Reader Matt G. sent in a tip, detailing a number of PS1 titles rated by the ESRB that have yet to be released on PSP/PS3. These downloadable classics should arrive on the PSN some time in the future -- but when?
Wipeout XL (E)
Jet Moto 3 (E)
Super Puzzle Fighter 2 Turbo (E)
Buster Bros. Collection (E)
Street Fighter Alpha (T) -- previously discovered, not released
Rayman (E)
Castlevania Chronicles (T) -- previously discovered, not released
SCEA has been slow to make PS1 classics available on the PS Store. We're eagerly awaiting a version of Puzzle Fighter we can take on the go.
This Thursday update will surprise our Canadian friends. SCEA has announced that it will adjust prices on content available on the PLAYSTATION Store for Canadian customers. According to the press release, "the adjustment comes as a result of the strengthening Canadian currency and SCEA's ability to localize pricing within the PLAYSTATION Store." The prices will be adjusted during a window of time prior to Thursday's content update. As a result, we recommend all our Canadian readers to wait until tomorrow's content has gone live before purchasing anything this week. You'll most likely save a few bucks.
"We are continually looking for ways to enhance the player experience on the PLAYSTATION®Network, and downloadable content through the PLAYSTATION Store is just one of our areas of focus," said Grace Chen, Senior Manager for the PLAYSTATION Store. "We anticipate that this price adjustment will meet the expectations of our Canadian consumers and provide them with a better PLAYSTATION Network experience."
Not one to be upstaged, SCEA has bettered today's decent PSN update with an even bigger one. Today you'll find two demos, a PS1 game, five expansion packs and a large collection of trailers. We approve. More updates like this in the future, please. Here's the full release list: Playable content:
R-Types PS1 game ($5.99) - Includes R-Type and R-Type II
Karaoke Revolution: AIE songs (check PS.Blog for full list)
So what's your first purchase? R-Types or the Eye of Judgment expansion? Or maybe the Rock Band songs or Call of Duty 4 map pack. Honestly, you're spoiled for choice. Rock Band songs and assorted trailers are listed after the break.
In tandem with the new firmware update today, Americans can enjoy a few surprising releases ahead of Thursday's normal updates. Here's what you can find on your updated Store:
Game Add-ons:
Super Stardust HD Solo Add-on Pack ($4.99) This upgrade pack for Super Stardust HD requires the original game. It will add new game modes: Endless, Survival, Bomber and Time Attack. Arcade Mode now features the Easy difficulty. A new Retro soundtrack has been added. [Editor's Note: It is incredibly awesome. A must-buy for fans of Super Stardust HD.]
Lair Dragons and Control Pack (free) Get two new playable dragons, analog flight controls, rumble support and enhanced PSP Remote Play support. It's what the game should've had from the start.
Videos:
Gran Turismo 5 Prologue "Beyond the Apex" trailer (free)
Gran Turismo 5 Prologue "Friendly Fires" video (free)
There will be more to see this Thursday. See you then!
It's April 15th on the East Coast, and firmware 2.30 is already live. The major update for this release is the redesigned PLAYSTATION Store, and boy does it look good. We fell in love the moment we clicked X and heard that new chime that signals the launch of the Store.
You'll find broken image placeholders in many places, as things still seem to be in the middle of construction. Some complained that the O button shouldn't close the Store -- it doesn't anymore. Now, it simply takes you back one page. And yes, the new Store is much, much faster.
There's a few new additions already available on the Store, such as a new Super Stardust HD update and the Lair patch. Go to Network Update on your PS3 and get downloading -- tell us what you think of the new PS Store!
A press release sent out by SCEJ has revealed that firmware version 2.30 and, by extension, the newly redesigned PlayStation Store will be available on April 15th. There's no word on whether new content will be placed on the store on the day that the redesign goes live, and we're all too familiar with how much Sony hates updating the store on days that don't begin with "Thurs." When the update does go live, however, we'll have plenty of exciting content to look forward to -- Americans can finally get their hands on GT5:P and Warhawkfans the world over will be able to grab the latest expansion. What else? We have no idea, but we're excited to find out.
Reacquaint yourself with the new Store design via our gallery below.
We've known that the Store would be undergoing a redesign in April for a little while, but until now we've had no idea exactly what it would look like. SCEE has been kind enough to reveal some images of the new look for the Store, and it's certainly an improvement over the current one. Be sure to check out the gallery below for high resolution images.
