PLAYSTATION STORE: TWISTED METAL 2

Well, this week's PlayStation Store update has brought another original PlayStation classic to the PlayStation 3 and PSP. Twisted Metal 2, the first sequel to Twisted Metal (duh), is now available for download at a cost of $5.99. This is two weeks in a row now for classic PS1 games and the store after what seemed an eternity without an update. Color me impressed. 

I'd love to regale you with tales of my days with TM2, but while everyone goes on and on about what a classic it was, I just never really cared for it. I had played the original Twisted Metal quite a bit, but for some reason, TM2 and I just never got along – I wouldn't return to enjoying the vehicular combat genre until about 2 years later when Vigilante 8 made it to the scene.

Based on that last paragraph, I'm sure that I'll start receiving nasty e-mails from the Twisted Metal fanatics in the audience… and probably even a nasty-gram from David Jaffe himself. Hell, I'll probably get a postcard with Kratos on the front of it giving me the finger. (Ok, so actually that would be truly epic and something I would keep forever)

Anyway, it's getting late (or early to be more specific), so I'm going to wrap this one up by stating that if you've been waiting for Twisted Metal 2 to hit the PlayStation Store, it's happened. Have a great ride. 

• Twisted Metal 2 – Official website
• Twisted Metal 2 – Wikipedia entry 

PLAYSTATION STORE: CASTLEVANIA: SYMPHONY OF THE NIGHT

Today’s PlayStation Store update saw the release of Konami’s classic PlayStation title Castlevania: Symphony of the Night for the PlayStation 3 and PSP. While I won’t be grabbing this one myself, at $9.99 it’s worth every penny for those of you who don’t have some way to play the game. (The only reason I won’t be buying this one is that I already own the original game for the PlayStation (Hooray backwards compatibility!) – and because I also bought the Xbox Live Arcade version)

Please note: I believe this version is a straight port of the original game and does not include any of the enhancements made for the Xbox Live Arcade version. Since no demo is available, I can’t confirm whether or not the original CD soundtrack is included either. You have been warned.

SONY E3 2007 PRESS CONFERENCE ANNOUNCEMENTS

Allow me to repeat myself… I’d like to preface this post by saying that I normally hate reporting on anything I haven’t seen in person. Since I had to work today, I was unable to catch the Sony press conference, so instead I followed along with Kotaku’s liveblog of the event. While I trust Kotaku’s take on things, keep in mind that I could be wrong about a lot of the below information as I didn’t have the perspective of actually seeing the same thing the folks at Kotaku were seeing, nor did I have the luxury of following the transcript uninterrupted.

Based on what I read, here are the more important bits of information that came out of the briefing. If you’re looking for a more complete breakdown of Sony’s conference, check out the full text of Kotaku’s liveblog here.

• 160 games coming to PS2 over the next year
• PSP has seen a 90% sales increase since the last price drop.
• They hope to ship 9 million PSPs’s this fiscal year.
• 140 new games coming for PSP.
• New model PSP announced – will offer come kind of PSP to HDTV function.
• New PSP is 33% lighter, 19% slimmer than current PSP.
• You can now upload PSP video to TV via a cable.
• New PSP comes out this September.
• New PSP will come in black and ice silver.
• Ice silver model will be a sold in a $199 bundle including a 1gb memory stick duo, Jak & Daxter and the Family Guy Friggin Sweet Pack UMD.
• Another bundle – a Star Wars Battlefront Renegade Squadron branded PSP (White with Darth Vader’s image on the back) and the Renegade Squadron game – $199.99.
• Wipeout HD shown.
• PlayStation Home to be released this fall.
• Tretton claims PS3 sales have doubled since the price drop.
• NCSoft making a game for PS3.
• Haze to release on PS3 this holiday season – since they’re saying “you can only play it this holiday on PS3″, I’m assuming that means the PC/360 versions will be coming a bit later.
• Unreal Tournament 3 will be a PS3 exclusive for this year (again, PC/360 versions to follow later)
• UT3 will allow the use of PC Umods via the PlayStation Network.
• Midway & Epic have signed a deal to help optimize their engine (Do they mean Unreal Engine 3?) for the PS3
• UT3 comes out this November
• Rock Band confirmed as coming to the PS3 (there were rumors about a 360 exclusive deal)
• Metal Gear Solid 4 announced as a PlayStation 3 exclusive.
• Hideo Kojima comes out to demonstrate the game and announces this is the end of the current series, Snake and his (Kojima’s) involvement with the franchise.
• MGS4 to have a worldwide release… “very soon”
• Infamous announced – a super hero game where you can play as a hero or villain. (I’m assuming like a comic book version of Fable)
• Gran Turismo 5 Prologue coming to the PlayStation Network this holiday – with online support.
• Killzone 2 trailer shown – this time with real gameplay footage.

