Most Recent: Vita

New Releases: Dishonored, XCOM Enemy Unknown, Just Dance 4, More

This week’s new releases will sneak up on us like a ghostly assassin in a steampunk setting. If that analogy seems oddly specific to you, might I point you towards Dishonored (PC, PS3, Xbox 360), a stealth game that has more than a few gamers giddy with anticipation.

Speaking of stealth, this week also sees the release of 2K’s XCOM: Enemy Unknown (PC, PS3, Xbox 360) reboot. Developed by Firaxis, sneaking up on some aliens and giving them the “Welcome to Earth” treatment should be a hoot.

Also available this week is the dancefloor shenanigans of Just Dance 4 (PS3, Wii, Xbox 360) and a trio of Kinect adventures for the Xbox 360: Harry Potter For Kinect, Dragon Ball Z For Kinect, and Fable: The Journey. Maybe I’m just not seeing the big picture, but why would publishers release four of the biggest Kinect games of the Fall on the same day?

Finally, for those looking for a little handheld excitement, Atlus is bringing the action RPG Code of Princess to the 3DS.

Hit the jump for more of this week’s new releases. (more…)

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

Retro City Rampage sets the world on fire on October 9 on PC, PS3, Vita

In a strange turn of events, Retro City Rampage – which had been slated to be released for WiiWare and Xbox Live at separate times and never made it to either – will be coming out on October 9 on PC, PS3, and Vita. Not that I’m complaining – after playing it years ago at PAX, I was bummed to find out it was coming to every console but the one I had at the time. But now, barring any additional strange barriers, hopefully the game will really be coming out next week.

Retro City Rampage was created by Brian Provinciano and has been showcased dozens of times. Its quirky backgrounds and obvious homage to the original Grand Theft Auto, coupled with its genuinely retro feel, make it a funny, entertaining game.

The game will be available for PC via Steam and GOG.com, though you can also buy it DRM-free through retrocityrampage.com and get a Steam or GOG download code as a bonus. If you’re buying it for the PSN, you will get copies for the PS3 and the Vita, which is pretty amazing. No matter how you buy it, it will cost $14.99.

The game will also be coming to the Wii Shop and Xbox Live Arcade… at some point. But for now I’m going to gorge myself on RCR on both of my Sony devices as soon as Tuesday* hits.

* Unless it gets delayed again.

Posted in News, PC, PS3, Vita | Tagged

PSN Today: Resident Evil 6, NBA 2K13, New Little King’s Story, more

Sony’s Day 1 Digital initiative begins today with two awesome PS3 Full Game releases: Resident Evil 6 and NBA 2K13. If zombified Presidents and basketball simulations aren’t your thing, the budget-priced Lego Harry Potter: Years 5-7 has also been added to the PlayStation Store.

Sega has added a pair of classic titles to the PSN Games section: Sonic Adventure 2 and Nights Into Dreams (which also include Christmas Nights!). A pair of PS2 Classics are also now available on the Store as well: Innocent Life: A Futuristic Harvest Moon – Special Edition and Ruff Trigger: The Vanocore Conspiracy.

Finally, on the Vita side of the Store is New Little King’s Story.

Hit the jump for more information on all of these titles and for the lowdown on all of this week’s new game add-ons, hit up the PlayStation Blog. (more…)

Posted in News, PS3, Vita | Tagged , , , , ,

Spend $100 at PlayStation Store in October, receive $20 credit

Part two of Sony’s freakin’ diabolical push to get PS3/PSP/Vita gamers interested in digital downloads goes live today. The new promotion doesn’t have a fancy name like PSN Play or Summer of Arcade, but it’s a much simpler way to pry money from my wallet…

If you spend $100 at the PlayStation Store during the month of October, Sony will email you a $20 PSN Credit in November.

The freakin’ diabolical part is that Day 1 Digital, another PSN promotion that promotes the day-and-date addition of eight retail games to the PS Store, is also scheduled to run its course this October. So if you drop $120 on, for example, the downloadable versions of Assassin’s Creed III and Resident Evil 6, you’ll already cross the $100 threshold and receive $20 in November.

But the “Spend $100, Get $20” promotion isn’t limited to Day 1 Digital games. Any combination of PSN purchases, including a PlayStation Plus subscription sign-up, will count towards the $100 barrier.

Sadly, the credit only applies to the first $100 you spend. So, again for example, spending $200 won’t net you $40 in PSN Credit. Still, quite the deal.

