Those with a keen eye may have noticed that Ellie looks a bit different in the latest trailer for The Last of Us. While she still bears the same general appearance, her face looks a bit younger than it did in the debut video. Naughty Dog has commented on why they decided to make this change, saying that Ellie as a “younger teen” fits better into the context of the story.

Naughty Dog’s creative director Neil Druckmann told IGN that coming up with the character design for Ellie has been no small feat, as an exorbitant amount of work went into finding the perfect look.

When we came up with the character of Ellie we put a lot of thought into what we wanted her to look like, researching the facial proportions, coloring and bone structures of dozens of faces and bodies. In addition to this, we held numerous casting sessions to ensure we had the right performance capture artist to represent Ellie, eventually selecting actress Ashley Johnson.

Druckmann went on to discuss the actual change to Ellie’s character that viewers will notice in the trailer, pointing out that they “decided to modify Ellie’s model to better reflect Ashley’s personality, and also resemble a slightly younger teen more fitting to the story.”

According to game director Bruce Straley, Naughty Dog has some exciting reveals in store for E3. “Our team has been working hard to have something ready at E3 that will please our fans. We’d love to say more, but we don’t want to spoil anything,” he said. I don’t know about you, but all of us at PlayStation LifeStyle can’t wait!

© Alex for PlayStation LifeStyle, 2012. | Permalink | No comments | Add to del.icio.us

We have a bit of sad news to report today as NIS America have announced that Atelier Meruru: The Apprentice of Arland has been delayed, but only by a week. Originally set to release on May 22nd for the PlayStation 3, this RPG will now be releasing the following week on the 29th.

The delay according to NIS America is due to a delay in the manufacturing process. This small delay is for the U.S. market only, as the game will still be releasing on its original May 22nd date in Europe.

Atelier Meruru: The Apprentice of Arland follows the adventures of Princess Meruru as she becomes an apprentice to Totori Helmold, and sets out to use her new-found Alchemy skill to help expand the small town of Arls where she lives. The game features a ton of character cameo’s from previous Atelier games and a load of improvements, such as a development system.

Even though a delay sucks, thankfully it is a very short one. Keep checking back for our review of the game in the coming weeks and let us know in the comments if you plan to pick it up.

© Cameron Teague for PlayStation LifeStyle, 2012. | Permalink | No comments | Add to del.icio.us

PixelJunk 4am is part game, part music-making/mixing software, and part freeform experience. No one part of those components ever overtakes the other, which makes describing PixelJunk 4am even more difficult. So, to put it a different way, PixelJunk 4am is a game without most definitive components that make a game. It’s music making without the unnerving intimidation of using music software, which most times is far from friendly to new users who understand little about music. It’s also an artistic experience, one that allows the player to make what they want without penalty, fear of failure, or barriers in the form of the usual constructs associated with gameplay (levels with predefined paths, music that must conform to specific patterns/rhythms set by the game’s developers, etc.). PixelJunk 4am is just good-natured, accessible fun with music and is one of the most unique titles available for the PSN or PlayStation Move.

PixelJunk 4am is simply about just making music for the sake of making music in an easy and intuitive way. The tutorial begins by introducing some basic concepts, such as effects, which are achieved by holding down the Move button and moving the controller. Seems simple enough, right? The tutorial then moves on to other concepts such as “pulling” loops for the four different tracks (Synth, Bass, Drum, Rhythm), muting tracks, reverb effects, and more. Initially, while playing through the tutorial, a feeling of intimidation may sink in a bit at first. However, as quickly as that feeling can sink in, that’s how quickly it fades away. Q-Games has already taught the player everything that they need to know and once they’re in front of the gameplay area, the lessons learned come into focus and the lack of a failure state allows players to get creative and begin enjoying the game right away. Nothing is imposed on the player—playing the game is very loose, free, and fun. No “bad way” to make music really exists in the game.

So what is PixelJunk 4am‘s core gameplay? Users select a track set of gameplay “canvases” (visualizers with tracks), then start making music. They make music by creating effects, reverbs, pulling loops (holding down the T button and releasing in the center of the “canvas”), muting tracks (holding down one of the four face buttons that correspond to the tracks, which can also restore them), and more. Loops fade in and out over time—indicated by the activity of the visualizer on the screen—so new loops must be pulled from the four corners of the canvas. Players can change between tracks on a set on canvases by pressing Select. Players can also enlist the help of a friend, who can mix his or her own music independently of the first player, or can also help the first player pull off new and different techniques not possible with just one Move controller if they select the same canvas.

The music creation in PixelJunk 4am is enjoyable, non-traditional, and freeform. However, after playing for a while, the question of whether or not enough game exists in PixelJunk 4am begins to emerge. On one hand, as it is, PixelJunk 4am is a different kind of music game experience that is empowered by its unorthodox roots. If it became “more” of a game, that could be its undoing. On the other hand, the premise of mixing the same songs over and over again for groups of PSN users begins to wane in strength a bit. PixelJunk 4am has no characters, no worlds—nothing more than its canvases and its technology to present to the player in the form of gameplay. PixelJunk 4am‘s technology could be used to power quite an interesting music or rhythm game, but again, adding gameplay elements to it may destroy its appeal. Still, PixelJunk 4am is also such a compelling experience that it standing on its own is worth it.

