Earlier this year, Person 3 Portable was released for the Playstation Portable in Europe and the PAL territories. The release was only a physical release, with no sight of a digital release at launch. However, that is going to change as Ghostlight, the publishers of Persona 3 Portable, will launch a digital version to the PAL Playstation Store on September 7th.
The price of the game will be £27.99/€34.99 (AU$44.65). However, for the first two weeks of the release, interested consumers can pick up the game for a discounted price of £23.99/€29.99 (AU$38.29). If you are a fan of this game and missed out on purchasing it, then this is your chance to pick it up. It is also the perfect opportunity to add it to your digital collection for your PSP and Vita (if you decide to purchase it).
There is no doubt that PopCap are the reigning champions of casual gaming, but they didn’t get that way without doing their homework. PopCap recently partnered up with Goldsmiths University to conduct a study on how parents feel about gaming in general, as well as casual titles, and the final results are quite intriguing to say the least.
During a survey penned by the developer, 32 percent of parents claimed to actively play computer games with their kids, with 80 percent of that number claiming that this game time was quality time, and one in three three reported greater bonding with their children as a result of playing these games. One in five parents claimed that playing computer games have helped their children develop a better understanding of technology.
I’m not a parent, but I can actually say the video games I grew up playing taught me quite a bit when it comes to understanding technology, as when you are a kid and you want to play a game, you will absorb any amount of information to do so.
This study also helped debunk the myth that video game play comes at the cost of ‘healthier’ pursuits, with a 3/4 of parents claiming their computer game-playing children also exercise regularly and eat healthily. A third of parents believe that their children are able to concentrate better thanks to playing casual games, while 53 per cent believe that their children have improved problem solving skills thanks to playing casual games.
This is yet another interesting tidbit, as the mainstream media usually try to tear down and blame video games for just about everything, so hopefully more parents will start using certain games as a tool for education rather than just a form of recreation. We are a long way from that day I’m afraid, but maybe someday we can actually see this method be applied to better get kids involved with the devices they will be using for jobs later in life.
The study also shows that the growth in casual games has resulted in children as young as two becoming proficient in the use of smartphones and other tablet devices, and over a quarter of parents (27 percent) reported that their children borrowed their smartphone every day to play casual games. These findings pretty much go with what I stated above.
PopCap & Goldsmith each released a statement based on the study:
Dr Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, Reader in Psychology at Goldsmiths said: “These findings are important because they highlight the social benefits of playing videogames. Previous research has tended to look only at the individual effects of video games, but in the era of social networking games appear to play a vital role in enhancing social relationships. The fact that both parents and grandparents are using games to connect with their children and grandchildren, and quite successfully, suggests that video games can improve social skills and make a key contribution to both effective parenting and child development.”
Cathy Orr, Senior Director of International PR, PopCap said: “As technology becomes even more consumer-friendly, we at PopCap are delighted to see videogames playing an increasing role within family leisure time. Videogames are becoming as popular a mainstream lifestyle entertainment as movies or music and finding a place in family life alongside traditional parlour or board games – or in many cases, providing a new videogame format for family favourite board games. PopCap has conducted a lot of research to prove that casual games are not only extremely fun but can also aid stress relief – undoubtedly a positive for family members across the board!”
You know, I really respect PopCap for pooring in some funds to launch this research, as they are actually trying to teach parents that games are not all about blood, guts, and zombies. We all have seen facts come out already on how gaming can lead to smarter kids that are quicker to adapt with new technology, and this study just emphasizes that point even further.
I wonder how many times I’ve written that I want November to come as quick as possible simply because that means that The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim will be out faster. Probably way to many times to count actually, and this latest batch of screenshots makes me want it all the more. That is because Bethesda saw fit to release screenshots of nearly every race and even a couple of the female gender that will be playable in the game.
Some of these we have seen before, but the best thing here is, that we can see the new engine that Bethesda is using at work and you know what? These races all look amazing. The Khajiit and Argonians truly look like beast and lizardmen which means that those may be the highlight classes to play as, simply for character customization alone. What race is your favorite looking? Check them out below and let us know what you think.
Dishonored is a game being developed by Arkane Studios and published by Bethesda and it looks to have some crazy things involved. Today Bethesda released a handful of new screenshots for the title, including some stealth gameplay and some potential combat.
