J@ricanese has updated his Simon game for the PSP:


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via Planet Xbox 360

Marvel Entertainment, SEGA Europe mand SEGA of America have expanded their relationship to include the rights to develop and distribute games inspired by Marvel’s Hall-of-Fame franchises -- Captain America, The Incredible Hulk and Thor. Through the exclusive, multi-year global licensing agreement, SEGA will create titles for console, handheld and PC platforms based upon both the classic comic books and planned feature film adaptations of these world-renowned Super Heroes. The deal follows Marvel and SEGA’s announcement to create titles based on Super Hero favorite Iron Man, with both game and film slated to be released in May 2008.

“Video games are an ideal medium to showcase the appeal and excitement of our Super Hero franchises,” said David Maisel, Chairman, Marvel Studios. “SEGA is one of the industry’s most innovative game developers and we are thrilled to partner with them to bring Captain America, The Incredible Hulk and Thor to the video gaming arena. These franchises represent three of Marvel’s most popular characters and lend themselves to captivating game play. We have already seen SEGA’s passion for the Marvel Universe through the early development of the Iron Man video game, and we look forward to working closely with them over the next few years to maximize the potential of these franchises in the interactive entertainment space.”

Under the expanded agreement, SEGA will develop a title to be based on Marvel Studios' highly-anticipated The Incredible Hulk feature film. Hitting theaters June 13, 2008, the film will return the larger-than-life green goliath to the roots of the long-running comic series with an all-new action-packed storyline directed by Louis Leterrier (Transporter 2, Unleashed). The Incredible Hulk video game will be released in the same timeframe as the film. Games based on Captain America and Thor will follow, though the timing of those feature film projects, currently in development, has not yet been determined.

“We are excited to broaden our partnership with Marvel, a recognized leader and innovator in the entertainment industry,” said Simon Jeffery, President and COO, SEGA of America. “As SEGA continues to create games that are built from the ground up to appeal to Western audiences it makes perfect sense to work with a powerhouse like Marvel. Captain America, The Incredible Hulk and Thor are icons that people are already familiar with and love, so our goal is to give gamers the ability to play out their fantasies by actually becoming these Super Heroes. Fans can now not only watch them in movies and read about them in comic books, but also literally control their actions through the video games we are creating. We look forward to bringing these icons to life like never before and putting the power in the hands of the fans.” ...

Valhalla Knights looked so promising when it was first previewed so many months ago. Looks like it'll join the ever-growing collection of RPG failures on our system. The critics, for the most part, have bashed XSEED's latest, telling you to stay far, far away from it:

1UP (35/100) likens the experience to torture: "I can't remember the last time I felt so constricted as a gamer. Sure, running around the dungeons and slashing through enemies is enjoyable enough -- and, dare I say it, even fun at times. But as soon as you attempt to play through Valhalla Knights like its an actual game, it completely falls apart. The viselike grip Valhalla Knights holds."
G4 (40/100) thinks the game is too old-school for its own good: "This is not a game for the impatient, especially since there's no in-game help system. When it comes to combat tactics or building a party, you have to learn by doing (and probably dying)."
IGN (53/100) wanted to like the game, but couldn't: "Valhalla Knights succeeded at impressing me with fun, real-time combat, completely pissing me off with drawn-out quests and eventually driving me away due to the complete lack of anything resembling story progression."
Ouch! Those are some of the harshest reviews we've read in quite some time. Valhalla Knights is now available in stores ... if you dare pick it up

via pspfanboy ...

via pspfanboy

Finally! Concrete details about Wild Arms are slowly coming out of Japan. Gamers have been waiting for even the tiniest morsel of information since the game was first announced last September. New scans from Famitsu, available at Jeux-France, showcase a new look for the game, as it treads into strategy RPG territory. While fans are always welcome a new Wild Arms, some are disappointed the game is straying from its roots. With Jeanne d'Arc and Final Fantasy Tactics also coming on PSP, some are wondering if another high-profile SRPG is really all that necessary on our handheld.

Regardless, the game certainly looks pretty. It appears the title will also have connectivity with Wild Arms 5 on PS2, so true fans of the series will want to pick up both. We hope to unearth more details and screenshots in the coming weeks.

Scans Here ...

Have you heard of Silverfall? This PC hack 'n slash RPG came and went pretty silently, failing to earn the attention of many gamers. It looks like the newly announced PSP version may do the same, considering its stealthy debut announcement. The original game failed to earn the respect of critics, with many noting its highly derivative gameplay. We hope that Kiev Games will take all the criticism the original earned and apply it to the PSP version--we can certainly use a solid Diablo-style RPG.

via pspfanboy ...