A player’s performance is live for everyone with the Live Viewer to see. Players can offer “kudos” to performing players by waving their Moves during a player’s performance. Kudos and viewer totals periodically fade in and out at the bottom of the screen to let the player know that people are enjoying his or her performance. The player can also notify friends via Facebook and Twitter as to when he or she is performing. The social element here is interesting and the notification to other players via social networking that someone is playing would be great for games with online multiplayer, but will anyone other than PixelJunk 4am enthusiasts turn on their PS3s, sit down, and watch a performance? How many active users will be around to watch in the time ahead? If some kind of online cooperative music mixing were possible, maybe the notification system would have stronger appeal. Again, the game has a crossroads: if cooperative music mixing was added, it might interfere with the game’s core experience.

One tiny nitpick is that the game offers a series of canvas sets, but isn’t really specific on how to unlock them. I had played PixelJunk 4am‘s first “Random” canvas for over an hour before quitting out to discover a new tutorial for previously undisclosed functionality was available and that new canvas sets had been unlocked. The game doesn’t really communicate what, if any, criteria there are to unlock them. The developers may have just wanted players to enjoy the experience and not worry about earning new levels, but not really knowing how they unlock at all is just a bit odd.

PixelJunk 4am really has no target audience or ideal gamer. Gamers who like music will like it, gamers who like innovative games or unconventional gameplay experiences will like it, and gamers who just want to have fun will like it, too. The game offers stress-free, relaxing gameplay that allows its users to be as creative as they’d like to be. Although PixelJunk 4am may have a lack of traditional game elements, that same lack of traditional game elements is what makes it great and one of the most fascinating and intuitive experiences available for PlayStation Move. Anyone who thinks that Q-Games’ music experience is for them should definitely consider it up, as the odds of them being disappointed are slim to none.

PlayStation LifeStyle’s Final Score + A unique, stress-free, music experience like no other + Ease of accessibility and enabling the user to create whatever they want without penalty - Lack of traditional game elements may or may not appeal to some gamers

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© nickmichetti for PlayStation LifeStyle, 2012. | Permalink | One comment | Add to del.icio.us

With the Vita out for well over a month now, you’ve probably turned off the menu music, changed the background pic and played all the games you could until it crashed. What next? Read on to take a look at all the hottest and biggest upcoming Vita games to find out just what’s in store.

Below we have all the biggest games, while on page 2 we have the new IPs as well as download-only games and on page 3 we have the smaller sequels and rumored titles.

The Big Names – Well Established Franchises That Are Sure to be a Hit:

Call of Duty:

The biggest franchise of the generation hasn’t managed to replicate its success on mobiles or handhelds, but that’s because touch screens and one-joysticked devices suck for first person shooters. Nothing is known about the game, and whether it’s a fully fledged title, a port or a cheap knockoff.

Release date TBA.

Assassin’s Creed:

Again, nothing is known about this game, or when and where it’ll be set, but face stabbing on the Vita is sure to be fun.

Release date TBA.

LittleBigPlanet Vita:

Play.Create.Share has never looked so good. While using a DualShock was always a rather cumbersome way to create levels, the touch screen is actually a rather simple and easy way to practice being a developer. With the beta in registration now, hopefully we’ll soon get a closer look at the title.

Set for release some time later this year. Preorder here.

Resistance: Burning Skies:

The Resistance series might be dying, but it could be set to go out with a bang. Set to be the first FPS on the Vita, it’ll also have the honor of being the first FPS of note on a handheld. Players control firefighter Tom Riley, who battles against the Chimera during their invasion of the United States in 1951.

Out on May 29th in the US and 30th in Europe. Preorder here.

Madden:

Madden always does well so it’s sure to sell well, although sadly Madden NFL 13 on Vita won’t feature cross saves, which is a seriously missing feature.

Out on August 28th.

Street Fighter X Tekken:

Already available on the PS3 and 360, the PSV version of this franchise-tacular fighting game will include a few extra characters.

Set for release this Autumn. Preorder here.

BioShock:

With BioShock Vita taking a backseat to the development of BioShock Infinite (which was just delayed), don’t expect to see anything on this for quite a while.

Release date TBA.

Killzone:

Developed by Sony Cambridge (of MediEvil fame), the handheld Killzone game will be an FPS rather than a top down shooter like Liberation. It is also the first Killzone game to not be made by the core team at Guerrilla Games.

Release date TBA.

Next Page >>

© Sebastian Moss for PlayStation LifeStyle, 2012. | Permalink | 11 comments | Add to del.icio.us

There isn’t a single developer out there that can hold a candle to Rockstar Games when it comes to character development. The studio’s knack for sharp writing and poignant social commentary has led to the realization of some of the most authentic and memorable characters we’ve ever seeing in video games. As such, it goes without saying that when Remedy Entertainment turned the Max Payne franchise over to the capable hands of the Houser brothers, anticipation for the third installment flew through the roof, as gamers couldn’t wait to see how the famed Grand Theft Auto developer would flesh out the series’ complex and disturbed protagonist.

So now that they game has finally arrived, one question remains: Has Rockstar managed to do the pill-popping, alcoholic action hero justice?

