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Renpatsu · Aug 17, 2014

Pegosaurus said:
Yeah, the balance is important. Reminds me of how Gurren Lagann has a ton of fanservice in the first few episodes, but the plot and setting of the show made it worth it to me. Unfortunately I haven't found a "fanservicey" game like this yet, although admittedly I have only gotten the information I have from trailers and videos.

I haven't finished my play of Atelier Totori, but for all intents and purposes from the people that are in the know Atelier is a series that you should probably look into then. If you take away the aesthetic you're left with a JRPG with a heavy focus on material crafting and time management. The story itself is closer to a slice of life than the end of the world scenario of most RPGs. It also helps that the Atelier games in my opinion have some of the nicest 3D modelling in a JRPG in a long while, they've done a great job of recreating their original concept art.

Edit: Honestly, people who dislike SAO for whatever reason should just watch Log Horizon instead.

bobawesome · Aug 17, 2014

Princess Cadance said:
I enjoyed all of the SAO anime, and I am currently enjoying the second season. I think it's curious why the second half is so polarizing.

SAO (from what I've seen, watched in videos, read, and seen as opinions here) is designed to appeal to people that liked the anime. If you didn't find the anime appealing, the game by fundamental design might not be for you.

I'm certainly looking forward to playing it next week! It looks gorgeous.

It's funny because as much as I dislike the anime I'm still very much looking forward to playing the game. There were aspects of the show that appealed to me such as the tower and the setting. Heck, I even liked some of the characters.

v1perz53 · Aug 17, 2014

I think it is always kind of odd how people complain that fanservice is wrong but play games where they are a mass murderer. Why is killing hundreds of "bad" people ok but a girl choosing to show herself off in a revealing manner not? Now this is a gross oversimplification, but the point stands. In games, there is a very odd line between what is totally OK and what isn't.

For my personal view, I just ignore fanservice. I am perfectly capable of enjoying a thing that has aspects I don't like, by simply not paying attention to those aspects. I find it easier than wasting my time actively hating those things, I just ignore them instead. How I feel about fanservice. If the game is good otherwise, then I hardly even notice it exists. Take Demon Gaze for example, I forgot there was actually fanservice in that game because I enjoyed the mechanics and gameplay so much.

Now, occasionally fanservice can add to a game. Like if you are building a relationship between two characters, naturally it could evolve to the point where they would see each other in poses or outfilts that would constitute fanservice, and I don't find any fault in that. More believable than the romantic couple who is totally in love by the end of a game but has never even kissed. If it is done in a believable way than again, I don't even notice that it exists.

HypnoDarkrai · Aug 17, 2014

Slygmous said:
Random question time: I'm beginning to run outa room on my 500gb PS3, is there a way to see how much space each game is taking up (like on the Vita)?

I only noticed when using it to back up my Vita card for the 64gb upgrade.

You have to do one at a time I think.
Press Triangle over the game and go to Information.

Pegosaurus · Aug 17, 2014

Renpatsu said:
I haven't finished my play of Atelier Totori, but for all intents and purposes from the people that are in the know Atelier is a series that you should probably look into then. If you take away the aesthetic you're left with a JRPG with a heavy focus on material crafting and time management. The story itself is closer to a slice of life than the end of the world scenario of most RPGs. It also helps that the Atelier games in my opinion have some of the nicest 3D modelling in a JRPG in a long while, they've done a great job of recreating their original concept art.

Edit: Honestly, people who dislike SAO for whatever reason should just watch Log Horizon instead.

I've actually gotten the recommendation before so I guess I can give it a shot. Which one is the best to start out with, or does it not matter?

v1perz53 said:
I think it is always kind of odd how people complain that fanservice is wrong but play games where they are a mass murderer. Why is killing hundreds of "bad" people ok but a girl choosing to show herself off in a revealing manner not? Now this is a gross oversimplification, but the point stands. In games, there is a very odd line between what is totally OK and what isn't.

For my personal view, I just ignore fanservice. I am perfectly capable of enjoying a thing that has aspects I don't like, by simply not paying attention to those aspects. I find it easier than wasting my time actively hating those things, I just ignore them instead. How I feel about fanservice. If the game is good otherwise, then I hardly even notice it exists. Take Demon Gaze for example, I forgot there was actually fanservice in that game because I enjoyed the mechanics and gameplay so much.

