In Hammerin’ Hero, if it moves, hammer it. Pummel your way through 12 arcade-style, old school beat ‘em up stages, including city streets, an amusement park, a TV studio, a baseball stadium, and more. Ever wonder what happens if you hammer something over the head in deep space? Underwater? The only way to find out is with a copy of Hammerin’ Hero for PSP system!

Technorati Tags: Hammerin Hero, PSP, Sony, Handheld Gaming, Available Now, Screenshots

“ROCK BAND UNPLUGGED” FOR THE PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) SYSTEM: THE AWARD-WINNING MUSIC VIDEO GAME IS GOING ON THE ROAD ON JUNE 9, 2009

Rock Band Unplugged to utilize the first fully-featured in-game store for downloadable content on the PSP system

Sony Computer Entertainment America Celebrates the Power of Rock with a Limited Edition Rock Band PSP Entertainment Pack

Cambridge, Mass. – April 8, 2009 – Harmonix, the world’s leading developer of music-based games, MTV Games, a part of Viacom’s MTV Networks (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), and distribution partner Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS) announced plans today to release Rock Band Unplugged for the PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system. Rock Band Unplugged, developed by Harmonix in partnership with Backbone Entertainment, a Foundation 9 Entertainment studio, and based on the award-winning Rock Band series of games, will launch simultaneously in both North America and Europe June 9, 2009. The game will launch exclusively on the PSP system with software retailing for $39.99 in North America.

“Rock Band Unplugged reinvents band gameplay while staying true to the authentic feel of the Rock Band console games,” said Bob Picunko, Senior Vice President of Electronic Games for MTV Games. “Harmonix delivers innovation with every game they develop and we are excited to continue our long-list of industry firsts with the Rock Band in-gamewireless music store on the PSP system.”
Rock Band Unplugged creates a full band experience in the palm of your hand by combining traditional beat match gameplay with key elements from both Rock Band and Rock Band 2, such as overdrive and chords. Your hands are the “peripherals” in Rock Band Unplugged allowing you to take direct control of the lead/bass guitars, drums and vocals. In addition, players can expect a rich Rock Band experience with fully functional modes like World Tour, Band Survival and Warm Up and a robust character creator for full customization!

Rock Band Unplugged will feature over 40 master-recordings including nine brand new, exclusive songs for the PSP system for a limited time! Plus, Rock Band Unplugged will include the first fully-featured in-game store for downloadable content on the PSP system in the North American and European markets, leveraging the PSP system’s wireless capabilities. The in-game store will be powered by PlayStation®Network, and players will be able to use their existing PlayStation Network account to purchase tracks, similar to the Rock Band console experience. PSP system owners will also have the option of purchasing tracks via PlayStation®Store on the PC.

The following tracks will launch exclusively through Rock Band Unplugged on the PSP system for a limited time before becoming downloadable content for the other platforms:

3 Doors Down- “Kryptonite”
AFI- “Miss Murder”
Alice in Chains- “Would?”
Audioslave- “Gasoline”
Black Tide- “Show Me the Way”
Blink 182- “What’s My Age Again”
Freezepop- “Less Talk More Rokk”
Jackson 5- “ABC”
Tenacious D- “Rock Your Socks”

To commemorate the debut of the Rock Band franchise on the PSP system, Sony Computer Entertainment America plans to release a limited edition Rock Band branded PSP Entertainment Pack at the launch of Rock Band Unplugged. The bundle will include the game, a voucher to download Paramount Pictures’ School of Rock from PlayStation®Store, a 4GB Memory Stick PRO Duo™, and a “Piano Black” PSP system. The Rock Band Entertainment Pack will be available in North America for $199.99 (MSRP).

Rock Band is the ultimate platform for music fans and gamers to interact with music like never before. The game challenges players to put together a band and tour for fame and fortune – all while learning to master lead/bass guitar, drums and vocals. Featuring the most master recordings of any music game ever by the world’s biggest rock artists, Rock Band includes tracks that span every genre of rock ranging from alternative and classic rock, to heavy metal and punk.

