PS3 Fanboy

Haze weaponry revealed, detailed, explained

Posted Oct 11th 2007 2:00AM by Nick Doerr
Filed under: Previews, News

Free Radical have recently updated their blog over on IGN, deciding to enlighten us to some of the weapons available in the upcoming, hotly-anticipated shooter Haze. Since there's a lot to say about each weapon, we're going to give you the shorthand version here and leave it up to you to research further.

Diplomat pistol -- standard Mantel weaponry, seems most useful in short-range situations.
Blacksaw assault rifle -- depleted uranium are the bullets, pain is the result. Also available: silenced version.
Donkey Puncher shotgun -- " ... this high-end shotgun is more than enough to kick any ass presented to you." Enough said.
Hard Candy rocket launcher -- apparently makes Sloppy Joes out of the enemy.
Pinpointer sniper rifle -- it's a sniper rifle. Need we say more?
Heavy Gun -- uh, we're not sure, but it sounds extremely useful. Seems to be a stationary weapon of mass destruction.
Razor Tongue knife -- standard Promise Hand melee weapon. You can smear it with Nectar, which causes Mantel soldiers to overdose on Nectar if you slice 'em. Nice way to make a knife useful without being ridiculously overpowered (Warhawk).
Lobo -- the assault rifle of choice for Promise Hand soldiers.
Oso -- shotgun! Notice the trend of Spanish names for Promise Hand weaponry.
Mano del Dios -- the "Hand of God" is essentially a minigun you really don't want to see from the wrong end.
Dragon de la Gente -- take a guess! It's a flamethrower for the people, by the people.

There are more sniper rifles and grenades to be had, but we think you get the point. All of these weapons are, admittedly, standard FPS necessities, but we can't believe this is all there will be offered. Maybe it is. But if not, we're sure there will be quite a few interesting ways to lace Nectar into more weaponry. We're excited for this one to come out, so we'll wait for November with bated breath.

Japan now getting two PS1 updates a month - where's ours?

Posted Oct 10th 2007 10:00PM by Jem Alexander
Filed under: PlayStation Store

Another Japanese PSN update consisting of PS1 games occurred today. While we don't normally report on this, some interesting/annoying/enviable news has also slipped out alongside it. Since the PS3's launch the Japanese PSN Store has been updated once a month with large additions of PS1 games playable on both the PS3 and the PSP. From now on, however, the PS1 updates will be coming twice a month.

So where's ours? The EU and US PSN Stores have had very few PS1 game releases. Europe got a few more games added a couple of months ago, but most of those were taken down due to glaring glitches and errors. If the recent list of rumored PSN releases is to believed, then we've got a few more to look forward to this week. Even so, the Japan store has many times more than Europe and the US added together. When is Sony going to realize we want to pay money for old games we never bought the first time around? Seriously Sony, you're missing out on free money here.

Time Crisis 4 trailer assures us they still suck at voice acting

Posted Oct 10th 2007 7:30PM by Nick Doerr
Filed under: Videos and Screenshots

Giorgio, Evan, and William. Those are your main characters for Time Crisis 4 and your mission is to battle terrorists -- wait, no, they're not terrorists. But they are! Insert cheesy voice-over and explosion. This trailer is bad. Not bad as in "this game sucks" but it's hilariously bad like Zero Wing. But, as they say at the end of the trailer, at least it won't be boring. These games are a lot of fun to play and have eaten our quarters for over ten years. We're excited to test it out in our homes!

Oblivion: Shivering Isles may become DLC on PSN

Posted Oct 10th 2007 6:00PM by Andrew Yoon
Filed under: Game Patches

Currently, to play Shivering Isles, the only option PS3 owners have is to buy the full-priced Game of the Year Edition, which releases next week. Obviously, that won't sit well with current Oblivion fans. No worries, says Pete Hines from Bethesda. The company says its "very close to working something out," although it's not fully confirmed quite yet.

"[The expansion] may be in downloadable form via PSN, or as a standalone retail disc, or both. I can't say definitively yet that it will happen, and I definitely can't say when. But it's looking good, and hopefully we'll have good news soon."
A downloadable expansion will guarantee that PS3 owners won't be missing out on any of the content delivered to Xbox 360 owners. Hey, Bethesda -- all of us have hard drives and free access to the PSN. Let's get it rolling!

