UK Sony PSP owners can now celebrate the release of GO!VIEW, a video on demand service for users with a broadband connected PC. The Go!view service is powered by Sky and for a low subscription fee lets you download popular tv shows, movies and sports highlights. Go!view uses the same p2p Kontiki application that Channel 4’s uses for its on demand service, simply click, download and transfer them over to your PSP. If you’re interested in watching TV on the go then this might be for you and with the offer of one month free, could well be worth a look. It’s about time we use the PSP for something other than gaming.

Related: Go!View

Tags: PSP, video on demand, Go!view, Sky, Go View, Goview, BBC

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Electronic Arts have let us know some more details about its next instalment of Fifa which is being released on every current system this autumn. They tell us that they are concentrating more on giving unique gameplay experiences to each platform rather than hastily spread out the same version over every console.

EA say that there are over 250 additions to the 360/PS3 version, further enhancing the core gameplay that featured in Fifa 08. With new animation technology which promises smoother and more responsive passing, dribbling and shooting, combined with an update to the physics engine that allows for realistic player momentum and movement especially when you see players jostle for the ball (shirt pulling perhaps?).

Wii owners can expect another unique version of Fifa this year. EA are pushing the casual theme from Fifa 08 even further this time around, not only can we expect Mii like cameos from top footballers such as Ronaldinho and Wayne Rooney, players will now be able to use their Mii in the fun sounding new 8vs8 Footii Match game mode. Noobs will be pleased to hear that the easy control mode where the CPU helped you control your team is returning, though of course that is optional, hardcore players can use the traditional Fifa style controls or if you’re feeling adventurous, try the new point and play control which sounds suspiciously like the new control system featured in Konami’s Pro Evo Soccer on the Wii a couple of months back.

Windows PC players can expect a much better looking game this time around; fans were horrified last year when Fifa 08 for the PC used the same graphics engine as the Playstation 2 version. They’re promising us photorealistic faces for footballs star players, but does that mean rubbish players like Peter Crouch won’t be rendered in all his ultra realistic lanky quality? PC owners can also use their mouse to control their squad in greater detail that ever before, probably similar to the Wii version I suspect.

Gamers on the go will be catered for too; PSP and DS users can now experience the exciting Be A Pro mode from Fifa 08. The PSP version will no doubt look closer in graphical detail to the PS2 and the DS will have some moments of exclusive touch screen action.

Tags: Fifa 09, Fifa 2009

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Final Fantasy VII Crisis Core is a prequel to one of the best-selling and most loved RPGs ever. That game is of course Final Fantasy VII. This one’s set 7 years before where the Shinra company is rapidly growing through its monopoly on Mako energy and its military might. You play a character called Zack, a young 2nd class soldier who wants to become 1st class. During a mission lots of soldier operatives go missing and so you set out on adventure to find out what happened with your mentors Angeal and the very famous Sephiroth along with his groovy middle-parting.

Don’t expect this to play like Final Fantasy VII. Yes there are random encounters but battles are in real-time and you select your next move whilst dodging and blocking attacks.

There’s also the new Digital Mind Wave System - a sort of fruit machine in the top left corner which rotates. If the correct sequence comes up you get power surges and special moves mid-battle which can tip things in your favour.

Looks-wise this is very polished indeed. As well as in-game cut-scenes you get the gorgeous pre-rendered scenes you’d expect and these are a treat to watch in full widescreen on the PSP screen. The game also has a new ‘HARD MODE’ which wasn’t in the Japanese release.

It’s fair to say the game is also as massive as some of the demons you can summon to help you and if you don’t just want to play through the story there are 300 side quests to keep you busy if you want to find some hidden gems to help you become a proper badass.

If you prefer real-time battles opposed to turn-based then this one’s for you. Final Fantasy VII: Crisis Core gets a very good 8 out of 10.

Get the game now
New: Buy Final Fantasy VII Crisis Core from Buy.com
Preowned: Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII - Pre-Played from Gamefly.com
Rental: Rent Final Fantasy VII Crisis Core - free rental trial from Gamefly.com

Related: Final Fantasy VII Crisis Core review on YouTube

Tags: Final Fantasy VII Crisis Core, Final Fantasy Crisis Core, Crisis Core

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The Man with the Hat has come to the machine with two screens and this little gem lets you play through a number of chapters from each of the three films as you follow the adventures of Lego Indiana Jones as he goes after the Lost Ark, visits a Temple of Doom and hangs out with Sean Connery as they look for a silly little cup.

If you want to know how this play, just take exactly the same gameplay mechanics as Lego Star Wars and reskin all the characters to fit in with Indy’s universe and you’ll be there. You run around, fight enemies with simple punches or weapons and solve puzzles by making items with piles of Lego bricks and exploring new locations. This being on the DS you can also touch the screen to use your whip to swing you to new places or blow on the microphone to blow out torches or make fans blow you into the air.

After you play the first chapter of Raiders you can then delve into the other films and play through them in any order - unlocking new characters as you go which you can then play as in free play mode to get to new areas.

There’s lots of replayability in here and once again the game’s very funny. The cut scenes play out almost shot for shot with some funny extra surprises that weren’t in the film - although if you haven’t seen the films first of all shame on you and secondly, you won’t get as much out of them.

You can also play with a friend if they have a copy of the game and are near enough to connect to you - of course if you’re alone you can hot-swap between the two characters at the touch of a button.

Once again this is a charming Lego game that will have you giggling on the bus. Indy on the DS gets a very good 8 out of 10.

