Luckily, the cards only sell for $19.99 at Best Buy so you can print out the coupon and take it in for a free memory card.

While I have not had a chance to try this out, I will be hitting Best Buy first thing tomorrow morning and pick up one (or two, or three)

[update 1]: It appears that SanDisk has changed the coupon. Now it simply says you can buy a 512MB MemoryStick PRO Duo for as low as $19.99.

The PlayStation Portable (PSP) was released in the US on March 24, 2005, and was the first system that seemed poised to threaten Nintendo’s dominant Game Boy franchise in the handheld market.

The system doubles as a portable multimedia device allowing people to view pictures, music, and video–depending, of course, on the size of their memory stick. Sony has been using the system to support the UMD video format, for both movies and video games, although the UMD movies have been notoriously unsuccessful in the year since the PSP’s release.

A little more than a year after the system’s release, the GameSpot editors take a look back at what games they’ve enjoyed on the PSP, what they’re doing with their PSPs right now, and what they’d like to see out of the PSP’s future, either for the current hardware, or the next.

As with most of their other video features (NES Retrospective comes to mind), it is very enjoyable so give it a watch even if it does start out with a negative slant.

It looks like PSP Firmware version 2.71 has been stealthily released in Japan and includes the following updates:

• Game demos can now be downloaded from Internet Browser and saved on Memory stick
• Video output can now be displayed correctly when an external tuner is selected in Location Free Player

The firmware is unavailable in the North American or Europe at this time, but it shouldn’t be too much longer before you can snag it.

[update 1]: PSP firmware version 2.71 for North American PSP users is available now via network update and on PlayStation’s update page. European PSP users can grab the update via network update as well or through yourpsp.com.

Ron Perlman (Hellboy, Blade II, Justice League TV series) as Batman
Michael Jai White (Spawn, Spawn: The Animation) as Green Lantern
Crispin Freeman (Viewtiful Joe, Kingdom Hearts II) as Superman
Courtenay Taylor (God of War, Call of Duty 2: Big Red One) as Wonder Woman
Chris Edgerly (Drawn Together, Chicken Little) as The Flash
Kari Wahlgren (The Wild, Steamboy) as Zatanna
Daniel Riordan (Transformers, Star Trek: Enterprise) as Martian Manhunter
Peter Jessop (Spawn: The Animation) as Brainiac
Carlos Alazraqui (Reno 911, Duck Dodgers) as The Key

Justice League Heroes is due out in Fall 2006 and you can find out all about it here

Here is the full press release:

Eden Games’ Hawaiian Automotive Opulence Scheduled for Autumn Release on All Platforms

LYON, FRANCE – 5 May 2006 – Atari today announced that the jet-set automotive luxury of Test Drive Unlimited is coming to Sony’s PlayStation®2 and PlayStation® Portable consoles in addition to the Xbox 360™ video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PC, and all platforms are scheduled for release in Autumn 2006. Packed with the most desirable vehicles on the planet, one thousand plus miles of open Hawaiian roads, a challenging single player game and a wealth of online features, Test Drive Unlimited is racing reinvented.

Currently in development by Atari’s Melbourne House studio, the versions of Test Drive Unlimited for PS2® and PSP™ retain most of the core gameplay features of the Xbox 360 and PC games, including seemingly endless miles of streaming Hawaiian roads, server-based online play, over 70 luxury supercars rendered in painstaking detail, solo challenges, player-created races, car upgrades and downloadable content. The version for PSP is one of the first ever genuinely online games for the console, making impressive use of Wireless and stepping way beyond simple LAN gaming. In addition, enhancements have been made to the single player game with an Arcade Race mode for snack-sized play.

“Test Drive Unlimited represents the evolution of racing games, and to bring all of this to PS2 and PSP alongside Xbox 360 and PC is an incredible achievement,” said Cyril Voiron, Marketing Director, Atari Europe. “For Melbourne House to put the streaming open roads of Oahu with full online play into the hands of PSP gamers is no mean feat. This game, much like the incredible vehicles featured in it, will turn heads.”

The action in Test Drive Unlimited takes place on the open roads spanning the Hawaiian island of Oahu. In solo mode, players complete challenges and pit their wits against realistic AI opponents to gain points, unlock further tests of their skill and open up more of Oahu’s diverse tropical road system. With the massive online component, which allows racers across the globe to challenge others in the virtual paradise of the game’s persistent online racing world, Test Drive Unlimited offers one of the most comprehensive video game racing experiences to date.

The Xbox 360 and PC versions of Test Drive Unlimited will also be released in autumn in order to fine tune the gameplay and vehicle handling, and to ensure the enormous technical demands of implementing the game’s original concept and technology will be met in full. For regularly updated information, screens and trailers please visit www.testdriveunlimited.com.

PSP
Gangs of London
Killzone: Liberation
Lemmings
Loco Roco
NBA ’07
Ratchet and Clank: Size Matters
SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Fireteam Bravo 2
World Tour Soccer ’06

PS2
ATV: Offroad Fury 4
God of War II
NBA ’07
Rogue Galaxy
SOCOM U.S. Navy SEALs Combined Assault

Looks to be a pretty good E3 for both the PSP and PS2. I for one am looking forward to Loco Roco, God of War II and Rogue Galaxy. How about you all?

Games
NBA Ballers: Rebound

UMD Movies
Family Guy: The Freakin Sweet Collection
X-Men
X-2: X-Men United
Grandma’s Boy

As you can see, there is not much in the way of games this week but it is a decent movie week. Also not much in either department next week.

However, that all changes in two weeks with the release of number of games such as Field Commander and Lemmings.

This third party action adventure game sounds pretty zany and fun. The highlight is the use of multiple heads that each give you a different ability as well as change the way your interact with your environment. You gain the heads by what else? Ripping them off the enemy.

