PS3 Fanboy

Remember yesterday and that pretty huge list of unannounced Sony games? Yeah, we're starting to learn what some of them are. This one -- seen in Japanese magazine Weekly Famitsu -- is called Demon's Souls. It's an action-RPG made by From Software.

Those guys are the developers of the Armored Core series and also King's Field. While their new title for the PS3 looks strikingly a lot like Shadow of the Colossus (or at least it does in its most captivating picture), the game isn't going to be exclusive to giant slaying. The game will be at Tokyo Game Show -- which is less than two weeks away.

[Thanks Hanson Y.!]

We were getting worried about White Knight Story. The yummy PS3-exclusive RPG from Level-5 looked incredible ... but then it disappeared off everyone's radars since its last showing at TGS 2007. Looks like it's a lot farther along than any of us could've imagined, with the RPG getting a Japanese release later this year. Famitsu reports that White Knight Story will be available in Japan on December 11th, just in time for the holiday season.

We're eagerly awaiting TGS next month so we can get our grimey Western hands on the upcoming game. With the game nearing completion, we're hoping to be very impressed by what we see.

[Thanks to everyone that sent this in!]

A brand new PS3-exclusive version of the popular Q Entertainment puzzle game is coming. The game is titled Lumines Supernova and will be an e-distributed game -- just like the Xbox Live version.

This PSN game will be pretty much the same deal as previous Lumines games, but with new stages and modes. There are 40 skins to be unlocked in Challenge Mode, and there are a slew of news modes, including Dig Down Mode and Sequencer Mode. Dig Down appears to be a Lumines-inspired version of Dig Dug, while Sequencer Mode allows players to create their own background music using various sounds and loops.

The first screenshots are included in our new gallery.

Upset that Tales of Vesperia is an Xbox 360 exclusive? Don't fret, it appears that PS3 may be getting its own Tales game -- and it may or may not be a console-exclusive. This page from Famitsu highlights the Wii-exclusive Tales of Symphonia title and the 360-exclusive Tales of Vesperia. However, it also leaves a box blank for the PS3. The famed Japanese magazine clearly knows what's in the works, but is simply teasing us RPG-starved fans.

Famitsu is reporting that the PlayStation Eye will soon be heading to Japan. The peripheral is currently only available in a bundle with Eye of Judgment, but come July 24th this new software bundle will be unleashed within the region. The bundle, which will cost 5000 yen, will include the PlayStation Eye camera as well as a blu-ray disc containing a collection of mini games and interactive screensavers.

Before you start filling up with envy, know this: these games are all currently available on the US and EU PSN Store. Once again we are seeing Japan's bizarre dislike of downloadable gaming resulting in a boxed release of games that elsewhere in the world are only available to download. If that's the way they'd rather do it, who are we to argue?

Perfect 40/40 scores are a rarity for Japanese mag Famitsu. Well, it looks like Metal Gear Solid 4 is joining the ranks. Previous perfect-hitters include: Ocarina of Time, Soulcalibur, Vagrant Story, Wind Waker, Nintendogs, Final Fantasy XII and Super Smash Bros. Brawl. MGS4 will be the first PS3 game to earn a perfect score from the famed Japanese magazine, and hopefully not the last.

[Thanks, Dan K.! Via Kotaku]

They say that Japanese and American gamers have different taste in games. Well, that certainly appears to be the case in Japan. Lair (or Rise from Lair, as it's called in Japan) has been getting a serious push by Sony's Japanese marketing team. They might have an easier job of selling the game in the territory, thanks to the fantastic critical reception of the game. Famitsu, Japan's leading gaming magazine awarded the game an impressive 34/40, which is far more generous than the current critical average of 55/100.

Will Lair be able to dominate the Japanese sales charts next week? With Halo 3 taking the top spot this week, it seems anything is possible.

This may seem a bit "well, duh!", but it's always nice to get confirmation about these things. In an interview with Famitsu two Tri-Ace developers have said that they will be announcing new details about Star Ocean IV at the Tokyo Games Show. We're hoping they finally tell us which console they're developing the title for, but we have our suspicions.

The interview reveals various other details regarding the game, including the names of the main characters (Reimi and Edge Maverick) and assurances that the combat system will be very different from Star Ocean III. Again, more details are due out during TGS and we will be there to relay the news to you first hand.