Japan's 40GB releases with Dynasty Warrior 6 bundle

Posted Oct 10th 2007 5:00PM by Nick Doerr
Filed under: News

Believe it or not, Japanese gamers swoon over the thought of getting to hack their way through crowds of hundreds of brain-dead soldiers. Almost all of Koei's games are hits in Japan, which is why the announcement of the 40GB launch date should make more sense to us when you consider its release alongside Dynasty Warriors 6 -- November 11. Yep, the new 40GB white PS3 is getting bundled with DW6 and a white controller, along with a plethora of extras, for just under 50,000 yen.

The extras included in this pack are numerous, going from nine metallic tags featuring some of the most popular officers, to giant stickers, to a book featuring images of the characters and maps. While these are fine and dandy for the Japanese crowd, it is interesting to note that Koei is releasing the game on the 360 at the same time. It should be pleasing to see which console garners the most attention from this title's release in Japan, especially if the PS3 starts selling at its new, lower price point in droves.

40GB to be released in Saudi Arabia

Posted Oct 10th 2007 4:00PM by Chris Powell
Filed under: New Releases, Hardware, News

It seems the 40GB PlayStation 3 is slowly taking over the world, one country at a time. Now that it's headed to every major region, Sony has announced its new system bundled with the Spider-man 3 Blu-ray will soon be released in Saudi Arabia for SR 1,799.

"The introduction of the new PS3 has been the result of extensive research into the entertainment needs and preferences of the next generation of PS3 owners," said Abdul Kader, marketing manager at MECL. "It has allowed us to deliver an extremely advanced, yet incredibly affordable high definition gaming and entertainment system, configured to the needs of the next generation of European PS3 owners."

Although we weren't aware Saudi Arabians were big on gaming, it's great to see Sony spreading the 40GB love throughout the world.

HD DVD group: Cheaper PS3 won't help Blu-ray sales

Posted Oct 10th 2007 2:45PM by Chris Powell
Filed under: Blu-ray, Business, Hardware

While gamers and retail chains have been mostly praising Sony's new cheaper PS3 (aside from the backward-compatibility issue), the European HD DVD Promotional Group has said the 40GB system won't have much impact on Blu-ray sales in the region.

"The European PS3 price cut will have a minimal impact on the adoption of next generation HD formats. The real battleground is in sales of standalone players and HD DVD is out in front by a massive margin," Co-Chairman of the European HD DVD Promotional Group Ken Graffeo said. According to the group, HD DVD accounts for about 70 percent of the European market, and it expects that number to continue to grow.

However, many believe this year's holiday period will go a long way in deciding which format will reign as king, and we think the HD DVD group may be underestimating the impact of the 40GB PS3.

PS3 loses Monster Hunter 3 to Wii

Posted Oct 10th 2007 1:15PM by Andrew Yoon
Filed under: News

One of Nintendo's many bombshells last night had to be the announcement of Monster Hunter 3 for the Wii platform. However, it was unclear at the time whether or not the previously announced PS3 version would be affected.

According to Forbes, it appears that Capcom is abandoning the PS3 version altogether, making Wii the only platform for Monster Hunter 3. "Due to high development cost of titles for PS3, we have decided to switch the platform to which we release our Monster Hunter 3 title," Capcom managing corporate officer Katsuhiko Ichii said. This statement comes just weeks after Capcom pledged increase support for Sony's next generation platform.

While the Monster Hunter franchise has a relatively small following in the States, it is a powerhouse franchise in Japan. The last iteration of the franchise, Monster Hunter Portable 2nd, sold over a million copies when it launched on PSP.

[Via Next-Gen]

Fanswag: Win a new Darth Vader PSP-2000 (Day 3)

Posted Oct 10th 2007 12:00PM by Christopher Grant
Filed under: Contests and Giveaways

Click for high-resolution image.

Day 2 is over (we're busy picking our second winner) and Day 3 of our Star Wars Battlefront: Renegade Squadron PSP-2000 bundle is ready to kick off. Along with our friends at PSP Fanboy and PS3 Fanboy, we're giving away the third of five brand-new limited-edition Darth Vader PSP-2000 systems this week. These Ceramic White systems feature Darth Vader's menacing profile on the back, and are a must-have for the dedicated Star Wars nerdcore. Not only that, the package includes the brand new PSP-exclusive Star Wars Battlefront game.

