PSP and Me: Gaming Love Gone Too Far

(Please forgive the formatting, blogspot doesn't do a very good job of that.)

PSP and I have always been close, but after Metal Gear Solid was made available as a download 2 weeks ago, our relationship changed. 

It used to be that we would do whatever a guy and their favorite gaming system would do together. Each morning we'd have breakfast and I'd feed her Honey Smacks, her favorite cereal. 

Sometimes we'd take baths together. Not in the Boggs/Andy Dufresne sense, but in a "two friends who need to get clean and like to conserve water" kind of way. She really liked it when I'd read about upcoming titles I could download to her from the PlayStation store. 

But two weeks ago, after what I now call "MGSGate", our relationship took a different turn. I was looking at her in a way that made my wife a little uncomfortable. We started spending a lot more time together. We'd even go on picnics with a bottle of wine and I'd read strategy guides to her. You could cut the tension with a knife.

Then one night, things got out of control. Maybe it was the Natty Light, maybe it was the candles, or maybe it was Michael Jackson's Bad (which was playing in the background), but suddenly we started to reveal feelings that both of us had kept hidden until that day.  

Our forbidden love was doomed from the start, but it all came crashing down the night my wife came home early from her needle point party to find us in bed together. It was a horrible site, UMD drives were scattered everywhere.

Things are different now. Without the PSP around I'm stuck with that loud obnoxious chatterbox Xbox 360, fat ass PS3, and cute but way too young for me Wii.  

I miss my sleek, sexy friend. But I heard that her sister might be in town this October. Don't let my wife know. 

Capcom says FU to 360 and heads straight to PSN

Looks like CAPCOM is taking the initiative that SONY is overlooking right now, with PSX games on the PSN Store. A list has surfaced of titles that are going to be available next week and in the next few weeks. Finally, some kick ass stuff to put onto the PSP so it just doesn't sit there collecting so much dust. Peep the list below!

CAPCOM CLASSICS COLLECTION: REMIXED

Hey PlayStation fans, I’m Ryan, Capcom’s newest Bearer of Good News. Today, I’m here to bring you word of our upcoming PlayStation classics, a library of classic games being brought to you on the PlayStation Network. We’ve sorted through our archives and hand-selected the games that rocked the industry. All of these upcoming classics will be released over the PSN, and will be playable on your PSP.

Coming up first is Capcom Classics Collection: Remixed, available tomorrow. The game is a collection of arcade classics from gaming’s glorious past. Pay homage to the best of the arcades, like Final Fight, Bionic Commando, Street Fighter, and Magic Sword. Prove your old-school dominance with twenty full arcade titles. Check out the full list of included games here.

Later this summer, look forward to Fate/Unlimited Codes. Capcom’s fighting game masters have brought one of Japan’s most popular animes exclusively to the PSN, ready for the new PSPgo. High-flying combos and fast-paced versus action show off the game’s gorgeous 3D graphics, and it’s a fighting-game experience you can’t get anywhere else.

Next, keep your eyes out for more gems from Capcom, being brought directly to the PSN. Check out the full list below, including PSone and UMD Legacy titles, and come back often for more info on individual release timing.

• Capcom Classics Collection Remixed (UMD Legacy)

• Mega Man Powered Up (UMD Legacy)

• Dino Crisis (PlayStation Legacy)

• Power Stone Collection (UMD Legacy)

• Mega Man Maverick Hunter X (UMD Legacy)

• Resident Evil 2 (PlayStation Legacy)

• Darkstalkers (UMD Legacy)

• Street Fighter Alpha 3 Max (UMD Legacy)

• Resident Evil 3: Nemesis (PlayStation Legacy)

• Capcom Classics Collection Reloaded (UMD Legacy)

Maloof Money Cup Pack for EA's Skate 2 Is Coming

The largest-pursed event in professional skateboarding is coming to Skate 2. Some screens have surfaced showing off its newest DLC pack, the Maloof Money Cup pack. You will be able to compete against the pro's online and offline on both the 360 and the PS3. Sounds like a good idea to me, but has Skate passed its prime? Well we will see when the pack hits sometime next week. Until then check out some of the screens and read the press release below.

"Skate 2 has been embraced by the gaming and skateboarding community across the globe, making it the perfect stage for the Maloof Money Cup's videogame debut," said Joe Maloof, President of Maloof Companies. "Now players everywhere can experience the world's greatest skateboarding championship and revel in the high-stakes excitement of the competition for themselves."

The Maloof Money Cup Pack hits next week for a mere 240 Microsoft Points, or $3.00 PSN.

Red Faction Guerilla DLC coming in August

According to a recent post on Kotaku, Red Faction Guerilla (the love child of Total Recall and Mercenaries) is getting some DLC in August. 

Selling for 800MS Points ($10), the first of three upcoming DLC packs is Demons of the Badlands, a new single-player story arc that takes gamers outside the boundaries of the main game. There are no details so far on the other two packs.

I love Red Faction Guerilla but with all the games I've been playing, I'm only about a quarter way through it. Looks like I'm going to have to wrap up my single player campaign pretty quick.  

PSN Game of the Week - The Punisher: No Mercy

Press Release: The Punisher is set to unleash his vengeance on PlayStation®Network!  ZEN Studios announced today that The Punisher: No Mercy, inspired by Marvel Comics’ rich Punisher comic book history, is confirmed to be released on July 2, 2009 and will be available exclusively through PlayStation®Store for $9.99.

“Our team has been working long hours to deliver a first-person shooter experience that will live up to the Punisher name,” said Zsolt Kigyossy, managing director for ZEN Studios.  “With awesome characters, a customizable system, and fast-paced multiplayer action, No Mercy is breaking ground in the digital space.  For comic and shooter fans alike, this is a must-have game for the summer.”