Now, occasionally fanservice can add to a game. Like if you are building a relationship between two characters, naturally it could evolve to the point where they would see each other in poses or outfilts that would constitute fanservice, and I don't find any fault in that. More believable than the romantic couple who is totally in love by the end of a game but has never even kissed. If it is done in a believable way than again, I don't even notice that it exists.

I don't mean to imply that fan service is wrong, it just doesn't appeal to me. Now there is fan service that I can appreciate, like as you said if you're building a relationship. If you can call progressing the social links with the main cast in P3/4 fan service once you get a strong relationship, then I can definitely appreciate that. It's more of the in your face, over sexual fan service that doesn't appeal to me. In no way am I suggesting that they should stop, I was just wondering if anyone shared an opinion.

bobawesome · Aug 17, 2014

v1perz53 said:
I think it is always kind of odd how people complain that fanservice is wrong but play games where they are a mass murderer. Why is killing hundreds of "bad" people ok but a girl choosing to show herself off in a revealing manner not? Now this is a gross oversimplification, but the point stands. In games, there is a very odd line between what is totally OK and what isn't.

For my personal view, I just ignore fanservice. I am perfectly capable of enjoying a thing that has aspects I don't like, by simply not paying attention to those aspects. I find it easier than wasting my time actively hating those things, I just ignore them instead. How I feel about fanservice. If the game is good otherwise, then I hardly even notice it exists. Take Demon Gaze for example, I forgot there was actually fanservice in that game because I enjoyed the mechanics and gameplay so much.

Now, occasionally fanservice can add to a game. Like if you are building a relationship between two characters, naturally it could evolve to the point where they would see each other in poses or outfilts that would constitute fanservice, and I don't find any fault in that. More believable than the romantic couple who is totally in love by the end of a game but has never even kissed. If it is done in a believable way than again, I don't even notice that it exists.

I believe most fanservice that people take issue with is the kind where the girls appear to be very young and scantily clad. I don't think I've heard anyone say outright that all fanservice is bad. That's just ridiculous. C'mon...the world needs semi-nude anime women.

DevilTakoyaki · Aug 17, 2014

Does anyone know how many primary account that I can set on the PS4 ??

incpdo · Aug 17, 2014

So did you Guys saw that vita minecraft trailer? Im hyped

Mononoke · Aug 17, 2014

Princess Cadance said:
I enjoyed all of the SAO anime, and I am currently enjoying the second season. I think it's curious why the second half is so polarizing.

SAO (from what I've seen, watched in videos, read, and seen as opinions here) is designed to appeal to people that liked the anime. If you didn't find the anime appealing, the game by fundamental design might not be for you.

I'm certainly looking forward to playing it next week! It looks gorgeous.

Why is it curious?

The bad guy in the second half is lame. What they did to Asuna was terrible. Plot focus is bizarre as a lot of it focuses on the incest plot between Kirito and his sister. It has more cringe moments like the tentacle rape scene.

I dunno. I can accept that fans like it as evident by this thread. But I think the seasons shift in focus and some of the elements I said above (which are subjective I agree) makes it obvious why some hate it. I dont think you have to hate it. But I think the criticisms are known (even if you don't agree).

Flandy · Aug 17, 2014

^ You're bad at spoilers

Mononoke · Aug 17, 2014

Flandy said:
^ You're bad at spoilers

For 10 seconds sure.

Last time I try to do it my phone though. Fuckin hate it, it's constantly fighting me.

Edit: if you or anyone else was legitimately spoiled I sincerely apologize. All I can do is say sorry and not do it again. Ill make it up to you all though in 2 weeks. You will see.

v1perz53 · Aug 17, 2014

Yukiko said:
Why is it curious?

The bad guy in the second half is lame. What they did to Asuna was terrible. Plot focus is bizarre as a lot of it focuses on the incest plot between Kirito and his sister. It has more cringe moments like the tentacle rape scene.

I agree with almost all of what you said, but still didn't really mind the second half. That said, the

incest/not incest plot

was there in the first half too, it was just stressed more in the second. I agree with the

villain being crappy, Asuna business being awful, and tentacle rape stuff being shit

, but I definitely prefer the fact that in the second half they got rid of the

die in the game die in real life

plot point. I always felt it was very limiting, as it didn't allow for partial failures without dire consequences. Either the heroes won or it was a huge emotional moment.