Max Payne fans can rest easy, as the answer to that query is a resounding yes. Much like Red Dead Redemption, Max Payne 3 serves as a shining example of how Rockstar can take a pre-existing franchise from a completely different studio and breathe new life into it by capitalizing on their storytelling strengths. However, that isn’t to say that Max’s latest outing isn’t without its fair share of flaws, as a strict adherence to a number of series’ mainstays holds it back from being a truly remarkable experience.

Open world, sandbox gameplay has been a hallmark of the bulk of Rockstar’s titles, so Max Payne 3′s overly linear structure stood out to me like a sore thumb. While yes, the franchise is centered around a much more story-driven, scene-by-scene kind of experience, I couldn’t help but feel as though I was being funneled from one firefight to another. The game has this fantastic dark atmosphere, I just wish they did more to really flesh it out and make it feel like a place to explore, rather than just a backdrop for an endless torrent of white knuckle action.

The combat itself is fun, but isn’t quite as responsive as I had hoped. For those that aren’t too familiar with the series, the game’s bullet time mechanic will take a bit of getting used to, but once everything clicks, it serves as a competent third-person shooter. If you’ve played Grand Theft Auto IV or Red Dead Redemption, then the game’s core control scheme should feel right at home. I was actually pretty disappointed about this, mostly because I’ve always found the controls of most Rockstar titles to be their Achilles’ heel. But unlike the aforementioned titles, Max Payne 3 doesn’t have an open world to hide behind. This game is first and foremost a third-person shooter, and as such, it should bear the responsiveness and fluidity of others in its class. In the end, the gameplay of Max Payne 3 felt more like GTA IV with tacked on bullet time than anything else. That’s not a bad thing by any means, it just not a major selling point either.

And finally, just one more gripe, the health system. Now I know that hunting around for bottles of painkillers has been a staple to the franchise in the past, but come on, Max Payne 2 came out nearly ten years ago. When I’m playing a shooter, I don’t want to have to worry about healing myself—that’s why regenerating health, while hardly realistic, has become so popular. Fortunately, the game is void of virtually any load times—which are expertly masked behind cutscenes—so when you die, and I assure you, this will happen quite often, you’ll be able to jump right back into the action within seconds. Sure, drugs play a significant role in conveying the troubled character that Max is, but I don’t need to see him popping pills in the middle of a firefight to get the gist. Rockstar does a fantastic job of fleshing out who Max is outside of archaic gameplay conventions like life bars and health packs.

The presentation of Max Payne 3 is without a doubt the game’s crowning achievement. From the game’s cleverly written and well acted cast to the dark and disturbing cutscenes that glue the action together, Rockstar has outdone themselves yet again. The inner turmoil and demons that haunt the game’s protagonist feel believable and real. As the game progresses, you witness the slow but steady downward spiral that pulls Max further into a state of complete hopelessness. The cleverly narrated moments during both cutscenes and gameplay give the play a deeper look into the conflicted and completely lost mind of Max. The intimate connection that the game managed to foster between myself and Max was unlike anything I have ever experienced in this medium before.

The overall plot, while compelling enough to keep you on your toes, doesn’t compare to the underlying character journey of Max. Sure, the superficial events that transpire in Brazil as Max serves as a body guard for a wealthy family in São Paulo is intriguing, but it’s the underlying motivations that stem from our hero’s troubled past that will have you truly invested in Max Payne 3. I’m going to refrain from sharing any specifics with you so as not to spoil the experience when you get around to playing it yourself. Just know that this is a dark tale, so the faint of heart need not apply. After all, it is a game from Rockstar, so you should be well aware of what you’re getting yourself into.

While not groundbreaking on a technical level, the game’s visuals are the best we’ve seen from this studio. Every locale feels authentic and lived in, making the experience, although incredibly linear, still feel organic. The attention to detail is astounding, and the same can be said for the character animations. When Max has a shotgun in his offhand, he literally is holding it in his left hand. Seeing him swing his second weapon at his side while picking off foes with a handgun is intensely rewarding. Additionally, Max interacts with the environment in such a way that feels natural. If when leaping sideways in bullet time, Max collides with a wall or some other object, the player can feel and see the weight of that collision; which not only adds an additional layer of realism, but also forces the player to adjust his/her strategy as such a mistake will slow Max down. It’s clear that Rockstar poured a lot of time and effort into the look and feel of this game, which is only enhanced by the game’s haunting soundtrack.

The single player experience spans a total of 14 chapters and should take the average player anywhere from 12-15 hours to complete. To give the solo player an added incentive to keep coming back for more, an Arcade Mode, complete with both “Score Attack” and “New York Minute” serve up a few interesting twists, having you either rack up points or race against the clock through the game’s various levels. Additionally, Rockstar has packed in a fully fledged online multiplayer mode which makes use of its Social Club, allowing you to create “Crews” with your friends as you work together to rank up online. Game types include the standard Deathmatch and Team Deathmatch, as well as a King-of-the-Hill inspired mode dubbed “Payne Killer.” Those looking for a more cinematic experience will appreciate “Gang Wars,” a mode that infuses story elements and mission objectives into the battle, resulting in a unique and dynamic experience. While the single-player is enough to justify the price of admission, the robust online offering certainly will keep this disc spinning in gamers’ consoles for quite some time.

