Tag: PlayStation Vita

This Week’s Videogame Releases

It’s a big week for Xbox 360 racing fans with the release of Forza Horizon, the latest installment in Microsoft’s venerable driving-game series. If shooting is more your bag then Medal of Honor: Warfighter should keep you happy. PlayStation Vita owners have a pair of new titles for great gaming on the go: Street Fighter X Tekken and Super Monkey Ball: Banana Splitz. Lastly, The Unfinished Swan is available for all PlayStation Network members this week. I really, really hope some of you guys and gals give this game a shot. It’s wonderfully different.

Any of you picking up new games this week?

This Week’s Videogame Releases

It’s a pretty solid week for new games. Leading the way is Doom III BFG, edition. If you don’t know much about this rerelease then be sure to watch Justin’s interview above. James Bond fans will want to get ready for the upcoming Skyfall with 007 Legends. Any Vita owners out there looking for Halloween frights? If so then Silent Hill: Book of Memories will scare you good. Looking for a quirky Japanese RPG with a distinct art style? Mugen Souls is just what the doctor ordered. Lastly, if you’re a PlayStation Plus member then be sure to take advantage of early access to The Unfinished Swan. It’s such a beautiful and unique game.

Any of you picking up new games this week?

Sony Computer Entertainment America Sues Kevin Butler

Millions of gamers have been entertained by fictitious Sony executive Kevin Butler. The character has been used in dozens of fantastic PlayStation commercials and viral videos. It looks like the hilarious reign of Butler is over and will end in a legal squabble. Sony Computer Entertainment America has filed suit against Bridgestone Americas and Wildcat Creek, Inc. The president of Wildcat Creek is Jerry Lambert, the actor that portrays Kevin Butler.

The lawsuit is over a series of Bridgestone commercials. Lambert can be seen in the commercials and promotional materials, some of which feature the Nintendo Wii. Obviously Sony isn’t keen on having someone that is associated with its console seen with a competing system. VentureBeat received the following statement from Sony Computer Entertainment America’s Dan Race:

Sony Computer Entertainment America filed a lawsuit against Bridgestone and Wildcat Creek, Inc. on September 11. The claims are based on violations of the Lanham Act, misappropriation, breach of contract and tortious interference with a contractual relationship. We invested significant resources in bringing the Kevin Butler character to life and he’s become an iconic personality directly associated with PlayStation products over the years. Use of the Kevin Butler character to sell products other than those from PlayStation misappropriates Sony’s intellectual property, creates confusion in the market, and causes damage to Sony.

It will be interesting to see how this pans out. I will guess that Bridgestone and Wildcat Creek will claim that Lambert is playing a character that has nothing to do with Kevin Butler. Sony will claim that some consumers will be confused by Lambert appearing in commercials that use the Nintendo Wii as a prize; the argument is that many people only know Lambert as Kevin Butler and are not familiar with his other roles. Without knowing the details of Lambert’s contract and what kind of non-compete clauses in contains, it’s impossible to say (but it’s fun to speculate).

What do you think of Sony vs. Bridgestone and Wildcat Creek? On a surface level, do you think Sony has a case? Will you miss Kevin Butler hocking PlayStation goods?

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Spend $100 on PlayStation Network, Get $20 Voucher

Sony is having a nifty October promotion. If you spend $100 on PlayStation Network then you’ll get a $20 voucher for future PSN purchases. It doesn’t matter if you’re buying games, movies, TV shows, etc. As long as you hit $100 then you’ll get the $20 voucher. Additional details can be found here.

The deal is pretty sweet, especially if you’re a PlayStation Plus member that digs digital downloads. Remember, those cats get an extra 10 percent off select “Day 1 Digital” games.

Any of you planning to take advantage of Sony’s October promo?

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This Week’s Videogame Releases

A trio of interesting games hits store shelves this week. Leading the way is Resident Evil 6, which has been met with mixed reviews. Some critics are loving the game while others are kind of “meh” on it. It’s almost time for NBA basketball! To help you get ready for some NBA action, which by the way is fantastic, is NBA 2K13. The PlayStation Vita gets the next installment of one of the most underrated and under-appreciated games this console generation in New Little King’s Story. Hopefully Vita fans give this game some love.

Any of you picking up new games this week?

Coffee Talk #521: Is a 10% Digital Discount Enough?

Sony Computer Entertainment released more details on its “Day 1 Digital” initiative. Aside from having triple-A games available digitally on the same day the boxed copies hit store shelves, Sony is giving PlayStation Plus members a 10-percent discount on select digital versions. So a $59.99 game will run PlayStation Plus members $53.99 if they pre-order or buy the game during the first week of its availability. My question for you today is this: Is that enough of a discount to make you buy digitally?

