Persona 4 Gets Official Japanese Boxart

Japan's upcoming Persona 4 has finally gotten itself some official boxart. The game is set to be released in Japan on July 10, 2008, meaning the US and EU releases will probably come later after that.

If you ask me the new boxart looks much better than the Persona 3 boxart, and it really draws me in to check the game out. Enjoy!

[Amazon JP]

PlayStation Day Details Revealed

Today, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe revealed information on PlayStation Day 2008 in Europe.

The press day will be in early May 2008 in London showcasing some new games for the PlayStation 3, Network, PSP, and PS2. SCEI President Kaz Hirai and SCEE President David Reeves will be holding keynotes at the event as well.

We will keep you update as the event approaches.

[The Way Ahead]

Persona 4: Four New Famitsu Scans

This weeks issue of Famitsu featured some new images of the upcoming PS2 game, Persona 4. The scans show some new and interesting pictures, but we have no idea what the words mean, so you'll have to deal with looks. Enjoy! [Akayuki]

PlayStation 3 Outsells Everything in Europe this Week

The latest weekly sales report from VGChartz shows a nice growth in sales for the PlayStation 3 this week. With the recent release of Gran Turismo 5 Prologue in Europe, the PlayStation 3 has sold more than the Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii, DS, PSP, and PS2 this week, topping the charts with 150,420 sales.

[VGChartz]

Sony Shutting Down Online Server for Some PS2 and PSP Games

Sony Computer Entertainment of America announced today that many PS2 and a few PSP games will be having their online servers shut down. The games announced will go offline on June 30, 2008. The list can be seen below.

PS2 Games

• Amplitude
• Destruction Derby Arenas
• Everybody’s Golf
• EyeToy Chat
• F1 ‘04
• Jak X
• Lemmings PS2
• My Street
• Syphon Filter Omega Strain
• This is Football 2004
• This is Football 2005
• Twisted Metal: Black Online
  

PSP Games

• Lemmings
• World Tour Soccer 2
  

[Sony Shutting Down Online Servers For Many PS2, PSP Games]

Europe Wants Their Own Official PlayStation Blog

Members of the Official EU PlayStation Forums have joined together in a petition for an official PlayStation blog for Europe. While the United States has PlayStation.Blog, Europe only has Three Speech, which is a semi-official blog.

European PlayStation console owners currently have no means of direct content with Sony Computer Entertainment. With an official blog, they would be able to get PlayStation Store and SingStore updates easier.

I voted a yes on their petition poll. If you agree, head over at the link below and vote a yes.

[Who would like to see an official Playstation Blog for Europe?]

Persona 4: Famitsu DVD Trailer

The scans were not enough, we feel you. The Famitsu magazine that showed us the first scans also came bundled with a DVD with a 17 minute long video of Persona 4 for the PlayStation 2, showing some anime, some gameplay, and more. It's truly worth the watch. Enjoy!

Konami Ships Metal Gear Solid: The Essential Collection

Konami Digital Entertainment announced today that Metal Gear Solid: The Essential Collection has shipped for the PlayStation 2 nationwide. The package features Metal Gear Solid for the PSone along with Metal Gear Solid 2 and 3 (director's cut). If your looking to get into Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots in June, then you definately need to buy this collection.

[Buy: MGS: The Essential Collection]

Persona 4 Announced for PlayStation 2

I was hoping to see the next Persona title arrive on the PlayStation 3, but that doesn't seem to be the case. The latest issue of Famitsu magazine revealed Persona 4. The official website is launching on March 24, 2008. The site can be accessed here (http://p4.atlusnet.jp), but currently does not work. Here is a breakdown of the information we have thanks to Akayuki.

- Trailer on DVD.
- July 10th release.
- 85% Complete.
- Looks like Persona 3 but better.
- 180+ Personas.
- Hashino is directing, Soejima is art director and character designer, Meguro is composing.
- Takes place in the countryside, a more nostalgic environment.
- The theme is murder mystery/suspense, it’s a mystery thriller with twists and turns.
- Multiple endings.
- 1.5x the size of Persona 3.
- 60-70 hours.
- There is a weather forecast system, and whenever there is a fog, a murder occurs.

