Gamernode: Latest Sony PSP News

Crisis Core heads to the U.S. in March

Alright, I know some of you may be thinking that Square-Enix overdid themselves with all of these Final Fantasy VII spinoffs. I'll be on the wagon with you and say that some games just didn't appeal to me, it was an uneccessary expansion of the story. Crisis Core however, is a game that would make me buy a PSP, hoping that I have enough money for one at the time of release.

That's right ravenous Final Fantasy fans, Crisis Core was finally announced to travel stateside come March 25th. So what makes this game stand out from all of the other spinoffs? Well for starters, it is a prequel to the original story of Final Fantasy VII. We follow the story of a SOLDIER named Zach who was in the same "company" as Cloud.

We are introduced to new characters, and characters that we have seen in the orig...

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Super-charged PSP offers better performance

Wired is reporting that Sony has taken off the wraps of its PSP and is allowing developers to overclock the handheld gaming console from 222mhz to 333mhz.

So far, it looks like there are improvements in the graphics and overall performance.

A test case was put together using next year's big title for the PSP, God of War: Chains of Olympus and the developer, Ready at Dawn, had its lead programming director explain the changes and differences while running the game at the old processor speed and the faster 333mhz clock rate.

The idea of a more powerful PSP will up the ante as far as giving developers more options in improving game play and graphics, but as it is with overclocking PCs, doing so means using more energy.

For the PC user, this is a negligible issue, but for the PSP user that is a...

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PSN store on the go?

The PSN store has always seemed slightly inefficient when it comes to downloading PSP content. Users have to use a Playstation 3 as a sort of electronic middleman in order to access the store, even if all they want is PSP stuff. For those gamers who prefer to wait for the PS3 library to grow before investing in Sony's big machine, this could pose a bit of a problem.

Now, though, they seem to be wising up to this issue, and Playstation network operations director Eric Lempel has confirmed that the company plans to make the store available directly from the PSP sometime in the future.

"With the capability of the PSP it’s something that should be possible, so it’s definitely something we’re thinking about. It’s just a matter of priorities and some technology that we...

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New PSP batteries promise more gaming time

Do you have the PSP battery pack blues? Do your DS friends kick sand in your face because you can barely squeeze out a few hours of game time on your Sony handheld while they complain that they only can get 15 hours on their DS Lites?

Sony to the rescue; they will be releasing a new battery that will be compatible with the PSP and new slim and lite models. This monster will clock in at 2200mAh and will give you an extra 20% of playing time on the old models and 80% more on the newer versions of the PSP.

But with all this power comes a slightly larger battery. On the thinner PSPs, it will slightly bulge out, so new covers for your machine will be available.

[via psponly]

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Fading Shadows trailer

Well here's a nifty-looking little game. (Yes, I said, "nifty.") Fading Shadows reminds me of everyone's favorite game of labyrinth-navigating balls, Marble Madness, but with a medieval twist and a focus on adventure-like puzzle solving. The levels appear to be very interactive for this sort of game, and it seems like a perfect match for the PSP. I think it's worth a look:

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PSP Slim reaches 1 million sold after first 2 mont...

With all the talk about the PS3 vs 360, the Wii still being sold out and the DS crushing everyone, people seem to have forgotten about the poor little PSP. That may not be the case in Japan, where according to Sony one million units have been sold in the first two months of the PSP Slim's release.

One million PSP Slims in two months? That's not too shabby. It beats the pace of the original PSP and several other consoles on the Japanese market. It also nearly matches (or beats) the numbers in the US for the DS, 360 and Wii. (It's hard to tell exactly since the sales data I've seen goes by whole months, not the last portion or first portions of months. But it's close enough.)

What is it about redesigning a handheld that makes it so tempting to purchase? Is releasing the 360 Lite the key to Mi...

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Yet another PSP color...deep red

Some people collect Pez candy dispensers. Some people collect bottle caps. And some people collect PSPs in different colors.

If you are one of these rare breed of collectors, you'll be happy to hear that Sony is releasing a "Deep Red" PSP bundle. But the sad news, so far, is that this fiery model will only be available in Japan.

The new model was made in response to "strong consumer demands." There will be two new bundles-The PSP Deep Red 1 Seg pack and the PSP Deep Red Value Pack.

The value pack is aimed at new PSP owners (or for you collectable people out there) and will include the deep red model, a pouch, hand strap, cloth and 32MB Memory Stick Duo. The Seg pack will have the red PSP, 1 Seg tuner for audio and digital broadcasts in Japan, a TV stand, strap, cloth and 1GB Memory Stick Du...

