Cycling with your PSP is becoming quite popular, even more so with a new modification to the Trixter line of X-bikes. Apparently, a PSP can be attached to the bike itself, enabling catered exercise programs to reach your eyes as well as your ears, for your grueling workout. We suppose it’s mildly interesting, though the initiative of infusing exercise with gaming is starting to get a little ridiculous. Honestly, we’re still holding out for a model of the X-bike series that allows us to play games while the bike works its wonderful magic on our motionless bodies. Playing games while burning fat … a lovely combination. Come on, make it happen Trixter.

[Via Tech Digest]

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Filed under: Imports

The Japanese PS Store has updated far more frequently than America’s. Their selection of downloadable PS1 titles (which still requires a PS3 system) has expanded yet again, with a strong emphasis on SNK’s classic fighters:

Guilty Gear
King of Fighters ‘95
King of Fighters ‘96
King of Fighters ‘97
Little Princess: Maru Oukoku no Ningyou Hime 2
Real Bout Garou Densetsu Special: Dominated Mind
Samurai Spirits: Kenkaku Yubinan Pack
Septentrion
Spectral Force 2
Spectral Tower

There’s also a free offering on the Store, a demo of Suna no Embrace XI, also known as Devil Dice. While Japanese gamers are enjoying frequent updates to the retro catalog, American gamers haven’t had anything new since the release of Wipeout in March. Of course, that’s far better than the sparse availability of titles for Europeans: zero. Hopefully, with the new PSP store arriving this Fall, we’ll have better access to these PlayStation classics.

[Via Siliconera]

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Filed under: Interviews, Final Fantasy

In an interview with Degenki, Final Fantasy Dissidia producer Tetsuya Nomura explained why Dissidia is heading to PSP instead of other more popular systems (such as the PS2). A translation from PSPHyper shows the reasoning: “PSP was chosen as the platform due to it’s ad-hoc mode and the fact that people generally don’t like split screen gaming. Nomura said that with its large install base, the PS2 maybe the natural choice but it also means that multiplayer modes has to be played on split screen, which reduce the fun factor by half.”

While it’s true that PSP has ad-hoc support, let’s hope that the development team at Square Enix doesn’t forget that it also has Infrastructure as well. Although Dissidia seems like a perfect candidate for online play, Capcom’s Monster Hunter series shows that online play isn’t a significant concern for Japanese developers and gamers.

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I’ve taken my hyperactive editing style a step further! Hope you’ll enjoy it!If you want to download the audio from this video, go to http://www11.nrk.no/urort/user/?id=36781It’s a norwegian page where I uploaded some of my music. (Lytt = Listen to, Last ned = Download)Oh shit, I forgot to put this in the video, and now it’s too late to change it:Thanks to my friend Mattis for letting me borrow the drum kit. Also thanks to the person letting me use her piano, but she didn’t want her name here And now; to you people saying I’m ripping off Michel Gondry: I’ve seen his video with the drumkit called “Drumb and Drumber”. It’s here on youtube somewhere. His video and my video are different because of one very important detail: Gondy filmed himself doing drumming sequences and LOOPED them, while I hit each drum and piano chord seperately and edited them together. This is a very big difference if you have any idea about video editing. Actually, there is a short sequence of 5 sec where he does cut the beat, but I didn’t notice this until recently, which makes me an idiot. But I still don’t think it’s a rip off, only similar. SO one question to you guys: If I write a song which includes the words “love” and “tight”, am I ripping off The Beatles?? I met Michel Gondry in Milan, Italy and asked him. He didn’t really give me a clear answer, but it seemed like he thought so. Either that or he didn’t like my clothes. Lol.

