, tracks and music.
Five additional machines: PROMESSA, ELENIE, DIGNISTAR, FATALITA and MELTFIRE
Three additional courses: Old Central, Sunset Heights and Lost Ruins
Two music tracks: NEW SONGS PACK 01
One new extended music mix: LONG MIX BGM 01
As part of that extensive testing and feedback that led to the delay of launch in North America, there will be a day-one update for Ridge Racer. The update will bring increased frame rate and smoother visuals to the game so that North American players get the best Ridge Racer experience out of the box.
