Gangs of London for PSP Announced

[fitbabits]

Thanks to Gamecloud (http://www.gamecloud.com) for the news (http://www.gamecloud.com/article.php?article_id=3730).

Sony has officially announced Gangs of London, a crime themed game for the PSP from their London-Team Soho development studio that's kind of a spin off from their Getaway series of crime action games. Gangs of London is due for release later this year. Here is a snip:

Gangs of London was designed specifically for the PSP system and will be presented in stunning graphic-novel style narratives. Dynamic storylines enable each player to experience their own unique progression in nearly 60 different missions that immerse gamers in an elite criminal underworld in modern day London. Complete with new gameplay modes, Gangs of London provides intense free-roaming gameplay perfectly tailored for a handheld system.
Things are really looking up for the PSP.

[Magnanimous Gnome]

Haha, the PSP is the worst handheld since the N-Gage! :rolleyes:

[Switcher]

If you mean "looking up" by having a watered-down version of a bad GTA rip-off by a mediocre developer, then you'd be right.

[Vandenh]

>Things are really looking up for the PSP.

Err??? This is from the people who made the "amazing" The Getaway.

/sarcasm

[Cool AN]

Sounds interesting.

[txa1265]

More info at PSPHome (http://www.psphome.com/sony-psp/503/gangs-of-london-info-news.html)

What did the latest P-A say ... I'm cautiously optimistic, even though most times so far with the PSP, my cautious optimism has been rewarded in the style of the Krispy Kreme analogy ...

Mike

[AntB]

However much you people love bashing the PSP, more and more developers are finally starting to look at it as a viable protable gaming platform.

Games like Persuit Force(which is bashed by many because of it's difficulty.) Megaman & Street Fight Alpha 3 are a perfect examples of this.

You gotta give gamers on the go, short bursts of insane fun and I think developers are slowly getting the formula right.

When the PSP came out, most games were either half assed ports or half assed rehashes. Look at the ratings of games for the PSP, the ratings are steadily moving up.
When the platform came out most games scored in the 50-70% range. Now were seeing games that score 70-85%. Tokobot, while it gets a 70% average score, is INSANELY fun and original. Twisted Metal is insanely fun in short burts, these games are meant to be played for less then an hour. Not long gaming sessions, you have your consoles and PC for that.
Games like Tales of Eternia satisfy my long gaming sessions on the PSP, that games is a great RPG and it has a very unique style to it which is also great(horrible voice acting, but that's ok, it doesn't bother me much, i can just mute their voices and read.)

Just look at the recent reviews, most games got a 8/10. If that's not an improvement over before, I don't know what is.

And if you don't own a fucking PSP, SHUT THE FUCK UP, because you have no idea what the fuck you are talking about. Wheres my broom, gotta sweep some trolls away.

And you god damn DS fanboys that never touched a PSP, shut the fuck up.
Go look at the recent reviews for your blessed DS and then go look at the recent reviews for PSP, theres more games released on the PSP and most scored higher.

Here I'll even link them for you.
Recent DS Reviews on GameRankings (http://www.gamerankings.com/itemrankings/default_ds/1026)

Animal Crossing WW DS 86.6%
Super Princess Peach DS 79.0%
Electroplankton DS 76.2%
True Swing Golf DS 73.5%
Resident Evil: DS 73.3%
The Rub Rabbits! DS 71.7%

Recent PSP Review on GameRankings (http://www.gamerankings.com/itemrankings/default_psp/1024)

Street Fighter Alpha 3 PSP 82.5%
Mega Man Maverick Hunter PSP 82.4%
WWE SD vs Raw 06 PSP 81.4%
Pinball Hall of Fame PSP 75.6%
PQ PSP 74.7%
Tokobot PSP 72.1%


/sorry for the rant, just a little stressed at work... needed to vent a little anger. Just a general rant, pointed at no one in particular.

[Kamalot]

Isn't WWE SD vs Raw the same one that has 6 min loading times?

http://www.joystiq.com/2006/02/24/load-time-from-hell-psp-game-takes-its-sweet-time/

How on earth could such a game get a review score of 81%?

