Oh no! The Space Program is in peril now there’s NO MONEY ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD!! That won’t stop two scientists from taking on the Orbit project, a no-budget exploration of our solar system. Dodge through asteroid fields, and avoid nasty enemies intent on stealing cash, fuel, or just throwing slime in your eyes! By collecting the money mysteriously floating in orbit around the planets, you’ll give the project a cash boost, upgrading shonky systems and gaining new ships to move beyond the Moon – from Mercury to Uranus – as never before! Orbit’s research menu features almost 200 unique upgrades, plus there are hidden relics and blueprints to find, stat tracking, and 12 challenging medals to earn. The launch pad is all set. Are you ready to get into Orbit? Video really helps you understand how Orbit works, huh? You’re asked to hold down and release a single button (X) to go up, down and all around while trying to dodge all the hazards you’ll find during your trips. Sure, you can buy One-shot Boosters as well which would require you to hit the circle button to activate them, but it’s still mainly a one button affair. And for this game, it works. Your main objective is to find new energy deposits that can be used to meet Earth’s requirements for the 21st century and beyond. Ore is turned into gold which is needed to fund your trips as well as for buying upgrades for your “ship”. And oh, let me tell you that upgrades are a MUST for the interesting modes of transportation you’ll be given access to. Your first ride is… wings for your arms! You’ll have to swing those arms as fast as possible or else you’ll crash down… hard. After taking care of the moon, you’ll get a rocket pack to explore which is a nice change. By the 3rd planet you’ll get a flying toilet. You’ll be traveling in style! You have to take into consideration that moving to a new planet means you’ll have to re-buy any upgrades again since you get a new mode of transportation before each trip. You DO get to keep all the upgrades made for traveling on the same planet that you bought them because a hard reset all around after every time you start a new level would just have been cruel. There are 6 categories to upgrade in this game: Engine (increases your flying power as well as your fuel reserve), Rocket boost (increase how many One Shot Boosters you can purchase and how long they last for), Launcher (increase how far AND you’re sent flying at the start of the level as well as make the green area of the launcher power bar be bigger), Ore Collector (loose less ore to enemies and make nearby ore come flying to us), HUD (map and radar) and Wipers (for those times when alien lifeforms decide they should crash into you and block your view with what is left of them). On my first try, I traveled 2758 kms, collected $30 in gold and got an exploration bonus worth $25. Since I landed next to a relic, my first trip was officially over in less than a minute. And a minute is all the time it will take you to understand how fun Orbit truly is. Flying around dodging all the various hazards that populate outer space is just too darn fun to skip! So, how should you spend your money? The first upgrade you should get is the HUD since it will allow you to see where the blueprints and the relics are on each level (blue dots for the first ones, red dots for the second ones, white dot is you!). After that, definitely upgrade your Engine and Launcher. The Rocket boost is not a top priority since it only upgrades the number of boots you can buy and how long they last after being activated. The ore collector isn’t an important upgrade for the first 3 levels… but it makes a huuuuuuuuuuuuge difference from planet 4 and on since, as I’ve mentioned before, upgrading it makes you lose less money to the ore enemies AND it attracts nearby ore which really makes this upgrade pay for itself in no time. In order to progress to the next planet you need to do one full lap (get to the “end” of the map and loop around) to fully “map” the current planet so you’re allowed to move on and on and on and on until there’s nowhere else to travel to. There’s also an in game trophy system (since this is a minis which, for some reason, still aren’t allowed to have a trophy list like their PSN retail cousins. I’m not asking for a full list, just maybe 3-4 trophies per minis) to increase replay value and make you reaaally look for every single blueprint and relic. Here’s some examples of the trophies to get you started: Collector: Collect all four blueprints available on a single level. Pass Go: Complete two laps of a planet Sadist: Hit 1,000 enemies A Winner Is You: Unlock and complete a circumanivation of Hat-P-1B. There’s a lot of blueprints to find on each planet (well, each planet and the moon which is technically not a planet… at all). The exact number is 32 blueprints, and once you find them you’ll unlock one final planet you can enjoy. You can also find relics on each planet and while visiting each one isn’t mandatory doing so will earn you extra money so you can quickly purchase better equipment to make your life easier. Orbit is a great game from Laughing Jackal that keeps their streak going. Easy to play either on your PS3 or your PSP and a fun experience from a game that is hard to stop playing! Really liking the variety we get out of the minis range and I just hope that 2012 brings us many, many more of Laughing Jackal’s quirky games! Review Pros Cons Very fun game that is easy to pick up and play for a couple of minutes Great upgrade system Two crazy in game trophies that are keeping me from obtaining a full set Rating 90% Published and Developed by Laughing Jackal Cost – $3.49 [spoiler intro="Other Information"] Disclaimer – A copy of the game was obtained thanks to my Playstation Plus Subscription – Total amount of time played: 8 hours (and counting!).[/spoiler]

