David Perry, founder of Shiny Entertainment and current thorn on Sony's side, is again asserting that the PSP2 is real, and that it won't have a UMD. He's also challenging Sony to call him a liar.

Details after the link.

Again and again, over the past few months, we heard the PSP labeled as dying and, in some cases, already dead. Of course, Sony kept saying, "No it's not. Just wait until 2009!", but hey, we hardened gamers can recognize a line when we see one, right? Turns out it wasn't just a line. Now the future of our beloved handheld seems pretty bright thanks to the announcement of a whole slew of big PSP titles that are all supposed to come out this year. Keep reading for another edition of the PSP Weekend Warrior!

Originally posted on February 27, 2009

Is the UMD finally dead? That's what Shiny Entertainment founder David Perry suggests, saying that Sony finally "removed the stupid battery-sucking UMD disc drive" in the PSP2.

*UPDATE* David Perry says the PSP2 is real. Believe, or else a PSP angel will lose its wings.

Visit: QJ.NET PSP speculation thread

Look out - it's a classic one-two! Interplay Entertainment has just wired in the news that it is finally pushing through with the development of a new Earthworm Jim title, and this one's got official support from the original creator himself. Douglas TenNapel, the mind behind the run-and-gun worm in a robotic suit, will be collaborating with Interplay to jump start the video game, TV, and toy legacy that was Earthworm Jim. Just a little bit more to reveal at the full story.

Young talents Dakota Blue Richards and Freddie Highmore will grace the upcoming multi-platform video game The Golden Compass by sharing their voices to breathe life into the game's main characters. Richards plays as protagonist Lyra and Highmore assumes the role of Pentalaimon, Lyra's Daemon.

This is Dakota's first major voice-over acting job, while Freddie has prior experience in similar roles before. "I do find it quite difficult, but I also find it fun," comments the young star as she compares the challenge to acting in front of the green screen for the film tie-in.

On the other hand, Freddie says "I have performed voice over work in the past," and shares "to convey the essence of a character you've got to believe in it and I think you have to get into the character, because if you don't believe in it no one else will."

The Golden Compass from Sega and Shiny Entertainment is a game based on the upcoming film of the same name which tells the story of a girl named Lyra who sets out on a quest to rescue her kidnapped friend. Along the way, she must use her wits to elude enemies and get past obstacles. She must also befriend strange creatures who can help her in her cause.

Just about every gamer will have a chance to join Lyra in her journey when it becomes available on the PC, Microsoft Xbox 360, Sony PlayStation 3, Nintendo Wii, Sony PlayStation Portable, and Nintendo DS.

Buy: [ The Golden Compass (PS3) ]

Buy: [ The Golden Compass (360) ]

Buy: [ The Golden Compass (Wii) ]

Buy: [ The Golden Compass (PSP) ]

Here's the latest gameplay video and screenshots for the Playstation Portable version of upcoming title The Golden Compass. Developed by Shiny Entertainment and published by Sega, this video game should come out some time in December (PSP, DS, PS3, Wii, PC, Xbox 360, PS2) to coincide with the movie launch.

Both Sega and Shiny Entertainment have promised that the game will remain as faithful as possible to both the movie and the novel. In this game, players follow the adventures of Lyra Belacqua as she tries to save her uncle in prison and look for her kidnapped best friend.

You will receive help from several in-game characters such as the spirit demon Pan, the armored bear Lorek, and of course the Golden Compass itself. Without this piece, every effort and attempt to discover the truth will be in vain.

See the gameplay video after the jump!

Shiny Entertainment founder and Project Top Secret leader David Perry has expressed his disdain for the Sony PSP's UMD format, saying that the small disk is "waste of money, time, and investment".

Perry has his own ideas for the PSP, saying that if he were in charge of PSP development, he would take out all UMD mechanisms and make all existing UMD games available for download so that PSP gamers can still play their UMD titles. He also gave his own ideas on how gamers can give proof of purchase of the PSP UMDs that they own in order for them to get the downloadable versions of their games.