Unfortunately, the redesign means that European PS3 owners will be missing out on two weeks worth of PSN content - the European Store will not be updated between now and when the redesign goes live in "mid-April." That's a sacrifice we're willing to make, however. Sony is keen to tell us that the new look store is a result of "a survey last year which showed that many PlayStation Store users wanted a better interface and easier navigation."
To make up for the two weeks without new content we're promised a "special update in mid-April." This information is currently only correct for Europe. We're waiting to hear from SCEA regarding their redesign plans.
[UPDATE]SCEA has confirmed that the US Store will also be redesigned around the same time. There will be no Store updates between now and the launch.
Capcom just announced that Rocketmen: Axis of Evil will be hitting the PS Store on Thursday next week. The game won't cost you an arm or a leg, but it will set you back $10 in "human money."
The game, for those who don't know, is an arcade shooter based off Wizkids' constructible strategy game. Though this Rocketman game stays far away from the meticulous micromanagement of strategy games, it instead trades its old duds for straight up shooting. The game supports up to four player co-op both on and offline, and features customizable characters. Check out the beautiful cel-shaded graphics in the gallery below:
In an interview with Screen Play the Managing Director of Sony Electronic Entertainment Australia, Michael Ephraim, was asked to comment on the ridiculous delays between releases on the PAL/Australian PSN versus the US/Japanese PSN. Ephraim confirmed that the issue was the fact that all content needs to be localized for all the European languages (no change there, we've known that for months). "We're in an online space, it's a global community," he says.
When pressed that "digital distribution is supposed to break down geographic barriers," Ephraim responds that "there are discussions and we have identified that. We have been very vocal about it and I think you will see an improvement over the next six months on this issue." Should we take this to mean that a global online store is coming within the next half a year? Not impossible, but let's be realistic - we'll probably see European content lag become much shorter within that time frame (or, hopefully, nonexistent) rather than an entire global PSN Store.
Doesn't mean we can't cross our fingers for one, right?
We know only too well just how impatient you guys can be, which is why we're letting you know that you don't have to wait any longer. The Devil May Cry 4 demo is available right now on the Japanese PSN Store and, yes, it's in English. The American PSN Store will be updated later today with the demo, but Europeans will have to wait until next week to get their hands on that. That is, of course, unless you go ahead and load up your Japanese or American PSN accounts and get it today.
Expect plenty more coverage of the game to come in the next couple of weeks, along with plenty of emails to SCEE asking why Europe has to wait for a demo again. In the meantime, chill out with Nero and while away the hours wielding a ridiculously large sword against impossible creatures.
Seems like the good folks at SCEA are enjoying some eggnog today, as they continue this post-Christmas "vacation" nonsense of theirs. As a result, don't expect any new Store updates today! But remember, last week's update was quite substantial, with so much content it made our head spin.
Hopefully, the world will return to normalcy next week, when we expect the Store to return with a kickin' post-New Years buzz.
Don't have a credit card? Want to purchase things on the PLAYSTATION Store? No worries. Now you have the PLAYSTATION Network card. The kind folks at SCEA sent us an early Christmas gift -- a card that's redeemable for PS3 and PSP purchases on the PLAYSTATION Store. No further details have been officially released, but rest assured that these cards will be readily available in retail stores in the future.
We're having flashbacks to the summer. To a time when the US constantly got great PSN updates and Europe ... didn't. Fine then - you keep your full games, PS1 classics, cool trailers and interesting demos. We're fine with our themes. Here's the full release list for today:
Pretty good, wouldn't you say? Wild Arms is a huge surprise and almost makes up for the complete lack of PS1 classics for the last month or so. Almost. For those of you in love with microtransactions, this week is a treat. Folklore, Motorstorm and Rock Band add on packs galore. But where's that Kane & Lynch demo? Good question. If you behave, maybe Europe will let you borrow it.
We hope you like themes, because there's not a lot else available today, apart from a couple of add ons and a demo. In fact, today's update is even lacking trailers - not to mention a huge hole where the Guitar Hero 3 downloadable content should be. Here's the full release list:
Themes are all well and good, but where are the downloadable titles Europe has been promised for ages now? Puzzle Fighter, Everyday Shooter - even Blast Factor: Advanced Research hasn't been made available to us yet. As for the Guitar Hero 3 downloadable content, the least said about that, the better. You were doing so well SCEE. What went wrong?
Lots of add-on packs today. Expect this to be a recurring thing, what with all the games that are compatible with downloadable content on the shelves nowadays. PAIN promises to be an interesting experience and no doubt we'll have a review up for you before the week is out. Until then, there's plenty of add-on content here to keep you coming back to your favourite games. Especially with the Shivering Isles expansion for Oblivion.