PS Vita Will Have Downloadable Games Confirms Sony...

Sony has announced that all games on the new PS Vita handheld will be available in a download format.

Whilst showcasing the latest device at Gamescom 2011 earlier this week, Sony confirmed that the latest addition to Sony's handheld gaming consoles features no UMD slot, and as a result, all PS Vita games will have the ability to be purchased and downloaded directly from the Playstation Network Store.

However, unlike its predecessor, the PSP Go, which was criticised for not having enough downloadable software in the PSN store, ALL PS Vita games will be made available for download from the store upon their release.

Sony also announced that older PSP titles would be available for download onto the new PS Vita console as well, making it fully backwards compatible with previous PSP  downloadable games and software in the Playstation Network Store.

However, for gamers who were worried that they would not be able to purchase their software in a highstreet store, Sony has also revealed that it will now be producing games on a special memory stick, called an NVG Card, which will now replace the old UMD format, which was used on the older PSP handhelds.

It has not been revealed what 'NVG' actually stands for yet, but we can tell you that the cards look like normal memory sticks, but will contain game data and extra space for save information etc.

The NVG Cards will come in two sizes - 2GB for smaller games and 4GB for larger games such as Uncharted: Golden Abyss. These cards will be sold in the highstreet for purchase, which is good news for all those who hate downloads.

There were still no announcements regarding the recommended retail price of the console or its possible European release date(s). Nevertheless Sony did announce that the PS Vita would utilise some free Social Networking applications such as Facebook and Twitter.

Furthermore, the company were also quick to deny recent rumours that the size of memory on the PS Vita had been halved from its original specifications.

Thus, it seems that plans for the PS Vita are shaping-up rather nicely at present. Remember to keep checking in with the Mini Gamers blogsite for more news about this topic as it develops.

London Riots Affect Sony...



Carpet Right ablaze: One of the many buildings set alight during the riots

A Sony warehouse has become the latest victim in the recent London riots. The three-storey, 20,000 square-metre warehouse, which was situated in Enfield, North London was burnt down during the early hours of Tuesday morning.

The warehouse after the fire...

It is not yet known exactly what caused the fire as no-one has been able to enter the building which has been badly damaged by the flames. However, according to a recent article by GameIndustryBiz, it appears that the shop may have been looted and then set alight with petrol bombs. Thankfully, no-one appears to have been injured in the incident.

Looting destroys local businesses...

A spokeswoman for Sony, Yoko Yasukochi, has explained that the fire could possibly cause delays in delivery of stock to local inhabitants, including blu-rays, PS3 and PSP games and accessories as well as DVDs and CDs. She said: "There will likely be some impact on deliveries..."  (sourced from: http://uk.reuters.com/article/2011/08/09/uk-sony-fire-uk-idUKTRE7780O420110809)

News of the warehouse fire has also caused a 2% drop in Sony's share prices on Tuesday. However, there has been a slight rise to 1.1% today.

Meanwhile, the riots continue to spread outside of  the Tottonham area where they first began. Our thoughts go out to all those affected.

Sony Will Not Make Its Winter 2011 PS Vita Debut Release Date...

Sony has announced that it will not be able to make its original PS Vita release date. The PS Vita was expected to be released by Christmas 2011 in many regions, in order to take advantage of the holiday sales. However, this is no longer the case.

In a  recent statement issued to the Associated Press, Sony's Executive Vice President, Kazuo Hirai confirmed that the American and European PS Vita launches would now be delayed until the beginning of 2012, and it is still not clear whether the PS Vita will even launch in Japan by the end of the current year.

Hirai claimed that the reason for the delay is so that the new console could launch with "solid game software offerings timed with the hardware launches." [sourced from: http://money.msn.com/business-news/article.aspx?feed=AP&date=20110804&id=14046022]

This will come as disappointing news to the many Sony PSP fans who were expecting to find a shiny new PS Vita at the bottom of their Christmas Stockings, but hopefully means that the new console can have a stronger launch campaign, which should help it to avoid the sales pitfalls that the Nintendo 3DS console has recently succumbed to.

More details about the PS Vita are expected to be announced at Sony's Gamescom conference on the 16th of August 2011.

Keep checking in with Mini Gamers for all the news on this story as it develops.

Sony To Drop PSP Digital Comic Service...

The Sony PSP Digital Comic Service is to be dropped just seventeen months after its initial launch. According to a message on the Official Playstation Blog, which warned users that the latest comic update would also be the last.

