Defense of the Ancients Developer Hired by Valve

Many of you surely remember Warcraft 3 DotA, Right? I am sure many of you still love playing DotA up until now.
Recently the man who known as ICEFROG in DotA Community, who responsible for the creation of DotA has been hired to lead a team in VALVE.

This is what ICEFROG say in the Official DotA website

"I have some really awesome news I'd like to share with you guys. I am now leading a team at Valve! I finally have all the resources needed to do some very exciting stuff that you guys will love. I look forward to revealing more specific details when the time is right."

This doesn't mean that he will abandon all his work in DotA. He still promise to work for DotA in the future and resolving many Issues that DotA have.

VALVE have a history for recruiting talented developers in the pass before. For example the creator of Puzzle game Narcabacular Drop to work on Portal likewise recruited the co - creator of Counter Strike. As what projects Icefrog's team going to work on at Valve, we'll just have to wait and see.

RTS - RPG? Interesting...

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FIFA 10 TOPs UK Chart

FIFA 10 that just released recently on all platforms tops UK chart. It is highest selling of all FIFA games.
Xbox 360 version contributes 48% while PS3 contributes 46%, the rest are other platforms.
Second place is DS's Professor Layton and Pandora's box. And third spot taken by Halo ODST.
With Pro Evolution Soccer 10 coming on early November, FIFA 10 can certainly enjoy time advantage.
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PSN Indonesia Review

1 October 2009 was a big day for gaming industries in Indonesia. We Finally been added to the Playstation Network by SONY Entertainment. Yes, PSN Indonesia is now LIVE!

The good thing about our very own PSN is that we can buy games from PSN with Indonesian Credit Card and Playstation Top up Card, which will be sold here in SONY Center and several gaming shop eg. "Gamespot". All the games in PSN Indonesia will be sold in Rupiah

Our PSN Indonesia have the same interface with the PSN Singapore. So those of you who have PSN Singapore before will be feel right home with PSN Indonesia.

In term of Game Selection PSN Indonesia nearly have if not all PSN Singapore have. The only thing I can find that PSN Singapore have that PSN Indonesian don't is the TOP 25 Best selling games. It is understandable since PSN Indonesia just come online.

You can Transfer Funds to PSN Indonesia in Rupiah. Selection from the smallest Rp 40,000,- to Rp 900.000,-

The Prices in PSN Indonesia are a little bit higher then PSN Singapore but still acceptable.

My Hope that PSN Indonesia will keep growing and all PS3 users here can enjoy the gaming experience like many other country has been enjoying for years.

What are you waiting for? go register now!

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Belazar MOD Chip for PS3

Maybe some of you already heard the rumour about Belzar mod chip.
Belzar declared itself as a world first mod chip that can work on PS3.
It said that it will let PS3 to run bootleg games and will be available in a few months.
But a lot of skeptic comes with it. Until now there is no proof that this thing can work. Even if it can, Sony will just release a firware update, and the mod chip will be useless. Not to mention that your PS3 might get life ban from PSN and that will ruin the whole point of having PS3.
It is a terrible news for videogaming industry and Belzar.com website has been shut down. We hope that this thing will not come into frutition.
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PSPgo launched, initial reaction?

PSPgo was launched yesterday worldwide except Japan. So what's the reaction? With it's already high price and no UMD, it is really hard for PSPgo to be successful. But let's take a look.
Several metacritics website already blasted PSPgo as an overpriced device with less feature. The resolution is the same, some people complained on how the controller positioned, and question been asked why is the wifi still in 802.11b.
At EB retail game shop, there was no queue at the launch, there is no sign that the device will sold out, and retailers didn't put banners to. increase the hype. It is pretty much quiet.
Further examination by users, revealed some potential problems.
Since PSPgo can't use UMD, users will depend on download games. Games like Gran Turismo PSP will take around 1 GB. Since there is no 'background download' feature ala PS3. You cannot leave your screen to play another game while downloading. To make it worse, if somehow your download is interrupted, you will have to start over. It will increase frustration for people will less reliable internet connection. Sony needs to address this very quickly.

