It has been an anxious wait for PSP fans across the country since they were first informed that the PSP version of Lego Harry Potter would be delayed, and just when it seems that the end is in sight, the game seems set to undergo further delays.
Mini Gamers last reported that a new release date of the 6th of August 2010 had been given by the game's producers, but this has since been changed to the 13th of August 2010.
This will be the fourth time that the game has been delayed since its original release date at the end of June this year, and once again, no explanation has been given as to why the game has not been released yet.
Mini Gamers contacted both WB games and TT Games to ask them why the game had been delayed for so long, but both companies refused to comment.
Thus, the debate about when the PSP version of Lego Harry Potter will finally be available in the shops looks set to continue for now.
However, like many of you out there, we at Mini Gamers are starting to wonder if the game will ever be released onto PSP at all. Watch this space!
Yes, Dragon Quest IX finally reached UK shores today! Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies, which was released in Japan in July last year, marks the ninth game in the long-running and extremely popular Dragon Quest series, which was created by Yūji Horii and published by Square Enix, who are best-known for games series such as Final Fantasy and Kingdom Hearts.
For those of you who are not familiar with any of the previous games in the Dragon Quest series, the plot is fairly simple and involves a Celestrian (or Guardian Angel) who ends up on an observatory above the Earth, which overlooks a village called 'Angel Falls'.
The Celestrian is meant to observe the humans in the village and protect them from harm, but one day there is a accident during a ceremony with the Yggdrasil (or 'Tree of Life'), and the Celestrian falls to Earth. When he regains consciousness, he realizes that he has become human.
This game follows the same basic format as the other games in the series - you can build up your characters skills and abilities (including magic spells and alchemy) by solving various quests and puzzles around 'Angel Falls', and you can also battle monsters and foes with your new skills.
However, Dragon Quest IX is the first game of the series to be developed exclusively for a handheld console, and as such, the new game features some exciting modifications to the overall gameplay.
For example, in all the previous games of the series, battles have been fought using a Random Encounter system, which is standard for many RPGs today, and means that enemies and battles occur at unexpected and random points during the game.
Nevertheless, in a bold move away from its traditional style, Dragon Quest IX makes every enemy location visible on the game map, except when the characters are sailing.
This title is also the first game in the series to feature a co-op multiplayer mode for up to four players, and was specifically designed around the concept of a multiplayer game.
Originally the game was going to feature a real-time battle system, but this was rejected in favour of a more traditional turn-based system instead.
This game is also loaded with customisation options, which includes changing the outfits of all playable characters within the game. This makes it very interactive and increases the game's replay value immensely.
Dragon Quest IX: UK Trailer
Dragon Quest IX has already proven itself to be a bestseller in the Japanese market - having over two million pre-order sales prior to its actual release date, and judging by what the game has to offer its fans, Mini Gamers predicts that it will be just as sucessful in the UK. Definitely a game for RPG fans to add to their collection. Overall rating 9/10.
The latest edition to the ever popular Patapon series is scheduled for release in early November 2010, and it is already shaping-up to be a really enjoyable game.
For those of you who are new to the world of Patapon, the game tells the story of a tribe of tiny creatures called - you guessed it - Patapons.
They are a defeated race of warriors who have been oppressed by their enemy the Zigotonsuntil they are almost destroyed.
Tired and down-hearted, the remaining Patapons pray to their god, the Almighty to guide them with the use of the four Spiritual Drums.
Patapon 3 continues the saga of the Patapons in their quest to find the place they call Earthend and the contentment of the mysterious "IT".
The game itselfhas made some important changes and additions this time around. You can now choose which type of Hero warrior you wish to be at the start of the game.
There are three main classes of Patapon Warrior to choose from - Yumiyacha (bow and arrow warrior), Taterazay (a defence warrior with shields) or Yarida (a spear warrior).
Nevertheless, you have to choose carefully as each warrior will have its own special abilities which will either help or hinder your tribe throughout the game.