Playstation Store director, Grace Chen, claimed that the Digital Comic Service would no longer feature any new comics after the 6th of July 2011, but was quick to add that users could: "continue to download any of the over 4000 existing comics from the comic store as usual..." [sourced from:http://us.playstationcomics.com/main/blog/weekly-update-060711.html]

Just to confirm, although it has been announced that Sony intends to 'drop' the service, (which would seems to suggest that the service is to cease,) the truth is that the PSP digital comics that are already in the store will remain unchanged and can still be downloaded as normal, but there will be NO MORE NEW STOCK of comics after the above date.

 However, the playstation blog also mentioned that the Digital Comic Service would continue on other Sony products, although no specific details were given at this point.

 Mini Gamers is saddened by the news, but we are also left wondering whether there might be plans to move the Digital Comic Service to the newest Sony handheld, the PS Vita, which is set to debut in December 2011.

Keep checking in with the Mini Gamers blog for more news on this subject as it happens.

PSP News: Last Chance To Claim Your Free Games...

There is now only one day left for Playstation Network users to claim their two free games from the PSN store.

The two free games offer is actually part of a wider 'Welcome Back' package which was offered by the online network store after a malicious system hack forced all Sony online services to close for several weeks.

 Handheld Gamers have been offered a choice of two games from the following PSP titles:


LittleBigPlanet

Guide your own customised sackboy/sackgirl character around several environments, unlock extra content such as stickers and even create your own levels to display online.

ModNation Racers

Customise your own 'Mod' character, design your racing kart and tracks and then race around until your heart's content. Use various collected weapons against your opponents, including UFOs, electricity, and gunge amongst others.

Alternatively, play through the game's STORY MODE as 'Tag', a young Mod who wants to be the best racer on the ModNation Racing circuit. 

Pursuit Force

Leap from vehicle to vehicle in a series of challenging high-speed chases.

Killzone Liberation

Now you can battle against the fearsome Helghast in the palm of your hand. 

So, if you haven't yet played any of these games, now is your chance to own some of the most popular titles to ever grace the PSP for FREE!!!

But you will have to hurry as the offer expires on the 3rd July 2011.

If you wish to know more about Sony's Welcome Back offers, please click HERE


PSN and Quriocity Services v. 6.39 System Update...Is Sony Back?

Sony have today released a new System Update (version 6.39) to their PSP customers, in light of the devastating hack that is expected to cost the company almost £105.8 million pounds in revenue.

The new update forces existing PSN and Quriocity customers to change their password and re-confirm their credit card details before being allowed  back onto Sony's online services. It is all part of the enhanced security features that Sony had promised its customers, in order to ensure that an attack of this magnitude cannot happen again.

However, despite the fact that the update has now become available to all of Sony's PSP and PS3 customers, the PSN store and Quriocity services remain offline, meaning even more frustration for Playstation customers.

Reliable sources within the gaming community have claimed that all of Sony's online gaming and music services should be restored by the 31st of May 2011 at the latest. Nevertheless, Sony has remained guarded about when the PSN store and Quriocity services will be available again.

So, it looks like PSN and Quriocity users will have to remain patient for at least another week. However, the question is, will customers still feel safe about using the service after all this time, and is Sony's intended 'Welcome Back' Package enough to make up for the weeks of frustration that gamers have been forced to endure?

If you have any comments about the Playstation Network hack, and the delay in restoring the PSN and Quriocity services, then please share them with us via our comments link or via our suggestion box. We'd love to hear your thoughts.

Sony Begins "Phased Restoration" Of Its Services...

Sony has today started what it has termed a "Phased Restoration" of its Playstation Network and Qriocity services after a malicious system hack forced them to be shut down for over a week.

During a press conference in Tokyo yesterday, both Sony Computer Entertainment (SCE) and Sony Network Entertainment International (SNEI) announced that they will shortly begin to turn on their gaming, music and video services region by region.

Sony has also implemented stricter security measures since the cyber attack, including creating a new company position called the Chief Information Security Officer, whose role it will be to to supplement existing information security personnel in ensuring the safety of customer data.

Furthermore, Sony have added automated software monitoring and configuration management to help defend against new attacks, enhanced the levels of data protection, encryption, and the ability to detect software intrusions within the network, unauthorized access and unusual activity patterns, as well as having implemented additional firewalls.

PS3 gamers will undergo a system update whereby they will have to re-register their Username and password before they are allowed access to the Playstation Network. There are also plans to move the existing network system to another secret location, which according to Sony, had been under construction for several months prior to the attack.