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[Review] Orbit (minis)

Thousands of game enthusiasts lined up early in the morning to be among the first to buy the PlayStation Vita. The Vita hit stores this weekend in Japan and eager crowds couldn’t even wait to get it home as they are seen opening it in stores to try out the new handheld. The Vita won’t be available in North America and Europe until Feb. 22. When it does become available in the U.S., it will cost $250 for the Wi-Fi only model and $300 for the 3G/Wi-Fi model. The 3G model will be networked exclusively through AT&T. The Vita boasts a front and back camera, touch screen in front, and a touch pad in the back. It also feature two analog sticks which were absent in the PlayStation Portable. “I’m so happy to see so many people lining up for PS Vita so early in the morning,” Sony Computer Entertainment Japan President Hiroshi Kono wrote in his official blog after touring several Tokyo stores. “I can tell they had anxiously waited for today’s launch.” Vita’s launch was accompanied with games such as Capcom’s Ultimate Marvel Vs. Capcom 3, and BEND Studio’s Uncharted: Golden Abyss. The Vita uses proprietary flash memory card known as “PlayStation Vita cards” the 4GB Memory Card is $24.99 and the 8GB Memory Card is $39.99 – the 32GB Memory Card still costs $119.99 UPDATE: According to a columnist at Mainichi Digital (translated via Andriasang ) Sony has increased its initial PlayStation Vita shipments in Japan to over 700,000. The columnist, Fumio Kurokawa cites anonymous sources close to Sony, saying the original shipment was supposed to be 500,000 units. Pre-order demand has Sony adding another 200,000.

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Sony’s PlayStation Vita now available in Japan

