Fatality

So the new Vidzone for the Playstation3 was released yesterday. It's a free service that allows you to stream what I assume is a large selection of music videos straight to your tv. It's a small download which went without a hitch but lets get back to that assumption above... Logging in to Vidzone presents you with a surprisingly drab grey loading screen which soon became far more exciting with the addition of a FATAL ERROR banner. A mild panic set in. What has happened? What have you done to my PS3? Am I looking at a hefty repair bill all because of some service I was just a little curious about? Smearing peanut butter in to the fan vents can be fatal, as can inserting wafer thin ham into the blu ray drive slot, that's why I'm not participating in these activities at the moment. I'm sat on my sofa with a dualshock in my hands, I thought I was fairly safe.

I calmed down and continued reading. Apparently the service is experiencing a higher than expected level of demand. Short sighted maybe but fatal, no. At worst it's a mild annoyance and a shoddy example of how to launch a new feature. I therefore kindly ask that you chill out a little when writing your error reports, a simple sorry is sometimes enough.

Finish him!! on the GAMEOV3R Forum

Xi Comes Home

A strange thing happened yesterday... I entered Home on the PS3 and spent maybe 20 minutes actually enjoying what I was doing. I know, hard to believe isn't it? I've never been Homes biggest fan yet I've poked my nose in when updates have become available just to see if it's improving. The Red Bull flying game wasn't bad but was short lived. Then I looked at the Far Cry 2 and more recently the Capcom Resident Evil spaces. Both were disappointing and left me feeling like I was wondering around a small part of the gaming world except with all the fun gaming bits removed. So what happened yesterday?

Xi that's what. Accessed from the main square by walking up to some graffiti on a wall you'll be teleported to a new area called the hub. Once there a voice directs you to do certain things like find three pieces of a torn photo. Once you've done this you're given further instructions to access and complete a puzzle on an online gateway upstairs, perform a certain action in a specific place or research some information on a website, all the while picking up clues to enter words into your holoPAD. Doing this adds either a portion of a picture or for some reason unknown to me, a butterfly to your collection. I'm assuming these activities will be released every few days or so as there are quite a few pieces to collect.

What also makes this new area more welcoming is that it actually has a bit of character sadly lacking elsewhere. A slightly deranged robot called Stapler who gives you additional tasks to perform and even the fact that some of the panels in the corner of the room aren't properly fixed and sit leaning against the wall. It may not be much but it gives the area some personality. For once not everything is perfect.

Whilst very simple it works and finally gives people a reason to come back. So Home is getting interesting... well I'll be damned.

If you really want to feel at home check out the GAMEOV3R Forum

Shut It Rico! - Killzone 2

Having picked up Killzone 2 on Friday and played it through to completion I'm already looking forward to working through it again on a harder difficulty level and trying it out online properly. The last but one mission where you get to use the Exoskeleton contains some of the best visuals I've ever seen in a game. If you've played the demo and think the graphics are good just wait until you see this.

My one complaint with the game (you knew one was coming didn't you) is why on earth Guerrilla Games thought it would be a good idea to put in such an obnoxious, foul mouthed arse of a character to work along side you called Rico. He takes a much larger part in the second half of the game and I absolutely hated the guy. I'll admit this to you now, at one point in the game it's just you and Rico in a lift. I was so fed up with his behaviour and his over use of the 'F' word that I took the opportunity to shoot him... right in the ear. Now if ever there was a time for him to swear this was it, but no, he relatively calmly (for someone who's just been shot) told me to watch where I was shooting and yes unfortunately he survived it.

Top game then but hurry up with the patch containing the option to duct tape Rico's mouth please!

Mind your language on the GAMEOV3R Forum

GAMEOV3R meets Noby Noby Boy!

So far in this 'game' I've managed to snap myself in two and had to eat my own butt to become one again. I've eaten a person and and a pear and pooped them out as a new person with a fruit for a head. I've contributed over 8000 metres to the length of the GIRL in an effort to reach the moon. At the point of writing her total length stands at just over 81 million metres with the top player having added over half a million of that. What happens when she reaches the moon I have no idea. I also have no idea what I'm playing or why I'm playing it. If all that sounds strange it's because it is, but this virtual playground is fun and compelling in a way I can't explain. And I thought we at GAMEOV3R had warped minds!