Posted in News, PS3, PSP, Vita |

Earth Defense Force 2017 Portable will invade America in 2013

The bugs are back! D3 Publisher has announced they’ll be bringing Earth Defense Force 2017 Portable to North America in early 2013.

Originally released in 2007 exclusively for the Xbox 360, Earth Defense Force 2017 Portable will add plenty of bonus features to the five-year-old game. Some of the additions D3 is planning include four-player online multiplayer, new missions, and a new playable character named Pale Wing (he has a jetpack and he’s not afraid to use it).

EDF! EDF! EDF!

Posted in News, Vita | Tagged

PSN Today: Grand Theft Auto III, Tokyo Jungle, Dead or Alive 5, Hell Yeah, more

Even if there were replacement referees judging a contest between the PlayStation Store, the Xbox Live Marketplace, and the Wii Shop, Sony would come out way ahead. And they proved why again today by dumping a massive quantity of quality games onto the PlayStation Store. All told, 17 new games are now available on the download service, and here’s a few highlights, starting with one of the greatest games of all time:

  • After a slight delay, Rockstar’s Grand Theft Auto III joins the store as part of the PS2 Classics line.
  • FIFA Soccer 13 corner kicks its way onto the store in three different versions (PS3, PSP, and Vita).
  • It’s the end of the world as we know it, but the animals found in the Tokyo Jungle (PSN) are cool with that.
  • The futuristic Starhawk (PS3) is now available to download in both a full version and a special multiplayer only edition.
  • EA’s underappreciated classic, Mirror’s Edge (PS3), is also available to download.
  • A pair of fighting games, Marvel vs. Capcom: Origins (PSN) and Dead or Alive 5 (PS3) will battle it out for your affections.
  • The absolutely insane Hell Yeah! Wrath of the Dead Rabbit would make a hell of a download.
  • And LittleBigPlanet PS Vita is now available to download, wait for it, on the PS Vita.

You can find even more new releases after the break along with a ton of new game add-ons at the PlayStation Blog. (more…)

Posted in News, PS3, PSP, Vita | Tagged , , , , , , ,

New Releases: WoW Mists of Pandaria, FIFA Soccer 13, Dead or Alive 5, More

The Fall is here! The Fall is here! Say it with me… the Fall is here! Your Fall gaming rush begins now and it begins with the release of the latest expansion to the biggest MMO on the planet, World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria.

This week also marks the beginning of the annual soccer riot between EA Sports and Konami as both companies plan to release the latest iteration of their flagship soccer titles. FIFA Soccer 13 will appear on the 3DS, PC, PS3, PSP, Vita, Wii, and Xbox 360 while Pro Evolution Soccer 2013 go for the goal on the PS2, PS3, PSP, and Xbox 360.

A very different kind of kicking takes place in Team Ninja’s Dead or Alive 5. The latest game in the fighting franchise will punch and kick its way to the PS3 and Xbox 360 this week.

Finally this week, Rovio’s Angry Birds Trilogy flies onto the 3DS, PS3, and Xbox 360 and Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception is being re-released in a Game of the Year Edition.

Hit the jump for the complete list of this week’s new releases. (more…)

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

PlayStation Plus coming to Vita in November

Life is about to get awesome for PlayStation Vita owners – this November, we’ll have access to PlayStation Plus, Sony’s members-only club that gives early and/or exclusive access to betas, demos, and games. If you’re already a member, you’ll be automatically enrolled for the Vita as well, at no extra cost (PS Plus is $49.99/year). This is good news, as I don’t think there are many of us who would be willing to pay even more to have the same benefits on another platform. Willing to pay without complaining, that is.

According to the PlayStation Blog, the benefits that will launch in November are:

  • Instant Game Collection: Unlimited access to a regularly refreshed selection of the full versions of games as long as your membership is active.
  • Discounts: Take advantage of exclusive discounts on games and DLC for your PS Vita.
  • Online Game Storage: An additional 1GB of online storage for game saves for PS Vita games and downloaded content.
  • Automatic Updates: PS Vita will automatically start up at a designated time to download and install select game demos and game updates as well as system software updates and start standby mode upon completion.
  • Automatic Trophy sync: Trophy information will be synched to PSN servers automatically via the PS Vita.

Whew! That’s a lot of good stuff for a piece of technology that has had a mediocre reception at best. I know I’ll dust mine off once November rolls around… well, ok, maybe sooner for LittleBigPlanet Vita. We’ll see.

Posted in News, Vita |