Wednesday 21 September 2011

Professor Layton VS. Phoenix Wright TGS 2011 Trailer Revealed...


A new trailer for the 3DS Puzzle/Adventure collaboration, known simply as Professor Layton VS. Phoenix Wright, has recently surfaced on the Internet following its unveiling at the Tokyo Game Show 2011.

The game is the result a collaboration between Level 5 inc and Capcom and features characters from both game franchises. However, it had previously been suggested that the game might actually be a fabrication - hopefully this trailer will dispel any notions that this game might be a myth!

Japanese Official Trailer shown at TGS 2011

Very little is known about the game's main storyline so far, but from what we have seen, it would seem to centre around Witchcraft, Castles and Medieval Knights.  Phoenix Wright must defend his client (the blonde woman in the dock) against accusations that she is a practising witch.

No European release has been announced yet, but the game is scheduled for release in Japan some time in 2012. The game itself will be the first time that either franchise has appeared in 3D. As a result, the graphics will juxtapose the familiar 2D images with 3D ones.

Professor Layton VS. Phoenix Wright looks like a very interesting title. Mini Gamers hopes that a European release date will be confirmed some time in the next few months.

Tuesday 20 September 2011

PS Vita: Memory Card Prices, Battery Life and Region-Free Gaming Confimed...


Sony has confirmed several more interesting details about the release of its upcoming handheld gaming device, the PS Vita.

Details so far include confirmation that the console will indeed be without any region locks, meaning that software from one country can easily be played on a console from another country. According to GameIndustryBiz, Sony Worldwide President, Shuhei Yoshida recently responded to some gamers on the social networking site, Twitter, who asked if the console would be region-free by saying: "Yes, it is." [sourced from: http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2011-09-19-playstation-vita-region-free]


Sony has also listed the prices for its new PS Vita memory cards which range in size from 4GB to 32GB. As usual, the larger the card's capacity, the more expensive it will be. The current prices are as follows:

4GB - £18 ($29)


8GB - £27 ($42)


16GB - £46 ($72)


32GB - £72 ($124)

Unfortunately the Memory Sticks are not as cheap as most gamers were hoping for, but as every current PSP owner knows, large capacity memory sticks are necessary for people who wish to download full-games and entertainment software or other applications from the Playstation Network Store.



Further information was also released about the console's battery life. According to Sony, the PS Vita has around 3-5 hours of battery life once it is fully-charged, which is equivalent to nine hours of music playback and five hours of video playback.

The PS Vita is scheduled for release on the 17th of December 2011. No European release dates have been set, although the console is expected to launch in North-America, Australia and the UK some time in early 2012.

Sunday 18 September 2011

New Suikoden Game Announced For PSP...


Konami has announced that they will be producing a new Suikoden game for the Playstation Portable.

The game was announced at this year's Tokyo Game Show, and its title has roughly been translated into English as Genso Suikoden: The Woven Web of a Century.

OFFICIAL JAPANESE TRAILER shown at TGS 2011

For those of you who are unfamiliar with the Suikoden games franchise, the first Suikoden game was developed in 1995 and the series has previously appeared on the Playstation I and II, as well as on the Nintendo DS and PSP handheld systems.


In each of the previous Suikoden games, players must attempt to recruit all 108 Stars of Destiny in order to unlock new abilities and bonuses. The games also featured many turn-based battle modes, including one-on-one duels.

However, what marks this new game out from its predecessors is the fact that it is being produced from scratch by a different production team than before, and the game itself seems like a self-contained episode based on - as opposed to a continuation of - the previous games in the series. This means that Suikoden fans could be seeing a lot of new gameplay features alongside the more traditional ones. Only time will tell if this serves to enhance the Suikoden franchise or not.


Genso Suikoden: The Woven Web of a Century is still in development and it could be some time before more solid details about the game start to emerge. Watch this space!

Friday 16 September 2011

Flare Red 3DS UK Release Date Scheduled For September...


Mini Gamers can reveal that the long-awaited Flare Red 3DS console will be arriving in the UK on Friday the 30th of September 2011.

The red 3DS console has long been a favourite amongst 3DS owners ever since it was first revealed alongside the two launch colours, Aqua Blue and Cosmos Black,  back in early 2010.

