Author Archives: Frank Gasking

Total results: 1252

R∞M (Room for PlayStation Portable)

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Posted: by Frank Gasking

R∞M (Room for PlayStation Portable) was an ambitious online community service developed by Sony Computer Entertainment Japan for the PSP. Announced at the Tokyo Game Show in September 2009, it was intended to provide PSP owners with something similar to a portable version of PlayStation Home.

The free service would allow users to create and customise their own 3D avatars and personal “My Room” spaces, as well as write blogs, create photo albums and form or join groups. Other users could be invited into rooms for real-time communication, including chatting and playing mini-games together. Continue reading →

In: Reviews, Sony PlayStation Portable | Tagged: | Leave a comment

DJ Hero 3

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Posted: , last updated: by Frank Gasking

Following the release of DJ Hero 2 in October 2010, FreeStyleGames immediately began work on what would become DJ Hero 3. Although Activision never officially announced the sequel, development was well underway before the publisher cancelled the entire Hero franchise in early 2011 following disappointing sales across the music rhythm genre. Continue reading →

In: Microsoft Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii, Reviews, Sony PlayStation 3 | Tagged: | 2 Comments

Garfield Gets Real

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Posted: by Frank Gasking

Most people will be familiar with the Nintendo DS adaptation of Garfield Gets Real, released in 2009 and based on the animated film of the same name. What is less well known is that a Wii version was also planned, but never saw release.

Very little is currently known about the cancelled conversion. A single music track from the game, titled “Studio”, has surfaced online, but no prototype builds, screenshots or gameplay footage are presently known to exist. Although a Wii cover image circulates online, the available sources identify it as fan-made rather than official. Continue reading →

In: Nintendo Wii, Reviews | Tagged: | Leave a comment

Madballs

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Posted: by Frank Gasking

Now many of you will know that Ocean released a game based on the licence of Madballs in 1987, though what you might not know is that another version was in development for Ariolasoft before Ocean had got the licence confirmed. What is even better is that you can now check it out for yourself!

Developed by Ian Munro whilst at Millside Software, this particular take of the licence was very different to the final Ocean Software design, and took a pinball game approach. Oddly, there is no actual Madballs branding at all in the game at this stage either. Continue reading →

In: Amstrad CPC, Reviews | Tagged: | Leave a comment

Rimini, Mare Azzurro

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Posted: by Frank Gasking

Before Simulmondo became famous for sports titles, comic book licences and adventures, the company had grander ambitions for its debut line-up. One of the earliest announced projects was Rimini, Mare Azzurro (also referred to as Rimini, Blue Sea), a graphic adventure that unfortunately never progressed beyond planning stages.

The title appeared in previews during 1988, including MC Microcomputer issue 73, where it was presented alongside several of Simulmondo’s other forthcoming projects. At the time, the game was described as being well underway, featuring digitised graphics in the style of Déjà Vu and taking place in the Italian seaside resort of Rimini during the 1950s. The intention was to create a murder mystery or thriller with a distinctly Italian setting, something quite unusual for the period. Continue reading →

In: Commodore Amiga, Reviews | Tagged: | 2 Comments