Perhaps, it is PSP reviewers that haven't touched a DS before and have no perspective. Those of us in the real world realize that load times on the PSP are too long.

[AntB]

I have 0 problems with loading times. All of my games load within a reasonable time.

And because a developer fucked up loading code doesn't mean all the games on the PSP have horrendous loading.

Also, WWE is not a game I would play, since I don't really like wrestling.

[Kamalot]

Also, WWE is not a game I would play, since I don't really like wrestling.
Touche

Of the games listed on Metacritic for the PSP, most of the top-rated games are ones I either already have for a home console or are sports / Xtreme sports games, which I have no interest in. That reduces the PSP games of interest to about 2.

I'm glad you have the patience to sit through the loading screens on your PSP. I can't stand mine.

[absolut taco]

Isn't WWE SD vs Raw the same one that has 6 min loading times?

http://www.joystiq.com/2006/02/24/load-time-from-hell-psp-game-takes-its-sweet-time/
That was pretty funny. I'd be so pissed off if I had bought that game...
While we're on the subject of load times, I have to say I am really impressed by Call of Duty 2 on the 360.
You turn the machine on, wait about 6 seconds for the 360 animation, the skip 3-4 activision/infinity ward animations. Then select single player and resume game. Total time from turn on is about 25 seconds.

[Kamalot]

Reviewers, sheltered in their little PSP world need to get a clue. People in general aren't interested in playing ANOTHER version of Mega Man or Street Fighter (unless it offers online play) on a slow-loading, energy-sucking, fragile, 'portable' device.

How can you trust any PSP review site that gives a PSP game with 6 min loading times a half-decent review?

How can you trust any PSP review site that gives a PSP game with 3 min loading times a half-decent review?

That's just inexcusable. And I thought the 40 seconds that Animal Crossing takes from power-on to gameplay was a long time.

[AntB]

What about Exit? Pretty innovative game, that's not a rehash and has great gameplay and replayability?

I'd comment on persuit force, but I have yet to pick that up.

[captainspankypants]

The fact that a wide variety of PSP games are remakes/ports/sequels of console games is irrevelant if you actually use it as a portable device, because console games are not portable. I don't have the cash for a PSP yet, but being able to play Dynasty Warriors, Wipeout, Prince of Persia, Armored Core, Grand Theft Auto, etc. while I'm on my hour-long train commute every day is pretty tempting.

[Grimmjow]

if the amazing "Getaway" had arrows instead of turn signals AND a better aiming system it would have been GREAT!

[AntB]

Captainspankypants, sadly dynasty warriors isn't that great.

Armored Core : Formula Front also bombed. But they released a revision called Armored Core : Extreme Battles[sic] and it's supposed to leaps and bounds ahead.

That's exactly I why I love my PSP, all of the titles that I loved on the PS2 I can carry around with me. My PS2 is in the closet collecting dust.
Metal Gear Solid Acid 2 is fuckin' awesome also.

[31 Flavas]

However much you people love bashing the PSP, more and more developers are finally starting to look at it as a viable protable gaming platform.

[...]

And if you don't own a fucking PSP, SHUT THE FUCK UP, because you have no idea what the fuck you are talking about. Wheres my broom, gotta sweep some trolls away.Well, at this point all I will say is that it is niffty (ironic?) to see the pendulum has swung the other way. It's now the Sony fans that are having to defend their precious system in the face of reality.

i.e. blah blah blah it does matter what the system sales numbers are for Nintendo, PSP has the "better" games.

Isn't that Nintendo speak?

[Switcher]

The fact that you have a PS2 in a closet collecting dust, is a sure indication of your insanity. The PS2 had the best line-up last year, and that trend looks to continue into this year. The Xbox and GameCube's had few titles last year truly worth owning.

MGS3: Subsistence, Onimusha: Dawn of Dreams, and KHII all in this month alone.

[AntB]

Switcher, my PS2 is in the closet simply because I do not have the time. The only place I get to game is on the subway on the way to work, which gives me about 2 hours a day. After work I do not have the time to game because I have to study and go to the gym.

