The SIXAXIS 05.15.07
Posted by Andrew Mellick on 05.15.2007
Playstation home, a new Guitar Hero, Firmware updates, and all the goings-ons at Square Enix fill out this edition of The SIXAXIS!
Get up come on get down with SIXAXIS!
Another two weeks and back again. Yes I come and go as I please, as Editor Caleb Newby knows, thanks to a few "personal" photos I am untouchable!
In all seriousness we all know that April showers bring May head colds. For this reason I have been laid up with more fluid in my head than God ever intended. Still I persevere. So enjoy the show, straight from the Nyquil riddled mind of yours truly.
Sony News
Oh please God let there be a keytar!
In what is sure to amaze and annoy a whole new generation, eighties rock is back, this time on your PS2! Yes, the yahoos over at Activision have decided to take one of the most inventive games ever (Guitar Hero) and use it to bring back a generation of shame.
The eighties was a generation coming to terms with the surprising new information that sex with multiple partners in back alleys and shooting or snorting anything you find in a hazardous waste material bag was actually unhealthy for you. The result was a bastard musical movement of metal that was 1 part musical talent 15 parts drag queen.
Still Activision feels they can somehow put together a decent list of music; here is what we have so far:
- ‘I Wanna Rock' by Twisted Sister
- ‘I Ran' by Flock of Seagulls
- ‘Round and Round' as made famous by Ratt
- ‘I Want Candy' by Bow Wow Wow
- ‘Metal Health' by Quiet Riot
- ‘Holy Diver' by Dio
- ‘Heat Of The Moment' by Asia
While not a terrible list, I know of a few friends who will play ‘I want Candy' until I want to shove that plastic guitar up their ass. But still, this new set of songs will appeal to a whole group of people who may not be avid gamers so I guess that's good for the industry. (I know I'll be lamenting these words when I hear Air Supply for the 110th time.)
When will the PS3 start doing this?
Details on the next update for the PS3 (Firmware 2.0) have been "leaked" this past week. Nobody knows for sure when this update will occur but it is bringing a few much needed changes to the PS3, namely, the ability to access the system menu without having to quit your game a la Xbox 360.
Users
- You can now password-protect user accounts.
Settings
- [Dynamic Normalizer] has been added as an option under [Sound Settings].
- [Energy Saver] has been added as an option.
- [Equalizer] has been added as a feature under [Music Settings].
- [Full] has been added as an option for [DVD Wide Display] under [BD / DVD Settings].
- [Photo Settings] has been added as an option.
- [PS / PS2 Settings] has been added as an option.
- [RSS Channel Settings] has been added as an option.
- [Sample Rate] has been added to [Audio CD Import] under [Music Settings].
- [Rcrf}n Saver] has been expanded under [Display Settings].
- The method of selecting an output resolution has been changed in [Video Output Settings] under [Display Settings].
- [Theme Settings] has been added as an option.
- [Zero Unused Disk Space] has been added as an option under [System Settings] > [Format Utility].
Photo
- Additional slideshows have been added.
- [Photo Effects] have been added as a feature.
- Wallpaper feature has been added.
- [Zoom] has been added as a feature.
Music
- Additional visualizations have been added.
- CD information can now be entered.
- Three-speed fast forward and fast reverse has been added as a feature.
Video
- Files can now be played sequentially.
- Three-speed fast forward and fast reverse has been added as a feature.
- You can now select [Zoom] under [Screen Mode] when playing video files saved on the hard disk or storage media.*.
*An appropriate USB adapter (not included) is required to use storage media with some models.
Game
- Support for PLAYSTATION®3 format software titles has been expanded.
- XMB™ (XrossMediaBar) is now accessible during gameplay.
Network
- [RSS Channel] has been added as a feature.
Friends
- You can now have multiple chat sessions.
- You can now select an image to use as your Avatar from [Photo].
Other
- Date & Time is now shown when the PS button is pressed.
- File sorting has been changed.
- [Help] has been added as a feature.
- Playability status with the PS3™ system has changed for some Playstation® and Playstation®2 format titles. To check on the latest status, visit the search site for compatible titles.
- [Secure Delete] has been added as an option.
- Some PLAYSTATION®Network features have been revised.
Always good to see updates to the system, but still I want to know when my PS3 will make things float and babies cry?
New Final Fantasy games! Let us return to our base (parent's basement). HUZZAH!
In what is sure to arouse RPG enthusiasts (geeks) across the nation, Square Enix has released a list of the upcoming titles you can expect to see in the near future. The list covers all the systems but we'll only talk about the ones that matter here (i.e. Sony).
