PSP Fanboy http://www.pspfanboy.com PSP Fanboy http://www.pspfanboy.com/media/feedlogo.gif PSP Fanboy http://www.pspfanboy.com en-us Copyright 2008 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Zwei RPG breaks out in this debut trailer]]>http://www.pspfanboy.com/2008/10/24/zwei-rpg-breaks-out-in-this-debut-trailer/http://www.pspfanboy.com/2008/10/24/zwei-rpg-breaks-out-in-this-debut-trailer/http://www.pspfanboy.com/2008/10/24/zwei-rpg-breaks-out-in-this-debut-trailer/#commentsFiled under:

We don't know too much about this action-RPG for PSP called Zwei!!, but we do know one thing -- it's really pretty. A little research revealed the title was originally a PC game and it's currently being made by Falcom (makers of Gurumin). December 11 is the game's release date for Japan, which isn't too far off. Hopefully, like Gurumin, North America will also get to enjoy this Falcom RPG. Check out the debut trailer posted after the break.

Continue reading Zwei RPG breaks out in this debut trailer

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>falcomzweiFri, 24 Oct 2008 11:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Watch Tales of the World 2's new characters fight ]]>http://www.pspfanboy.com/2008/10/24/watch-tales-of-the-world-2s-new-characters-fight/http://www.pspfanboy.com/2008/10/24/watch-tales-of-the-world-2s-new-characters-fight/http://www.pspfanboy.com/2008/10/24/watch-tales-of-the-world-2s-new-characters-fight/#commentsFiled under: ,

Tales of the World: Radiant Mythology 2 is a total fan service title. Anyone who has played the first one could inform you on that. With that in mind, it's easy to note that the biggest factor that's going to drive people into getting Tales of the World for round two would be its cast of cameo characters.

So, just who is going to make it into the new Radiant Mythology from all the other Tales games? Some of the new characters have been revealed to be: Cless Alvein (embedded above) from Tales of Phantasia, Presea Combatir from Tales of Symphonia, Guy Cecil from Tales of the Abyss, Iria Animi from Tales of Innocence and Caius Qualls from Tales of the Tempest. You can see all of them in gameplay vids after the break, along with the original character Kanonno.

The game will be out in Japan by January 29. While a North American release date has yet to be even mentioned, a stateside release seems likely.

Continue reading Watch Tales of the World 2's new characters fight

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>namcotales-of-the-world-2Fri, 24 Oct 2008 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[European PSN Store update for October 23rd]]>http://www.pspfanboy.com/2008/10/23/european-psn-store-update-for-october-23rd/http://www.pspfanboy.com/2008/10/23/european-psn-store-update-for-october-23rd/http://www.pspfanboy.com/2008/10/23/european-psn-store-update-for-october-23rd/#commentsFiled under:

What's this? A European PSP Store update? Not only that, but a good one. You've got some nice content to choose from here. Puzzle Quest and Crash Bandicoot 3 are our top picks, but you might also be interested in the various wallpapers and videos. Make sure you send SCEE a positive message by purchasing something, that way they might update the EU Store more than once a month. Here's the full release list:
  • Puzzle Quest full game (£15.99/€19.99)
  • Practical IQ full game (£15.99/€19.99)
  • Crash Bandicoot 3: Warped (£3.99/€4.99)
  • PC Collection trailer
  • Super Stardust Portable trailer
  • 36x PSP-3000 wallpapers
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>euroreleasesPSP-storepuzzle-questreleasesThu, 23 Oct 2008 14:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Neverland Card Battles: Godseal Talisman trailer]]>http://www.pspfanboy.com/2008/10/23/neverland-card-battles-godseal-talisman-trailer/http://www.pspfanboy.com/2008/10/23/neverland-card-battles-godseal-talisman-trailer/http://www.pspfanboy.com/2008/10/23/neverland-card-battles-godseal-talisman-trailer/#commentsFiled under:

Neverland Card Battles releases next week on October 28, and to make sure gamers are ready for the S-RPG card battles to be had, we've got yet another gameplay vid for everyone. This latest trailer from Yuke's shows off the Godseal Talisman Cards, which are the most powerful cards in the game. We can feel the magic surge through our finger tips by just watching them on screen -- they're that powerful!
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>neverland-card-battlesyukesThu, 23 Oct 2008 11:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony: PSP sales to beat fiscal year forecast]]>http://www.pspfanboy.com/2008/10/23/sony-psp-sales-to-beat-fiscal-year-forecast/http://www.pspfanboy.com/2008/10/23/sony-psp-sales-to-beat-fiscal-year-forecast/http://www.pspfanboy.com/2008/10/23/sony-psp-sales-to-beat-fiscal-year-forecast/#commentsFiled under:

Sony previously pegged the PSP to sell roughly 15 million units for this fiscal year ending March 2009. Now, the company is saying they're going to crush that forecast by another one million units. This news comes in light despite issues with the newly released PSP Brite. However, Sony still has other models currently out on the market including the sleek Blue and Red Slim models that are expected to sell, sell, sell.