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Take-Two confirms adult content in PSP's Manhunt 2...

Take-Two Interactive announced that some hackers revealed unedited adult content that was still contained within Manhunt 2. Hmm... This sounds familiar...

As of now, the adult content only appears in the PSP version of the game, not the PS2 or Wii versions.

According to the statement from Take-Two, the hacked adult content is just a tiny portion of what was originally set to appear in Manhunt 2. As you know, the game went back to the drawing boards and was modified for an M rating in August.

Jeez, Take-Two. Just put on some more meat and throw yourself into a wolf pit, why don't you? The media and video game critics will surely go crazy over this over the next few days.

This time around, though, Take-Two chairman Strauss Zelnick came clean immediately about the rumors. (In the end, it was Tak...

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PSP Firmware updated to version 3.72

Earlier today, Sony released a firmware update - version 3.72 - for the PSP. The update is a sort of addendum to the recent 3.71 release, and offers enhanced compatibility with Playstation network titles.

The 3.70/3.71 updates added theme settings, movie scene search, music playback during slideshows, remote play button assignment, and sequential video playback.

PSP owners can download the 3.72 firmware via the "Network Update" icon on the PSP XMB, or online at Sony's website.

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Gran Turismo Mobile coming "eventually"

At E3 2004, Sony unveiled its first portable game machine and a slew of first party titles that would support it. Of all the titles that have never been released three years after the PSP hit the market, Gran Turismo Mobile is one that many wish they could be playing on the go.

After Polyphony Digital had finished the fourth entry in the wildly successful series on the PS2, most assumed that the handheld version would be completed shortly after. Unfortunately, that was never the case.

Although the title has been presumed dead for quite some time, Kazunori Yamauchi (the father of Gran Turismo) confirmed in a recent interview with GamePro that he and his team "will get around to it eventually."

Judging from how jaw droppingly impressive Gran Turismo 5 looks at this point, it's quite clear wh...

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PSP selling far better than hotcakes in Japan

Stars have aligned, hell has frozen over, and monkey have flown out of my -- nevermind.

For the third week in a row, Sony's PSP has secured the top spot on Japan's hardware sales charts, beating out both the Nintendo Wii and DS. The margain is so great that even combining Nintendo's hardware numbers falls short of PSP sales by over 5000 units.

Can this newfound success STILL be attributed to the release of Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII? Well, yes. That is quite possible, because more than 580,000 PSPs have gone home with consumers since September 13th, aka "the day that the special edition Crisis Core bundle launched."

Behold, the power of Final Fantasy.

PSP - 102,809 Nintendo DS Lite - 72,895 Wii - 24,143 PlayStation 3 - 13,105 PlayStation 2 - 12,980 Xbox 360 - 5,215 Game Boy micro - 229...

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Party on with the Darth Vader PSP

Calling all Star Wars fans--Sony has announced that they will be celebrating their "Limited Edition Star Wars BattleFront Entertainment Pack" for the PSP at their flagship store located in San Francisco.

If you decide to purchase the special edition pack, which includes a cool ceramic white PSP with Darth Vader silk screened on the back, and the game Star Wars Battlefront: Renegade Squadron; they'll also treat you to a genuine "Han Solo in Carbonite" PSP case.

The more adventurous can come dressed as their favorite Star Wars character to get a chance at winning a Darth Vader Episode III Limited Edition Lightsaber.

The grand event will take place at the Playstation Store at the Metreon center on October 9th, 6PM in Frisco.

Gee, I already have a PSP, but a PSP with Darth Vader's mug on it is ...

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Japan's PSP Slim debut moves 250,000 units

While the original PSP has had a less than stellar debut in Japan, the same won't be said about the brand-new PSP Slim.

The PSP Slim made its debut in Japan this week and according to Famitsu publisher Enterbrain, the Slim sold over 250,000 units during its first few days of release. Heck, in the first day alone 130,000 PSP Slims were sold. Wowza.

Fortunately, the original PSP's sales surged this past month too. A week before the Slim's launch, Japanese gamers were gobbling up PSPs due to the impending release of Square-Enix's Final Fantasy VII Crisis Core on September 13th. For several months, PSP sales waned around 10,000, so to see Japanese gamers go completely nuts over FFVII and the Slim is no surprise.

I'd definitely wager that the Slim's success in Japan will ride on the back of FFVII...