For example, the Yarida warriorscan now throw twin flaming spears at the enemy, but this can also have the adverse affect of making the grass around the Patapons catch fire, which in turn, can also set your own tribe members alight.
Fever Mode has also been improved in Patapon 3. In the previous games it took at least eight consecutive successful rhythms to whip those little warriors into a frenzy, which at times was time consuming and difficult to achieve.
It now only takes three consecutive successful rhythms to get your Patapons into fever mode, which is great news for all the casual gamers out there.
However, the biggest change to the third game is the addition of Infrastructure Mode to the Multiplayer portion of the game.
This means that as well as gaming with friends using Ad-hoc Mode, you can now instruct your PSP to find other Patapon 3 gamers online, so that you can play special co-op mission together.
The Infrastructure Mode is a great new feature. It even allows you to 'chat' to your fellow team members by using pre-selected phrases.
You can still equip and deploy your Patapons in the same manner as the previous games, but you now have a 'live' tribe to instruct and keep rhythm with, which adds to the fun.
Patapon 3: Teaser Trailer
However, there are a few teething problems with the new Infrastructure Mode - the most common one being that you may not always have all the varied types of warrior needed to defeat the enemy.
For example, if your fellow players all tend to favour the Taterazay warrior you will ended up with three or more Patapons with shields but no warriors with arrows or spears, which is necessary when trying to complete the level.
Furthermore, it is possible for the Host to simply terminate the onlinegame without warning, thereby ending the Multiplayer mission.
This can lead to confusion and frustration if you happen to be defeating the main enemy at the time and you suddenly find that the screen has gone black and a little pop-up message informs you that your Multiplayer session is now complete.
Nevertheless, the new modes and additions help to further the Patapon universe and do make for some really interesting an varied gameplay.
If you can't wait for the game to be released and you have at least a spare 110 MB still left on your Memory Stick, then the multiplayer demo is now available to download from the Playstation Network Store. Take it from us - it is well worth a try!
This year will mark the 28th annual Golden Joystick Awards. The award ceremony will be held on 29th October 2010 at London’s Park Plaza Westminster Bridge Hotel.
The Golden Joystick Awards, which is more affectionately known as 'The People's GamingAwards', was established by the popular magazine group, Future Publishing in 1982, and has become an important event in the gaming calendar ever since.
The Golden Joystick Awards are an annual event in the gaming calender.
Each and every winner of the prestigious Golden Joystick has been voted for by the public. Voting forms have already been included in several gaming magazines such as ONM and Official Playstation Magazine, which are both publications developed by Future Publishing PLC.
Now, the final shortlist of nominees has been revealed and Future Publishing are requesting that gamers continue to cast their votes. In a change from previous years, the 2010 awards will focus less on console-specific categories, preferring instead to award titles within specific genres instead.
Here at Mini Gamers, we are particularly interested to see who will win in the PortableGames category. It is an impressive list, and all of the nominated titles in this category certainly deserve to walk away with the prize.The shortlisted nominees for portable games are as follows:
The other award category to watch out for is the Ultimate Game Of The Year. Again, the list of games is impressive. Although there is very little choice for handheld gamers to choose from this year, it will be interesting to see who manages to scoop the top-spot. As well as winning the stunningly crafted Golden Joystick Trophy winners of this award are automatically included in The Guinness Book of Records as the 'Best Videogame'.
However, it has to be said that none of the nominees would win without the support of gamers everywhere. Over 421,843 votes have been cast so far and there is still plenty of time for you to take part.
For more details on the awards, or to cast your vote for this year, please click here to visit the Golden Joystick website. May the best game win!
It has happened again, Game are now claiming that Lego Harry Potter for the PSP is to suffer further delays and will not be available in store until the 6th of August 2010.
The news, which was reported to us in a comment by one of the Mini Gamer readers, comes as another shock to the many PSP users who had expected to receive their copy of the game on Friday 30th July.
This latest delay has led to greater frustration against the game's developers, Travellers Tales, who still refuse to provide a definite reason as to why the PSP version of this game has been consistently delayed since May this year.