Sony's numbers in Japan have done amazingly well thus far this year, selling over 1.6 million units from April to September; however, if the PSP is to meet 16 million units by March, there's still a lot of work to be done worldwide.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>businesshardwarehardware-salespspThu, 23 Oct 2008 07:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Dynasty Warriors: Strikeforce trailer, now in English]]>http://www.pspfanboy.com/2008/10/22/dynasty-warriors-strikeforce-trailer-now-in-english/http://www.pspfanboy.com/2008/10/22/dynasty-warriors-strikeforce-trailer-now-in-english/http://www.pspfanboy.com/2008/10/22/dynasty-warriors-strikeforce-trailer-now-in-english/#commentsFiled under:

Does Dynasty Warriors: Strikeforce seem like a DW game to you? After having watched this English trailer (posted after the break), it certainly feels far from anything we've come to know of the series. It looks like the title graduated from the Monster Hunter academy of game design because, frankly, the large mythical creatures and emphasis on 4-player co-op are elements more familiar to another popular series. We'll see how things stand when the title releases in North America next year.

Continue reading Dynasty Warriors: Strikeforce trailer, now in English

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dynasty-warriorsdynasty-warriors-multi-raiddynasty-warriors-strikeforcekoeiWed, 22 Oct 2008 18:50:00 EST<![CDATA[New FF Agito XIII scan show off in-game screens, battle system ]]>http://www.pspfanboy.com/2008/10/22/new-ff-agito-xiii-scan-show-off-in-game-screens-battle-system/http://www.pspfanboy.com/2008/10/22/new-ff-agito-xiii-scan-show-off-in-game-screens-battle-system/http://www.pspfanboy.com/2008/10/22/new-ff-agito-xiii-scan-show-off-in-game-screens-battle-system/#commentsFiled under: ,

Pictures say a thousand words. They really do. So having just one look at this new Final Fantasy Agito XIII scan should give you a better sense of what we saw back at Square Enix's TGS Closed Mega Theater [Click for trailer impressions].

That's right, the new scan shows off the in-game battle HUD. While still-images can't show off the game in motion, you can still get a Crisis Core vibe from the screens, can't you? Anyway, if you're having trouble seeing everything in the image posted above, check out the full size version here.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>agitofinal-fantasysquare-enixWed, 22 Oct 2008 07:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Firmware 5.01 fixes your big memory stick woes]]>http://www.pspfanboy.com/2008/10/21/firmware-5-01-fixes-your-big-memory-stick-woes/http://www.pspfanboy.com/2008/10/21/firmware-5-01-fixes-your-big-memory-stick-woes/http://www.pspfanboy.com/2008/10/21/firmware-5-01-fixes-your-big-memory-stick-woes/#commentsFiled under:

How's that direct-connect PSP Store working out for you? What's that? You have problems downloading stuff to your 8GB or 16GB memory stick? It says there's insufficient space? But that's preposterous, there's plenty of room. That's a bug, right there. Thankfully, it hasn't gone unnoticed at Sony HQ as they're issuing a new firmware revision to fix the problem. From the sounds of it that's pretty much all version 5.01 will do when it releases "soon." Everyone thank Uncle Sony for fixing the problem so speedily. We'll be sure to notify you once the firmware update is available.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>firmwarememory-stickPSP-storestoreTue, 21 Oct 2008 20:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Do you want Galaxy's End?]]>http://www.pspfanboy.com/2008/10/21/do-you-want-galaxys-end/http://www.pspfanboy.com/2008/10/21/do-you-want-galaxys-end/http://www.pspfanboy.com/2008/10/21/do-you-want-galaxys-end/#commentsFiled under:


Remember Galaxy's End? The PSP-exclusive RTS game from Tiki Games was never finished, but the advent of the PSP-direct PlayStation Store has created an opportunity for the developers to continue work and release it to the masses. "When we started Galaxy's End we absolutely needed a publisher at some point - not just for the financial aspect but to get it into stores. Now that the PLAYSTATION Store has been added for the PSP we have the opportunity to finish the game and release it as a digital download (like NOVASTRIKE)."