Welcome to Coffee Talk! Let’s start off the day by discussing whatever is on your (nerd chic) mind. Every morning I’ll kick off a discussion and I’m counting on you to participate in it. If you’re not feelin’ my topic, feel free to start a chat with your fellow readers and see where it takes you. Whether you’re talking about videogames, getting excited for the U.S. presidential debates, Lady Gaga showing off her “fat” body, or Boone Logan’s unfortunate meltdown, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

Sony Computer Entertainment released more details on its “Day 1 Digital” initiative. Aside from having triple-A games available digitally on the same day boxed copies hit store shelves, Sony is giving PlayStation Plus members a 10-percent discount on select digital versions. So a $59.99 game will run PlayStation Plus members $53.99 if they pre-order or buy the game during the first week of its availability. My question for you today is this: Is that enough of a discount to make you buy digitally?

In the small but lovely RPad.TV universe, I’m in the minority — I’m all about digital media. Most of you seem to prefer physical copies of games for various reasons. Would saving a little bit of money change your purchasing habits? Or would you forego the discount in favor of the flexibility physical discs offer? Please leave a comment and let me know if Sony’s Day 1 Digital initiative will change the way you buy PlayStation games!

This Week’s Videogame Releases

It’s a pretty loaded week for videogames! Fans of fighting and scantily-clad women will want to pick up Dead or Alive 5. If football is more your thing then FIFA 13 — available on pretty much every platform known to man — will do you good. Pro Evolution Soccer 13 doesn’t have the broad availability of its competitor, but many football fans I know think its the better series. Do you love birds and hate pigs? If so then Angry Birds Trilogy should be right up your alley. A few of my writer friends were surprised by The Testament of Sherlock Holmes. Wipeout 3 should satisfy fans of high-speed racing. I usually don’t include PC games on this list, but World of Warcraft: Mists of Panderia is simply too big to ignore.

Any of you picking up new games this week?

PlayStation Plus Hits Vita in November 2012

At Tokyo Game Show 2012, Sony Computer Entertainment announced that the PlayStation Plus premium service will be available for PlayStation Vita. The service will be cross-platform, so existing PlayStation Plus members will be able to enjoy the benefits on their PS3 and Vita. Only one subscription is required for both or either platforms. Now it’s time for some press-release bullet-points (get excited!) that outline the benefits of Plus:

  • Games: Members will be able to play the full versions of designated content for PS Vita available on PlayStation Store as long as membership is effective, at no extra cost. The lineup of games that will be offered and other details will be announced at a later date.
  • Discounts: Members will have access to exclusive discounts on designated content for PS Vita.
  • Online Game Save: Members will automatically or manually be able to upload game save data files for compatible games to Online Game Save Storage with 1GB of space on the PlayStation Network.
  • Automatic content downloads and updates: PS Vita will automatically download designated game demos and game updates, and also download system software updates. PS Vita will automatically start up to download content and will enter standby mode after the download has completed.
  • Automatic Trophy sync: PS Vita will automatically start up at a designated time to sync Trophy information with PlayStation Network servers.

While the Vita is an impressive piece of hardware, the device has faced some difficulties. Many consumers are satisfied with the gaming experiences offered by their Android or iOS devices. Compounding matters is a lack of content for the device, which some argue is real and others argue is perceived. Either way, PlayStation Plus bolsters the Vita’s content offerings and capabilities. It’s a smart move that should inject some life into a platform that needs it. It makes the Vita more attractive to PS3 owners that are Plus members and don’t have a Vita, while it gives gamers that only own a Vita some outstanding benefits.

Does PlayStation Plus for Vita change your mind about Sony’s portable console?

PlayStation Vita System Software 1.80 Available Today

PlayStation Vita owners will be treated to a hefty system update (1.80) today. The new system software includes numerous UI enhancements, as well as improvements to the web browser and maps software. As for games, PSone Classics will now be playable on the Vita. These titles will go out on a rolling basis that differs from territory to territory. The PlayStation Blog lists the following PSone Classics as playable on Vita in North America today:

  • Arc the Lad
  • Cool Boarders 2
  • Final Fantasy VII
  • Hot Shots Golf 2
  • Jet Moto
  • Syphon Filter
  • Tomb Raider
  • Twisted Metal 2
  • Wild Arms

MonkeyPaw games sent out its own list of PSone Classics playable on Vita, but did not specify regional availability:

  • Alundra
  • Vanguard Bandits
  • Arc the Lad
  • Arc the Lad II
  • Tomba!

As a JRPG mark, I’m psyched to see these games available for Vita. It makes me want to take a trans-Pacific flight to play them (so that I can claim that the games aren’t taking me away from work that I can get paid for).

Anyway, check out the video below to see all the improvements in Vita system software update 1.80. If you haven’t already picked up a Vita, do any of these additions make you more likely to buy one?

This Week’s Videogame Releases

Are you ready for some football?!? Madden NFL 13 comes out this week, which is always a huge deal in North America. If you’d rather fight it out in the unfriendly skies then Damage Inc. Pacific Squadron WWII might be your game. It’s a particularly sweet week for PlayStation 3 owners, with God of War Saga, inFamous Collection, and Journey: Collector’s Edition to choose from.

Any of you picking up new games this week?