There's a great interview with the creator here which makes things a little clearer... only a little though.

Noby Noby Boy is available on the PSN now for not much more than the price of a sandwich. Possibly the very sandwich that makes this game one short of a picnic.

Stretch out on the GAMEOV3R Forum

I've Got You Under My Skin

I've been a bit of a late comer to the Little Big Planet party. Despite it's many 10/10 reviews something didn't sell it to me. I loved the characters but watching the brief trailer that played in game shops around its release it seemed a bit... erm how can I describe it... imprecise? Things being dragged around in a clumsy manner and faltering jumps are some of the things that created a first impression I guess. I put it on my Christmas list anyway with it being available for under £20, it would while away a few hours at the very least over the holidays... and it did. In fact it still is. The apparent clumsiness from watching is all part of the physics that make everything feel completely solid and believable in the game, from cardboard to bricks to material blocks. I think I've regressed back to childhood in wanting to build things out of everyday objects. Emptying moms cupboards to make buildings out of tin cans and cereal packets. The 'clumsiness' just adds to the charm and often results in some of the funniest moments in the game. I'm not saying it can't on occasion be frustrating in particularly tricky sections of a level but change Sackboys expression, tilt the controller to make him wiggle, wave his arms around and just try holding back a smile.

A level based on the achievement in Half-Life 2: Episode 2 where you're asked to carry a garden gnome throughout the entire game...

Gnome Liberation Front (no sound)


It's gotten under my skin even more over time having completed the main story levels and the Metal Gear Solid download pack (Well worth it by the way. The five levels don't take that long to complete but getting the trophies provides a good challenge and the paintinator adds a whole new dimension to the game). I'm now really starting to look at what people have been creating and some of it is truly stunning. Whether they're original creations, based on popular tv shows and games or just incredibly clever use of the creation tools. Speaking of which... check out the Little Big Computer below. Looks simple enough if you don't know the tools available to you but fast forward and just look at the workings!



Tell us your favourite levels on the GAMEOV3R Forum

Killzone 2: Living up to the hype?

I haven't really got caught up in all the fuss surrounding Killzone 2. The first one didn't grip me and I kind of felt that there was just too much weight being put onto this new one that it couldn't possibly do anything other than disappoint. Then I watched this...



and then this. It's not original for sure but it certainly looks a hell of a lot of fun!

Now I've gone and added to all the hype check out the GAMEOV3R Forum

Guitar Hero World Tour

I was in Tesco earlier this morning. I’m full of a cold, it’s almost a man-flu but not quite, and I had to go for supplies. Paracetamol, Ibuprofen, balsam tissues for my delicate nose, a bottle of Bell’s and a pot of honey to make Hot Toddies, a selection of Sunday papers and game mags, red chillies and 6 large eggs.

Seeing as I was there I thought I’d take a look at the dvd’s and games. I’m not that ill! Just don’t let my wife know.

What caught my eye was this, Tesco are offering Guitar Hero World Tour for the Wii, the XBox 360 and PS3 for just £50 including the full size wireless guitar. That is nothing short of a bargain!

According to the Gameov3r forum it’s been at £50 since the middle of November so I wasn’t expecting to still see this offer today. Did I buy it? No. There’s no way I could get it into the house un-noticed! Maybe one day in the week though.

Rock on over to the Gameov3r FORUM

Take Me Home

Home for the Playstation 3 has suffered so many delays that it even makes Network Rail look good. Consequently Sony have decided to run a 'real life' beta version to see how its fans respond. The idea is a simple one and ties in with the new Trophy system update. From tomorrow any trophies you earn will result in an actual physical trophy being posted to you for you to display in your own home, but here's the clever bit. The new beta means that you can contact your friends via a device called a telephone and invite them round to see your collection. The system also means that if friends aren't in to receive the invite you can leave a message of your actual voice using some new fangled recording technology magic! Your friend can then respond to this at a convenient time. Once your friend arrives in your home they can browse and compare trophies and converse with you using their voice in real time. You can even arrange to go bowling with them or visit the local cinema to watch a film.

