Final Fantasy 7 is coming to the Vita!

It's no secret, Final Fantasy VII is one of my favorite games of all time. Ask my wife, I've mentioned that to her enough times to drive her batty!

So imagine my delight when I found out that Sony has announced that they've given it the green light as one of the PSOne Classics to be released for the Vita. FFVII isn't the only one being released, of course, but it's definitely the headliner in my book. Other titles include Tomb Raider, JetMoto, and Arc the Lad. PSOne Classics will be available on the Vita sometime starting this summer, though no specific dates were given.

It's not true until you see it on Twitter, kids.

There was no word as to whether or not all of the PSOne Classics would be made available on Vita. There are a few other titles that I'd be interesting in seeing on the Vita, including some of the other Final Fantasy games (V, VI, VIII, IX), Metal Gear Solid 1, the original three Resident Evil games.

What classic PSX games would you like to be able to play on-the-go?

Skyrim: Dawnguard DLC Trailer

After months of speculation, Bethesda has released the official trailer to their upcoming DLC for The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. Titled Dawnguard, the add-on looks to have a lot of things that should get any Dragonborn feeling giddy in their greaves. There a couple of things that should catch your attention as you watch the trailer. Crossbows, new Vampire feeding animations, Vampire transformation and flying, and a very menacing antagonist who's got a craving for blood and the Elder Scrolls.

See the full trailer below:



Still no word as to when this epic looking add-on will be released. Stay tuned for updates!

Review: PlayStation Vita - A lot of potential

Due to luck and my wife being a vault of random knowledge, we were able to win a new PlayStation Vita. For anyone who hasn't been keeping up with it, the Vita is Sony's latest venture into the handheld gaming space and is the successor to the PlayStation Portable (PSP) system. Think of it as a PSP that had a sweet, sweet love-child with an iPod touch or a tablet. The Vita boasts two thumbsticks, a multi-touch touchscreen, rear touchpad, Wi-Fi (optional 3G), front and back cameras, microphone as well as several other goodies.

I don't get all that giddy over tech specs, so I'm going to dive right into the Pros and Cons of the system. If you're interested in reading about the rest of the Vita's specs, check out the detailed product page here.

Pros

Off the bat, the wife and I were impressed with the quality of the graphics that the Vita can put out. To date, I've played through the Welcome Park tutorials, Unit 13 demo, Uncharted: Golden Abyss demo, a few PSP titles, and the Super Stardust Delta demo... and wow they really do look good for a handheld. Sound quality is also pretty good, both on the actual games, as well as music and video playback. For a handheld device, the volume actually goes up very high and I find myself typically playing on 20-30% volume most of the time. 

It's actually pretty comfortable to hold, despite the size

Another thing that the system has going for it is the integration of the different control options. The touchscreen and rear touchpad are easy to use and are very responsive. For example, you can use the touchpad to manage the zoom of your sniper rifle in Uncharted:GA, use flashbangs in Unit 13. Sixaxis also makes an appearance, and works well based on my experience with the Welcome Park and Super Stardust Delta demo. Even with touchscreen and button control, the Vita is very comfortable to use. Button layout is close enough to the touchscreen that you don't feel like you need ape-hands to use it, and it rests in your hands pretty well, considering the size of the device.

When it comes to gaming, you've got options galore. For hard copies of the game, the Vita can only play Vita games. However, you've got a whole range of titles to choose from on the PlayStation Network. For example, there are many Vita titles and demos that are available via download only. There are also a plethora of PSP and PS Minis titles available for download. In essence, it's sort of backwards compatible (more on this later). Pricing for these games crosses a wide spectrum, with many of the Minis being available for under $10, PSP titles under $30, and Vita titles anywhere between $9.99 (i.e. Super Stardust Delta) and $49.99 (i.e. Uncharted). It is important to note that there are games across the spectrum, but you should expect to pay a bit more for the bigger "blockbuster" titles. You've definitely got some options to keep you occupied.

A very practical app that uses the camera system

In addition to the gaming capabilities, the Vita also offers several extra elements. The web browser is intuitive and allows for you to open multiple windows, save bookmarks, and track your history. As is to be expected, you use the touchscreen for selection, typing, and other assorted activities. Additionally, on a Wi-Fi connection, the Vita's browser has fairly speedy load times for most pages. Beyond web surfing, you can also download apps from the PSN for entertainment and social networking. Your entertainment apps consist of Music Unlimited and Netflix, and your social networking apps include Skype, Facebook, Twitter, Foursquare, and Flickr.