Max Payne 3 tells a dark and gripping tale that benefits from stellar writing, compelling characters and a careful attention to detail. Rockstar Games has a solid reputation among the gaming community and their latest title lives up to the studio’s pedigree. If you’re a fan of classic Max Payne and want to be taken on a journey that tips its hat to a number of series’ mainstays—if at times to its detriment—then Max Payne 3 is just the fix you’re looking for.

PlayStation LifeStyle’s Final Score + Fantastic writing and voice acting + Amazing portrayal of one of gaming’s most tragic characters - Gameplay mechanics borrow too heavily from prior Rockstar titles

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© Alex for PlayStation LifeStyle, 2012. | Permalink | 6 comments | Add to del.icio.us

Each week Sony brings PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Portable owners new content, add-ons, games and more. PlayStation LifeStyle catalogs the PlayStation Store updates for the major regions across the globe. Check back every Tuesday and Wednesday to keep up to date with each week’s PlayStation Store Update.

** Note for other regions **

European PSN is updated on Wednesdays.

North American Update

PlayStation Plus Content

Free PSN Game

• Rock of Ages

Discounts

• 50% off Goldeneye Reloaded
• 40% Off Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood Complete

PSN Games

• PixelJunk 4am Full Game ($9.99)

PS3 Full Games

• Rock Of Ages ($9.99)
• Jam Live Music Arcade ($9.99)
• Goldeneye 007 Reloaded ($59.99)
• Prototype 2 With Radnet Access Pack ($59.99)
• Sonic The Hedgehog 4 Episode II ($14.99)

Game Demos (free)

• Batman Arkham City
• PixelJunk 4am
• Rock Of Ages
• Sonic The Hedgehog 4 Episode II

PS3 Add-ons

• Asura’s Wrath – Lost Episode 2 ($1.99)
• Dungeon Defenders: Quest For The Lost Eternia Shards Part III ($3.99)
• Final Fantasy XIII add ons (x5) ($2.99 – $4.99)
• LittleBigPlanet 2 add ons (x5) ($1.99 – $5.99)
• Max Payne 3 – Gorilla Warfare Loadout Pack (free)
• MotorStorm RC add ons (x3) (free – $0.49 each)
• Resident Evil Operation Raccoon City – Echo Six Expansion Pack 2 ($9.99)
• Tiger Woods PGA Tour 13 add ons (x4) (free)
• Two Worlds II: Defense ($2.99)
• UFC Undisputed 3 – Contenders Pack ($2.99)
• Worms Ultimate Mayhem: Multi-Player Pack ($4.99)
• Yakuza: Dead Souls add ons (x2) (free)
• Rocksmith – Come Out And Play By The Offspring ($2.99)
• Rocksmith – Gone Away By The Offspring ($2.99)
• Rocksmith – Self Esteem By The Offspring ($2.99)
• Rocksmith – The Offspring Song Pack ($7.99)

Rock Band 3

• “BRICK BY BORING BRICK” – Paramore ($1.99)
• “IGNORANCE” – Paramore ($1.99)
• “THE ONLY EXCEPTION” – Paramore ($1.99)
• “THE ONLY EXCEPTION (PRO GUITAR)” – Paramore ($0.99)
• Artist pack ($5.49) – Build your Rock Band library by purchasing this song game album: PARAMORE PACK 01. This pack includes “Brick By Boring Brick”, “Ignorance” and “The Only Exception”. By Paramore

Rock Band Network v2.0

• “BEER, METAL, TROLLS AND VOMIT!” – Nordheim ($1.99)
• “OCEAN FLOOR” – The Bunny the Bear ($1.99)
• “SONG FOR THE BROKEN” – Close Your Eyes ($1.99)
• “TOCCATA AND FUGUE IN D MINOR (BACH)” – Johann Sebastian Bach ($0.99)
• “YOUNGER LUNGS” – Less Than Jake ($1.99)

PS Vita Add-Ons

• MotorStorm RC add ons (x3) (free – $0.49 each)
• Reality Fighters Soccer Fight Pack ($2.99)
• Ridge Racer add ons (x4) ($1.49 – $2.49)