There is always Persona 5. [Akayuki]

Essential Collection Metal Gear Solid NOT a PS2 Port

When we saw the upcoming Metal Gear Solid: The Essential Collection, we were excited. Not only do we get to buy Metal Gear Solid 4, but we get the other games as well. In this collection was Metal Gear Solid, in a PS2 case. Is it a remake or just the game put onto a PS2 DVD?

Konami PR Andrew Kelly confirmed that Metal Gear Solid will be released with the collection on a PS2 DVD, meaning no disc swapping, and no more PSone memory card. Other than that, the games are both the same with visuals, sounds, and such.

[Metal Gear Solid Confirmed As A PS2 Port]

Update 2/28/08 @ 5:51 PM: Well, there seems to have been some confusion, turns out it is not a PS2 Port, but the exact same game.

"So it looks like there was a miscommunication about the format for the games. I recieved this note from Konami's Michael Shelling - '...to be clear, MGS1 is not a port; it’s the original game on 2 CD’s not a DVD.' The original Metal Gear Solid will be appearing on PS1 discs. What this means for saving the game, etc, I am not sure.

My apology for the confusion."

There you have it.

[Metal Gear Solid NOT a PS2 Port]

DICE 2008: Ken Kutagari Interview

The lucky guys over at GameTrailers got to talk with the father of the PlayStation, Ken Kutagari. He speaks on the success of the console, the struggles while working on it, convincing Sony to develop it, and more. Maybe one day we may get to interview the man himself.

Persona 3: FES Confirmed for US Release by Atlus

For all your Persona 3 fans (including myself), we have some good news. Today Atlus confirmed that Persona 3: FES will arrive in the United States on April 22, 2008 for the low price of $29.99. The game comes with the FES expansion along with the full game. The full press release below.

Atlus Pulls The Trigger On Persona 3 FES® For North America

Revisit the Dark Hour this April 22

IRVINE, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 25, 2008 - Atlus U.S.A., Inc., the vanguard of role-playing games, today announced Persona 3 FES for the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, the highly-anticipated definitive cut of 2007's RPG of the Year, Persona 3. With two games on one disc-a brand new chapter featuring 30+ hours of gameplay and an enhanced version of the original game loaded with new content and features-Persona 3 FES is the comprehensive version of one of the most acclaimed RPGs of 2007.

Persona 3 FES is a stand-alone product and does not require the original Persona 3 to play. However, players with save files from the original game will be able to transfer some of their saved data, such as their Persona compendium, to be used in the enhanced main story. The new story is accessible from the start and does not require players to finish the original game beforehand.

Persona 3 FES is scheduled for release on April 22nd for an MSRP of $29.99.

For more on Persona 3 FES, please visit the official website: http://www.atlus.com/persona3

About Persona 3: FES
Lead a group of high school students with a dangerous extracurricular activity: exploring the mysterious tower Tartarus and fighting the sinister Shadows during the Dark Hour, a frozen span of time imperceptible to all but a select few. However, the end of their quest is no longer the end of the story-witness for the first time the aftermath of the final battle and the students' struggle to find meaning in their new lives.

Key Features:
- Acclaimed by critics and fans - Experience the definitive cut of 2007's award-winning Persona 3, which garnered tons of critical acclaim and the adulation of a devoted fanbase.
- More than just an expansion - Persona 3 FES contains an enhanced version of the original game, loaded with new Personas and cutscenes, a weapon synthesis system, additional quests and events, a hard difficulty mode, and the ability to change your characters' clothes.
- 30 additional hours of gameplay - Take the role of Aigis in a brand new Persona 3 episode that plays as a full game with an original story, extra cutscenes and objectives, and seventeen new music tracks.
- Incredible value - The enhanced version of the acclaimed Persona 3 game and the brand new episode make for 120-plus hours of gameplay, packaged together at a suggested retail price of $29.99.

Persona 3 FES has been rated M for Mature with Blood, Language, Partial Nudity, Suggestive Themes, and Violence by the ESRB.

Is PLAYSTATION Backwards Compatibility Dead? Possibly Not

Well, the 80GB PLAYSTATION 3 Sku is on it's way out of stores. My friend who is the assistant manager at a GameStop confirmed this with me as well.

Backwards Compatibility may not be completely dead though. PlayStation Network Director, Eric Lempel, spoke about the possibilities of downloading PS2 games as well as PSone games in the latest issue of EGM.

