via mobilemag

Well, clearly this device isn't officially endorsed by the big boys at Sony, but that didn't stop a small, presumably China-based manufacturer from cashing in the PlayStation brand. The amusingly-named PS3 Game Player comes with a form factor not unlike the PSP, but its graphical prowess seems to be a far cry from the official Cell Processor-powered home console from which it "borrows" its namesake.

Instead, what you get is a measly 3.5-inch TFT color display only capable of doing QVGA (320x240). On the plus side, this knockoff system boasts a 1.3-megapixel camera, handwriting recognition (touchscreen?), stereo speakers, TV-out, and "built-in games." That's right, there's no slot for you shove in any UMDs or PS3 Blu-ray Discs.

It's not quite the portable PS3 you were looking for, but you can be sure that this handheld -- complete with a Street Fighter-like video game -- can be had for much less than the real thing. ...

via mobilemag

Well, clearly this device isn't officially endorsed by the big boys at Sony, but that didn't stop a small, presumably China-based manufacturer from cashing in the PlayStation brand. The amusingly-named PS3 Game Player comes with a form factor not unlike the PSP, but its graphical prowess seems to be a far cry from the official Cell Processor-powered home console from which it "borrows" its namesake.

Instead, what you get is a measly 3.5-inch TFT color display only capable of doing QVGA (320x240). On the plus side, this knockoff system boasts a 1.3-megapixel camera, handwriting recognition (touchscreen?), stereo speakers, TV-out, and "built-in games." That's right, there's no slot for you shove in any UMDs or PS3 Blu-ray Discs.

It's not quite the portable PS3 you were looking for, but you can be sure that this handheld -- complete with a Street Fighter-like video game -- can be had for much less than the real thing. ...

News for PSPdevs from oopo

The previous psptoolchain (1.0 series) can be accessed by:

svn export svn://svn.pspdev.org/psp/tags/psptoolchain-1.0.0

The new psptoolchain (2.0 series) can be accessed by:

svn export svn://svn.pspdev.org/psp/trunk/psptoolchain

Information on what's new can be seen in this thread:

http://forums.ps2dev.org/viewtopic.php?t=8355

Have a nice day. ...

It was a previous job posting back in November last year that revealed that a Red Steel sequel was on the way, and another vacancy ad seems to suggest that the expected Red Steel 2 will support online functionality.

A new Ubisoft job post on Gamasutra advertises for an online programmer to "develop the online part of a game engine for a Wii project ... located in [Ubisoft's] Production Studio in Paris, where Red Steel and Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter games have been developed".

With Nintendo flicking the 'on' switch on Wii's online multiplayer servers this Friday to coincide with the online-compatible Mario Strikers Charged Football, we'd fully expect the next Red Steel to pack an online multiplayer mode anyway. It would be a crime not to include one.

We're chasing Ubisoft and will let you know if we get anything juicy.

via cvg ...

New from Play Asia



Sony's popular anime fighting game Bleach Heat the Soul turns into the fourth round. As you probably expect from another update are once again an increased character selection. 20 new characters are entering the competition, which makes Bleach: Heat the Soul 4 the biggest game in the series ever with more than 70 characters in total.

Further features include a Mission Battle Mode and a new "Soul Blaise" system. This is also the first game to feature playable or partner vizards, if one does not count Ichigo.

...

New from Play Asia



description
Famed game producer Hironobu Sakaguchi of Mistwalker and developer Artoon present the highly anticipated Xbox 360™ exclusive Blue Dragon. Featuring the character design of Akira Toriyama of Dragon Ball Z and music by Nobuo Uematsu of Final Fantasy, Blue Dragon is an epic role-playing game that centers on a young boy named Shu and several of his friends.

These unlikely heroes possess the power to control phantom shadows that mirror the actions of their masters, giving Shu and his comrades miraculous strength and magical powers.

The warriors can create and develop their combat styles by utilizing different types of Shadow Change, including Sword, Assassin, and Power Magic. Shu and his friends must use the shadows as weapons and wield their skills to save their world from impending doom.

Encountering various people on a planet where numerous ancient ruins remain, the characters and their shadows travel through a world full of mysteries and illusions, where the slightest touch can cause reactions of unparalleled magnitude.

This Asian release version supports selectable Japanese and Korean voices, with English or traditional Chinese subtitles and menus. ...

News from PLay Asia



From the publisher: Join the DOA girls once again on Zack’s Island for Dead or Alive: Xtreme 2. Play at your own pace as you compete in exciting, all-new island activities. Play as any of nine different DOA girls and experience first-hand the resort life as it was meant to be enjoyed.

