Jo did one similar to this, but here’s my take on 2012’s outlook. [Yes, I am acting as if it wasn’t forever that I’ve posted on the site, problem?]
No more further explanations, here’s first and foremost, my list of most anticipated games this year. Read more…
Let’s Bet!
Let’s Bet is a new feature where we’ll speculate on future events and see who gets as close to the truth as possible in the form of a contest. From time to time, it’ll only be for fun, but other times we’ll put something in play. This is all for fun’s sake and nothing more.
Specific rules are set for each contest and everyone is welcome to try their shot at it from the comments. And if you beat us to it? I guarantee we’ll have a prize for you!
To participate: Post in the comments or send us a tweet @thesavepoints using the tag #NGPbet.
After years of speculations, Sony revealed yesterday in Japan its official successor to the PSP, the NGP (Next Generation Portable). Now it’s obviously an expensive piece of technology that’s going to cost a fortune to Sony to manufacture. Just the front screen seems to be worth $200+ alone (5 inch OLED capacitive Touchscreen, 16 million colors, 960 × 544 pixels).
Will we have to leave saving our beloved one for another day to buy it? Will we have to sell our clothes? Will Sony get rich over the NGP?
Will it compete with the Nintendo 3DS or will it aim for the iPad/Iphone/Android market?
So let’s play a variation of price is right on this one.
How much do you think each of the Next Generation Portable SKUs will cost?
Since there’s speculations on two different units, one supporting 3G and the other one without 3G, let’s speculate on both prices.
Important: Missing one of the two prices will be taken as speculating the cheaper one will cost $0.
To determine who is the winner, we’ll add up the difference between the guessed price of both SKUs (w/3G, w/o 3G) and whoever has the smallest number wins.
We’re testing waters with this one, so the prize will be on me. (And if I win, no one gets anything!)
Prize for this contest: $30 certificate at the Amazon Online store of your choice (.com, .ca, .uk, etc.)
Note: Entry will end as soon as we’re aware that Sony will announce the price, or whenever they do announce it.
Tie-breaker: We’ll find a way to settle tie-breakers shortly.
Edit: Tie-breakers will go to the earlier entry if it’s out of the staff. If it’s in staff, I’ll split it up. If it’s staff and public, I’ll give it to the earliest public entry and give something too to the winning staff member.
We’re expecting a price announced during the Sony E3 conference (man I wish I could be there again this year, it was pretty cool being there last year), so entries will be taken until June 4 11:59 PM. If that’s not the case, we’ll review the date.
See what bets have been made so far after the jump. Read more…
Releases on the virtual console have been few and far between lately on the Wii, almost has few and far between as I’ve been posting lately. Is it because they’re running out of good games to put on it? I highly doubt so. Only Nintendo would really know what the hell is going on.
I wrote most of this review a while back, so I’ll keep the old format, but from my next post, I’ll use the same system Jo started using.
But enough rambling. This week they released a NES/Famicom gem that hadn’t seen a release in North America. It was called Hebereke in Japan and Ufouria in PAL regions. It was featured adventure-action gameplay similar to games like Metroid, but overall took from all that was good about games from the NES era while also showing hints of more recent standards in videogames, like infinite continues and the ability to pick right back up where you last left (assuming in this case you wrote down the password, which you’ll probably won’t need as you can beat the game in one sit).
So was the 20 years wait in North America worth it? You know the drill, find out after the jump.
The level of details this game goes for in terms of art presentation is outstanding and way beyond what you’d expect of a “casual†game.
The steampunk setting is a setup we don’t see all that often in recent works (or at least not that I’ve noticed). So it doesn’t come as overplayed when games like Clockwork Man 2 – The Hidden World comes along. I’ve never tried the prequel to this casual game, but it didn’t stop me from being able to enjoy this one.
So what exactly is this game? It’s a puzzle adventure game, not unlike the such as the Monkey Islands, with its own rules and features. It mixes the elements of the prior mentioned game, where you need to use and mix items to solve puzzles and another part where you’re looking for specific items in screens filled with beautifully-drawn objects.
So did I enjoy it enough to recommend this game to the casual gamers in you? Read on to find out!
The Nintendo DS has proven, through its multiple versions to be a solid product in terms of marketing and mass appeal. Nintendo was ready at this year’s E3 to let part of the public get their hands on the next iteration of their portable gaming system, the Nintendo 3DS.
I’ve had the chance to try it after waiting a relatively short time (about 25 minutes in line) and I’ve got good things and bad things to say about it.
I’m impressed. Creat Studios proved to the world, at least the part that cares and matters, that minis can be a full-on gaming experience. Freekscape: Escape From Hell is my first ever PS minis game and it left me with a positive impression. It also doesn’t question my intelligence and actually forces me to question it myself.
So what is this game about and how much does it fare for its price tag of $4,99, which seems at first glance a bit high for the concept of “minis� Read on to find out!
Hideo Kojima is already deep in thoughts about his next project.
On Twitter he shares the following two statements.
“I’m pondering over the next project’s voice cast. I still do not have the details embedded, but everything is running simultaneously in my head. The title, game design, story, characters, setting, mechs, casting, direction of the graphics, sound, beginning & ending, and key story sequences. It all molds together naturally in my head.”
“I still have loads of work for PW, but my mind is in “The Next Title Mode.†This is bad. I have to get my mind set on PW. I think about it without noticing, obsessing over it, unconsciously smiling and getting excited. Once again, thinking about “The Next Title.—
What does this all mean? Well one thing for sure, mechs seems to be included. Could be more Metal Gear, which, Kojima really doesn’t need to do anymore of those. Â Could be a possible new IP. But it could also be what everyone really wants… Zone of the Enders 3!
Let’s just hope that the answer is not another Metal Gear. Love them, but Kojima really doesn’t need to do anymore of them.
The guys (and gals?) of Creat Studios [Digger HD, Cuboid, Mushroom Wars, Hamsterball and more] are bringing you a new PSP Minis game this week.
Freekscape: Escape from Hell is the name of the game, playable on either your PSP or your PS3.
The game has you trying to escape Hell and mixes platforming and puzzles similarly to what seems to me as a Kirby game.
Freek found a magic trident that can change powers depending on the monsters you grab with it, and helps you solve puzzles, rings a bell a bit, doesn’t it?
You can watch the trailer on the PlayStation Blog and grab the game when it comes out this Thursday at the irregular PSN Store update time for $4,99.
We should also have a review up early this weekend!
Additional screenshot after the break. Read more…
Aksys Games revealed earlier today through a press release that about a year after the release of Calamity Trigger, the sequel subtitled Continuum Shift will be coming out in North America. That’s right; expect another summer of intense fighting as Aksys announced today the release of Arc System’s latest arcade hit in Japan. But don’t think for a second Continuum Shift is just a few characters tacked on and a new packaging.
Read on to find out what’s new in this pseudo-sequel.
Here’s some nice screen-shots for the console port of After Burner Climax released years ago in the arcade.
More screens after the break.
