Posts by Majed Athab at PS3 Fanboy

Majed Athab
New York, NY - http://www.ps3fanboy.com

Majed Athab is a long-time gamer and a seasoned games journalist working primarily for the Joystiq Network's PS Fanboy blog. He also contributes to the various other blogs on the network, including Joystiq itself.

He got his first break in the industry writing for the RPGamer website shortly after graduating from the University of Portsmouth in the UK. As of right now, he's joyously writing from his Manhattan home and virtual office.

Soulcalibur IV demo on Japan PS Store

Posted Aug 27th 2008 3:00PM by Majed Athab
Filed under: News

If you've been meaning to pick up Soulcalibur IV -- which was released about a month ago -- but have yet to, then perhaps you've been waiting for that demo that was promised. If you find yourself in with that crowd, perhaps getting some playtime with the newly released demo off the Japanese PS Store will tickle your fancy.

The demo, which is completely in English, weighs-in at about 879MB. It'll allow players to fight a few rounds as either Cassandra (pictured getting whacked in the head) or Nightmare (not pictured). For those of you who want to check out the weapon-clashing blades of SC IV, log into your Japanese accounts and download it. For those of you who don't have a Japanese account and are not in a rush, there's a pretty big chance of seeing the demo on your local PS Store update tomorrow.

Quartermann: Rockstar's PS3-exclusive title

Posted Aug 27th 2008 1:00PM by Majed Athab
Filed under: Rumors

Hey there gossiping gaming grunts, the often correct rumormonger known as EGM's Quartermann is back again and this time with a juicy piece of wishful thinking for PS3 owners. Says Quartermann in the October issue of EGM, Rockstar Games and the team who've brought you Grand Theft Auto IV are working on an unannounced PS3-exclusive title.

While that's all the info on that for now, we'd like to point out that this is the same sort of thing we've heard a year ago. We're experiencing a bit of de ja vu just now. While no one knows for sure what the new game is about, we'd like to chance a guess. Most likely, it will be a title that will include everything on Rockstar's design document checklist: excessive profanity, excellently warped humor, and the casual 'beating up hookers' mini-game. If not, they have to at least include the last part for fan service's sake.

LittleBigPlanet contains copyright system

Posted Aug 26th 2008 11:30PM by Majed Athab
Filed under: News

In a game like LittleBigPlanet, sharing user generated content is a big part of the experience. Ever more so, protecting one's personal creations is going to be an even bigger issue. With players expected to swap content daily, one has to wonder how will players control the distribution of unique content in the do-it-yourself platformer?

The answer is that the game will utilize a simple system called "copyright" which is not the same as the legal sense. Players can "copyright" objects which are collectibles in their levels; copyright items can be used by the people who've collected them, but they won't be able to alter your content or give it away to others. Non-copyright items can be edited and shared freely by anyone. Additionally, you can control who is allowed to use your levels by setting a difficulty rating and/or giving away invite keys.

[Via Joystiq]

Team ICO has a fan in Pan's Labyrinth director

Posted Aug 26th 2008 7:30PM by Majed Athab
Filed under: Community, News

You know you've got an iconic piece of artistry when an Academy Award winning filmmaker has nothing but praise, respect, and admiration to show. "There are only two games I consider masterpieces: Ico and Shadow of the Colossus," said Guillermo del Toro in an interview with Edge magazine. Both titles are creations of SCEJ's Team ICO, who are currently working on an unnamed title.

Guillermo, director of the widely acclaimed Pan's Labyrinth and the Hellboy movies, is himself a gamer since the Pong era. He's even a video game director, having worked with Konami on adapting the Hellboy series ... which unfortunately didn't do too well.

With such a prominent figure giving the thumbs up to Team ICO, we're sure they're happy to hear that their hard work is getting noticed outside the realm of gaming. We're also sure, whatever they have in store next would probably be pleasing del Toro -- and us for that matter.

Ryan Payton leaves Kojima Productions

Posted Aug 26th 2008 2:30PM by Majed Athab
Filed under: News

Ryan Payton, assistant producer on Metal Gear Solid 4 and Kojima Productions' token gaijin, has decided to leave the company. "... It feels like this is how it's supposed to be. It's fate," he said in an interview with Kotaku. Working in Japan and being away from family is hitting him hard; so, when he heard some "pretty heavy news concerning [his] mom," he realized that sticking close to family was all too important.

