SONY will make PSP games available download

UMD to be an option for some upcoming games.

August 22, 2008 - Playing copycat to its fat console counterpart, PSP will soon see a few of its major releases available as a download in addition to a UMD. Sony announced today that two of its upcoming Japanese games will be available both through standard retail channels and via digital download.

Yuusha no Kuse ni Namaikida or2 and Bleach Soul Carnival will be following the route taken by PS3 titles like Gran Turismo Prologue. Sony will offer a download version of the games date in with the retail versions, and will even give players who go the download route a discount. Yuusha no Kuse will cost 2,800 yen in download form compared to 3,980 yen in UMD form. Bleach Soul Carnival will cost 3,800 yen for download and 4,743 yen in retail release.

While these titles are likely to remain in Japanese territorial waters, they’re pretty high profile as far as Sony Japan’s first party games go. Bleach Soul Carnival is the latest adaptation of the popular anime series. Yuusha no Kuse ni Namaikida or2 is a sequel to a critically acclaimed puzzle game that reverses the standard RPG setting, putting players in control of the beasts who must expel the encroaching heroes from dungeons.

Yuusha arrives first on October 16, with Bleach coming a week later on October 23.

Sony has yet to share details on Memory Stick storage requirements or how it will be handling instruction manuals.

Three more PS1 Games on PSN

With the new PSN store online now, Sony Japan are back to growing there ever so lasting PS1 list on PSN. This week three new titles will be available via PSN. The three new titles are Athena no Kateiban: Family Game, Magical Drop F and, Spyro 2 Ripto’s Rage. I myself have only heard of one of these titles, but I’m sure there are Japanese gamers out there familiar with the other two.

Flooze Will Flow with the Return of Pipemania Across a Multitude of Gaming Platforms

The Popular Puzzle Game is Sure to Please New and Seasoned Gamers Alike

With a new twist to classic favorite, Empire Interactive will heat up the puzzle game jenre with the summer release of Pipemania for the Nintendo DS, Wii, PSP, PlayStation 2 and PC. As they race against time, puzzle game fans of all ages and experience will be able to enjoy hours of brain-teasing fun in this frantic series of quests and puzzles that uses updated gameplay mechanics to build on one of the most poplar franchises of all time.

“The current generation of gaming platforms presented a great opportunity to re-create Pipemania with all-new features that are sure to challenge players of all ages and skill-level,” said Karim Farghaly, vice president of sales, Empire Interactive. “We are certain new and old fans alike will find it hard to put down the mayhem packed into the new installation of Pipemania.”

Pipemania is a fast-paced puzzle game in which players lay down a pre-ordained set of pipes on a tiled grid in order to keep the Flooze, a constant flowing substance that speeds up with progression, moving through the pipes as long as possible without overflowing. Players will need to be fast with their fingers and utilize quick and forward thinking, precise coordination, and keen awareness if they plan to survive the time constraints, pressure and accuracy needed to navigate through the game. There is no chance for players to let their guard down, as complication increases with new elements as players progress through the game.

Pipemania tests players’ skills in five different game modes - world, arcade, bonus, multiplayer, classic, and best of the all - the original Pipemania game. Players will navigate through more than 70 levels with seven different themes in order to build their Island World. The frantic puzzle game offers hours of entertainment with enhanced visuals, new play mechanics, multiple attacks and damages, various Floozes, and an army of characters for players to help and hinder along the way. The entire game can be played in single player or in co-op for competitive play between two players.

The original version of Pipemania was released in 1989 and followed by Pipe Dreams in 1991. It has been ranked as one of the most popular games of all time and delivered exceptional sales with more than 4 million units worldwide, making it one of the most successful puzzle games in history.

Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII

Set seven years prior to the events of the first FINAL FANTASY VII, the Shinra Company is rapidly increasing its influence through its monopoly on mako energy and military might. With the burgeoning city of Midgar as its base and symbol of prosperity, Shinra is on the verge of establishing absolute dominance over the world.

SOLDIER is a group of skilled combat operatives within Shinra. The elite within the group — those strong enough to be deemed SOLDIER 1st Class — are respected and idolized by the citizenry. Zack is a young SOLDIER 2nd Class who aspires to become a 1st. He spends his days carrying out assignments under the guidance of his 1st Class mentor, Angeal. During an operation in Wutai, a large number of SOLDIER member, led by 1st Class operative Genesis, go missing. The severity of the situation prompts Shinra executives to deploy even more SOLDIER operatives in hopes of bringing an end to the war with Wutai—and conducting an investigation into the mass desertion. The ones assigned to the mission are Zack, Angeal, and the 1st Class hero who is known the world over as Sephiroth…

What truths lie behind Genesis’s disappearance? What secrets bind the three SOLDIER 1st Class operatives? For Zack, a cruel and fateful struggle awaits…

In Final Fantasy VII: Crisis Core, players can experience the D.M.W (Digital Mind Wave) system, which enhances the real-time battle system, allowing players to unleash special attacks or call upon various Final Fantasy summons. Players can also witness graphics and CG cutscenes coupled with voice acting in a 16:9 widescreen presentation, made possible by the PSP system hardware.

Monster Hunter 2nd G DLC!

Looks like the new Monster Hunter 2nd G expansion is already a prime target for downloadable content! Capcom has revealed that a new downloadable quest will be made available tomorrow. The quest takes place in the desert fighting three new terrifying monsters! No word on how it will be released. With PSN’s current makeover no new files will be added to the database until the process is done. We will update you tomorrow when the file goes live and tell you where the file will be made available.