While there are several great aspects of the Vita, there are also a few flaws that potential owners should be aware of.

Cons

While the control layout is comfortable and responsive, users with big hands might find themselves nudging the touchscreen while trying to use the thumbsticks, or accidentally triggering the rear touchpad while holding the device. While this is certainly not a crippling flaw, it might cause you to accidentally trigger your sniper zoom while in a close quarters firefight on Unit 13 (speaking from experience).

My other complaint is in regards to backwards compatibility. I mentioned that you're able to download select PSP titles off of the PSN. There is intentional emphasis on the word select. There are a lot of titles that have yet to be released on the PSN for the Vita. While there will certainly be more games coming out over the next year or so, it is a little disappointing to know that there's a bunch of already released games that you'll be missing out on in the short-term (including Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker and FFVII Crisis Core). Additionally, PSOne Classics are not available on the Vita (yet). Here's to hoping that they become available, as I'd love to have Final Fantasy VII on the go.

Like how this looks? Expect to pay a bit more for it

The Vita can also be a bit pricey. Memory cards, which are required to do just about everything on the Vita, are range from 4GB for $19.99 to 32GB for $99.99. If you anticipate being an avid game downloader, then you might consider going for a 16GB or larger memory card to make sure you have enough room. This decision will cost you at least an extra $59.99 dollars. Also, some titles are kind of expensive as well. For example, Uncharted: Golden Abyss is $49.99. I understand that the game has a higher quality than your typical portable game, but I personally find it a bit sour that I'm going to pay that much for a handheld game. I might as well get a console game with better graphics and performance for just $10 more. It's worth noting that this is a personal objection and should be ignored if you have no problem with that price tag.

Summary

Overall, I give the PlayStation Vita a pretty high rating of eight out of ten points. It's an innovative piece of technology that successfully combines elements of a tablet with those of a handheld device. Many of its flaws can be easily updated by new apps and software updates (I'd love to see some sort of YouTube app!). A brief summary of the pros and cons is listed below, for those who jumped right to the end of my review.

Ultimately, the Vita will live or die based on the content released for it. The selection of launch titles is fairly dismal, with some entertaining games and a few decent games. However, decent doesn't justify a $250+ purchase in my mind. That's the downside - the bright side is that there's a lot in the pipeline with a good amount of potential. Gravity Rush is looking to be a phenomenal title, and PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale may be an interesting title. Moreover, things can only get better as more PSP and PSOne titles are made available.

Overall rating: 8.0 / 10

Pros

• Crisp graphics and sound
• Smooth integration of touchscreen, touchpad, and Six-Axis
• Backward compatable (sort of)
• Web browser and several handy of apps (Netflix, Skype, Facebook, etc.)
• Several affordable games
• Comfortable to use

Cons

• If you have big hands, it's easy to accidentally nudge the touchscreen when using the thumbsticks
• No flash plugin, no YouTube
• Not entirely backward compatible, lots of PSP/PSOne Classics games that you can't play yet
• Memory card system is a bit pricey
• Some titles are as expensive as a traditional console game
• No launch titles that really pop out

8-Bit Warfare

Every now and again, you find something so nerd-tastic, it causes your brain to melt. For me, this video is a great example of that. Finally, there is an answer for those of us who've wondered what happens when you combine Battlefield 3 with the nostalgia of 8-bit gaming.

Mass Effect 3: Extended Cut DLC due this Summer

Mass Effect 3 will receive a free ending DLC. Yes, after a month of fan outrage and industry commentary, Bioware has made the announcement that the "Extended Cut" DLC will come out in the summer and offer fans the closure they desire. As many have predicted, the DLC will not change the ending as it is - rather it will feature sequences and cut-scenes that help to explain it and provide closure.

“We have re-prioritized our post-launch development efforts to provide the fans who want more closure with even more context and clarity to the ending of the game, in a way that will feel more personalized for each player,” said Casey Hudson, the series' executive producer."

According to Game Informer, the DLC will be free through April 12, 2014 for Xbox 360, PS3, and PC. Players must have an account with either EA online service Origin, the PlayStation Network or Xbox Live to receive the DLC free of charge.