Dead or Alive Xtreme 2 for Xbox360™ is now available at discounted US$ 17.90 only. This is the NTSC/J encoded English/Chinese language release version.

Game features:

The Girls: The gorgeous women of Team Ninja'sDead or Alive come to life in a fun and beautiful island environment, complete with the flawless graphics of the Xbox 360™. Take pictures of the girls in the new unlockable Virtual Pictoral mode and save the best shots to your hard drive.
The Competition: Beach volleyball is back and better than ever, but now you can also experience all-new exciting and addictive events like jetskiing, Butt Battle, Beach Flag, and everyone's favorite, the Water Slide! Compete in single-player mode, in versus with a friend, or take your game online with Xbox Live®!
The Clothes: Unlock hundreds of swimsuits and accessories along with other outfits to customize your wardrobe and keep the DOA girls looking their best.
The Nightlife: Take some time away from the beach with the updated Casino feature. Gamble the night away and test your luck as you hang with the girls, unlock special items, and earn more money! ...

press release:

Sierra Entertainment, a division of Vivendi Games, announced today that The Chronicles of Riddick will blast onto Microsoft’s Xbox 360, and debut on the PLAYSTATION 3 system, for the first time. Taking advantage of new hardware technologies, the game will present a reinvention of Escape from Butcher Bay, delivering 2004’s award winning experience in high definition with stunning enhancements. Also included is the Dark Athena chapter, an expansion of the original game with an exciting new story and new gameplay features. Scheduled to ship later in 2007, it is being produced under license from Universal Pictures Digital Platforms Group, in association with Vin Diesel’s Tigon Studios, and is being developed by Starbreeze Studios, acclaimed developer of the original edition.

With The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena, players will not only be challenged to survive Butcher Bay, but will also engage in a new single-player experience and, for the first time in the Riddick universe, take action in intense multi-player combat. The game introduces the ominous Merc-ship Dark Athena, which sits silent like a marauding spider, awaiting helpless prey in the dark reaches of the galaxy. Players must face a large, bloodthirsty operation led by the dreaded Captain Revas and her slaves-turned-controllable combat drones, storm though death-defying events and fight fierce enemies in a battle of malice and gore.

First released in 2004, The Chronicles of Riddick game features an original storyline that provides insight into the mythology of Universal Pictures' films The Chronicles of Riddick and the cult classic Pitch Black, which first introduced Vin Diesel as enigmatic anti-hero Riddick. The game blends action and stealth elements, as players navigate Riddick through the harsh environments of dank tunnels, dimly lit corridors, and other hazardous areas filled with guards, savage inmates and deadly creatures that prowl the darkness.

“The Chronicles of Riddick is a genre defining game that helped shape the modern first-person shooter,” said Al Simone, senior vice president, global marketing for Sierra Entertainment. “We are proud to not only take this ‘Best in Class’ title to the next level for both the Xbox 360 and PLAYSTATION 3, but to create a new single-player experience and multi-player campaigns for a truly robust product offering.”

"When the original The Chronicles of Riddick game exploded on the scene, gamers were taken with its fantastic graphics and hard-hitting gameplay," said Bill Kispert, Vice President and General Manager, Interactive, Universal Pictures. "We are excited to now introduce new players to this character and world, while thrilling existing fans with the surprises and additional features this edition will offer."

"The Riddick universe is incredibly rich source material for creating on-going stories and games," said Cos Lazouras, Head of Production, Tigon Studios. "This next chronicle will take us to new, dark corners of that universe, which when combined with Starbreeze's fantastic next-gen techonology, will deliver the compelling player experience gamers have come to expect of Riddick."

"We’re very happy to be working in the Riddick universe again." said Ian Stevens, Lead Game Designer, Starbreeze Studios. "Assault on Dark Athena gives us an opportunity to revisit the original game and share it with a new audience, as well as offer a continuation of the Butcher Bay gameplay and storyline. We’re also thrilled to be bringing Multiplayer to the game."

Moving and attacking in darkness is particularly effective for Riddick as his haunting ‘eye shine’ gives him the ability to see without ambient light. However, stealth won't serve every situation and players will be able to take the action up close and personal. As Riddick, players will be able to sneak up behind enemies and snap necks or fight face to face using fists, elbows and grapples. Additionally, players will be able to capture weapons such as shanks, shotguns, or assault rifles and use these to cut a swath of destruction through anyone who gets in their way.

About The Chronicles of Riddick
Vin Diesel reprises his star-making Pitch Black role of enigmatic anti-hero Richard B. Riddick in the science fiction action-adventure epic, The Chronicles of Riddick. Released by Universal Pictures, in association with Radar Pictures and One Race Productions, The Chronicles of Riddick stars Colm Feore, Alexa Davalos, Karl Urban, Linus Roache, Thandie Newton and Dame Judi Dench.