CyberConnect2, the company behind the Naruto games and the .hack franchise on the PlayStation 2 have just announced that they are developing a new title for the PlayStation 3. The information comes from the latest issue of Famitsu, and unfortunately lacks any additional information about the project. Could we be getting a new .hack title? Eight games just isn't enough!

The latest issue of Famitsu magazine in Japan states that Square Enix is going to reveal something tasty next month -- the next entry into the Star Ocean franchise. It's getting its big reveal at the Square Enix Party 2007 event taking place next month. Next month, get it?

Whether the game will retain the futuristic elements its known for has yet to be announced, but we can only say this: don't let it suck so hard. While critics and fans hailed Star Ocean 2 and Star Ocean: Till The End of Time as great games... they just didn't do it for me. Tri-Ace is normally a fantastic developer in my eyes and Square Enix was smart to snatch them up. However, they've got to learn a few things about making games that Star Ocean generally misses out on:

1. Don't drag out a story that's ended. Star Ocean 2 did this pretty horribly once you reach the second disc. All you have to do is fight the 13 whatever-they-were, but no. Tons of little nonsensical quests sprouted up to drag the playtime out.
2. Hire better writers (I'm always available). We're not talking about the basic storyline, here. We mean dialogue. If you play Star Ocean: TTEoT, think about what each character is saying. Here's an example:

• Dude: "We need to get the random item to advance the story!"
• Lady: "The random item to advance the story?"
• Dude: "Yes, it has great power to make this game not suck!"
• Lady: "Great power?"
• Dude 2: "It is rumored it destroyed Nick Doerr's interest in this title."
• Lady 2: "His interest?"

Get the idea? Everyone had to question every single line of dialogue everyone else said. It was stupid.

Feel free to add your own issues to this list, but those are my main concerns. If those are addressed, I'd gladly give Star Ocean IV a shot. We'll come back with more details as they surface.

A poll concluded at the beginning of this month where Famitsu magazine asked their Japanese readers to say what games they're most looking forward to. We're going to post the results, because we're that awesome. Don't worry, competing console readers, there is something on this list for everybody.

1. Final Fantasy XIII -- PS3
   
2. Dragon Quest IX -- DS
   
3. Biohazard 5 -- PS3/360
   
4. Metal Gear Solid 4 -- PS3
   
5. Persona 3 -- PS2
   
6. Gyakuten Saiban 4 -- DS
   
7. Monster Hunter 3 -- PS3
   
8. Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass --DS
   
9. Super Robot Taisen: Original Generations -- PS2
   
10. Dragon Quest Swords: The Masked Queen and the Tower of Mirrors -- Wii
    
11. Minna no Golf 5 -- PS3
    
12. Odin Sphere -- PS2
    
13. Super Smash Bros. Brawl -- Wii
    
14. Lost Odyssey -- 360
    
15. Doubutsu no Mori -- Wii
    
16. Final Fantasy XII Revenant Wings -- DS
    
17. Devil May Cry 4 -- PS3/360
    
18. Shining Wind -- PS2
    
19. Final Fantasy Tactics: The Lion War -- PSP
    
20. Final Fantasy Versus XIII -- PS3
    

Well, there you go. A chart dominated by Sony, with Nintendo picking up the remains. Way to go, Sony! Everyone wants what you've promised, now you just have to deliver on the promise. Don't make us wait for too long!

The overall verdict? Not a sad bloke in the lot. Then again, this ever-intrepid blogulator considers a 7 as it should be considered: above average, but not great. Besides, that number was the lowest. Let's also remember -- Famitsu is a tough cookie when it comes to reviews. Only six games have made perfect scores (and lo and behold, some of my favorites): The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (N64), Soul Calibur (DC), Vagrant Story (PSX... Best. Game. Ever.), The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker (GC), Nintendogs (DS), and Final Fantasy XII (PS2... same people who made Final Fantasy Tactics and Vagrant Story... and the lesser cared about Romancing SaGa games, which are also great). You can check out what else got almost-perfect scores on Wikipedia. Some surprises, really, but you have to remember -- unlike our video game magazines that seem to arbitrarily pick numbers based on "awesome factor", Famitsu bases their scores in comparison only to other games in the same genre. A perfect score means that, in that particular genre, nothing else can possibly be better.

