Monday Round-up: Sony gets the F2P bug, COD Elite Beta launches...

Sony Online Entertainment announced today that DCU online would be joining the "Free-volution" by adopting a free to play model at the end of October.

For many gamers the monthly subscription was a sticking point that prevented them from getting on board with the SOE superhero MMO, but with the subscription model abandoned, and the announcement that the game itself will be free to download on the PSN, it's expected that many more gamers will be venturing into Gotham or Metropolis.

The new model will have three tiers of membership (Free, Premium and Legendary) depending on how much money you sink into the game through in game micro transactions, although SOE were at pains to state that micro transactions won't break the game. Items like the Superman Raid suit and extra EXP will not be available for purchase. That's heartening to hear, especially for a cheapskate like me who fully intends to play as a free member as far as i can.

Free membership is, as you can imagine, free. It allows for two character slots, access to current raids and online play in DC Universe Online, ability to join a league as well as many further benefits. Free level players can buy downloadable game packs/updates, additional character slots, powers and more through the aforementioned micro transactions.

Any gamer who has spent $5 or more in-game through either in game items or previous subscriptions qualifies for Premium membership. Premium members will get extra character slots, a greater cash limit and more inventory slots . just like Free members, premium members can also buy extra character slots etc in-game.

Legendary Membership requires a monthly subscription of $14.99 but includes all the features and benefits that current subscribers enjoy, including free DLC and the ability to create leagues of unlimited size. Anyone who already paid for a lifetime subscription will be automatically given Legendary membership as the lifetime subscription still stands.

John Smedley, president of SOE refuted the idea that this move came after a downturn in players. "In terms of 'Is it a result in a drop in subs' – absolutely not, This is the right business model. If I can be honest, the game ended up costing a lot more than we thought it would, and this was our preferred business model from day one."

You do have to question though, if this was their preferred business model, then why not implement it from day one? It would be fair to assume that SOE needed to recoup their money quickly and that the original model was the best option to do so.

DCU Online will be available as a free download in late October. On the subject of PSN, the Call of Duty: Elite Beta finally went live on Sony's console today.

An Activision press release stated that "Beta testers can take their current Call of Duty multiplayer experience to the next level by jumping into the Beta version of the Call of Duty Elite service, as beta access will start to be activated in stages, with limited invitations rolling out effective today," The Beta is currently only for CoD: Black Ops, but once Modern Warfare 3 is released on November 8th the full functions of the Beta will be made available.

To try getting in on the Beta you can head over to www.callofduty.com/elite and register your interest. I for one won't be bothering though...




Next up, Street Fighter IV will be making it's début on android phones sometime in Q4, unfortunately it will only be available on LG handsets for the first 3 months before being available on any Android compatible system thereafter.

I can't decide what's a worse idea, that you'll more than likely be playing SF IV on a phone with no buttons or that you'll have to play it on a crappy LG handset to begin with...




According to Andrisang.com Hideo Kojima, the genius behind the Metal Gear games, has announced that Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater will be released for 3DS in 2012, not 2011 as was originally planned.

Regular readers will remember that i had a hands on with the game at the IGN UK 100th podcast party and i was very impressed with the use of 3D and general fidelity of the graphics. I'm interested if this delay has anything to do with the leaked news of a second control stick add-on for the 3DS system, maybe Kojima-san wants to build in some compatibility with the add-on to rectify some of the control issues i had with the game.

Andriasang also reports that Kojima confirmed an early to mid 2012 release date for the Z.O.E. HD collection. Yay!



Netflix CEO Reed Hastings has announced the formation of a new company which will go by the name Qwikster. It marks the seperation of their streaming and Postal divisions and will require unique accounts to use either service. Going forward Netflix will handle the streaming side of the business while Qwikster will be the company in charge of the DVD/Games by post business.

Hard to say what advantage this move gives Netflix but it's an interesting development which makes sense of the re-pricing exercise of the previous few weeks.



Finally as always, here's the UK's top ten best selling games (all formats) for the week ending September 17:

1 - Dead Island
2 - Warhammer 40K: Space Marine
3 - Resistance 3
4 - Driver: San Franciso
5 - Deus Ex: Human Revolution
6 - Zumba Fitness
7 - Lego Pirates of the Caribbean
8 - Rugby World Cup 2011
9 - Lego Harry Potter: Years 1-4
10-Cars 2

Really? Who hasn't got Zumba yet that could possibly want it?

