Some Quick Thoughts on "Transfarring"

OK, so we all know Hideo Kojima is a genius. My question is: why the heck didn't Sony think of this idea when the PSP was initially launched? As soon as I heard they were doing a portable unit, one of my top wishlist items was the ability to either link PS2/PS3 content to the unit for on the go action or have new games where portable versions had data that could be transferred back and forth between consoles. Anyway, now that "Transfarring" is not only a reality, but a new "word" gamers worldwide will be speaking whenever they hit the road with a Sony handheld, let's hope it's adopted by as many developers as possible as soon as possible.

Oh, and ANY sort of data transfer system NEEDS to be offline enabled as well just in case the PSN hacks never stop rolling out on a regular basis. Just a thought...

Konami's Pre-E3 Video Is Brilliant Stuff

Absolutely one of the best and funniest presentations I've seen, Konami provided a pre-E3 showing that was informative and innovative while showing off a number of upcoming titles. I'm absolutely grabbing that Metal Gear Solid HD collection, the Silent Hill HD collection, NeverDead and a few other games. Kojima's got a great sense of humor as you'll see, but his "Transfarring" idea is one of the best uses of PSp/NGP and PS3 connectivity to date. Amusingly enough, I'd thought of this when the PSP was announced, but I don't make games. Still, why Sony didn't do this (or think of it) is a bit odd. Nevertheless, it's a phenomenal idea I can see other publishers jumping on, particularly in this day and age of people whining about games being too short or not getting enough value out of that sixty bucks. Anyway, go watch the video and enjoy the cool surprise at the end...

Sony Unveils New NGP Portable System In Japan (Or: Welcome...The Artist Formerly Known as PSP2)

In possibly the WORST kept secret in an industry known for more leaks than the Titanic crossed with an incontinent elephant, Sony's next-generation successor to the PSP has finally been given it's official public unveiling at a press event in Tokyo. Codenamed NGP (Next Generation Portable), the new unit is sleeker than the current model and comes packed to the digital gills with a bunch of expected and unexpected features and functionality. The new handheld will feature dual analog controls (along with the standard D-pad and PlayStation keys), front and rear touch pads, Sixaxis motion control, a three-axis compass along with 3G network and Wi-Fi support.

In addition, while there's no UMD slot, there's a physical media slot that uses a dedicated card storage format, front and rear cameras and amazingly, a 5 inch OLED display that's four times the resolution of the PSP (go, Sony!). According to Sony, the new system is due for release during this Christmas holiday season - start saving those pennies, folks!

More info (and yes, SPECS) below the jump.

CONTEST: Attention Artists: Konami Wants Your Artwork In Silent Hill: Downpour!

More Silent Hill: Downpour news, this time, in the form of a great Facebook contest that should give you creative types a chance to stretch your wings. Click away below the jump for the full details.

Gallery: Silent Hill: Downpour

Konami has released the first batch of six Silent Hill: Downpour screens as well as a single, short and nicely creepy music track from Dexter composer Daniel Licht. According to the press release, this newest installment developed by Vatra (the awesomely fun Rush 'N Attack - Ex-Patriot)...

starts as Murphy Pendleton, the game's main character, finds himself lost and alone in the woods after his prison transport bus crashes near the town of Silent Hill. What happens after is up to the player as they traverse an all-new Silent Hill environment that is expansive, yet claustrophobic. And though this sleepy town may feel desolate, the player is never truly alone.

OK, I'm in. hell, I've been a Silent Hill nut since the first game, so I'm ALWAYS in. The game ships this fall for the PS3 and Xbox 360. Back with updates as they come in.

Gallery: No More Heroes: Heroes' Paradise

Travis Touchdown is baaaaaaaaack (and so are the ladies!), and this time, they're coming to you on the PS3 (with Move controller support, so go buy one if you haven't yet). You all get one guess what this one's going to be rated (don't let that RP fool you one bit). I absolutely loved the first two Wii games (quirks and all), so it will be ridiculously interesting to see how the game turns out on a more powerful platform. So far, Santa Destroy and its denizens look pretty darn slick in HD, that's for sure. Go ogle the screens below the jump - I'm off to play some games... (edit! a few more screens added)

TGS 2010: Microsoft Announces Five Japanese-Developed Kinect Titles, XBLA FirePro, Radiant Silvergun, More!

Well, TGS is turning out to be full of interesting surprises, isn't it? Among other big news, it looks as if Microsoft's Kinect peripheral is getting some love from developers in Japan and all of a sudden, I'm actually thrilled that I can do a lot more than dance or exercise in front of my TV (yes!). I knew the "core" games were coming anyway, but it's nice to see the return of Steel Battalion, NanaOnSha back in action, a nice Sega surprise and (finally) another game from the director of Phantom Dust. Of course, I'm most thrilled about grasshopper manufacture and SUDA 51's new Kinect project, so I'm doing the happy dance in my chair as I type this post.