Remember all that talk about Hideo Kojima (Metal Gear) teaming up with Suda 51 (Killer 7) for a joint project? The two producers touched upon their first collaborative effort in the latest Hidechan radio broadcast, which was recorded live at a fan event held over the weekend in Tokyo.

Famitsu reports in its latest issue that Suda 51 took a few moments of the recording session to spill a few details on the mysterious "Project S." He began with some shocking news. The S in Project S stands for Snatcher! Yes, Hideo Kojima's classic Sega CD cyber adventure is back!

Although not as a game, at least not yet. Suda 51 announced that Project S will bring back the Snatcher franchise in a variety of media. The first form will be as a radio drama. Suda 51 himself has written the script for the drama, whose name may end up being Snatchers (he hasn't finalized it yet). He also mentioned something about lending his own voice talents to the drama, although we're not sure if he was being serious.

According to Famitsu, members of the audience gasped at the revelation that Snatcher was on its way back after a decade silence (the Sega CD game was later released on the PlayStation and Saturn). While the game's dark setting and story should make for a compelling drama, we're sure the gaspers were more interested in the possibilities of a revival for the franchise on the game scene.

Longtime PSP followers may remember a "Project S" announced by SEGA in the very early days of the PSP's hype-up. It seems unlikely that this "Project S" and that "Project S" are the same Project S (why would SEGA be the publisher for a Konami game by Grasshopper Manufacture?), but since SEGA has said nothing about the PSP's Project S since 2004, speculate away if it makes you feel good ... a Snatcher radio play, graphically detailed on the MGS: Digital Graphic Novel engine? By SEGA? Yeah, if only it all added up, but it doesn't. Sorry PSP Project S, but maybe we'll hear from you again one day.

Sadly, Suda 51 did not provide further details, so we'll have to wait for little bits to slip out here and there, perhaps in future Hidechan radio broadcasts.

via ign ...

via ign

We just got through writing about what we thought was the PSP's first dual UMD game, when we looked through a recent issue of Famitsu and learned that we were wrong. It turns out that the first PSP game to span two disks will be the latest entry in the Hot Shots Golf series.

Minna no Golf Ba, as the new entry is to be known in Japan, was announced last year as one of the first games to be compatible with Sony's PSP GPS attachment. While we were previously in the dark as to how the game would make use of the GPS receiver, the magazine has at last cleared things up.

The Hot Shots Golf series is known for offering a casual experience for all. Minna no Golf Ba, on the other hand, appears to be designed for people who actually golf in real life. Take your GPS-ready PSP and your copy of Minna no Golf Ba with you to one of the included real-life courses, and you'll have in your hands a a digital caddy! The game supports you as you golf, informing you of the remaining distance to the green and your current height. When used in virtual caddy form, the PSP is meant to be held vertically rather than in the traditional horizontal position.

Those who just want to play golf the traditional Hot Shots way will be able to as well. The game includes a mode of play with standard Hot Shots Golf play mechanics over the included courses. Super-spin and other special moves are missing from the gameplay, but the control is the same.

All this content apparently requires some hefty disk space. Minna no Golf Ba will span two disks. The first disk will include sixteen courses from southern Chiba along with one special course. The second disk will include fifteen courses from northern Chiba. Chiba, in case you're not familiar with Japanese geography, is the large mass of nothingness located just East of Tokyo.

The full name of this GPS-ready Hot Shots Golf is actually Minna no Golf Ba Vol.1. Sony is planning on releasing additional volumes in the future, featuring data on other courses from throughout Japan.

We presume international courses would also be possible if the idea takes off. Golfers worldwide should keep an eye on Minna no Golf Ba when it hits Japan on 5/31. ...

via ign

It's hard to believe, but someone has finally found a way to fill a UMD disc with game content. Falcom's latest Legend of Heroes game, Eiyuu Densetsu Sora no Kiseki SC as it's known in Japan, will be the first game to use two UMDs, the company revealed today.

Set for Japanese PSP release on 9/27, Sora no Kiseki is the sequel to Eiyuu Densetsu Sora no Kiseki FC, both originally PC RPGs. FC stands for First Chapter. We'll let you figure out what SC stands for. FC was released for the Japanese PSP back in September but has yet to make its way to international audiences. ...

xflash has released a new demo/game featuring thousands of dots moving around on the screen.

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