If you prefer to try and meet random people Sony suggest visiting a local shopping centre as an example. Gameov3r did try this but has to admit the feature needs tweaking. Any random people we approached didn't seem remotely interested in our trophies or meaningless banter, some even walked away from us in a manner we could best describe as 'running'.

As a temporary measure I think in general this could work really well and even better news is that to access most of these features you won't even need a PS3.

Visit the Gameov3r FORUM today. Some posts even contain true facts unlike this one

PS3 Firmware 2.4 Dated

Firmware version 2.4 for the Playstation 3 finally has a date and that's July 2nd! Bringing with it the much requested feature of using the XMB in game and also Sonys version of achievements called Trophies. A complete run through of all the new features are in the videos below.

Playstation 3 Trophies



In Game XMB



Join the Gameov3r FORUM today

Lasting Impressions?

I finally caved in and got GTA 4 on the 360 even though I've never really taken to the series before. The number of perfect scores meant the curiosity level was just too much to bare.

Now I've only played it for maybe an hour and a half and a fair bit of that has been cut scenes to get you involved in the story, but so far the niggles I've encountered have outweighed the fun.

I'll start with the auto-centreing camera. It's a little annoying and I think it's this that makes Nico feel a bit odd to control. In an enclosed space like the apartment or when you go shopping for clothes it's clumsy. It's hard to put my finger on exactly but something doesn't feel quite right, although maybe in time it's something you adjust to. Why don't you get analogue control either? No matter how much you move the stick Nico walks...slowly, meaning you have to hold 'A' to run.

Secondly the cars seem to have worse handling than a shopping trolley. They have faulty brakes too! Once you do build up some speed they suffer from massive understeer and using the handbrake usually results in you continuing to travel in the same direction... but sideways. Maybe I need to drive them in a more realistic way (slower) but that doesn't seem fun.

Thirdly I've had one date with a girl called Michelle which to be honest involved a pretty uninspired mini bowling game, and lastly the amount of swearing feels a bit forced. Now I know this is GTA so what did I expect right? Used well, swearing can really add to a script and be funny too (and sometimes it was), but often it left me feeling like it was added for the sake of it with no attention to how effective it would be, and dare I say in a slightly immature way.

I'm fully aware that I need to play this a lot more to form a complete opinion and I'm hoping these very early impressions get completely turned around once I've given the game the amount of time it deserves, but I wondered if anyone else felt any of these things initially?

The GAMEOV3R Forum awaits you...

Warhawk

I've never really got into online shooters too much other than in co-op mode. The ones I have tried briefly have been completely dominated by gamers that eat these types of games for dinner, and the results are that I end up being the pudding.

Then I played Warhawk on the PS3. That's right... a positive PS3 story!

I've heard a lot about this game and all that expectation when I first loaded it up was dashed a little. I didn't know what I was doing, which weapons were good, how the hell to fly a warhawk or why I'd opt to drive a weak little jeep... I wasn't sure I'd ever feel comfortable, but the water and cloud effects looked really nice so lets stick with it I thought.

A couple of hours later and I can't put the game down, and unusually for me I'm right at the forefront of all the action. I even captured the flag yesterday and found out exactly why I'd want to be driving that weak little jeep. I flew in to their base skimming the water to avoid unwanted attention, crash landed within running distance of the flag, (is there any other way to land these things?!) grabbed it, stole a jeep and put my foot to the floor all the way back to our base while bullets rained down around me. The fact I didn't know what to do with it once I got there I won't mention. I did figure it out though, and I have the nice shiny badge now to prove it! I've even managed to advance a couple of ranks which means my little bloke gets a change of trousers, he's gonna need em too when a missile locks on to him while piloting a warhawk!

For many people that might not seem like much, but for someone at my kind of level with this style of game to be able to join in and get so involved is simply brilliant.

I'm a bit late to the party with this one I know but if you have a PS3 you need to buy this game, and if you don't... put it on the list for when you do!

Capture the flag...or something, on the GAMEOV3R Forum

Blu-ray Too Small

It's been widely reported lately that Metal Gear Solid creator Hideo Kojima struggled to fit number 4 in the series onto a 50Gb Blu-ray disc. Apparently he's had to compress and even edit bits to make it fit onto the disc.