Get the game now
New: Buy Lego Indiana Jones from Buy.com
Preowned: LEGO Indiana Jones - Pre-Played from Gamefly.com
Rental: Rent Lego Indiana Jones - free rental trial from Gamefly.com

Related: Lego Indiana Jones PC demo, Lego Batman, Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga review, Lego Indiana Jones review on Youtube

Tags: Lego Indiana Jones, Lego Indiana Jones review, Lego, Indiana Jones

The gorgeous new game from Square Enix; Final Fantasy VII Crisis Core is nearly upon us. If you preorder the game now you have a good chance of bagging the very limited edition copy of the game that comes in a special slip case and contains an exclusive 48 page hard-backed artwork book. Sony PSP owners now really do have something so shout about, Final Fantasy 7 Crisis Core really does push the hardware to the limit with its jaw dropping 16:9 visuals.

The Final Fantasy VII Crisis Core release date is Friday 20th June.

Related: Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII

Tags: Final Fantasy VII, Final Fantasy VII Crisis Core, Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII, Final Fantasy 7

The Lego Indiana Jones the Original Adventures demo was released last week for the PC. I’ve had a good go of it and can report that it has some pretty fun platforming action; a bit of puzzle solving, plenty of cut scenes and a good deal of stuff to collect for high score lovers. The Lego Indiana Jones game isn’t a huge technical leap forward from the Lego Star Wars games but if you liked those then you’ll love this.

The full game follows the story of the first three movies very accurately and what better way can you prepare for the upcoming fourth movie than by playing through all the action yourself? Exactly!

The Lego Indiana Jones release date is June 6th for the Wii, DS, PS2, PS3, 360, PSP and PC. If you fancy trying before you buy I recommend downloading the Lego Indian Jones PC demo right away.

Related: Lego Indiana Jones news, Lego Batman, Lego Star Wars review

Link: Download Lego Indiana Jones demo (464.62MB)

Tags: Lego Indiana Jones, Lego Indiana Jones release date

Iron Man is the latest Marvel superhero to become a big budget movie and also, inevitably, a videogame to coincide with the film’s release. This is the first time Marvel have had total control over one of their games and unfortunately, the result is rather average.

I haven’t seen the film but judging by the cut scenes and story, the game takes you through some scenes from the movie and some brand new scenarios just for the game. If you haven’t seen the film you get a gist of what’s going on but the game doesn’t explain why Stark becomes Iron Man in the first place.

The first level see you running and gunning through a desert valley as your weapons come online. You can use melee attacks or shoot from distance. Basically you have a time limit and a number of enemies to kill. If you do this successfully during a mission you get extras to help you upgrade your suit on the next mission.

Mission two onwards lets you fly about in your proper all-blasting all-flying suit and the game then becomes like a sub-standard Ace Combat with some fighting on the ground thrown in for good measure.

When flying, Iron Man doesn’t look too bad, but when running along the ground you might as well be playing Chuckie Egg. That or he runs like he’s got an Ostrich egg stuck up his bottom. The animation is dreadful and it’s just not that much fun shooting at all the tanks and planes again and again. You can fight things hand-to-hand if you want to but there’s no real reason to.

To break things up there’s the odd easy end of level boss to fight and some cut-scenes which look pretty good. Stark’s wise-cracks during the missions also help to liven things up a bit.

With just the single player campaign to play through, this game doesn’t really cut it. If you want to blow lots of stuff up as a Marvel character and have more fun doing it, get your hand on Hulk: Ultimate Destruction instead of the Ironman superhero.

Get the game now
New: Buy Iron Man from Buy.com
Preowned: Iron Man - Pre-Played from Gamefly.com
Rental: Rent Iron Man - free rental trial from Gamefly.com

Tags: Iron Man, Iron Man review, review of Iron Man

A while back we reported on the BBC iPlayer for the Wii, followed by news that the corporation are officially going to make the BBC iPlayer available on PS3 soon. Now, using a combination of the unofficial PS3 i Player and remote play on the PSP you can watch all those BBC World Weather reports from the comfort of your own WiFi hotspot, with a fairly decent frame rate too.

So here is your iPlayer for the PSP walkthrough:

• Step 1 - You’ll need a PSP and a PS3 connected to the internet.
• Step 2 - Set up remote play between your PSP and PS3. To use Remote Play for the first time, you must register (or “pair”) the PSP with the PS3 system at home - go to the “Settings” icon on your PS3 XMB, then “Remote Play Settings” select “Register Device” and follow the instructions.
• Step 3 - Live in the UK. If you don’t then these guys will help you. Due to licensing laws and IP addresses using the BBC iPlayer outside of UK isn’t allowed - no iPlayer USA for now.
• Step 4 - On the PSP’s XMB go to Network > Remote Play > Connect. You’ll need to experiment with different connection types, some are quicker than others depending on your network setup. If you are connected then you’ll see your PS3, only all tiny.
• Step 5 - On your PS3’s XMB screen (which you are controlling on your PSP), under Network open the Internet Browser.
• Step 6 - Navigate to the unofficial PS3 iPlayer found at www.ps3iplayer.com and start watching.

Once you’ve set this up and bookmarked the page you’ll be able to skip to step 4 every time you want to catch up on TV on your PSP.

Of course, as well as BBC content you can always add the PSP version of the weekly Gamesweasel video podcast to your PSP RSS feeds - full details on the Gamesweasel PSP RSS Channel.

So where does that leave Xbox owners wanting to catch up with BBC sports, rugby or cricket on their consoles? There are a lot of gripes here - you’d expect Microsoft to be the first with a plug-in for their system given that the BBC iPlayer codec is based on the Microsoft Windows Media Player. You can’t even convert iPlayer downloads into anything the playable on the Xbox due to the DRM. Even the flash embedded version would be better than nothing, but sadly a decent Xbox 360 web browser is as rare as a decent game for the Apple Mac - so expect a long wait.

Tags: Myst, iPlayer, BBC iPlayer, PSP iPlayer

Related: iPlayer for the Wii, Unofficial PS3 iPlayer