PSP HOMEPAGE

Fans of Kojima Productions’ work are probably accustomed to inexplicable weirdness by now. Case in point: Metal Gear Solid 4’s shaved monkey in a diaper, Little Gray. Now the Metal Gear developers have launched a new, browser-based, multiplayer… puzzle game?

Yep. Part of Konami’s promotional efforts for Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker include this new, free-to-play game called Metal Gear Solid: Piece Walker. It’s a puzzle game in the most literal sense, tasking players with guiding tiny men in painted cardboard boxes to the appropriate spot on a grid — eventually forming an image of something from the Metal Gear universe. Pearl Jam fans might find it a bit reminiscent of the tie-in that showed up around the rerelease of Ten last year.

The real kicker here is that there’s a full multiplayer mode, which allows up to four players to compete to solve the most pieces of the same puzzle. Victory earns the user points, and they can spend those on special items to help turn the tide of battle. There’s even stat tracking and a leaderboard.

 

 

Leave a Comment

The Japanese games industry is alive and kicking. At least, that’s what Japanese game retailers would have you believe. Japanese game magazine Famitsu recently asked 94 game retailers across Japan what 2009 did for them. Seventy percent said that the year end retail rush was was as good or better than previous years.

Retailers were split over what the hottest title of the season was. Super Mario Bros. Wii won over Final Fantasy XIII in a close vote. Both titles, with 74 and 69 votes respectively, dominated the nearest competitor, Phantasy Star Portable 2, which only received 38 votes.

“After FFXIII was released, I saw sales of the PS3 triple,” said one retailer in Aichi prefecture.

 

 

Leave a Comment

Bungie may not consider Halo: Reach the “real” fourth entry in the Halo series, but Metal Gear creator Hideo Kojima does think of Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker as essentially Metal Gear Solid 5 — almost.

“Since it is on PSP, I did not officially number it,” Kojima said in the latest issue of Official U.K. PlayStation Magazine (via The Gaming Liberty). “But the game design, story, number of staff and budget — you can say that this is a big project. It would’ve been number 5. It’s not a side story or a spin-off. It’s not like Portable Ops or Acid. I am deeply involved and this is the next Metal Gear.”

So deeply involved, evidently, that he’s even coming up with nearly every idea in the game. “Well it’s strange, but not so many ideas come from the other staff. Co-op Ring, Love Box — the names and the ideas come from myself,” he said (this via CVG). “I am taking charge of the overall game design.”

 

 

Leave a Comment

If there’s any anthropomorphic videogame critter mascot best suited to be turned into a rollercoaster, it has to be Sonic the Hedgehog. Actually we’re pretty sure that’s the only anthropomorphic videogame critter mascot suited to become a rollercoaster, which is why the Alton Towers amusement park in Staffordshire, England did well to choose him.

Yes folks, starting next month visitors to the park will be able to ride the “Sonic Spinball,” an updated version of the park’s “Spinball Whizzer” coaster inspired by Sega’s speedy hedgehog. “Partnering Sonic with one of the U.K.’s most popular destinations for a family day out is a fantastic opportunity for people to engage, and have fun, with the Sonic brand,” said Sega UK marketing director Amanda Farr (via MCV).

The ride officially kicks off on February 13, which seems an ominous date to launch a new amusement park attraction (not that we’re superstitious or anything, but come on). So if you’re in the area and think you can stomach it, why not give the Sonic Spinball a whirl? We just hope they eventually build a lamer, less popular sidekick coaster you’re forced to also ride, just to complete the Sonic experience.

 

 

Leave a Comment

This week’s PlayStation Store update isn’t the largest in terms of new content, but it does have a pretty decent sale on 10 games — including Critter Crunch for just $3.49. Why Sony didn’t hold this 10 for ‘10 sale sooner (celebrating the new year and giving new PS3 and PSP owners an opportunity to pick up some games at a discount) is unclear, but what matters is that there are some solid 50% off deals for the next week on 10 games, including the aforementioned Critter Crunch. Other highlights include Braid for $7.49, Crystal Defenders PSP for $4.99, and Gravity Crash for $4.99.

New on the PS3 side is Vandal Hearts: Flames of Judgment ($14.99) and PS1 Classic Championship Bass ($5.99, also available on PSP). You can also find the new free SingStar Viewer that allows you to check out SingStar content directly from the XMB and a downloadable Stone Cold Steve Austin add-on ($0.99) for Smackdown vs. Raw 2010.

PSP has two new downloadable games, DJ Max Fever ($19.99) and Valhalla Knights 2: Battle Stance ($29.99), as well as a Metal Gear Solid PSP bundle ($29.99) that includes Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops Plus, and Metal Gear Solid Digital Graphic Novel. New comics for the digital reader include the 2004 run of X-Men #157-168 ($1.99 each) and Wallace & Gromit #6 ($0.99).

 

 

Leave a Comment