I find it funny, I agree that I didn't like everything you said was bad and I have other things that I didn't like as well, such as the boring "lets live in a log cabin for a while" part early on, but I still enjoyed the show. Maybe I have a high tolerance for negative stuff, who knows. Interesting to me! To each their own.

Back on track, jeebus the demo for D4 is 1.8 GB. Is it the entire game but with some kind of limit?

Mononoke · Aug 17, 2014

v1perz53 said:
I agree with almost all of what you said, but still didn't really mind the second half. That said, the

incest/not incest plot

was there in the first half too, it was just stressed more in the second. I agree with the

villain being crappy, Asuna business being awful, and tentacle rape stuff being shit

, but I definitely prefer the fact that in the second half they got rid of the

die in the game die in real life

plot point. I always felt it was very limiting, as it didn't allow for partial failures without dire consequences. Either the heroes won or it was a huge emotional moment.

I find it funny, I agree that I didn't like everything you said was bad and I have other things that I didn't like as well, such as the boring "lets live in a log cabin for a while" part early on, but I still enjoyed the show. Maybe I have a high tolerance for negative stuff, who knows. Interesting to me! To each their own.

Back on track, jeebus the demo for D4 is 1.8 GB. Is it the entire game but with some kind of limit?

Great post. No one should ever feel bad for liking something. I hate when people get nasty towards others just because someone likes something you think is bad. Express your opinion? Sure. Have a discussion about why you think someone is wrong if there is two parties willing? Absolutely. But its messed up when people shame others or try to make them feel bad.

Anyways ill stop talking about the anime. Already got myself into trouble doing so. But I can 100% recommend the game.

Silvawuff · Aug 17, 2014

Yukiko said:
Why is it curious?

I said it was curious, not a bad thing. SAO's strength as an anime, I think, was in its pacing. It's easy to focus on the silly stuff like the

"new" bad guy, incesty stuff, etc.

, but I also think it was a good exploratory contrast to the aftermath of the first half. Kirito said

the fight wasn't over, even though they weren't trapped anymore. It was true, they weren't free from the horror yet. Him discovering he was playing with his sister was a neat twist, and there were emotional challenges to overcome because of it. It wasn't just brother/sister waifu love just cause'.

So, yes, it did a lot of stuff wrong, but as a whole story I think it did a lot of things right by changing it up. Since the SAO game is taking place exclusively in the Alfheim setting as a spinoff/continuation of the first half, those on the fence should choose to play the game as a subject of its own merit, and not that of the anime that inspired it -- but it's that much easier to get into and understand having seen the anime. I think part of the draw is seeing how much of the anime and MMO mechanics from it translated to a playable video game. If you deny yourself the anime (even the second half), you're denying yourself the little details that make it special.

ZeroAKA · Aug 17, 2014

v1perz53 said:
Back on track, jeebus the demo for D4 is 1.8 GB. Is it the entire game but with some kind of limit?

The full game is much bigger. The new HD sprites take up a lot of space.

Mononoke · Aug 17, 2014

Disgaea 4 is my first game in the series. And I'm loving everything about the story and the style/tone of the game. But my god, I feel absolutely stupid when it comes to the combat and understanding the entire system. I don't think it's that complex, and yet I feel like I'm fumbling around trying to grasp it. Bleh. I hope I start getting more comfortable with it as the game goes on.

Flandy · Aug 17, 2014

Yukiko said:
For 10 seconds sure.

Last time I try to do it my phone though. Fuckin hate it, it's constantly fighting me.

Edit: if you or anyone else was legitimately spoiled I sincerely apologize. All I can do is say sorry and not do it again. Ill make it up to you all though in 2 weeks. You will see.

You didn't spoil it for me. I realized I was reading a failed spoiler halfway in :lol

You're going to give me Danganronpa 2 in two weeks to make up for it, right?

Totally intentional fail

ZeroAKA · Aug 17, 2014

Yukiko said:
Disgaea 4 is my first game in the series. And I'm loving everything about the story and the style/tone of the game. But my god, I feel absolutely stupid when it comes to the combat and understanding the entire system. I don't think it's that complex, and yet I feel like I'm fumbling around trying to grasp it. Bleh. I hope I start getting more comfortable with it as the game goes on.

How far are you? The depth of Disgaea games doesn't become apparent until post-game in which you venture into Item/Class World and start trying to maximize the stats of your favorite party members.