LEGO HARRY POTTER TRAILER - YEAR 2
To make matters worse, Mini Gamers decided to further investigate claims that the PSP version had been delayed once more, and found to our surprise that most other UK retailers seem blissfully unaware of the new release date.
We visited Play.com, HMV, Zavvi, Woolworths and Asda, who all cite the release date of the PSP version as either the 29th or 30th of July, depending on when their new stock is delivered.
If, as we suspect, Lego Harry Potter for the PSP has truly been delayed once more - and is not simply delayed in one single outlet such as Game- then many other PSP fans who have already pre-ordered this game can expect to have their hopes dashed via emails and letters sent to them in the next few weeks.
Mini Gamers wonders how long it will be before fans abandon all hopes of ever owning this game on the PSP system and choose to buy it in another format instead.
HAVE YOUR SAY...
Has the delay of the PSP version of Lego Harry Potter made you feel angry or disappointed? How did you feel when you were informed that the release date had been changed for the third time? Are you looking forward to eventually getting a copy of the game, or has the delay marred your excitement? Will you now be buying this game in another format now rather than on the PSP?
Here at Mini Gamers, we are interested in hearing your views. Please feel free to leave a comment in the comments box by clicking the 'Comments' link at the bottom of the post (or simply fill in the Comments Box below if viewing the post in a separate window,) and share your thoughts on this issue with others.
Gamers can race using a variety of vehicles including aeroplanes
If, like many fans of Sony's Modnation Racers, you have struggled to compete against the myriad of ultra-competitive CPU opponents within the game, then help could soon be on its way to you.
Modnation Racers was released for the PSP and PS3 some time in May this year, and although the game has proven itself to already be a very popular racing simulation, it has suffered complaints from fans that the CPU characters are virtually unbeatable, leading to many gamers being able to complete the final racing levels.
Some of the CPU characters have been accused of being too tough to beat.
Very little is known about the intended patch yet, but Sony has promised that it will include "Less aggressive" CPU drivers. The Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC (better known as SCEA) has also promised fans that the new patch would take into account some of the other improvement suggestions that fans of the game have asked for.
There is lots of customisation available in this game.
The patch is welcome news, as it means that many gamers will now be able to complete the final levels of the game, and it is also kind of heart-warming to know that Sony is still prepared to listen to what fans of its products have to say about particular issues.
There has been no confirmed date for when the new patch will become available, but the game's developers UFG assure fans that it won't be too long. They are requesting that fans be patient and say that they are putting "The finishing touches" to the patch, which will apparently add a 'Casual' difficulty option to the game's existing Careers Mode in order to help those gamers who just can't keep up on the race track.
Be sure to check in with Mini Gamers for news and updates about the new patch when it arrives!
This is the PEGI visual descriptor of a game which depicts violence
IMAGINE THE FOLLOWING SCENE:
You are wandering around your favourite video games store with some friends who happen to not be avid gamers and you spy a new sports game that you think will be good to try out. However, before you can even take the game from the shelf, your companions point out that the aforementioned game has a PEGI 3+ rating.
Your friends are horrified: "A 3+ game?!At your age?"
You are then forced to try and save face by purchasing the latest 16+ title - full of violence and bad language instead, when all you wanted was to have a good football game etc. This has happened to me on two separate occasions now, and both times I just crumbled with embarrassment.
Most actual gamers will recognise that the PEGI rating of 3+ does not refer to age or ability of the intended player, but to the game's Individual Content Rating, which shows that a very young child (from the age of 3+) could quite happily view this game without seeing something that they shouldn't.
However, PEGI (Pan European Game Information) who are the main censorship board for videogames in the UK, are the first to admit that this rating does not take into account the actual ability of a child to play the game, so most 3+ games are well beyond the intellectual ability of a normal toddler.