But, there's still a year's worth of work left for the team before they can prepare the RTS for release. And, there's the question of money. "Quite frankly we don't have the finances to finish Galaxy's End right now. So we'll likely have to look for another loan. And I'll need to convince my family (who are presently self-funding Tiki Games) that there's a large enough audience that would be willing to purchase a downloadable real-time strategy game for the PSP."

So how can you help? "If you feel you would purchase a well-designed and fun real-time strategy game for the PSP near the end of 2009 then I'd appreciate if you can email galaxysend@tikigames.net with a simple 'Finish it' in the subject line."

To read more about the game, check out our Galaxy's End category.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>galaxys-endtiki-gamesTue, 21 Oct 2008 17:25:00 EST<![CDATA[PSP-3000 scanlines a hardware feature; no fix planned]]>http://www.pspfanboy.com/2008/10/21/psp-3000-scanlines-a-hardware-feature-no-fix-planned/http://www.pspfanboy.com/2008/10/21/psp-3000-scanlines-a-hardware-feature-no-fix-planned/http://www.pspfanboy.com/2008/10/21/psp-3000-scanlines-a-hardware-feature-no-fix-planned/#commentsFiled under:

Sony Japan has responded to criticisms about visible scanlines on the new PSP-3000 systems. While Sony America is looking into the situation, Japan's statement doesn't bode too well. It seems that the scanline problem is a feature of the new LCD screens. SCEI says that the "PSP-3000 has a new LCD device with vastly improved picture quality, achieving a more natural and vivid picture than older models. By improving LCD response time to reduce ghosting, the horizontal-line phenomenon becomes more visible."

The worst news is that there's no fix. "Since this is caused by hardware characteristics, there is no plan to fix it with system software update." Looks like it's here to stay. We're still waiting on a statement from SCEA but, from the looks of it, they won't have much new to add.

Update: SCEA response, after the break.

Continue reading PSP-3000 scanlines a hardware feature; no fix planned

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>psp-3000psp-britescanlinesSCEIsonyTue, 21 Oct 2008 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PSP-3000 sold over 140K in first four days]]>http://www.pspfanboy.com/2008/10/21/psp-3000-sold-over-140k-in-first-four-days/http://www.pspfanboy.com/2008/10/21/psp-3000-sold-over-140k-in-first-four-days/http://www.pspfanboy.com/2008/10/21/psp-3000-sold-over-140k-in-first-four-days/#commentsFiled under:

PSP Brite is now out worldwide, so how's it doing everywhere else? In Japan (where the PSP is the sacred deity of 4-player co-op), it seems that not too many are catching on to the new hardware; only 141,270 units were sold in the first four days of sale (Oct. 16-19).

As PSPHyper points out, these numbers are not that impressive when compared to the PSP Slim's initial sales numbers which were 250,702 for the first week with 130K of that from the first day alone. With relatively slow sales figures and seemingly disastrous performance issues, it looks like the PSP Brite is getting off to a very rough start.

[Via PSPHyper]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hardwarepsppsp-3000psp-briteTue, 21 Oct 2008 07:45:00 EST<![CDATA[PSP Fanboy review: Star Ocean: First Departure]]>http://www.pspfanboy.com/2008/10/20/psp-fanboy-review-star-ocean-first-departure/http://www.pspfanboy.com/2008/10/20/psp-fanboy-review-star-ocean-first-departure/http://www.pspfanboy.com/2008/10/20/psp-fanboy-review-star-ocean-first-departure/#commentsFiled under: ,


RPG fanatics have probably heard this tale before, but there's a bit of history behind the very first Star Ocean game. Back in 1995, a majority of the team that created Tales of Phantasia (which was released stateside on the Game Boy Advance back in 2006) left Namco due to creative differences. The team moved onto Tri-Ace, whose debut title was Star Ocean. One of the last games for the aging Super Famicom, the RPG pushed the console to its limits in terms of the cartridge size and graphics. The game even had limited voice-acting, which was unheard of (no pun intended) in those days. The question is, does this remake of the first game in the classic franchise have what it takes to stand out in the portable gaming market?

