Portable Gaming Revolution

IGN reports that the game Ultimate Block Party (Kollon in Japan) will be receiving a sequel titled Koro Koro Kollon.

The game’s original developer/publisher Cyber Front is having a go at a sequel, the latest issue of Famitsu reports. Known as Koro Koro Kollon (the original was called “Kollon” in Japan), the sequel has the same basic rules. As colored blocks push the playfield up, your goal is to rotate your current set of blocks in order to make four like-colors line up and disappear. It’s unclear if any major gameplay changes have been made for the sequel, but Cyber Front has reportedly increased the play field size, making it easier to see the action.

Four main modes of play are planned for the title. In addition to single player practice mode and a tutorial mode, the game includes wireless play for two players; this is a bigger deal in Japan, as the original Japanese release of Kollon lacked multiplayer play. Also included is a campaign mode where you work through a story as you defeat CPU opponets.

The game currently has a release date of 6/22 in Japan with no US date announced. However, the US release of Ultimate Block Party was not accompanied with any announcement and ended up just appearing on shelves. Hopefully we will get notification before it comes out this time.

2k Sports announced yesterday that their upcoming baseball game Major League Baseball 2K6 has gone gold for both PSP and Xbox 360.

2K Sports Announces Major League Baseball 2K6 For Xbox 360 And PSP Have Gone Gold!

BREAKING NEWS – SAN RAFAEL, CA – April 5, 2006

Major League Baseball 2K6 for the Xbox 360™ video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PSP™ (Play Station® Portable), the latest in the popular Major League Baseball 2K video game series, have gone gold. Major League Baseball 2K6 showcases groundbreaking new features, outstanding graphics, incomparable gameplay and online play.

Major League Baseball 2K6, the only officially licensed Major League Baseball video game to be available for every major gaming console, brings baseball to life with a variety of original and exciting features for Xbox 360 and PSP. Providing baseball fans with the ultimate MLB video game experience, Major League Baseball 2K6 offers the new, innovative Swing Stick batting mechanic, A.I.-driven Inside Edge™ technology, World Baseball Classic Mode, and Pure Motion Physics, among other compelling features.

Major League Baseball 2K6 for Xbox 360 demonstrates the game’s exceptional graphics through high-definition details in cloth physics, 3D interactive crowds, and high-resolution textures. Through the power of the Xbox 360, the new Flashback Highlights technology allows players to relive key moments in the game.

In addition to incorporating a suite of superior features included in the console versions, Major League Baseball 2K6 for the PSP features the exclusive Home Run Derby Career Mode, challenging gamers to battle their way through the heavy hitters of Major League Baseball.

Major League Baseball 2K6 with these features and more will be shipping to retailers on April 10 for Xbox 360 and April 14 for PSP.

For more information click on www.2ksports.com

The game is already released for the PS2 and XBox to somewhat mixed reviews. Hopefully the PSP version will be much better.

Sony Computer Entertainment Europe has released a set of guidelines in PDF format to assist web developers in creating websites that are compatible with the PSP browser. In addition to this, they have released guides on releasing audio content to be used with RSS syndication.

The guides are completely free with only a simple registration required. You will not get any additional support from Sony, but you can sign up for their mailing list to receive a notification when the newest guides are published.

This is a great source of information for anyone wanting to either develop a new PSP site or convert their existing site to PSP format.

Remember that PGRevolution has a PSP version of our site as well. If accessing it through the PSP browser you will automatically see it, or you can head over to www.pgoz.com and check it out in a regular browser.

Source: PSP Updates

Konami has released the interactive comic Silent Hill Experience this week. This is the first of the two announced interactive products, the other one being Metal Gear: The Digital Comic.

Product Information
Unique among all PSP™ products available on the market, The Silent Hill® Experience combines a variety of media – comics, music and movies to deliver a complete behind-the-scenes look at the popular Silent Hill franchise. Using an intuitive 3D interface, Silent Hill fans will be able to view all-new digital interactive comics, listen to music from the long-running series of Silent Hill video games, and watch exclusive video content, including an interview with the director of the highly-anticipated Silent Hill motion picture.

Features
• View over 2 hours of digital comics based on the popular Silent Hill comic series presented with haunted music
• Includes the acclaimed comic series Silent Hill: Dying Inside and a brand new Silent Hill story The Hunger
• 20 unforgettable music tracks selected from series’ producer and music composer Akira Yamaoka
• Exclusive video interview with the director of the Silent Hill movie Christophe Gans and series’ music composer Akira Yamaoka
• Rare video content from previous Silent Hill games

For some reason, it was fairly under the radar as not many (IE: None) retail outlets knew about it when I went to pick one up.

However you can order them online at KonamiStyle for $19.99 which is just what I will be doing.

IGN reports that Namco Bandai will be bringing the game based on the upcoming film The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift to the PS2 and PSP. The game, titled The Fast and the Furious, will feature previously unseen drift mechanics, as well as your standard car customizations and numerous licensed vehicles.

“The alluring underground world of street racing has made for some of the industry’s most popular games,” says Namco Bandi Games America business director Jeff Lujan.

Eutechnyx, the team behind the abysmal Big Mutha Truckers series are behind The Fast and the Furious. One can hope that they do a far better job at The Fast and the Furious than they did with Big Mutha Truckers.

Linux users can now encode PSP compatible videos too! Using FFmpeg, mp4psp, psprez, and a shell script, Linux users can encode videos for their PSP. The process is rather complicated but if your one of those computer savvy Linux users, it should be a piece a cake.

http://www.linuxpspvideo.org

Thrustmaster has announced the release of their WiFi USB Key for PSP yesterday. This WiFi USB key plugs into your PC and provides your PSP wireless access without the need of a WiFi Router. The full press release is below.