Reading through some of the many comments this of course means that the game is 'absolutely huge and action packed'. All other games are now insignificant and this is what next gen gaming is all about.

My prediction is slightly different and perhaps a little pessimistic. I don't doubt the production values of this game, it will look and probably sound stunning.... but will there be much playing? You know, as in gameplay? That thing we actually buy games for.

I played through Metal Gear Solid on the PS1 and quite enjoyed most of it. Well, the 3 or 4 hours I got to do stuff in anyway. The endless cut scenes and conversations almost ruined it for me but I persevered. Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty I can't say the same. I wanted to enjoy it, I even felt I should be having read many reviews, but I couldn't. The story line was utter nonsense and if I wanted to sit and watch a cut scene for over half an hour I'd probably have rented a film instead. With a much better story line!

I never did bother with 3 and find the hype for number 4 completely passing me by. The bursting at the seams Blu-ray disc gives me more cause for concern than excitement. I fear there may be more people 'watching' Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots on the PS3 than playing it come June. I hope I'm proved wrong.

GAMEOV3R is ready to discuss this with you now over on the Forum

One console to rule them all.

While Nintendo and Sony's plans for the current generation consoles couldn't have looked more different it now seems that they were both going for the same market share but from completely different ends.

Nintendo were going for the casual gamer and none gamer using the Wii's all new, now all conquering, control method as the hook. Coupled with a large array of casual style games, some massive first party games and a sprinkling of games to please the fans, Nintendo's plan is working better than anyone ever thought it would. The Wii is a massive seller all over the world and even now, more than a year after release, it can be hard to find a Wii for sale on the high street. Nintendo are enjoying a new golden era.

Sony on the other hand went for hi-tech. REALLY hi-tech. So hi-tech that people began to question the sanity of the decision to be quite so hi-tech, not least because of the price that the console was going to cost. Were PS2 owners really going to upgrade to a PS3 at launch? We all now know the answer to that, as do Microsoft and Nintendo who both must have smirked as Sony plummeted into third place in the console war. The PS3 is the powerhouse of the current generation but history shows that this alone is not enough. Sony must have been aware of this as they decided to go even more hi-tech and added another expensive, and unproven at the time, piece of hardware. The Blu-Ray drive

So like the fat kid in the 1500m race on sports day the PS3 is a lap behind in last place. But this isn't a sprint and, just like the tortoise, the fat kid could cross the finishing line first.

With the announcement last week from Toshiba that HD-DVD has gone the way of the Dodo, Blu-Ray is set to be the new DVD. Sony's plan all along was to have a PS3 in every house to play, not just games, but films too. D'oh! How could we have doubted them!? Sony, like Nintendo, targeted the casual gamer and none gamer but they thought they'd lure them in with the only way to buy high definition films and it's worked. Blu-Ray has punted HD-DVD into touch. For good.

Compared to Blu-Ray player prices the PS3 is now a very attractive option for anyone wanting to watch high definition films and PS3 sales will very likely overtake both the 360 and Wii sales very soon. It's only a matter of time for Joe Public to think "Hey, this monstrosity plays games too? I gotta get me some of that!" and it'll have the most software support just like it's predecessor.

Maybe I'll be temped with a PS3 one day. Hopefully Sony will release a slimline PS3 before that day. At least that way it will fit through my front door.

Does Blu-Ray interest you? Does it interest anyone? Could downloadable movies yet usurp Sony's plans? Most PS3 owners are a bit scared of Gameov3r and they don't stick around for long. It could be his flatulence but the rest of us forgive him that. And use pegs. So come and shout for the PS3 on the GAMEOV3R Forum.

Enough To Make You Cry

If you've wondered why most places are offering the PS3 version of Devil May Cry 4 for £10 more than on the 360, Capcom can explain...

In fact it's not that the PS3 version is more expensive, it's actually that the 360 version is cheaper as their business model allows them to discount it.

Oh right, I'm glad that's all cleared up then!