However, the red console never actually materialised during the 3DS launch in March this year, leading to disappointment from those gamers who had set their heart on owning a red one.

Recently, Nintendo announced that the Flare red (AKA Flame Red) 3DS console would be released in Australia and the USA in September, but did not specify a UK release date - until now...

Mini Gamers is relieved that there is now a solid date for the UK Flare Red console release, but with only fourteen days left until the console's apparent release, we can not help but wonder what those initial gamers who originally wanted a red 3DS console but decided to opt for one of the launch colours instead will do now.

This brings up a very important issue in the world of handheld gaming. Should companies like Nintendo be allowed to announce or display a particular colour of console in their pre-release marketing campaigns but then delay its release until several months after the console's original release date? Is this not simply causing unnecessary disappointment to gamers?

HAVE YOUR SAY...

Are you hoping to purchase a Flare Red 3DS console?

What makes the Flare Red colour so attractive to gamers?

Did you originally want to purchase a Flare Red 3DS console but opted for one of the launch colour consoles instead?

Are you now disappointed that you did not get a Flare Red 3DS?

If you wish to discuss this issue with other gamers, then please leave us a comment. We'd love to hear your thoughts.


Wednesday 14 September 2011

Sony Announces 75 Possible Launch Game Titles For The PS Vita


Sony have reportedly released a list of 75 videogame titles which should become available when its latest handheld console, the PS Vita, launches early next year. However, we also ought to point out that these games are all currently 'work-in-progress' and thus it is possible that some of the games included on the list might change by the actual launch date.

Futhermore, the console is set to launch in Japan in December this year, and it is yet unclear whether some of these games will be exclusively available in the Japanese launch, or whether the same games will also make it to the European release as well.

Nevertheless, the list includes games from a wide range of genres including educational titles, which is unusual on a Sony handheld, and thus it looks as though Sony are determined to cater to as many gamers as possible from day one of the PS Vita launch.

The full list of games is as follows:


  • SUMIONI (ACQUIRE) - INK ACTION





  • SRPG (Working Title) (ALPJA) - Simulation RPG





  • MALICIOUS (tentative) (ALVION) - ACT





  • No title (AQUAPLUS) - Dungeon PRG





  • STREET FIGHTER X TEKKEN (CAPCOM) - Fighting





  • Shirotsuku (CAVE) - Simulation





  • New shooting (CAVE) - shooting





  • Emergency Escape Adventure Trust or Betrayal (Tentative) (CHUNSOFT) Adventure





  • DJ MAX TECHNIKA PORTABLE (Working Title) (CYBERFRONT) - DJ SIMULATION





  • Jurassic HUNTER (Working title) (Digital Works Entertainment) - action





  • slotter mania (V DORASU) - Slot Simulation





  • Hello Kitty to issho block crash V (DORASU) - Block Crash





  • FIFA (working title) (EA) - Sport





  • MAPLUS PORTABLE NAVI 4 (Working Title) (Edia) - NAVIGATION




  • RPG (Working Title) (FURYU CORPORATION) - RPG





  • Ragnarok Odyssey (GungHo Online Entertainment) - Action




  • TBA (GungHo Online Entertainment) - Action





  • TBA (GungHo Online Entertainment) - Action Puzzle





  • New title (GUST) - New genre





  • SUDOKU by Nikoli complete edition (HAMSTER) - Corporation Puzzle





  • Monsters Rising (Tentative Title) (IDEA FACTORY) - Card Game





  • DRAGON'S CROWN (Ignition Entertainment) - Action RPG





  • Shin Megami Tensei series (Index Corporation / Atlus) - RPG





  • Persona4 The GOLDEN (Index Corporation / Atlus) - RP





  • Pachi-Para Series (IREM SOFTWARE ENGINEERING) - Pachinko 





  • No title (KAGA CREATE) - Adventure Game





  • No title (KAGA CREATE) - Shooting Game





  • ASPHALT : INJECTION (Konami) - Racing





  • AR COMBAT DigiQ (Konami) - Simulation





  • Oh to Maoh to Nananin no himegimi tachi - shin ohsama monogatari- (Konami) - Role Playing





