Playstation Store Launches Worldwide!

We’re extremely late on this news story, and I apologize (especially since we’ve only been covering the store for a gabillion months now, including in our Holiday Guide), but in case you haven’t heard, SONY has released its Playstation Store worldwide on PC, without any real release date. Though we appreciate it, we’re just a bit ticked off that SONY didn’t announce any release date–I’m sure more people will use it as we get further into the PSP’s life cycle, but right now, considering that only online junkies (like you and myself) know about it, there’s little chance the non-internet PSP owner will use it. There is no PSP-direct store yet, FYI, so you’re still forced to connect your computer, but you now have access to PS1-games, demos, and more: all in one place. Of course, this is not it. It’s a late-night here at BGL as I will soon be uploading some photos of my first experiences in downloading a freebie followed by an actual PSOne game. (First, I have to delete half of everything on my Memory Stick ) Check the store out here.

HOLIDAYS07: The Guide!

The Guide! The holidays are very near, and BGL has got you covered! We’re covering the best games out there on PSP and the consoles, the best accessories to pick up this season, which system is right for you, the PSP basics for newbies, and what to expect for 2008 in case you’re going to hold off on new purchases. Here’s what’s ahead:

• The Guide to Everything PSP :. New to the PSP world? We get you ready for the holiday season by breaking down everything you NEED to know about the PSP and SONY.
• The PSP Must-Haves :. The games you must own for the PSP and where to find them!
• The LocoRoco Top Five :. Are you a true LocoRoco fan? Here’s what you need for the holiday season to become the ultimate LocoRoco fanatic.
• The Accessories Top Five :. The must-own accessories for the PSP this fall and why you need them.
• The Consoles :. BGL gives you our honest opinion on which console to buy and which purchases to make in terms of software and accessories.
• 2008 and Beyond :. Want to hold off on PSP purchases? Here’s what to expect for 2008.

UPDATE: Didn’t see this coming? The Holiday Guide kicks off a few days early not to conflict with Veterans Day.
UPDATE: Added New Links! (November 17th, 2007; November 25th, 2007)

ROUNDUP: The Zune Edition

ROUNDUP 11/4-11/16

Okay, it’s not that we don’t like Microsoft. It’s just that they consistently have a “way” of doing things–abandoning their own creations (DRM WMA, maybe?), pushing products with glitches (XBOX 360), and making mistakes constantly (Windows ME, much?). Their Zune was one of those mistakes–a bulky, outdated player with a mere 30GB in a market where 80GB became the standard. The original Zune had a very old-fashioned standard d-pad with a center button and two other buttons instead of a touch feature that the other mp3 players had. It also had Wi-Fi that was used for Zune-to-Zune sharing (like anybody did that) and video support without the videos. The new Zune2 has been raved by critics alike, who enjoy its new interface, new button system (a touchpad system reminiscent of the Click Wheel), and a flash version. Sure, it’s all around improved, but it screams “iPod Competitor”. Instead of giving us more–for example, a social video community where people could share their videos straight from their Zune, a built-in digital/video camera for taking photos/videos and sharing them, an actual social network (a la Facebook) on the Zune, or an actual video store–they gave us just what the iPod offered. If Microsoft seriously aims to compete with the rest, they need to innovate the market, not crowd it with the same thing. All bets are on : The Zune2’s sales won’t improve. Weekly Roundup after the jump…

LOCO2?: LocoRoco Devs Looking for new Staff…

LOCO2?: That’s right. The LocoRoco developers in Japan are looking for new help in developing a new game, which could either mean LocoRoco2 or an entirely-new project. Considering that we haven’t heard anything about our favorite game since the release of Cocoreccho, it’s nice to know that the LocoRoco faithful might have something else to play in the upcoming months.

[Via PSPFanboy]

HOLIDAYS07: The Guide to Everything PSP

The Guide to Everything PSP

The PSP, or Playstation Portable, has been rocking the market for two years straight, by far the most graphically capable of the two major portable devices. This year, a new model and several new games try to improve the PSP’s sales and succeed. But, which one is right for you and why should you jump into the PSP market now? Find out after the jump.

UGH?: Famitsu Thinks PSP Momentum Won’t Last…

UGH?: The momentum the PSP has recently experienced thanks most in part to Crisis Core and the 1seg TV tuner (as we’re hearing) won’t last, according to a Famitsu survey. A sharp 43.3% of retailers don’t believe the big buzz will last for long. Sales of Crisis Core are already quieting down and the PSP has returned to below the DS Lite. Even though games like Gundam and Metal Gear Solid have shown strong performances in recent weeks, retailers are begging for colors different than DS Lite colors and also, games like Monster Hunter (zoom back to Spring 2007 when the game sold a million copies in its first week). This is obviously not pretty news, but the question is: how can SONY attract the third-party devs to PSP who are running to consoles, especially since PSP sales are weakening again?

[Via PSPHyper]

PODCAST: Our New, Official Super-Duper Directory

A nice note to our podcast listeners: we have a new, official super-duper directory up on our main site for your streaming and downloading pleasure. The directory features all of our podcasts, the majority of them archived, and features information and streaming. This doesn’t mean that you can’t still get your podcasts from our near-dozen number of directory sites (Odeo, ThePodLounge, iTunes, etc.), but BGL will be uploading the official podcasts up at this directory before anybody else gets a hold of them. Enjoy!

Big Bang Announcement from SONY Next Week…

A recent influx of good news from SONY–the successful launch of the new PSPslim, good sales in Japan two weeks in a row, powerful showings at both E3 and TGS, and a rumor claiming that Bungie (the Halo-creators) might be leaving Microsoft–has really been good considering the year of 2006 that was and the recent price-cut fiasco. Now, it is being rumored by Joystiq that SONY has a ‘big bang’ or humongous announcement coming on October 12th. Many have hinted it to be either Halo or a Bungie-related project heading to PS3, a major price-cut for the PS3, or a new PS3 model. Whatever it might be, it’s going to be big if it does happen. BGL will keep you updated as news plops up.

PSPFanboy: “Danger of [Patapon] becoming repetitive”…

Patapon is still a ways off from being released anywhere in the world, but PSPFanboy admits that from what they’ve played, the game has the potential to possibly become repetitive. This was one of the few complaints for LocoRoco, though I completely disagreed with it. Despite PSPFanboy’s comment, they claim that the game gets much ‘deeper’, hoping that more advanced controls in further levels will improve the ‘tactical nature’ of the game. Our recent Patapon impressions revealed that the game is still one of our favorites from what we have seen and clearly begs us to want more.

Cocoreccho Not a Screensaver?! and More “Reviews”

Despite generally negative reviews for LocoRoco or Boo Boo Cocoreccho, the PS3 “interactive screensaver” that made its way to the general public on Playstation Network today, many LocoRoco fans and other reviewers across the net had better hands-on looks, impressions, and reviews. Because I do not own a PS3, it’ll be hard for me to tell who to base your opinions on, but feel free to look at the better side of the spectrum…