The Poll Police have had their phones ringing off the hooks this week, what with the unveiling of the controversial 40GB PS3 SKU. They've gathered information, checked out technical specifications and researched pricing estimations, but they can't get a lead on the decision by Sony. Why would this happen? How can this happen? These questions are too big for one Poll Police Force to handle, so they need your help in deciphering the response to the decision in removing backwards compatibility. PlayStation One games still work, apparently, but PS2 support is getting the axe. So, the Poll Police need your help: is this a big deal, or overblown and ridiculous?
We have to take a step back from all the technical information and board the logic train to see things from a little farther away. First off, the PS3 has been out long enough to begin amassing its own game library. Secondly, if you already own a PS3, you're an early adopter and have backwards compatibility ... good for you, this poll doesn't apply. If the PS3 is going to be your first Sony console, why would you care about backwards compatibility? If this is not your first Sony console, you already have something that plays old games -- what's the problem? Shelf space? Fourth, if you don't have an old Sony console but want the PS3 and collect old games, keep in mind this is the cheap version of the PS3. The slim PS2's are practically being given away, so if you really want to go buy old games, the combined price is essentially the same as if you were an early adopter of the PS3. This isn't to say removing backwards compatibility is a good move, it's definitely confusing and pointless, but for a lot of us, there's no real justification to all the hate being poured out on Sony. This is the data the Poll Police compiled from witnesses, so take it as you will. Last week's results are after the jump.
We're finally going to get our podcasting back in action, starting this Monday. To ring in this event, we'd like to invite all of you to send us any questions you'd like us to answer and we'll add a segment into our show where we do just that. Well, maybe not any question, but as long as you keep it fairly relevant, we'll do what we can.
It's been over a month since we had our voices gracing the internets and it will be nice to finally get the show back up and running. We'll be running through the most recent events on Monday and going back in time to make up for the stuff we missed -- Wednesday will bring a show about stuff from TGS, for example. Come next Sunday, we should be all caught up and ready to get back into the regular swing of things. Until then, send us your queries and lend us your ears!
Here is the Quasarilli, the winning entry of SCEA's Create a Folk contest. This creature creation was chosen by the development team, Game Republic, and will be featured in an upcoming downloadable expansion for the game. The winner, Lisa, will also be receiving a limited edition art book and a free copy of the game. Congrats!
Stay tuned for PS3 Fanboy's review of Folklore next Tuesday.
The Poll Police just finished munching on some donuts, then realized not much happened this week following the Tokyo Game Show. They did catch wind of a news story so absolutely ludicrous they had to investigate, but got hungry. So you see where they are and why they need your help. For ages, the exclusivity of Final Fantasy XIII and Metal Gear Solid 4 has come under constant scrutiny by sources ranging from a single forum member starting a flaming rumor to moderately respected websites reporting on obscure quotes or vague interpretations. Though both Square Enix and Konami/Kojima have stated multiple times these games are on the PS3 alone, these rumors simply will not die. Our poll is thus: once and for all, are these games exclusive?
We shall see what you decide, though an extra decision was tossed in there because it's also a very important one. Speaking of important decisions, you must face another one right now: do you want to know the results of last week's poll? Check that out after the jump.
No more Metal Gear Solid 4 trailers? Bah! Make your own! Comics Infinity has new UDF figurines available for pre-order from the entire Metal Gear Solid franchise, including statues from the upcoming PS3 exclusive sequel. With Old Snake in hand, you can create your own funny videos, throw them up on YouTube, and enjoy upwards of fifteen minutes of internet fame.*
[Thanks, anonymous!]
*Internet fame has no monetary value. Cannot be traded, sold or exchanged.
The Poll Police have pulled out of their duties in Tokyo, as the Tokyo Game Show winds down. We believe it was T.S. Eliot who once said "This is the way Tokyo Game Show ends; not with a bang, but a whimper." Well, if Eliot were a gamer, we're sure that'd be true. Anyhow, we've got our opinions about the show for this year, but we're curious about what you thought. So, our poll for this week is quite simple: what impression did you take away from TGS?
We don't know if it was the plethora of trailers and moderate dearth of playables, or the delay of Home, or the already-common-knowledge announcement of the DualShock 3, but TGS was missing a bang this year. Our personal opinion -- don't vote just to agree. However, you should check out our results from last week's poll after the jump. Technically, most of you should have been pleased.
This week, the Poll Police are laying out the heavy-hitting games that are going to try to grab your attention at the Tokyo Game Show. There are a ton of games on the horizon, but a lot of them aren't the ones that everybody is talking about. Based on our comments throughout the last month or so, the Poll Police have compiled a list, by no means exhaustive, of the games that generate the most buzz. Now then, which of these games do you want to see the most of, more than anything else in the gaming world:
Yep, we're capping it at ten. Not interested in any of those? Then what exactly are you looking forward to most of all? As we said, this isn't an exhaustive list, but judging from our readers' comments, these are the biggest titles coming to TGS. We don't like the "none" option, since that's sort of like giving up or refusing to decide. Be brave, volunteers of the Poll Police, as your decision means everything to us! Just look at last week's poll to see what we mean.
The Tokyo Game Show is right around the corner and with it, some undoubtedly large announcements by Sony and the other console giants. Not to be rude, but the Poll Police aren't interested in the others at the moment -- they need your help in deciphering the big announcements to come and it's going to take two weeks! This week the Poll Police have compiled what they feel would be the biggest announcements Sony could belt out during the show, but your duty does not end at casting a vote this week. Should you feel another announcement is bigger and/or better, leave a comment informing us so next week we can pitch those suggestions against this week's most talked about prediction. Without further ado, the Poll Police's ideas.