Technorati Tags: Rock Band, PSP, Sony, Handheld Gaming, Video Game, Harmonix, 3 Doors Down, Jackson 5, AFI, Alice in Chains

A new threat to Japan’s Capital calls for the return of Raidou Kuzunoha the 14th, the case-solving, tube-slinging protector of the city. When a woman walks into the Narumi Detective Agency and asks to find a man, Raidou’s boss is reluctant to accept, but soon it’s clear there’s more to the case than it seems on the surface. It isn’t long before Raidou is on the trail of crooked gamblers, masked ninja, and strange insects…a trail leading him inexorably to the mysterious King Abaddon.

Technorati Tags: Screenshots, Games, PSP, Playstation 2, Devil Summoner 2

GRAFFITI ENTERTAINMENT’S AIR CONFLICTS: ACES OF WORLD WAR II STORMS ONTO THE PSP® SYSTEM

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. – April 7, 2009 – Signature Devices, Inc. (OTCPK: SDVI) announced today that its wholly owned subsidiary, Graffiti Entertainment, Inc., has released its arcade flight simulation game Air Conflicts: Aces of World War II for the PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system to retail stores nationwide.

“Air Conflicts puts the greatest planes of WWII in the palm of your hand,” says Kenneth Hurley, CEO of Signature Devices, Inc. and Graffiti Entertainment, Inc. “It features true to the time aircraft designs, 13 campaigns with more than 240 action-packed missions and incredible graphics that immerse players in a beautiful, rich and realistic world.”

Air Conflicts is an arcade flight simulator game set in World War II featuring the aircraft of this period and historically inspired missions. The emphasis is on intense dogfights, daring bombing raids and exciting aerial missions.

As a pilot in World War II, players experience action-packed missions that progress on a historically based timeline, and features genuine medals and ranks. Choose to fly one of 17 authentic planes for the US Air Force, Royal Air Force, Luftwaffe or Red Army Air Force. In the gallery, players can also view rotating 3D models of every plane in the game and get specific information and stats about the real-world aircraft.

Air Conflicts: Aces of World War II key features:
Authentic historical timeline and missions
Easy control scheme that allows for fun aerial battles
17 historically authentic aircraft designs
Wireless capabilities include a multiplayer mode for up to 8 players

Developed by Cowboy Rodeo, Air Conflicts: Aces of World War II is rated T and retails for $29.99.

Technorati Tags: Aces of World War II, PSP, Sony, Air Conflicts, Rated T for Teen, Cowboy Rodeo

Game Rating: T (Teen)
Game Publisher: Southpeak
Platform: Sony PSP
Release Date: September 16, 2009
Buy this at: Amazon for $19.99

I’m not that big into the entire “hip hop” breakdancing culture. I think it’s because I can’t dance. Luckily, video games make nearly anything possible, for those who play them. Even if you can’t dance due to being in a wheelchair (like me) or you simply don’t have the right moves, you can show what your made of in video game land. The latest game to let you show off your smooth moves is a game developed by FreeStyle Games and published by Southpeak Interactive. That game is B-Boy, which is available for the Sony PSP and the Playstation 2.

I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect with B-Boy. It was either going to be really good or a big snooze. You don’t have to be into the hip hop culture to enjoy this game, though it does help. I like hip hop music and when I could walk, I did like to dance, so I was ready for an interesting experience when I put this into my PSP. I should mention I’m more fond of games on the consoles, so I might be biased when I say that the PSP is limited. I feel that way about the Nintendo DS and other portables. Still, for as small as the screen is, B-Boy still manages to look amazing.

Unfortunately, looking at the capabilities of something like the Wii, I feel that had this game been published on a system like the Wii, the potential for B-Boy would be nearly limitless. That being said, there is one major benefit to B-Boy on the PSP (or any non-Wii console). Anyone can play this game, regardless of ability or lack thereof. That is why a game like Shaun White Snowboarding, for the Wii, while pretty darn cool and innovative, is going to be limited in its appeal. Those of us who can’t hop up on a snowboard are going to be looking for the game on the other systems where we can play it via controller. B-Boy on PSP has this distinct advantage, because, while it’d be pretty sweet on the Wii, a wider audience can play it on PSP.

The hip hop culture is big in the part of Michigan that I’m from (mid-Michigan, not far from Detroit), so I’m pretty much a fan of the music. I’ve seen some great breakdancing moves in my day, but never had the chance to try out the moves myself. Breakdancing really is an art form, so getting to compete as a breakdancer was quite the artistic experience. Still, for as fun as this game might seem, it suffers from one of the worst things a game like this could; slow load times. In fact, if I had to pick the biggest thing wrong with this game, it would be the load time.

