2009 PSP games - Phantasy Star Portable, Dissidia Final, Parasite Eve: The 3rd Monster Hunter Freedom Unite Fantasy, Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep,

2008 was a slow year for the PSP, not in terms of sale but rather, the number of titles actually shelling your money out for. Aside from God of War, Crisis Core and the usually releases of annual franchises, there was very little to be remembered.

2009 however seems to be brewing up as the biggest year for the console since it’s release in 2004. Don’t believe it? Take a look at the list of PSP Games to look forward to in 2009.

Phantasy Star Portable
This is one title I’m really prepping up for.

PSP (Phantasy Star Portable) on the PSP is a multiplayer RPG that has the potential of making Monster Hunter-like success on English soil. Phantasy Star Portable is a continuation of the Phantasy Star Universe story line but relies on multiplayer rather than an online connection (no word if infrastructure support will be included in the english release) and is supported by extensive DLC (just like Monster Hunter) to keep gamers and fans on their toes.

The best part? It hits shelves March 24th.

Dissidia Final Fantasy
Ah yes, Final Fantasy Dissidia. Although a lot of players are already playing the game (the Japanese on through custom firmware) it’s still one of the most awaited titles from Square-Enix. Dissidia takes a Kingdom Hearts inspired RPG system and a very solid fighting system to sate even the most rabid fanbois.

The biggest seller? The game carries both protagonist and antagonist from each Final Fantasy game up to X with a storyline that befits the Final Fantasy name. Dissidia Final Fantasy is set for Q2 2009.

Monster Hunter Freedom Unite
Monster Hunter is the biggest thing to happen to PSP and the series is already on third installment of it’s insanely popular Monster Hunter series, with more missions, more monsters, more challenges and a whole lot more. Monster Hunter Freedom Unite is still set for Q1 2009 and is expected to hit shelves sometime in March.

Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep
With a Kingdom Heart’s game headed for the DS as well, some felt that the PSP will be left out. Not anymore.

Birth by Sleep is a PSP exclusive Kingdom Hearts game that features new characters Terra, Aqua, and Ven. It’s set to explain the history (mainly a prequel) of the main Kingdom Hearts story and more about the Keyblades .

Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep is set for sometime 2009 but word has it coming sometime late Q3 to Q4.

Parasite Eve: The 3rd Birthday
Very little has been leaked about the actual game other than screens of Eve’s wedding and yet Parasite Eve fans are already holding their collective breaths to see how the actual game will turn out on the Portable Console.

Sorry Parasite Eve fans but there’s no official release date for Parasite Eve 3rd Birthday.

Final Fantasy Agito XIII
Part of the Fabula Nova Crystallis Final Fantasy XIII, Agito XIII is exclusive to the PSP (XIII is for the PS3 and XBOX and vs XIII is PS3 Exclusive). The game will feature mythology similar to the other titles in the Fabula Nova Crystallis Colllection as well as a battle system similar to the ever popular Crisis Core but allows you to control multiple characters (like in Final Fantasy XII. Final Fantasy Agito XIII is currently listed for a 2009 release but it wouldn’t be a surprise if it drops to 2010.

Dynasty Warriors Strikeforce
I’ve been a Dynasty Warriors player since the playstation and I’ve always thought Warriors Orochi was the biggest thing to happen in the franchise. I think I have to reset that thought. Dynasty Warriors Strikeforce is set to release with added gameplay elements and multiplayer for up to 4 player co-op for good.

Dynasty Warriors Strikeforce releases on March 24th.

Prinny: Can I Really Be the Hero?
Prinny is well.. simply a comic idea. If you’ve never played Disgaea, playing as a penguin on an action oriented platformer MIGHT not be your cup of tea but if you are a fan, then this is definitely a game for you.

Prinny: Can I Really Be the Hero is set for Februrary 17th.

Patapon 2
Oh yes, those annoyingly addicting eyeballs are back. Patapon 2 is heading our way with so much more than the first game, over 80 levels, 500 weapons, and a multiplayer mode (THANK GOD!). The game’s got no confirmed release date as of yet BUT given that the Japanese version is already out, you can surely expect that the english game is only a few months behind (usually six).

