Homebrew developer PSProgramer recently introduced everyone to the latest build of an original RPG for the PlayStation Portable. Entitled "Uncharted Lands", the game is slowly building itself up to be one interesting homebrew game. Find out what new additions were added so far in our full article.

Download: Uncharted Lands v0.02
Visit: QJ.NET's PSP Development forum

If you're ready for another serving of video game rumors, then inside informer Surfer Girl is here to deliver. The latest batch of tidbits take a look into the similarities of EA's upcoming The Godfather 2 title with GTA 4, updates on the progress of a couple of Xbox 360 ports, and some new details regarding L.A. Noire. You can find out more about these juicy rumors in our full article.

If you're not too fond of the fact that JRPGs are currently dominating the RPG seas, then you may want to check out homebrew developer _df_'s new project, Fishguts. Slated to use a classic AD&D gold box combat scheme, Fishguts just may be the homebrew RPG fix that you've been needing for a long time.

Download: Fishguts (test version)
Visit: QJ PSP Development Forums

Japanese gamers will be getting a treat from Fonfun Corporation as the company has decided to release two games from the Neverland series for the price of one.

The compilation will be known as Neverland 2in1 Portable: Olerud Kingdom & Republic of Pluto. Not familiar with the Neverland franchise? Well, you can view a couple of screenshots and more information at the full article via the "read more" link below.

More familiar faces can be found in Tales of the World. Could this game be the ultimate Tales tale? For fans of the Tales series, it could just be the fanfare that you need. Arche Klein of Phantasia, Kratos Aurion of Symphonia, Reid Hershel of Eternia, and Senel Coolidge of Legendia are making an appearance in Tales of the World. So what can we get out of these old characters. Naturally, some familiar skills will be available to us in the game, as well as some extra knowledge about the world of the Tales of series. 

 

Kratos, Reid, and Senel will provide great attacks to your team. However, unlike the previous announcements wherein the characters from the old series were playable, it seems that Arche won’t be available for play. Instead, she will be an NPC who would be on the hunt for her friend, Chester Barklight. With more and more familiar faces from the Tales of series, fans are definitely anticipating for the coming of this fantastic series. 

It's time to welcome Big Boss and the crew back with a Metal Gear Solid Portable Ops (MPO, as Kojima Productions officially calls it) gameplay video. The GameVideos.com bit below shows off MPO's multiplayer combat. This one runs from the perspective of Major Zero (Naked Snake's head honcho during the events of Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater), as he navigates the game environment, selects from four different weapons (including his Mk. 22 sidearm, an SVD sniper rifle, the ever-handy grenade, and the M-16 which he uses throughout), and rip through everyone in sight - "everyone" meaning Snake and EVA.

(Somehow, none of us here ever thought we'd see the day that "Zero killed Snake." But hey, it's multiplayer: anything's possible.)

MPO explores more of the MGS backstory from the perspective of Naked Snake, aka Big Boss, as he creates the now-classic FOXHOUND unit and sets in motion the events that will ultimately culminate in the PS3's Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots. Players can recruit enemy soldiers and even some rare NPC characters using the unique IP addresses of Wi-Fi hotspots. The game is due to ship 4th quarter 2006 in Japan, and this winter in North America.

Buy: [Metal Gear Solid Portable Ops]

All you Metal Gear junkies must be rearing to get your hands on the upcoming MGS4: Guns of the Patriots. BUT. With all the hype and groove that surrounds MGS4, some of us might have already clouded your night-vision goggles and have forgotten about what's being served as a side-dish: Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops.

Now, the above trailer might seem a bit familiar, but there are new screens and clips shown here and there that you might want to see. You might even find a few pleasant surprises.

MGS: Portable Ops is set to be released soon (fourth quarter of this year) for the PSP, and is said to be the "missing link" in the MGS storyline. Plot aside, this game is bringing something new to the MGS franchise - WiFi gameplay and the "white flag" mode. The first one allows players to recruit a squadron of rare non-player characters (NPCs), and meet certain characters based on the IP address of the wireless hot spot they are connecting to. The "white flag" mode allows players to surrender and live to fight another day as there are no extra lives here. (Well, there are no "extra lives" in the real world anyways...)

So be sure to catch it when the game finally gets released. Meanwhile, enjoy the video.

In Dungeon Siege 2: Broken World, an NPC, Keith of the F & K Society, talks to you. Instead of giving you valuable information in your quest, he will give you one of his "treasures" if you have: "...a special code from Special Code from Dungeon Siege: Throne of Agony."

What could that "treasure" be? Ooooh, makes you want to get that game, eh?

There have been a lot of negative feedback about putting ads in RPGs. Most people would like to be immersed into another world until they either die in the game, the batteries die, a blackout occurs, or they get hungry and get some pizza. To be suddenly jolted out of that dream-like state and reminded of the real world can be quite a turn off for most.

Although there are games out there where ads would be a welcome addition. For example, ads in sports games give an aura of reality (not to mention more financial support to the game makers). But this is because these games are set in the present time. It would be a whole other matter if there was an ad for a softdrink in a jousting match in the middle ages.

With the example above, it would definitely help the player as well. Not only can the player acquire the "treasure" but also they will be able to experience the other game. It could be a win-win situation after all.

More info about Rockstar Games' Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories have emerged as the latest issue of Games magazine went on sale on stands recently. The latest issue came with some new info and screens, some of which we already featured here at QJ. Here are some of the small details divulged in the magazine:

• The game features a new rocket launcher
• Improved physics, prettier skylines, and far more dynamic lighting
• The sea plane returns to Vice City
• Time-contextual NPC behaviour (party-goers at night, bums at 5am etc.)
• Phil Cassidy can be seen during a loading screen, thus meaning he's back!
• When playing the game, they flew over Diaz's Mansion, the mall, and the Malibu Club
• Character models is sharper than that of GTA: Vice City
• Pop up is minimal, although still very apparent
• As said before, missions will no longer be ''point-to-point A-to-B'' drives
• Jet ski's handle completely different to the boats of the GTA series
• Water is more realistic, and is something that R* wants to take advantage off

 

Also the magazine also mentioned that the only confirmed cast member is Philip Michael Thomas - the voice of Lance Vance. Now Here are more of the game's screens and scans, click on the thumbnails for a better look.

 

 

On a more personal note, we would like to thank Adriaan for the heads-up!