First we have The Last Remnant for the PS3. An RPG set in a fictional world with magical items and humanoid type creatures complete with blah blah blah. If you like this stuff fine, if not, than don't bother.
Next for the PSP we have Ivalice Alliance Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions. I tried putting this into a search engine but after 15 minutes of searching and some smoke I just got a message that said "Wouldn't you rather look at porn?" I'm guessing it has to do with alliances and tactics and a war based on lions.
Finally for the PS2 we have, and I kid you not, Final Fantasy XII: International Zodiac Job System. I tried searching this title too but my computer gave me a much more obscene message and shut off. So I'm guessing this time around you are looking for work. Perhaps you are a fortune teller and your goal is to rise in the ranks of late night infomercials and take down Miss Cleo.
Well there you have it, all the RPG action you crave (despise) with all the contempt I can deliver them to you in.
Stop licking yourself and bet!
Sony is in the works to release High Stakes on the Vegas Strip: Poker Edition on the PS3 for virtual download in the near future. The game is expected to utilize the Eyetoy and microphone to communicate with the other players online.
Finally! Now you can have all the fun of a casino without having to wear pants! Obviously there is no real money involved in this because that would be wrong, but I'm sure somebody will figure out a way to make the game more "interesting" real soon.
Mama, mama I'm comin' home
The good folks over at Playstation Universe got their hands on some screenshots of Playstation Home set to release in October.
You can see the images here!. This baby really looks like its shaping up. I'm very excited to see the finished product in the near future.
New Releases
PS3
MLB 07: The show: HDTV meets HGH.
PSP
Taito Legends Power Up: 25 games in one!
Innocent Life: A Futuristic Harvest Moon : If you thought farming was fun in the present, well…
PS2
Shrek The Third: It was originally titled What happened to my career?: The Mike Myers story.
Taito Legends Power Up: Multiplatformicity!
Survey of the week
So what do you think of a Guitar Hero based on eighties music?
Which PSone title would you like to see remade for the PS3?
Final Fantasy 7 42%
Metal Gear Solid 20%
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night 18%
Crash Bandicoot 7%
Resident Evil 2 14%
I was pretty sure I'd see this. I'm guess the vast majority of you who voted for FF7 did so in hopes to see a remake where Aerith lives. Sad, if the game is remade I'd imagine with next gen graphics they'd probably have her explode in a wave of blood just to see nerds cry.
The water cooler
I want a 2D Castlevania game for the PS3. It's that simple.
I had the opportunity to play through Symphony of the Night a few weeks ago and it has been bothering me ever since. I mean the game is an unequivocal classic. You'd be hard pressed to find a title that combines the same artistic style with addictive fun game play. I have never found myself so driven to find whatever it takes to get me up to the next platform or through that sealed door, just to say I covered the whole castle.
Fast forward to today and the Castlevania series is drowning in crap, crap that is 3D. Now don't get me wrong I'm not some old time gamer who can't appreciate progress. I love the games of today. I think there is still a lot of innovation and style out there to be discovered.
But a revamped 2D gaming experience with slick new graphics would be nothing short of breath taking if done properly. Just think of what kind of living background environment the PS3 could create!
On top of that, we could finally see a sequel for Alucard, one of gaming's greatest bad asses. He deserves a second shot at his pops. To see him slice through any evil resident of the dark castle with all the grace and power of the PS3 is sure to keep gamers on the edge of their seats.
Bottom line, let the Resident Evil 4, God of War and Devil May Cry type games have 3D. Bring back the side scrolling classic style of Castlevania and the world will thank you…with cold, hard cash.
Youtube Theatre
Here is a look at a game that is sure to rock the world, Brooktown High: Senior Year for the PSP. Coming May 20th!
Pictures for Ashish
I felt it was high time to bring some much needed culture to the gaming zone. So I've searched high and low to find the right image to capture the feel of such a vast subject.
What better way to express oneself then through the use of interpretive dance? Yes these gentlemen look to be regaling us with a tale of a warrior tribe they had encountered in battles past…perhaps one that liked to disco.
I don't want to cram pimpage
Damian checks in after spending time with some other game not for PS3. If you want to hear about Halo 3 click… here!
Theo is back with all the Animal Crossing doll...er...action figure news in Nintendophiles.
Jay Bryant takes a look at Spiderman 3 for the Wii.
It's over
I'm working on reviews for F.E.A.R. and MLB 07: The show. Look for them this week!