It was originally feared that customers' credit card information was also at risk, but Sony have since announced that this is impossible as customers credit card details are subject to encryption and were therefore not at risk.

Nevertheless, the same cannot be said for users' personal details, which were not subject to encryption at the time of the intrusion. However, Sony insists that lessons have been learned from the attack and the company has pledged that it will work even harder to ensure the safety of its online services.

Kazuo Hirai, Executive Deputy President of the Sony Corporation said: "Our global audience of PlayStation Network and Qriocity consumers was disrupted. We have learned lessons along the way about the valued relationship with our consumers, and to that end, we will be launching a customer appreciation programme for registered consumers as a way of expressing our gratitude for their loyalty during this network downtime, as we work even harder to restore and regain their trust in us and our services."

Nevertheless, the cyber attack, which placed almost 77 million customers' personal details at risk, could have done untold damage to Sony's reputation and may even impact the reputation of other similar online networks in the future.

The question that many gamers will now be asking is:  Is it enough to be wise after the event when it comes to personal security, or should Sony have taken more stringent measures to prevent such a security breach in the first place?

 Let us know your thoughts on this subject by leaving a comment in the Mini Gamers comment box. We'd love to hear from you.

Sony Admits Playstation Network Hack...

Sony has today admitted that "an illegal and unauthorized intrusion" has put several thousand user accounts at risk on both their Playstation Network and Quriocity online services.

According to Sony, certain service user account information was compromised during the intrusion, which occured some time between the 17th-19th of April  2011. Sony promises that they are doing their best to investigate the matter further, and have advised all of their PSN or Quriocity customers to change their usernames and passwords as an extra security measure.

Sony are busy restructuring the Playstation Network in order to make its services stronger against this type of security attack in the future. As a precautionary measure, all Playstation Network and Quriocity services have been temporarily suspended.

 The security breach, which may also include the theft of users' credit card information, has left several Playstation users angry and demanding answers.

 It is not yet clear how the intruder gained access to the Playstation and Quriocity accounts in the first place, but it casts serious doubt on the safety of Sony's Playstation services and is likely to be a devastating blow to the Playstation franchise as a whole.

If you are worried about the security breach and want more information on this subject, you can visit the official Playstation Website by clicking HERE.

Remember to check in with the Mini Gamers blogsite for more information about this issue in the coming weeks.

PSP Go: Going, Going Gone...

Sony has admitted that it is ceasing production of its PSP Go console, little over a year since it was first introduced into the gaming market.

In a statement given to the Japanese website, AV Watch, Sony claimed that it would soon be stopping production of its PSP Go console in order to more fully focus on the new NGP (Next Generation Portable) console, which is scheduled to be released at the end of this year.

PSP Go

The PSP Go has struggled with poor sales figures ever since its launch in October 2009. It is thought that a number of factors may have contributed to the console's overall poor reception. Nevertheless, the cost of downloading, and the high price of the console itself, has seemed to be its main downfall.

A standard UMD disc not included with PSP Go

Unlike the other PSP consoles, the PSP Go does not use Universal Media Discs (UMDs), allowing users to directly download content onto the device instead. However, this new approach to gaming failed to capture the interests of the modern gaming market.

In a recent article by the gaming website Andriasang, the sales figures for the PSP Go in the first week of April were seen to have dropped to a measly 356 units. Even the original PSP console, (which has also been accused of falling sales figures) managed to sell over 35,478 units in the same week.

PSP 3000 models will still be sold

News of the PSP Go's demise will come as a disappointment to those gamers who have recently taken advantage of certain bundle deals, such as the PSP Go and ten free games offers.

Nevertheless, Sony says that it intends to still honour its service and firmware obligations to owners of PSP Go consoles, and it also says that it will continue to sell models of its PSP 3000 console in the future.

The Sony NGP Prototype - Can this new handheld improve Sony's reputation?

Mini Gamers was a little disappointed to hear of Sony's plans to scrap the PSP Go console, but the news has not come as much of a surprise in the wake of such poor sales.

We can only look forward now to the development of the new Sony NGP console, and we sincerely hope that it can build upon the weaknesses of its less popular counterparts and become a truly great handheld for the future. Watch this space!

Japanese Game Publishers Face Economic Slump In Recent Crisis...

Japanese video game publishers face a big economic slump in the wake of the recent devastation caused by the Japanese Earthquake and Tsunami Crisis, which has affected the north-eastern (Tohoku) region of Japan.

