Digital access codes for more than 200 Play Station Network games and game-related content for PSP (and PS3) entertainment systems, have now been made available from Amazon.

According to Paul Ryder, vice president of consumer electronics for Amazon:

PlayStation Network games are an important addition and we plan to continue making it easier for customers to instantly enjoy new content as well as their favorite games from the comfort of their living rooms.

The new deal between PlayStation and Amazon means that we can purchase digital access codes for download via the Amazon Video Game Store as well as the PlayStationNetwork.

Is that a benefit to us? Well, if Amazon gives us better prices, or special deals, maybe! Plus it is handy that all the addons are in one place and easy to find.

Some of the games already on offer include - Flower(TM), PAIN, PixelJunk(TM) Eden, Wipeout Pure and classics like Twisted Metal®:Head-On.

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NIS America has announced (8 hours ago!) that it is re-releasing some of their PSP titles in conjunction with the launch of the PSPgo! And the PSP titles they are re-releasing will be 50% off for the whole of the next week!

The discount will only be for one week starting tomorrow (October 1st).  Price will range from$4.99 to $9.99 - so its a great deal. The PSP games on offer are:

• Blade Dancer: Lineage of Light
• Disgaea: Afternoon of Darkness
• Dragoneer’s Aria
• Holy Invasion of Privacy, Badman! What Did I Do to Deserve This?
• Mana Khemia: Student Alliance
• Prinny: Can I Really Be the Hero?

You can get them at the PlayStation Store tomorrow!

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Bitfood recently did a preview post on the Beaterator - a soon-to-be released game for the PSP.

Well, it hit the US stands today, and according to Rockstar Games (co-producers):

Beaterator for PSP system .. puts a world-class mixer at your fingertips - enabling easy, powerful and innovative creation. Featuring original music and a sound-kit which includes thousands of loops and sounds produced by Rockstar and multi-platinum producer and entertainer Timbaland exclusively for Beaterator.

Beaterator for PSP system will also be arriving on shelves on October 2nd, 2009 in Europe.

Timberland seems to pretty pleased with himself for producing this game for PSP:

Or maybe you just wanna see what the game looks like? Well, here is the Rockstar full length trailer:

The Bitfood team all agree with Timberland - this is a cool game dude!

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In a recent post we talked about the new PSP Minis that Sony are releasing on October 1st. There we previewed the PSP mini games that Icon will be releasing.

Today we have a quick update on the PSP Minis taken from the pre-Tokyo Games Show, earlier today - with some short demos for you to take a look at as well:

These are the Mini PSP games that EA will be showcasing at the Tokyo Games Show: Tetris and Sudoku.

I am a Tetrus fan so was keen to see the demo on show. Looks super cool.

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The Game Developers Conference (2009) is currently being held in Austin.

Why should we PSP players care? Well, this conference has a big section about careers in game development. The seminar has been set up for students or anyone interested in learning how to build a career in the video game industry. The seminar will be held tomorrow - Friday, September 18 - at 9:30am-5:30pm.

If you live in Texas, and think you have a future in game development, then definitely get yourself along to the seminar.For the game developers among you that can’t get to the day long seminar, check out the website for the event.

Some of the topics being covered include:

  * step by step, how to effectively market yourself to game companies (by the  hiring manager for Obsidian Entertainment). 

* How to grow once you have your foot in the game industry door (by Cecelia Harris (Rainbow Studios), Michael Nichols (THQ/Vigil Games), Lindsey McQueeney (38 Studios and Big Huge Games)

How to start out: Do you need to work for a big corporation? Or even a small indie studio? Or can you go it on your own? by Matt Scibilia (Critical Mass Interactive Inc)

The fact is that many passionate game players end up wanting to be part of the gaming industry. This conference is all about showing  how we can do that!

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Sony announced the introduction of Minis at their Gamescom press conference a couple of weeks ago.  What we were told was that there would be fifteen games initially, across a variety of genres including arcade-style games, racers, and parlor games — with more than 50 games by the end of the year. But we were left to guess: will they just be iPhone-style Tower Defense and Bejeweled re-runs?

Well, we need wonder no more - at least about four of them.

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Icon Games has announced four Mini games it will be releasing soon for PSPs: Arcade Pool & Snooker; Arcade Airhockey & Bowling; Arcade Darts and Stunt Cars.

While the first three of these look like the usual style of addictive arcade games the Stunt car just might be a step above.

Icon Games describe it as:

High-speed competitive stunt racing over fast paced track circuits. With 24 challenging tracks, and Race, Time Trial, Championship & Challenge game modes.

Here is a mini image of the game as it will look on the new PSPgo

Notice something else about these images (all courtesy of Icon)? There is a distinct iPhone-icon look about them!

This may be a sign of things to come from Sony. The App store has bee such a humungous success that it would not be surprising if Sony developed an Apps store rip-off . With all the freebies that iPhone owners get - especially for games (there are hundreds of free games - though most are mini minis!) - this could be a good development for PSP owners.

Sony has made no mention of the price of the minis, but, if they want to set up an App Store clone, it will have to price these minis at a similar price to the games there. Games on the App Store with a price tag, can range from 99 cents to $9.99, and there are thousands available.

BTW, these new “minis” will be available on the 1st of October in Europe and North America as they have been timed to coincide with the launch of PSPgo.

