Here we go again…we have new promises from Sony. This time, Sony has released a statement regarding the much awaited PlayStation Network Card. I mentioned this in another post some time ago because I have been waiting a long time to find a way to be able to purchase games from the PlayStation Store. Right now, the only way is to use a credit card issued in the United States. More so, it has to be a regular credit card and not one of the prepaid variety. The PSN cards have been out in select places for a while now, namely U.S. Military bases.

If the news is to be believed, we are going to be able to get our hands on some PSN cards this September. I kind of like the announcement because they are making it more accessible now. Reports say that PS3 fan boys will be able to buy PSN cards from 7-11, RiteAid, and Blockbuster stores. Here’s the announcement from the PlayStation site itself:

Use your PlayStation®Network card to purchase and download exclusive games, videos and more for your PLAYSTATION®3 and PlayStation® Portable systems!
Visit your local Pamida, Meijer and Speedway stores to pick up the PSN® card.
Retailers joining in September: Blockbuster, 7-Eleven and Riteaid
We’ll be adding more PLAYSTATION® Network Card retailers soon. Check here for the latest updates.

Only two more days and it will be September. Do you think we’ll actually get some PSN cards?

It seems that more and more people across the world are trying to regulate “violent” video games these days. According to DW-World:

Germany’s efforts to regulate the classification and sale of violent video games has brought a number of the country’s authorities together to work on a cohesive set of legislations.
Violent computer games continue to spark controversy all over the world and prompt responses by governments and organizations intended to protect youthful players.

Legislation recently passed in Germany in July, for example, makes it easier to put such games on the banned list following the introduction of a rating index.

Yet what does it all really mean? Who sets the age recommendations for “normal” games? In Germany, at least, these roles have been in flux of late.

Games on Germany’s banned list cannot be sold publicly. That includes any advertising and sales through mail order. The decision to flag a game is made by the Federal Department for Media Harmful to Young Persons (BPjM). Since the July 1 revision of the Protection of Minors Act, the agency has been granted even more authority.

Well, what can I say? It sounds stricter and scarier to me! Imagine that there is a banned list that you cannot buy off the shelf! Then again, I suppose that those who really want to buy these games will always find a way. It just might work for the authorities. What do you think?

I love guarantees. At the same time I hate them. I love them when they are met all the time but I hate hearing guarantees when I know that the track record of the party giving the guarantee is far from unblemished in this regard. Now, I love Sony, you know I do BUT I am not sure about their guarantees. Remember the PlayStation3 and how long it took them to actually get it out in the market?

Anyway, for what it’s worth, Sony has guaranteed the release of the PlayStation Home this year. The guarantee was made at the Games Convention in Liepzig. If you are an avid Sony fan, you would know that they are sending out invites to beta testers for Home. (No, I haven’t got mine.) So anyhow, we have all been waiting for the release of Home for about 2 years now, I think. Sony has finally said something definitive. According to Martin Van Der Meulen, a producer for Home, it should out by the end of the year. More than that, he said that Home will be free – forever.

Now these are pretty big promises. I am not complaining. As I said, I love guarantees. I just really hope that Sony will live up to these promises and not announce another delay later on this year.

Another thing about Home – they are going to have spaces integrated specially for games. For example, there will be a space for Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune. It will be really interesting to see how this will work out.

The Leipzig Games Convention was held this past week and being the biggest event in the gaming world, it definitely held a lot of surprises for gaming enthusiasts. For sure, mentioning all of the things that happened over there would be too much for a single post so for now, let us focus on the “Sony extravaganza,” as many people call it.

What did Sony have to say? Geoff Duncan at Digital Trends writes about the newly unveiled version of the PSP.

First up, the latest update to Sony’s PlayStation Portable (PSP) line is the PSP-3000, the new units features a new 4.3-inch LCD display with a wider color gamut and anti-reflection technology to improve outdoor playability, along with a built-in microphone for use with Skype and other communications tools. Other key specs remain unchanged: 64 MB of memory, built-in stereo speakers, 802.11b Wi-Fi, USB 2.0, a Memory Stick Duo slot, analog video output, and a read-only UMD drive. The unit retains the form factor of the earlier PSP-2000 units, and will be available block, white, and silver variations, as well as sold in bundles with memory cards, games, and other content. The PSP-3000 should ship in October; base units will sell for $169.99, while bundles with games and movies (like Ratchet & Clank and the film National Treasure 2) will sell for around $199.

The price is not really different from the current version of the PSP so I guess it’s not so bad. However, I don’t really see any reason to ditch my current one for the PSP 300 – do you?

