PS3 Fanboy

[Thanks, Liam B.!]

It seems like almost every game is getting Trophy support these days. Pretty soon, it won't be long until Trophies become standard across all games (and they'll stop being special!). A sharp reader noticed an image on IGN for the upcoming Blitz game that features the now-familiar icon with the next: "You have earned a trophy." Considering it's a multiplatform title, it's likely that the Trophies in Blitz will be identical to the Xbox 360's Achievements.

[Thanks, TheDon23!]

Just a warning: there's some foul language in this video, so listen at an acceptable volume! Football is an American past-time, but we don't really get to hear the voices behind the masks -- especially when it comes to video game characters of their likeness. So that's why we found this Blitz: The League II video so interesting -- it offers a perspective we don't get to see in these styles of games that often. Here you get to listen to Lawrence Taylor, voicing the character of Quentin Sands in the game. He gives you some insight into the character, how he approached the voice, and how the story will be much larger than the first. Cool stuff.

Midway announced Blitz: The League II last week. Now we've got some bone-crackingly new screens to show you from E3. Ouch, doesn't that look like it's going to hurt? Check out the rest of the gallery for some more hard-hitting football.

In an official press release, Midway listed the titles that will make an appearance at E3. The PS3 titles are all multi-platform, but are also multi-genre. They'll be showing off Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe, Wheelman, TNA iMPACT!, Blitz The League 2, and This is Vegas -- most are due out this Fall, but This is Vegas has been pushed into 2009.

As Midway CEO Matthew Booty put it, "these games truly reflect our product strategy to develop top quality titles in a wide range of genres that appeal to all segments of the market." This is a fair statement: we've got a fantasy fighting game, an intense driving/action title, wrestling, football, and a sandbox-style simulation game. It's a wide spread, so we'll see if they get any thumbs up at E3 next week.

Blitz is back according to a Midway press release announcing Blitz: The League II for the PS3 and also the Xbox 360. The football series is set come back to PlayStation consoles after sitting sidelined since 2005. The new game is said to have an "all-new story mode penned by former ESPN "Playmakers" writer, Peter Egan" and will also feature the return of football legend, Lawrence Taylor. Pretty interesting stuff for all you "Foosball" fans. A release date has yet to be set, but if you're looking for on Blitz: The League II, then scout out the official site.

[Via press release]

So we've previously said we were going to cry if we didn't hear a US release announcement for Valkyrie of the Battlefield: Gallian Chronicles; fortunately for us, and for you all as well, we won't have to break out the tears because both SEGA America and SEGA Europe are making our wish come true by bringing the game over to the west. Announced and renamed for the west as Valkyria Chronicles, this PS3-exclusive should be coming our way by autumn 2008.

For the uninitiated, Valkyria Chronicles is a strategy RPG that incorporates the "BLiTZ" battle system. "BLiTZ" takes a unique twist on the traditional turn-based system by injecting bits of real-time movement and actions. As much of a paradox as that may sound, it really does makes sense once you see it in action. The game's gorgeous imagery is probably what gamers have noticed most about the game; the artistic style is brought out by SEGA's CANVAS engine which is said to take full advantage of the PS3's processing capabilities.

The game is set in a fictional world, and follows the story of a soldier named Welkin. The major conflict is a familiar backdrop with two huge forces waging war: "The Empire" and "The Federation." A smaller neutral country named Gallia, has the most unfortunate position of being right in between these two huge factions. What will happen as a result of this? We don't know, but we're certainly curious. Be assured, we'll be keeping a close watch on this one.