It seems as though Sony has gone out of their way to prevent piracy on their latest handheld console by designing the firmware in such a way as to prevent further attempts to circumvent the security of the system, ultimately resulting in an end to the piracy that plagued the previous incarnation of the Playstation Portable. Many blame the widespread piracy of the games for the dismal sales figures that the system achieved, though it is often compared to the amazing sales figures for Nintendo DS software,  despite the relative ease pirates had in illegally obtaining and, subsequently, playing games on that system.

Sony’s John Koller even went on record stating that various components, such as the inability to rip games, and the lack of an external battery, will help prevent the piracy. Hopefully this will help boost sales of digital only titles over the playstation network, and ease the concerns of potential developers for the system. On the other hand, the market still hasn’t decided on if it’ll actually buy into the new system and its download-only format. Only time will tell. Are any of you planning on investing in a PSPgo? If so, what features have you sold on it? I’d love to hear.

[Image Source: SCEA]

“We’ve had a lot of success with the 3000,” Koller says when I bring up the issue. While the earlier models of the PSP were incredibly easy to use with ripped or downloaded games, the PSP Go is going to make things tougher on the pirates. “You won’t be able to rip your games and play them on the system, the firmware precludes that,” Koller explained. “There’s no external battery, so there’s a number of protections put into place on the system.”

Although this is sure to protect the PSP Go, this may come of as one slight downfall for the PSP Go now. When that battery starts to wear down, that means sending that sexy device to sony for a couple of weeks with a fee.

It appears that in a recent interview, Polyphony Digital’s Kazunori Yamauchi, almost confirmed a worldwide release for the upcoming, and long awaited title, Gran Turismo 5. If you recall, a preview of the full game, entitled Gran Turismo 5 Prologue, was released to the public. While the game didn’t impress people as much as the new contender, Grid, which was released shortly afterwards, it showed quite a bit of promise for a glorifide demo. News has since been slowly trickling out regarding the tweaks to the game which were implimented since that release, including realistic damage. Kazunori goes on to confirm that the damage will effect the handling of the cars in the game, and that “real NASCAR races” are to be included in the final product. Oh, and apparently the game runs at 60 frames per second at a very impressive 1080p.

 This is really music to my ears, having played Grid mere weeks after Gran Turismo 5 Prologue came out. I was amazed by how much better the game seemed, and I had speculated myself as to how they could possibly top it. It comes as no surprise that the constant delays that the game has since faced have provided the developers enough time to really tweak the game for the better. Now, I’m looking forward to playing the final build even more than before, though I’m not sure when that will be. As far as I know, we are probably going to be seeing Gran Turismo for the PSP far sooner than we are for the Ps3. Until then, I’ll just have to keep my fingers crossed and hope that through some miracle, the game is actually as good as it sounds. Then again, when has Gran Turismo ever gone wrong?

If you’d like to read the entire interview, you can do so here.

[Image Source: Sony Computer Entertainment]

Next month, Rockstar and Take-Two interactive will be releasing their latest PSP title, Beaterator. The title was developed by the same studio that brought you the portable versions of Grand Theft Auto, namely Vice City Stories, Liberty City Stories, and the recently released Chinatown Wars. The new game will be available via the Playstation Network as well as on UMD, most likely in preparation for the upcoming release of the PSPgo.

Unlike those other titles mentioned however, Beaterator is more of a music suite which takes many of the tools you’d find in a studio and throws them into a music generator, making it easily usable by anyone. This allows you to easily create beats on the go. Famed music producer Timberland apparently contributed to the direction of the project, providing insight and lending his experience to the development of the title.

“I’ve worked closely with Rockstar Games to make something completely unique,” said Timbaland. “Beaterator is like taking my music studio and turning it into a suite of tools anyone can use. We can’t wait to hear the beats people make and share with the world.”

Apparently it was originally created as a flash application on the Rockstar website, but recently they decided to build on that, as it gained popularity. The title should be avaliable in North America on September 29th.

I’ve decided to start a few weekly features where we simply summarize the newest titles being releases here in the US. For your convenience, we’ll be linking each title to PriceGrabber.com so that you can easily click on them to find the best deal from multiple vendors. I’ll also try to include links to metacritic just incase you want to view some scores before laying down some cash for these.

For this weeks releases, hit the jump! (more…)

I’ve had the pleasure of playing Rock Band Unplugged, and was present for a short session with one of it’s producers while wandering the booth at E3.  The game is a complete single player experience, somehow packed into a single game with plays via timed button combinations on the PSP console. In order to deal with the lack of controllers shaped like the various instruments, you’re forced to swap between each instrument merely using the PSP to input the various timed commands. Of course the timing is different for each instruments, and while it might not compare to having the full Rock Band controller set, it keeps you engaged in the game. Having to switch between the instruments deals with the lack of multi-player.

Upon questioning the producer, I was able to determine that they were merely focused on getting the Rock Band experience to really translate to the PSP before looking into other possibilities, such as the potential for multi-player. As far as graphics are concerned, we’re talking about some of the cleanest on the console to date. Everything from the band members, to the sets themselves look like they belong in the original game, which considering the limitations of the hardware, is quite impressive. There is also talk of potential for a download plan similar to that you find with Rock Band for the Nintendo Wii. Rock Band Unplugged should be available in stores next week. There is also a PSP bundle featuring the game set for release.

