PSN | The Recycle Bin

Eclectic Night of Gaming – Featuring White Knight Chronicles International

Last night was a rather strange night for gaming. When I got hope I popped in White Knight Chronicles: International Edition, but I really did not have much time to spend with the game before supper. I created my avator – looks sort of like a freak Asian kung-fu fighter, so I named him Ming-Fu. That is actually the middle name on the papers of my Shih Tzu, but I digress.

I spent a few minutes watching the story unfold, exploring the city (I think it was called Balandor). This is a very JRPG type game – you know the drill; if you do not like JRPGs you need not try this one out. Early on I decided that I may as well use Leonard (starting character; looks like story will revolve around him) because Ming-Fu is irrelevant. He stands around, nodding his head, looking stupid, but I digress.

I stopped for supper, and jumped back into the game. After leaving the city I lost my third or fourth battle because I could not tell WTF was attacking me. I am sure that as I understand the battle system I can tell what is going on; I blamed it to distractions from my youngest son and turned off the game.

1942: Joint Strike
I jumped over to 1942: Joint Strike because sometimes I just need a rapid fire shooter. I only play this game occasionally; I chalk it up to my dotage – I just do not have the dexterity to dodge, duck, memorize patterns, all while pressing buttons. This is one PSN game I regret purchasing; not really worth $9.99. I never thought I would say this, but I would probably play more if the game included trophy support. Not that I am a trophy whore, but some incentive would be nice.

High Velocity Bowling (HVB)
For my night cap I pulled out HVB. It has been a while since I played this one, and interestingly enough, it is one of the few game I actually enjoy playing online. I played a few off-line games before calling it a night; really just practice to get re-acclimated before going trophy hunting today. [OK, color me a trophy whore; I am just not very educated!]

Sunday Morning Humor – PixelJunk Shooter and Bayonetta Take Center Stage

Somewhere between the Rolex 24, a second cup of coffee, and random (legitimate) internetting [damn, I thought I made that one up] I came across this PixelJunk Shooter review courtesy of Golgotron. This is hilarious; reminds me of the Sports Reviewers heydays.

Keeping with Golgotron, I figured there must be some other nuggets of goodness to be found on this site; I found this Wonder Twins team up from Sega and Playboy. Yes, I give you Bayonetta.

Push yourself past the apparent fact that the girls used for Playboy’s Bayonetta lookalike contest are straight out of the trailer park (I know it’s hard, but try). Instead, ask yourself this: Did Sega pay to have this content produced as a means of disguised advertising, or is this collaboration between Sega and Playboy a pro bono job? Comment away.

Classic! I had no idea WTF a Bayonetta was (or is, or whatever) until I found this article and quickly headed over to metacritic to check out some reviews. I always find it interesting when there is a wide discrepancy in the review scores (87 – based on 50 critic review) and user votes (7.2 – based on 36 user votes). Maybe it has something to do with pro bono jobs?

FIFA 10 Ultimate Team Feb 25

I just opened my latest propaganda email from EA, which announced the upcoming release of FIFA 10 Ultimate Team (FIFA UT) on February 10.

Coming February 25th to Xbox® LIVE & PSN!
Choose from over 7,500 players from 29 different leagues and build your squad of soccer superstars in this exciting new game mode! Once assembled, compete in dynamically updated tournaments online!

FIFA UT looks much deeper than the recent offering from Madden 10 Ultimate Team (MUT), but perhaps that is to be expected since FIFA UT will be a second generation product. The only concern I have is that the various videos only talk about online tournaments. Longtime readers know that I am not a big fan of random online opponents, but maybe FIFA UT will give me a reason to suck it up.

An additional concern is that FIFA UT is “pay to play” feature. I am already struggling to overcome my loathing of throwing real dollars at MUT, much less throwing money at an add-on feature for FIFA 10, which is being release within striking distance of 2010 FIFA World Cup. We all knew EA would go crazy this year with FIFA releases, but that is another article.My concern with the timing of the release FIFA UT is twofold. First, how long will EA support this mode? Maybe 7-8 months before this fall’s seasonal release of FIFA 11? Second, will FIFA UT have an active and enthusiastic user base considering that 2010 FIFA World Cup will be available in April?

FIFA 10 Ultimate Team

I missed out on last year’s FIFA, so my first experience with Ultimate Team was with Madden 10. I am so in love with MUT that I am really looking forward to FIFA UT, but it does suck that it is being offered as pay to play.

Test your skills as a player and manager to claim global football supremacy with FIFA 10 Ultimate Team, available to purchase for 400 Microsoft points or $4.99 as a download via Xbox LIVE and the PlayStation Network to FIFA 10 beginning this February, 2010. FIFA 10 and an internet connection is required for play.

I have not played FIFA 10 in months, but I am sure I will open it up this weekend to start getting familiar with the controls, play style, etc. I want to be able to hit the pitch running when UT is released in (hopefully) a few days.