The PS3. You love it. Status updates and awkward pet photos would be looked forward to if your PS3 had a Facebook page. If it could tweet, you’d follow it. Smack it up and rub it down and gently ride that wave in, is what you’re thinking when Playstation is mentioned in passing conversation, website, or article. You would go on Maury and submit to a “baby daddy” paternity test for it. Now that we got that out of the way: Does anybody else think it needs a facelift? You know…in general? The XMB is tired. The obese XMB cow has grazed in the field long enough and needs to be harvested. This cow has also requested to be turned into a happy meal if at all possible. I digress though…it’s gotten a bit stale, hasn’t it? It’s been the same tired look for how many years now? Maybe something to liven up the whole experience would be nice? Add some more color to an over dark, stark and otherwise cold look. Now I know there’s jazzy themes and dynamic  whatnots to spruce up the whole overall outlook, but maybe a whole new design is needed? And maybe it’s just me, but I feel like I’m inundated  with advertisements and “look what we have here specials”? The XMB lately seems slow and sluggish and bogged down with extras I just don’t care for. How about a totally and fully personal customizable XMB would be the route to take for Sony? I’d be on board with that. And what’s with this safety message that pops up now every time I turn on my PS3? I know I need to take a break. Don’t get all preachy PS3, just load up Uncharted 3 and get me online. Do everyone a favor and leave the safety soapbox at home, gosh! Playstation friends. I’ve got them in spades. Almost too many. I engage in “friend spring cleaning” every other week to make room for the Foo Army hordes that join my ranks everyday. Seriously, we’re talking friend mudslide action. So why is it that I even have any friends at all  if I can’t effectively communicate with them? The keypad attachment for my controller stinks! My stupid, fat, troll-like fingers can’t press the right buttons and when I do – it looks like I just mashed all the buttons at the same time. Text chat is ok I guess, but who wants to type when they’re in the middle of a game? I think you know what I’m getting at here…currently there’s 84 friends on my list. 20 online as of now. 19 of them are playing a different game. Cross party chat. Party mode. Inter game awesomesauce. Whatever you want to call it, the PS3 needs it. Like a bloated double-double burger from In-N-Out with extra cheese (no onions) and a side of “animal style” fries – this is quite possibly the tastiest rumor this side of the mississippi. Can you imagine the increase in users alone? Not only is it free to game online – now we got party/cross game chat! Come on in and let’s get donkey!! Sony would have to go to home depot and buy the biggest money rake ever. Worlds would collide, mysteries would be solved. Roswell would be explained, the JFK assassination would have closure. So maybe it wouldn’t be that epic, but it would pretty newsworthy. Being able to connect with all your friend regardless of what game they’re playing would make the Playstation community and it’s console the clear and obvious choice for people who are on the fence, or possibly big toe dipping in the deep end – to go out and buy a Playstation. Now I know what you’re saying. Someone said it couldn’t be done, blah, blah, blah.  You mean to tell me out of all the thousands of employees who work at Sony/Playstation that there isn’t one egghead that can’t figure it out? They’re probably in the Playstation lab right now figuring out what they want to call it. It’s probably already done and they’re just waiting/testing it and making it ready for the masses. Sony has denied plenty of things in which have come true: Sony PSP: Then: Can’t use it as a remote. Now: you can use it as a remote via wifi to manage downloads. You can also use it as a rear view mirror in Grand Turismo. Or at least that’s what I heard (I don’t have the game) so that’s pretty cool. Sony Move: Then: “We’re not currently in development of any motion based games/peripherals.” Now: This of course was said when the Playstation Move was code named “Sphere”. Later on that year, the Move came out with a  limited amount of titles. Some developers have embraced it, even adding Move support to games post-release. And with games like “Sorcery” and other titles rumored to be in development, it’s an exciting to grab a Move bundle and get familiar with Sony’s motion gaming effort.  And the “Sports Champions” bundle average price at $60, it’s a deal and a half.  So grab one up kids! Sony of course never “comments on speculations and rumors”, so we many never know what Sony has up their sleeve. In this writers opinion it may time to release the cross chat monster as well as other little fixes in order to generate some new found interest in the Playstation community as a whole. While my opinions may not be reflective of this quality website, I think we can all agree that Sony needs to lead this endeavor with an enthusiasm unknown to mankind and firmly stake itself as a front runner once and for all as the superior gaming console. Oh yeah, to you and yours – Happy Holidays or whatever.

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With An Enthusiasm Unknown To Mankind

Slightly earlier this week, since I remembered this time. Anyway, remember, for the month of December, it’s double points and double entries for Free Points Saturday! That means 20 entries with 300 points each. As always, if it takes too long to get people to answer, I will provide clues. And the final clue will be the answer itself. If there are still spots left after about an hour of posting the answer, I will just have to take some of the points myself . So, without further ado, here’s this week’s question: This title solely released on the PlayStation, but other games in the series have been seen on numerous platforms before and after this release. In this particular addition, throughout some of the ‘hub’ levels, which took place between themed levels (in different periods of time), are three hidden crystal keys used to transport the main character to the aforementioned themed levels. What is the name of this game? Hint: Don’t use any punctuation, just letters and/or numbers. The following 8 members got points for anwering correctly. Isli Grouken chronorayven dragon290513 mowmow kennygk rann Kane112

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Free Points Saturday for December 10th

