Late Night Consoling

According to a translated press release, Sony will as of tomorrow operate a downloadable movie service for its PSP console, beginning the service concurrently with the release of its version 2.00 firmware. The web browser provided with the update will allow PSP owners to access the service, which will only offer a limited selection of free video content at launch but will eventually comprise a larger selection of both free and paid movies, trailers, and shows. Apparently, paid content will be protected and can only be kept on Memory Sticks (ha ha, good one Sony), while free content will be transferable to other sources, such as a PC. Video will be encoded in H.264/MPEG-4 AVC, the PSP's newly supported format. Though Sony did not indicate whether such a service would reach North American or European shores, it seems a bit unlikely. UMD movies already sell far better in North America than they do in Japan, making the incentive of easily-downloadable films less necessary in this market.

Despite nightmarish legal and fiscal troubles in recent months, publisher Majesco is pushing on with their unique Game Boy Advance Video brand. The product line, which plays full video and audio on the GBA using standard-size cartidges, has in the past been used only for episodes of animated kids' TV shows. However, today the company annouced a deal with film studio DreamWorks SKG which secures the rights for Majesco to publish animated DreamWorks films on the GBA, addressing a common complaint of the line that available titles lacked replay value. The first films to be made available will be Shark Tale, Shrek, and Shrek 2 this October at a $19.99 price point.

Capcom has revealed the final names of the various upcoming versions of Viewtiful Joe. The one due for GameCube and PSP, previously known as Viewtiful Joe: VFX Battle or the exquisite Viewtiful Joe: Red Hot Man depending on who you might ask, will be entitled Viewtiful Joe: Red Hot Rumble. In addition to the obvious 3D-on-a-2D-plane side-scrolling action, the game will include a vs. battle mode. The DS version of the game, formerly and appropriately known as Viewtiful Joe DS, will be called Viewtiful Joe: Double Trouble. Double Trouble makes use of the touch screen and dual screen features to various effects, most interestingly to slice the bottom of the screen in half and slide the two halves around (I've played it, it works quite well). All three releases are expected by the end of the year.

Apparently Nintendo is not ready to give up Resident Evil (known in Japan as Biohazard), following RE4's stunning presentation on the GameCube. Rumor has it that Nintendo of America is hopeful for a release on the company's Revolution as well. It's a definite possibility, considering the series' long-time association with Nintendo. It is also important to note that, contrary to the wording of many news reports on the subject, Capcom's original press release announcing RE5 on Xbox 360 and PS3 did not in fact mention Revolution, either in a positive or negative context.

Who cares?

David Tolin has posted the second part of his Diary of an Aging Gamer, this one called Generation Lost. He reflects on the general decline in focus on kids in gaming these days, and it's worth having a read if you grew up a gamer from a young age (and if you didn't, it's a good article for another perspective I suppose). Speaking for myself, I have little regard for what kind of demographic a game is intended for; I'll play anything, E to M, so I sometimes forget that the market has changed so much. Working the other job I currently have (though will not have for much longer), which is in a gaming retail store, is always a sharp reminder...