We omitted most game-related announcements (Home isn't really a "game", per se) because there's the possibility of so very many. Those five are the ones most likely to get a mention, the Poll Police feel, but they are by no means all big announcements to come -- that's where you come in. Vote on these, let us know if you feel something has been horribly overlooked and next week, we'll have a battle royale amongst the biggest possible TGS announcements that may or may not occur. If you're curious about last week's poll, check the results after the jump to see how many of your friends have been Warhawk'd.
Welcome to this week's addition of Ask PS3 Fanboy. This week we look at cooling options, Linux install locations and more. Have additional questions that you don't see answered here? !
Question:
Hi guys, just a quick question. My PS3 is in a cabinet among other devices and not long after playing it becomes really hot. I leave the cabinet door open to allow some airflow but i was wondering what is/are the best cooling systems available for the PS3.
Answer:
There are a couple solutions, including the Pelican Air Flo and the Nyko Intercooler. IGN gave the Pelican a 7.9 and gave the Nyko a 8.3. Both seemed to work well, and only cost about 30 dollars. If possible though, it's best to move the PS3 someplace more open. It's not always possible with everybody's setups, but overall thats the best way to ensure the health of your PS3.
Did you know that Lair has a secret "Hot Coffee" code? Inspired by the controversy sparked by Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, Factor 5 has included a video in the game that lampoons the ESRB's overly harsh decision. You can experience it for yourself by inputting code 686F7420636F66666565 (case sensitive) into the game. Or, you can take the lazy way out, and watch after the cut.
The Poll Police have stumbled across a new epidemic sweeping the globe, originating from a game called Warhawk. This disease, tentatively titled Warhawk'd, is a degenerative disease that causes those affected to sink into their couch in euphoric bliss, idling away time playing the PS3's greatest downloadable online experience. With that in mind, the Poll Police need your help once again to measure the breadth of this affliction -- have you been Warhawk'd? That is, have you purchased Warhawk?
The staff of PS3 and PSP Fanboy have all been taken down by this crushing disease and they couldn't be happier. They're curious to your status, even. What is everyone's rank? When you cast your vote, leave a comment telling everyone your rank to show who is in the "later stages" of the Warhawk'd epidemic. If you're curious about last week's poll results, they are after the jump as usual.
Hey ... PS3 Fanboy suddenly stopped updating! OH NOES! What happened? We're all too busy playing Warhawk. And we want you to join us. Find room "PS3Fanboy" and you'll be able to play against your fellow PS Fanboy writers and readers.
We'll be playing the game all night -- hope to see you there!
The poll police make yet another triumphant return this week, despite the rainstorms plaguing their office. Even though they lost power and internet for most of the day, they worked by candlelight, researching files and folders of recent rumors and PS3-related gatherings until once more, the poll police call upon you for help. This week, the poll regards three upcoming titles that have all been hyped up since before the launch of the PlayStation 3: Warhawk, Lair, and Heavenly Sword. These titles are all coming out with little time between them, so now we ask: which one of these games is getting eclipsed by the others?
Don't read too much into the poll, rather, listen to the poll police's logic (good or not). Since Warhawk is coming out first, some may pass it by since they plan to purchase the latter two anyway and can't stomach the investment for two or all three. Some might pass on Lair because they're still playing Warhawk, but will pick up Heavenly Sword since it comes out a bit later. Even still, Heavenly Sword may get ignored because it comes out last in the trilogy of releases. Some people might not want to buy it, as they're still enjoying the other two. This is all assuming more than one of these games interests you, but if not, just think abstractly about which of these titles is most likely to get overshadowed. Last week's poll results are after the jump.
Looking to create a new type of gamer card that lets people know just how much you love your PS3 and play it all the time? The Sony Protection Group have unveiled their newest outing, PS3Tag.com. On these cards (of which there are hundreds of unique skins), you can slap your PSN avatar, list the number of GB's your PS3 has, your clan, country (with flag), up to five game images, and a clickthrough ability to go to your profile on whatever forum you're posting on.
It's a really neat program and one that's bound to find success -- just look at the gamer tags with XBox Live. Eventually, some sort of Home integration is planned for these new tags, along with continued updates of skins and game images. There's also a service called Tag Paper where it basically extends your small tag and makes it into a downloadable wallpaper for your PS3's background. Flashy, especially if you forget who you are on the PSN.
[Update: An alternative? PS3Tags.com. Feel free to explore both options, and decide for yourself which one is the best.]
[Via PlayStation Forums]
The NeoGAF forums exploded in a fury of wild emotions at IGN UK's recent review of the much anticipated Heavenly Sword. The critics at IGN UK have much to praise about the game's visual presentation, noting its stellar graphics: "Everything from the beautifully designed, slickly animated characters to those magnificent, omnipresent sweeping vistas is a glory to behold."
But the review goes downhill from there. The combat system is called "tiresome and, to be blunt, incredibly boring." The story goes through a "hopelessly hackneyed, melodramatic script."
IGN UK is known for its highly critical reviews. However, PS3 fans must feel like Nariko (above) when one of the first reviews of such a heavily promoted game gets bashed so strongly. Hopefully, future reviews will show the game in a more favorable light, considering how crucial having a AAA title in the PS3 library is.
Did you know that Lair has a secret "Hot Coffee" code? Inspired by the controversy sparked by Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, Factor 5 has included a video in the game that lampoons the ESRB's overly harsh decision. You can experience it for yourself by inputting code 686F7420636F66666565 (case sensitive) into the game. Or, you can take the lazy way out, and watch after the cut.