Updates

• 5-In-1 Arcade Hits – Minis (Sale) (PSP) (now $0.99, original price $1.99)
• Assassin’s Creed (Sale) (PS3) (now $13.99, original price $19.99)
• Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood – The Da Vinci Disappearance (Sale) (PS3) (now $6.99, original price $9.99)
• Assassin’s Creed II – Sequence 13 + Secret Locations (Sale) (PS3) (now $4.89, original price $6.99)
• Assassin’s Creed II: Sequence 12: Battle Of Forli (Sale) (PS3) (now $2.79, original price $3.99)
• Assassin’s Creed II Deluxe Edition Digital (Sale) (PS3) (now $13.99, original price $19.99)
• Assassin’s Creed: Bloodlines (Sale) (PS3) (now $13.99, original price $19.99)
• Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood (Sale) (PS3) (now $20.99, original price $29.99)
• Beyond Good And Evil Hd (Sale) (PS3) (now $6.99, original price $9.99)
• Blimp: The Flying Adventures – Minis (Sale) (PSP) (now $0.99, original price $1.99)
• Call Of Juarez: Bound In Blood (Sale) (PS3) (now $13.99, original price $19.99)
• Call Of Juarez: Bound In Blood Old West Map Pack (Sale) (PS3) (now $6.99, original price $9.99)
• Far Cry 2 (Sale) (PS3) (now $13.99, original price $19.99)
• Far Cry 2 Fortunes Pack (Sale) (now $3.49, original price $9.99)
• From Dust (Sale) (PS3) (now $10.49, original price $14.99)
• Might And Magic Clash Of Heroes (Sale) (PS3) (now $10.49, original price $14.99)
• Minisquadron – Minis (Sale) (PSP) (now $0.99, original price $1.99)
• One Epic Game – Minis (Sale) (PSP) (now $0.99, original price $1.99)
• Prince Of Persia (Sale) (PS3) (now $13.99, original price $19.99)
• Prince Of Persia Classic (Sale) (PS3) (now $6.99, original price $9.99)
• Prince Of Persia Classic Trilogy Hd (Bundle) (Sale) (PS3) (now $27.99, original price $39.99)
• Prince Of Persia: Epilogue Dlc (Sale) (PS3) (now $6.99, original price $9.99)
• Prince Of Persia: Sands Of Time (Sale) (PS3) (now $10.49, original price $14.99)
• Prince Of Persia: The Forgotten Sands (Sale) (PS3) (now $13.99, original price $19.99)
• Prince Of Persia: The Two Thrones (Sale) (PS3) (now $10.49, original price $14.99)
• Prince Of Persia: Warrior Within (Sale) (PS3) (now $10.49, original price $14.99)
• Ricochet Hd (Sale) (PS3) (now $2.74, original price $4.99)
• Scott Pilgrim (Sale) (PS3) (now $6.99, original price $9.99)
• The Impossible Game – Minis (Sale) (PSP) (now $0.99, original price $1.99)
• Magic 2012 Gold Deck Bundle (Sale) (PS3) (now $4.99, original price $9.99)
• Magic: The Gathering – Dules of the Planeswalkers 2012 Gold Bundle (Sale) (PS3) (now $9.99, original price $19.99)
• Outland (Sale) (PS3) (now $6.99, original price $9.99)
• Scott Pilgrim – Knives Chau Add-On Pack (Sale) (PS3) (now $1.39, original price $1.99)
• Final Fight: Double Impact (Sale) (PS3) (now $4.99, original price $9.99)

Game Videos (free)

• Assassin’s Creed III Announcement Trailer
• Darksiders 2: Death Strikes: Part I Trailer
• Darksiders 2: Behind The Mask: Death Rises Trailer
• Darksiders 2: Behind The Mask: Deaths World Trailer
• Darksiders 2: Death Eternal Trailer
• Far Cry 3 Dr. Earnhardt Gameplay Trailer
• Game Of Thrones – The Wall Trailer
• Game Of Thrones – This Is War Trailer
• Game Of Thrones- Winter Trailer
• Medal Of Honor Warfighter Announce Trailer
• Medal Of Honor Warfighter Gameplay 1 Trailer
• Sleeping Dogs Driving Trailer
• Sleeping Dogs Undercover: Hong Kong Trailer
• Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Future Soldier: Ghost Recon Alpha

PS3 Themes

• Dynamic Beautiful Girl 3 ($2.99)
• Max Payne 3 Premium Theme ($1.99)

PSone Classics

• Myst ($5.99)

PS2 Classics

• Red Faction 2 ($5.99)

Bundles

• Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood Complete Edition ($24.99)
• Call Of Juarez: Bound In Blood Complete Edition ($19.99)
• Far Cry 2 Complete Edition ($19.99)
• Prince Of Persia Complete Edition ($19.99)
• Scott Pilgrim Complete Edition ($7.99)

Music

• Sorcery Soundtrack ($4.99)

PlayStation Store for PSP

PSP minis

• Velocity- Minis ($4.99)

Next Page: Japanese & Hong Kong Update »

© Louis Edwards for PlayStation LifeStyle, 2012. | Permalink | No comments | Add to del.icio.us

I don’t understand why Sony is desperate to reveal everything before E3, but I don’t care – this The Last of Us trailer looks incredible.

Unlike the reveal trailer, it doesn’t say that the trailer is captured directly from the PS3, so the cutscene might have been tweaked after being run on the console. Titled “The Truck Ambush Trailer”, you won’t see any of the freaky Cordyceps monsters, but rather an equally dangerous threat – man.

For those curious, the song on the radio is Alone and Forsaken by Hank Williams.

What do you think of the video? Does Ellie look a little less Ellen Page to you? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

© Sebastian Moss for PlayStation LifeStyle, 2012. | Permalink | 11 comments | Add to del.icio.us

Editor’s Note: The following is a community post by PSLS reader Kick_in_ur_Face, who says a fond goodbye to Metal Gear Online, which is sadly shutting down on June 12th, 2012.

Metal Gear Online, or MGO as it was known to its players, will be ending soon in June. It is the best multiplayer I have ever played, and as a tribute I can simply write about my memories of such a game, but there are of course ups and downs of Metal Gear Online.