Sure, we’ve seen this with other PSP games, so I was slightly prepared for this. Still, nobody wants to wait to play any game, so the load time severely prohibits the game from being something worthwhile for a wide variety of game enthusiasts. While B-Boy has other flaws that I’ll get into a little later in this review, it is the load time that bothered me the most. It is something that Sony is going to have to work on to improve upon the PSP, in order to compete with other portable game systems that don’t suffer quite as much from loading problems, though they are less graphically intensive. In either case, you have to take the good with the bad when it comes to handheld game systems. This game on the PSP is no different.

Story:
You probably have already figured out that B-Boy is about breakdancing. In this game you are both a participating dancer and a spectator of your opponent. You get to compete against some of the top breakdancers and show off your skills/awesomeness on the dance floor. Of course, the music is part of what makes this game so successful. There are some great tracks included in this game, with music from the Jackson Five, Cypress Hill, Kool and The Gang, James Brown, the Black Eyed Peas and DJ Shadow. If I had to give this title a high rating anywhere, it’d be in its intense soundtrack.

In theory, this game is great. It has cool graphics, a nice system for dancing (motion capture meets rhythmic gameplay), and a funkified, downright sweet soundtrack. B-Boy should be fly, but it is limited because it’s on the PSP. I’m not sure how the game plays out in its PS2 version, but this game truly deserves a release on something like the PS3 or Xbox 360 (though I’d much rather see it on PS3, which I believe has superior graphics/audio to the Xbox). Essentially, B-Boy is hampered by its own flaws and the failing of this game has little to do with the actual premise or execution. It has to do with the game platform.

In this out and out breakdancing competition game you’ll be learning moves like the pros. You’ll be doing steps you never thought possible! This game was developed by DJ Hooch and world famous B-Boy, “Crazy Legs”. The latter acts as the game MC/host and will be the boss you have to compete against at the end of levels. You’ll be taking on all of the best B-Boys from around the world. Not only that, but you will have the chance to build up your own breakdance crew and then battle with them against famous, real life (in game) B-Boys.

With just shy of 1000 moves (800 in some in all I believe), all of which use innovative motion-capture technology, you get to dance in a variety of settings. You can dance on the street both individually and with your crew with the goal of making your way to the B-Boy world championships where you take on the most prolific breakdancing experts in the game. You also have the ability to gain a sponsorship, as a B-Boy (in game, of course) from Adidas. Talk about an interesting form of product placement!

There really isn’t much more to the story behind B-Boy. Essentially, it’s all about breakdancing, competition and being the best. You’ll battle at 21 different real world breakdancing venues and locations. Your moves can be honed to where you can make a selection of funky, downright awesome dance combos, proving you’re the best B-Boy in PSPland. Finally, you get the chance to make your own personalized B-Boy character. As you win, you get the chance to change your outfit with the new gear you get, all courtesy of, who else? ADIDAS!

Enjoyment/Fun Factor: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Features:
B-Boy is the only breakdancing game for PSP and Playstation 2 (to my knowledge). This makes the game relatively unique. This game has features no other game out there has. First, here’s some specs on the game.

Venues/Locations you can Visit: 21

Total Number of B-Boy Rivals You’ll Challenge: 40

Wireless Functionality: Yes

Number of Motion Captured Moves: 800+

Ability for rival B-Boy Face Offs: Yes

Each dancer gets: 45 minutes per round to show off their moves

Number of Original, Licensed Hip Hop Tracks: 40+

Your gameplay begins with you watching your opponent show off his moves. Then it is your turn. Each battle features two rounds where each of you dance, so you’ll do two dances per battle and one per round. Sadly, after a while, waiting for your opponent to show their skills gets quite repetitious and boring.

While the motion capture is amazing, it significantly slows the game down and is part of what freezes up your PSP. It’s clear a lot of hard work went into developing this game. There is quite a lot here. A bit too much, actually, because the PSP just can’t handle all of the things this game was meant to do.

Replayability: 3 out of 5 stars

To Continue Reading this Review, go to Page Two

Spike TV’s Video Game Awards 2008 premiere on Sunday, December 14 (9:00- 11:00 PM, ET/ tape delay west coast), broadcasting LIVE from Sony Picture Studios in Culver City, CA. The nominees for the first 12 categories are listed below.