Mononoke · Aug 17, 2014

ZeroAKA said:
How far are you? The depth of Disgaea games doesn't become apparent until post-game in which you venture into Item/Class World and start trying to maximize the stats of your favorite party members.

Not that far in. Like only an hour! Lol just barely started. That said, I'm not the most skilled player when it comes to RPGs. So it probably seems too much for me because I suck. I should be fine. I had no idea what I was doing in Demon Gaze, and eventually made my way to the end and beat it.

Flandy said:
You didn't spoil it for me. I realized I was reading a failed spoiler halfway in :lol

You're going to give me Danganronpa 2 in two weeks to make up for it, right?

Totally intentional fail

Phew, glad I didn't spoil you. Felt really bad. What sucks is, I totally had the spoiler tags right and for some reason my phone fucked up the / (I'm not sure if it was auto correct or what, but fuckin a). I broke my iPhone and hopped over to an extra Galaxy S4 my family had. And I fuckin suck at using this phones keyboard and browser. It's constantly fighting me. Making me rage. I had the HTC One before, and I loved that phone. Guess I'm not so hot with Samsung.

As far as what I have planned...you will see.

Flandy · Aug 17, 2014

Yukiko said:
Not that far in. Like only an hour! Lol just barely started. That said, I'm not the most skilled player when it comes to RPGs. So it probably seems too much for me because I suck. I should be fine. I had no idea what I was doing in Demon Gaze, and eventually made my way to the end and beat it.

Phew, glad I didn't spoil you. Felt really bad. What sucks is, I totally had the spoiler tags right and for some reason my phone fucked up the / (I'm not sure if it was auto correct or what, but fuckin a). I broke my iPhone and hopped over to an extra Galaxy S4 my family had. And I fuckin suck at using this phones keyboard and browser. It's constantly fighting me. Making me rage. I had the HTC One before, and I loved that phone. Guess I'm not so hot with Samsung.

As far as what I have planned...you will see.

lol I know how you feel. Sometimes when I post from my Vita the keyboard will bug out. Like I enter a letter and instead of typing that letter it'll jump to a random part of the text and delete it.

I'm hype.

typing this from my Wii U

ZeroAKA · Aug 17, 2014

Flandy said:
lol I know how you feel. Sometimes when I post from my Vita the keyboard will bug out. Like I enter a letter and instead of typing that letter it'll jump to a random part of the text and delete it.

I'm hype.

typing this from my Wii U

Time to get with the times and buy a smartphone.

Novocaine · Aug 17, 2014

The only game in the Disgaea series of games I've played is Prinny, and that game was balls hard IRRC. I hope AU gets a demo of the new game, I'd like to give it a try.

baekshi · Aug 17, 2014

SACRIFICE TREE?
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/17/n...f-human-sacrifice-to-a-tree.html?ref=nyregion

ramyeon · Aug 17, 2014

Novocaine said:
The only game in the Disgaea series of games I've played is Prinny, and that game was balls hard IRRC. I hope AU gets a demo of the new game, I'd like to give it a try.

Yeah I hope so too. Never played the series either but I'd love a demo to see if it's something I'd want to buy.

wilflare · Aug 17, 2014

hmm how's everyone backing up their Vita content to the PC?
is the CMA the only option?

Flightmare · Aug 17, 2014

wilflare said:
hmm how's everyone backing up their Vita content to the PC?
is the CMA the only option?

Pretty sure it is

JP · Aug 17, 2014

Has anybody heard any updates on Jamestown Plus? When it was announced they kept referring to it as a "summer" release but I've heard nothing else about it since then. Have played it before so really can't wait to play the PS4 version.

Jamestown Plus PS4 Teaser

wilflare · Aug 17, 2014

JP said:
Has anybody heard any updates on Jamestown Plus? When it was announced they kept referring to it as a "summer" release but I've heard nothing else about it since then. Have played it before so really can't wait to play the PS4 version.

Jamestown Plus PS4 Teaser

I wanna play it on my Vita, natively

RalchAC · Aug 17, 2014

baekshi said:
The anime is trash. Why would anyone recommend that?

Because the game ignores the "trashiest" part of the anime.

RyosukeTH said:
They tried to make me read the books too.

Well, the books are kind of decent if you switch off your brain. I used them as a way to improve my english reading skills while they were on Baka-Tsuki, like 2 years ago or so.