Check out Gamespot’s preview for more info. Dead Head Fred has an unannounced release date at this time, but we should hear more at E3

  
  

The game looks pretty good so far and is pretty much what I had envisioned. I just hope they do this classic game justice.

Well, yesterday Zipper Interactive confirmed that it would be indeed be creating SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Fireteam Bravo 2 for the PSP as well as SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Combined Assault for the PS2.

SOCOM FTB 2 will be sporting the following features:

SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Fireteam Bravo 2:

* An intense single-player campaign with 14 missions across diverse terrain and environments.
* Non-linear mission progression enables players to strategically choose which mission they will take on next.
* Dynamic mission generation allows for nearly endless replay. Once a player completes a single player mission map, that map can again become active multiple times with new objectives and enemies.
* Command Equity is what SEALs earn when they perform well with core aspects of a mission. Command Equity points are earned through mission performance and used to purchase special military assets such as weapons, satellite intelligence, air strikes and more.
* Local Influence is the civilian counterpart to Command Equity, and deals with how the SEALs interact with local populations during the campaign. Local Influence rating determines your standing with the local population and the higher the rating the more chance there is that they will give you free intel and access to black market items and equipment.
* Enemy tactics and behavior have been dramatically improved for more authentic and immersive scenarios and combat.
* Over 40 authentic weapons and equipment options offer the ability to customize the gameplay experience.
* Multiplayer – Players will be able to team up and compete with friends in Ad Hoc and Infrastructure Modes through a Wi-Fi connection. 16 players in close proximity (via Ad Hoc mode) and across the country (via Infrastructure Mode) can play together wirelessly.
* Playing wirelessly includes 3 new multiplayer game modes including Tug-of-War Control Points, Capture the Flag and Target.
* Expanded online community support features include: tournaments, clan challenges and ladders and enhanced friends list and instant messaging features.

There is no currently listed release date but they are expected to launch around fall. We should learn more at E3 and we will keep you updated as we know there are some hardcore SOCOM players here (Just ask the PGR SOCOM Team).

“We don’t think Sony did this on purpose, but, for now, PSPs with the upgraded firmware won’t play files recorded with the Recorder 2,” said the company in a statement e-mailed to registered users.

“A second result of this issue is that any files you may have recorded previously with the Recorder 2 would need to be converted to play on PSPs having the upgraded Version 2.7 firmware,” Neuros continued.

Neuros is working actively to create a firmware upgrade for the MPEG-4 Recorder 2 to fix the problem as well as attempting to alert Sony to the issue so this does not happen in the future.

Source: Google Alerts

Burbank, Calif., May 2, 2006 – Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, a premier developer and licensor of entertainment content in the interactive space, and Eidos Interactive, one of the world’s leading publishers and developers of entertainment software, have signed an agreement for the North American and European distribution of JUSTICE LEAGUE HEROES based on the legendary DC Comics’ super hero team for the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, PSP™ (PlayStation®Portable) system and Xbox® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft.

Launching in Fall 2006, JUSTICE LEAGUE HEROES will be distributed by Eidos Interactive in North America and Europe. Additionally, Eidos will facilitate marketing the game in Europe, while Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment will oversee marketing in North America.

“JUSTICE LEAGUE HEROES is an exciting game for so many audiences, and our focus is to present these super heroes on consoles and the PSP in the most compelling way for players,” said Jason Hall, senior vice president for Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. “Partnering with Eidos, who has had much success in distribution, will allow the strongest reach for this action game where gamers take on the super powers of their favorite DC Comics’ heroes.”

“With the addition of JUSTICE LEAGUE HEROES to Eidos’ portfolio of products, featuring Lara Croft and Agent 47, we are creating a formidable line-up for gamers that will now include playing as Superman, Batman and the other super heroes,” said Jane Cavanagh, Chief Executive, Eidos Interactive.

Published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and developed by Snowblind Studios, JUSTICE LEAGUE HEROES is an action adventure game with role-playing customization featuring Superman, Batman, Green Lantern, The Flash, Wonder Woman, Martian Manhunter, Zatanna and other unlockable Justice League super heroes. Each hero possesses an array of character-specific, upgradeable superpowers resulting in unique controls and fighting-styles. Engaging in one-to-two player cooperative combat, gamers will be able to customize and master these superpowers as they travel through interactive and destructible environments spanning the farthest corners of the universe.

Hopefully this will turn out to be an excellent entry into the superhero genre and not something that makes you want to hang your head in shame as they destroy your childhood heroes. We will all find out this fall.

In Ultimate Ghosts n Goblins, you once again take on the mantle of Arthur as you fight your way through the underworld to take on the dark lord who has reawakened and kidnapped the princess (again!).

Ok, so the storyline isn’t the greatest but that isn’t what the series is famous for. The Ghost n’ Goblins franchise is one of those that almost no one ever beat and if you did beat it, you had total bragging rights.

The new entry in the series features a number of improvements over the original including branching sub-missions, new weapons and armour, the ability to double-jump and more. All early previews point to this being an excellent return to form for Aurther and we will all get to find out September this year.

Click here for all the screenshots.

This collection includes Metal Slug, Metal Slug 2, Metal Slug X, Metal Slug 3, Metal Slug 4 and Metal Slug 5 which is pretty much all the Metal Slug you will ever need. While the series is notorious for its difficulty, it is a crazy fun series.

I for one cannot wait for this collection to hit. I just hope I do not throw my PSP like I used to throw my controller with these games.

In order to win, customers simply buy a Happy Set (Happy Meal) and scratch the card that they receive to see if they won.

First Burger King and now McDonalds. I am not sure how I feel about nasty fast-food restaurants getting into gaming. What about you?