Sega was by far the worst affected by the crisis so far. According to information from the Tokyo Stock Exchange, on Monday the 14th of March, Sega's stock had dropped by a massive 13.5 percent by the end of the day.

Sony and Nintendo also saw big stock losses too. Sony had a loss of 9.1 percent, whilst Nintendo suffered losses of 7.6 percent. Square Enix and Namco Bandai were amongst the least affected video games publishers with losses between 6.4 and 6.2 percent respectively.

Several video game  Japanese release dates have had to be rescheduled due to the economic downturn, including Sony's Motorstorm Apocalypse  and Sega's Disaster Report 4, which has now reportedly been cancelled altogether. Meanwhile, the upcoming European 3DS release has not been affected by the crisis and will go ahead next Friday as planned.

Dispite the economic slump, many video games companies have reportedly chosen to donate money to the victims of the Tsunami Crisis, including Sony, Namco Bandai  and Capcom, who each donated between 100 million and 300 million yen to relief efforts. Sony also donated over 3000 radios.

Meanwhile, The Japanese Earthquake and Tsunami crisis continues to deepen. Many people have been left homeless since the disaster, and although exact figures are unknown at present, casualties are expected to run into tens of thousands over the next few weeks.

Mini Gamers extends its sincere condolences to the victims of this terrible tragedy. For more information on how to give donations, please visit the official Red Cross Japanese Tsunami Appeal website by clicking HERE now.











SOURCES:

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2011-03-14-japanese-stocks-hit-in-market-slump

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_Sendai_earthquake_and_tsunami#Casualties

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impact_of_the_2011_Sendai_earthquake_and_tsunami_on_the_video_game_industry

'Playstation Phone' Has April 2011 Release Date?

Sony Ericsson has announced today that it will reveal its Playstation/Android mobile handset (now called the Xperia Play) to the world on the 13th February 2011 at the Mobile World Congress event, which is being held in Barcelona. The official reveal is expected to occur around 6PM British Time.

 News of the reveal comes after a lot of hype, speculation and debunking by various Playstation and Sony Ericsson officials. However, an advertisement for the product was recently released on YouTube and was also shown at the American Super Bowl this weekend, so an official announcement did somehow seem imminent.

It is not clear  exactly what details will be included in the Sony Ericsson reveal, but from what we know so far, the Xperia Play handset is capable of playing Android-powered mobile games and PS One games, although sadly it apparently will not feature PSP games. The Xperia Play will also be fully compatible with the newly announced Playstation Suite.

Furthermore, four major mobile phone providers (Vodafone,O2, T-mobile and Orange)  have now confirmed that they will be providing the Xperia Play, which according to a recent post by technology blog Pocket Lint, could be happening as soon as April 2011.

It is an exciting prospect and we at Mini Gamers are interested to see how the technology develops over the coming months. The move towards Mobile Gaming is growing more and more, and  this device is likely to be very popular when it launches.

So,what do you think? Will you be ordering your own Xperia Play in April?

Playstation Suite Announced...

Sony have been very busy over the past month or so, as well as announcing their new handheld console - The Sony NGP - Sony have also revealed plans for a new Playstation Suite for use with Android Smartphones and Android-powered tablet PCs.

The Playstation Suite (or PS suite as it is quickly becoming known) will act like a version of the Playstation Network Store and will first feature the original Playstation One game titles, with  new 'Android' store titles becoming available at a later date.

According to gaming website, Engadget, the new Playstation Suite is equipped with a "neutral" framework so that the featured games should eventually be compatible with all mobile phones.

Furthermore, it is reported that the store will come with a Quality Assurance scheme, which has been called PlayStation Certified. In translation, this means that developers who wish to feature their software in the Playstation Suite will have to meet certain standards of quality before they can be certified for inclusion.

Very little is known about the Playstation Suite at this time, but it is has already been developed for the new Sony handheld and is also likely to feature on the new Sony Ericsson Xperia Play (or 'PSP phone').

Although neither Sony Ericsson nor Sony PSP bosses have admitted that the phone is in development,Joystiq.com recently uncovered the following advertisement for the phone on YouTube:

Thus, it seems as though Sony is determined that its new gaming products should target the Mobile Gaming market, which became more prolific throughout 2010. 

Sony CEO, Jack Tretton recently spoke at the Playstation Meeting in Tokyo, saying: "We've always been about, what is the market? What is the opportunity? Seize the opportunity and differentiate yourself," [Source:http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/27/engadget-interview-sceas-jack-tretton-talks-sony-ngp-announce/]

Whatever your opinion about Sony's plans, the new Playstation Suite is certainly a very interesting idea. Mini Gamers looks forward to following the progress of all Sony's new gadgets as they develop.

