Lucky Play-Asia.com BBQ Sale

Are you a bargain hunter? Do you want to be in the chance to win prizes while buying stuff from Play-Asia at a fraction of the original cost? If you answered yes to one or both - and I'm sure you did - then head over to Play-Asia.com to find thousands of items at discounted prices!

Purchasing any of the eligible products puts you in the chance to win some great prizes. Check it out:

Prizes

* 1st Place:US$ 250 store credit
* 2nd & 3rd Place: US$ 150 store credit
* 4th to 10th Place: US$ 75 store credit
* 11th to 25th Place: US$ 50 store credit
* 26th to 50th Place: US$ 20 store credit

What are you waiting for? There are thousands of bargains to choose from!

Retro Handheld Gaming - Sega Mega Drive Portable

It's not often I find an interesting product that I hadn't read about somewhere, so it was a pleasent surprise to find one of my favorite consoles having been made into a handheld product. May I present, the Sega Mega Drive Portable Video Game Player!

Oh sure, there was a certain Sega Nomad handheld which shares similarities to this little system, but the Nomad was a giant brick and should have been classed under "luggable" instead. Jokes aside, the Nomad was too big and ate batteries too quickly to be of much use. It played actual Mega Drive cartridges, so it was pretty darn big compared to today's handhelds. However, both allowed you to connect the respective system to your TV and the SMD Portable video game player allows you to do just that.

Anyway, the Mega Drive or Sega Genesis for North Americans (due to name copyright issues), was a 16 bit console released back in '88 (in Japan) and was quite the powerhouse of a games console for its time. Things didn't pick up steam until the release of a game starring a certain blue hedgehog in '91. And the rest as they say, is history. The Mega Drive contained a big library of great games (many of them developed by Sega) and many are classics that are just as enjoyable today, as they were back then.

With this gadget containing 20 officially licenced Mega Drive games, you'll be able to relive or live for the first time (hah) some of the classics of the 16 bit era. E-Swat, Sonic & Knuckles and The Revenge of Shinobi III are the absolute best games in this collection, with many other great games such as Shadow Dancer, Ristar, Golden Axe and Ecco the Dolphin. For the $39.90 asking price, it's a great deal.

Final Fantasy XIII Demo Available

Remember back in the PS2 days, a whole lot of people bought Zone of Enders for PS2 just so they could play the Metal Gear Solid 2 demo bundled with it? Well, I'm sure hardcore fans of Final Fantasy will be doing the same with Final Fantasy VII Advent Children Complete on Blu-Ray, which just so happens to bundle a demo of Final Fantasy XIII.

Unlike the Zone of Enders incident, at least this time round you get a product which is related the demo offering. So if you're a Final Fantasy fan and you want the movie and the demo, what are you waiting for? Just hold up one minute and read on to see what else I have to say about it.

First thing to realize is that this is the Japanese version, but the movie also has English language options, but it doesn't seem to have English subtitles. Be aware that the demo is in Japanese. Also, it's Region A, so if you're Blu-Ray player (most likely a PS3!) is not Region A, then this is not for you. The demo however, is region free. It's also around 4GB in size, so make sure to have room for it on your HDD!

Apart from that, I must admit I'm not a big Final Fantasy fan, but I thought the Advent Children movie was quite good and enjoyable. It's great fan service, that's for sure. There's probably a heap of neat extras too. If you meet all the requirements and you want it now, then go grab it!

Wired Controller Fan

With the release of the PS3 and Xbox 360, Sony and Microsoft decided to bundle wireless controllers with their systems, probably to make them seem more "hi-tech". I'm sure many a geek had a sparkle in their eye and as they enthused over this new technology, while the casual gamer might have looked to see the cord missing and thought how convenient it is...at first.

In my opinion, there are more advantages in using wired controllers and I recently switched my wireless 360 controller for a wired one. I would have also done this with the Dual Shock 3 (DS3) if the cord was longer than the USB cable, so props to Microsoft for releasing both versions. "He's mad!" you say and maybe you're right, but first hear me out

A simple reason to start with, wired controllers are cheaper than their wireless counterparts. Now, moving on to the first big annoyance, which I'm sure everyone is aware of and that is power supply. If the wireless tech only required the console to be powered on, we'd be set, but it doesn't, so for the 360 we need to say hello once more to AA batteries while on the DS3 we have a Li-Ion rechargeable battery which is a better alternative. Whenever your AA batteries run dry, you'll need to put a fresh pair in. AA batteries aren't free, they cost money and every time you game, it'll cost you a bit extra. You'll need to pull them out of the controller and put new ones in. The alternative? Buy rechargeable AA batteries, which cost more to begin with, but quickly become the cheaper alternative. But of course, you'll need to recharge them, which is annoying too. And what if you want to game but have no batteries with power with them? Well, then you're screwed. That's wireless for you.

Oh, but I'm fibbing, there is another alternative. The play & charge kit will save your butt in such situations. Wait a minute, not only does this make your controller wired during the charging period, defeating the purpose of going wireless in the first place, it also costs you more money! Can you see what I'm getting at here? Hmm, let's move on.

The wired 360 controller will also work on your PC with no additional hardware (very cool), while the wireless one does not. Not without extra hardware, which again costs more money.

