Posts from the Echochrome Category at PSP Fanboy

echochrome team working on new puzzler, not sequel

Posted Jul 31st 2008 1:23PM by Andrew Yoon
Filed under: echochrome

When echochrome debuted earlier this year, it was praised for its innovative use of perspective. Players had to manipulate their perspective to guide the on-screen avatar to various echoes. The Escher-inspired game quickly became a fan-favorite hit. However, don't expect a sequel to this celebrated game. Producer Tatsuya Suzuki and Kyushu University's Jun Fujiki from Japan Studios told the Develop audience "we're not doing a sequel - we're not doing echochrome 2".

Instead, Fujiki is working with Japan Studio on an entirely different game that uses yet another method of "trick imagery." What does that mean? We're not entirely certain, but considering the incredible fascination we have with echocrhome, we can't wait to see what surprises they'll have in store for us.

[Thanks, Kyle P.!]

Sakamoto describes his inspirations for echochrome's music

Posted Jun 12th 2008 4:00PM by Andrew Yoon
Filed under: Interviews, echochrome

How does one craft the music for a game like echochrome? It must have been a challenge to create the ambiance necessary for such an abstract puzzle game, but Hideki Sakamoto was up to the challenge. Speaking with Siliconera, the musician noted the need for simplicity to match the game's visual style. echochrome is a game that needs no language, and Sakamoto wanted to convey that through a sound that's universally appealing. "Considering that the visual aspect of the game is strikingly simple, I had it in mind not to let the music overpower the overall design. I wanted to avoid distracting the player by using unusual sound effects or unfamiliar instruments. Classical music seemed to me the best choice because it is universal."

One of the challenges of crafting the musical landscape for echochrome was creating a sound that doesn't necessarily move the player in a particular way. "In Echochrome, the important thing was for the player to have such feelings, just for their own sake. There was no sense of striving to manipulate the player's emotions, and that was something of a realization for me as a musician."

Please read the entire interview at Siliconera for more. It really is quite fascinating. Samples of the soundtrack can be heard here. The soundtrack is available for import at Play-Asia.

Win a copy of echochrome!

Posted May 2nd 2008 8:00PM by Andrew Yoon
Filed under: echochrome

Now available on the PLAYSTATION Store, this MC Escher-inspired puzzler is downloadable for only $10. Want to try your luck at scoring a copy for free? Here you go.

To enter this giveaway, leave a comment with the biggest prime number you can think of.
You must be 18 years or older and a resident of the US or Canada (excluding Quebec).
Limit 1 entry per person.
This entry period ends at 12:00pm ET on Monday, May 5th. We'll randomly select 1 winner at that time.
For complete rules, click here.

Note: Please make sure you know how to use the PLAYSTATION Network Downloader before entering this contest. You will receive a digital download of the game. Visit store.playstation.com and try downloading one of the many free videos and demos available.

Gallery: echochrome

American PC Store update for May 1st

Posted May 1st 2008 5:10PM by Jem Alexander
Filed under: News, echochrome, Store

Happy echochrome day! Seventy-five percent of today's new content is related to the mindbending puzzle game. Sure, that sounds a lot - until you realise there are only four new items available for purchase on the store. Don't forget, echochrome on the PSP is a different game from the PS3 version and is exclusively available in America from the PlayStation Store. Here's the full release list:

Playable content

echochrome full game ($10)

Trailers

echochrome trailer (free)
Burnout Paradise Wyclef "Fast Car" video (free)

Themes and wallpapers

Four echochrome wallpaper (free)

echochrome coming back at you tomorrow

Posted Apr 30th 2008 7:00PM by Andrew Yoon
Filed under: echochrome

The mind-bending echochrome is coming out on PS3 and PSP tomorrow -- just one week after the release of last week's demo. Both versions will cost $9.99 each. The PS3 and PSP version both feature 56 unique levels each, with plans for more downloadable levels in the future. With a level editor included in both versions, this is an incredible value.

Stay tuned for our full review.

Gallery: echochrome

echochrome soundtrack resonates in Japan

Posted Apr 24th 2008 8:00PM by Andrew Yoon
Filed under: Imports, echochrome

Wish you could have the soothing strings of echochrome with you everywhere you go? Looks like the popularity of Sony's intriguing puzzle game has greenlit production of the soundtrack CD. Available on May 21st in Japan, the CD will include 13 tracks from the game, including such hits as "prime #3" and "prime #9973." These hits will undoubtedly open your mind to new kinds of perspective -- please don't listen to them while operating a motor vehicle.

The soundtrack CD will retail for the standard price of 2,940円 (~$28.21 US).

echochrome demo strikes US PSN tomorrow

Posted Apr 23rd 2008 6:00PM by Andrew Yoon
Filed under: echochrome, Store

The fine folks at SCEA wanted us to tell you that an echochrome demo will be available in tomorrow's Thursday PSN update. If you haven't been keeping updated, echochrome is a unique downloadable puzzle game that plays with perspective. Watch the trailer above to get a feel for the game.

This is the same demo we made available a few weeks ago. SCEA's Scott Goryl added: "Yes, this is the same demo that was available on the Japanese Store. Except, well, you know, with English." That's an added plus for many of you, we're sure.

Until then, check out our new updated gallery of the PSP version.

Gallery: echochrome

echochrome on UMD in Europe says official site

Posted Apr 14th 2008 11:00AM by Jem Alexander
Filed under: News, echochrome

Information on the European version of echochrome has been sadly lacking, especially considering all the fun and games surrounding the game's method of release in America. A Pocket Gamer reader has stumbled upon the official product page on the official PlayStation website, which clearly states that echochrome will be "available on UMD for PSP and to download on PLAYSTATION 3 in May 2008." No word on pricing for the PSP version or if it will also be available via the PC Store, but it's nice to know Europeans will be able to get their hands on a physical copy.

