Playstation Gamer UK

I know, there haven’t been any articles since my last edition of the Real Word but that’s because I’ve been sick and basically in hell. I’ve coughed up three lungs, my spleen and a kidney. But that said, I’m working hard to bring you this day late and , most likely, mediocre feature. So, to start off I have this to say, somebody’s going to get fired! For those of you who don’t know one of Sony’s big E3 announcements was basically confirmed yesterday by Sony when someone leaked the June edition of Qore. In this edition of Qore was a feature about, you guessed it, the worst kept secret on the internet, the PSP Go! This episode was obviously meant to go up after E3 as they talked about the past E3 and about the PSP Go! in full detail. What is somewhat ironic is that there was a fake security vibe to the whole think with Veronica Belmont being taken to a secret location with the PSP Go! in a case marked “top secret” but alas, all of the fake security in the world can’t stop someone from fucking up and releasing it early. Right, now then, we have a release window, the PSP Go! will be launching this fall. It will be fully digital, featuring a 16GB flash harddrive with room  for expansion. It’s screen is 3.8″ diagonally and it’s controls are slide down as was rumoured. What was not mentioned, however, was the rumoured touchscreen. And this somewhat confuses me. I’m not sure why no touchscreen has been included. Without one the functionality of the Go! will be almost nothing when the screen is slid down. It’s like having a phone that only works when the screen is slid up. Kind of pointless isn’t it? Yes. Returning to what it does have instead of what it doesn’t. The Go will also feature bluetooth support (because everything’s better with bluetooth) allowing you to use bluetooth headsets and to tether it to your cell phone (although I don’t know the point of that). The PSP Go! will be sold along side the PSP-3000 as a companion and not a replacement. The Go! is suppose to be an all digital “premium” version of the PSP (and the one that I’m interested in). So here we reach the big question, what’s the price? I have a pretty liberal approach to spending my money but if this thing’s going to be $250-$300 it’d better come with a free game or two. Sony is infamous for charging a price that is way too high and having it hurt them. Frankly, Sony has been doing what they want and I like what they want, they produce the best tech in my opinion and it’s a shame that their marketing and price has just cost them so much. So that’s enough for the blurb, I’ve already written too much, questions after the break.

A website recently asked, “Would you play a game based on the events of 9/11?” So I ask, would you?

In short, yes. I have very little remorse when it comes to these things. If they could create a good game based on the events of that day I would certainly play it. Would I get the chance to? No, because nobody’s going to touch that in the next thirty years, and if they do they won’t release it in North America. The Americans would flip out about that.

Do you think the inclusion of multiplayer will hurt the single player component of Uncharted 2: Among Thieves?

In short, no. And here’s why. Naughty Dog is a very good developer and I believe that they are going to be able to do both well. It basically comes down to developer faith. I believe that the single player could be better if there was no multiplayer but only marginally. Have you played Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune? Single player doesn’t get much better than that.

Do you think that Rockstar is going too far with GTA IV: The Ballad of Gay Tony?

I don’t know how they’re going to make it. Rockstar is infamous for pushing the the limits of what people can tolerate so I wouldn’t be surprised to see a full on gay sex orgy (kidding). No, I suspect that Rockstar is going tread very lightly on this one. But who knows really? And who cares? This is a PlayStation site and this is still an Xbox 360 “exclusive”, for now.

Does the image of Naked Snake/Big Boss mean that MGS5 is going to be another prequel? And will Kojima’s next project be the leaked PSP Go! Metal Gear Solid game?

Sort of. I think Kojima’s working on two Metal Gear games. Well, I don’t know if he’s working on both, but I predict two MGS games. One will be a prequel and one will be on PSP Go! I see two Metal Gear games in the work, a prequel focusing on Naked Snake and another game focusing on Raiden and I believe these games will be Sony console/handheld exclusives (boo hoo fanboys).

What do you think of the Zune HD?

Microsoft’s attempt at making an iPod touch/iPhone competitor. It will fail miserably. They will promise Xbox 360 functionality but will ultimately fail to deliver. Next.

What should Sony do with the PS3? In regards to price and slim

Well, I think they should announce a $50 price drop for the PS3 at E3 and then announce the PS3 Slim later in the year and have it launch for $50 less still (so $100 less than the current price). Simple answers really.

What do you think about the name of the new PixleJunk game? PixelJunk Shooter?

It’s stupid, I liked PixelJunk Elements better. The reason why they changed the name is supposedly because Elements doesn’t tell enough about the game but I don’t exactly remember Eden and Monsters telling a whole lot about what the game is. But, you know, it’s their decision, we just have to live with it.

Will a Valve announcement be at the Microsoft press conference?

Oh, most likely. Valve has already admitted a dislike of developing games for the PS3 so I expect that the Orange Box will be the last game to be released on the PS3. Frankly, they’re going to site sells numbers as the reason why but if you don’t release a crippled game it’ll sell more. I know that people love Valve’s games but I’ve played Half-Life 2, Episode 1, Episode 2 and Left 4 Dead and I’m unimpressed. So I don’t care what they do. And no, I’m not bitter at all.

So that’s all for this week’s edition of The Real Word. I’ll have another one next weekend, hopefully on time. Since my colleagues are still missing in action I’m going to be doing my best to cover the massive flow of news coming out of E3 this week. If you have any questions send them to my twitter or just leave them in the comments here. By the way, I don’t edit this feature, as the point of this is to get the raw thoughts that come from my mind!