Visit the GAMEOV3R Forum or just leave us a comment right here

Spot The Difference

What is it with all these comparison videos that keep appearing lately? You know the ones where the differences between the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions of a game are put side by side with a split down the middle highlighting the major differences how identical the games are. It seems any release worth mentioning must have one of these now. We've had The Orange Box, Assassins Creed, Burnout Paradise, Devil May Cry 4, Call of Duty 4 and countless more. Here's just one of them in case you've been lucky and managed to avoid them...



I keep finding myself watching them thinking one will come along where there actually appears to be a reason for it. Maybe it's me missing the point and the real point is to prove that there really is virtually no difference. Even if there was you'd be hard pushed to see it on videos this size, even with the HD versions. If there really are big differences that may influence a purchase then fine, go ahead and tell me and then wait for all the teen fanboy comments to begin. Actually I think it's these comments that annoy me more than the videos themselves. Well I say annoy, I think amuse would be a better word.

"Compare the flashes when the sword hits the enemy. you can tell that they are using more cpu on the PS3 version because there is more detail in the effect."

"if you pause it you can see that on the PS3 version she has more shadow reflection and on the 360 version you don't"

I've just realised if it wasn't for these videos I'd be missing out on classic comments like these and I'd never have thought to look out for new graphic effects such as shadow reflection. Bring 'em on!

Use some more of your CPU today and visit the GAMEOV3R Forum

Nintendo slay fat black turkey

Monster Hunter has seen massive success in Japan on Sony's PSP. The popularity of the game, despite it's short comings, is astounding and we all know that if a game sells like hot cakes it's almost a written rule that it will get a sequel. The originally titled Monster Hunter 2 came along in due course impressing the already loyal following and forcing gamers, that had ignored or missed the original, to sit up, take note and then spend their Yen on it.

Why should you care?

Because Monster Hunter is good. Very good. And there's going to be a third instalment...... and it's going to be on the Wii.

The controls were never really suited to PSP so if this is done properly the mix of team-based dinosaur slaying, character customisation AND massive amounts of selectable equipment will make this series realise it's full potential on Nintendo's baby. Better still, this game will be mammoth, pun intended, if Capcom, as is suspected, make this game online.

Fingers crossed for yet another game that will be a must have for Wii owners.

Here, for your pleasure, is a teaser trailer.....



There's just one little detail I haven't yet mentioned and it's a detail that was the clincher while I was deciding what I would write today. You see, 2 years ago Capcom agreed with Sony that Monster Hunter 3 would be released for the PS3 but because the PS3 has turned into a turkey Capcom have moved the game to the Wii. That's not all either because it's now a Wii exclusive too!!

If you want a definitive definition of videogame irony or you just want to know why you should never share your bath with a toaster come and ask Gameov3r on the FORUM.

New Releases

Later than planned due to technical problem! Promise to be on time this week :)

• Singstar Next Gen with Microphones (PS3)
• Sonic Rivals 2 (PSP)
• Tomb Raider: Anniversary (Wii)
• Wii Zapper with Link's Crossbow Training (Wii)
• Pokemon Battle Revolution (Wii)

Not much to choose from but I would be looking at Tomb Raider or of course the Wii Zapper!

Merry Christmas to All!

Stuart

New Releases

• Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles (Wii)
  
• Golden Compass (DS, Wii, PS2, PS3, 360)
• Winter Sports 2008 (Wii)
  
• Stranglehold (PS3)
  
• Blacksite: Area 51 (360, PC)
  
• Boogie (DS, PS2)
  
• Jenga (DS)
  

Slow Down!

Picking up the PS3 box for PES2008 in Gamestation I happened to notice they have several special features that XBox 360 owners don't get! I demand to know where these special features are and whether owners can get them in a future update?! See below.

Konami aren't taking this lightly and are taking some swift action. Unconfirmed reports say a patch is nearly ready to combat the slowdown in the PS3 version. Apparently this will remove 6 players from each side making it 5 a side! Konami say after applying this patch the game runs smoother than Birds Eye ready made custard.

Seriously though what is going on with the PS3 versions of many games? Is it really that hard to program or is Microsoft giving developers a bung to add these 'extra features' so they have the best version available?

What do you think is going on with PS3 versions of games? Get on the GAMEOV3R Forum and let your voice be heard