But like yin and yang, if there are bad things, there got to be good things, right?
PSPgo is a lot more 'portable' device. With smaller and slicker size, and no UMD required means that your PSPgo is easier to carry around.
Pause feature that lets you pause the game any time, go out to XMB, listen to music, watch movies and then resume your game is very handy.
Bluetooth connection that can serve as a controller to PS3 and tether to bluetooth phone.

In conclusion, PSPgo might not be selling like hot cakes, but Sony definitely can do things to make it work. Price cut? (Hint..).
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Our wait is over: Indonesia finally recognized as a serious game market.

Yesterday Sony Indonesia officially launched PS3 and PSPgo at Kelapa Gading Mal 3 as well as Indonesia's own PSN region.
It could mean nothing for a lot of people, but for gamers, it is the first time that our country finally recognized a serious gaming market. It also means that we are officially supported by Sony as a principal for PS3 and PSP devices, and we might get benefits like others such as official game launch, street date releases, etc.

What could be the reason? After so long, Indonesia hasn't even looked at for a serious gaming market. Most probably because of the alarming rate of piracy and weak IP protection. But in terms of population, Indonesia is a third biggest population in the world, and definitely has a significant gaming market. Given that Blu ray can't be pirated, it seems to be a reasonable business decision to try tap into Indonesian market.

Another valid reason is, PS3 recently reposition itself less as a gaming console, but more as a all in one entertainment device. You can see the some PS3 ads that say "it is only does everything" and saying PS3 as a gaming console, Blu ray player, and movie downloading (currently not available in Indonesia) system.
Combine with current price cut for PS3. Sony is really pushing PS3 to the world.

During the press conference with Mr Yashuda from Sony Computer Entertainment Asia (SCEA), here are the impression of Sony's answer:

- On why Sony decided to launch in Indonesia.
Sony got a lot of requests from Indonesia fan base to launch PS3 slim and PSPgo in Indonesia. And since it is a worldwide launch, Sony feels that it is the right moment to officially introduce its presence in Indonesia, which in turn to provide a better service to its customer.

- On how is Sony going to price the game in Indonesia.
Sony is definitely trying hard to supply all sorts of titles as fast and as competitive as the other countries.

- On Sony message to Indonesian fans.
Mr Yashuda saw a lot of pirated games and accessories even in this very mall, and it is killing the industry. He hoped that public will be more educated about supporting developers and console makers by not buying pirated games and accessories.  In the long term, he expects game education will become more and more popular in universities, and hope in the future local game developers can rise.


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SONY indonesia Party Launching

Finally, Sony launched PS3 and PSPgo for Indonesia on 1st October 2009 at Mal Kelapa Gading 3, Jakarta. The event is crowned by Playstations fans and Media all over Indonesia. Me and HDJ are on the site to witness the historic moment SONY FINALLY Launch PS3 Slim, PSP go, PSP 3006 and the Most Important the Launching of PSN Indonesia.




SONY really take the event very seriously. We can see it from the way they design their stage in MKG3 main atrium. There are 3 gaming zone for public to play and try Playstation 3 Slim with (Grand Turismo 5 Prologue, Little Big Planet and King of Fighter)
The Center stage there are one big globe Sphere where Indonesia was highlighted on it.

The event start as early as 09:30 in the morning. Where People can start to buy PS3 Slim, PSP go and PSP 3006. But the Opening Ceremony doesn't start until 16:30 in the afternoon.

The President of Sony Indonesia and Mr Yashuda from SCEA gave a opening welcoming speech and getting ready for the Launching PS3 Slim, PSP go and PSP 3006.
Not only they happy launching the product, Mr Yashuda also give his condolences for Indonesian people in Padang who just hit by big earth quake. My Yashuda give one hundred Million Rupiah for the earthquake victim in behalf of SONY Indonesia through Palang Merah Indonesia (PMI)

Just before 17:00, the Globe Spear was open and inside were PLAYSTATION girls comes out carrying PS3 slim, PSPgo, and PSP 3006. Mr Yashuda personally give all first three queuers their purchases and followed by press conference and lucky draw.

As ceremony finished, people began to start to claim their purchases as well as vouchers. The rest of the event was GT5 prologue time attack competition.




by : HDJ & AT

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