NCsoft’s PSP MMOG plans part-unmasked

Richard Garriott didn’t really say much about console-based massively multiplayer online games during his keynote at the Develop conference last week, let alone dropping any hints about the company’s agreement with Sony over releasing specific MMOGs for PSP.

Still, in the many aftershow parties and rounds of drinks we had to endure, an extra snippet of information did come our way. One of the as-yet-unannounced NCsoft MMOGs will be cross-platform for both PC and PlayStation 3, with the PSP acting as a secondary access device for those players who are playing the game through their PS3s - i.e. you’ll be able to access some features of the game on the move through the PSP’s wi-fi connection, but not all the features available when playing on PS3.

But there’s no news on any PSP-only MMOGs as yet.

Carmack guns for Quake III Arena DS

Back when the world begin, all the almighty had to do was speak the word and things came into existence, and so it seems with gaming gods. During his QuakeCon 2007 keynote, id technical supremo John Carmack said he was interested in making a DS version of Quake Arena that played like Doom II’s deathmatch - by which we assume he wants to make a DS shooter that’s just about online shooting.

However, having played Metroid Prime Hunters - an experience Carmack said that was really cool at first, but difficult over extended periods of time - it seems the game will have automatic height targetting to get around the problem of fluid 3D aiming via the touchscreen and stylus - hence the mention of Doom II gameplay as all you had to do in that game was shoot and strafe.

But without an official publisher yet in place, we’ll have wait to see how and when Carmack’s thought bubble actually translates into a DS game cart. Still, if nothing else turns up, he can always tap his missus’ company Fountainhead, which is making the DS version of his mobile game Orcs & Elves.

YouTube’s PaRappa Chop Chop Master Onion’s Rap Showdown explosion

The launch of PaRappa on PSP should be good news for Sony and PSP owners alike. Meanwhile, the US Chop Chop Master Onion’s Rap Showdown competition wherein wannabe video directors were provided with a soundtrack they had to shoot their PaRappa footage against certainly demonstrated the range of cinematic professionalism that’s currently available on the web.

The winner was Adam from 1693productions‘ a cappella version but there are plenty of other takes on the cooking rhythm to check out.