A bit from the press release below (clickety click!)...

Lucha Libre: Heroes Del Ring Game Trailer

Here's a nicely shot Heroes Del Ring game trailer for your Monday viewing pleasure - enjoy!

Lucha Libre: Heroes Del Ring GameStop Pre-Order Bonus Pics

I forgot to post these with my Heroes Del Ring hands-on a few days back, so here you go:

Shots of the rather awesome pre-order Luchador masks GameStop is giving away exclusively (one per customer) to those who plunk down a deposit. Very cool indeed and a well-made premium, to boot. If I'm not mistaken, they're made from nice and stretchy polyester (one size fits all unless you've a really tiny or really HUGE head) with vinyl detailing. They also lace up in the back like the actual masks for that extra touch of authenticity.

Preview/Gallery: Lucha Libre: Heroes Del Ring

Konami has a super high-flying, action-packed wrestling game coming your way and nope, it's not another Rumble Roses installment. Lucha Libre: Heroes Del Ring (PS3/Xbox 360/Wii) is shaping up to be a ridiculously fun mix of arcade-style gameplay and plenty colorful characters from the hugely popular Mexican wrestling circuit. At Konami's Gamer's Night NYC event last week, I got to see and play a bit of the PS3 version of game and found it not only immediately accessible, but both fun, challenging and surprisingly informative about the south of the border version of the sport.

Still Awake With Games To See Shortly...

Amusingly enough, I've a Konami meeting in about 6 hours (eek). Well, off to get some sleep. With my luck, I'll end up having to play Saw II first and paying for it later with some freaky dreams. Ah well, I actually liked the first game, so then again... I may sleep like a baby tonight.

Anyway, updates to follow when I get back - Hudson Soft will also be there with a handful of upcoming games, so... bonus!

N3II Promo Posters 1 & 2

Two very cool promotional posters for the upcoming Xbox 360 exclusive N3II: Ninety-Nine Nights II show off a nicely grim aesthetic I'm hoping the game manages to pull off a bit more than the original (well, a LOT more, actually).

Konami has the publishing rights this time out, but I'm guessing they more than likely had not much at all to do with the development on the sequel. I've got my fingers crossed anyway that the game will be at least equal to the first one in terms of massive waves of enemies and very tough bosses. We shall see, I suppose...

Gallery: Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D’s Tagforce 4

Had some quick hands-on time with this at Konami's NYC press event a while back. Nice anime visuals, deep gameplay, plenty of battlin' cards and creatures and a more "mature" feel than your Pokemon games, for sure. Fans will be completely enraptured, newbies will be baffled, very helpful tutorials aside. Interesting side note: Konami spells it Tagforce, but it seems to list at most retailers as Tag Force. "Potato, Poh-tah-toe, Tomato, Toh-mah-toe...." and all that...

November 17, 2009 is the release date, so mark your calendars accordingly.

Brief Game Description:

Based on the all new Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D’s animated series, Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D’s Tagforce 4 reignites the story of the Dark Signers. The Dark Signers, derived from the Underworld, have been reborn with incredible abilities, a lust for revenge and a desire for complete power. These Earthbound Immortals were sealed in the Earth by the Crimson Dragon or the God of the Signers. The battle rages between good and evil for total domination of New Domino City and the fate of Satellite in story mode. Or battle opponents in one-on-one free duels or team up with a partner to defeat your opponents with more than 3,500 cards.

Key Features:

• Duel with more than 3,500 playable cards, more than any other Yu-Gi-Oh! title to date
• Ad-hoc gameplay allows up to 4 players to compete against each other at one time through cooperative gameplay or battle in one-on-one duels
• Includes more than 300 hours of gameplay complete with 3D animated cut scenes
• Complete with the latest Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D’s trading cards from the Ancient Prophecy card packs releasing in September 2009
• Battle through Story Mode for total immersion in Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D’s world or compete in Free Duel to get right into the action
• Features all new characters from the animated series to interact with and compete against
• In game storyline is synced with the Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D’s animated series providing a cohesive franchise message to consumers
• Includes 3 exclusive trading cards in pack

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Feel free to poke around on the game's official website for more in-depth coverage, as this one looks like a keeper for the series' fan base.

Preview: Vandal Hearts: Flames of Judgment Character Profiles

Konami is rolling out more info on the cast of its upcoming PSN and XBLA Strategy/RPG along with a brief plot outline. From the three missions I tackled at Konami's NYC Gamers' Night press event, let's just say that The game is going to be quite a challenging experience for fans of the genre and hardcore VH fans should definitely be pleased with what's here. Expect some very tough battles, all-new combat skills and rich HD visuals that pop off the screen.