  • Shinsei Zenkoku Taisen Version (Konami) - Mah-Jong





  • METAL GEAR SOLID HD EDITION (Konami) - Espionage Action





  • Baseball (Konami) - Sports





  • New RPG title (LEVEL-5) - RPG





  • No title (MAGES) - Adventure Game





  • Saikyo Todai Shogi (Mainichi Communications) - Table





  • Marjong Haoh (Mainichi Communications) - Table





  • New Action RPG (Working Title) (Marvelous Entertainment) - Action RPG





  • New Action-Adventure game (Working Title) (Marvelous Entertainment) Action-Adventure game





  • New Simulation RPG (Working Title) (Marvelous Entertainment) - Simulation RPG





  • New Fantasy RPG (Working Title) (Marvelous Entertainment) - Action RPG





  • Next Education [English Grammar] (Media5 Corporation) - Education





  • Next Education [Test preparation for certified administrative procedures specialists] (Media5 Corporation) - Education





  • Next Education [TOEIC TEST] (Media5 Corporation) - Education





  • Gundam Franchise (Working title) (NAMCO BANDAI) - ACTION





  • Super Robot Taisen Franchise (Working title) (NAMCO BANDAI) - TBD





  • Tales of Innocence R (NAMCO BANDAI) - RPG





  • ANIME ACTION (Working title) (NAMCO BANDAI) - ACTION





  • Ys -Foliage Ocean in CELCETA (Nihon Falcom Corporation) Action RPG





  • Daito Giken Official Pachi-Slot Simulator Series (PAON Corporation) - Pachi-Slot Simulator 





  • No title (POLYGON MAGIC) - Android Communicator





  • Little Busters! Converted Edition (PROTOTYPE) - Adventure Game





  • Jumpin' (Working Title) (Railfan Holdings) - Jump action





  • RPG (Working Title) (Rideon Japan) - RPG





  • Super Monkey Ball (working title) (SEGA) - Puzzle Game





  • Ginsei Igo (SilverStarJapan) - Table





  • Ginsei Shogi Huun Ryuuko Raiden (SilverStarJapan) - Table





  • Escape (Sony) - Survival Stragtegy





  • GRAVITY RUSH (Sony) - Action Adventure





  • Sound Shape (Sony) - Action / Music Creator





  • STARSTRIKE DELTA (Sony) - Shooting Game





  • Reality Fighters (Sony) - Fighting





  • LittleBigPlanet (Sony) - Action





  • WipEout2048 (Sony) - Racing





  • FINAL FANTASY X (SQUARE ENIX) - RPG





  • Sangokuhime (SystemSoft Alpha Corporation) - strategic simulation + adventure





  • Battlefield of Maidens 2nd (SystemSoft Alpha Corporation) - strategic simulation + adventure





  • Sengokuhime 3rd (SystemSoft Alpha Corporation) - strategic simulation + adventure





  • Moe Moe Great War Modern Version ++ (SystemSoft Alpha Corporation) - strategic simulation + adventure





  • NINJA GAIDEN Ó (Tecmo Koei) - ACTION





  • LUMINES (Ubisoft) - Music Puzzle





  • Rayman Origins (Ubisoft) - Action






  • [Sourced from: http://www.computerandvideogames.com/318872/ps-vitas-70-work-in-progress-titles]



    The list may help to promote the PS Vita to users of the original PSP handhelds, who may have been worried about a lack of decent software at launch.

    The PS Vita's predecessor, the PSP Go wa criticised by gamers, mainly for two reasons: Firstly, the console did not have enough core titles to sustain interest from the handheld gaming market, and secondly, the PSP Go only featured downloadable games, with no UMD slot, which meant that there were no hard copies of the software available for purchase anywhere.

    With Sony's announcement that it will be producing PS Vita games on a new type of memory stick called an 'NVG card', and now a detailed list of possible launch titles, it seems as though Sony is determined to correct past mistakes and make the PS Vita into a truly memorable console. However, only time will tell if the gaming community is ready to accept such a device.

    Remember to check in regularly with the Mini Gamers blogsite for more news on this subject as it develops.