The newest installment in the football video game franchise Madden seems to have impressed countless people. The Madden NFL Franchise has been around for a couple of decades and has sold 70 million copies worldwide. The newest addition to the franchise, Madden NFL 09, thus has a LOT to live up to. With all the hype and the great expectations of more discerning video gamers, Madden NFL 09 has to be all that everyone has hoped for. And is it?

Apparently, yes. Reviews from all over the Internet are pointing to one thing: Madden NFL 09 is a huge success. From the one who have only had the chance to play the demo from the PlayStation Store (that’s me!) to those who have actually played the full game, it seems that they all agree that the game is moving closer towards perfection.

The game is available for different gaming consoles and also comes in “normal” and “special edition.” The standalone video game can cost anywhere from $39.99 to $59.99, depending on the platform. The special edition version, dubbed the “Madden NFL 09 20th Anniversary Collector’s Edition” ships at $89.99. What do you get from the latter? “The latest pro football simulation, a copy of the all-new “NFL Head Coach 09″ game (the only way to buy the game this year) and hours of DVD-like bonus materials for the ultimate fan.”

Naturally, I want a copy of the special edition but last time I checked – last night – I couldn’t find any copies. I am sure some will resurface soon enough but will the price be the same?

Who does not? Ever since this news about Sony sending invites to people to participate in the testing program for the PlayStation Home came out, I have been on the edge of my seat. I first saw the announcement of the latest testing at the PlayStation Blog:

Later today, the PLAYSTATION Store will be updated with a PlayStation Home theme. By downloading the theme, users are submitting an application to join the PlayStation Home Beta test community. We will be using a variety of criteria including activity on the PLAYSTATION Network to determine eligibility for the Beta community. Existing beta testers have automatically qualified to be part of the expanded beta.

We’re really excited about this milestone and want our most loyal fans to be a part of the evolution of PlayStation Home.

In Europe, SCEE is also beginning their expanded closed beta, directly targeting consumers who have been most active on PLAYSTATION Network and PLAYSTATION Store. SCEE will be in email contact with their PSN audience very shortly.

Let us know what you think.

This was posted on the 7th of August. A lot of bloggers have already created a buzz around this piece of news and the first thing I did after finding out about it was to download the Home theme. This is how you send in an application to become a beta tester. Since then I have been waiting to receive an e-mail invite and I have been checking my e-mail A LOT – to no avail.

I am still hoping, though. Anyone out there who has received the e-mail?

The Wii has always had this image of being family friendly. People get together for good clean fun without the worry of having too much violence, blood, gore, sex, and what have you. Come to think of it, you always hear about people going haywire about games on the PlayStation (2 or 3, it is the same) and the Xbox 360 (and the old Xbox) but you do not hear people creating such a huge fuss about Wii games. How can you? With games such as Wii Sports and Cooking Mama, you simply cannot find anything to complain about!

Then again, change is the only constant thing in this life. And apparently, Nintendo is not immune to changing. They are set to release what is being dubbed as the most violent game ever. Called MadWorld, the game is supposed to “revolved around the themes of brutality and exhilaration.”

The descriptions of the game that have been going around are really stirring things up. Parents and anti-violence groups are already making some noise about it. Some are saying that the game should not be released at all while others are just asking for a ban in their country.

I am not really that big on excessive and senseless violence in video games BUT this kind of reaction is not really logical in my mind. The only thing I can think of is that NO ONE is forced to buy any game. If a game is dubbed as violent then do not buy it! No one forces your children to play these games, right?

Londoners who love to eat sushi and play video games are being treated to the best combination ever – the chance to play a cooking game while eating at their favorite sushi bar. What else can they ask for? This set up was announced a couple of months ago and was featured by Gamespot UK:

UK restaurant chain Yo! Sushi is going to be letting gamers play with virtual Japanese food while they eat the real thing. The eateries will have Nintendo DS portables loaded with 505 Games’ Cooking Mama 2: Dinner With Friends placed around the sushi-delivering conveyor belts for the amusement of diners.

The Yo! Sushi branches in London’s Farringdon Road and Poland Street will be the first to get the game on April 14, and the rest of the restaurants will be getting theirs “over the coming months.” Sushi lovers will be able to play solo, or against other diners by challenging them to a cook-off.

I can already imagine some people scoffing at this idea but even though I have not had the chance to play the game whilst eating my sushi, I am sure that the idea will be a hit. We all know how popular casual gaming is becoming and though I don’t know if we can classify Cooking Mama as a casual game, the idea of playing with your friends – and perhaps strangers – at a sushi bar is definitely interesting. I have been trying to get the feedback of people who have actually been to these sushi bars in London but I have been drawing zero as of yet. Anyone know anything?