Most Recent: PSP

New Releases: Kingdom Hearts 3D, Risen 2, Growlanser IV, More

Posted on July 28, 2012 by John Scalzo

We’re turning the calendar over to August this week, but that’s not going to put a stop to the Summer games drought. Although this week is a bit more loaded than recent weeks.

A big part of that is the release of Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance for the 3DS. Dream Drop Distance is the first game in the Kingdom Hearts series for the handheld and Square Enix picked a perfect time to bring it across the Pacific.

Another anticipated RPG makes its way to stores this week. Growlanser: Wayfarer of Time, from Atlus, is a strategy RPG for the PSP that was originally released on the PS2 (as Growlanser IV) in 2003. However, that version of the game never escaped Japan, so Wayfarer of Time is technically a “new” game.

Also available this week is the console version of Risen 2: Dark Waters. The pirate-themed RPG will be available for the PS3 and Xbox 360.

Finally, Myst comes to the 3DS with “a brand new age” and PC players will be able to try their hand at the budget minigame collection Nightmares From the Deep: The Cursed Heart.

Posted in 3DS, News, PC, PS3, PSP, Xbox 360 | Tagged , ,

Lego Batman 2 rises to the top of the June 2012 bestsellers list

Posted on July 12, 2012 by John Scalzo

With editions on seven different platforms, Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes rose to the top of The NPD Group’s monthly list of bestselling games. The remainder of the list was split between new releases, May holdovers, and Fall 2011 games that are still popular.

There were only a handful of new games available in June with Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Future Soldier (#2), Pokemon Conquest (#7), and The Amazing Spider-Man (#10) all earning spots in the top ten. Grasshopper’s Lollipop Chainsaw didn’t make the cut, continuing Suda 51’s lack of success at the register.

An astounding four games from Fall 2011 continue to sell strongly enough to make the top ten: NBA 2K12 (#5), Batman: Arkham City (#6, boosted by the newly released Game of the Year Edition), Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (#8), and Battlefield 3 (#9). I’m sure it helps that all were among the best-reviewed games of last year.

As a whole, game and hardware sales are down 29% from June 2011, according to Joystiq.

A complete list of last month’s best-selling games can be found after the break. (more…)

Posted in 3DS, DS, News, PC, PS2, PS3, PSP, Vita, Wii, Xbox 360 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , ,

New Releases: Lollipop Chainsaw, Gravity Rush, Dirt Showdown, More

Posted on June 9, 2012 by John Scalzo

I’m sure E3 week has left you ready for all the games coming out this Fall (and beyond), but don’t forget, we’ve got a whole Summer of new releases ahead of us!

New releases like Suda 51’s crazy cheerleader/zombie/rock and roll mash-up, Lollipop Chainsaw (PS3, Xbox 360).

Also available this week is Sony’s stylish action platformer, Gravity Rush (Vita); Codemasters’ offroad racer, Dirt Showdown (PS3, Xbox 360); and the Vita version of the Metal Gear Solid HD Collection.

And there’s a few more new releases after the break. (more…)

Posted in DS, News, PC, PS3, PSP, Vita, Xbox 360 | Tagged , , ,

Daily Scoop: April 16, 2012 – Summer’s here!

Posted on April 16, 2012 by Nicole Kline

Summer has arrived early here in Philadelphia! I’m trying not to melt today as the degrees continue to rise. Though it will be hotter than this in hell, which is where I’m going after the three games I played this weekend of Cards Against Humanity. They aren’t kidding when they say it’s a party game for horrible people.

There are some new deals at Amazon today, both on Sony products. First up is Aksys’ Fate/Extra Limited Edition, which is on sale for $27.99. Then there’s 33% off Twisted Metal, bringing it down to $39.99. If you’ve been waiting to join Sweet Tooth, now’s the time!

One particularly amazing gaming shirt today… so amazing I really, REALLY want to buy it… (more…)

Posted in Daily Scoop, Etcetera, News, PS3, PSP |

Mass Effect 3 tops NPD bestseller report for March 2012

Posted on April 12, 2012 by John Scalzo

Whether you loved Mass Effect 3‘s ending or you hated it, one thing’s for certain, BioWare made a ton of money selling you the game. In what should be a surprise to no one, Mass Effect 3 took the top spot in The NPD Group’s report of the bestselling games in March 2012.