Buzz: Ultimate Music Quiz 2011 Review

Unfortunately, announcements about various new handheld consoles from Sony and Nintendo over the last fortnight has meant that our hands-on with this game was unintentionally delayed. Nevertheless, the Mini Gamers blogsite has now tried and tested Buzz: Ultimate Music Quiz (PSP) in order to bring you the good and bad points of this music-themed game.

Firstly, fans of the Buzz series of quiz games will quickly notice that this game has been given a snazzy makeover from the previous PSP games.

The game features several different quiz rounds to test your music knowledge and two different single-player game modes - Chart Climber (in which players have to play several different quiz rounds in order to win points and gain their place at the top of the charts,) and Quick Quiz whereby players have to play a random quiz from one of the rounds in the Chart Climber section.

There is also several Multiplayer modes to be had in this game. As well as the usual Pass Around and Player-to-Player Wi-Fi modes, there is also an Online Multiplayer mode so that players can now test their musical knowledge with other people from all over the country.

The quiz rounds themselves are quite varied, and range from general knowledge about all diferent types of music,  to naming music stars or identifying various tunes, and even trying to beat the clock in timed quizes.

Buzz himself has also had a bit of a makeover. See the irrepressible host don a number of hairstyles throughout the quiz, from an Elvis-style Quiff, to a J.S. Bach wig. Buzz has the lot!

The usual Bronze, Silver and Gold awards have also been changed to Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum records, and the way they work has also been changed. Now, the awards are also given a points multiplier, which range from 1x to 4x your original score. The faster you correctly answer questions, the more of a multiplier you will gain.

One of the most impressive features in this game is Buzz's personal commentary, which allows Buzz to call you by name. This was originally featured in the Buzz: Quiz World game, but the names which were featured were very limited and meant that many people were unable to choose their name from the list.

 In Buzz: Ultimate Music Quiz (PSP) the 'Personal Commentary' feature has been enhanced, and it now features a wide range of nicknames and unusual names to choose from. Hearing Buzz call out your name at the end of the quiz is really satisfying and makes the game much more interactive.

So, what are the bad points?

Actually, there are relatively few bad points in this game. The main problem with quiz-based video games in general is that the questions can be repeated after a while. However, we played twenty different rounds of Chart Climber and only had three repeated questions during that time, which is a lot better than some other quiz games we could mention.

Online Multiplayer was also a bit of a problem as we couldn't find anyone to quiz with, dispite searching for players on five different occasions, nevertheless, this may not be the case for everyone.

Overall, this is a very entertaining and interactive game. The new format and style changes are very impressive. If you are a fan of quiz games, then this is definately the game for you. Overall rating: 9/10.

Introducing the Sony NGP (AKA 'PSP2')

Sony's new handheld console called The Sony NGP, (which stands for Next Generation Portable,) was revealed at an event called the PlayStation Meeting in Tokyo yesterday.

The launch puts an end to several months of speculation about the possibility of a new console, which the gaming community had nicknamed the PSP2. However, Sony was very reluctant to admit that they had been working on a new design - until now.

The Sony NGP is similar to the original PSP consoles, but boasts a few enhancements including dual analog sticks, front and rear cameras, a five-inch OLED display and Augmented Reality Software as used in the PSP game, Eyepet.

The console is apparently going to focus more on Social Gaming and interactivity. The Sony NGP will feature a capacitive touchscreen for easy access to the console's main features, and will also have a 'live' area where NGP users can communicate with each other. This area will also contain links to the PlayStation Network store.

Some of the games which have been planned for the new console include Killzone and an as yet un-revealed title in the Uncharted series, which has never featured on a handheld console before.

The Sony NGP console is also set to feature 3G connectivity. However,  Sony Europe's CEO, Andrew House has recently admitted to members of the press that only one of the various launch models will actually feature 3G capability. Furthermore, the 3G service will cost the owner each time it is used.

This is a potential 'sour note' in what is actually shaping up to be a very interesting console. The Sony NGP is set to debut in time for Christmas 2011 and is expected to cost between £187-£219. Keep checking in with the Mini Gamers blogsite for more news as it develops.

So that is Sony's new handheld. What do you think?

Buzz: Ultimate Music Quiz Delayed Until 2011!

Buzz: The Ultimate Music Quiz is to be delayed until 14 January 2011. The game was supposed to be released on the 17th of December 2010, but, like so many of the new PSP games that we have been promised this year, it has so far failed to reach the shop shelves.