Most people will probably not remember the name 'Payton' as much as 'Kojima,' but keep in mind that it was Payton who helped develop MGS4 into a more Western-friendly title -- opening the traditionalist Japanese crew to more Western influences (which is why MGS4 plays like a charm). We wish you the best of luck Ryan in your future endeavors and hope you continue to help make amazing games. We guess you'll always have the memories ... and that awesome shirt.

Kojima sick of people asking about MGS4 on 360

Posted Aug 26th 2008 11:05AM by Majed Athab
Filed under: News

The question will never die. So long as fanboys of another kind can't harness the fact that Metal Gear Solid 4 won't be going multiplat, unmitigated rumors and Kojima's frustration will live on. If Konami's multiple official denials and this in-game inside joke weren't enough, then shouldn't the golden word of the game's creator be enough to stomp out any sort of rumormongering? Apparently not, as the man -- up to now -- is still being asked the question.

"I've been doing a lot of interviews and stage shows," said Kojima to Eurogamer. "And half the questions are like: Will MGS4 be coming out on 360 or other formats?" Kojima reiterated to the publication that MGS4 will remain a PS3 exclusive because 1) he believed that MGS's success entwined with PlayStation and 2) MGS4 was optimized for the PS3 and wouldn't be possible with other hardware.

Hopefully, this will bring an end to platform questions and, as Kojima puts it, will make people focus more on and appreciate the game itself rather than deliberating over what platform it's on. But of course, we're preaching to the choir here ... pass this bit of news onto a fellow non-PS3 gamer and help ease Kojima's suffering, okay?

LittleBigPlanet and Home will possibly shack up together

Posted Aug 25th 2008 1:45PM by Majed Athab
Filed under: News

Home and LittleBigPlanet have a lot of common elements. Both focus on empowering the player with a wide range of customization options, both are PS3 exclusives, and both will be available this fall season. With so many parallels drawn, it's only natural that somebody would ask Media Molecule co-founder Alex Evans if the two would share cross functionality with one another. Eurogamer were not shy to inquire; however, Mr. Evans was a tad reluctant to spill the Sackboy beans.

While Evans said that he couldn't "announce anything right now," he did open up the doors to possibility. Pointing back to GDC, Evans reminded of a presentation which was done in Home and had a Sony-built LittleBigPlanet space. Not only was there proof that such content can exist, but he also cited how close the LBP crew was with the Home team -- they're "just down the road from us ... I'm looking forward to getting the LittleBigPlanet space in there, working on it and making it cool." It seems like the possibilities are very real; however, it also looks like you'll be customizing levels in LittleBigPlanet first before ever tinkering with LBP in Home.

[Via 1UP]

There's no place like Home! Check out our Home page for all our coverage!

Amazon's Gold Box goes all PS3 August 27

Posted Aug 24th 2008 12:00PM by Majed Athab
Filed under: Deals and Bargains

It's hard to resist a good deal. When we heard that Amazon's Gold Box of cheapness was going to get an all out PS3-themed discount bazaar, we thought we just had to share it with everyone. The bargains begin on August 27; however, like all Gold Box events, the discounted items will remain a mystery until that day and upon the hour for those "lightning deals." We can't wait to see what's in store come this Wednesday!

[Thanks Paul S. and everyone else who sent this in!]

Ask PS3 Fanboy: More edition [volume 06]

Posted Aug 23rd 2008 6:00PM by Majed Athab
Filed under: Community

More. We know that's what you want. You simply want more answers to your questions, and, yeah, you're going to get them. This week we're back answering 10 more reader questions. We've still got a huge backlog to plow through, so please have some patience if you don't see your questions featured this week. If you missed last week's edition, you can catch it here.

Keep checking back every weekend -- we'll be sure to answer all intelligent, fun, and relevant questions that you may have. If you haven't asked us anything yet ... why haven't you? Send an e-mail to majed @ ps3fanboy.com with the subject "Ask PS3 Fanboy." We'd like to stress, if it doesn't include that subject heading, you're question will not be answered. If you've got PSP-related questions, be sure to ask them on Ask PSP Fanboy.

Continue reading Ask PS3 Fanboy: More edition [volume 06]

The Last Guy priced and dated for North America

Posted Aug 22nd 2008 2:30PM by Majed Athab
Filed under: e-Distribution Games, News

Did you try out the demo for The Last Guy yesterday? If you did, and if you liked it, you'll probably be glad to know this bit of news. According to IGN, The Last Guy will be available for the North American PS Store next week on August 28. As for the price, it's going to cost only $9.99 -- nearly half the price of the Japanese version which will release on the same day.