U.S. Soccer Stars in the News …
It looks like Charlie Davies is on his way to making it back to the pitch in April, and hopefully to help Team U.S. to glory in this year’s World Cup.

In another bit of good news, Landon Donovan, currently on loan to Everton, picked up his first Premier League goal. It is always nice to see our boys doing well!

Friday Gaming Quickie

A few PSN games that I am interested in purchasing are on sale are on sale this week (via PlayStationLifeStyle update):

* Gravity Crash (now $4.99, original price $9.99)
* ZEN Pinball (now $4.99, original price $9.99)
* Critter Crunch (now $3.49, original price $6.99)
* Braid (now $7.49, original price $14.99)
* Burn Zombie Burn (now $4.99, original price $9.99)
* Tank Battles (now $3.49, original price $6.99)
* Uno (now $3.99, original price $7.99)
* Championship Bass ($5.99) [PS one Classics]

Of these games I will probably purchase ZEN Pinball tonight; I am a sucker for a good Pinball game. Not sure about the others, but this is where I would actually look for a decent review or two to get the “popular” opinion or general consensus on a game.

Just for the hell of it I may consider Championship Bass. Have not played a decent fishing or hunting game in a while, and they are usually a fun way to waste away some time.

When PSN Games Fade Away

I was cruising around N4G this morning I came across this article for Calling All Cars. Apparently as of Jan 14, Sony no longer hosts the game on its servers. The article shows that the game is still playable, as long as you (or a friend) hosts the game.

My concern is that folks that paid for the game were not told up front that their online experience would fade away after a certain period of time. Granted, I got the game for free as part of a Qore episode/subscription, have not played the game in a while, and am not all that bent out of shape about the game fading away. Of course that is beside the point. Since I do not have any skin in this one, it only bothers me enough to write a short rant, but what happens when a game I care about disappears?

I think Sony needs to keep hosting these games for the life of the PS3, or Sony needs to offer some sort of voucher (for those that paid for the game) for a replacement game as PSN content is discontinued.

Random Saturday Gaming Links

Some random video gaming links for your reading pleasure …

The demise of a once proud franchise?
Bill Harris (Dubious Quality) on the possible demise of EA Sports NCAA Football (and possibly basketball) series:

Physics-based gameplay, an offensive style that is now common, and “authentic offensive styles of play” are possible additions to the game? WTF have you guys been developing for the last ten years? If you’ve been developing this game for ten damn years (at least) and teams aren’t ALREADY playing like they play in real life, then that’s a fail.

It would be disappointing to see the NCAA series get canned, but then again it has become rather stale. This year was the first time I completely passed up the game. EA Sports obviously has some work to do to recapture the magic and popularity of this once great franchise.

The Nintendo DS kicks core gamers in the nuts.
Eurogamer has this bit on the unexpected success of the all UK conquering Nintendo DS:

Bitter core gamers, annoyed at the invasion of their sacred domain by a host of newcomers, occasionally dismiss the DS in the same terms as they do the Wii – it’s your mother’s console, designed for the “casuals” and with nothing to appeal to real gamers. They miss the point. The DS has something for everyone, successfully filling almost every niche in the market – and it’s only by filling an enormous range of niches that a platform can ever truly become mass-market. Yes, the DS has fitness and brain training applications for the older generation, but it also has core games for the traditional market – and so much more besides. It has software for small children, for teenage girls, for language learners, for music fans, for tourists, for aspiring chefs and for everyone else in between.

Nintendo’s popularity is obviously at an all time high, and the DS (or its latest incarnation – the DSi) shows no sign of letting up anytime soon.

Holiday gift giving guide.
These things are typically a dime a dozen, but GameShark’s stand out thanks to Santa’s helper. She is very cute in a sexy sort of way, and all decked out for Christmas! I started to say that I would like to unwrap her for Christmas, but figured this is sometimes a family site.

HVB still alive and kicking
High Velocity Bowling has to be one of the better implemented motion sensor gamers on the PS3. The developers have done a damn good job of keeping the game fresh with cheap DLC (usually $0.99 a pop). If I break out my PS3 anytime soon for something other than movie watching, I am sure that HVB will get turn or two.

Sony slims down losses
An article that kotaku.com picked up shows that Sony is still taking a loss on the PS3 Slim. $37 per console sold adds up after a while. Prorated over 10 years (you know, the Sony lifetime achievement console plan) and things do not sound so gloom and doom for Sony after all. I should be a spin doctor.

Happy rainy Saturday!

PixilJunk Shooter

I just realized that PixilJunk Shooter is out. Although I haven’t played much of anything lately, I will probably drop $9.99 on this one. The PixilJunk games are solid pick up and play experiences, and I always enjoy a good shooter.

Uno how much?

I was looking at the latest PlayStation Store Update and saw that Uno was now being offered at the special low price of $7.99. Good grief!