Whew. Sorry about that, but it's just so exciting! Without further ado, here are the review scores/highlights for the first wave of PS3 titles:

• Miyazato Golf Club: 7, 7, 7, 7
  
• good tempo, hard to judge where shots will land, doesn't quite look next-gen
• Genji: 7, 7, 7, 8
• camera is difficult, but the game looks great; challenging for beginners, good amount of content, good controls
• Gundam: 8, 8, 8, 8
• excellent Mobile Suit models, problematic system, great textures, tons of optional/unlockable stuff, satisfying, but with divided opinions (don't look at me -- just copying from the forum)
• Resistance: 9, 8, 8, 8 (keep in mind, a lot of people say the Japanese don't like the FPS genre -- but again, the grading is based on others in the same genre, so...)
• standard FPS gameplay, excellent netplay, very high standard of next-gen
• Riiiiiiidge Racer 7: 9, 9, 9, 9
• totally satisfactory, tons of content, very high quality graphics and sound

There you have it. Report your reactions in the form of comments! Dismissed!

Sony's head of hardware development for both the PS3 and the PSP, Izumi Kawanishi, sat down with Famitsu magazine to discuss the details of the plaguing question: what's with the connectivity between the PS3 and the PSP... game-wise? Clearly, just viewing the media wouldn't be enough, so... there's got to be more to it than that. Says IGN: "While Kawanishi didn't get into specifics, we imagine the PSP being used just to display game footage sent to it by the PS3 and send back controller data input by the player." Yeah, well, if that isn't a revelation, here's a bit of foresight: Kawanishi purposely created the PSP with a 16:9 display because he had this idea for the future in mind. Good job, Izumi-chan. Can we say that? Of course, you need the 60GB Wi-Fi model of the PS3 to take advantage of this connectivity. Kawanishi didn't really go into whether a USB Wi-Fi connection with the lower-end model will yield the same result, but really, why wouldn't it?

In a similar but mostly unrelated vein, updating your system software will be done via flash media or game/media software -- similar to the PSP system updates. Kawanishi made mention also that the PS3 games will indeed be region-free, so they can be played as-is (although there will be "exceptions"...). So there you have it -- a few questions answered, a couple left. Any plaguing you in particular? We'll keep an eye out for certain ones that pop up often.

The most believable "he said, she said" article yet! Why? Because initially, PS3 isn't voted "on top". In fact, the 360 will dominate until 2007's end (which will probably be when they announce the XBox 720 or whatever they want to call it). This comes from Famitsu's chief and more prominantly, president of Enterbrain, Hirokazu Hamamura: "The PS3 will have a tough time globally at the initial stage. Its launch titles in Japan and exclusive software titles overseas are quite limited...But its overwhelmingly realistic graphics will give it a long life span. It will stay competitive even when a game console battle breaks out among a newer generation of machines in 2010. Sales should grow every time Sony cuts prices."

As production yields improve, costs in manufacturing will decrease over time, so there's some semblance of thought to this prediction instead of the arbitrary number-snatching. Speaking of number-snatching, let's go over that part of this prediction. 4.13 million PS3 units sold by the end of the fiscal year in March 2007. Sony intends to ship 6 million units by this same time (hmm...). As for the Wii... there's an expected 5.47 million units sold by the same time. No mention of the 360 for some odd reason. Over time, though, the PS3 will dethrone its competitors and reach the top of the mountain, selling an estimated 34 million units by 2009. Sweet. Numbers. Since it's coming from a Famitsu head, it's a little easier to listen since, well, they're highly respected among game enthusiasts in Japan and otherwise.

Leave it to the Famitsu website to put up the largest and most gorgeous display of PS3 pictures on the web. Since the website is riddled with question marks, we'll do our best to translate anything we can.

• The 60GB model has an amazingly cool silver finish around the disc-loading panel. Works horizontally or vertically!
• The power/reset button isn't a button at all. It's more of a heat sensor that reacts to your fingertip's temperature. So if you're really cold, sorry, you can't play. Just kidding, you can still play. Playing is great.
• Famitsu claims the SIXAXIS controller feels securely lighter without the rumble weights.
• The shoulder buttons (last picture on the page, SIXAXIS is on the right) have a smaller profile, but seem more... well, at least in the L2/R2 case, spring loaded a la Dreamcast shoulder buttons. They seem, they probably aren't. It just reminded me of the DC Controller.

Sexy pictures, Famitsu! Thanks for these. Everyone else, check 'em out. Especially those gorgeous LED power lights. So nice.

[update: changed LCD to LED... thanks for making me look like a fool, Andir. Just kidding. Thanks.]