The lowest age rating in the PEGI system (3+) includes games like Tiger Woods PGA Tour 11, whose complex game controls and visual style is meant for older gamers, gameshow tie-ins like the ever-popular Deal Or No Deal, or a quiz game tie-in such as Countdown, which, as any viewer of the afternoon quiz could tell you, contains conundrums that are hard enough to stump the average thirty year-old, let alone a very young child!
You might say that this is pedantic of me, and argue that gamers shouldn't care what other (non-gaming) people think about their particular tastes, but the fact is that the PEGI rating is often confusing to parents and guardians when trying to choose games for young gamers. I have heard several people talk about games in the following way:
"It says 12+ on the box, but he's very intelligent for his age, so I think he'll find it easy to play the game..."
The trouble is that, (especially in the UK) we are used to seeing age ranges on particular toys. These ratings usually tell us what age group the product is intended for and thus, we know better than to buy a toy aimed at 'ages 4 and over' for an eight year-old and vice versa, but this knowledge does not work in quite the same way when applied to video games.
PEGI rates video games in the following way:
This icon means that a game is suitable for everyone, (regardless of age or ability,) and contains very mild unrealistic cartoon violence, no horror, no bad language.
This icon means that a game is suitable for viewing by slightly older children and it is usually applied to games that contain mild, (but realistic), cartoon violence or mild horror and scary scenes, which may cause upset to younger children.
This icon denotes games which are not suitable for children younger than twelve years old to view. Games with this age rating may contain some mild action violence, sexually crude humour and themes of gambling. Games which contain theme songs that are mildly suggestive will automatically be given this rating.
Games with this rating can contain strong, explicit action violence, and often deal with story themes which include implicit drug-use, racial or sexual discrimination, criminal behaviour and sex. They should not be viewed by anyone who is younger than sixteen.
Games with this icon are seen as only suitable for adults (those aged 18 or over). Although games aimed at this age group are rare in the UK, graphic violence, strong sexual content, explicit references to gambling or drugs, criminal behaviour and vulgar language (spoken and used in song lyrics) are permitted in games with this rating.
The PEGI system of videogame classification also provides several Content Descriptors intended to give details about what type of themes a particular game might have (such as the 'violence' descriptor at the top of this post). These are useful as they instantly give a visual representation of why the game has been given the age rating that it has.
Nevertheless, only the age rating appears on the front of the box, so the descriptor is unlikely to be seen until later and this may explain why some people still assume that the age rating refers to the age of the intended player and not to the game's overall content.
PEGI INFORMATION VIDEO
The ERSB (Entertainment Software Rating Board) who are responsible for rating games in America and other countries outside the UK, has its own set of age ratings and content descriptors for video games. Their ratings range from Efor EVERYONE to AO for ADULTS ONLY. The ERSB rating system is very clear to understand and means that there are likely to be less misunderstandings about who the games are actually intended for. There has been some debate over the past few years about whether the UK could benefit from a new ratings system - a combination of ERSB age ratings with PEGI content descriptors, but as yet, no new rating system has been proposed. Further details about the ERSB rating system can be found here.
Of course, there needs to be some measure of which games are suitable for which age groups, but is an age rating alone really enough information to decide whether a game is suitable for the intended gamer?
It has to be said that both the PEGI and ERSB rating systems are dependent on the watchfulness of shop keepers or guardians alike, whose decision to allow the purchase of a 12+ or 16+ game for a child who is underage - simply because they think that the age range refers to the ability of the player - could end up having a detrimental effect on young gamers who are then exposed to violent and suggestive themes.
Here at Mini Gamers we know that gaming can be a very enjoyable pastime, but we all have a duty remember that some games are not suitable for a younger audience.
HAVE YOUR SAY...
What do you think of the PEGI age rating system? Have you ever been put off of buying a game with a 3+ rating? Is ERSB an effective way to show which games are not suitable for younger gamers? Are videogame ratings easy to understand? Whose responsibility should it be to censor certain videogames?
Here at Mini Gamers, we are interested in hearing your views. Please feel free to leave a comment in the comments box by clicking the 'comments' link at the bottom of the post and share your thoughts on this issue with others.