Gallery: Star Ocean: The First Departure

Continue reading PSP Fanboy review: Star Ocean: First Departure

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>joystiqfeaturesremakereviewsquare-enixstar-oceanstar-ocean-first-departuretri-aceMon, 20 Oct 2008 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Users report screen issues with PSP Brite, Sony investigating]]>http://www.pspfanboy.com/2008/10/20/users-report-screen-issues-with-psp-brite-sony-investigating/http://www.pspfanboy.com/2008/10/20/users-report-screen-issues-with-psp-brite-sony-investigating/http://www.pspfanboy.com/2008/10/20/users-report-screen-issues-with-psp-brite-sony-investigating/#commentsFiled under:


The newly released PSP-3000 series should have a better screen than the old 2000 model. Not only does it have an expanded color depth, it's supposed to get rid of the ghosting that plagued every PSP since. While it succeeds, it appears that a new problem has emerged: scan lines, which make things look worse than they did in the 2000 model. A well-populated thread on the PlayStation forum shows the cries of dozens that are reporting the same problem.

Our test unit (which arrived today) also features the same problem. In fact, we're not digging the 3000 model at all. While the colors look nice, we're disappointed by its performance in sunlight. Even worse, the plastic on the new model feels cheaper than ever before.

Sony told Joystiq that they're currently "looking into this." Hopefully, it'll only take a firmware update to fix -- otherwise, many may opt to buy the 2000 series instead.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>psp-3000psp-britescanlinesMon, 20 Oct 2008 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Tom Clancy's EndWar coming to PSP this November]]>http://www.pspfanboy.com/2008/10/20/tom-clancys-endwar-coming-to-psp-this-november/http://www.pspfanboy.com/2008/10/20/tom-clancys-endwar-coming-to-psp-this-november/http://www.pspfanboy.com/2008/10/20/tom-clancys-endwar-coming-to-psp-this-november/#commentsFiled under:


Ubisoft is bringing yet another Tom Clancy game to the handhelds. This time, EndWar is getting the PSP treatment. The upcoming game takes place during World War III. Players take control of the U.S. Joint Strike Force, European Enforcers Corps or Russian Spetsnaz Guards Brigade in three separate (but intertwined) campaigns. Each campaign includes over 30 battle scenarios taking place on real-world battlefields including Paris and London.

EndWar also features two-player versus multiplayer mode, including additional missions specifically designed for multiplayer battles. There's also a mission editor, which allows players to share and create custom battlefields and scenarios. Expect EndWar on November 4th.

Gallery: Tom Clancy's EndWar

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>endwartom-clancyubisoftMon, 20 Oct 2008 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Engadget unboxes PSP-3000]]>http://www.pspfanboy.com/2008/10/20/engadget-unboxes-psp-3000/http://www.pspfanboy.com/2008/10/20/engadget-unboxes-psp-3000/http://www.pspfanboy.com/2008/10/20/engadget-unboxes-psp-3000/#commentsFiled under:

So you've probably already seen the dismantled Japanese PSP Brite and took a look at what's underneath that shiny exterior. Now, how about watching the North American bundle get unboxed? While the Engadget crew has opted out of tearing their precious handheld apart, we do get to have a comprehensive look at all the goods inside the retail box. If you're planning on getting a PSP Brite for yourself, then check out the pics here and see what awaits.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>psppsp-3000psp-briteunboxingMon, 20 Oct 2008 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[New Dissidia vid shows off some summons]]>http://www.pspfanboy.com/2008/10/20/new-dissidia-vid-shows-off-some-summons/http://www.pspfanboy.com/2008/10/20/new-dissidia-vid-shows-off-some-summons/http://www.pspfanboy.com/2008/10/20/new-dissidia-vid-shows-off-some-summons/#commentsFiled under: ,

There are summoned creatures in the 'dramatic progressive action' title Dissidia: Final Fantasy, but they may not be exactly what you'd expect them to be. They pop up as static 2D images during gameplay -- no fancy FMVs here, folks. You can check out two of the summons (Ifrit and Carbuncle) in the trailer posted above.

Summon creatures appear upon pressing the R trigger together with the circle button. In the case of Ifrit, summons appear as equipable items (as represented on the HUD). Judging by the way they're used in the trailer, the summons primarily affect the Brave gauge -- Carbuncle adjusts the enemy's Brave to match the player's, while boosts a player's Brave by 1.5.
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dissidiadissidia-final-fantasyfinal-fantasysquare-enixMon, 20 Oct 2008 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Downloadable games will 'ignite' PSP library, says Sony exec]]>http://www.pspfanboy.com/2008/10/19/downloadable-games-will-ignite-psp-library-says-sony-exec/http://www.pspfanboy.com/2008/10/19/downloadable-games-will-ignite-psp-library-says-sony-exec/http://www.pspfanboy.com/2008/10/19/downloadable-games-will-ignite-psp-library-says-sony-exec/#commentsFiled under:


"I have to be careful what I say but publishers are definitely exploring more opportunities in terms of the types of games they can release on PSP, even in terms of more female-oriented games, puzzlers and less hardcore games," Zeno Colaço, vice president of publisher and developer relations for Sony Computer Entertainment Europe, told Pocket Gamer. "The opportunity we're providing with digital distribution will ignite those thoughts."

