Gamescom 2009: PS3 Slim Unveiled

Everybody already knew that the PS3 Slim was coming out - fans were just waiting for Sony to officially reveal the thing. Fortunately, they did just that at this year's Gamescom in Germany, and it looks quite impressive. The price will be set at a meager $299, and will be released September 1, 2009.

The side-by-side comparison of the original and the Slim is astounding. With this new price and new size, the sales of the console could definitely soar - I am even considering getting a PS3 Slim of my own.

In other Sony news, the PSP and PSPgo will be getting a sort of App store. Basically a smaller version of the PlayStation Network (PSN), "PSP Minis" will allow downloads on both models of the PSP, though it will certainly be more useful on the PSPgo, which lacks a UMD Drive. No prices have been released, though it is likely most downloads will be around $10 or less.

Image credit: Kotaku (here and here).

Review: Sony PSP Go Console

So where do I start? Well first of all the new Sony PSP Go has no more UMD Drive, but instead has 16GB of storage and a card slot - a compact Memorystick Micro. Sony is obviously trying to impress and go head-to-head with Apple and their iPhone and iPod Touch. With no more UMD Drive, there will be a lot less hassle for users meaning that there won't be as many as those nasty failures with the moving parts. For those of you who have a large UMD library, it would be in your best interest to wait and see what Sony have to offer as it is rumored they will be making even more changes to satisfy existing PSP users. Hints suggest a release of a software to convert your UMDs for Go play, but Sony could end up with piracy issues with this.

One thing you will notice straight away is the new design of the PSP. The screen size has been shortened to 3.8 inches and the whole screen slides up to reveal D-Pad, Analogue nub and face buttons. Pretty cool if you ask me. Although the screen is now smaller, Sony have kept the same resolution as well as the battery-life. The video quality may have stayed the same, but Sony have made an effort and have increased the sound of the music player as well your tunes becoming clearer. The last change I would mention is the addition of Bluetooth to connectivity to Wi-Fi. To be even more competitive against the iPhone and iPod Touch, Sony have even added in a built-in Skype application thus turning the PSP Go into a free phone so long as you stay in a Wi-Fi area.

The PSP Go is useful multimedia device and so I recommend it to you all if you enjoy gaming, watching movies and listening to music. Not any really major changes however Sony have now become competitors against Apple and it will be interesting to see what they can make out of it. 8/10

Image credit: MidLife Gamer (here).

Digital Versus Physical: The Future of Distribution

Xbox Live. WiiWare. PlayStation Network. Undoubtedly, all of these are changing the way we purchase video games. For over twenty years, gamers had to travel all the way to the video game store to pick up the latest release - but nowadays, we can simply download games onto our systems by using 'Points'. This is obviously more convienent, but does it spell the future for the way all games are distributed?

With a quick look at some forums on the Internet, you'll realize that players have some pretty strong feelings about the topic. Those on the side of Digital Distribution list some of the more obvious benefits of their choice of distribution: more convienence, less trash produced without packaging, and lower cost due to the lack of packaging. Being able to play demoes of the games you are downloading is also a bonus.

Of course, despite the growing prevelance of WiiWare and DSiWare, Nintendo is still sticking to it's old ways. Shigeru Miyamoto, the creator of the Mario and Zelda series, as well as many others, stated, "Personally, I'm one of those guys who, even if I have all the songs from iTunes, I want the CD as well. It's something that makes me - I feel more reassured with the physical media." Miyamoto is a pretty big name in the video game business, so his support of "traditional" distribution is definitely a big deal.

That "reassured" feeling is not the only benefit of Physical Distribution, however. Without a physical copy of the game, used copies can't be bought, and the game cannot be shared with friends unless you carry around your entire console. And if games went completely digital, game stores would go completely out of business, which would seriously hurt the economy.

The Verdict: We'll never reach such an extreme that all games are released digitally, but that doesn't mean that format will go away. Digital Distribution will likely grow to a comforatable size within the next few years, and find a perfect balance with the Physical Distribution that we have all come to know and love.

Image credit: MSXbox World (here), Second Hand Karl (here).

Sony Diches DLC For Gran Turismo PSP

After a shocking 5-year development cycle, Gran Turismo PSP is finally set for release October 1 of this year. And with such a long time for development, gamers will definitely be expecting a big game - and, apparently, this will all be coming right in the box.

It has been confirmed by Sony that no "DLC" (Downloadable Content) will be released for GT PSP. This could be a slightly controversial move; fans often want the most out of their games and devices, and simply because the PSP is capable of downloading extra content, fans will expect that it is available. But there is the other side of fans, who feel that, once they buy a game, they should have the whole game.

The game is to have "800+" cars, so DLC will not be necessary

Personally, I believe DLC should be available in just about all games. Nobody is forced into downloading extra content, and it does provide a more robust gaming experience for those who are willing to play a little extra for it. It's a little unfortunate that not all developers are embracing this concept; Nintendo could easily make thousands by allowing fans to downlad new characters for Super Smash Bros. Brawl.

Gran Turismo PSP is slated for release October 1, 2009.

Image credit: IGN (here).

New PSP Model Confirmed

E3 has not yet begun, but Sony seems to have released on of it's most anticipated creations already - the "PSP Go".


This new edition of the PSP has a good deal of changes: a sliding screen reveals the D-Pad and other controls, a 3.8-inch screen, lighter weight, no UMD drive, and it contains 16 gigabytes of flash memory, in addition to a few other things.

And while this news is big, the game LittleBigPlanet Portable got some new details, and it was confirmed that a Metal Gear Solid game and a Gran Turismo game will be released for the console.

But with this huge piece of information revealed pre-E3, will Sony have a lack of a big announcment at the Expo? Or does it have something even bigger up it's sleeve?

New PSP In The Works

Despite the fact that the Sony PSP is selling poorly (especially in comparison to the Nintendo DS), some designs for a new version of the PSP have been leaked.


Sony has refused to comment on the images, but it appears that some rumors regarding an "upgrade" to the system have come true, including a sliding screen, touch capabilities (though it is unsure if it will have the same extent as the Nintendo DS), and two thumbsticks.

The new PSP is expected to be out before Christmas, but more details are sure to arise as E3 comes nearer.

Preview: Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2

After two wildly popular X-Men Legends games, Activision created the Marvel Ultimate Alliance series, which has it's second installment aimed for release this fall.

This new installment of the series follows the Civil War story arc, straight from the comics. A few characters are forced onto one of the sides (Registration and Anti-Registration), but other then that, you can choose which side each character goes on.


The gameplay is largely the same as it's predecessors, with the addition of the new Fusion attacks, which allow you to combine the special attacks of two characters to create a brand new, much more powerful attack. Trailers show Iron Man blasting a laser at Wolverine, who uses his claws to spread the beam across the area.

There will be a change in playable characters, with a few being cut and some others added. Song Bird and Iron Fist, two little known heroes, will make appearances as playable characters. Villains will even get a shot at being playable - Green Goblin and Venom are both included.

This game seems even more polished then the previous one, with excellent graphics and sharp gameplay. Stay tuned for a review coming this Fall.