Everyone had a blast out of E3? Maybe, maybe not. We know a lot of you guys have a lot of things in your mind right now (like maybe FF13 jumping to the 360 as well?). It was a week of highs and lows for everyone, but nonetheless, it's still a crazy celebration for gaming in general. And before any more of hell breaks loose (if it hasn't already in E3), let's recap what we know so far, eh? Send in the clowns! Uh, Warriors, I mean.

It's another week - another time to recap all of the happy Weekend Warriors right before we jump into all the E3 updates (which are actually already slowly picking up now!). So before all the madness sets in, make sure you're prepared to cheer for your team with the latest scoop on the industry: from the Activision Blizzard merger to Square Enix's big announcement (about another announcement), and when artificially created blackholes get delayed. Dig in!

Homebrew developer j3r3mie was recently able to come up with a new homebrew shell application for the PlayStation Portable which mimics the basic interface and functions of the Apple iPhone. You can find out more about iPhone Simulator T2 in our full article after the jump.

Download: iPhone Simulator T2 (English)
Download: iPhone Simulator T2 (French)
Visit: QJ.NET PSP Development forum

Sierra Entertainment has circulated a new fact sheet for their upcoming PSP title SWAT: Target Liberty. The game is currently in development by 3G Studios and boasts of an all-new story penned by The Shield script writer Scott Rosenbaum. Here's a quick list of the game's primary features.

• Tactical/Squad-based gameplay – The only true PSP Tactical Squad-Based Shooter backed by an assortment of law enforcement experts.
• Randomized AI placement and level generation - Single Player includes random AI placement. Multiplayer contains random level generation, greatly increasing replayability. In addition there is a random killhouse generator for Multiplayer that creates new levels of varying sizes for a different experience every time.
• SWAT team development – SWAT: Target Liberty occupies a unique space in the shooter genre with its non-lethal means of completing mission without casualties and unnecessary kills to earn points and increase your team's stats and skills

The fact sheet also came with some new screenshots of the game. Check 'em out by clicking on the Full Article link below. SWAT Target Liberty is currently scheduled for release this fall.

Sierra released a few more screenshots from 3g Studios' upcoming third-person tactical shooter SWAT: Target Liberty today. You can check them out below all of the blocks of text immediately following this one.

SWAT: Target Liberty is a new title for the Sony PSP handheld system. Set in New York City and boasting of a story written by The Shield's Scott Rosenbaum, the game saddles players with the task of taking control of a special weapons and tactics team to thwart an ever-increasing number of international terrorist threats.

Each officer in the unit has a specialty and through the use of a unique skill system, player can upgrade their individual combat expertise to increase their chances of success. The game also has an ad-hoc multiplayer system and a variety of multiplayer game modes.

Sierra Entertainment has SWAT: Target Liberty slated for a Fall release.

   

Coming this fall from Sierra Entertainment and Vivendi Games is SWAT: Target Liberty, the first PSP entry in the popular tactical shooter series. Firing Squad recently had a chat with the game's producer Paul Pawlicki to get some inside info on the game.

SWAT: Target Liberty is a shooter, so of course it has to have an impressive array of guns. "No need to worry about firepower," said Pawlicki. "SWAT: Target Liberty has plenty of it." Sierra lucked out on getting 3G Studios, who had physical access to each of the weapons used in the game, as a developer. Pawlicki noted that 3G's authentic representations add "a really nice touch" to SWAT: Target Liberty.

Alright, so the guns look real, but what weapons will the players have access to? "Players will get to select from authentic SWAT weapons, like the SIG's SG 551-SWAT, a gas-operated weapon conceived specifically for Special Forces and elite units," said Pawlicki. "There's also the SSG 300, FN303, Benelli M2 and tactical grenades to choose from but as a player progresses through the game's unlockable weapons are made available including the FnH P90 and the Benelli M4 Super 90 to name a few."

As for multiplayer, 3G has designed a random level generator to keep up to four players on their toes in the game's head to head multiplayer mode. SWAT: Target Liberty's AI also look impressive, with the inclusion of a morale system for the enemies. "Take too long in a firefight and they will begin to flank you and become less likely to give up," Pawlicki explained. "If you take out a few of men out then you will see them retreat and start to give up more easily."