It has been one of the hottest debates amongst PSP gamers of late, but it now seems that the final release date for the PSP version of Lego Harry Potter is the 30th of July 2010. Mini Gamersrecently reported that the PSP version game had been delayed by the publishers TT games.
We also contacted them to ask why the game had been delayed when all the other formats of the game had already been released to the public. TT games has so far declined to comment on its decision.
So, it now seems like it will only be another few weeks before PSP gamers can enjoy the rich spoils of this long-awaited addition to the Lego Games series. However, this does not make up for the thousands of fans who have pre-ordered this game only to be disappointed. We are all keeping our fingers crossed that the release date will not be changed again between now and the end of the month.
HAVE YOUR SAY...
Has the delay of the PSP version of Lego Harry Potter made you feel angry or disappointed? Did you preorder the game? How did you feel when you were informed that the release date had been changed? Why do you think the game might have been delayed? Are you looking forward to eventually getting a copy of the game, or has the delay marred your excitement?
Here at Mini Gamers, we are interested in hearing your views. Please feel free to leave a comment in the comments box by clicking the 'comments' link at the bottom of the post and share your thoughts on this issue with others.
Summer tends to bring with it a whole host of sporting games titles, and Everybody's Tennis on the PSP (called 'Hot Shots' in the USA) certainly fits the Summertime mood. This bright, colourful game puts the emphasis on tennis being a sport for the whole family to enjoy.
The game controls are uncomplicated and success in the game is based around getting the timing of your shot correct. Furthermore, the use of the Everybody's Racket function increases the accuracy of your shots and is excellent for tennis newcomers, however, it does reduce the power behind each shot so players may find it difficult to get the ball past their opponent.
The easy controls may make this game seem initially childish or boring, but the reality is far from it. Every character comes with their own set of strengths and weaknesses, making for varied gameplay. There are an incredible amount of characters to choose from too. Players will need to adapt their playing style in order to have continued success in the game.
Unlike its sister game, Everybody's Golf, which focuses more on tournaments and versus-type gameplay, this title utilises some interesting RPG elements in its single-player mode as well. Players can let their characters explore different game enviroments and solve puzzles by challenging various opponents, including a few 'Boss' types as well. The storyline is basic but still very enjoyable.
For those of you who dislike RPG storylines, you can play more traditional tennis matches against opponents of your choice in the Exhibition mode instead. It has to be said however, that the story mode does give you a chance to play against every character in the game, which allows you to quickly suss out their particular playing styles and skills.
The game's producers Clap Handz have tried very hard to make this sporting title into the type of game that fans will want to play over and over again. The bright colours and wacky characters only add to the enjoyment of the game. All the main types of tennis court (hard, clay and grass) are included in the game and all the environments are presented in meticulous detail, which make it a visual eye-fest on the PSP screen.
There is also plenty of unlockable content to be had here and players can look forward to customising their chosen character with many different rackets, clothes and hairstyles. Loyalty Points are also given for using the same character over and over again, which equips them with certain abilities to use within the game.
As an extra treat, one of the characters from Killzone can also be unlocked, leading to some very comical gameplay!
Moreover, if you have enjoyed success in the single-player mode and still want more tennis action, Everybody's Tennis also features a great head-to-head multiplayer mode for up to four PSP players, so you can test your skills against your friends and family.
Overall, this game has tons of replay action and will keep you entertained long after Wimbledon has finished. The new RPG storylines and 'Boss' tennis opponants make it challenging, whilst the simple controls means that it is easy to just pick up and play. This game is a must-buy item for PSP users. Overall rating: 9/10.
There seems to be some debate about the final release date for the PSP version of Lego Harry Potter. Those of you who have been following the Mini Gamers blogsite for a while now will know that the PSP version was delayed by TT games in June this year and was scheduled to be released at the beginning of July. However, the actual release date now seems the source of some confusion amongst some UK Videogame retailers.