Here's to hoping that this DLC will satiate the desires of disappointed fans and the RetakeME3 movement, rather then add more wood to the fire that Bioware and EA are roasting in.

Mass Effect 3's nontraditional traditional ending choices

Saw this today and was immediately amused by it - I wonder if foot is a good taste to have in your mouth?

Mass Effect 3 fans push for a "sweet" resolution

Any gamer worth his controller pack has heard the buzz surrounding the ending of Mass Effect 3. Many fans felt that the trilogy's ambiguous ending was a colossal let down after over 100 hours of galaxy surfing.

The disappointment has been so potent that fans have joined together to demand a new or extended ending from Bioware. This movement, dubbed "Retake Mass Effect 3," has generated a lot of press from a variety of sources - especially Forbes.com. Together, they've raised about $75,000 for the Child's Play Charity - and they are working out a plan to support other charities to be heard. Other disappointed fans have taken different approaches. One extreme fan filed complaints of false advertising to the Better Business Bureau and the FTC.Another took a more savory approach and sent Bioware an assortment of cupcakes that mimic the game's "multiple" endings. The cupcakes, which were funded by donations from other disappointed fans, are either red, green, or blue and all taste the same - a very blunt jab at Bioware for the seemingly shallow nature of the ending.

Public opinion has been all over the place on this one. Mainstream gaming media sources, like IGN and Game Informer, seem to be very quick at to mock and ridicule the fans, meanwhile Forbes seems to be their strongest mainstream supporter. Those against the movement claim that the "protesters" are just being entitled brats, other compare them to terrorists. The main argument is that the fans have no right to impose upon Bioware's "artistic integrity." Touchy subject indeed.

While I think there are a few bad apples among the protesters (like the knucklehead that filed BBB/FTC complaints), I think Bioware should give them what they want, but also take a few artistic liberties at the same time.

Bioware's biggest asset, as a company, is it's die hard fan-base. The fan's that are upset are members of that fan-base: they're the ones who buy the novels, the comic books, and the merchandise. But beyond the revenue directly generated from them, they're also their greatest marketing tool. Word of mouth is one of the most potent forms of advertising, especially in the digital era. Bioware has a legion of fans who are willing to be their advocates for free. These folks are the ones that are your early adopters for new games and series, and will recommend it to their friends and social media followers. Advertisers pay millions of dollars for this type of reach. In addition to the business angle of the fan-base dynamic, there's also the content development assets. Through a variety of fan-fictions and fan-made endings, Bioware has a gold mine in front of them - they know what their audience is looking for. That's thousands of dollars of product development research available to them for free.

Additionally, delivering what their fans so desperately desire is a smooth public relations move. Fans' donations to the Child's Play Charity demonstrates how invested they are. They're willing to commit to a cause and take an upstanding and respectable approach. Why not reward that behavior? Everyone stands to gain from it - the fans get their voices heard, the developer/publishers get additional brand equity, and the needy get helped.

The final reason for "changing" the ending is this: they can do it. Bioware is one of the few studios with an exceptionally capable group of developers that can take consumer feedback and successfully integrate it with their artistic vision. Look at the Lair of the Shadow Broker DLC for Mass Effect 2 - they took fan feedback and developed what is arguably one of the best video game add-ins ever made.. While the current ME3 ending may have been a downer, they were able to produce roughly 99 hours and 50 minutes of content that is entertaining and immersible. By examining the fan-made endings, they have the tools to see what their audience is looking for and shape their product to meet that demand. Moreover, I don't think that they need to "change" the ending to do so. Take Fallout 3, for example. Bethesda took fan feedback into consideration and developed Broken Steel. Some arguments against this say that Broken Steel was hokey - but I don't pay those any mind. Like I mentioned earlier, Bioware has some of the best and brightest talent in the industry. If anyone could extend the ending in a non-hokey way, it's them.

Bioware co-founder, Ray Muzyka, mentioned in his statement on the Bioware Blog, we will be getting an announcement in April of the developer's plans to address the ending of their finale. One should notice that he was very careful in his word choice - he only promised "closure." Nowhere in there does he say whether or not that closure will be in the form of new or extended endings. Here's to hoping we get the news at PAX East coming up this week.