When asked if the PLAYSTATION Network would start allowing downloads for PS2 games via the PLAYSTATION Store, Lempel said "We haven't talked about that yet, but there are possibilities through technology and software emulation to make that possibles."

Lets hope, and if not, lets make petitions.

[Is PlayStation 3 Backwards Compatibility Dead? Maybe Not]

Ken Kutagari: Father of the PlayStation Awarded at DICE 2008

At the DICE 2008 Summit, the Academ of Interactive Arts & Science honored Ken Kutagari was awarded with the 2008 Lifetime Achievement Award.

We also have Kutagari to thank as well. Without him, we wouldn't be playing Uncharted, God of War, and future titles to come.

[Father of the PlayStation Honored at D.I.C.E.]

Asia Still Getting Love for the PlayStation 2

At the Taipei Game Show 2008, Sony revealed a new bloody red PS2 coming exclusively to Asian markets. Yes people, the PS2 will live for at least another year or two. This red PS2 should be arriving in stores on February 4, 2008 in Asia.

Other than that, the event featured HAZE, LittleBigPlanet, and a snapshot of PlayStation Home that you can view at the link.

[Via Game.Watch & Siliconera]

PS2 Matters: Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters Coming to PS2

If you checked your e-mails lately, you may have noticed an e-mail from the PLAYSTATION Underground showing our friends Ratchet & Clank. Yes, people, Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters, originally a PSP game, is coming to the PS2. So far, no word on any additions to the console version, or a release date.

Persona 4 Coming to..... the PS2!?

According to a confusing news story just made on Jeux France, Atlus has just announced that it's next Persona title, Persona 4, will be arriving on, not the PLAYSTATION 3, but the PS2.

Hopefully, this is some sort of mix-up. It would be ashame to see the next title in such a great series on a last generation system.

They said more information will arrive soon.

[Via Jeux France]

PLAYSTATION Bling: We Wish We Had It

Wouldn't it be pimpin' walking around with a PLAYSTATION 2 remote on your chest, reppin' your game, and steppin' up with pride? We only got one thing to say for this bling.

"If I could bling with a circle, square, try-angle, and X//
Then I'd certainly be wearin' the controller 'top my chest//
Though we got silver buttons, we diamonds, correct//
We bling with a PS (Pee-Es), we ain't one to neglect//

-onAXIS Administrator"

Nuff' said.

[Via Ruliweb]

PLAYSTATION Sales Rise 300 Percent

Since the PLAYSTATION 3 40GB launched on November 2, 2007, the sales have rose greatly, and today in this new press release, Sony lets us know.

PLAYSTATION 3 sales have risen 245 percent this Black Friday compared to last, although last Black Friday was the launch of the PLAYSTATION 3, and they were having stock issues.

The Sony press release:

Today, Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) announced that overall PlayStation brand unit sales during the week including Black Friday increased by 178%, sales dollars increased by 154%.

Below are the sales figures for each PlayStation platform for the week including Black Friday for the top 10 retailers in North America:

PLAYSTATION®3 (PS3™) hardware sales increased by 245% when compared to Black Friday sales last year.

Since November 2nd, and the availability of both the 40GB and 80GB PS3 models, PS3 hardware sales have increased by 298%.

PSP® (PlayStation® Portable) hardware sales increased by 136% when compared to previous week sales.

PlayStation®2 (PS2) hardware sales increased by 287% when compared to previous week sales.

The sales have been rising for all the PLAYSTATION consoles, and its good to see. Now let's see some onAXIS subscribers rise 300 percent.

[Via GamaSutra]

Console Gift Guide Line-Up

Ho-ho-ho! That time of year is near, the one whos been watching you closely wants to know what you want this holiday. So why not take a look at these Holiday Gift Guides for the PLAYSTATION consoles and decide yourself? Theres Uncharted, Ratchet & Clank, & God of War, plenty of games for a wonderful holiday indoors. So take a look at the guides, and pick a game, and maybe you'll wake up with a special present marked your name.




And hey, if the PLAYSTATION consoles aren't the only systems you own, give a hint to someone about these titles, and maybe they will throw you a bone.








And if you've yet had a console to play, maybe this Christmas will be your lucky day.