I still haven't beat Katamari Damacy ffs. I'm a PSP advocate because it seemply does exactly what I want it to do.

And 31 Flavas, I don't really care what 13 year olds are buying for their system. It's because of that kind of mind set that publishers release shitty games. Trying to appeal to the widest demographic. I have no interest in playing mario, animal crossing or anything like that. It will put me to sleep, i need something with lots of bang in the morning.

[Kamalot]

I have no interest in playing mario, animal crossing or anything like that. It will put me to sleep, i need something with lots of bang in the morning.
I drink coffee.

[txa1265]

Why does there have to be this constant pissing contest between the systems? While I think it is pretty obvious that the DS has overshot the rather mediocre expectations, and the PSP has undershot the 'world beater' expectations given to it. And while the DS has more stellar games, it also has more duds. The PSP has more mediocre games.

[agentgray]

I had a PSP and the rootkit fiasco made me get rid of it. Well, that and the lack of games for me. I didn't want movies. I was willing to live with ports. However, I got MVP Baseball, which was more expensive than the console version and had less offerings. Wha...?!?!

You go ahead and keep praising the system. Granted the PSP is a great system, but I'll pass. I don't want movies, I don't want hig(er than console) prices, and I don't want to give Sony anymore money because of thier intrusive and illegal business practices. Man, my little boycott has been tough too and it probably doesn't matter much to Sony, but screw them. I have more money to do other things now. To each his own.

I have a DS now and for the price of one mediocre PSP game (none of them are killer apps) I could get two mediocre DS games (which has for the DS demographic a lot of killer apps).

[agentgray]

That's exactly I why I love my PSP, all of the titles that I loved on the PS2 I can carry around with me.
Um...do you have some type of converter that let's you use PS2 disc? Because I don't know of any games that are available on PSP that you can carry around with you. I'll give you Burnout. Maybe there's some games in the three months that I have not had my PSP that have come out.

That, or the games you love on the PS2 are pretty crappy.

I don't get it.

[AntB]

To each his own.

Stick with it. I meant more franchises I guess.

[ChamberX]

However much you people love bashing the PSP, more and more developers are finally starting to look at it as a viable protable gaming platform.

Games like Persuit Force(which is bashed by many because of it's difficulty.) Megaman & Street Fight Alpha 3 are a perfect examples of this.

You gotta give gamers on the go, short bursts of insane fun and I think developers are slowly getting the formula right.

When the PSP came out, most games were either half assed ports or half assed rehashes. Look at the ratings of games for the PSP, the ratings are steadily moving up.
When the platform came out most games scored in the 50-70% range. Now were seeing games that score 70-85%. Tokobot, while it gets a 70% average score, is INSANELY fun and original. Twisted Metal is insanely fun in short burts, these games are meant to be played for less then an hour. Not long gaming sessions, you have your consoles and PC for that.
Games like Tales of Eternia satisfy my long gaming sessions on the PSP, that games is a great RPG and it has a very unique style to it which is also great(horrible voice acting, but that's ok, it doesn't bother me much, i can just mute their voices and read.)

Just look at the recent reviews, most games got a 8/10. If that's not an improvement over before, I don't know what is.

And if you don't own a fucking PSP, SHUT THE FUCK UP, because you have no idea what the fuck you are talking about. Wheres my broom, gotta sweep some trolls away.

And you god damn DS fanboys that never touched a PSP, shut the fuck up.
Go look at the recent reviews for your blessed DS and then go look at the recent reviews for PSP, theres more games released on the PSP and most scored higher.

Here I'll even link them for you.
Recent DS Reviews on GameRankings (http://www.gamerankings.com/itemrankings/default_ds/1026)

Recent PSP Review on GameRankings (http://www.gamerankings.com/itemrankings/default_psp/1024)


/sorry for the rant, just a little stressed at work... needed to vent a little anger. Just a general rant, pointed at no one in particular.

Give this man a cookie and close this thread! Excellent points made in here. Surly? Yes, but a good read.

[Lister]

Since when did people who frequent this site give a crap about reviews on games? The simple fact of the matter is the PSP started out with a bang, and hasn't had much success since. I refuse to play a handheld game that has > 10 seconds for load times.