Rugby World cup is still performing well thanks to its real world counterpart, while Resistance 3 débuts at number 3 just below Dead Island and Warhammer 40k, which maintain their position at the top of the tree.

Right, i'm spent.

Later days!

Sony pimping the PSP for all it's worth

In the PSP's dwindling years it was perhaps inevitable that Sony would try to squeeze the last pennies from it's soon to be pensioned off Hand held console. Sony's Playstation blog announced today that the following three dual packs will be released this week in the US for the very competitive price of $14.99.

Syphon Filter Dark Mirror/SOCOM Fire Team Bravo
Syphon Filter Logan's Shadow/Killzone Liberation
Secret Agent Clank/Daxter

Not only will these packs be in stores this week but they will be made available for digital download in the Playstation Network Store. Hopefully, if these dual packs turn out to be successful, we'll see more PSP classics find their way into the bargain bucket.

Sony didn't announce any plans to roll out the Dual Pack concept outside of the US, but of course if they announce any intention to do so you'll read about it here on Game for a laugh.

Why i went back to PSP

Maybe i have the worst timing in the world, but i bought a PSP a couple of weeks ago after seeing a pearl white PSP 3000 on sale for a very decent price at HMV. Yes i know that there is likely very little software left to be released on the console, especially with Vita due out at the end of the year, but i have some good reasons other than "It was an impulse buy, lolz".

First i should say that this isn't the first time i've owned a Playstation Portable. I bought one very soon after launch only to trade it in for a DS after i was left underwhelmed by games like World Soccer Tour and Pursuit Force (the latter was apparently a good game but it just never grabbed me). I was disappointed with the lack of software support for Sony's hand held device, while DS was getting the likes of New Super Mario Bros, Zelda, Proffessor Layton and Mario kart. So, what changed?

Well, during the time i was away the PSP developed a very strong library. Puzzle, action, arcade, racing, RPG and downloadable titles available on the PSP offered More diversity and quality than it's Nintendo rival could hope to. Of course it helps that Sony's machine is much more powerful under the hood, meaning that games like The Third Birthday and Final Fantasy's Dissidia franchise could be played on the move rather than only at home.

Oh and I also bought a PS3 at some point too...

Owning a PS3 makes the PSP experience that little bit better. Being able to browse and download things from the PSN store on my home console just feels better, I can start a download and then leave it running while i do other stuff, no concerns for battery life or losing wifi connection thank you very much. It also helps that using the PSP in conjunction with the PS3 makes you feel like a tech genius when, really, anyone could do it.

I've already downloaded Angry Birds for the PSP, an inspired game that perfectly suits my train ride to work every morning where a larger UMD based game might not. Playstation Mini's in general are of great interest to me while Plans are in motion to download Final Fantasy VII thru IX for more extended play while not at home.

Puzzle games have always been a staple of Hand held gaming, from the first time i played Tetris on the Gameboy i loved to exercise my grey matter. PSP has an embarrassment of riches in that department. Lumines, Echochrome, Mercury, Lemmings, the Go! series of puzzle games to name a few are exactly the games i like to play. They challenge you but reward you at the same time.

When did they put a comic book reader on the PSP? Never mind, because i've already downloaded some free samples and i love the concept. I might very well start downloading some titles from the store front. Skype is a nice little extra to have, but I doubt I'll use it much. Music is still a pain in the ass on PSP, but honestly, i have an iPod so why would i want music on a gaming device?

No, the reason i bought the PSP is very simple. I love games, I want to re-play some PS One classics as well as mini's like Angry Birds. I want to play the Third Parasite Eve game and Dissidia duodecishuckyduckyquackquack. I like Tetris but i prefer Lumines and Mario Golf doesn't have shit on Everybody's Golf. Peace Walker? Yes please.

PSP started off slow, it didn't get the support it needed straight away but after a few years it started to hit its stride. Now as PSP is eased into retirement we can see it has a wonderful library of games available to play. Whether they be on UMD or are downloadable titles on PSN the PSP has plenty to choose from, and i've only just begun to sink my teeth into it all. Now is the time to jump on board if you haven't already. My hands are rubbing together so fast you could start a fire with me.