Even though March was a bit of a slow month for new releases, the remainder of the top ten is populated almost totally by games released in the last four weeks including Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City (#2), MLB 12: The Show (#3), SSX (#5), Street Fighter X Tekken (#6), Mario Party 9 (#7), Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm Generations (#9), and Major League Baseball 2K12 (#10).

Whew!

Hit the break to see the full top ten, including the pair of holdovers from the February 2012 report. (more…)

Posted in DS, News, PC, PS2, PS3, PSP, Vita, Wii, Xbox 360 | Tagged , , , , , , , , ,

Class of Heroes 2 Kickstarter campaign aims to improve localization for Japanese RPGs

Posted on March 28, 2012 by Melissa Niedringhaus

For those of you who rend your clothing over the sheer amount of awesome games in Japan that will never appear on American store shelves, here’s a chance to support the hard working people in the localization business!

MonkeyPaw Games and Gaijinworks have announced the acquisition of Class of Heroes 2, a dungeon crawler-style RPG for the PSP, as well as a Kickstarter campaign to fund gameplay improvements and a limited edition deluxe package. The overall goal, though, is to attempt to bring more import titles to western markets, and what better way to do so than with the support of hardcore fans?

Gaijinworks President Victor Ireland (yes, the same Victor Ireland from Working Designs), calls this the “craziest deluxe pack” he’s ever done, and if you’re a collector at all, you know Working Designs basically invented the concept of the super premium collectors edition with the pack-in soundtrack.

The Grand Tier pledges get even crazier than plush toys or signed posters; for a generous enough pledge, you might get a trip to Japan to meet the creators of the game, or a two-night stay in Los Angeles, tickets to E3, and dinner with MonkeyPaw and Gaijinworks.

So check out the Kickstarter campaign page to see all the crazy bonus stuff you could get for your support!

Posted in News, PSP |

Atlus-published PSP games get huge price drop on PSN

Posted on March 28, 2012 by John Scalzo

Atlus wants to takeover your PSP or Vita with their “Re-Vita-lized PSN Price Drop Event.” The publisher has slashed the prices of their PlayStation Network games by 25-50%, meaning that now is the best time to dive into a quirky Japanese RPG (or several, which I’m sure Atlus would prefer).

Here’s the full list of “Re-Vita-lized” titles and their new prices:

  • Persona (New Price: $19.99, Original Price: $39.99)
  • Persona 2: Innocent Sin (New Price: $29.99, Original Price: $39.99)
  • Persona 3 Portable (New Price: $19.99, Original Price: $39.99)
  • Knights in the Nightmare (New Price: $14.99, Original Price: $29.99)
  • Riviera: The Promised Land (New Price: $9.99, Original Price: $14.99)
  • Yggdra Union (New Price: $9.99, Original Price: $14.99)
  • Class of Heroes (New Price: $14.99, Original Price: $39.99)
  • Crimson Gem Saga (New Price: $14.99, Original Price: $29.99)
  • Hexyz Force (New Price: $14.99, Original Price: $29.99)
  • Kenka Bancho: Badass Rumble (New Price: $14.99, Original Price: $39.99)
Posted in News, PSP, Vita | Tagged

EA killing online multiplayer for Burnout Revenge, EA MMA, others

Posted on March 19, 2012 by John Scalzo

Electronic Arts has announced another round of online multiplayer server shutdowns. As always, the publisher claims that these games are played by less than 1% of all players who play EA games online.

Notable among this batch is EA Sports MMA, both for how recent it is (it was released less than 18 months ago) and because of the fact that it required an Online Pass for its multiplayer mode.

I suppose it can debated whether EA has to right to shut down a for-pay multiplayer server, but for now, here’s the rest of the server shutdowns:

  • Boom Blox: Bash Party (Wii)
  • Burnout Revenge (Xbox 360)
  • Create (PC, PS3, Wii, Xbox 360)
  • EA Sports Active 2.0 (PS3, Wii, Xbox 360)
  • EA Sports Active NFL Training Camp (Wii)
  • EA SPorts MMA (PS3, Xbox 360)
  • FIFA Soccer 10 (PSP, Wii)
  • The Godfather II (PC, PS3, Xbox 360)
  • Need For Speed: ProStreet (PS3, Xbox 360)
  • The Saboteur: The Midnight Club (PS3, Xbox 360)
  • Spare Parts (PS3, Xbox 360)

All of the games in the above list will go offline on April 13, 2012.

Posted in News, PC, PS3, PSP, Wii, Xbox 360 | Tagged