Author: lassegg
Keywords: amateur lasse gjertsen drumkit drums piano music norsk norwegian lassegg hyperactive editing ass and titties
Added: November 7, 2006

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Filed under: News, Downloads

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Filed under: Fan Stuff

Handheld gaming has a dedicated fan base, as those that frequent our very own site can attest. When the allure of new releases wears its welcome, it can be interesting to scour the web for sites that cater to very specific game tastes. In case you missed our recommendation for these game sites earlier, Pocket Gamer reminds you of gems like Beyond Loco, which caters to everything LocoRoco, offering wallpaper, music and even themed demos. Dark Alex also brings a unique flavor of PSP homebrew for those daring enough to visit. Something new and for the slightly older crowd that welcomes a trip down memory lane, there’s even the HandHeld Museum where you can revisit handheld gaming’s finest. The included pictures of box art should jog a few memories, if the title alone isn’t enough. We can’t be the only ones to remember those Galoob titles, can we?

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Filed under: Metal Gear: Portable Ops

In celebration of Metal Gear’s 20th anniversary, Konami is planning to release every PlayStation Metal Gear Solid title in presumably new, special packaging, IGN reports. Metal Gear Solid for PlayStation will be priced 1500 yen, Metal Gear Solid 2 Sons of Liberty for PS2 will be 1800 yen, Metal Gear Solid 3 Snake Eater for PS2 will be 2800 yen, and Metal Gear Solid Portable Ops for PSP will be 2800 yen. A package containing all of these hits will also be available for 6900 yen.

Unless these re-releases come with some significant additions, we find it unlikely that even hardcore Kojima fans will be throwing down their cash. Hopefully, this isn’t the end of the 20th Anniversary announcements … we’re hoping for a Portable Ops sequel (and some more info on the ever-elusive Metal Gear Solid 4 would be nice too).

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Filed under: Killzone

After countless months of waiting, the promised Killzone: Liberation patch is finally available for download. The patch includes an extension of the single-player campaign (Chapter 5), and new multiplayer options — such as the hotly anticipated Infrastructure mode, which allows players to compete against other PSP players around the globe.

The download is available through the game’s in-game menu and can also be found at the newly revamped killzone.com website.

[Thanks, Lucas]

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Filed under: How-tos

iTunes Plus is finally here. With iTunes Plus, users can download and purchase DRM-free music that can play on any device … including the PSP. The files come at an incredible 256kbps bitrate, something any audiophile will be able to appreciate. We took the newly released iTunes 7.2 for a spin to show you how to transfer the new iTunes Plus files to your PSP.

Because we’re cheap, we used this week’s Single of the Week. If Apple provides these as Plus files every week, PSP owners will have a place to visit every week to get free legal music to their systems. Not bad, huh? Check out Ooh La by The Kooks and grab it for free.

The plus icon next to the price indicates that this is an iTunes Plus song. Remember, traditional DRM-protected files will still not work on your PSP.

Once your purchase has completed, go to the “My Music” folder. There, you’ll see “iTunes.” Then, you’ll see the “iTunes Music” folder. Look for the artist that you downloaded.

Connect your PSP. Find the “MUSIC” folder.

Copy the song folder into the “MUSIC” directory, and voila~! Your iTunes Plus music is now sitting comfortably in your PSP system.

It’s not as automatic as using an iPod, but having more media options for PSP owners can only be a good thing. Here’s hoping that future versions iTunes will automatically detect non-iPod devices so we can transfer our songs more easily.

Mac users follow a relatively similar process. Check out Zack of all Trades to see how he connected his system and transfered iTunes Plus music to his PSP.

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Filed under: Imports

Ultimate Ghosts ‘n Goblins on PSP is one of those games that’s so hard, you hate yourself. Well, it looks like Capcom is going back to the game and making a few revisions — but will it make the game any easier? Not really, according to 1UP. The game will be more akin to the arcade original, limiting the number of continues that gamers have and restricting the ending of the game to those that beat the game … twice. However, players will be able to get the double jump from the get-go and play levels out of order. That’s a plus, no?

This interestingly tweaked version of the title will release in Japan this August. However, considering how specific these updates are, we find an American or European release to be highly unlikely.

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