The second arc really is the lowest point on the series. The Counter Strike part is decent and the story arc that only takes one volume was decent too.

I haven't read the super-duper-long arc because it's super-duper-long and I didn't wanted to give it a try until it was finished.

Renpatsu said:
SAO is a series that becomes progressively better the further removed it becomes from the original concept of dying in a MMORPG = death that made up the first two volumes. The author also becomes a better writer by consequence which makes his later volumes worth reading.

Second half of SAO season 1 anime is so bad.

The problem here is that it started as an online novel (blogs and such). It became popular and the author rewrote it on a proper novel magazine. If you have such a good chance to rewrite your previous stuff, why not making it better? You don't need to be Shakespeare or Cervantes to notice that the second half is AWFUL.

Princess Cadance said:
I enjoyed all of the SAO anime, and I am currently enjoying the second season. I think it's curious why the second half is so polarizing.

SAO (from what I've seen, watched in videos, read, and seen as opinions here) is designed to appeal to people that liked the anime. If you didn't find the anime appealing, the game by fundamental design might not be for you.

I'm certainly looking forward to playing it next week! It looks gorgeous.

First of all, the villian is terrible and the way it's handled is even worse. If that dude was a better character it wouldn't be as terrible.

Second one. In the first half they kind of ignore some MMO "rules". And it's OK if they want to use some "creative freedom", but in the second half this gets really, really worse. It gets ridiculous.

The pacing is really bad. And you should be glad that the anime skips Jotunheim.

Princess Cadance said:
I said it was curious, not a bad thing. SAO's strength as an anime, I think, was in its pacing. It's easy to focus on the silly stuff like the

"new" bad guy, incesty stuff, etc.

, but I also think it was a good exploratory contrast to the aftermath of the first half. Kirito said

the fight wasn't over, even though they weren't trapped anymore. It was true, they weren't free from the horror yet. Him discovering he was playing with his sister was a neat twist, and there were emotional challenges to overcome because of it. It wasn't just brother/sister waifu love just cause'.

I think one of its strengths was that the guy that made the storyboard / structured the planes, did quite a good job. There are fights, like the one against where Kirito shows the Dual Sword skill (74th floor boss?), that from a "techinical" standpoint are quite well done IMO. The music, the pacing, the planes, everything is made to hype the viewer and I think it works really well.

I talked about this scene because it kind of is the best sample of what happens in the series. But I think there was more similar stuff. The first season was decent, aside of some pacing problems that came from the weird novel structure. I think the series would have been better if the author sticked longer to those 2 years the characters spend at Aincrad instead of rushing to a second season.
___

What's SAO game price? 35?

Flightmare · Aug 17, 2014

RalchAC said:
What's SAO game price? 35?

40

Renpatsu · Aug 17, 2014

RalchAC said:
The problem here is that it started as an online novel (blogs and such). It became popular and the author rewrote it on a proper novel magazine. If you have such a good chance to rewrite your previous stuff, why not making it better? You don't need to be Shakespeare or Cervantes to notice that the second half is AWFUL

I don't think the first novel could've been released in the fashion that you're describing because it was simply an edited version of the online novel entered into a light novel competition that happened to win and be published thus setting the ball rolling.

However funnily enough I think the author recognises those faults with the original story so that's why he's begun 'SAO Progressive' which is a retelling of the original story without skipping so heavily back and forth through time and being heavily compressed.

Edit: Yeah that second arc is a strange beast. I seem to remember it much differently when I was reading it (presumably because I could simply gloss over the more offensive bits), the anime emphasised those aspects so heavily it really made me question what I'd previously read.

At any rate I do recommend the Alicization volumes when they do finish. Thus far they're much better paced and the inherent themes of existentialism within a digital world, AI, and the practice of dogma to subjugate society is interesting and well thought out.

RalchAC · Aug 17, 2014

Renpatsu said:
I don't think the first novel could've been released in the fashion that you're describing because it was simply an edited version of the online novel entered into a light novel competition that happened to win and be published thus setting the ball rolling.

However funnily enough I think the author recognises those faults with the original story so that's why he's begun 'SAO Progressive' which is a retelling of the original story without skipping so heavily back and forth through time and being heavily compressed.

That "SAO Progressive" thing could be interesting. The part you've quoted was talking about the second arc though. There isn't an excuse to how awful it was. If he was already being published he could have touched more things. Like the baddie objectives and personality.