[image source: MTV Games]

While I was invited to the Sony press conference at E3 next week, I felt it’d be wrong for me to not post about the latest bit of news that leaked onto the net just days before the conference itself. Eurogamer.net managed to snag some of the official press photos for Sony’s upcoming handheld console. It apparently slides open, and plays games via download, though  I’m not exactly sold on it myself. Still, it might be a good buy for anyone who hasn’t already bought a PSP slim. You can find out more about the console from this video released on Destructoid back in March.

 That’s right, I said March. Apparently they were the first ones to drop the details about this console, and more astonishingly, they were almost completely on the mark. I’m still in awe that they managed to get this info up as early as GDC, but equally amazed by how nobody else seemed to pick up on it–that is, until 1Up mentioned something about it. That said though, Destructoid had them beat to the punch. If any of my robotic friends are reading this, way to go. You guys deserve the props for being first. 

I’m still looking forward to hearing what Sony has to say at their press conference, as they’ll probably have plenty to talk about in addition to this latest console. Still, why all the secrecy Sony? I don’t think anyone will be able to steal your thunder. After all, the DSi just came out, and I don’t think Nintendo plans on trumping your new console anytime soon.

 [Image Source: http://www.eurogamer.net/]

Several sites have been posting rumors about the upcoming announcements Sony has in store for us at this year’s E3 expo in June. We’ve seen various rumors pop up about portable systems, and even phones, but this latest rumor caught me by surprise, and apparently Sony as well. The rumor in question had to do with a new, slimmer PS3. Though Sony has provided us with slimmer consoles during the later life cycles for previous Playstation incarnations, a spokesperson spoke to CVG Wednesday’s and promptly shot the rumor down.

While I’d love to see a slimmer PS3, I’m not surprised that a redesign isn’t on Sony’s mind at this point. Especially considering that the previous Playstation redesigns came during the later half of each consoles life cycle. Frankly, it’d be jumping the gun and might give some journalists the impression that the system is merely a sinking boat. With a strong line up of triple A titles likely to be announced and the prospect of a new PSP, I’m led to believe that Sony might finally get that year they’ve been talking about for the last 3. Would you want to see the PS3 redesigned, and what other rumors are you hoping come true at this years E3?

Loyal robo-pets, soccer-playing androids and so many Baby Alive dolls have not come so far that an ancient advanced civilization in a game world can’t do better. In the world of Tokobot, archeologists have dug up the ancient advanced technology of magnetized, Bomberman-as-LEGO robots that take the player as leader of their a communal hive-mind. While I can’t elaborate much more on a story I don’t remember, we can view it as ancillary to the main action-attractions of this game. The versatile (and cute) AI’s follow you around and take the formations you choose to form bridges over gaps, ladders to unreachable heights, or spokes for your character to wield in whirling enemy death.

It’s an artistically-simple, but pretty enough game on PSP–meaning it’s a little weak for PS2 in Tokobot+ Plus, but graphics are graphics. The high point comes in the polygon deformation and transformation that ensues whenever you bonk your enemies, and the fluidity of animation in general. Cartoony and fun, the visuals indicate nonetheless accurately which objects you can interact with, how far to jump, and facilitate all the other requisite elements of a good platformer. Tecmo has never had a problem making a technically-competent game. Solve button-puzzles by assigning individual tasks to your wee charges, find and upgrade the Tokobots towards the ultimate goal, and um… enjoy.

RPGs, which spin the threads of magic lands, mighty mortals, and omnipotent gods, and Norse mythology, also spinning threads of magic lands, mighty mortals, and omnipotent gods, were a no-brainer to wed in digital matrimony. This is what tri-Ace thought when making Valkyrie Profile for PSX in 2000–that, and that they’d like to make a chef d’oeuvre that was not only a particularly beautiful game–its bright, glossy, hand-drawn visuals the envy of many a storybook, and its music a veritable symphony from the warbling winds section of Motoi Sakuraba–but one that would work the 32-bitter so hard as to blow the lid off the CD tray. It had an active combat system you simply could not mash-advance; nor would you want to, as it featured dynamic scaling and screen-razing spell effects, and deeply-involving mechanics. Seriously ambitious, the 2-disc’er was the grandiose production that sowed the seeds of Odin Sphere and other small miracles of Japanese, but not-quite-animé 2-D.

Nowadays you would have to eBay the original for over $100. Nowadays you should have a PSP and be able to get Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth here for less than half that price. With added cutscenes and a heightened probability that it won’t kill the console running it. What will you do?

I think we need a motto for this blog. How about, “ButtonSmasher: Where we cover puzzle games in overabundance–and still barely keep up with their rate of production”? Or, “ButtonSmasher: Seemingly obsessed with puzzle games, but such is the industry”?

There really are a lot of plotless, casual-seeming puzzlers out there–so many that you might be avoiding them. Well, stop cheating yourself. The always-affordable, habit-forming yet short-term commitment material of puzzle game is easy pickin’s on a slim wallet and slimmer free time. And if you find the right ones, you’ll be endlessly entertained.

As for the objects for your fickle flights of fancy, Lumines is a pretty clean prospect–its presentation and gameplay pulsate with elegant and stylish rhythm and geometry. Then there’s the more child- and forever-young- friendly Bust-A-Move, a colourful, yet tough bubble-stacking game and test of precision aiming that may threaten to tell a story.

Exit, Taito’s non-dinosaurian attempt at boggling your mind, delivers a little more sophistication–placing you squarely in the middle of escape after great fire escape, you rescue those less fortunate than the aptly-monikered Mr. Esc.

Puzzle game coverage on ButtonSmasher. Proud product of one student’s emaciated wallet and small circle of moochable friends.