Tuesday 13 October 2009

Dear Santa... this Christmas I want some girlie game for my PS3

Dear VG-Santa,
this year I was a very good chick gamer.
I have played many games both on my PS3 and on the PC (I will also give a go at Shadow Complex on my Elite, I promise).
I have almost platinum-ed Red Faction: Guerrilla (and you do know it took a lot of devotion) and I also helped other fellow players get some nasty sub-trophies.

I also wrote some nice articles on this blog, you know, and have got any nice special edition for all games I bought this year!

Since I've been so good I would like to ask you a nice present for this Christmas and it is not just for me but for all the chick gamers out there (and maybe some boy too).
Please, remind Sony and MS how the Wii built its great success (i.e.: Wii Fit) and bring us some sport/training/dance game on the PS3 and XBOX as well.

I've got a playstation eye already, now please bring me a crazy coloured mat (wireless, please) and a personal trainer stuffed into a BluRay (only the trainer, the mat must be physical) :).
After all, the PS3 "only does everything" so it can also do only one more thing too (becoming a sort of gym that is), right?

Oh, pretty please, for the dance game I want custom tracks to be the main option. I
'm not much a fan of disco or pop music but I can certainly Dance if off with Jamiroquai or Fat Boy Slim, you know (I've lost past my teenage years ;)).



Oh, and while you're there reminding Sony (especially) and MS they have a girlie fan base, just thrown in there the idea of some lovely pink pads (not asking for a whole PS3 slim yet) and keyboard/accessories etc..


ps.: I'd also really like to know when project Natal will be released since it seems the perfect tool for what I want :). I already know it's not going to be this Christmas though so I'll keep the request for the next occasion (you also do some Easter overtime?)


Thank-you
Ivy

Friday 9 October 2009

Little Big Planet gadgets coming to UK/Europe(?!) in October!

We read a big deal about Little Big Planet sackboy based gadget at the beginning of the year and actually there was huge demand for anything sackboy based since Little big Planet is one of Playstation greatest exclusive (and a must-play for any gamer) and an innovative and awesome title featuring awesome graphic and very cute character. And honestly some LBP gadgets are long overdue.
While I understand MM (we make games it's their motto) and Sony are more into making games and hardware the LBP brand could probably be a huge success in the toy market and definitely not just appeal gamers (it's also a great chance for successful cross-promotion).

The first Little big Planet gadgets were previewed back in February:
playstation blog announcement



Then they hinted that there would be some cool merchandise VERY soon just after San Diego's Comic-Con (July 2009)
playstation blog post

... and then, while I was checking some stuff on Play.com today I found out that the first official Little Big Planet sackboy gadgets will be available in UK (and presumably the rest of Europe!?) no later than by the end of October.

Play.com in fact is already listing them for purchase and will ship them starting from the 26th Oct.: LBP gadgets on Play.com. Beware though, Play.com will only ship gadgets to UK addresses :(.



Otherwise you can go the DIY way if you can knit or crochet (or have some beloved one that can) and, honestly, one can really get some awesome results!
Check what people have come up with:
Article on Media Molecule's site
Maggie Wang's sackboys
and find a pattern here (but it isn't the best result I've seen) for free:
free sackboy pattern.



or just buy some handmade ones through etsy (lots of talented artisans/artists there:
sackboys on Etsy
(this is a great looking pattern!): Best sackboy pattern.





PS3: your HD is linked to ONE PS3 so remember to make full back-ups!

Truth be told I never thought about doing PS3 back-ups for a couple of reasons:
1st: I think the PS3 is a brilliant and solid piece of hardware
2nd and most important: I've got my 250GB hard disk installed so in case I'll just mount it on a new machine...

I discovered just too late that no other PS3 will read my hard disk unless I format it (that means all my data will be erased).
As for some data the PS3 hard disk is linked to only 1 PS3 and will not work on any other PS3.

So, basically, if your PS3 breaks for any reason even though you have all your precious saves and data on your hard disk it will be useless because you cannot read/transfer them on any other machine.
At least... that's what I've experienced.

What I'm basically suggesting is: do your bi-weekly or monthly full back-ups (using the PS3 back up utility) to make sure you won't loose your stuff!
The full back-up will take quite a while (1 - 2 hours so plan it for when you won't be using your PS3 for gaming :)).
Check here for instructions: http://manuals.playstation.net/document/en/ps3/current/settings/backuputility.html

You will not lose trophies information in any case since they are linked to your account outside your PS3 (but remember to syncro them every once in a while, if you care).

Happy gaming!
Ivy