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PSP selling in the UK, too

Just like in Japan, PSP numbers have surged in the UK. Unlike Japan, however, this increase seems to be due to the hardware alone.

The release of the PSP Slim has quadrupled sales in the region, propelling that number past the 17,000 mark.

According to British trade paper MCV, the handheld is coming off of it's worst performance in UK history, and it seems this hardware update is just what was necessary to renew consumer interest.

"We expected sales in the previous weeks to be low as we moved old stock through the channel. But now we are back on track and preparing for new products such as Go! Explore and Go! Messenger," commented a Sony spokesperson.

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PSP sales EXPLODE in Japan, topple Nintendo

Sony, meet Square-Enix. Now, bow and say, "arigatou gozaimasu" (thank you). Good.

For the week ending September 16th, Sony's handheld sold over six times the number of units as it did during the previous week in Japan. The 95,487 PSPs sold were even enough to top not one, but BOTH of Nintendo's consoles for that seven-day period (almost combined!). In the week ending Spetember 9th, a mere 15,564 PSPs were carried out of stores.

How could this have happened? What witchcraft could possibly dethrone Nintendo in the land of the rising sun?

Final. Fantasy...7.

Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII just so happened to be released in Japan last week, and sold over 487,000 copies. Now I'm not saying these sales figures are directly connected (but I really am), but there's a chance that one could have influen...

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Industry voice spells doom for PSP

That suave looking young man to the left is none other than David Perry, game developer, founder of Shiny, and respected industry voice. He was tracked down by Gamesindustry.biz and asked what he would do if he was in charge of the PSP.

His words are less than kind as he essentially calls for a complete dismantling of the entire system and the way it works. While stopping short of saying that the PSP is doomed, he does seem to imply as much.

"They really need to restart the PSP program in my book. They really need to bring out the PSP 3.0 and start again and try to get a lot of units out by reducing the manufacturing costs, by taking out all the motors and drives and stuff they have in there. That will make it even more sexy-looking, because it will be thinner again when they get all that ju...

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Rapid-fire PSP firmware update

Did I miss something? The last I remember I was reporting that the PSP firmware version 3.70 was released about two days ago. Now I'm here to tell you about version 3.72.

Where did 3.71 go?

Anyway, the update is now available in North America and according to Sony, "Corrections have been made to settings for some regions." This refers to the removal of the "PlayStation Spot" icon from the network section of the XMB, a feature that exists for Japanese-only use.

I guess somebody slipped up and left it in the U.S. version. Adios, PS Spot.

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Is the PSP Slim Worth It?

When Nintendo released the second incarnation of the DS, it was very clear why those who owned the original had to switch over. The new design was slick, the screens crystal clear, and with such a devoted library to the system already, anyone who was stuck with the original DS was a sorry sap.

So now Sony is entering the ring of redesigns by releasing the slimmer and feature rich PSP Slim. Obviously, the hardcore Sony fanbase is going to be picking these up "just because." But what the rest of the gaming community? Is it worth the money?

Sony is hoping the design tweaks and new features will sell the system. While physically lighter, and thinner, the PSP Slim also makes some changes to the typical PSP design. Popping UMDs in and out are now more of a hassle thanks to a manual tray as opposed...

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Updated! PSP firmware 3.70 released

Sony is at it again! Hot on the heels of the last PSP Firmware update, system version 3.70 is now available for download via the "Network Update" selection on the handheld's XMB.

It offers a plethora of goodies, such as custom themes, button assignment, and musical picture slideshows.

Read on for the details:

- You can now set custom themes in [Theme Settings] under [Settings].- Support has been added for assigning buttons in [Remote Play].- A scene search feature has been added under [Video].- Sequential playback is now supported under [Video].- Simultaneous playback of content under [Music] and [Photo] is now supported.

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Chains of Olympus: An ungodly delay

Via a visit with Ready at Dawn, the developer of God of War: Chains of Olympus, Gamespot discovered that Kratos' first PSP outing is going to be delayed until March 4th of next year.,

This news leaves eager fans of the Chaos Blades hanging even longer, after what some consider to be a letdown ending in God of War 2. Like an addict looking for his next fix, gamers will be chomping at the bit until this likely-to-be-the-PSP's-definitive-killer-app sees the light of day.

Neither pricing nor rating have been disclosed as of this time, but Ready at Dawn promises a demo version of the game to appear later this month for those who have signed up to receive one on the Chains of Olympus website The disc will feature part of a playable level, as well as behind-the-scenes footage of the game's develop...

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