It's been waaaaay back since out last update on Lost Regnum and even after its presence over at TGS 2006, we hadn't picked up any info on this PSP title, its existence lost to us (flame count on for the lousy pun). That is, until now.

Ertain just opened up the Lost regnum official site, and if you don't mind the horrid load time - Funny, considering the game's bragged-about fast load capability - the site treats you to a some nicely designed web pages, all obviously taken from the game's set designs.

Conan-esque backgrounds aside, the site also hosts links to important game-related topics, such as character profiles, maps, and screenshots. The entire site's in Japanese, so you'll either have to put up with the Engrish churned out by Babelfish, or pray that the US release pops up soon. Speaking of releases, this game's only slated for Japan in 2006, with no news on a U.S. release. For now, enjoy the source link, which zips you right to the site.

You might remember us mentioning that Valhalla Knights made a showing during TGS 2006. Well we found word that XSEED Games acquired North American publishing rights for the game. Personally, I can only say one word: Woot.

Just so you know, here are some of the more notable features of this action RPG for your PSP.

• Customizable characters – Players can select from five races (human, dwarf, halfling, elf, machine) and eight different job classes (Fighter, Mage, Priest, Thief, Knight, Samurai, Ninja, Anchor).
• Complete quests, recruit new party members and upgrade your equipment... standard RPG fare. We hear that there's a big selection of weapons, armors, as well as accessories, and they also become visible on the in-game models when equipped. And that's something not so standard, especially coming from a Japanese RPG.
• Real-time battles that allow the player to do a balance act controlling the six party members. Want to switch from your Mage to a Samurai in the middle of a battle? We hear you can do so in this game.
  
• 2-Player Co-op Mode - We're talking about 30 co-op missions exclusive to the multi-player mode.
• 2-Player Versus Mode
  

Want you can check out how this game looks like? We got screens and a trailer for you here. The title is scheduled for release during the first quarter of 2007.

Because TGS 2006 isn't big enough for more syrupy PSP and PS3 goodness, Sony demoed the "Remote Play" functions of the two at CETEC JAPAN 2006. And GameWatch and Famitsu were both there to cover it all, and tell all about it. Also, as PSPVault found out, they both came away with radically different ideas of how Remote Play Works.

GameWatch says that Sony says that the PS3 will "throw" (yep, "throw") its video signal to the PSP using Wi-Fi. This means that the PSP can be used to control and see the related PS3 game, making the handheld sort of a Location-free PS3 - minus the six-axis motion-sense, right analog stick, and two shoulder buttons, though.

But Famitsu says that Remote Play is all about (and we quote PSPVault's quoting): "download[ing] Playstation 3 content to the PSP." Now that may read as somewhat like GameWatch's take - which is transmitting PS3 signals to the PSP - but it may also mean that Remote Play is primarily limited to trading game data between the two machines, and not necessarily PS3 in-game control with the PSP.

We would like to think it would be both - hey, the only limits to PSP-PS3 in-game interaction are the bandwidth limits of Wi-Fi (or a direct USB connection) and how much code it takes to integrate that into a game. We also had that earlier bit from the PS3 F1 racing game that the PSP could be used as a rear-view mirror. And Sony's Izumi Kawanishi had also mentioned the entire PS3-throwing-video-to-PSP thing last month.

The only thing we're waiting for now is a video of the demo in action (and someone who can understand the Japanese menu in the Remote Play demo).

Gamers may have quieted down a bit on the Sony bashing, but the business dudes in suits are still a bit worried. Investors started shaking their knees right after Macquarie Equities analyst David Gibson wrote in a report that PS3 units (some, not all 200 plus of them) on display at TGS 2006 operated erratically and had to be reset.

Gibson wrote: "While the reason for this is unknown we suspect it may be due to overheating as a result of enclosing the units and the high temperatures at the venue. We are concerned that such a problem has occurred so close to full production and is clearly negative news for the company."

Sony spokeswoman Nanako Kato explains that the problems were likely caused by one-of-a-kind temperature irregularities. About 200 PlayStation 3 units were clustered together in close proximity and housed in kiosks that concentrated the heat generated by their processors and provided poor ventilation.

Hmmm.... 200 plus PS3s, no ventilation, bright, and hot convention lights don't sound too good. As a reserved (as opposed to raving) Sony fan, I think that it's a wonder that the place didn't catch fire or explode or something. That in itself I believe shows how well engineered that box is. Of course, that's just me blathering.

Back to the bad bits, Investment firm Goldman Sachs Group Inc. has even lowered Sony's stock rating to "neutral" from "buy,"  due to the confusion over the release of the PS3 and the disappointing sales of the PSP. Yep, fans may say that the PSP is just in an odd form of hibernation, but the business dudes are counting greens here. Moolah. Not fan raves and screams of adoration.

Sony denied that there was any technical problem with the PS3. Despite this the company's stock still went down from 130 yen (.11), or 2.75 percent, to 4,600 yen (.98) on the Tokyo Stock Exchange.

All this and they still have those exploding laptop batteries to worry about. For now, Sony is running on the back of it's flat-panel TV and digital camera sales. Looks like PS3 is quickly turning into Sony's gaming Messiah. Let's just cross our fingers and hope for the best.

In a podcast that's supposed to wrap up TGS 2006, the folks of GamesRadar have proudly declared that the PSP has failed. They state that nothing really notable was shown for the PSP during TGS2006 except Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops, compared to four to five DS games that were featured at TGS 2006. According to them, the word from Developers at TGS 2006 is that the PSP is either failing or has already failed.