Powered by Unreal Engine 3, The Punisher: No Mercy was designed with fast-paced online multiplayer FPS action in mind. The game allows players to choose from an eclectic mix of Punisher allies and villains.  Battle arenas span from shipyards rife with contraband to the “birthplace” of the Punisher’s archenemy, Jigsaw, and up to eight players can blast away at each other in a variety of solo and team-based missions. 

In addition to exceptional online play, The Punisher: No Mercy also offers a single-player story mode featuring exclusive artwork from acclaimed Marvel artist Mike Deodato.

Developed by ZEN Studios, The Punisher: No Mercy is rated “M” by the ESRB for a true Punisher experience.  To learn more about The Punisher: No Mercy, please visit www.punishernomercy.com.

XBLA Games of the Week: Worms 2 Armageddon, King of Fighters 98 Ultimate Match

The King of Fighters '98 Ultimate Match comes to Xbox LIVE® Arcade! The KOF '98 fighting game has fascinated game fans all over the world, and now it's powered up and ready to be on Xbox LIVE Arcade. Additional characters have been added from the King of Fighters universe, and new battle systems and moves have been implemented. Extend the fight to opponents all over the world. Face off against others to prove who is the real King of Fighters. Use Practice Mode to learn, Challenge Mode to improve your skills, then go to battle to show what you've got!

The best of arcade fighting action: The Japanese arcade game comes to full life on Xbox LIVE Arcade, featuring the best of 3-on-3 2-D fighting action. More characters: Ultimate Match includes more characters than the original King of Fighters '98, incorporating some of gamers' favorite characters from previous King of Fighters games. Ten years on from Worms™ Armageddon and the turn-based mayhem and destruction continues! Worms™ 2: Armageddon is the most fully-featured digital version of the game ever. With four player online and offline multiplayer, voice support, a raft of new weapons (including the return of some iconic weapons from the past), all-new high-definition landscape themes, new play modes, hats, skins, speech-banks, loads of other customization and to top it all off, a highly-involving single player experience with tutorials, deathmatches, races, fort games, and puzzles. It's a package as high on fun as it is destruction! Extensive single-player content: Play through three tutorials, three firing ranges, a thirty-mission campaign, plus five secret unlockable missions. Online and offline multiplayer: Battle it out in four different ranked game types and extensive leaderboards. Massively increased customization: Choose from new hats, skins, speechbanks, gravestones, victory dances, and much more. Retro-themed landscape artwork: The high-definition artwork is based on the most loved Worms game ever made. Return of iconic weaponry: You've got more than 40 weapons out of the box, including the return of fire weapons and the beloved Holy Hand Grenade.

Nintendo Downloads for June 29

WiiWare

Water Warfare^™
Publisher: Hudson Entertainment
Players: 1-8
ESRB Rating: E10+ (Everyone 10 and Older) – Cartoon Violence
Price: 800 Wii Points^™
Description: Water Warfare is a comical first-person shooter that uses water guns to battle and soak opponents. A map with a particular theme – Playground, Beach, Plaza or Nature Park – is generated automatically when the game begins, so you can think up new strategies each time you engage. Game modes include Single Player Missions, CPU Match and 2-Player Split Screen. On top of that, players with broadband Internet access can use Nintendo^® Wi-Fi Connection to battle with up to eight players from around the world, or participate in Ranking Mode.

Reel Fishing^® Challenge
Publisher: Natsume, Inc.
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 500 Wii Points
Description: Reel Fishing Challenge offers a fun and challenging experience for novice fishers and master anglers alike. Put your skills to the test and discover new types of fish in the challenging mission mode, or relax and enjoy the game at your own pace in free play mode. No matter which mode you play, the game’s beautiful graphics and natural setting bring the fishing experience to life. Choose from a variety of lures to attract and hook the game’s numerous fish. Each fish looks and moves like the real thing – it’s the closest you can get to real-life fishing without putting on your waders.

Silver Star Reversi
Publisher: Agetec, Inc.
Players: 1-2
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 500 Wii Points
Description: Silver Star Reversi has two modes: 1-Player mode allows you to play a match against the computer opponent, and 2-Player mode allows you to play against another person. In 1-Player mode, you can choose from five different computer opponents, turn the background music on or off, adjust sound effects and access in-game help features. During each match, you can also redo your last move, save the game at any point, or resign from the game. After a match has ended, you can review each move and resume the match from any point you choose.

Virtual Console^™

Fantasy Zone^™ II: The Tears of Opa-Opa
Original platform: SEGA MASTER SYSTEM
Publisher: SEGA
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) – Mild Cartoon Violence
Price: 500 Wii Points
Description: Ten years have elapsed since Opa-Opa restored peace to the Fantasy Zone. Now history is repeating itself, and the planets that make up the Fantasy Zone once again find themselves attacked by the mastermind of the Nenon planet forces. This mastermind is secretly constructing a huge fortress in the Fantasy Zone and aims to put an end to their ambitious plans. Just as he did 10 years ago, Opa-Opa must do battle to save the Fantasy Zone.

Nintendo DSiWare^™

SUDOKU MASTER
Publisher: Hudson Entertainment
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 500 Nintendo DSi Points^™
Description: SUDOKU MASTER offers 150 unique puzzles that beginners and experts alike will enjoy. A handful of tutorials will help you learn the rules and controls as you go, and handy features like Write Mode and Temp Numbers make Sudoku pleasantly user-friendly. Feeling confident? Then try your hand at Title Mode to work your way up from Rookie to Sudoku Master. All puzzles were created by Sudoku veteran NIKOLI Co., Ltd., and tips from Sudoku godfather Maki Kaji are offered between games.