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Now that’s what we’re talkin about! Majesco Entertainment has partnered with Zumba Fitness to develop a dance/fitness video game!. Here is the news as posted on Majesco’s site:

This one-of-a-kind exercise program pairs Latin rhythms with red-hot international dance steps so you can have a blast as you party your way into shape. The first Zumba^® game will release holiday 2010. 

Zumba dance/fitness is hot, hot hot. Just check it out:

Now, the real question is - will Majesco develop the game for PSP?

Just looking at the past history of games they have developed, the chances are not good.  Their last PSP game was Blokus Portable: Steambot Championship and that was 18 months ago. All up they have only ever developed four PSP games. On the other hand they have developed 25 Wii games and dozens of DS games.

And the Wii platform is obviously compatible with a game so suited to interactive play.

But, but, but….

Firstly, Sony is obviously trying to bring girls on board as PSP fans. Their efforts so far have been pretty weak, so the Majesco/Zumba deal could be a marriage made in heaven for the PSP. What’s more, they  can offer cross-over play options with the PS3 to really maximize the interactive possibilities of such a game! They have done this with other games, and a dance game would be a great opportunity to do that again. (Against that, Majesco have not so far developed a game for the PS3).

The first game will not be released for another 12 months. We say, let Majesco know you want the game on PSP!!

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PCWorld have just published their list of the best/top 30 PSP games. Unfortunately, they have presented their list in the form of a tediously slow, slide show. So we fell on the sword and waded our way through the list to bring you their selection.

But… Do you agree? What do you think? Is Patapon (either one) really better than Grand Theft Auto? And is Daxter really unlucky 13?

25. WipEout Pulse

24. Burnout Legends

23. Disgaea: Afternoon of Darkness

 22. Syphon Filter: Logan’s Shadow

21. SOCOM: US Navy SEALs Tactical Strike

20. Ratchet and Clank: Size Matters

19. Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII

18. Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the WarLords

17. Monster Hunter Freedom Unite

16. Rock Band Unplugged

15. Star Ocean: Second Evolution

14. Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions

13. Daxter

12. Final Fantasy VII

11. Metal Gear Solid

10. Resistance: Retribution

9. Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops

8. Grand Theft Auto Liberty and Vice City Stories

7. Tekken: Dark Resurrection

6. LocoRoco / 5. LocoRoco 2

4. Lumines II

3. Patapon

2.Patapon 2

1. God of War: Chains of Olympus

But we do agree that God Of War should be in the number one spot! And if you really wanna know what the last five are - well, you know where to go and we have provided the link!

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Movies for PSP are being introduced by Sony!

Over the last few posts we have looked at how PSP has traditionally been a guys’ plaything but is becoming increasingly  popular with girls. The latest move by Sony is likely to result in skyrocketing interest in PSPs from girls. That is, depending on how much $$ Sony is gonna ask for it! (BTW - the Bitfood team has already done several posts on how we can get free or super cheap movies for PSP)

That’s because:

“Sony to offer full-length TV content via PlayStation3 and PSPs”

And while not all girls might be into PSP games - especially the guy-oriented ones that have so far been on the PSP menu - they do love watching movies and TV shows! And the handy mobile large-screen viewing that the PSP offers is a superb medium for watching their favorite shows.

But note the pics used by MediaWeek in their news coverage of the Sony plans:

Typically, guys are shown using the Sony gear!! Still, we think they have not really thought this through. The team at Bitfood predict that this will do more for getting girls to buy the PSP than the lilac-colored PSPs or tailor made games!

What the heck is the offer? Well, according to MediaWeek:

Sony Computer Entertainment Europe is launching its PlayStationNetwork video delivery service this November in France, Germany, Spain and the UK, with other markets to follow in 2010.

The service will allow users to download movie releases to their PlayStation3 and PSP hand-held devices.

Hopefully, “other markets” includes the North America - though we have been left out of other European developments -  like the whole “GO!” setup that they enjoy and we can’t get.

The Bitfood team have nagged the US Sony Entertainment people and they confirm we are not getting the GO! setup anytime soon. (Notice the US Go! site has all disappeared? - if we enter  gopspgo.com, for example, we get redirected to the official playstation site)

So, whilst this could be a great new way to get movies and TV shows for our PSP,  there are two concerns. Firstly, will North America get it? Second, how much will it cost? Remember, we have already shown you how - with two easy to use bits of software - we can get free movies to watch on our PSP already!!So, why wait for Sony to get around to letting us have the privilege of buying their movies?

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Rockstar Games -  the developers of Grand Theft Auto - are about to release a PSP game that

puts a world-class mixer at your fingertips -
enabling easy, powerful and innovative creation.

Rockstar have got together with Timbaland to create original music and a sound-kit with thousands of sounds to use in creating beats.

This thing could be hotter than Rockband! If you want to be in the front row for the hands-on demo videos when they get released, we suggest you join the Rockstar mailing list .

Rockstar Games are saying that Beaterator will be released on September 29th, 2009 in North America and on October 2nd, 2009 in Europe, so the demo should be out soon! Rockstar are also saying that they based their PSP game on their popular PC version of Beaterator. So we don’t need to wait to find out what is in store as there is a cool demo version of the PC beaterator that we can check out.

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