I think I’ll have to make sure that I schedule a vacation day for at least the first day of E3 next year – because I’m really not pleased with these last two posts.

• Liveblogging the Sony Press Conference – Kotaku

SONY TO DROP PSP CORE SYSTEM TO $169.99?

Kotaku is reporting that Sony will be dropping the price of the PlayStation Portable’s Core pack to $169.99 effective immediately. While I’ve certainly been impressed with the direction Sony has been taking with the PSP lately, I still think that the buy in is still a bit too high. The Core PSP includes only an AC adapter and battery, meaning at the very least you’re going to be on the hook for a memory stick as well.

Given the fact that the rumor mill is still pointing towards the possible announcement of a PSP2 sometime this year, you have to wonder if this is an attempt to bolster the system’s install base or if it’s more about clearing out inventory. I don’t know about you guys, but I think I’ll wait for the price to hit $149.99 or less before I bite – even with the enhanced version of Rondo of Blood coming this year.

• Sony PlayStation Portable – Official site
• PSP Core Drops To $169 Tomorrow– Kotaku
• Rumor: No Denying It, PSP2 Is Coming – Kotaku
• Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles – Gamespot

TOMB RAIDER 10TH ANNIVERSARY GAME CONFIRMED

Awhile back we reported that there was rumor floating around for some time now that Eidos has been working on a 10th anniversary version of Tomb Raider that would basically be a re-make of both the original Tomb Raider as well as Tomb Raider II.

Eidos confirmed the existence of the game last friday, but added a slight twist to the story. It seems the game was being designed for the PSP by Core Design, the original developers of the series, but following an internal review, their version of the game was cancelled and the reigns were handed over to current Tomb Raider developer Crystal Dynamics. While no release date was provided by Eidos, they did confirm that the game will be appearing on the PSP, PS2 and PC.

GRAND THEFT AUTO: VICE CITY STORIES COMING TO PSP

Finally, some more exciting news regarding the PSP coming out of E3. Rockstar Games will be releasing a sequel to GTA: Liberty City Stories for the PSP. The game is naturally set in Vice City and according to the press release just like Liberty CIty Stories this will be an entirely new game in the series.

"Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories is a new game in the Grand Theft Auto series with an entirely new storyline, new missions and gameplay that brings an unprecedented experience to mobile gaming. Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories features the interactive, open environment of Vice City with professional voice talent, a diverse soundtrack and high production values that have become trademarks of this landmark series." – Rockstar Games Press Release

Nice to see the PSP at least get some love. Check out the full press release here.

NEW METAL GEAR SOLID GAME COMING TO PSP

Gamespot is reporting that Hideo Kojima put announced a new Metal Gear Solid game for the PSP. Unlike the previous games, Konami is promising this one will be a true Metal Gear action game and takes place in 1970 highlighting Big Boss and the formation of Foxhound.

SONY RETHINKING PSP STRATEGY?

Sony sent a survey out to many Playstation Underground members asking a wide range of questions regarding the PSP. From the gist of the questions asked, it seems Sony is interested in how they can drum up interest in the system and determine what people think of the advertising campaigns they’ve run. If you ask me, the problem with the PSP is that there just aren’t enough good, unique games on the system. Most of the games just seem to be handheld versions of existing PS2 games, and in that situation, I’d rather play the PS2 version any day – especially considering the cost of a PSP and the required accessories. Dropping the price of the system and games would probably help quite a bit too.

Is it just a little bit of market research, or is Sony finally thinking of getting serious about the PSP. Only time will tell.