LocoRoco 2
I loved the original game and I’ve always wanted more. Well here’s more, “LocoRocoing” starting February 10th

No Gravity: The Plague of Mind
No Gravity is a homebrew game that was so popular, it became an indie PSN title. It’s a space flight shoot ‘em up title that carries a simple objective, blast everything in sight. No release date yet but it’s expected to before the end of the year.

Source: ATMaxplorer

Major League Baseball 2K9 Screenshots

National League Cy Young Award winner, Tim Lincecum of the San Francisco Giants, will be featured as the cover athlete and spokesman for this year's highly anticipated baseball video game.

Major League Baseball 2K9.

Lincecum led Major League Baseball with 265 strikeouts during the 2008 season and set a new team record in the process.

Sacred 2 fallen Angel Free Art and Vision book to download...

As a free gift to fans of Sacred 2: Fallen Angel, cdv Software Entertainment USA and Ascaron Entertainment are making available an e-book of the game's "Art and Vision" today. This lushly illustrated e-book showcases hand-drawn character designs, renders and other artistic creations from the game's diverse universe, while also showcasing the progression of Sacred 2: Fallen Angel from an imaginative vision to an incredibly compelling RPG for next-generation consoles and PC.

To download the "Art and Vision" e-book, please visit - http://www.cdvus.com(File size - 43.2mbs)

Sacred 2: Fallen Angel is a hack-and-slash action-RPG with a rich story that takes place in a giant, open-ended and seamless world. This world contains massive dungeons, treacherous opponents and hundreds of challenging quests. Intelligent enemies, steadily adapting in number and difficulty based on player progress, challenge players in heroic single- and multiplayer battles for up to 16 gamers on the PC platform, and four-player cooperative matches on consoles.

Sacred 2: Fallen Angel provides hundreds of unique items that can be gathered in this mystical world. A deep reward system further enables advancements in character, individual attributes and character-specific fighting styles, each designed to keep players returning to the world of Sacred 2: Fallen Angel to discover what is around the next bend. Drop-in styled cooperative multiplayer gameplay ensures players will enjoy the game alone or seamlessly with friends at any time. Five unique multiplayer modes round out the experience and offer a refreshing, first-class gaming experience in Sacred 2: Fallen Angel.

Tomb Raider - Underworld - Beneath the Ashes Download on Xbox 360 February 10th

Eidos Interactive Ltd, creator of some of the world’s leading videogame properties, today announced that Tomb Raider: Underworld – Beneath the Ashes, the first of two brand new downloadable levels in the continuing Tomb Raider adventures of Lara Croft will be available 10th February. The second level, Tomb Raider: Underworld – Lara’s Shadow, will follow on 10th March. Containing new gameplay levels and content for Tomb Raider: Underworld, both packs will be available exclusively on Xbox LIVE Marketplace for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft.

Offering a new adventure specifically designed to extend the Tomb Raider: Underworld experience, Tomb Raider: Underworld – Beneath the Ashes sends Lara back to the remains of Croft Manor where she uncovers a massive series of never-before-seen caverns and age old crypts used to protect and hide a deadly source of power. The pack will also contain six new costumes and deliver an additional 125 achievement points.

Tomb Raider: Underworld seamlessly blends exploration, grand scale puzzle solving and combat, taking players on an archaeological journey to the ancient nether worlds of the Mediterranean, Thailand, Mexico, the Arctic Sea and more. As fearless adventurer Lara Croft, gamers uncover proof of the existence of the Norse underworld and the mythical Hammer of Thor, and embark on a perilous journey towards a forgotten power that, if unleashed, could lay waste to all of civilization. Lara’s latest adventure introduces scores of new capabilities and state-of-the-art gear, including an active sonar map, multi-purpose grapple and an all-terrain motorbike. With fresh moves that are more intuitive and realistic than ever before, players must master these in order to navigate through treacherous environments and defeat a range of hostile enemies.

Xbox LIVE is the largest social entertainment network on TV with more than 17 million members across 26 countries and nine languages. Xbox LIVE is seamlessly integrated throughout the entire console experience, making it easy for users to find the friends, games and entertainment they want from the moment they power on their Xbox 360 system. The online entertainment network offers hundreds of multiplayer games, downloadable games via Xbox LIVE Arcade, free and premium playable game demos, music videos, TV shows and movies, as well as new game levels, characters and vehicles for all their favourite retail games.

