Professor Layton 2011: The Specters' Flute and Mask Of Miracle E3 News...

*Professor Layton 4 UK RELEASE DATE ANNOUNCED. CLICK HERE for details*

Professor Layton and the last Specter (formally known as Professor Layton and the Specter's Flute in Japan,) has been confirmed for European release via a new trailer which was shown at the 2011 E3 Conference in Los Angeles.

The above trailer, (which is the same as the Japanese trailer but with no speech and an enhanced musical score,) comes on the back of an American Trademark request filed by Level 5 inc, the videogame developers behind the Professor Layton series.

A set of screenshots for Professor Layton and the Last Specter have been released alongside the new trailer.

The trailer and screenshots end months of speculation about whether the fourth Professor Layton game would actually ever be released outside of Japan.

There has been no specific release date Professor Layton and the Last Specter yet, although some sources are quoting 'Fall 2011' as a possible time-frame for the North-American release of the game.

However, this raises questions about the European release of the fifth Professor Layton game - Professor Layton and the Mask of Miracle, which is set to debut on the 3DS system in late 2011.

Originally, Mini Gamers reported that the game had been given a July 2011 release date. According to online retailer Zavvi, this has now been changed to the 7th of October 2011.

However, it could be said that the release of the fourth Professor Layton game is somewhat bittersweet for 3DS fans. 

If it is true that Professor Layton and the Last Specter is heading to Western shores in the Autumn of this year, it makes the October release of Professor Layton and the Mask of Miracle much more unlikely. Unless of course, Level 5 inc choose to release both games simultaneously - one game for the DS/DSi and the other for the new 3DS console? Unfortunately,it is impossible to say at this present time.

Here at Mini Gamers, we are overjoyed to know that a European release for the Professor Layton and the Last Specter has now been confirmed, and we anxiously look forward to its release and the subsequent release of Professor Layton and the Mask of Miracle on the 3DS. Hopefully it won't be too long before we have some definite UK release dates. 

 Keep checking the Mini Gamers blogsite for more news on this story as it develops! 

Sony Unveils PS Vita: Games line-up and Prices Confirmed...

It has been known to the handheld gaming community as the PSP 2 and the Sony NGP, but Mini Gamers can now reveal that the official name for Sony's newest handheld device is the PS Vita. 

For those of you who aren't yet aware of the PS Vita's technical specifications, the device will contain the following:

 5-inch OLED Touchscreen: For more varied gameplay

Rear Touch Pad: Capacitive Multi-touch

Cameras: rear camera, front camera which will be used for augmented reality gaming.

Sound: Built-in mic, built-in speakers

Sensors: 6-axis motion sensory system (three-axis accelerometer, three-axis gyroscope)

Internet Connectivity: 3G (optional), WiFi , Built-in GPS

Switches/Keys: Volume buttons, SELECT/START button, right/left stick, shoulder buttons, action buttons, directional buttons, power button, PS button

Wireless: Mobile Network Connectivity (3G), IEE 802.11b/g/n, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR

The PS Vita is set to revolutionise the way that Playstation fans access and play their games. The CEO of Consumer services and Marketing, Kazuo Hirai, proudly introduced the new console at E3 2011 last night. He said: "Vita means 'life' and the PS Vita blurs the lines between entertainment and real life..." and he claimed that the PS Vita would also lead the way in offering gamers a: "Truly unique social experience."


The PS Vita contains a powerful CPU processor and greater memory, making its graphics closer to the PS3 in comparison. This means that there will now be better interconnectivity between Sony's favourite home console and the new handheld device.  

For example, the PS Vita will now use the 'Cloud Saves' feature usually found on the PS3 console. This means that players can save their game and then connect it up to their PS3 console and continue playing from where they left off.

Several PS Vita games were presented during the ninety-minute Sony conference, including Uncharted: Golden Abyss, a brand new Uncharted game.  This game was a good example of how the new PS Vita functions could be put to good use.

 For example, the main character, Nathan Drake can now be made to jump simply by tapping on the touchscreen. Players can also make Drake move along several ledges or chasms easily by 'drawing' a safe route for him with their finger.  Enemies can be attacked by using the traditional PSP button system or by tapping on them via the touchscreen. Weapons can also be collected via this method.

Modnation Racers for the PS Vita demonstrated how the multiple touch points on the rear touchpad can be used to customise tracks. In the PS Vita version of the popular racing game, pressing on various points of the touchpad can create mountaneous peaks and place trees, while tapping on the front touchscreen can create lakes or rivers and create bends in the racing track.

Finally, the PS Vita version of Little Big Planet uses the new 'tilt' functions of the motion sensors. Many of the new levels will include areas where the console will need to be tilted in order for the player to proceed.

Furthermore, players can use the new front and rear cameras to take a photo of themselves, which will then be used to create their sackboy/sackgirl character.