PSN Subscription Fee Rumors

The rumors are running rampant – PSN no longer free. Or premium offerings for a special fee. And so on and so forth. This bit from PSXExtreme:

We see the same question at least a few times per month from readers: “will Sony start charging for the Network?” We always have the same answer: “no, but they may charge for some sort of premium service that is optional.” This seemed almost inevitable from the very first moment we learned the PSN was to be free; once they were in a good position (which is now), Sony would likely provide users with an optional primo service that delivers extra content for a small fee. And now, according to this slide from Sony’s Media/Investor Conference, it seems clear the time has come: right at the bottom of the PSN features on that slide, it says “New revenue stream from subscription.” Now, this could mean any number of things, but we certainly don’t believe you’ll suddenly have to pay to play online. That will always remain free if we take Sony’s words at face value; this new addition will be something special for members and if they want to pay for it, that’s their choice.

I may pay a premium for extra content, but the price has to be right, and certainly there has to be value for my hard earned dollar. I did pony up for a Qore subscription, but have since let it expire because it frankly was just not worth the money. If there would have been a free downloadable PSN game each month, along with Remote Play (or downloadable play) on the PSP, then I would have said it was a good deal.

It will be interesting to see what Sony plans to offer for this new subscription revenue stream.

Push towards PSP digital content continues.

Just noticed this bit under a Disgaea 2 (PSP) article on the PS Blog.

I also want to let you know that NIS America will release our past PSP titles, such as Prinny, Disgaea, Blade Dancer, and more, on PSN in the coming weeks. They will be available between $4.99 and $12.99 during the sales week (October 1st to 7th.) They are all 50% off, so don’t miss this chance to get them if you haven’t gotten these titles yet!

It is obvious that we will continue to see a strong digital push in the coming months. I wonder if all PSP titles are going to go digital. I do not have any of these titles, but it is nice seeing the low prices (at least while they are on sale).

Also on the blog was mention of a minor upgrade of the original PSX Persona. You better believe that this one will sell like hotcakes.

PSN Preorders Debunked

With all the rumors spiraling around about the PS3 price cut, PS3 Slim, PSP Go (will it or won’t it keep a $249 price point), I am glad the rumor of Sony offering PSN preorder bonus has proven false.

I really don’t understand the point. Why reserve a digital copy or a game? It would make sense if a preorder gave you the ability to download games early before they are generally available to the public.

Why would folks buy this Home stuff?

I don’t get this, which either means I am clueless, getting old, or am drunk. Two out of three? And let me tell you that I am unfortunately not drunk. I found this from awesom-home (via N4G).

Apparently Playstation home costumes are more popular then we first thought. Some rare items are being sold on eBay at surprisingly high prices. There’s even a costume that was sold for more then 60$. I get some people like to have rare stuff, but this is kind of crazy. Second-life crazy. Could you imagine if Square did a rare Sephiroth costume? .. Yeah i know, that would be awesome.

The things those crazy kids do these days. My dad would have kicked me in the ass for spending $60 on a f’ing Home costume. Then again, I have never logged into Home, so I probably just don’t get it.

Zen Pinball?

I will probably pick up Zen Pinball (PS3) from the PSN sooner or later because you can never have too much pinball. This avault review (3 stars out of 5) does a pretty good job of capturing the flavor of the game and providing a high level overviews of its strengths and weaknesses.

Even though Zen Pinball is obviously a labor of love, it does have some faults that hold it back from greatness. The game is a visual treat, but each table has its own corny voice-over audio tracks that made me cringe every time I heard them. Thankfully, you can crank your personal music playlist to drown out the dialogue. Though the mechanics of the game are sound and functional, ball physics are suspect. For the most part, the physics are adequate, but sometimes the balls seem to move too fast. As a result, I couldn’t react quickly enough when I unlocked the secret segment of a table. Also, the ball finds the gutter more often than it should. Maybe a slow-motion transitioning segment could have fixed this.

I doubt I will pick this one up until I see what sort of DLC will be available. If Zen Pinball is supported in the same manner as HVB, it will probably be a steady staple on the PSN download charts for a while.

Strikers 1945 (PSP)

I am a big fan of the Strikers series (or 1940 series … or whatever type of shooter), so at some point I assume I will get Strikers 1945 for the PSP, but probably not for $10. Fun game, but I think $7.99 is a little more reasonable for this type of game. Gamer Dad (or Gaming with Children) has one of their quick no nonsense reviews.

For a little more than ten bucks, Strikers 1945 is a pretty decent download, but the game could’ve used a few more options and tweaks. There are several screen viewing size options, but none that let you tile the PSP on its side to view the action from an arcade screen ratio. Even though you get unlimited continues, maybe some selectable difficulty modes would’ve been nice so you’re not dying quite AS often. And it’s a bit short. Fans of arcade classics may still enjoy it, though. And heck, any game that lets you pilot a plane called the “Flying Pancake” can’t be ALL bad!

Of course I would not even consider this one if my copy of 1942: Joint Strike that cost me $9.99 from the PSN supported the PSP or Remote Play.