The Konami Syndrome

No its not some new gaming disease, though it totally sounds like one, For some reason Konami has decided to sell out at an alarming rate. In the next Metal Gear Solid game tie-ins will be a heavily featured thing. A list of in game tie-ins include: Monster Hunter monsters, Assassin’s Creed collaboration, in-game Weekly Jump manga, in-game Mountain Dew and Pepsi, in-game Walkman, and in-game body Axe spray. All this will be seen in Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker for the PSP. I’ve seen crazy video game tie-ins before, but this is a little ridiculous. I know I’m a bit late on this, but I just thought how crazy this all was. Hideo Kojima eventually explained, rather strangely: "Concerning the current tie-ins, various things are being said in the news in the business sense, but I have singular reason," Kojima wrote via Twitter. "It's because I want to surprise players. If there's no surprise or freshness, then I'll stop the tie-ins. It's different from Hollywood-style merchandising."

It actually sounded better in words. It looks kinda disappointing in picture form now. Besides the tie-ins; other MGS: PW merchandise have made interesting appearances. If you head over this direction (slightly NSFW) if you get the MGS: PW CD single (or if you ever like getting Game OST’s) you will get this interesting packaging. Maybe its no surprise since its Kojima.

Another piece of MGS: PW merchandise is the announced PSP Big Boss Pack. Take a look:

If I was ever going to get a PSP-3000, I think the time is now. Besides this package, is the smaller “Spirited Green” pack. I don’t dig the spirited green color, if it even is a color (Must look at the official colors from crayola now). The Big Boss pack is the only Gamestop exclusive (of course) and both will be out the game date June 8th. All that's included in the Big Boss pack is pictured there, but the movie that’s supposedly a bonus, hasn’t been chosen yet. Guess they gotta find a movie that's either stealthy or fits in with Metal Gear Solid. Can’t think of one on top of my head. I’m also surprised that the PSP-GO hasn’t gotten much exclusives. But that's another argument for another post…no its not, the PSP-GO sucks.

The Briefcaser's Dilemma: Part 2

Nearly less than a year later a new PSP has been announced. I still have yet to get the newer/older model the PSP-2000, but once I heard this news, it intrigued me. Yet Sony again is doing this from the loss of profits of the PS3. What else would they do it for? The new PSP looks pretty fancy compared to the older models. Here are some comparison pictures from IGN:

PSP-1000

PSP-2000

PSP-3000

Here are some pretty significant pics on what's new with the new system with comparison shots of the PSP-2000 and PSP-3000:

If you didn't understand earlier, the PSP on top is the PSP-2000 and the PSP-3000 on bottom. The New updated PSP will have a new LCD screen, much brighter with a non glare screen, and a new back decoration to it. The PSP-3000 will also have an updated UMD port, faster game load times, a built-in microphone, a new home button, a rumored antenna, a higher output resolution of 480p, and the speakers will be moved (same place as PSP-2000). A little early? Maybe considering the PSP-2000 wont be on sale anymore in September. So if you don't wont the PSP-3000 for a few upgrades and want an older model? Gotta buy it now. The PSP-3000 is also said to have a shorter battery life by 20 or 30 minutes, so its another reason to get the PSP-2000. Even though I am a bit of a Video Game collector, I'll just wait for the PSP-3000, which is a first for me. The PSP-3000 will be released October 14 with the Rachet & Clank: Size Matters Entertainment Pack which includes:

Updated Mystic Silver PSP 3000

Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters

National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets UMD

echochrome PSN download voucher

1GB Memory Stick PRO Duo

Which will go for $199.99. Also a month later will be a different pack for the PSP-3000 will be out which will include:

Updated Piano Black PSP 3000

4GB Memory Stick PRO Duo

Everyday Shooter PSN download voucher

Again going for $199.99. Kinda wierd how its being released, but I don't think theres any word of a core release at the moment, so it is a dilemma for Sony indeed.