UPDATE: As ever, thanks everyone for taking part. It seems like it was a popular topic this week! The following posters each claim a 1 year subscription to PS Plus: matirishhh (post 2), GothPunk (48), Co2-UK (60), zedmayer (105) and TheFistsOfAnElk (183). Congratulations! Your code will be delivered as a PM to your account on the official forums later this week.

ORIGINAL POST: As many of you have undoubtedly noticed, we announced the April update for PS Plus today. To my eyes, it’s a great selection of games, including some quirky titles that stand just outside the mainstream. It seems many of you agreed, but I did notice a few complaints that this month’s selections were a little obscure, or that there were no big-budget shooters.

Which brings me onto this week’s debate topic. Chances are that somewhere in your game library you have something a little out of the ordinary, or overtly niche – maybe a really dense JRPG, or a super-hardcore top-down strategy title, a bleepy retro platformer, or perhaps even a seemingly lightweight fitness or dance game.
(more…)

Score:

• 267 Comments 1 Reply
• Share on Twitter
• Share on Facebook

UPDATE: As ever, thanks to everyone for taking part. The following five posters each claim a Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 Plus code: bidbaldwolf86 (post 6), Dante_Zero (17), silmorat1 (49), azakajam (65) and phep (113). Congratulations – you’ll find your vouchers in your PMs on the official PlayStation forums later this week.

ORIGINAL POST: I’ve been having a fun time with my PS Vita this week, catching up on a few titles that have passed me by over the last few months: Sine Mora, Life of Pixel and Lumines: Electronic Symphony. So, a 2D shoot ‘em up, a 2D platformer and a puzzler. I’ll be honest – these are the sorts of games that I would probably never get around to playing on my PlayStation 3, but they absolutely shine on a handheld, and make for perfect ‘snacky’ public transport entertainment.

Perhaps you disagree, and are happier having blockbuster AAA titles like, say, Uncharted: Golden Abyss in your back pocket, rather than quirky retro oddities? Your topic for today then:

What makes the perfect portable video game?

(more…)

Score:

• 164 Comments
• Share on Twitter
• Share on Facebook

UPDATE: Apologies for the slight delay in announcing this week’s winners. The following five posters can expect to find an MLB 13: The Show code in their PMs on the official forums later this week: bradigor1981 (post 9), Lunastra78 (12), kakasinho (post 28), Coody-Baroody (56) and LoftyMatt (73). Many thanks for taking part everyone – we’ll have a new topic up on Friday.

ORIGINAL POST: You may remember that last week we posted news of a contest currently underway asking for creative submissions – whether they be short movies, artwork or photography – that exemplify your most memorable online gaming moments. It’s still on-going and there are some hefty prizes up for grabs, so I thought it would make a good topic for today’s Weekend Debate.

So, what have been your favourite online gaming experiences? Maybe it was making a great friend through DC Universe; or a stunning winning streak on FIFA, or a calamitous face-palm moment in Call of Duty; or a great LittleBigPlanet level that you shared. Let us know.

I’ve got five MLB 13 The Show codes for PS3 to giveaway for the most entertaining or interesting responses (see our post from Wednesday for more on the game). And please, if it gets your imagination whirring, do go ahead and enter the main contest! Good luck!

Score:

• 106 Comments 3 Replies
• Share on Twitter
• Share on Facebook

Hey there everybody and welcome to the final Weekend Debate of 2012. We’ll have plenty of great Blog content coming your way over the festive season but it’s not really practical to run another debate while so many of the Blog team are out of the office shovelling mince pies down their necks. So, let’s make this one count!

It seems only right and fair to take a nice Christmassy angle this week. So here you go:

You’ve got a close friend or family member who has never turned on a console before. You want to give them ‘the gift of gaming’ for Christmas. Which system and game would you put under the tree as a perfect introduction to your hobby, and why?

Your prize this week is a good ‘un, I think. The eight most entertaining and/or thoughtful responses get a download voucher for Uncharted: Fight For Fortune – Complete Edition (including all DLC packs) on PS Vita and, for good measure, a code for Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune on PS3.

Should you have preconceptions about Fight for Fortune, put them aside – it’s a really fun little time-sink. Trailer below to refresh your memories! Good luck!

(more…)

Score:

• 145 Comments 9 Replies
• Share on Twitter
• Share on Facebook

I don’t know about you, but the Christmas party season is well and truly in full swing in my corner of the world. Shamefully, I’ve already lost count of the number of mince pies I’ve stowed away. I’m hoping to get some pictures and eye-witness reports from the various holiday bashes taking place in Sony-affiliated studios around the globe over the next week or two, to share with you all over the Christmas down-time. Brace yourselves!

Duly, your debate topic this week is, I hope, nice and timely:

You’re throwing a gaming night with friends – or ‘party’ if you prefer. What three games do you line up, and why?

I want to hear about snack choices and fancy dress themes too, if you please!

Suitably, I’ve got 8 download codes for the thoroughly excellent Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed for PS Vita for the most entertaining responses. See Eurogamer’s considered review for more insight into why it’s a true multiplayer treat and a must for the Sega faithful.

Score:

• 183 Comments 11 Replies
• Share on Twitter
• Share on Facebook