    Friday 9 September 2011

    Game of the Week: Starfox 64 3D [3DS]


    The Star Fox 64 game, (which was actually a sequel to a  SNES game called StarWing,) was first released for the Nintendo 64 console in 1997, and now over fourteen years later, lead character, Fox McCloud and his intergalactic team is set to take flight again in order to stop his nemesis, Andross, from destroying the universe, and this time around, the whole battle will take place in full autostereoscopic 3D.



    For those gamers amongst us who are old enough to remember the original version of the game, the worry here will most probably be that the game will be too familiar and thus not offer enough new content to entice them to purchase a 3DS version.

    Nevertheless, there are a few subtle differences between the original version and the 3DS updated version, which does make this game a lot more challenging than its predecessor.



    Vehicles in the game are mainly controlled via the Nintendo 3DS Circle Pad, which can sometimes feel a little bit awkward and difficult to move, however, for those brave gamers amongst you, Star Fox 64 3D also has the option of using the gyroscopic features of the 3DS console - by tipping the console left or right - which does enhance the gameplay and make it more believable, but can also slow down your progress through the various levels slightly.



    As in the original game, players who perform badly during the in-game missions may find themselves  sent back to a previous (supposedly easier) level depending on how well they are deemed to have performed in the mission(s) included in each level.



    However, in the 3DS version, this gameplay structure has been improved. Thus, players can now unlock different portions of the Star Fox 64 3D storyline depending on which characters you manage to locate and save during the missions, which does increase the game's replay value.

    Having said that, the game's overall storyline remains virtually identical to the previous Star Fox 64 title, and for veterens of the series or hardcore gamers alike, it can be completed in under two hours of constant playing.

    Nonetheless, the missions are fun and engaging, and the 3D graphics look really great and do seem to add to whole experience.


    Furthermore, the game now features a new Score-Attack mode, which allows players to revisit any of their previously unlocked planets and try and gain a new high score. Again, this increases the game's replay value immensely.



    The game also features a Multiplayer Mode for up to four players. Players can battle their family and friends in various aerial dogfights. The Multiplayer Mode also features new power-ups and weapons not used in the original version.

    Unfortunately, the Multiplayer Mode does not include Internet capability, which means that it is restricted to local wireless play only. Nevertheless, the game does support the 3DS' Download Play function, which means that your friends can connect with their 3DS consoles, even if they don't own a separate copy of the game.


    Overall, this game is a very good update of the original Star Fox 64 title. It makes excellent use of the 3DS capabilities and also includes some changes to the main gameplay mechanisms, which certainly ensures that the game can be replayed many times over.

    Veterens of the Star Fox games will however find several familiar elements throughout the game, which may mean that the game is easier to complete than it will be for newbies to the series. Ultimately though, this 3D version of Star Fox 64 is a brilliant edition, which is not to missed. Overall rating:9/10.

    Monday 5 September 2011

    Flare Red 3DS Gets USA, Australia and UK Release Dates?

    *This Post has been updated*
    To read about the new UK release date for the Flare Red 3DS, please CLICK HERE...

    The Nintendo 3DS Flare Red console has finally been given some official release dates outside of Japan. The very stylish Flare Red console will first be released in North America on the 9th of September 2011.

    According to various American sources, including the Engadget website, the red 3DS console that many of us were expecting to see at launch will now be released alongside Nintendo's newest 3DS gaming tite Star Fox 64 3D.

    Furthermore, according to the website, Zelda Universe, Nintendo of Australia has apparently announced that the Flare Red console will be released on the 22nd of September 2011, although it is not clear whether the console will be bundled with any particular 3DS games at this point.

    In the UK, the release date of the Flare Red 3DS remains a mystery, although several unofficial reports are beginning to surface - including one from You Tube - which suggest that Nintendo might be planning to release the new 3DS console alongside the first 3DS Super Mario titles, such as Mario Kart 7,  in December 2011.

    So, it is still an anxious wait for those gamers in the UK who are hoping to purchase a Red 3DS console, nevertheless, the official American and Austrailian Flare Red release dates do make a future official UK release date even more likely.

    Remember to check in with the Mini Gamers blogsite for more news on this topic as it develops.

    Sunday 4 September 2011

    Sony Announces 3D Headset

    Sony has confirmed the existence of their first ever 3D headset, which is currently known only under its codename of HMZ-T1.