[ChamberX]

Um...do you have some type of converter that let's you use PS2 disc? Because I don't know of any games that are available on PSP that you can carry around with you. I'll give you Burnout. Maybe there's some games in the three months that I have not had my PSP that have come out.

That, or the games you love on the PS2 are pretty crappy.

I don't get it.

IMHO, (I love typing that. It's so...snarky) PSP is a great PORTABLE system. It's good in a bite-sized sort of way. To reference an earlier post you made, I'm not understanding what Sony's rootkit fiasco has to do with the quality of PSP games. If anything makes me upset, it's the constant upgrading of PSP's firmware...but that's for selfish reasons.

[01010]

I have a PSP and a DS, I enjoy both, does this make me a freak?

[AntB]

01010... why can't everyone just do that?

Not everyone has enough money. Point is, I was right when I said a couple of months ago to give the PSP a little bit more time. And now it's finally showing that i can live up to its potential, which is great.

Also on the DS issue, I can't god damin for the life of my get over that damn stylus control. It's incredible hard to hold the god damn thing and play Metroid with the stylus. Altough I like the control style, I get sick cramps.

[txa1265]

01010... why can't everyone just do that?

I agree - but you have also made some pretty anti-DS comments in this thread. Unfortunately, the PSP has nothing that can compete in terms of quality & depth with Mario Kart, Animal Crossing, Castlevania, Advance Wars, and now Age of Empires. I hope that Field Commander for the PSP is decent, but I certainly can't see a FPS for the PSP ever approach the control with the touchpad - it feels as close to the keyboard & mouse of the PC (i.e. best FPS control) as I've ever seen. SOCOM works because it *avoids* run & gun which is awful with the PSP controls.

I'm checking out the couple of new PSP RPG's this week - here's hoping they are good ... though the PSP is already worlds better than the crap DS RPG's available so far.

Mike

[dead_parrot]

I wanted a PSP when it first came out but didn't have the money. It was off to a good start with a number of launch titles I would have picked up (Wipeout, Lumines, MGA), but then the good games got fewer and farther between. I bought a DS when it first came out, beat Mario 64 on it, then didn't touch it for months until Kirby: CC came out, and I've been playing it pretty much nonstop since then. I guess what I'm trying to say is that both systems have had periods where good games have been scarce, but ultimately patience is rewarded. It took a while for games to come out that really took advantage of the DS's features, and the same thing is happening with the PSP. Sure, the PSP isn't as innovative, but you don't need a touch screen to create unique gameplay experiences. And even if the PSP just ends up having the same kinds of games as consoles do, I can think of worse things than a PS2 that fits in my pocket.

[Cool AN]

I agree with dead parrot, the PSP has just hit a dry periode with no new game, but that is rapidly changing.

[txa1265]

I agree with dead parrot, the PSP has just hit a dry periode with no new game, but that is rapidly changing.

But where is that *killer game* - the DS has at least 5 games better than *anything* on the PSP ... and dammit I want a killer game on my PSP.

[Cool AN]

But where is that *killer game* - the DS has at least 5 games better than *anything* on the PSP ... and dammit I want a killer game on my PSP.

Who knows?

[31 Flavas]

Why does there have to be this constant pissing contest between the systems?Because Nintendo's going to continue to do their own thing and it is not going to stroke the "hardcore" gamers ego because it doesn't include hi-def, x-tream graphics, or multimedia (cd/dvd/mp3/divx).

Like wise the "competition" is going to continue to do their own thing and it will included load times, self-destructing systems, and high price tags so Nintendo fans will always have shit throw right back at the mud slingers.

[Kamalot]

I agree with dead parrot, the PSP has just hit a dry periode with no new game, but that is rapidly changing.
One has to wonder how much support from developers it is getting...

http://kamalot.blogspot.com/2006/02/analysis-of-system-expectations-2006.html

This survey takes a look at developer interests for 2006, the PSP gets 5% of the interest.

If developers are only marginally interested in the PSP, who is going to make games for it?