Thrustmaster, New York, April 3, 2006 — Today is a good day for Playstation Portable™ owners everywhere. Thrustmaster, the PC and video game accessories manufacturer, announces the release of its WiFi USB Key for PSP™ FunAccess. This year the PSP is expanding its catalog of online, multiplayer games and Thrustmaster has the perfect solution for gamers without WiFi internet access.

Now you can play online and surf the Web on your PSP, wirelessly and from the comfort of your own home.

The latest product from Thrustmaster is a USB WiFi adapter* which plugs into your computer connected to the Internet via a modem. WiFi USB key for PSP FunAccess provides PSP consoles with wireless Internet and online gaming access and without requiring a wireless router.

“Sony®’s portable console is a fantastic gaming machine which can be connected to the Web via its WiFi system. Thrustmaster has created this new accessory to enable all gamers who don’t have a WiFi system at home to get the most from their console’s online capabilities, from anywhere at home and wire-free,” said Bertrand Gasnier, Wireless Product Development Manager for Thrustmaster.

Maximum simplicity for maximum fun

In practical terms, all you need is a PC connected to the Internet (512k minimum via USB line connected Modem or Ethernet card). Connect the Thrustmaster Wi-Fi USB Key via the USB port and your PC becomes a real WiFi router.

Installing FunAccess on your PC and configuring the PSP couldn’t be easier, thanks to the special software which takes users through a brief step-by-step set-up process. The installation has been specially designed to recognize Internet connections automatically, whatever the modem used, whether USB or Ethernet. FunAccess was developed using the Hercules brand’s expertise, which has an outstanding reputation for the simplicity and quality of its WiFi peripherals for PC.

Surfing the net, playing other gamers around the world and downloading audio, image or video files directly to your portable console is so simple and straightforward you can start using the PSP to its full potential immediately. You can even share the connection with friends. FunAccess opens up the online world to several PSP consoles at the same time: connect up to 5 players at once!

Plus, Thrustmaster has created a website specially designed for PSP users; offering exclusive information, photos, screensavers and tips and tricks (http://psp.thrustmaster.com ). The site will be officially online April 6th.

If you have other Internet-enabled equipment with integrated WiFi technology such as a laptop or PDA the Wi-Fi USB key for PSP allows you to connect them to the web as well.

Thrustmaster’s new WiFi USB Key for PSP™ will be available in May 2006, at a recommended retail price of $39.99.

*Integrates WiFI 802.11G technology
**FunAccess requires the PSP firmware update 2.50 and higher, and Windows® XP.

The Power Brick, manufactured by Pelican, is being recalled. There have been several reports (143 to be exact) that the charger’s circuit board can overheat and cause the plastic cover to melt. This is a fire and burn hazard and consumers should stop using it. You can visit the recall site for more information.

AhMan from PSP Updates has released another update to his popular PSP shell, iR Shell. This new version features greatly improved file transfer. The transfer speed has been bumped from a mere 97Kbps to 270Kbps which is about three times faster. The new version also handles the file transfer differently and has error recovery. The downside is that it isn’t compatible with v1.2.

Download iR Shell v1.3

The most recent episode of OpenAlpha is about our favorite handheld.

Jenn takes a look at the Logitech PlayGear Pocket, offers up some money saving PSP tips, and goes into the fun she’s been having with the PSP Lua player and PSP Golf with extra map packs.

The episode is available in WMV, MP4 and XviD formats.

Also be sure to check out the show notes here.

The Barnet and Potters Bar Times reports that on last Friday in Downage, a young boy of 12 was violently robbed of his PSP and mobile phone.

He was thrown to the ground, injuring his hand, while his PSP and mobile phone were stolen. The boy was taken to Barnet Hospital, suffering concussion, cuts and bruising, and remained there over the weekend

It was revealed earlier that two-thirds of all street robberies involve expensive electronic equipment. Officers now worry that the PSP will now become the target of choice as this is the second theft of this nature since Christmas.

Acting Detective Chief Inspector Murray Duffin, of Barnet police, said: “Sadly, small portable items of technology are just too much of a temptation to some of the criminal fraternity and things like PSPs and iPods that are not used in school should maybe be left safely at home or kept well out of sight when in the street.

“The amount of violence used in this attack was unnecessary and gratuitous and we would hope that anyone with any information about this incident will contact us quickly.”

I have to admit that I believe it to be a sad thing when two adults have to beat up and rob a 12 year old for something. I hope they catch the two soon and I also hope the kid is alright.

We have a great episode of the Rewind for you guys this week. There is a lot of news and homebrew releases to report on this week for a change. As a special treat Cara sits in for the episode, enjoy!

Call our voicemail line and leave us a comment! 1-206-326-1221

If you would like to give it a listen you can either download it [directly [mp3 23min 10mb], or subscribe to the podcast RSS feed in your favorite aggregator.

Shownotes

Show us your character! Check it out at ShowUsYourCharacter.com

Game releases for the week: From Russia with Love, Bust a Move Deluxe, Cabela’s Dangerous Hunt and Ultimate Challenge.

We talk about:

• Flixpo adds PSP Service – http://flixpo.com/
• The Death of the UMD. Sony releasing a UMD to TV converter
• Lumines 2 to be shown at E3.. WE CAN’T WAIT
• PSP Xtreme Mag Issue 10
• Quake 2.0+ released with infrastructure and ad-hoc multiplayer support
• Homebrew Locator v1.4 – Automagically download homebrew to your PSP
• eLoader c0.9.7 “Bock” released – This version ads better networking support.

Remember to show us your character! Visit http://ShowUsYourCharacter.com

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