The original release date was supposed to be 7th July 2010. However, this no longer seems to be the case, and to make matters worse, there is clear disagreement as to when the PSP version will now be released to the public. The following gives details of some of the major UK retailers and their release date for Lego Harry Potter (PSP)
This retailer states that the game will be released in one week's time on the 9th of July 2010 and is offering a free DVD of the first Harry Potter film with every purchase.
The Woolworths online store also says that the game will not be released until 30th July 2010.
The release of a new game is a treacherous minefield at the best of times, with dates often being subject to change at a moment's notice, but this is made worse when multiple release dates are given. It is also unclear why the PSP version of this game has been delayed whilst its counterparts on other formats are already available in stores across the country...
Lego Harry Potter Teaser Trailer
This latest news is a further disapointment for PSP users who had preordered the game for the end of June. Like you, we at Mini Gamers are hoping that the release date for the PSP version of this brilliant game will be sooner rather than later, but at the moment there is no way to tell when the game will actually be released. Keep tuned to the Mini Gamers blogsite for further details.
HAVE YOUR SAY...
Has the delay of the PSP version of Harry Potter made you feel angry or disappointed? Did you pre-order the game? How did you feel when you were informed that the release date had been changed? Why do you think the game might have been delayed?
Here at Mini Gamers, we are interested in hearing your views. Please feel free to leave a comment in the comments box by clicking the 'comments' link at the bottom of the post and share your thoughts on this issue with others.
Warner Bros Interactive have promised that as well as featuring a general co-op mode, their latest game Batman: The Brave and the Bold (based on the cartoon of the same name) will also feature a special Wii & DS connectivity mode, which means that DS users can choose to team-up with their Wii friends as the irrepressible 'Bat-Mite' (Batman's biggest fan) and help the caped crusader to defeat his foes.
The game has many playable iconic heroes and villains from the Batman universe including Robin, Green Lantern, Hawkman,and Blue Beetle, and will also feature cameo appearances from other DC superheroes such as Aquaman and The Flash.
Batman: The Brave and the Bold allows players to explore the dark alleys of Gotham City and even features interplanetary travel to strange alien planets and exclusive locations. Missions will include fighting foes such as Poison Ivy and Catwoman or solving puzzles and mysteries.
The game is still in production, so very little is known about its gameplay content at present, but it is destined to become a family favourite. The game is set to debut in the UK in September 2010.
Metal Gear Solid: Peacewalker is the fifth game in the Metal Gear Solid series.The game has been produced by the same team that created Metal Gear 4 and is set to be one of the best stealth titles on the PSP to date.
The main storyline is set in 1974 - four years after the events in the Portable Ops game. Snake, (AKA Big Boss) must travel to Costa Rica where a rogue CIA unit have taken over the country and have bought with them their last nuclear warhead nicknamed "Peace Walker", which the well-armed rogue soldiers intend to use as a means of deterring any resistance. It is up to Big Boss and his Militaires Sans Frontières guerrilla group to save the day once again. They must use their all stealth tactics to dispatch the enemies and rescue the local inhabitants.
The aim of the game is to complete all missions without getting caught or killed.This PSP-exclusive title features all of the excitement of the other four games. Like the other games in the series, Peace Walker utilises third-person gameplay. Fans of the series can choose to hit the enemy with tranquiliser darts or bullets and even flip or choke enemy soldiers in close combat. Big Boss can also crouch down, which makes stealth attacks much easier.
The previous games in the Metal Gear Solid series have been somewhat criticised for having complicated and lengthy cutscenes or unclear plots, however both of these flaws have been addressed in this game with shorter, more focused gameplay making for a more enjoyable title.
For those of you who prefer to game with friends, Peace Walker features optional co-op play on every single mission throughout the game, and also features a multiplayer mode for up to five persons. Play team death matches or practice capture and defence tactics in a Capture The Flag type game.
Peace Walker is a great stealth title and fans of Metal Gear Solid 1-4 are bound to be impressed with the latest game. If creeping through jungles searching for enemy soldiers is your idea of a good time, then this is the game for you. Overall rating: 9/10