    This futuristic-looking headset will allow users to view both 2D and autostereoscopic 3D  High-Definition images, which Sony claims will be equivalent to watching a 750-inch screen from a distance of around twenty feet, which is an amazingly large display for such a small device.


    Furthermore, the headset will be equipped with 5.1 surround sound speakers, and the company has also suggested that the headset might well be intergrated with Augmented Reality software in the future, which will allow gamers to mix their gaming with the real world, making the headset a truly realistic and immersive experience.

    There are also reports circulating around the gaming community which claim the headset has also been intergrated with motion-control technology, although we do not really know what form this will take at the present time.
    The headset will be powered from a small HDMI device, which will be tethered to the headset via an HDMI cable.

    Sony are of course using the Japanese gaming market as its consumer test base for the headset, which is currently said to cost around £500 RRP, (around $800). Sony will begin to trial the device on the 11th November 2011. There is no release date set for the European market however.



    It sounds like something out of a Star Trek episode, but Sony's 3D headset has the potential to completely revolutionise the entertainment and gaming industries if it proves successful at launch. It also brings into question how other 3D gaming products such as Nintendo's 3DS console can hope to survive against large scale competition such as this?

    3D gaming has been labelled as 'unpopular' amongst some developers of late, will the HMZ-T1 headset be the device which can put it back on track?


    HAVE YOUR SAY...

    What do you think about the HMZ-T1 headset?

    Will you be purchasing an HMZ-T1 headset?

    How do you think the HMZ-T1 headset will affect the future of the games industry?

    If you wish to discuss this device with other blog readers, please leave us a comment in the box below this post. Mini Gamers would love to hear your thoughts.

    Remember to check in with the Mini Gamers blogsite for more news on this device as it develops.

    Friday 2 September 2011

    Game of the Week: Dual Pen Sports



    It is the latest sports title to appear on the 3DS, but Dual-Pen Sports certainly has one unique selling-point - The game is designed to be played with TWO styluses instead of one. As a result, the game even comes packaged with two unique green styluses of its very own.


    There are seven sports included in the game: Boxing, Paragliding, Skiing, Football, Archery, Baseball and Basketball.

    Each of the sports involves two distinct actions in order to complete them. This sounds complicated, but with a bit of practise, both actions will become second nature.

     For example, in the Basketball game, players must first tap the left side of the screen to catch the ball, and then slide the stylus in an upwards motion on the right side of the screen to shoot at the basket.



    Each sport has two types of matches as well. Rank matches take place against a CPU opponent. The task here is to beat your opponents' rank.

     Please note, however, if you fail to successfully complete either of your two main actions, you will fail the round. If you fail for three rounds in a row, it will be 'Game Over', making Dual Pen Sports very challenging indeed!

    The second type of match is a Score Match, whereby players try to score as many points as they can. This type of match also uses Score Multipliers.This is a lot of fun and adds loads of replay value to the game.


    Each sport comes with a practise session before the main match, and has its own illustrated tutorial, which can be re-read at any time.

    This is very helpful with sports such as Boxing, which contain two main actions for players to complete, (Strike Left and Strike Right,) but which also contains several optional actions that can be performed as well.


    If you are concerned at the thought of playing a game with two separate stylus, then Mini Gamers can reveal that the game can actually be played just as easily with one single stylus, although the timing of each action may take a little more work this way.  


    The game also features a Daily Challenge, these challenges will help players to hone their dual pen skills before competing in an actual match.

    Each of the seven sports included can also be played against friends via the 3DS' local wireless settings.

     Unfortunately though, this will mean that each player will have to have their own copy of the game in order to play. Nevertheless, competing against real human beings does mean that you will get a chance to prove who the most ambidextrous amongst you and all your friends, which is an interesting contest.

    Dual Pen Sports Trailer

    In conclusion, unlike other sports compendium games, like Sports Island 3D, this game does not allow players to take part in complete sports matches, but rather consists of a set of sporting mini-game challenges, such as kicking the ball into the goal, or knocking out an opponent within three rounds and so forth. Thus, it may not appeal to the hardcore sporting fans amongst you.

    Nevertheless, for those players who are looking for a unique, fun and challenging sporting title, which can be replayed again and again, then this is definitely the game for you. Overall rating: 10/10.