Enough from me - here's who's who in this Sostegarian saga.

Vandal Hearts: Flames of Judgment is the first next-generation installment of the classic strategic RPG series featuring a swift RPG pace, improved user mechanics and a rich, character-driven storyline. The game takes place on the continent of Sostegaria, where a war is waging between two opposing kingdoms. Driven to defend his homeland, young orphan Tobias Martin recruits his gang of friends to join him in the fight for peace. While avenging loved ones however, the crew faces a threat that is deadlier and closer than they could ever imagine. Using character customization options, players will experience the cast evolving and adapting to various styles of gameplay as the battles carry on. Vandal Hearts has always been known for its strong and memorable characters and Flames of Judgment is no exception.

Tobias Martin: Tobias is a war orphan, and a ward of the Church of Restoration. After losing his parents, Tobias grew up on the streets, stealing and brawling to survive. When the Church offered him an education, he jumped at the chance, leaving the street life behind. He isn't sure of much in life, but he thinks he knows right from wrong - a belief that will soon be put to the ultimate test.






Luce Valenci: Luce is a knight of the kingdom of Balastrade. Like many youth of her generation, she grew up without her parents - in her case, trapped in a crooked orphanage. When she grew old enough, she led her friends in an escape, and then followed her father's footsteps in the army. Now suffering a low point in her once-stellar military career, Luce tolerates no nonsense and keeps few friends.






Altyria Jono: Altyria is a farm girl from the other side of Balastrade's border. Despite being blessed with a loving family, Altyria grew up apart from her peers, finding solace in reading and self-education. When conflict brews, and Altyria's loved ones are scattered, she finds herself truly alone for the first time, and must learn new ways to survive.







Connor Ganson: Conor is a career criminal at age sixteen, an unrepentant street thief and con artist. He grew up alongside Tobias Martin, and the two were inseparable friends for years. When Tobias joined the church, Connor declined to follow him, and the two have rarely seen each other since.







Calvin Atrias: Calvin is Tobias Martin's younger friend. Timid and awkward, he rarely leaves the sanctuary of the church, at least not alone. With danger closing in, Calvin must choose whether to stay sheltered within the church walls or risk his life to help defend them.








Gren Silas: Gren is Luce's right-hand man. Known as "Ten-Men Gren" for his enormous strength, Gren is virtually silent, answers to no one but Luce and obeys her every command without question. No one has ever seen his face - or, if they have, they haven't lived to tell about it.








Daldren Gray: Daldren is Balastrade's greatest war hero, and one of the few surviving veterans of the twenty-year war against the rival kingdom of Urdu. Respected across the land for his legendary valor, Daldren still serves in the field to this day, stamping out threats to his land and its people.







Kelbrun Hale: Kelbrun is the chief of an infamous bandit gang known as the "Fist of Enkidu." A dishonored war veteran, Kelbrun was stripped of his rank and banished after brutally sacking a defenseless town. His raids and robberies have grown bolder in recent months, and his bandits are better equipped and deadlier than ever. How he came to be so successful so quickly is not yet known.






Shance Aya: Shance is the leader of the "Hellhounds", a relentless cabal of infallible bounty hunters. She is known, among those few who know her, for her murderous bloodlust and delightful sense of humor.

Konami NYC Gamers' Night Impressions

Konami swung into NYC with a nice selection of upcoming releases that showed off the company's commitment to variety and pure fun with a number of family friendly console and handheld titles. Of course, scaring the crap out of a few folks with two impressive horror games was also on the agenda. I ended up playing most of what was shown and came away impressed with them all, as you'll see below in this quick rundown. I'll also post longer Hands-On previews of a few of these titles shortly.

Reflection (Nintendo DSi) - This download only DSiWare exclusive is one of those genius game ideas that demands to be played. You're tasked with guiding a young girl through a fantasy world using both DS screens to navigate pretty environments that feature some classic platforming and puzzle-solving elements. The catch: the lower screen is a mirror image that's actually with different obstacles and puzzles to solve. You'll need to pay attention to both screens as you run, wall jump, slide, push boxes and more. The cool thing about this one: it was cooked up by a handful USC students that took their award-winning GDC 2009 entry and turned it into a charming soon to be Nintendo classic. Now that's another excellent reason to stay in school, kids.


Pro Evolution Soccer 2010 (PS3/Xbox 360) - Best console footy game on the planet? Still. That's my verdict after seeing this one in action and picking up the controller for a quick spin through a match. Stunning graphics, loads of new animations, more commentary, in-depth, customization and more features than you can shake a yellow card at all make this one guaranteed to have soccer fans worldwide never leave the house even in the off season. Madden who? Yeah, it's all that and Konami KNOWS it, folks. Online or off, a whole lot of folks will be logging even more hours than they'd care to admit on this one once it ships.