So, how do you enter? First, find out what the PSP Fanboy team thinks about Star Wars Battlefront (Andrew, Jem, Nick, and Colin and ) and then leave a comment reminding us how many Os were in Darth Vader's famous scream at the end of Episode Three. Be sure to leave your comment on the corresponding giveaway posts at Joystiq and PSP Fanboy, for a total of three entries today. We'll select one comment from all three sites at random tomorrow morning before we give away another PSP-2000.

Of course, there are rules. You must be a US resident, 18 years or older. Limit 1 entry per person per site ... or else (that means three entries spread out, no more)! This entry period ends at 11:59am ET tomorrow, so get your entries in before then. For complete rules you can shared with your loved ones, click here. And much thanks to the fine people at LucasArts for the great prizes.

Deal of the Day: Dual Charge AC for $13

Posted Oct 10th 2007 11:00AM by Andrew Yoon
Filed under: Deals and Bargains

With a USB cable, you can charge your PS3 controllers through your PS3 system, or a home computer. However, if these options don't work for you, then Nyko has a different solution. The Dual Charge AC will let you charge your PS3 controllers through a standard wall outlet, letting you charge even when your PS3 or computer isn't turned on. A small convenience for most, but this peripheral should also work with any other device that charges via USB. At $13 at amazon.com, this is a pretty good deal.

[Via CAG]

Church of England doesn't like Resistance's BAFTA award

Posted Oct 10th 2007 9:30AM by Chris Powell
Filed under: News

Okay, this is just getting plain ridiculous. The Church of England, after initially threatening legal action against Sony if it didn't pull Resistance: Fall of Man from store shelves, is now complaining about the game's recent nomination for an award at the British Academy of Film and Television Arts.

You might remember that Insomniac spun the church into a tizzy when it included the Manchester Cathedral as a playable level in Resistance. Why is this such a big deal? We really don't know, but The Dean of Manchester Cathedral, the Very Rev Rogers Govender said they were disgusted "at the virtual desecration of Manchester Cathedral."

Of course, the church wants Resistance pulled as a nominee for the PC World Gamers' Award and has said the bad publicity has actually helped the game's sales. That's funny, because when you think about it, who's ultimately responsible for the game's bad press, and according to Govender, the game's increased sales?

TimeSplitters 4 makes monkey outta Halo, sans poo-flinging

Posted Oct 10th 2007 8:15AM by Nick Doerr
Filed under: News

Free Radical made some games in the past that were both humorous and enjoyable. These games came to be known as the TimeSplitters franchise. We do like the parody video announcing the title on IGN. Seems like the game is coming back for a fourth installment on the latest consoles and we welcome them back.

The Free Radical website announces the game thus: " ... We can't tell you the details yet, the monkeys have a loaded banana pressed against our skull, but this game will take the first person shooter to gaming nirvana. Save the world or die laughing, Timesplitters 4 is coming to getcha!" We can't wait to see what sort of juicy, informative fruit is hidden behind that skin. Let us peel away at this banana of mystery in due time -- that is, we'll let you know more on TimeSplitters 4 as we get information!

[via IGN]

Rumour: EU PSN updates roadmapped for the next month

Posted Oct 10th 2007 4:00AM by Jem Alexander
Filed under: PlayStation Store, News

If Videogamesblogger.com are to be believed, the upcoming month could be looking pretty shiny for the European PSN store. Apparently SCEE have revealed a list of full titles that will be released on the EU PlayStation Network store. The full list is as follows:

October 11th

Ratchet and Clank demo

October 18th

Feel Ski full game
Pixel Junk Racers full game
Blast Factor: Advanced Research add on
Folklore "Kidnapped Folk" add on

October 25th

EyeCreate full application
Trials of Topoq full game
Operation: Creature Feature full game
Aqua Vita full game
Tekken 5: Dark Resurrection online add on

November 8th

Toy Home full game

PS1 games due out during October

Crash Bandicoot 2
Crash Bandicoot 3
Everybody's Golf 2
Crash Team Racing
Bust a Groove
Syphon Filter 3
Cool Boaders
Spyro 2
Spyro: Year of the Dragon

If this list is correct, then we're in for a great month. We know that the Ratchet and Clank demo is due out this Thursday in America, but there is no word on whether we can expect it in the European territories as well. As for the games being released on October the 25th - this corresponds with the release of Eye of Judgment and, therefore, the PlayStation Eye which is required to play all of the games listed under that date.