[Dirty Harry]

if the amazing "Getaway" had arrows instead of turn signals AND a better aiming system it would have been GREAT!
i absoloutely loved this game, i dont think it was bad at all. Realism ftw. When i very first played through the game i did not know that you could heal by standing by the walls so i basically played the entire game with out healing. Twas quite fun.

[01010]

Also on the DS issue, I can't god damin for the life of my get over that damn stylus control. It's incredible hard to hold the god damn thing and play Metroid with the stylus. Altough I like the control style, I get sick cramps.

That's what the thumb strap is for. For me all this talk of one being better than the other is irrelevant, they are two completely different consoles with two very different playing experiences.

Personally I'm mortified that people are loyal to a company, that's just being a bad consumer. I can understand a company preference, that's different, but blindly following a company regardless of how they treat the consumer is quite frankly idiotic and the rest of us suffer for it.

[txa1265]

I have once again gotten a view of the PSP 'renaissance' ...

Ys: The Ark of Napishtim - not starting well ... should have been called "Ys: Now Loading"

Generation of Chaos - aptly named ...

[Ultima Thulian]

Why does there have to be this constant pissing contest between the systems? While I think it is pretty obvious that the DS has overshot the rather mediocre expectations, and the PSP has undershot the 'world beater' expectations given to it. And while the DS has more stellar games, it also has more duds. The PSP has more mediocre games.

I agree entirely.

Can't we all agree to disagree? I love both systems, and own both. I like my DS more because of its better library of games (imo), but that doesn't mean the PSP games suck. I love Wipeout Pure, Lumines, and Infected. And I'm psyched about Metal Gear Acid 2 (it looks like it's going to be miles ahead of its predacessor (sp.)).

If I'm not mistaken, the thread was about a game release, not the PSP launch lineup or the DS library or loading times or inaccurrate reviews or any of that. I'm amazed at how few of these posts have NOTHING to say about the game. I'm hoping it'll rock. The first Getaway games had potential, but never delivered. Maybe the PSP game will give the series justice? In any case, it's unfair to judge the game before it's released, though I can understand the lack of optimism for the title. Though I'll wait and see. It could just pull through.

[txa1265]

I'm hoping it'll rock. Maybe the PSP game will give the series justice? .I hope *every* new game rocks as a general rule ...

As for the 'doing it justice', I think about how disappointed I was with the PC version of Star Wars Battlefront and vowed not to repeat that mistake with BF2 ... but I did want to get the PSP version. While the game isn't 'great' (my review at GamerDad was 4/5), I have played it much more, and is one game I always have along with me for occasional pick up and play action.

Mike

[Ultima Thulian]

I hope *every* new game rocks as a general rule ...

As for the 'doing it justice', I think about how disappointed I was with the PC version of Star Wars Battlefront and vowed not to repeat that mistake with BF2 ... but I did want to get the PSP version. While the game isn't 'great' (my review at GamerDad was 4/5), I have played it much more, and is one game I always have along with me for occasional pick up and play action.

Mike

Really? Most critics slammed the PSP version of BF2. But I've never played it, so they could be wrong. I realize now the vagueness when I said, "I hope this game rocks...". I just want to see this game succeed more than most because the series typically has cool story, characters, graphics, landscape, scale, and realisim. But they botch the gameplay everytime. I'm hoping that trend will end with the PSP title.

[txa1265]

Sorry ... I mis-typed, I gave it a 7/10. I just found that despite the flaws it remains a fun game. I like it loads better than on the PC, which got better reviews.

Mike

[Ultima Thulian]

Sorry ... I mis-typed, I gave it a 7/10. I just found that despite the flaws it remains a fun game. I like it loads better than on the PC, which got better reviews.

Mike

7/10 ain't bad at all. Probably great for those must have portable short bursts of play. Have you tried Infected? You'll probably dig it.

[txa1265]

I haven't found it for a price I'm willing to pay yet ... for some reason I attach the same value to that as the Ghost in the Shell game, though it is *certain* to be better!

[Aries7777]

Wow, London is so hardcore gangsta, its a perfect setting for a GTA ripoff.