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.

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]

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!

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…

The Nays Have It: Cocoreccho is “unenjoyable”…

The Playstation Network-version of our favorite game isn’t liked by reviewers from across the spectrum. Not only have they pelted it left and right, but they’ve criticized the fact that it’s only an interactive screensaver. Despite being cheap and continuing the franchise, Joystiq went as far to complain that the game lacked the simplicity of the first. This is not good as LocoRoco, which seems to be suffering a “mid-life crisis”, is just two games into the franchise. IGN perhaps put it most lightly: “a celebration of characters…if not the gameplay”. littlevish at the forums has a nice compilation of the current previews for the game and BGL will have a metareview out sometime soon.

Joystiq: LocoRoco PS3 loses “simplicity” of first game…

Just when Cocoreccho started to look good, Joystiq pounced it not for being an interactive screensaver, but rather for being uber-complicated. In an unexpected move, rather than just tilting the controller, they’re different ways to handle different mini-games. In a way, I must admit this could be good as many reviewers of the original said the game was a bit “repetitive”–that could’ve either meant no variety in levels or the fact that the controlling is pretty much all around the same. At the same time, it could alienate original LocoRoco fans who were dazzled by the game’s simplicity. The casual gamer who likes the original PSP game might not take a liking to this one. This is only Joystiq’s first-take though, and as many comments ambitiously say, Joystiq could be embracing the Nintendo-fanboyism they’ve come to hail. From experience, even Wii Sports had quite a few tough controls. We’ll find out more as the week goes.

TGS07 Coverage Plans

TGS07 is on its way and Beyond Get Loco will have all of the latest coverage. Expect head-on commentary that holds nothing back, a feature-packed post-TGS podcast on the way, all of the latest updates, and everything/anything we know about LocoRoco Cocoreccho or any other LocoRoco projects in the works (as well as our routine coverage of Patapon and Echochrome):

• Day-by-Day analysis and coverage of PSP games and Cocoreccho at TGS
• Commentary that pushes the limits by far, asking questions and taking names
• Every single LocoRoco rumor that exists in the world.
• All the Cocoreccho coverage we can muster from those who will be there
• Continuous updates on the VodPod featuring a slew of TGS-vids and Cocoreccho videos.
• Any updates we can find on Patapon, Echochrome, or any other SONY projects ahead.
• The latest news updates & discussions on a specialized-TGS board on the forums
• Exclusive polls and reviews from Beyond Get Loco-members via the uRcd feature.
• Announcements about our team podcasts & the upcoming Reviewrama

So get geared up as Beyond Get Loco readily prepares for the Tokyo Game Show 07 and stick with us for everything and anything you’ve gotta know about the show! See you there.

Cocoreccho Mania!

Cocoreccho doesn’t drop until next week in Europe and Japan [and possibly the USA] (9/21), but it seems clear that SONY is getting a jumpstart on advertising the game, promoting a new trailer video that we’ve gladly uploaded on our VodPod. It exhibits some of the features, but mainly shows video of the beautiful graphics the PS3 has taken advantage of. Check it out here.

TGS07: Cocoreccho Screens Do Shine…

Our nasty criticism of the game LocoRoco Cocoreccho has seemed to fade away. The screensaver hits Thursday and still looks as gorgeous as it did before. It’s interactive and puts a different spin on the franchise we’ve come to love. Thanks to littlevish, we now have a slew of screens for your downloading pleasure. Click here to see two more and get the DL link.

More News on Cocoreccho

We were displeased–okay, a little bit more than displeased–to hear that LocoRoco Cocoreccho, or as it’s been called, Buu Buu Cocoreccho would be merely an interactive screensaver with a few minigames. Now, we’re hearing more about the game from the “official unofficial” or semi-official blog SONY runs, ThreeSpeech.

KEY FEATURES
High resolution at 1080p HD
SIXAXIS™ tilt functionality
3 Mini-games
Ranking modes:
Total score ranking: The player competes using the total number of LocoRoco collected plus the score of the mini-game.
Time Attack ranking:
The player competes using the total time taken to get to the goal. So all depends on the route chosen to reach the end of the game, the shortest it is, the better.
Characters:
LocoRoco: The mysterious creatures who love to bounce and roll around.
Mo[j]a: Loves to gobble up LocoRoco! Don’t let the LocoRoco get eaten!
Muumuu: LocoRocos friends.
BonMucha: The big bad Moja boss!
Online features:
Online ranking board

It’s nice to hear that there will be an online ranking board and 3 minigames, but I’m still not satisfied. I was looking forward to a full-fledged LocoRoco game, but it seems highly unlikely PS3 owners will see one anytime soon. There’s always hope for the PSP-vert. Cocoreccho will be playable at TGS.