Let’s start at the beginning: In the early days of MGO it was impossible to join a game without Aim Bots. The memory that always comes to mind is the one I tell the most. I remember on the map “U.U.” I saw an enemy across the bridge, a distance shot, and I wasn’t the best shot at this time. I aimed; fired one shot and missed. This player, as I fired, turned around and shot me between the eyes, and before I even began to fall down, the player had already turned around and was continuing on his path. Konami soon did away with the majority of Aim Bots, but they still exist even though people dispute the fact. Even with such shenanigans, the game was extremely fun. I dreamed about MGO when I was sleeping and I dreamed of MGO when I was awake. I was a great sniper in my hayday. M.M. is the map of choice for sniping and my fondest memory is me taking on 3 snipers and destroying them all. 3 up, 3 down, respawn and 3 more down – those were the days. Learning how to knife made the game even better. Waiting for that one person to come around the corner just so you can toss him down, and use your stun knife and then eventually use your knife to completely kill him.

Then there was the time I remember where the opponent used a DSR-1 (one shot sniper rifle) to kill members of our team and I ran out with an AK47, aimed at his head and got a headshot while he killed me with his cheap tactics. You just know when you’re better than someone else and you have to take the moral victory. These were all fun memories for me but there were some bad too. Everyone knows about the horrible lag that came with MGO. Hit someone with a grenade and they go flying, and if you don’t kill them right away they disappear and reappear about 5 feet from where they were and now they have a free shot on you. That’s not really a problem but an inconvenience. I always had a rule – if they are wearing Red they are cheaters. The people in red always did the impossible shots. I was watching YouTube MGO videos and this guy was simply shooting at spots before someone was there and getting massive kills and in the comments people were saying you’re the best player but I call bullshit. When your reticule doesn’t drop below the neck, EVER, you’re full of shit.

But let’s get into the other problems I had. All the problems I have mentioned are issues, but you can deal with those. What I couldn’t deal with were the whiners. Oh my god; the whiners! In MGO you had the ability to create games and set all parameters from what guns you could use to what game type and map you were playing. It got completely annoying. If a host sucked against grenades he simply removed them from play. Some games you played with no sniper rifles or no rifles in general. What I really hated was when you’re just trying to play a Team Stealth Game and there are special rules of how to play it. The constant special rule on all Team Stealth games was NO RUSHING! The players turned the game type into Hide and Seek. You sat back as the invisible team and waited for the defending team to come find you. It was completely boring. All you would hear was “Kick Him, He’s Rushing!” Oddly enough these weren’t the only whiners in the game. When you kill anyone who was a higher level than you they would either leave to protect their stats or they would come on the mic and be like “that guy is cheating, I’m too good and if he’s killing me, he must be cheating”. This game was killed by the players. You just couldn’t have fun anymore. Between the special rules (literally in every game) and the whiners who played them, there was no point anymore. This was the longest I have ever played multiplayer and it was the greatest experience I have ever had. I no longer play MGO but will be sad when the game goes offline. Farewell Metal Gear Online. Long live H34dHuNtEr and Raidens_Clone.

If you enjoyed Kick_in_ur_Face’s post, be sure to vote for it to win the community writer award once all the entrants are published.

© Sebastian Moss for PlayStation LifeStyle, 2012. | Permalink | 4 comments | Add to del.icio.us

Ubisoft has released the launch trailer for Ghost Recon Future Soldier.

The launch trailer for the game appears to completely consist of single player campaign footage, with an in-game cutscene included as well. The trailer shows an attempted nuclear missile attack by an unspecified enemy against the city of London. After the story cutscene, the trailer shows various moments of intense gameplay from throughout the single player campaign. The trailer closes with the Ghost Recon Future Soldier logo, the game’s release date and box art, and the contents of the game’s Signature Edition (a GameStop exclusive).

To view the launch trailer, click on the video below:

Ubisoft recently released the 25-minute prequel film to Ghost Recon Future Soldier, Ghost Recon Alpha, which can be seen here.

Ghost Recon Future Soldier releases for PS3 and Xbox 360 on May 22nd. A PC version release will follow on June 12th.

Are you excited for Ghost Recon Future Soldier‘s upcoming release? Let us know in the comments below!

© nickmichetti for PlayStation LifeStyle, 2012. | Permalink | No comments | Add to del.icio.us

It’s time for another edition of POWERon, the PSLS-only webcomic. With Max Payne out in North America, we take a look at how the world’s most blatantly named gunfighter finds life once he’s defeated all his enemies.

- Dan O

Much like the repetition that comes with franchises like COD, there seems to be a continual focus on producing franchises new and old. Now I cannot say whether the rebooting of franchises is necessarily a bad thing, as there are a number of titles out there that I would love to see be updated. Strider or Blaster Master, are prime examples of games that I would love to see return in 2D form. Sadly the return of Max Payne does not really excite me that much. The one thing that separated Max Payne from other shooters was its bullet time aspect, a feature that since then, has become over used and mundane. So it is not enough to simply bring back a beloved franchise. You must be able to recreate something that people loved, and add a modern concept without losing the game’s roots. Something that I believe is rarely done correctly.

- Seb M:

New Max Payne might not be much like old Max Payne, but I don’t care because it’s made by Rockstar, and they’re one of my favorite developers. But generally, I don’t want to see old games get revamped, it’s rarely done right and just ruins my memory of the game – the less said about Bomberman: Act Zero the better.

Just as Max Payne shouldn’t drink and dive, developers shouldn’t rehash old stuff. Try something new, be different, make a game that in 20 years people will look back at and say “oh man, remember ___? They don’t make games like that any more”.