The release of firmware 5.00 has enabled direct access to the PlayStation Store from the PSP system. The incorporation of the Store shows a growing emphasis on the importance of digital distribution on Sony's handheld. While original games on the Store have been limited to just a handful of games (beats, Syphon Filter: Combat Ops), publishers have slowly been moving their entire UMD catalog onto the Store. For example, D3 Publisher has made Dead Head Fred, Puzzle Quest, and PQ2 all available on the Store.

By providing developers and publishers a way of making games without relying on retail or UMD, the Store gives companies a chance to make all new kinds of games on the system. The opportunity to sell smaller games directly to PSP owners at higher profit, with less chance of piracy, should look attractive to many. Hopefully, it won't be long until we start seeing new games coming from this endeavor.

[Via GameDaily]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>storeSun, 19 Oct 2008 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Worldwide PSP releases for the week of October 19]]>http://www.pspfanboy.com/2008/10/19/worldwide-psp-releases-for-the-week-of-october-19/http://www.pspfanboy.com/2008/10/19/worldwide-psp-releases-for-the-week-of-october-19/http://www.pspfanboy.com/2008/10/19/worldwide-psp-releases-for-the-week-of-october-19/#commentsFiled under:

We could definitely get used this. Four games release this week for North America. The big winner is definitely Star Ocean: First Departure. Here's the full list:

NA Games:
EU Games:
Asian Games Yet again, we'll have to congratulate Asia on its dominating quantity of new titles.
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>releasesSun, 19 Oct 2008 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Neverland Card Battles hits retail Oct. 28]]>http://www.pspfanboy.com/2008/10/18/neverland-card-battles-hits-retail-oct-28/http://www.pspfanboy.com/2008/10/18/neverland-card-battles-hits-retail-oct-28/http://www.pspfanboy.com/2008/10/18/neverland-card-battles-hits-retail-oct-28/#commentsFiled under:

Neverland Card Battles looks like another game that S-RPG fans would want to sink their teeth into. We've played it previously (check out our hands-on), and we think it's a fun title. Yuke's finally announced a release date for the game; that's October 28 for North America. That's only 10 days away. To keep yourself busy until then, have a look at trailers here and here.

[Via press release]
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Sat, 18 Oct 2008 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Ask PSP Fanboy: Volume 43]]>http://www.pspfanboy.com/2008/10/18/ask-psp-fanboy-volume-43/http://www.pspfanboy.com/2008/10/18/ask-psp-fanboy-volume-43/http://www.pspfanboy.com/2008/10/18/ask-psp-fanboy-volume-43/#commentsFiled under:

Ask PSP Fanboy

It's the end of the week, which calls for a new volume of Ask PSP Fanboy! Each week we'll collect your questions, and each weekend a new volume of Ask PSP Fanboy will appear on the front page. If you've got a question, send an email to justin.eaton @ weblogsinc .com with the subject "Ask PSP Fanboy."



Q. The PSP-3000 comes out in October - When do you think Sony will release some information about the PSP 2?
A. We've got a while before we start hearing official information about a revamped PSP. Sony should remain focused on the PSP-3000 through much of 2009.

Q. Will the PlayStation Portable ever rumble?
A. Adding rumble to the Playstation Portable would require another hardware refresh, unless third party manufacturers were able to develop an add-on device. With the amount of time it took Sony to bring rumble to the SIXAXIS controllers, I'd say we've got a while before rumble makes it's way to the PSP.

Q. Can you explain why MP4 videos play on the PSP, and why MKVs, DivX, Xvid or AVI are not supported besides not having the codec? Is there a hardware dependency that the PSP would require so the video does not play slow, lag or have a stuttering effect?
A. The hardware isn't limited, Sony simply hasn't added support for the various codecs. It may be the system's limited memory (can it fit all the codecs on the 32MB relegated to firmware use?). Or, it may be licensing issues: Sony had to pay for DivX on PS3 -- will they want to do the same on PSP? The PSP is a powerful handheld. If these codecs are used, there's no reason you'd see lag or stuttering.

Continue reading Ask PSP Fanboy: Volume 43

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>askask-psp-fanboyjoystiqfeaturesSat, 18 Oct 2008 12:00:00 EST