Despite high profile titles like Portable Ops and Square-Enix's Final Fantasy: Crisis Core, the PSP has pretty much almost taken the road of the Gamecube already. It seems that Developers with games that have a sure following are the only ones that have the courage to release titles for the PSP.

The tone of the PodCast's take on the handheld scene is that the DS just has so much more official content compared to the PSP.

And here Sony wonders why the Homebrew scene is growing. Perhaps if they had more "big" games for the handheld during release, or maybe if they welcomed hobbyists and developers the same way Microsoft is welcoming the same people with the XNA, game developers will have a brighter outlook for the PSP.

We here at QJ do not want to declare the PSP dead. As debatable as it is, the PodCast does raise some very convincing points. Anyway, don't just take what we had to say about GamesRadar's podcast, watch the podcast yourselves. Download it below.

Download [GR TGS2006 wrap up]

Hideo Kojima is acknowledged as the master because he created not just a series of games, but a universe that these games inhabit, that ties these games together and provides a continuous storyline of conflict and war that stretches from the Cold War to the near future. This universe still holds secrets yet to be revealed, however - some secrets which will be revealed in the upcoming Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops (MPO) and Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots.

Apparently, not all the secrets lie in the preview of these two eagerly-awaited titles. IGN reveals that Kojima has a few tricks left up his sleeve, tricks he recently revealed during a TGS 2006 stage event and reported by Japanese game sites.

First, if you happen to be a fan of Hideoblog, you will be glad to know that it will soon come out as a book form. The print will be published by Gentosha, but beyond that, there were no further details on its expected release.

Now, on to the games themselves. Since MGS4 is a sequel to MGS2, the second Metal Gear Solid: Sons of Liberty digital comic will tie in, story-and-content-wise, directly with Guns of the Patriots. Kojima-san would like you to read - er, play the comic before moving on to MGS4.

Portable Ops is also directly connected to Guns of the Patriots. "If you change the Ops story, you have to change 4. If you change 4, it also becomes necessary to change Ops. Until Ops is finished, 4's story can't be finalized." Gameplay is, however, indeed finalized. "The gameplay systems are in a pretty much fixed state, and now all that remains is to add more content,"

You MUST read after the jump: Master Kojima set up us the bomb!

Pre-Order: [Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots]
Pre-Order: [Metal Gear Solid Portable Ops]

You've seen a whole lot of artwork for Capcom's Power Stone Collection in this site. Now, take a deep breath as we bring you 27 new screenshots of the game fresh from the Tokyo Game Show!

That may definitely seem like a lot to handle, but the opportunity's just too good to pass up. This game is actually a compilation, including enhanced versions of Power Stone and Power Stone 2, which were originally released for the Sega Dreamcast and arcades. For the PSP version, there will be a multiplayer support via the handheld's ad hoc mode, and thus, the stakes are raised to a no holds barred battles level.

Utilizing a simple control scheme, players can execute standard moves such as punches and kicks. However, the deeper power struggle comes in the form of "power stones". Fighter will then have to collect these gems in order to tip the scales in their favor. Having three in their possession transforms them into super fighters with devastating power moves. In addition, there is a variety of weapons, as well as the ability to use environments in creative ways, allowing for an "incredible level of freedom and depth beyond the typical fighting game".

The Power Stone Collection is expected to be release in North America by October.

Click on Full Article for the complete collection of new screenshots!

Given that they had around 200 plus PS3's on the floor, they better have backed that up with content or the fans would've gone bonkers. Despite the fact that Ken Katuragi's key-note speech didn't really give out a lot of details, most of what Sony had on the floor was actually decent and mostly playable content. Thank bob Sony delivered this TGS 2006.

Warhawk, Resistance: Fall of Man, and Heavenly Sword were the games that dominated the floor space with their humongous displays. For the portable crowd, Sony set up a Playstation Spot area where attendees could charge and download the latest material for their PSPs. Trailers, demos, and other digital goodies were up for download. The PSP booth that gathered the biggest crowd of PSP fans was the kiosk for Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops.

Check out the pictures below, and see the crowd for yourself.

    
  

Level 5 set up a demonstration of Jeanne d'Arc at TGS 2006 and said that the game was going to be released in Japan on November 22. The game demo showed some of the demonic forces Jeanne and her team has to go up against (unlike the real Jeanne of Arc, this one doesn't battle the English). The cel-shaded graphics and RPG strategy and gameplay makes this one very appealing to us RPG geeks here at QJ, and we're hoping the story is as interesting as it looks. We like the anime splendor of the cinematics (reminds me a lot of Studio Ghibli; another writer said the lady with the sword below looks like Marle from Chrono Trigger, but I don't see it).

Anyway, check out the images below for a closer look at the turn-based chessboard/tactics gameplay and for a glimpse at some of the power-ups and special moves. See tons more images after the jump (click on the Full Article link below).

One of the titles that stood out from the great big Japanese RPG forest at TGS 2006 was Marvelous Interactive's Valhalla Knights. The action-RPG, tactical team combat, stealth action Frankenstein of a game is exclusive for the PSP.

The game is a full 3D RPG where you venture out with a party of up to ten heroes. Sounds pretty standard right? Wait a bit. Each of the four characters can be played at anytime with a quick press of the Select button, and given that gameplay is real-time be it in exploration or battle, this quick switch becomes a nifty feature. Moreover, while exploring you have the option to duck and sneak past enemies, adding more strategy to the mix.

You can also play multiplayer with two other gamers via ad-hoc, either in co-op or in a battle mode against each other.

The graphics for the game look quite nice. If you want to check the quality of it for your self you can go here.

There's no word yet on the US version on the game, but by the looks of things, localization is very likely. We'll update you if we get any new news.