What do you think? Let us know in the comments below!

<< Previous Edition

© Dan Oravasaari for PlayStation LifeStyle, 2012. | Permalink | One comment | Add to del.icio.us

Sony has released a list of PSP games and minis that will available to download for Vita on the PlayStation Store today. They’ve also released a list of PSP games and minis for Vita that will be coming to the PlayStation Store sometime in the future.

On the PS Blog, Sony has announced a few additional PSP games and minis that will be available for purchase on the PS Store for PlayStation Vita effective today. They are:

PSP Titles:

• Cho Aniki Zero (Aksys Games Localization, Inc.)
• Strikers 1945 Plus (PM Studios, Inc.)
• Tom Clancy’S Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter 2 (UbiSoft, Inc.)
• Tom Clancy’S Rainbow Six: Vegas (UbiSoft, Inc.)
• Valhalla Knights 2: Battle Stance (XSEED JKS, Inc.)
• Ys: I & II Chronicles Digital (XSEED JKS, Inc.)

PSP minis:

• Aero Racer (Halfbrick Studios)
• Age Of Zombies (Halfbrick Studios)
• Blast Off (Halfbrick Studios)
• Dynogems (StormBasic)
• Echoes (Halfbrick Studios)
• Me Monstar: Hear Me Roar (Cohort Studios)
• Vempire (Impressionware Srl)

Sony has also released a list of PSP games and minis that are “coming soon” to the PS Store for Vita. They are:

PSP Titles

• 3D Twist & Match (Sanuk Games)
• Aedis Eclipse: Generation Of Chaos Legacy (NIS America, Inc.)
• Bejeweled 2 (Sony Online Entertainment LLC)
• Beta Bloc (D3 Publisher of America)
• Brain Challenge (Gameloft)
• Dead Head Fred (D3 Publisher of America)
• Field Commander (Sony Online Entertainment LLC)
• Gods Eater Burst (D3 Publisher of America)
• Groovin’ Blocks (Sony Online Entertainment LLC)
• King Of Pool (Nordcurrent UAB)
• Luxor: Pharaoh’S Challenge Umd Legacy (Mumbo Jumbo)
• Major League Baseball 2K10 (2KGames)
• Mercury Meltdown (Ignition Entertainment)
• Mx Vs Atv Untamed (THQ, Inc.)
• Peggle (Sony Online Entertainment LLC)
• Prehistoric Isle (SNK PLAYMORE CORPORATION)
• Puzzle Quest: Challenge Of The Warlords (D3 Publisher of America)
• Reel Fishing: The Great Outdoors Legacy (Natsume, Inc.)
• Split Second (Disney Interactive Studios)
• Super Pocket Tennis (D3 Publisher of America)
• The Red Star (XS Games, LLC)
• Unbound Saga (Vogster Entertainment, LLC)
• Undead Knights Digital (Tecmo Koei America Corporation)
• Uno (Gameloft)
• Untold Legends: Brotherhood Of The Blade (Sony Online Entertainment LLC)
• Untold Legends: The Warrior’S Code French (Sony Online Entertainment LLC)
• Work Time Fun (D3 Publisher of America)
• WWE All Stars (THQ, Inc.)
• WWE Smackdown Vs. Raw 2010 (THQ, Inc.)

PSP minis:

• 5 In 1 Solitaire (Digital Leisure)
• Alien Zombie Death (PomPom Games)
• Arcade Air Hockey & Bowling (Icon Games)
• Babel: The King Of The Blocks (StormBasic)
• Bashi Blocks (Icon Games)
• Bermuda Triangle (SNK PLAYMORE CORPORATION)
• Breakquest (Beatshapers)
• Bubble Trubble (Creat Studios)
• Card Shark (Laughing Jackal Ltd)
• Carnivores: Ice Age (Beatshapers)
• Cohort Chess (Cohort Studios)
• Doodle Fit (Gamelion)
• Doodle Pool (Big Head Games)
• Duael Invaders (Laughing Jackal Ltd)
• Enigmo (Beatshapers)
• Family Games (Icon Games)
• Farm Frenzy (Alawar Entertainment, Inc.)
• Fighting Fantasy: The Warlock Of Firetop Mountain (Laughing Jackal Ltd)
• Fly Fu (Invictus Games LTD.)
• Galcon Labs (Beatshapers)
• Gamocracy One : Legend Of Robot (AYEWARE / Bearded Ladies Consulting)
• Gold Medalist (SNK PLAYMORE CORPORATION)
• Guerrilla War (SNK PLAYMORE CORPORATION)
• Hal 21 (SNK PLAYMORE CORPORATION)
• Hero Of Sparta (Gameloft)
• Hysteria Project 2 (Sanuk Games)
• Ikari Warriors (SNK PLAYMORE CORPORATION)
• Ikari Warriors Ii: Victory Road (SNK PLAYMORE CORPORATION)
• Jelly Pops (PomPom Games)
• Karimogi (StormBasic)
• Labyrinth (Bigben Interactive, S.A.)
• Let’S Golf (Gameloft)
• Marvin’S Maze (SNK PLAYMORE CORPORATION)
• Mecho Wars (Creat Studios)
• Omg-Z! (Laughing Jackal Ltd)
• One Epic Game (Grip Digital)
• Ozma Wars (SNK PLAYMORE CORPORATION)
• P.O.W. – Prisoners Of War (SNK PLAYMORE CORPORATION)
• Pipe Madness (AYEWARE / Bearded Ladies Consulting)
• Pix N Love Rush (Sanuk Games)
• Psycho Soldier (SNK PLAYMORE CORPORATION)
• Red Bull X-Fighters (Xendex)
• Rumble Trucks (Playerthree Ltd)
• Street Smart (SNK PLAYMORE CORPORATION)
• The 2D Adventures Of Rotating Octopus Character (Dakko Dakko Ltd.)
• The Impossible Game (Grip Digital)
• The Marbians (Nordisk Film Distribution A/S)
• Twin Blades (Sanuk Games)
• Vanguard Ii (SNK PLAYMORE CORPORATION)
• Wackylands Boss (Creat Studios)
• Yetisports (Xendex)
• Zombie Racers (Big Head Games)