Riddick has spent the last five years on the move among the forgotten worlds on the outskirts of the galaxy, eluding mercenaries bent on collecting the price on his head. Now, the fugitive finds himself on planet Helion, home to a progressive multicultural society that has been invaded by the Lord Marshal, a despot who targets humans for subjugation with his army of warriors known as Necromongers.

Exiled to a subterranean ...

press release:

Sierra Entertainment, a division of Vivendi Games, announced today that The Chronicles of Riddick will blast onto Microsoft’s Xbox 360, and debut on the PLAYSTATION 3 system, for the first time. Taking advantage of new hardware technologies, the game will present a reinvention of Escape from Butcher Bay, delivering 2004’s award winning experience in high definition with stunning enhancements. Also included is the Dark Athena chapter, an expansion of the original game with an exciting new story and new gameplay features. Scheduled to ship later in 2007, it is being produced under license from Universal Pictures Digital Platforms Group, in association with Vin Diesel’s Tigon Studios, and is being developed by Starbreeze Studios, acclaimed developer of the original edition.

With The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena, players will not only be challenged to survive Butcher Bay, but will also engage in a new single-player experience and, for the first time in the Riddick universe, take action in intense multi-player combat. The game introduces the ominous Merc-ship Dark Athena, which sits silent like a marauding spider, awaiting helpless prey in the dark reaches of the galaxy. Players must face a large, bloodthirsty operation led by the dreaded Captain Revas and her slaves-turned-controllable combat drones, storm though death-defying events and fight fierce enemies in a battle of malice and gore.

First released in 2004, The Chronicles of Riddick game features an original storyline that provides insight into the mythology of Universal Pictures' films The Chronicles of Riddick and the cult classic Pitch Black, which first introduced Vin Diesel as enigmatic anti-hero Riddick. The game blends action and stealth elements, as players navigate Riddick through the harsh environments of dank tunnels, dimly lit corridors, and other hazardous areas filled with guards, savage inmates and deadly creatures that prowl the darkness.

“The Chronicles of Riddick is a genre defining game that helped shape the modern first-person shooter,” said Al Simone, senior vice president, global marketing for Sierra Entertainment. “We are proud to not only take this ‘Best in Class’ title to the next level for both the Xbox 360 and PLAYSTATION 3, but to create a new single-player experience and multi-player campaigns for a truly robust product offering.”

"When the original The Chronicles of Riddick game exploded on the scene, gamers were taken with its fantastic graphics and hard-hitting gameplay," said Bill Kispert, Vice President and General Manager, Interactive, Universal Pictures. "We are excited to now introduce new players to this character and world, while thrilling existing fans with the surprises and additional features this edition will offer."

"The Riddick universe is incredibly rich source material for creating on-going stories and games," said Cos Lazouras, Head of Production, Tigon Studios. "This next chronicle will take us to new, dark corners of that universe, which when combined with Starbreeze's fantastic next-gen techonology, will deliver the compelling player experience gamers have come to expect of Riddick."

"We’re very happy to be working in the Riddick universe again." said Ian Stevens, Lead Game Designer, Starbreeze Studios. "Assault on Dark Athena gives us an opportunity to revisit the original game and share it with a new audience, as well as offer a continuation of the Butcher Bay gameplay and storyline. We’re also thrilled to be bringing Multiplayer to the game."

Moving and attacking in darkness is particularly effective for Riddick as his haunting ‘eye shine’ gives him the ability to see without ambient light. However, stealth won't serve every situation and players will be able to take the action up close and personal. As Riddick, players will be able to sneak up behind enemies and snap necks or fight face to face using fists, elbows and grapples. Additionally, players will be able to capture weapons such as shanks, shotguns, or assault rifles and use these to cut a swath of destruction through anyone who gets in their way.

About The Chronicles of Riddick
Vin Diesel reprises his star-making Pitch Black role of enigmatic anti-hero Richard B. Riddick in the science fiction action-adventure epic, The Chronicles of Riddick. Released by Universal Pictures, in association with Radar Pictures and One Race Productions, The Chronicles of Riddick stars Colm Feore, Alexa Davalos, Karl Urban, Linus Roache, Thandie Newton and Dame Judi Dench.

Riddick has spent the last five years on the move among the forgotten worlds on the outskirts of the galaxy, eluding mercenaries bent on collecting the price on his head. Now, the fugitive finds himself on planet Helion, home to a progressive multicultural society that has been invaded by the Lord Marshal, a despot who targets humans for subjugation with his army of warriors known as Necromongers.

Exiled to a subterranean ...