Going for a more simple like using the guys still trapped as hostages to force Asuna to marry him / give him her father's company would have been better than the making him a crazy and sociopath scientist.

A well made villian is really important when you want to get things personal, as opposed to the first half, where the villian wasn't as important as the "journey" itself. I don't know if I'm explaining my opinion well

Flightmare said:
40

40 for a DD only game? Damn. I think I'll wait a little. 25 is the sweet spot for big DD only games like this.

I think I've never paid that much money for a Vita game. Even my day-one Vita games were cheaper due to Amazon usually selling stuff for 5-7 less than the recommended price.

Flightmare · Aug 17, 2014

RalchAC said:
That "SAO Progressive" thing could be interesting. The part you've quoted was talking about the second arc though. There isn't an excuse to how awful it was. If he was already being published he could have touched more things. Like the baddie objectives and personality.

Going for a more simple like using the guys still trapped as hostages to force Asuna to marry him / give him her father's company would have been better than the making him a crazy and sociopath scientist.

A well made villian is really important when you want to get things personal, as opposed to the first half, where the villian wasn't as important as the "journey" itself. I don't know if I'm explaining my opinion well

40 for a DD only game? Damn. I think I'll wait a little. 25 is the sweet spot for big DD only games like this.

I think I've never paid that much money for a Vita game. Even my day-one Vita games were cheaper due to Amazon usually selling stuff for 5-7 less than the recommended price.

It's a bit much for me as well

Zhao_Yun · Aug 17, 2014

Back from gamescom, did I miss anything important in here?

Just saw that 5pb finally released a statement on the EU prices for Phantom Breaker and the Kurisu DLC. Really disappointed that the prices on the store are correct. I really want to buy that game but it's ridiculous that the game + DLC on the US store is cheaper that buying the game (without the DLC) on the EU store.

maouvin · Aug 17, 2014

~~SAOGAF, am I the only one who disliked the amount of offline stuff on the latest ep of GGO~~ sorry.

JP said:
Has anybody heard any updates on Jamestown Plus? When it was announced they kept referring to it as a "summer" release but I've heard nothing else about it since then. Have played it before so really can't wait to play the PS4 version.

No news on their twitter, just the "summer" ETA. But they did say that the PS4 version is their focus right now, and are not really sure on waht they'll do after that (but it'll be something new).

wilflare said:
I wanna play it on my Vita, natively

It'd be nice, but we might get some bullets as tiny as some that show up on Sine Mora, though.

JimPanzer · Aug 17, 2014

guys, I want to set up remote desktop on my vita - are PSM developer licenses still free?

jvm · Aug 17, 2014

Pre-droppings droppings. Using the list from PSN Stores.

Counterspy
Platforms: PS4, PS3, PSV
Format: Digital
Crossbuy: Yes
Price: $14.99

This stylish action-stealth game has you playing an agent for C.O.U.N.T.E.R., a Cold War organization dedicated to stopping the superpowers from destroying the moon with their nuclear warheads. (Kind of like Mutually Assured Destruction, but Moon Absolutely Demolished?) The independent studio developing the game consists of two former LucasArts veterans and a Pixar art director, so it has the pedigree to create something good. And, you should know that this is a triple cross-buy title which is also part of the PLAY 2014 program -- so buying this title plus another one from the promotion would get you $3 back in PS Store credit.

Diablo III: Ultimate Evil Edition
Platforms: PS4, PS3
Format: Digital and retail
Crossbuy: N/A
Price: Estimating $59.99

Finally PS4 owners can get in on the Diablo III action! Originally released on the PC in 2012 and then the Xbox 360 and PS3 in 2013, this version for next-gen consoles (sorry Wii U!) arrives this week. Not only does it include the original game, but it includes the Reaper of Souls expansion released for other platforms earlier this year. The reviewes for the other versions have generally been positive, and I'd hope the PS4 version would hold up too.

Hotline Miami
Platforms: PS4 (already out for PS3 and PSV)
Format: Digital
Crossbuy: Yes.
Price: Estimating $9.99

The hyperviolent pixel-art action game is now coming to the PS4, with all the original's low-fi depravity and hi-fi music. Once you get into the groove of the game's fast-death-but-just-one-more-try play style, you'll have difficulty putting it aside. And then there are those secret letters -- what do they spell?

Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare
Platforms: PS4, PS3
Format: Digital and retail
Crossbuy: No
Price: Estimating $39.99 for PS4, $29.99 for PS3

This game takes the ideas and characters and humor of the original tower defense classic PvZ and melds it with a third-person shooter game. I think (and I admit I'm not very clear on this) that you basically have to conduct parts of a tower defense game while also stepping in to play parts of the defense by controlling a character. Something like that... it did OK on the Xbox 360 and Xbox One where it was console exclusive for a while.

The Last Tinker: City of Colors
Platforms: PS4
Format: Digital
Crossbuy: N/A
Price: Estimating $19.99 (same as Steam)

A self-described "whimsical, colorful platformer ... [m]ade by Germans", this is a platformer with good vs. evil and puzzles and parkour. I'm not really sure I can add more than that.

Kung Fu Rabbit
Platforms: PS3 (already on PSV)
Format: Digital
Crossbuy: Probably not.
Price: Estimating $9.99 (it's $4.99 on the PSV)

A fairly well-received platformer starring a rabbit, this game came out previously on a variety of mobile platforms and even our beloved PSV last year (July 2013). There's something about saving baby rabbits here, and also one reviewer compared it to Super Meat Boy -- so there's that too.

Tales of Xillia 2
Platforms: PS3
Format: Digital and retail
Crossbuy: N/A
Price: Estimating $59.99

Building from the story of Tales of Xillia, Tales of Xillia 2 is a Japanese RPG and the 14th title in the Tales series from Namco Bandai. It follows the story of Ludger Will Kresnik, from a family that has "the ability to infiltrate and destroy fractured dimensions". Something something, keep the world in balance. The original Tales of Xillia was localized last year, having been released in Japan in 2011. Tales of Xillia 2 was released in 2012, and was localized only this year.

Crimsonland
Platforms: PSV (already out on PS4)
Format: Digital
Crossbuy: Yes
Price: Estimating $13.99 (same as PS4)

Originally launched in 2003 as a Windows game, this is a top-down shooter in which you fight against hordes of enemies and survive by a matter of inches, reminiscent of Robotron. The PS4 version comes with 60 missions (up from the previous 50) in the Quest mode, and also includes a Rush and Survival mode. (It also has a Type-o-Shooter mode, similar to The Typing of the Dead, but I'm not clear on whether that's in the PS4 version or not. It should be, but life is sometimes unfair.)

Gravity Badgers
Platforms: PSV
Format: Digital
Crossbuy: N/A
Price: Estimating $7.99 (it's $4.99 on Steam)

I don't even know what this is. I've watched the video on Steam and I'm still not sure. I think you use different badgers to launch around the field, keeping in mind the gravity of the various objects on the screen. I think. *shrug*

Sword Art Online - Hollow Fragment
Platforms: PSV
Format: Digital
Crossbuy: N/A
Price: Estimating $39.99, but I have no idea

The second game based on the Sword Art Online light novel series, this game melds dungeon exploration with simulated MMORPG elements and dating sim ideas. (At least, that's what Wikipedia is telling me.)

Official Thread

peanutbutterlatte · Aug 17, 2014

incpdo said:
So did you Guys saw that vita minecraft trailer? Im hyped

Me too! Which makes the wait all the more frustating. It's not coming out this Tuesday from the drop post above, so I think it's safe to say it'll slip past the promised August release date. Which pisses me off, as 4J seem to need more staff.

Tizoc · Aug 17, 2014

Due to my sudden financial/budget issues I'ma hold off on SAO.

SHarris78 · Aug 17, 2014

I've got a UK Vita but will be getting a physcial US copy of a game. Can I use the same memory card for save games of the US game that i'm currently using for my UK stuff?

Note i'm not asking about having different accounts, i'm staying UK in that respect just importing a physical US game. I'm also aware i'll be unable to buy DLC or go online with the US game on my UK account.

Cheers.

Ingueferroque · Aug 17, 2014

It's so funny to me this feeling I'm having! So much to play for me on PS4/PSV, so little time!
I'm interested in Sword Art Online despite not having seen the show.

I love cross play games so much.. it will be nice to have Hotline Miami available.
I hope Jamestown Plus's delay is because of cross play.. that game screams for a Vita port.