Tomb Raider: Underworld is rated 16+ and is available now. The game was developed by Crystal Dynamics and is published by Eidos Interactive Ltd and co-published in North America by Eidos Inc. and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. For more information, visit the official site at http://www.tombraider.com.

Cursed Mountain, an upcoming survival horror game developed exclusively for Nintendo Wii

New screenshots for Cursed Mountain, an upcoming survival horror game developed exclusively for Nintendo Wii. These new images highlight the scale of environment, eerie Himalayan setting and the terrifying enemies players will face, including a boss and angry spirits.

Videos on my YouTube channel here and here... (please subscribe)

In Cursed Mountain, players take on the role of Eric Simmons, an expert mountaineer who climbs Chomolonzo, a sacred mountain in the Himalayas, to unravel the mystery surrounding the sudden disappearance of his brother. Reminding the players of how far they’ve come – and how far they’ve yet to go – the entire mountain can be seen at all times. As they climb, the mountain itself becomes an enemy – prone to the travails of altitude sickness and oxygen deprivation, players may not be able to tell the difference between real enemies and hallucinations.





Taking full advantage of Nintendo Wii’s motion-sensitive controls, as well as the rumble features and embedded speaker in the Nintendo Wii Remote, Cursed Mountain looks to create an immersive horror experience set against the backdrop of the haunting atmosphere of the Himalayas.

Rate My Champion feature on the Champions Online website

Cryptic Studios, a leading developer and publisher of massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPGs), announced a new “Rate My Champion” feature on the Champions Online website which will allow the public to view, and rate, characters created in the Beta version of their upcoming game, Champions Online (www.champions-online.com).

Well known for the extensive character creation options in their games, Cryptic Studios is now out-stripping their own prior accomplishments in the area of character customization. "The Champions Online character creator defines the new standard in avatar customization in MMOs," said Randy Mosiondz, Lead Designer for Champions Online. The new “Rate My Champion” feature on the website makes public for the first time the vast array of customization possible in the soon to be released game.

Visitors to the website are invited to vote on their favorite Champions using a ranking scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being the highest (www.champions-online.com/rate_my_champion/).

Please visit www.champions-online.com today to learn more about exciting new developments in Champions Online!

Silent Hill - The Escape and Dance Dance Revolution on iPhone and iPod Touch

Silent Hill and DanceDanceRevolution Now Available on the Apple App Store

Konami today announced the release of Silent Hill: The Escape and DanceDanceRevolution S Lite, now available in North America for the iPhone and iPod Touch. Based on top-selling franchises, these titles have been re-designed to take full advantage of the iPhone's capabilities, including the innovative Multi-Touch Interface and accelerometer.

"Konami Mobile is pleased to deliver some of our most beloved franchises to the iPhone while providing a range of gameplay depth that casual and hardcore gamers alike are sure to appreciate," said Anthony Borquez, Vice President of Konami Mobile and Online. "Whether players are looking for a nail-biting survival horror experience or some music and rhythm, our lineup of iPhone titles promises to appeal to all consumers."

Silent Hill: The Escape

Silent Hill: The Escape features original gameplay, detailed graphics and spine-chilling sound effects created specifically for the iPhone. In this first-person, 3D shooter survival horror game, players navigate through various levels from an abandoned hospital to a cold subway with a dull flashlight while fighting off monsters and faceless nurses. The battery of the flashlight slowly dies throughout the game, limiting the player's vision as they search for a key to escape the monster-infested labyrinth. Players also carry a gun for protection to ward off the trail of chasing monsters. Taking full advantage of the iPhone's capabilities, players must employ the tilt sensor and skillfully tap the bullets to reload the revolver. Silent Hill: The Escape is available for $7.99 from the Apple App Store.

DanceDanceRevolution S Lite

The worldwide sensation that started the dance game craze doesn't miss a beat on the iPhone. DanceDanceRevolution S Lite is the first installment in the popular videogame franchise designed exclusively for the iPhone and iPod Touch. In this addictive music rhythm game, players tap the arrows on the control pad as they appear on the screen. Featuring 3D characters and simple controls, DanceDanceRevolution S Lite provides an on-the-go DDR experience for iPhone gamers of all ages. DanceDanceRevolution S Lite is available for free download from the Apple App Store.

