So there's only one game out this week for all three major regions. That's just sad. Just plain sad. It's difficult not to vilipend the PSP sometimes, but what can you do when the only game for the week is some Cabela shovelware?

NA Games:

• Cabela's Legendary Adventure

EU Games:

• No new releases

Asian Games:

• No new releases

Even Asia is feeling the pinch this week. At least their lack of games is actually tolerable since they're still getting a steady flow of titles most of the time.

Do you want an alternative to PSP's current keyboard? Perhaps you'd like to rip open an Xbox 360 chatpad and use it to connect it to a PSP? That's exactly what the clever folks at Acidmods did. A remarkable feat of engineering, indeed -- but we'll patiently wait for the official keyboard peripheral, due next year.

Video is embedded after the break. (Warning: video features music which may or may not be incredibly annoying.)

[Via Engadget]

Continue reading Typing on PSP alleviated by Xbox 360 chatpad mod

It's the end of the week, which calls for a new volume of Ask PSP Fanboy! Each week we'll collect your questions, and each weekend a new volume of Ask PSP Fanboy will appear on the front page. If you've got a question, send an email to justin.eaton @ weblogsinc .com with the subject "Ask PSP Fanboy."


Q. I work for a well-known store and everybody wants to know, what is the new PSP like? Does it play the same games? Does it have it's own memory card or a built-in one?
A. The PSP Brite (PSP-3000) will be very similar in physical appearance and size, with some notable differences including a brighter, glare-resistant LCD screen, and a built-in microphone. It will still play your UMD games, and depending on the pack you purchase, may come with a 1GB or 4GB memory stick.

Q. Will the PSP-3000 have support for Dualshock 3 controllers?
A. Sony has not released any information regarding Dualshock compatibility with the PSP-3000, however we did discover this patent a while back, so it's certainly a [future] possibility.

Q. Hey, I have a PSP-2000 and I don't have a HDTV. I was wondering if I could buy a Component AV cable and have it work for a normal TV until I get an HD one? I know it can't show games but does it still have the right plug-ins for a normal TV?
A. As long as your TV supports the proper inputs (in this case, component), you shouldn't have trouble with video output. Chances are, if you don't have a HDTV, you don't have component inputs.

Continue reading Ask PSP Fanboy: Volume 38

Strategy game of the ultra-hard coin-op arrives in Europe on September 12

Neverland Card Battles (PSP)
A card battle like no other.

Neverland Card Battles (PSP)
A card battle like no other.

The United States Champion is back.

Neverland Card Battles (PSP)
A card battle like no other.

Neverland Card Battles (PSP)
A card battle like no other.

The penguin-ish protagonists are getting their own game!

11 new shots posted.

Download to PSP

You know, we just don't have enough strategy RPGs on the PSP. With the exception of Disgaea, Final Fantasy Tactics, Wild Arms, R-Type Command, and Yggdra Union, there's certainly a dearth of games to choose from. Thankfully, Neverland Card Battles will fill in this sorely under-represented genre on PSP. Coming this fall, this very anime SRPG combines: cards AND strategy (shock!). Certainly, PSP owners will be totally unfamiliar with this innovative genre of gameplay.

2 new shots posted.

1:51 of in-game footage

Download to PSP

Wanna know more about Prinny: Is It Okay If I Am The Main Character? The new Disgaea series spin-off will be a side-scrolling action title featuring the exploding penguins, and here's the story: Etna had her favorite candies stolen; you are the poor Prinny assigned to look for them, or deal with a fate worse than death. Other highlights include an extreme difficulty level, "200% better pixel graphics," gameplay data exchange and a promise of new maps and bosses in the form DLC in the future.

The official site has also been updated, with information on the controls of the game, the release date, as well as a date for the demo -- the full game will arrive on November 20th for 5,229 yen (including tax) while the demo will arrive on the Japanese PS Store on 9/29. We got the trailer above and some screenshots in the gallery below, so check them out!

[Via PSPHyper]

Gemaga writes, "On September 11th, Sega will be releasing more downloadable content for Phantasy Star Portable."

Kingdom Hearts Insider writes: "The most recent issue of Electronic Gaming Monthly (EGM) featured an article entitled 'Nomura's Heroes' that reviewed numerous games Kingdom Hearts director Tetsuya Nomura is involved in, including Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days and Birth by Sleep!

Days received a rather harsh review, but they have high hopes for Birth by Sleep!"

Jeff Rubenstein on Official PlayStation.Blog:

"I'm pretty confident that any gamer with at least a passing interest in the Star Wars universe knows that Star Wars: The Force Unleashed is coming to the PLAYSTATION 3, PS2, and PSP this month (September 16th, to be exact).

That's why SCEA is teaming up with LucasArts and Best Buy to mark the midnight release of the game in San Francisco on the night of September 15th - and everyone's invited to the launch party. Beginning at 7pm, the 1717 Harrison St. Best Buy location (that's my hood!) will feature appearances by Sam Witwer (Darth Vader's Secret Apprentice - and main character of the game), as well as a number of other cast members. From the game development side, Executive Producer Haden Blackman and others from LucasArts will be on hand. Attendees will be able to play the full version of the game in advance, and take photos with Star Wars characters."

Speaking in an earnings call following the release of Q3 financials last night, Take-Two CEO Ben Feder said that old GTA titles have sold in seven figure units for the quarter.

Fading Shadows (PSP)
There's a marble and plenty of madness, but this is no Marble Madness.

Valhalla Knights 2 (PSP)
The action RPG releases in North America on October 1st.

Madden NFL 09 (PSP)

Valhalla Knights 2 (PSP)
The action RPG releases in North America on October 1st.

Platforming spin-off for Japan in Nov.