For someone who has both BlazBlue: Chrono Phantasma and Continuum Shift Extend, what are the main differences, and should I get CP? Is Guilty Gear XX Accent Core Plus R any good? I only played the first Guilty Gear game on PS1 and loved that.

SHarris78 said:
I've got a UK Vita but will be getting a physcial US copy of a game. Can I use the same memory card for save games of the US game that i'm currently using for my UK stuff?

Note i'm not asking about having different accounts, i'm staying UK in that respect just importing a physical US game. I'm also aware i'll be unable to buy DLC or go online with the US game on my UK account.

Cheers.

Yes, you will be able to save on the same memory card. It's just the SEN store that doesn't like other regions!

Tizoc said:
Due to my sudden financial/budget issues I'ma hold off on SAO.

Hang in there! You probably have enough stuff to play anyways.. you'll have plenty of opportunities to get SAO later.

SHarris78 · Aug 17, 2014

Ingueferroque said:
Yes, you will be able to save on the same memory card. It's just the SEN store that doesn't like other regions!

Thank goodness for that, didn't fancy shelling out on another memory card at the prices they are.

Cheers.

Benedict · Aug 17, 2014

Minecraft is crossbuy for PS3/vita and an small fee for upgrading the PS4 vesion?
Is that right?

super-famicom · Aug 17, 2014

Hmm, Hotline Miami for PS4 is dropping this week? Awesome!

darkside31337 · Aug 17, 2014

Oh wow. Those Hamster PS4 games are coming over? Rad.

Hopefully they aren't crazy expensive like they are in Japan but that seems like a lock.

Flightmare · Aug 17, 2014

Benedict said:
Minecraft is crossbuy for PS3/vita and an small fee for upgrading the PS4 vesion?
Is that right?

Yes

Tizoc · Aug 17, 2014

Ingueferroque said:
For someone who has both BlazBlue: Chrono Phantasma and Continuum Shift Extend, what are the main differences, and should I get CP? Is Guilty Gear XX Accent Core Plus R any good? I only played the first Guilty Gear game on PS1 and loved that.

XX AC+R is currently THE played ver. of GGXX, and is a must play if you want into the series.
Casually you could mess around and have fun, but it's a very very deep fighting game with a very very deep system.

Hang in there! You probably have enough stuff to play anyways.. you'll have plenty of opportunities to get SAO later.

Once I get my new Amex CC I'm pre-ordering DanganRonpa 2 and Akiba'sTrip, but SAO being a dungeon crawler is kinda putting me off, but I'll still consider getting it in the future.

Mononoke · Aug 17, 2014

God I wish Tales of Xillia 2 was on Playstation Now. Don't have a PS3 anymore. :/

RalchAC · Aug 17, 2014

Do we know if there is going to be any new games for the Summer Sale next week? I was looking for something to buy alongside Breath of Fire III (EU PSN) and I didn't really found something I really wanted.

I'm getting Tales of Xillia 2 on launch day, so something that is not an JRPG would be nice.

I thought about getting Soul Sacrifice Delta, but I don't feel like playing it now and if I got both games I'd get something else (to reach 20 and use the Paypal promotion they're doing).

I thought about getting the Ridge Racer: Ultimate Edition, but I'm not so sure either...

Dynasty Warriors 8 wouldn't be a bad choice, all things considered, and with BoF it'd be 20.79 which would mean getting some money back. But I dunno. There were performance problems too, and I'd rather have Samurai Warriors...

A

big

part of me doesn't want to spend those 20 yet lol. I may end up getting Breah of Fire and calling it a day, unless next week we get something really tasty.

@Tizoc, I like your new avatar. More Shaman King is always a good thing in this world

jvm · Aug 17, 2014

The droppings have fallen.

For new page:
Counterspy
Platforms: PS4, PS3, PSV
Format: Digital
Crossbuy: Yes
Price: $14.99

This stylish action-stealth game has you playing an agent for C.O.U.N.T.E.R., a Cold War organization dedicated to stopping the superpowers from destroying the moon with their nuclear warheads. (Kind of like Mutually Assured Destruction, but Moon Absolutely Demolished?) The independent studio developing the game consists of two former LucasArts veterans and a Pixar art director, so it has the pedigree to create something good. And, you should know that this is a triple cross-buy title which is also part of the PLAY 2014 program -- so buying this title plus another one from the promotion would get you $3 back in PS Store credit.