The Little Big Planet toolbox has also been enhanced. Players can now draw items such as bridges or steps on the touchscreen  and they will then be added into your own created levels.

These major titles will all be available for the PS Vita at launch, and CEO of Sony Entertainment America, Jack Tretton revealed that there were a lot more quality games in the pipeline: "We currently have more than eighty [PS Vita] game titles in development by top developers including EA, Ubisoft, THQ, Activision and Capcom."

The PS Vita  will debut some time in December 2011, just in time for the Christmas market. There will be two types of the console available at launch, PS Vita with 3G connectivity, which will retail for around £185, and PS Vita with standard Wi-fi connectivity, which will suit tighter budgets by retailing at around £155.

In conclusion, the latest Sony offering is certainly an intriguing little console. It is impossible to tell how well it will be recieved at launch, but with promises of Social Gaming functions and Augmented Reality gaming on top of the main console features, the PS Vita promises to provide gamers with: "An experience you need to see - and feel - to believe..." [Jack Tretton, Sony America CEO]

E3 2011: Nintendo Unveils Portable Wii U controller...

'Innovation' was certainly the watchword for Nintendo at this year's E3 conference. As well as giving us the lowdown on several new 3DS titles, including Mario Kart 3D, Kid Icarus: Uprising, Cave Story 3D, Tekken 3D, amongst others, Nintendo proudly unveiled their plans for a brand new home console, known as the Wii U. (previously called the 'Wii 2').

It might seem odd to be talking about a home console on a blogsite which is usually so devoted to handheld gaming, but the Wii U comes with an extra little twist - The Wii U controller is actually a portable gaming tablet, which allows gamers to play their Wii U games without the need for a TV screen!

The controller features a 6.2 inch touchscreen, dual circle pads, control pad, D-pad, left and right shoulder buttons and a stylus. It also features a gyroscopic sensor, microphone and drawing pad functionality, which are all found on the standard portable Nintendo handhelds such as the DS lite or 3DS.

 The Wii U controller also allows you to play a special library of games specifically included on the controller itself, meaning that people can continue to game whilst in bed, or when watching a TV programme, or anywhere else in the home you can think of. In fact, the only thing that marks the Wii U controller out from another portable gaming device is that it cannot be used outside the home.

However, the CEO and President of Nintendo America, Reggie Fils-Aime, was quick to explain that the Wii U should not be thought of as another portable console like the Nintendo DS or 3DS. Instead, the controller will work in conjunction with the Wii U console and will wirelessly interact with the main console (shown above).

The controller can also be used to enhance standard Wii U gameplay by acting as a magnifying glass. Can't see the enemy when trying to shoot if playing on your TV screen? No problem. Hold the Wii U controller over the TV screen and you'll get a close-up image of your opponent(s) on your controller instead.

Tilt or move the Wii U controller, and you will get a birdseye view of your in-game environments, meaning that you can see your targets, areas or goals (such as the Green in a game of  golf) or other players much more easily than before.

The Wii U controller will also allow you to share Internet information and make video calls to friends and family, providing what Nintendo called: " A tailor-made gaming experience"

It seems as though Nintendo have taken the most popular elements of the Wii and the best elements of the Nintendo 3DS and mixed them together to create something which, according to Fils-Aime is a "Unique, Unifying Utopia," which helps to create "deeper gameplay action".

The similarity between the new Wii U and the Nintendo 3DS consoles were also mentioned during the conference, with the two Wii U game titles - Super Smash Bros Brawl and Lego City Stories simultaneously being announced for the 3DS system as well.

Furthermore, there was talk of a game which would use inter-compatibility between the 3DS and the Wii U sometime in the future, but Nintendo refused to go into details about this at this point, preferring  to emphasise how both consoles were set to revolutionise the current gaming market instead.

The Wii U controller creates an interesting gaming hybrid and brings the gap between home console gaming and handheld gaming closer than ever before.

There are very few details about software for the new console at the moment, which is set to debut some time in 2012. Watch this Space!

Nintendo 3DS eShop and Internet Browser launch: What Can We Expect From Day One?

Nintendo have now released details of the new Software Update that will launch the much-anticipated 3DS eShop and Internet Browser.

The update launches in North America from 6pm tonight, and will become available in Europe from tomorrow. The update promises to equip the Nintendo 3DS with many new features. According to Nintendo, the Software Update will add the following features and enhancements:

• The Nintendo eShop:

The eShop will allow users to download a variety of free and purchasable games and items directly onto their Nintendo 3DS.

Users will also be able to view video trailers, screenshots and background information on the latest 3DS games.

This function will replace the Limited-Time 3D Video which was provided in the last system update.