Puzzle Chronicles (Nintendo DS/DSi) - Yes, it's a Puzzle Quest-inspired game featuring RPG elements with hand-drawn fantasy characters, a large overworld map and even a tutorial mode that's very similar to D3's mega-hit. However, the battle presentation and sideways sliding cubes puzzle system is very different, as you can rotate blocks and shift them as they get close to the target blocks. I finished two boards and had to put it down before I became hooked. Despite the similarities, I liked this one a lot. Hopefully, core PQ fanatics will overlook the obviousness here and be as excited about another puzzle/RPG hybrid.

SAW (PS3, Xbox 360) - Yup, I was skeptical about this one when i initially heard of it, but based on the unsettling demo on display, the Zombie (Shadow Ops: Red Mercury)-developed game makes excellent use of the license. Taking place between the first and second films, as Detective Tapp, players will need to use their eyes and ears as well as wits in order to survive Jigsaw's trap-packed maze of deadly life lessons. The setting is a dilapidated mental hospital Tapp needs to navigate carefully (broken glass, nail bombs and shotgun doors await careless players) and to make matters worse, that exit key sewn inside of him makes him a target for Jigsaw's other victims looking to escape. The demo was tense, gory and great-looking for an early build, capturing the look, feel and editing style of the movies perfectly. Controls were a tiny bit slippery, but we're certain this and one or two other minor kinks will be polished up nicely for the game's October release.

Silent Hill: Shattered Memories (Wii) - As a longtime Silent Hill fan, this re-imagining of the original has been on my radar since it was announced and after playing it, I'm in love all over again and twice as freaked out. The Wii-specific controls are brilliant and yes, innovative, the all-new psychological elements make for near-infinite replay value, the visuals are outstanding and despite the lack of combat, the game is scary as hell. Using the Wiimote as everything from a camera, GPS and cellphone (you actually put your ear to the speaker to listen to calls) is brilliant, which means it'll be copied to death in other Wii games at some point. By the way, filling out that personality profile at the beginning of a new game will really freak out a few too-honest gamers, but you have to laugh at those folks who let this part of the game get to them more than being chased by a small pack of skinless mannequin-things.

Tornado Outbreak (PS3, Xbox 360) - Got an appetite for destruction on a comical scale? Love both Katamari Damacy and old Saturday morning cartoons? Well, this surprisingly addictive, inspired mash-up should fit the bill nicely for the entire family. Simple controls combined with multiple level goals along with plenty of destructible and interactive objects make this one really fun to play. Stylized cartoon graphics reminiscent of Warner Bros. cartoons abound and overall, this looks like one of those sleepers that should have wide appeal. If anything, it's definitely one of the more original character ideas you'll ever see, that's for sure.

Vandal Hearts: Flames of Judgment (Ps3, Xbox 360) - Stop that whining, hardcore VH fans! Sure, this download-only prequel to the PSOne original doesn't have Japanese character designs nor the tactically thrilling real-time approach Vandal Hearts II took. Nevertheless, the game is extremely addictive, challenging right from the early going and guess what? You'll get used to the character art sooner than you think, thanks to some well-written story sequences. The turn-based combat is definitely going to test your strategic skills, as enemies are set on puree from the moment you enter your first battle. I only played three lengthy missions, but the addictive nature of the gameplay had me coming back to try new strategies on the different maps. I'm excited about this one and definitely looking forward to diving into the final code.

Walk it Out (Nintendo Wii) - Yet another Wii exercise game? I'd initially thought about passing this one over, but after giving in to the beat pumping from the HD setup and actually trying the game, it's actually quite cool (and harder than it looks). Using the DDR Dance Pad, you need to keep the stepping action as precise as possible to rack up points. The beats are hot, the routes are long and the happy-voiced taskmaster chirping out motivational peppyness from the TV should keep those looking for a new way to step up their Wii home gym antics step on up to the cash register when this one ships.

WireWay (Nintendo DS) - Super cute, super challenging puzzle game has you using slingshot-like devices to zip an alien critter back to his home planet in oodles of stages. The game may look overly simplistic, but the easy stages quickly give way to ones with plenty of platform elements and parts where you'll need to draw on the DS screen to create a path. Since your little alien guy is helpless on the ground, your brain will be tingling during these sections as much as your fingers are sliding and flicking away at that touch screen. The blending and bending of familiar gameplay elements from Puzzle Bobble, billiards and pinball (to name a few influences) will test the skills of the most die-hard gamers out there. Strangely addictive doesn't even begin to describe this one...


I'll update this post with info about YU-GI-OH! 5D'sTag Force 4, Zombie Apocalypse, Karaoke Revolution and Pop 'n Music in a few days. Gotta run, as dinner is calling me to cook it. Don't you love it when all that training pays off?