What do you think of the new and upcoming PSP games and minis for the PS Store for Vita? Let us know in the comments!

© nickmichetti for PlayStation LifeStyle, 2012. | Permalink | No comments | Add to del.icio.us

Konami has given an interesting comment about the possibility of a new Metal Gear title for Vita.

During an interview with EvolveTV about Metal Gear Solid HD Collection‘s arrival on the PlayStation Vita, Konami Brand Manager Kevin Vlaming was asked if a new Metal Gear being released for PlayStation Vita was a possibility. He said:

Oh, absolutely. Again, you know, whatever our fans want, our fans get. Really, we just want to expand the Metal Gear franchise. Obviously, with Rising — you know we’re doing that. But again, you know, we’re not focusing on, you know, what everything else is going on. But as far as the Vita is concerned, I wouldn’t cancel anything out.

Konami hasn’t announced any new installments of Metal Gear for PlayStation Vita, but if there are any Metal Gear announcements for Vita, PSLS will keep you posted.

Would you like to see a new Metal Gear on Vita? Let us know in the comments below!

© nickmichetti for PlayStation LifeStyle, 2012. | Permalink | 4 comments | Add to del.icio.us

Industry analyst Colin Sebastian from RW Baird doesn’t have the same level of faith in the PlayStation Vita as Sony. With only 1.8 million units sold as of March 2012, Sebastian doesn’t believe that Sony will be able to reach their target of 10 million sales by the end of the 2013 fiscal year.

In an interview with GamesIndustry, the analyst said that the company’s goal of 10 million sales is a bit of a “stretch” when considering the current state of the handheld business and the rising popularity of smartphone gaming.

10 million looks like a stretch goal at this point. Perhaps there is a price cut baked into that guidance later in the year, or Sony believe that there are titles such as Call of Duty for Vita that will be meaningful platform drivers.

Vita is a great dedicated game device, but the market for those products continues to shrink as smart devices become better platforms for games.

The CEO of Panoptic Management Consultants, Asif Khan shared similar thoughts, saying that unless Sony plans to drop the price, the Vita is going to suffer sales-wise over the coming months. With Nintendo’s 3DS rising in popularity, Sony has to change things up if they want to compete.

I am not surprised that the Vita is having such sluggish sales as their launch lineup was nothing to write home about and the price point of the device is too high. With Wii U coming out this fall and 3DS sales gaining momentum, the 10 million unit sales target seems a little too optimistic.

The best thing Sony could do to spur Vita sales would be to lower the price of the device.

While it is highly unlikely that we’ll see Sony drop the price of the Vita at this year’s E3, you can count on them debuting a bunch of new software for the platform.

© Alex for PlayStation LifeStyle, 2012. | Permalink | 3 comments | Add to del.icio.us

Team ICO’s The Last Guardian has been one of Sony’s most anticipated PS3 exclusives for quite some time. After a handful of delays, the hype has begun to quickly fade, but with E3 on the horizon, Sony fans are undoubtedly holding out hope for more information. Unfortunately, Sony is remaining tight-lipped on the game, dodging questions regarding its presence at this year’s expo.

While Sony did make a point to clarify that the game is still in development, they refused to comment on its presence in LA this June. According to a twitter post from Game Informer’s Jim Reilly, a recent statement from Sony said the following: “The Last Guardian continues to be developed, however we have no news to share at this time with regard to the franchise and E3.”

This could mean one of two things: they’ve either got a big reveal planned at their press conference that they don’t want to spoil, or they simply don’t wish to spread the black cloud of depression that ensues the game’s development. We’re praying it’s the prior.

© Alex for PlayStation LifeStyle, 2012. | Permalink | 9 comments | Add to del.icio.us

Recently, the veil was lifted of Keiji Inafune’s new PlayStation Vita game, Soul Sacrifice. And while the early look at the game proved to be both interesting and stunning, these new screenshots will give you a better look at how the game might play.

Some details have been announced, but for the most part are still scarce. However, it appears that the baddies are enormous and frightening, and there is a whole lot of punching the ground going on. I’m sure we’ll find out even more come June 4th at Sony’s E3 press conference.

For now, though, feast your eyes on these delightful new Soul Sacrifice screenshots.

© Anthony Severino for PlayStation LifeStyle, 2012. | Permalink | 3 comments | Add to del.icio.us