• Internet Browser:

Users can now browse the web on the Nintendo 3DS. This function also supports Spotpass Updates via thousands of free wi-fi hotspots across Europe, and includes software to allow any future updates to be downloaded automatically.

• System Transfer:

This piece of software allows users to transfer saved game data from older Nintendo handheld consoles directly onto their 3DS.

• Free Game Offer:

To celebrate the new enhancements, Nintendo are offering a free download of 3D Classics Excitebike, which will be available to all existing 3DS customers until the 7th of July 2011.

• Ridge Racer Compatibility Issues:

Nintendo have warned that users of the Ridge Racer 3D game might experience gameplay disruptions once they have installed the software update, but they also promise that a new patch will be made available soon in order to rectify this problem.

All in all, it sounds like the new update will offer some interesting enhancements to this intriguing console.

Nothing has been said about the possibility of 3D films or TV on the 3DS yet (an original promise made by Nintendo prior to the launch of the 3DS in March this year,) but further details about the eShop and browser are expected at E3 2011, which begins in Los Angeles tomorrow. Be sure to check in with Mini Gamers for all the E3 news throughout the three-day conference.

Spongebob Squigglepants 3D Review: The Craziest 3DS Game Yet!

It's Spongebob in a whole new perspective. This zany offering from the braniacs at THQ sees gamers compete in over 100 Spongebob related mini-games.

Players must use the 3DS stylus to flick, draw, drag and tap their way through various tasks. This game also uses the gyroscopic sensors of the Nintendo 3DS, so some games even require you to shake or tilt the console as well.

Players must successfully complete a chain of twenty consecutive games in each of the six mini-game catergories in order to unlock the next group. The mini-games vary from catching a hamburger in your hand, or helping a Plankton to escape a fly-swatter; to stopping a rock from crushing Sqidward.

All the games are introduced via a group of stunning live-action (but non-3D) videos by Captain Patchy. These videos can then be unlocked and replayed at a later date.

The 3D graphics are stunning in most of the mini-games, but unfortunately the effect does seem lost in certain sections such as the 'Abstract' collection of mini-games. Worst still, this game also contains some 2D games, which seems like a big waste on the 3DS system.

One of our favourite sections of the game is the Art Studio. This allows players to draw or paint their own scenes, or use character stamps to create a scene. There is also a digital colouring book for younger gamers.

Unfortunately, although the Art Studio control pad is shown in 3D, the pictures are always displayed on the 3DS touch-screen, which means that they can only be viewed in 2D. Furthermore, there is only space to save a single picture on the 3DS console, so if you create new artwork, you will lose your previous creations, which is a tad disappointing.

This is an interesting title, and quite possibly the most creative 3DS game to date. The 3D mini-games look fantastic. However, the game still contains a lot of 2D elements, which does seem to sour the experience a little.

 This game is unlikely to appeal to hardcore gamers, but it will appeal to both Spongebob and Rhythm Paradise fans alike. The mini-games will definitely help to fill in a spare five minutes at the office or on the bus, and the colouring elements will appeal to younger gamers. It would have been nicer to see a greater use of 3D in the 3DS version though, but the use of the gyroscopic sensor is a very good feature.  Overall rating: 7/10.

Spongebob Squigglepants is also available on the Nintendo Wii (uDraw) and Nintendo DS/DSi Systems.

PSN Store and Quriocity Services Back By Friday?

It has been a long and frustrating few months for owners of Sony's PSP consoles in the wake of the malicious security breach which meant the closure of all major Playstation online services, but Sony are now insisting that full Playstation Network Store and Quriocity services will be restored by the end of the week.

Sony has already provided a special System Update (version 6.39), which means that all existing PSN and Quriocity customers will be forced to update their passwords and confirm their credit card details before being allowed back into the online store and other services.

This is just one of a number of new security measures which has been implemented since the cyber attack, which is thought to have placed 77 million Playstation users' personal information at risk, and cost Sony almost £105 million in revenue.

Sony also promises that it will be providing a full Welcome Back package to all of its existing users in the near future. The package has now been unveiled and will attempt to offer 'something for everyone', including:

• A selection of free  movie rentals for all PlayStation Network customers over the course of one weekend.
• Non-PlayStation Plus subscribers will get a free, 30-day PlayStation Plus membership.
• Existing PlayStation Plus members will get 30 extra days free.
• Music Unlimited Premium/Basic subscribers will get free access for 30 days, plus time lost.
• PlayStation Home will offer 100 virtual items.

Mini Gamers is very pleased to hear that Sony's digital store will soon be open for business, however, the cyber attack and the delay in restoring its services may have caused untold damage to Sony's reputation and any profits that the company  might generate in the future. Only time will tell whether Sony will be able to fully recover from this unforeseen turn of events.

Is Professor Layton and The Specter's Flute Coming To Europe At Last?