This is Perry's impression of a UMD-less PSP:

That will make it even more sexy-looking, because it will be thinner again when they get all that junk out. Then, hopefully, the platform will actually get enough interest so that people will make a game specifically for it.

If UMDs had feelings, they must feel a bit bad after being referred to as "junk".

Perry also went on to say that the UMD-less PSPs may be very beneficial both for Sony and retail stores, since costs of shipping, insurance and warehousing are eliminated. Retail stores would also get their valuable shelf space back.

Well, that certainly was some radical concept from Perry. But considering that his former studio created the offbeat Earthworm Jim franchise and that he is the director of the innovative Project Top Secret, it's really no surprise that he managed to come up with those ideas.

Many authors of children's and young adult's fiction found their claim to fame when their books gave way to adaptations, either on the big screen or on the console platform. Phillip Pullman is no exception with the His Dark Materials trilogy. With a game based on the first book of the series, you can now keep yourselves updated on the status of The Golden Compass game on their new blog.

David Allen, Sega's official "Asset Wrangler" for the game, will be writing periodical blog entries on some of the cool stuff regarding the game. This is a job he considers "the best job in the world" as he tells his background and the reason behind his role in enticing readers in anticipation for the game's release.

For instance, he had this to write about why Sega thought him as the best candidate for this job:

I think they asked me to do this job because I’ve worked in TV so I’m used to working on sets and I know you need to turn your mobile phone off before they shout "action." I must have done something right somewhere because I secured the gig and was packed off to the set to meet producer Deborah Forte.... When I wasn’t stuffing my face with a beautifully prepared three course meal or buffet, I was there to make sure SEGA received what it needed from the film production team for The Golden Compass video game. It’s really about acting as the on-set eyes and ears for the developer, Shiny Entertainment.

The Golden Compass is set to be released alongside the movie this December and will be coming out for the PC, Xbox 360, PS2, PS3, PSP, Wii and DS.

 

A new batch of screenshots for Sega's The Golden Compass is out. Faithfully created to match the feel and sensibility of the movie, The Golden Compass is about Lyra Belaque and her quest to rescue her uncle in prison and her kidnapped best friend. Travelling with her on her quest is Pantalaimon, a daemon, and Iorek, the armored bear. The Golden Compass is her one true way to lead her on her journey.

The Golden Compass will be released in time with the movie on December 2007 for the PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable, Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii, Nintendo DS and PC.

PS3 Screenshots:

Wii Screenshots:

From the Shiny Entertainment to star-studded Tinsel Town, Kevin Munroe, designer behind Earthworm Jim, MDK, and Freaky Flyers, had a lot to say in an interview with John Gaudiosi about his love for game development, especially for his collaboration (or insufficiency thereof) to create TMNT: The Video Game already available for the PC, Xbox 360, Wii, PS2, GameCube, PSP, Nintendo DS and Game Boy Advance.

TMNT: The Movie writer-slash-director Munroe wished that he could have been "more involved" with the development of the TMNT game. His works on the CGI characters on the big screen, the actual environmental artwork, the sound effects - he gave them all to Ubisoft to tinker with. He even went so far as to describing the gist of the movie's story, the was happy to see that it fit well with the game engine.

"Other than that, I got so swamped with the movie. All of the plans about getting more involved with the game and kicking ideas back and forth all went out the window," said Munroe, who only got word of the game's developments through an Xbox 360 dev kit provided by Ubisoft.

He described that the game was pretty much playing through the movie's story. Aside from the better visuals the movie is more capable of, the game itself transports you to the monster-invaded streets of the Big Apple. His kids were excited that they could explore the vast city and be free to search for trouble.

Munroe continued, "My kids were freaking out about it. It was cool to see them feel like they were playing the movie. It's a trite thing to say, but I could feel it when I was playing the game. It's the first time I ever felt like that promise was carried through."

You can click the Read link below to see the blow-by-blow interview where he also discusses the various gaming consoles and handhelds his family has back home, and more on what it was like working on the movie.