So there's only one game out this week for all three major regions. That's just sad. Just plain sad. It's difficult not to vilipend the PSP sometimes, but what can you do when the only game for the week is some Cabela shovelware?

NA Games:

• Cabela's Legendary Adventure

EU Games:

• No new releases

Asian Games:

• No new releases

Even Asia is feeling the pinch this week. At least their lack of games is actually tolerable since they're still getting a steady flow of titles most of the time.

Do you want an alternative to PSP's current keyboard? Perhaps you'd like to rip open an Xbox 360 chatpad and use it to connect it to a PSP? That's exactly what the clever folks at Acidmods did. A remarkable feat of engineering, indeed -- but we'll patiently wait for the official keyboard peripheral, due next year.

Video is embedded after the break. (Warning: video features music which may or may not be incredibly annoying.)

[Via Engadget]

Continue reading Typing on PSP alleviated by Xbox 360 chatpad mod

It's the end of the week, which calls for a new volume of Ask PSP Fanboy! Each week we'll collect your questions, and each weekend a new volume of Ask PSP Fanboy will appear on the front page. If you've got a question, send an email to justin.eaton @ weblogsinc .com with the subject "Ask PSP Fanboy."


Q. I work for a well-known store and everybody wants to know, what is the new PSP like? Does it play the same games? Does it have it's own memory card or a built-in one?
A. The PSP Brite (PSP-3000) will be very similar in physical appearance and size, with some notable differences including a brighter, glare-resistant LCD screen, and a built-in microphone. It will still play your UMD games, and depending on the pack you purchase, may come with a 1GB or 4GB memory stick.

Q. Will the PSP-3000 have support for Dualshock 3 controllers?
A. Sony has not released any information regarding Dualshock compatibility with the PSP-3000, however we did discover this patent a while back, so it's certainly a [future] possibility.

Q. Hey, I have a PSP-2000 and I don't have a HDTV. I was wondering if I could buy a Component AV cable and have it work for a normal TV until I get an HD one? I know it can't show games but does it still have the right plug-ins for a normal TV?
A. As long as your TV supports the proper inputs (in this case, component), you shouldn't have trouble with video output. Chances are, if you don't have a HDTV, you don't have component inputs.

Continue reading Ask PSP Fanboy: Volume 38

Strategy game of the ultra-hard coin-op arrives in Europe on September 12

Neverland Card Battles (PSP)
A card battle like no other.

Neverland Card Battles (PSP)
A card battle like no other.

The United States Champion is back.

Neverland Card Battles (PSP)
A card battle like no other.

Neverland Card Battles (PSP)
A card battle like no other.

The penguin-ish protagonists are getting their own game!

11 new shots posted.

Download to PSP

You know, we just don't have enough strategy RPGs on the PSP. With the exception of Disgaea, Final Fantasy Tactics, Wild Arms, R-Type Command, and Yggdra Union, there's certainly a dearth of games to choose from. Thankfully, Neverland Card Battles will fill in this sorely under-represented genre on PSP. Coming this fall, this very anime SRPG combines: cards AND strategy (shock!). Certainly, PSP owners will be totally unfamiliar with this innovative genre of gameplay.

2 new shots posted.

1:51 of in-game footage

Download to PSP

Wanna know more about Prinny: Is It Okay If I Am The Main Character? The new Disgaea series spin-off will be a side-scrolling action title featuring the exploding penguins, and here's the story: Etna had her favorite candies stolen; you are the poor Prinny assigned to look for them, or deal with a fate worse than death. Other highlights include an extreme difficulty level, "200% better pixel graphics," gameplay data exchange and a promise of new maps and bosses in the form DLC in the future.

The official site has also been updated, with information on the controls of the game, the release date, as well as a date for the demo -- the full game will arrive on November 20th for 5,229 yen (including tax) while the demo will arrive on the Japanese PS Store on 9/29. We got the trailer above and some screenshots in the gallery below, so check them out!

[Via PSPHyper]

Gemaga writes, "On September 11th, Sega will be releasing more downloadable content for Phantasy Star Portable."

Kingdom Hearts Insider writes: "The most recent issue of Electronic Gaming Monthly (EGM) featured an article entitled 'Nomura's Heroes' that reviewed numerous games Kingdom Hearts director Tetsuya Nomura is involved in, including Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days and Birth by Sleep!

Days received a rather harsh review, but they have high hopes for Birth by Sleep!"

Jeff Rubenstein on Official PlayStation.Blog:

"I'm pretty confident that any gamer with at least a passing interest in the Star Wars universe knows that Star Wars: The Force Unleashed is coming to the PLAYSTATION 3, PS2, and PSP this month (September 16th, to be exact).

That's why SCEA is teaming up with LucasArts and Best Buy to mark the midnight release of the game in San Francisco on the night of September 15th - and everyone's invited to the launch party. Beginning at 7pm, the 1717 Harrison St. Best Buy location (that's my hood!) will feature appearances by Sam Witwer (Darth Vader's Secret Apprentice - and main character of the game), as well as a number of other cast members. From the game development side, Executive Producer Haden Blackman and others from LucasArts will be on hand. Attendees will be able to play the full version of the game in advance, and take photos with Star Wars characters."

Speaking in an earnings call following the release of Q3 financials last night, Take-Two CEO Ben Feder said that old GTA titles have sold in seven figure units for the quarter.

Fading Shadows (PSP)
There's a marble and plenty of madness, but this is no Marble Madness.

Valhalla Knights 2 (PSP)
The action RPG releases in North America on October 1st.

Madden NFL 09 (PSP)

Valhalla Knights 2 (PSP)
The action RPG releases in North America on October 1st.

Platforming spin-off for Japan in Nov.