*THIS POST HAS SINCE BEEN UPDATED* To read the update, including new trailer info, please click HERE.

Amongst all the excitement about Professor Layton and the Mask of Miracle appearing on the 3DS some time later this year, recent questions have emerged surrounding the possible European release of the fourth Professor Layton game - Professor Layton and the Specter's Flute.

Chronologically, Professor Layton and the Mask of Miracle is actually the fifth Professor Layton game, so it makes little sense that this title would debut in Europe BEFORE the fourth game in the series, prompting many fans to ask why nothing had been mentioned of Professor Layton and the Specter's Flute outside of Japan.

Now, it seems as though there might be a glimmer of hope for die-hard European Professor Layton fans, as the series developers Level 5 inc have recently filed some important paperwork, which requests an American Tradmark for a game called Professor Layton and the Last Spectre.

For those of you who don't know, Professor Layton and the Specter's Flute is the first of three 'prequel' games in the Professor Layton series, which shows how young Luke Triton becomes the Professor's apprentice.

According to gaming website, CVG.com the trademark request is for a Nintendo DS/DSi game only, which seems to answer the question of whether Professor Layton and the Specter's Flute would also make its debut on the 3DS system.

Although there are no specifics for either an American or UK release date at this time, the trademark request definitely shows that a game is at least being considered for the Western gaming market, and is a major breakthough for Professor Layton enthusiasts, who were concerned that the fourth game in the series would never be released in Europe at all.

The subtitled teaser trailer below shows some of the major cutscenes from the fourth game. It is sure to be spectacular and is well worth a look:

Further details of the game are now expected at E3, which will take place in Los Angeles between the 7th and 9th of June 2011. Be sure to check in with the Mini Gamers blogsite for all the news from the annual E3 conference as it happens.

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.

Nintendo 3DS News: 3DS eShop and Internet Browser launches June 7th 2011 in Europe?

Nintendo have finally provided a date for the 3DS system update which will contain the much-anticipated 3DS Internet Browser and eShop functions.

The Browser and eShop were supposed to launch at the end of May this year in all regions via a special systems update, but this was subsequently delayed due to the Japanese Tsunami Crisis and the economic downfall that followed.

Now a notice on the Official 3DS website suggests that the systems update will be available in North America from the evening of the 6th of June 2011, one day before Nintendo is due to reveal its 2012 line-up at E3. 

The release date for the Internet Browser and eShop outside of North America, including Europe is expected to be the 7th of June 2011, although this has yet to be confirmed by Nintendo itself.

We are very excited about the new Nintendo 3DS eShop and the Internet Browser, as both of these two software additions will  greatly increase the functionality of an already superb console even more. Be sure to check in with the Mini Gamers blogsite for more news on this topic as it develops.

Happy Birthday, Mini Gamers!

The Mini Gamers blogsite turns one year old today! It seems impossible to believe that this time last year the Mini Gamers team were sat in front of a computer trying to decide what the very first blog post should be. Now just one year (and 110 posts) later, we have a readership of over 11,000 people worldwide.

The reason Mini Gamers was created was to devote a space specifically for handheld gaming, as this had been sorely neglected by many other website in favour of articles and game reviews for major consoles like The Wii, Xbox 360 and PS3.

Of course, Mini Gamers also depends on its readers and followers for ideas and support. Mini Gamers is very interested in hearing what the gaming community thinks and feels about gaming-related issues.

We also try and make the site as interactive as possible including Monthly Opinion Polls, a Suggestion Box, Comments Box and other features. If you haven't got involved so far, but would be interested in knowing more about how to do this, then please click HERE for more information. We'd be delighted to hear from you.

We'd like to take this opportunity to thank all of you who have visited the site over the past year. We hope that we can continue to bring you interesting articles, reviews, previews in the coming months.

Sony Starts PSN Restoration Process At Last. 'Welcome Back' Package Details NOT included...

Sony has today begun restoring access to its online Playstation Network and Quriocity services after a malicious security breach forced them to close down for over three weeks. PS3 users will be able to access the service from today. However, some areas of the PSP Playstation Store are still undergoing maintenance at present.

In an attempt for tighter security, PSN users will now be forced to update their account details before being allowed to access the services. PS3 users will automatically receive a system update that will do this for them.

Sony has also promised its customers a 'Welcome Back' package including some free game downloads and free one month membership to Playstation Plus, but there are no details of this at present. The details of the package are expected to be revealed soon. Further details can be obtained by clicking HERE.

This is terrific news for users of either Quriocity or the PSN store. We here at Mini Gamers are delighted with the news and can't wait to start using our PSP consoles again.

What about other gamers out there? Are you pleased that the services are now back online, or has the breach left you feeling unsure about using these Sony services?  Let us know what you think about this issue by leaving a comment in our comments box (at the bottom of each post). We'd love to hear your thoughts.