So make sure you play up that demo over and over again, and practice saving the herds and herds of people. You'll also want to check out Andrew's hands-on with the US version to prepare for the monster-dodging to come.

Unlock two new weapons with latest MGS4 passwords

Posted Aug 22nd 2008 12:30PM by Majed Athab
Filed under: Downloads, News

Two new passwords have been revealed for Metal Gear Solid 4. Inputting the access codes in the 'Extras' menu gives players two new weapons: Thor .45-70 large-caliber hand rifle and The Boss' Patriot from Metal Gear Solid 3. Here are the two codes, respectively: tshsniammr and pkhhnwhsjt.

In addition to the new codes, there's also new music for the in-game iPod titled "Battle." It's a track from the Plant Chapter in MGS2. It seems Konami is really cranking up the fan service ... and we like it!

American PSN update for August 21st

Posted Aug 21st 2008 5:40PM by Majed Athab
Filed under: PlayStation Store, PlayStation Network, e-Distribution Games

It's another massive week for store content. That shouldn't come as a surprise; after all, there is a major convention going on this week which has already dropped a ton of Sony-related news bombs and media nukes. Anyway, the store has been updated and here's the full list. Videos, Wallpapers/Themes, and Rock Band DLC are after the break.

Playable Content

Ratchet & Clank Future: Quest for Booty Full-Game ($14.99)
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed Demo (free)
The Last Guy Demo (free)
NFL Head Coach 09 Demo (free)

Add-on Content

Hot Shots Golf Kratos Character ($1.99)
Haze Domination Pack (free)
EA Sports Fantasy Football Live Score Tracker ($0.99)
EA Sports Fantasy Football Live Draft Ticker ($0.99)
Dragonforce Track Pack ($6.25)

Continue reading American PSN update for August 21st

The Last Guy gets full release in Japan next week

Posted Aug 21st 2008 11:30AM by Majed Athab
Filed under: Videos and Screenshots, e-Distribution Games

Download to PSP

The Last Guy will be fully released in Japan next week. On August 28, the full game will be available on the Japanese store for ¥2,000 ($18.44). For those who purchased the Japan Premium pack (which was the Asakusa-only level), you can get a refund of your ¥500 for purchasing the full game. However, you'll only have until October 31 to get the "discount."

Checking out the newly released trailer (embedded above), the game will include cities such as London, Berlin, Sydney, Yokohama, Washington D.C., and San Francisco, and will also include a whole slew of new (and deadly-looking) monsters. Now, all we need to do is wait for dates and prices on a Western release to pop up.

Come see Trophies unlocked in LittleBigPlanet

Posted Aug 21st 2008 10:30AM by Majed Athab
Filed under: Videos and Screenshots

It's been known for some time now that LittleBigPlanet will have Trophies, but we haven't actually seen them yet ... well, until now that is. The video after the cut witnesses the reluctant unlocking of four Bronze Trophies and a Silver one during a gameplay demonstration at Leipzig. For all the unduly converted Trophy junkies out there, these Trophies are titled: Forager, Sticky Fingers, Treasure Hunter, 2x Multiplier, and Booty Master (this is the silver one).

Personally, Booty Master takes the trophy naming prize for us. Is there a Trophy we can give to a Trophy? Anyway, knowing that the game is due out by the end of October, this little bit of info comes as a pleasant early taste of a fresh new accolade hunt that's soon to come. Check out the video, after the cut.

[Thanks, Farmer_Steve!]

Continue reading Come see Trophies unlocked in LittleBigPlanet

Nathan Hale injected on Project Abraham

Posted Aug 20th 2008 6:45PM by Majed Athab
Filed under: Videos and Screenshots, Community

Resistance series hero, Nathan Hale, was injected this week on Project Abraham. Truth be told, this week's video wasn't as exciting as previous attempts, simply because we all knew Hale wasn't going to have his guts spilled on the floor like the others. So what did happen to him? Well, he's now in a coma. You can see the clip here.

Adding on to that, several new documents on Hale's dossier page have appeared. That includes lab results and notes from Dr. Aklin about the progress of the vaccine and Hale's current condition.

There are only two soldiers left to stick needles in: Captain Frank Gennaro and Lieutenant Kenneth Danby. What's going to happen to them? Will their results save Hale from comatose? Are they getting closer to a cure?

[Thanks Vivas K.!]

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