Best Independent Game Fueled By Dew
World of Goo Publisher: 2D Boy Studio: 2D Boy
PixelJunk Eden Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment Studio: Q-Games
Braid Publisher: Number None, Inc. Studio: Number None, Inc.
Audiosurf Publisher: Steam/Valve Studio: Dylan Fitterer

Studio Of The Year
Media Molecule
Rockstar North
Harmonix
Bethesda Game Studios

Game of the Year
Gears of War 2 Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios Studio: Epic Games
Grand Theft Auto IV Publisher: Rockstar Games Studio: Rockstar North
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots Publisher: Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc Studio: Kojima Productions
Fallout 3 Publisher: Bethesda Softworks Studio: Bethesda Game Studios

Best Team Sports Game
FIFA Soccer 09 Publisher: Electronic Arts Studio: EA Canada
NBA 2K9 Publisher: 2K Sports Studio: Visual Concepts
Madden NFL 09 Publisher: Electronic Arts Studio: EA Tiburon
NHL 09 Publisher: Electronic Arts Studio: EA Canada

Big Name In The Game Female
Dame Judi Dench As “M” Game Title: Quantum of Solace Publisher: Activision Publishing
Eliza Dushku As “Shaundi” Game Title: Saints Row 2 Publisher: THQ
Liv Tyler As “Betty Ross” Game Title: The Incredible Hulk Publisher: SEGA
Jenny McCarthy As “Tanya” Game Title: Command & Conquer Red Alert3 Publisher: Electronic Arts

Big Name In The Game Male
Liam Neeson As “Father” Game Title: Fallout 3 Publisher: Bethesda Softworks
Kiefer Sutherland As “Sgt. Roebuck” Game Title: Call of Duty: World at War Publisher: Activision Publishing
Ricky Gervais As “Himself” Game Title: Grand Theft Auto IV Publisher: Rockstar Games
Daniel Craig As “James Bond” Game Title: Quantum Of Solace Publisher: Activision Publishing

Best Performance By A Human Female
Debi Mae West As “Meryl Silverburgh” Game Title: Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns Of The Patriots Publisher: Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc
Keeley Hawes As “Lara Croft” Game Title: Tomb Raider Underworld
Publisher: Eidos Interactive / Warner Bros.Interactive Entertainment
Paula Tiso As “Silvia Christel” Game Title: No More Heroes Publisher: Ubisoft
Nathalie Cox As “Juno Eclipse” Game Title: Star Wars: The Force Unleashed Publisher: LucasArts

Best Performance By A Human Male
Stephen Fry As “The Narrator” Game Title: LittleBigPlanet Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
David Hayter As “Old Snake” Game Title: Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns Of The Patriots Publisher: Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc
Jason Zumwalt As “Roman Bellic” Game Title: Grand Theft Auto IV Publisher: Rockstar Games
Michael Hollick As “Niko Bellic” Game Title: Grand Theft Auto IV Publisher: Rockstar Games

Best Multi-Player Game
Call of Duty: World At War Publisher: Activision Publishing Studio: Treyarch
Resistance 2 Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment Studio: Insomniac Games
Left 4 Dead Publisher: VALVE Studio: VALVE
Gears of War 2 Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios Studio: Epic Games

Best Original Score
LittleBigPlanet Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment Studio: Media Molecule
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots Publisher: Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc Studio: Kojima Productions
Spore Publisher: Electronic Arts Studio: Maxis
Fallout 3 Publisher: Bethesda Softworks Studio: Bethesda Game Studios

Best PC Game
Left 4 Dead Publisher: VALVE Studio: VALVE
Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning Publisher: Electronic Arts Studio: Mythic Entertainment
Crysis Warhead Publisher: Electronic Arts Studio: Crytek
Spore Publisher: Electronic Arts Studio: Maxis

Best PS3 Game
Grand Theft Auto IV Publisher: Rockstar Games Studio: Rockstar North
LittleBigPlanet Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment Studio: Media Molecule
Resistance 2 Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment Studio: Insomniac Games
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots Publisher: Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc Studio: Kojima Productions

Technorati Tags: Video Games, Sony, Playstation, Xbox 360, Nintendo, PSP, Wii, DS, Video Game Awards, Spike TV, Fallout 3, LittleBigPlanet, Resistance 2, Metal Gear Solid 4, Grand Theft Auto IV