Silent Hill: The Escape and DanceDanceRevolution S Lite are now available from the Apple App Store on iPhone and iPod Touch.

Freaky Creatures - new screenshots released

New screenshots showing turn-based combat in the upcoming online Creature building and battling game, Freaky Creatures. Hitting shelves in early 2009, Freaky Creatures combines the best of online multiplayer PC gaming, collectible action figures, virtual worlds and social networking.

In Freaky Creatures, players start by customizing a Creature using a variety of parts and powers. Players then take their Creature into battle with other online players fighting for points, experience and Creature Credits. Creature Credits can then be used to buy more parts, powers and objects for the creature’s lair.






These new assets show six of the ten creatures that will be available when the game ships to retail. The screenshots reveal various battling sequences that occur as players progress in the game. Each of the Creature’s parts, powers and unique abilities are all taken into account as players develop strategies to win battles.

The Freaky Creatures experience begins with a starter pack that includes two action figures and a 1GB reusable flash drive. Once players have created their unique creature, they can jump straight into battle or build a lair in which they can care for their Creature and hang out with friends. They can also participate in the Freaky Creatures community, personalize their homepage, play mini-games, join tournaments, check leaderboards, trade items, read animated comics, enter contests, form teams and much more in the ever expanding Freaky Creatures Universe. Starter packs will be available in early 2009 for $19.99.

Hellfire - helicopter video game on iPhone and iPod Touch

Hellfire is an exciting helicopter combat game that takes you on a worldwide tour of duty. Climb aboard your helicopter gunship and take on 16 missions of adrenaline-fuelled combat action in a global theater of war.

Game features include:

• Worldwide missions to complete, including multiple objectives per mission.
  
• Choice of full Campaign or single Mission modes.
  
• Choice of US or Soviet helicopters, both with realistic weapon loadouts and capabilities.
  
• Varied gameplay with multiple levels of challenge.
  
• Combination of accelerometer and touchscreen controls.
  
• 3D terrain and enemies, along with high quality pre-rendered helicopter models.
  
• Dynamic sound effects and music soundtrack, or switch them off and listen to your own music.
  
• Tutorial mode to help you master the controls for your 'copter.
  
• Hellfire was created by Pazzazz Games, who developed GTS World Racing, and is recommended for players that enjoyed Blue Skies, Chopper, and X-Plane-Helicopter.
  

MegaMan Star Force 3 on Nintendo DS

Capcom, a leading worldwide developer and publisher of video games, today announced that Mega Man Star Force 3 (MMSF3) for Nintendo DS will be coming to North America in early summer 2009. MMSF3 will come in two different versions, Black Ace and Red Joker, allowing two friends to share unique items and powers utilizing the Nintendo Wi-Fi connection, enhancing their individual characters.

As in the previous games, MMSF3 is a unique blend of action and role-playing game (RPG), combining the high intensity combat that is the hallmark of Mega Man games with Star Force’s strategic battle system. By defeating enemies and boss characters, players earn “battle cards” that enhance and evolve Mega Man’s abilities and attacks.

New to MMSF3 are “Noise Changes,” random enhancements that change Mega Man’s form and unlock new abilities. The two versions of the game, Black Ace and Red Joker, each have over 100 unique Noise Types that can be combined with Mega Man to unlock elemental powers based on earth, air, water and fire. The new Noise feature will add an exciting randomness to battles, encouraging players to explore, collect and battle across the digital world of MMSF3.

In MMSF3, players will travel between the physical world and the digital world via electromagnetic waves that form “wave roads.” Geo Stelar, the protagonist of the game, can see these wave roads through usage of his unique “visualiser” tool. Once in the digital world, Geo can merge with the electronic life-form known as Omega-Xis to become Mega Man. The wave roads are being overrun by mysterious “noise” that change the player’s environment and powers in different ways. This noise is being generated by an approaching gigantic meteor that threatens both the physical and digital worlds of MMSF3, forcing Geo Stellar and his crew to fight the oncoming threat to save two worlds. Fortunately, Mega Man discovers that he can control the Noise, using the new “Noise Change” system to transform into many different forms, including the ultimate “Black Ace” or “Red Joker” forms.