We suspect the reason for this might be that the European PC Store hasn't really taken off, with SCEE saying very little about the service since it was launched. As for the release date, we've had echochrome penciled in for May for a wee while now, so no surprises there.

[Via Pocket Gamer]

echochrome getting US release, only $10

Posted Mar 30th 2008 4:30AM by Andrew Yoon
Filed under: echochrome

The brain teaser echochrome is finally getting a US release. (Check out the downloadable demo here.) The PSP version of echochrome will be a downloadable title, available in early May for only $10. All the content featured in the PSP version will be unique to the system (and none of the content from the PS3 version will be in the handheld version either).

A level editor is included with the game, but unfortunately for PSP owners, trading levels can only happen via local Ad-Hoc, not Infrastructure. We're hoping that with Memory Stick, it'll be possible for friends to simply e-mail levels to each other.

Penny Arcade obsesses over echochrome

Posted Mar 11th 2008 11:30PM by Andrew Yoon
Filed under: echochrome

We'd like to give a big shout-out to our friends at Penny Arcade. Their most recent comic is about the reality-bending PSP/PS3 title, echochrome. After trying out the downloadable demo hosted by PSP Fanboy (thanks for the links, guys), the duo had to share their latest obsession. echochrome is but one of many reasons why they've been in love with the PSP: "The system has been on a roll for awhile now, even if the common wisdom hasn't really caught up to the fact. If you like traditional or tactical RPGs, it's practically become the destination of choice. It's been delivering on its technical promise fairly dependably, and I can vouch for a lot of the content, but I still wonder if people in general want games of this sophistication in their pocket."

Well, we're pretty sure the readers of this site want the best possible gaming experience on the go.

echochrome downloadable demo

Posted Mar 6th 2008 2:00AM by Andrew Yoon
Filed under: Demos, echochrome

Here's your chance to get echochrome on your PSP. This demo will give you a small taste of this Escher-inspired perspective-bending puzzle game. The Triangle button will pause the game, allowing you to think. The X button will speed up the avatar. Simply experiment -- we're sure you'll do well!

1. Download the demo zip file. [Click here for direct download from PSP.]
2. Extract the contents of the zip file.
3. Connect your PSP to your computer using a USB cable.
4. Go to the PSP/GAME folder.
5. Copy NPJG90019 folder into the GAME directory. Make sure there are no sub-directories in this folder.

Check out our demos site:
demos.pspfanboy.com

echochrome in real life (the commercial)

Posted Mar 3rd 2008 11:45AM by Andrew Yoon
Filed under: Video, echochrome

Ever wanted to know what echochrome would look like in the real world? It would be scary. Here's the Japanese advertisement for the only-in-Japan PSP game. Notice how it's being advertised on the new, sexy minty green PSP? Nice.

Japanese gamers get echochrome demo next week

Posted Feb 29th 2008 10:40AM by Andrew Yoon
Filed under: echochrome

The mind-bending dimension-shifting puzzler, echochrome, will be receiving a playable demo next week. Japanese gamers will just need to access PlayStation Spot and download the demo to their systems. We don't know if it will be DRM-free or not. We hope we can offer it to you next week, because this might be one of the few opportunities we'll have to play the title on PSP, unless SCEA decides to bring it over.

Let's take a look at echochrome plus

Posted Feb 26th 2008 7:00PM by Nick Doerr
Filed under: News, Imports, echochrome

Here's the thing: Sony Computer Entertainment America hasn't actually picked up the PSP version of echochrome for the US. We're pretty sure they will in due time, but just in case they don't, you can still enjoy the puzzles in English.

Sony Computer Entertainment Asia is releasing the game on PSP with the title echochrome plus, which has language options of both Chinese and English. Or Mandarin and English. Whatever is more appropriate sounding. This version comes out around the same time as the game's debut in Japan -- March 19th. So if you don't hear any localization buzz, feel free to get your import on.

GDC08: Gameplay footage of Echochrome emerges from GDC

Posted Feb 19th 2008 7:05PM by Jem Alexander
Filed under: Video, echochrome

We know that, like us, you're just itchy to watch somebody play a couple of levels of upcoming mindbender, Echochrome. Thankfully a couple of videos have snuck out of GDC showing some gameplay, as well as detailing the five laws of perspective that the player will need to learn in order to get anywhere in the game. The game player in the video doesn't seem very good, but let's cut him some slack. This game makes our brains hurt just from the pure puzzling potential.

Confusingly, the PSP version of Echochrome hasn't been announced for the Western world. We're hopeful that it will be, since it features a huge amount of extra levels. Of course, the trade off is that the PSP's graphics will be much lower quality than those seen in these videos (plus it'll be about twice as expensive!) Still, that's a trade off we'd probably be willing to make.

It would seem from these videos that the avatar can be sped up at will, which will surely cut down on waiting times for the game. The camera also seems to move freely, adding an element of precision to an already brain-melting concept. Nevertheless, we can't wait to get our hands on it. The second video can be seen after the jump - see you there!

Continue reading GDC08: Gameplay footage of Echochrome emerges from GDC

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echochrome team working on new puzzler, not sequel

Sakamoto describes his inspirations for echochrome's music

Win a copy of echochrome!

American PC Store update for May 1st

echochrome coming back at you tomorrow

echochrome soundtrack resonates in Japan

echochrome demo strikes US PSN tomorrow

echochrome on UMD in Europe says official site

echochrome getting US release, only $10

Penny Arcade obsesses over echochrome

echochrome downloadable demo

echochrome in real life (the commercial)

Japanese gamers get echochrome demo next week

Let's take a look at echochrome plus

GDC08: Gameplay footage of Echochrome emerges from GDC

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