Mini Gamers has reported on several different PSP titles which have been either delayed or cancelled without any apparent reason, including Patapon 3, which was supposed to be released in early November this year, but which for some reason has been further delayed until the 25th of March 2011 now.

The game itself is the tenth game in the Buzz! series, and is essentially a Music Quiz but with all the satirical humour of the rest of the Buzz Games Series. The PS3 version of Buzz: The Ultimate Music Quiz has already been released to the public and it would be nice to see the game appear on the PSP as well.

 Sony's overall decline of sales in Europe and the SCEE's decision to stop PSP Dev Kits earlier this year could explain why so many PSP titles have failed to reach their release date. Nevertheless, it has to be said that so many unexplained delays is both unsettling and annoying to the many gamers who have pre-ordered games only to be disapointed over and over again...

The 14th of January 2011 might only be about 3 weeks away, but the fact that Buzz: The Ultimate Music Quiz has already suffered from two release date delays already this year does not fill us with much confidence. Mini Gamers hopes that this and the other delayed games will soon be on the shop shelves, but at this moment in time, there is just no way to know for sure. Only time will tell.

Game Of The Week: EyePet (PSP)

The ultimate virtual pet is here. EyePet finally came to the PSP handheld console yesterday. Mini Gamers first reported that Eyepet was coming to the PSP in June earlier this year, but despite its original early Spring release date, the virtual little critter was unable to make his handheld debut until mid-November. Nevertheless, it seems that this game was really worth the wait!

The game makes clever use of the PSP's camera attachment. Players can use the GO!Cam  along with the Eyepet 'Magic Card', which is included in the game. The result is amazing. Want to see your Eyepet sitting on your desk or kitchen table? This game actually makes it possible and gives Eyepet a greater realism than any other virtual pet game currently on the market.

However, the game also contains many other interactive functions which helps to engage the player into this virtual world. For example, Eyepet contains several mini games including Fishing, Gardening, Treasure Hunting, Trampolining and Bowling, amongst others. Each mini game contains different challenges, which can be unlocked as the player progresses. The mini games are usually timed and get gradually harder each level.

Bowling is perhaps the easiest game to complete. Use your Eyepet as a bowling ball (not recommended for real pets, kids!) and knock down the row of pins that appear on your chosen 'Magic Card' surface. More and more pins appear each level and they change position from the previous level so that it gets harder each time. A successful amount of Strikes can unlock new customisable items for your Eyepet.

Fishing is probably the hardest mini game. You and your Eyepet must team-up to catch as many fish as you can within two minutes. However, only fish which appear on the itinerary will count towards your final score. This makes it very difficult to complete the task within the allotted time, however, with a bit of practise it can be achieved eventually. The Fishing mini game also includes a Free Mode which allows you to fish without a time limit. Any fish which are caught in this mode are automatically added to the aquarium in your Pet Home.

The Pet Home is where players can take care of their Eyepet's basic needs including feeding, washing and sleeping. It is also where players can style their Eyepet and even change its fur colour or style if they wish. Players can keep up to four Eyepets, so changing their fur length and colour can create some interesting variations between the different pets.

The Pet Home can also store photos of your EyePet and is the space where new car and boat toys can be created. Draw an image of a car or boat on a plain piece of paper and Eyepet will convert it into a 3D car, complete with a range of customisable style options.

The only potential negatives about Eyepet concern the 'Magic card' and the loading screens. This game is understandably very intricate and detailed. As a result, Eyepet features some lengthy loading screens, which might test the patience of  younger gamers.

Furthermore, the game's Magic Card has to be centred on the screen exactly at all times while out of the Pet house otherwise your little Eyepet will end up floating in a bubble in front of you and won't be able to complete any of the mini games etc.

It sounds easy, but Mini Gamers found that the Magic Card needed to adjusted several times before our Eyepet could be clearly seen. Lighting can also affect how well the Magic Card performs as well. If it is too dark or too light in the room then your card will not function correctly. Nevertheless, the positives of this unique game totally outweigh any negatives tenfold.

Eyepet on PSP really does have to be seen to be believed. This is the most innovative game to reach the PSP in a very long time. It is also a great game for all the family. If you have always wanted a pet, or  if the kids have put a pet on the top of their christmas lists but  you can't be bothered with unsightly messes, daily feeds or huge vet bills, then Eyepet on PSP is a viable alternative. Overall rating: 10/10.