Pawlicki also assured shooter fans that SWAT: Target Liberty is right on track for its fall release. There's currently nothing in development at the moment, but Pawlicki said that "could easily make the leap from PC to next-gen consoles and provide a fun, tactical shooter experience unlike any other game out there."

Sierra has announced a new title for the PSP called SWAT: Target Liberty from 3G Studios.

What can we expect? Well, SWAT: Target Liberty is more centered on arcade stylings than a straight-out tactical shooter (unlike its big brothers on the PC). The game will take players on an adventure written by Scott Rosenbaum (The Shield) about a New York SWAT team led by Kurt Wolfe. Wolfe gets to choose two team members to take with him on missions. The game includes twelve missions and players will go and thwart the evil plans of a terrorist group. The title looks very promising and some people are starting to compare it to Killzone.

The God point of view in SWAT: Target Liberty provides players with easier gameplay, though aiming and team movement was slightly compromised. This PSP exclusive title will be rushing to the store shelves in October 2007.

The rest of the screens right after the jump!

Apparently, the rumor that Sony Ericcson is working on a PSP phone stuck like glue to some people. And they are seriously considering the limitless possibilities that this project may bring forth to the industry.

The folks at Pocket Gamer have already created a list of the things they would want to have in the PSP phone. It's a pretty concise list, actually. First up, they'd want it to be a slider, similar to the W850i model. Then, they want to have landscape gaming in it, complete with shoulder buttons and 3D support for that extra push against the new N-gage phones.

Of course, what's the point of having a PSP Phone if it can't be connected to the PSP or the PS3, right? Yep, that's on the wish list, too. And last item on the list, they would want to have those nifty media applications, such as a camera, an MP3 player application, and video player functions. "Oh, and it would need to be 3G, please," they stress.

Hmmm... a pretty lofty wish list. Then again, wishing is for free so why not go lavish on it, eh? Still no confirmation from Sony about this rumor but Kotaku reports that they managed to squeeze in the question to the folks at SCEA, and they got the usual "no comment" template response. However, John Koller, the PSP's senior marketing manager, did say that they "are always evaluating new technology and listening to what their consumers want."

Former Electronic Arts executive D2C games founder">Scott Orr and technology expert Bart Besseling founded D2C Games, a new video game developer that focuses on making downloadable games taht can be played socially. D2C Games aims to partner with other companies to make games for various platforms, such as next-gen consoles, handhelds, 3G mobile devices and PCs.

Scott Orr says that what will set his company apart from the others is social networking, "allowing users to create game content and personalize the game". He says that D2C plans to cater to both the hardcore gamers, who might be looking for something new in their gaming experience, and the casual gamers, who simply don't have the time to devote hours to a game.


"It goes back to basics, and being able to easily pick up and play a game without having to figure out or have to read a 50 page manual. We wont have one," he said. Orr also added that his company will focus on two specific areas, with casual social sports on one end and episodic sci-fi on the other.

For starters, Orr and his group plans to throw support to Sony's handheld, and will officially be announcing D2 Comics at the upcoming Game Developers Conference. D2 Comics will offer interactive comics to PSP users.

Coming up from D2C is Chalkboard Sports, a series of real-time strategy sports games, which will use the company's focus on user generated content, though specifically what this content will be remains unknown.

What with all these rumors that abound online talking about the on-again-off-again, now-fake-now-real, ever-so-fabled "PSP2", it's still interesting to note that the possibility of Sony releasing one would be a dream come true. Speaking of dreams, what do you dream of for the PSP2 (if ever there will be one)?

Artist that he is, Emre Husmen just drafted his concept of what the PSP2 could possibly look like, and what features it could possibly have.

Given that Sony Ericsson logo, you'd instantly recognize that his concept art gives the PSP2 some cellphone functionality. Now, don't we all want that? His design also has two cameras: one on the face of the PSP, the other on the back. Hmm. 3G video conferencing capability, eh? Niiice.

There's been a couple of "fake" PSP2 pics floating around the net, and much to say, this one by Emre isn't necessarily a fake. We can't even say that it's a rumor because the concept art is real, and it's his own.

But as dreams may come, this "Sony Ericsson PSP v2" is definitely an eye catcher. Good work, Emre!