Presumably there will be more demos available within the next four weeks than just Ratchet and Clank. Having said that when it comes to Sony you never know. We'll let you know more as soon as we find out ourselves.

PlayStation Fancast 011: We're back!

Posted Oct 9th 2007 8:30PM by Jem Alexander
Filed under: Podcasts

Just as the summer game drought ends, so too does the PS Fancast drought. It's been a full month without a podcast and, yes, we know you're upset about it. We are too. But fear not, because we're starting to get back into our regular schedule starting next week, with another one to come this week. Hopefully.

Episode 11 features Jem Alexander, Nick Doerr and Andrew Yoon. We discuss the 40GB PS3, Star Wars Battlefront: Renegade Squadron and we also answer a few user submitted questions. If you want us to answer your question on future shows then send them to us at Jem[at]PS3Fanboy.com. Check below for the complete program.

Complete Show
[MP3] Download the MP3 directly.
[RSS] Add the PlayStation Fancast feed to your RSS aggregator and have the show delivered automatically. Use m.pspfanboy.com to add the show to your PSP system's RSS feeds.
[iTunes] Subscribe to the Fancast directly in iTunes.

Program:
0:01 - Introductions
0:02 - What Are You Playing?
0:12 - We answer your emails
0:48 - 40GB PS3
0:49 - Star Wars Battlefront Renegade Squadon
0:53 - Final Fantasy VII Crisis Core PSP
0:55 - Looking forward at the next few months of games

As always, feel free to leave your comments with us, either here in the post or via email to Jem[at]PS3fanboy.com. Also, if you're a fan of the show, please join our PS Fanboy Facebook group.

Is backwards compatibility an issue? Analysts debate

Posted Oct 9th 2007 7:45PM by Andrew Yoon
Filed under: Business

So, the 40GB PS3 is losing backwards compatibility with PS2 games. Is that a big deal? You voted, but let's hear what the analysts have to say. From a business perspective, it makes sense for Sony to remove the feature. "Cost is hard to gauge, probably $30 - $50 per unit," Wedbush Morgan Securities' Michael Pachter told GameDaily. A significant savings, when one considers the thousands of systems Sony must sell. Will the lack of PS2 support affect PS3 sales? "I thought lack of backward compatibility would hurt the Xbox [360], but it really didn't," Pachter noted.

However, NPD analyst Anita Frazier has some data that might concern Sony. "Nearly 70 percent said that [backwards compatibility] was an important feature to them."

Regardless, when it comes down to the choice between backwards compatibility and saving $100, the choice will be clear for most consumers. Colin Sebastian, an analyst at Lazard Capital Markets noted: "It appears that pricing is becoming more of a priority, which makes sense given where the PS3 is selling in terms of market share. I don't believe removing backwards compatibility is a huge deal, considering that most people who want to play PS2 games will continue to do so on their PS2s."

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Haze weaponry revealed, detailed, explained

Japan now getting two PS1 updates a month - where's ours?

Time Crisis 4 trailer assures us they still suck at voice acting

Oblivion: Shivering Isles may become DLC on PSN

Japan's 40GB releases with Dynasty Warrior 6 bundle

40GB to be released in Saudi Arabia

HD DVD group: Cheaper PS3 won't help Blu-ray sales

PS3 loses Monster Hunter 3 to Wii

Fanswag: Win a new Darth Vader PSP-2000 (Day 3)

Deal of the Day: Dual Charge AC for $13

Church of England doesn't like Resistance's BAFTA award

TimeSplitters 4 makes monkey outta Halo, sans poo-flinging

Rumour: EU PSN updates roadmapped for the next month

PlayStation Fancast 011: We're back!

Is backwards compatibility an issue? Analysts debate

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