Meet my new friend

"Shine brightly"

I just recently got my hands on a PSP-3000 or the PSP 'Brite'. An officemate of mine was selling it for 3500php and it was in extremely good condition. My impulses were telling me to "BUY IT NOW YOU IDIOT! A CHANCE LIKE THIS WON'T POP UP AGAIN!" even though I'll be tight on cash due to end-of-the-month-bills-attack. But hey, a PSP-3000 for just 3500php?

Just to be sure, I tested it out. Games, memory stick reading, button checks, WLAN. They all seem to work fine except for the analog stick which gets double inputs so I won't be able to pull off Lightning's Ex Burst in Dissidia 012.

The faceplate has a few dents on the left side probably due a fall but it doesn't really bother me as it isn't even noticable when looking at it from the front. The housing is done in a nice glossy pearl white finish and there are no signs of paint chipping so this gives me the impression that it's a fairly new purchase by the previous owner.

"Kangeki no hikari!"

Aside from the slightly wonky analog stick and a few dings a scratches, it's in really good condition and I'm glad I got it when I did. My current PSP is still the 1000/Fat model so I have a really loose WLAN switch and no ability to hook it up to a TV. With my new PSP-3000, who I have named WoL (Warrior of Light), I now have a significantly brighter screen, TV out, a working WLAN switch, faster RAM and better feeling buttons. Expect to see me playing some PSP games over at www.justin.tv/toomuchgaming or on www.justin.tv/acicon if the TMG JTV is on the fritz. Assuming I get the cables needed anytime soon.

On a side note, look what happened to my shoes that same day I got WoL.

"Ignore the manboobs"

PSP games getting the HD fix?

So we know that Monster Hunter Portable 3rd is getting the HD makeover. Apparently this won't be the only PSP game to get that treatment. No other games have been announced but I'm sure people who have heard of this are already making their PSP-to-PS3 wish list. Here's mine.

1. Dissidia 012 [Duodecim] Final Fantasy For obvious reasons as this is one of my favorite PSP games of all time. Technically I like the first Dissidia just cause I spent more time with it but Duodecim has more features, characters, content and tweaks that just makes it a better game.

2. Metal Gear Solid: Peacewalker Throw in Portable Ops too and make it a "Collection" of sorts. Peacewalker was a fantastic PSP game although the boss fights definitely felt a lot more 'Monster Hunter' than Metal Gear. A lot of people had a huge gripe with the camera being mapped to the face buttons which I think was giving more crap than it deserved. But this game would definitely benefit from dual analog stick controls.

I'd add more to my list of choices but I currently have no access to my collection of PSP games (meaning I'm currently not at home right now) but I might later on.

My choices are coming mostly from a control / feature standpoint. Like how Dissidia needs online functionality and how Peacewalker needs dual analog sticks.

Some of the obvious choices would be Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep. Final Fantasy VII: Crisis Core and the 2 God of War titles on the PSP but those don't really need an HD remake. They were solid enough as PSP titles, both controlwise and presentation. I think the 2 God of War games would be no brainers as they pretty much control the same as their console counterparts but Crisis Core? C'mon, combat in that game was pretty meh and I've seen enough of it's story that I don't need to see it in HD. KH: BBS doesn't need a control overhaul nor does it need an HD retelling, in my opinion at least.

What about you? What are your prime choices for the PSP-to-PS3 HD ports?

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8h_vxLEvw2I?rel=0&w=560&h=349]

PSN Offers 12-month Identity Theft Protection Service, No Charge

I just received an email from PlayStation Network offering a 12 months of premium identity protection service by Debix, free of charge. For those who haven't received the mail, you can read it below.

Identity Theft Protection Offer for PlayStation®Network and Qriocity™ Customers

Sony Computer Entertainment and Sony Network Entertainment have made arrangements with Debix to offer AllClear ID PLUS to eligible PlayStation®Network and Qriocity account holders in the United States who are concerned about identity theft.

AllClear ID PLUS is a premium identity protection service that uses advanced technology to deliver alerts to help protect you from identity theft. The service also provides identity theft insurance coverage and hands-on help from expert fraud investigators.

Sony has arranged, at no charge to eligible PlayStation®Network and Qriocity account holders, for twelve months of this service to be provided by Debix to those who choose to enroll. In order to be eligible, account holders must be residents of the United States with active accounts as of April 20, 2011.

If interested, please submit your email address by June 28, 2011, at 11:59:59 PM CST at: us.playstation.com/news/consumeralerts/identity-theft-protection.

Please note, you must enter the same email address used to register your PlayStation®Network or Qriocity account. Once your email address is validated, you will be sent your AllClear ID PLUS activation code.

Sincerely,

Sony Computer Entertainment & Sony Network Entertainment

Weekend, what have you been playing?

"Alien War. Don't get it? Say L.A. Noire 5x really fast"

Well the day of the Rapture is over and we're all still here giving news and opinions about video games. What have you been playing during the Rapture weekend?

Migoy: Revisiting some unfinished games I've had in my huge gaming backlog. One of those games is Mega Man 9. The game is both old school charming and old school hard. The level design can be sadistically difficult, most are shorter than in older Mega Man games but I find myself dying a whole lot more in 9. Aside from that I've been playing some random games to test out the broadcast like Tatsunoko vs. Capcom: Ultimate All-Stars.

Arlie: I'm currently playing L.A. Noire. I got my copy the first day it was available here in the Philippines which was 2 days after the game's release date. I'm currently on my 2nd Homicide case called "The Golden Butterfly". That's it, just L.A. Noire.

Quash: Just like Arlie(or maybe everybody else this week),  I'm playing L.A Noire. It's a great game but has its flaws. I'm only halfway through the game and enjoying the detective aspect of the game. I've already charged an innocent man for murder because of my fail detective work, but that's the beauty of the game, making big decisions based on how you saw the case and living with it.If you reset your L.A Noire game because you made a mistake shame on you!

I also started with Witcher 2. Done with prologue and did a few quests on Act 1, haven't played that long because of L.A Noire but The Witcher 2 looks amazing. An RPG that I couldn't ignore.

RGP # 18 - You gotta do what?

Random Gaming Post # 18

I gotta believe! Kick! Punch! It's all in the mind! If you wanna test me I'm sure you'll find that the things I teach ya is sure to beat ya but nevertheless you get a lesson from teacher now KICK!

A blast down nostalgia lane. PaRappa the Rapper was my first ever music game and the 2nd game that I ever played on my original PlayStation. One the most bizarre video games I have ever played and no doubt one that I will forever cherish.

Its bizarre gameplay and scoring system lets you play the songs, win or fail all the songs get burned in you mind forever but somehow you never get tired of hearing it over and over again.

PaRappa the Rapper got rereleased on the PSP with some added songs in multiplayer mode. If you missed this gem of a game and you own a PSP then there is no reason for you not to pick this game up.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6eZcV1UuUzI?rel=0&w=425&h=349]