At the moment there has been no actual screenshots of the main character Corvo in combat, but there is plenty of combat about to be entered as you can see below. We have one screenshot where three enemies are charging at him and another with a pair of officers standing on mechanical stilts with what appears to be bow and arrow type weaponry. Very strange… Check out the screenshots below and Dishonored sometime in the middle of 2012.
If you’ve been having some Prey withdrawal then perhaps you should play the first game again, or you could always take a look at these recently released screnshots from Prey 2. Earlier today Bethesda released this small batch of images that show not only plenty of aliens and even a little bit of action, but also the former protagonist from Prey 1, Tommy.
Other than our Native-American friend, we are also treated to the amazing looking lighting that these games will receive. The neon lighting of the various signs really set off the dismal futuristic urban environment that the game appears to take place in. Check out the screenshots below and let us know what you think.
For those of you who don’t know, iBlast Moki is a beautiful and challenging puzzle game that was released for iOS devices. For those of you who do know this, then you’re sure to be excited by the release of iBlast Moki 2 for both iPhone and iPad. Currently the Game of The Week for both devices, iBlast Moki 2 brings the original game play, of building a route for Moki’s to get through worlds, back with enhanced graphics, spanning across four worlds and more than ninety levels. The sequel also has the ability to build your own levels with a physics editor, which I must say, looks pretty awesome. Get in fast because iBlast Moki 2 is only 99c for the iPhone for a limited time and $2.99 for the iPad.
Check out the trailer below or visit godzilab-games.com for more information.
You know what there aren’t enough of? Genuine horror titles. Especially downloadable horror titles. But that may all change as Vector Cell’s horror title Amy is going to be released sometime this fall season. But better yet, it is going to be released not only on the PlayStation 3 like previously thought but also the PC and Xbox 360.
The trailer below shows some cinematic footage and maybe some gameplay segments as Amy falls asleep on a train, only to remember all the horrible monsters and mutated looking creatures that she has seen. Of course there is a bit of a surprise at the end for those that watch the whole thing, but if you’ve read anything about the title already then you know what it is going to be. Catch the trailer below and hope that Amy turns out to be the horror game we all want it to be.
Kinect Sports Season 2 will be launching in America on October 25, in Asia, Australia, and New Zealand on October 27, and in Europe on October 28.
Voice commands, full body gameplay, and multiplayer are all included in the game. Darts, Tennis, Football, Golf, Skiing and Baseball are the six sports that you can play in Kinect Sports Season 2. If you pre-order a copy of the game soon, you’ll receive “exclusive unlockable avatar gear for a limited time only.” Check it out at www.xbox.com/kinectsportsseasontwo.
Which sport will you play in Kinect Sports Season Two? We wish Microsoft would announce a game based on Calvinball so that we could play them all at once and never have to choose. Plus, Calvinball is awesome.
Diablo 3 and console gamers has always been a hope for those who don’t enjoy PC games or don’t feel like upgrading their computer simply to play it. However that dream may eventually become a realization as Blizzard’s lead designer Josh Mosqueira told those in attendance that Blizzard is “very, very serious about bringing the Diablo 3 experience to the console.”
Eurogamer reports that after this statement he reinforced that Blizzard is “trying to build the best console team” so that they can bring Diablo 3 to consoles. Now by no means is this a confirmation of development, but even the potential of having a Diablo title on consoles should delight many people, though could infuriate some PC gaming purists.
Microsoft announced 3 games at Gamescom 2011 that will be coming to the Xbox Live Arcade soon.
Hole in the Wall, which brings all of the fun of the wacky international TV phenomenon straight to your Xbox 360 Kinect. Hole in the Wall arrives Aug. 24th for 800 Microsoft Points.
Skulls of the Shogun– An arcade-strategy game where players take turns guiding portions of their army of phantom Samurai in ghostly combat in the Samurai afterlife, “Skulls of the Shogun” will be playable at the Microsoft Booth all week.
Trials Evolution -The follow-up to the best-selling, critically acclaimed “Trials HD,” “Trials Evolution,” the arcade stunt motorcycle racing gaming returns to Xbox LIVE Arcade this year with approximately 60 tracks across single player and multiplayer modes and skill mini-games that give the player fresh, new challenges.