Back to Karkland lands today on PS3! One week early on Playstation 3! Nice to see EA show us some love. This is what the developer had to say. If you are a Battlefield 3 Limited Edition owner, you are entitled to this entire expansion pack at no extra charge and you can get it from the in-game store or the PlayStation Store. Otherwise, you can buy it for $14.99 starting today, from the game’s in-game store or from the PlayStation Store. Every future expansion pack for Battlefield 3 will also be available one week early exclusively on PlayStation 3, just like Back to Karkand. Once you have downloaded Back to Karkand, the four new maps (Wake Island, Strike at Karkand, Gulf of Oman, and Sharqi Peninsula) will be available in the server browser and in the Quick Match filter settings just like the nine maps from the base game. There will be servers that mix and match maps from the base game and Back to Karkand, so you will never have to commit to playing either base game or Back to Karkand maps in your gaming session Source: PlayStation.Blog

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Battlefield 3: Back to Karkand Hits PS3 Today

Following the lawsuit against EA, the company finally decided to fulfill their promise and hand out vouchers for free copies of Battlefield 1943 for those who purchased Battlefield 3 on the PS3. More after the Jump … There have been a misunderstanding around Battlefield 1943 and Battlefield 3, to address this we are making Battlefield 1943 available free of charge to owners of Battlefield 3 on the PS3 beginning this month … EA This is how it works: 1- Activate your Battlefield 3 Online Pass for the PlayStation 3 using the voucher included in the game. (if you already done that, skip to step 2) 2- You need to go to this website after the dates given below: November 26th, 2011 for Battlefield 3 players on PlayStation®Network Sony Europe December 10th, 2011 for Battlefield 3 players on PlayStation®Network Sony America December 17th, 2011 for Battlefield 3 players on PlayStation®Network Sony Asia and Sony Japan 3- Log in with your Origin ID and password. 4- Select your territory. Note vouchers do not work across regions . 5 – You will receive a PlayStation 3 voucher for Battlefield 1943. 6- Input your voucher into the PlayStation Network store. 7 – Download Battlefield 1943. Voilà, Enjoy your free copy of Battlefield 1943!

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How to Redeem Your Free Copy of Battlefield 1943

Our friends over at Laughing Jackal have provided us with a teaser for their newest project, the PlayStation Mini, Hungry Giraffe. “Our giraffe is hungry: feed him! Yes, you can help this poor giraffe grow his neck high enough to eat the tastiest food by collecting all the snacks you can. Guide his head on its ‘twisty-turney upwards journey’, picking up all the tasty treats you can find, but make sure you don’t get food poisoning, as what goes in can come out again! :S Hungry Giraffe is the only giraffe-feeding game on the PSN Store and it’s coming soon to PlayStation Minis!” We should have more info soon, and will keep you all posted!

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PlayStation Mini Hungry Giraffe Coming Soon From Laughing Jackal

Come November 8th , SCEA has confirmed the release of Heavy Rain: Director’s Cut edition . The new version will include the DLC Expansion, Heavy Rain Chronicles Episode 1: The Taxidermist, along with the game’s soundtrack, bonus making-of videos and much more. Here is the full list of content included: – Complete, original game, Heavy Rain – Heavy Rain Chronicles: Episode 1 – The Taxidermist DLC – Heavy Rain Original Videogame Score by award-winning film and television composer, Normand Corbeil (16 tracks) – New front-end menu and interface with built-in Move support – A series of 8 “Making of” Bonus Videos – Three Dynamic Themes (Heavy Rain, Heavy Rain ARI Forest, Heavy Rain ARI Mars) – 15 additional pieces of new concept art – 2 bonus Trailers (Thank You Trailer, Love Trailer) For those of you whom haven’t played Heavy Rain (myself included), the director’s cut will cost you $29.99 . Also note that the Heavy Rain Crime scene theme will be free to download via the PlayStation store starting November 8th.

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Heavy Rain Director’s Cut

Just announced for February, Konami just released five brand new screenshots from Silent Hill: Book of Memories for the PlayStation Vita. “Create your own character and tackle the nightmare alone or in co-op! “Like” this if you want to start creating your own entries into the Book of Memories!”

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Silent Hill: Book of Memories for the PlayStation Vita Screens and Scheduled for Release in Feb.

Via IGN , they have confirmed that the Playstation Vita will be officially available on February 22nd. Get ready to place your pre-orders. Official Blog Confirms

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Playstation Vita Launches Feb 22nd in North America, Europe and Latin America