The inbuilt DS3 Li-ion battery is the better alternative, but isn't the big fix either. You'll still need to wire up your controller when charging, but at least you can keep playing without buying additional hardware. Pairing up controllers is a pain and sometimes you'll need to switch with your friend(s) or reassign which controller is the 1st player. Turning the controller on and off every time you turn on downloads and leave your PS3 alone is another annoyance. Like all batteries, Li-ion start to lose charge with age and need to be replaced after a few years, I haven't seen any spare batteries for Sony controllers for sale yet and I wonder when they will be available. This will require you to unscrew and open the controller and replace the battery. Finally, as I mentioned at the start, the USB cable could have been much longer and the battery easier to remove to provide for both the wired and wireless users.

To conclude, I'm very happy with my wired 360 controller and I never have to worry about charging or changing batteries or anything else! There are only two negatives I can think of. There's a cord (no big deal, put it back near the 360 when done) and it takes up one USB slot (only a problem on a PS3 if you've got a lot of accessories). However, I think the positives more than make up for its shortcomings.

Games to own - #3

Welcome to part three of games to own in your collection. I try to dig out titles that aren't your multi-million selling AAA titles, but great titles that deserve to be in your collection that you might be unaware of. But most importantly, the point is to point out great games that have been neglected and have done poorly commercially (sales wise).

The strange thing with the game I have picked today; Valkyria Chronicles, is that it IS a AAA title, yet sold quite poorly. I assume it's due to the lack of marketing behind it, which is a real shame, as it is a fantastic strategy/RPG and a must have exclusive on PlayStation 3.

There's no doubt about it, this is a very original take on strategy RPG's. The game blends three different game genres (third person shooter, turn-based strategy and RPG) all into one to create something completely unique and fun to play. How does it work? Imagine a turn-based war game with beautiful anime watercolor type graphics and great orchestral track. And just wait till you see it in motion! 

During your turn on the battlefield, you choose which character you want to move and then proceed to do so in real time, just like a third person shooter. You have a limited amount of steps you can make and you can only attack once per character. When choosing to attack, you also aim a cursor before firing your shots. The enemy will also counter attack in real time as you approach and you keep doing so until you have moved all your troops and attacked or your turn is over.

You can also hide your characters behind cover, crouch and use vehicles and various weapons (just like a real war!). It's an excellent mix of gameplay and it works so very, very well. Couple it with an interesting plot and decent voice acting and you've got a AAA title which is one of the best strategy RPG's this generation.

9.5 out of 10. Buy it now, or at least try the downloadable demo off PlayStation network, which only shows a bit of the brilliance in the full game. Support unique games and buy this one so we can all enjoy a sequel.

The Candy Shop

I thought I'd change the topic away from video games for a bit and let everyone know about...candy! Sing it, "I, want candy". Anyway, there's a section not many Play Asia shoppers are aware of. If you click on the toys tab and look to the link categories below it, you'll find a "groceries" link, which contains not only candy, but instant noodles as well.

Now that I have acquainted you with this category you probably didn't even know about, I'll outline and even write some recommendations for the candy and why it's useful to you when making a purchase. I'm nice that way.

Everything in this category is cheap, cheap, cheap! How cheap? Starting as low as $0.99USD, anyone can bundle some of the goodies with their order. Got a Play Asia coupon giving you $5 off a $50 purchase but your total order only equates to $49.90? Just throw in some candy and you'll be getting your discount in no time.

If you don't live in Asia, then you most likely don't have access to the candy available at Play Asia. Want to do something extra nice for your friends or co-workers? Buy some packets of Japanese candy and share it round, they'll be sure to enjoy it. There are plenty of flavors to choose from and everyone is sure to be interested to try something new. Finally, it makes a great gift to add to any existing gifts you have purchased for friends, loved ones or that special someone and the receiver is guaranteed to think you're just as sweet as the candy*.

*Not guaranteed!

Bargain Pick - Söldner-X: Himmelsstürmer Limited Edition

If you're up for some classic shooter action, but don't have a PS3 or prefer a boxed copy of your games instead of a download, then you'll be happy to know that Söldner-X: Himmelsstürmer Limited Edition for PC is available for the very attractive price of just US$ 9.90.

That's $40 off the regular price! Hurry, this is a limited offer and only while stocks last! At this price, you'll want to buy two or three. It'll make a great present for your friends or loved ones. Don't miss out!

Akira Available on Blu-Ray

One of the coolest animated movies ever is now available on Blu-ray. Known for its fantastic hand drawn animation and interesting plot, Akira is a must see movie for anyone even mildly interested in animated movies.

The new Blu-Ray version features newly remastered footage at glorious 1080p HD resolution, trailers, 32 page booklet, storyboards and more. Don't miss out on this 80's classic, now in HD.

Games to Own - #1

Here's part one of a series of posts that will recommend some quality titles for your gaming collection may be under your radar. First pick goes to Bully: Scholarship Edition for Xbox 360. Another great game by Rockstar, the makers of the Grand Theft Auto games, Bully places you in the shoes of Jimmy Hopkins as he aims to survive at Bullworth, the school his mother has ditched him at while she goes of on her own.

Originally released on PS2, the game has received a nice graphics upgrade and some extra missions. Bully features a clever, funny and interesting storyline as well as some unique and fun mission types fans have come to know and love from Rockstar. There's plenty to do and even if you just speed through the missions, you'll still get a good 15 hours or so out of the game.

There are a few negatives of course. For one thing, while the graphics have been nicely improved, the loading times have not. If you're used to playing these open world games with no loading times, you'll be sorely disappointed. Every time you enter and exit a building, you'll be greeted with a loading screen. It's not too bad and certainly not game breaking, but it does get a bit annoying the further you delve into the game.

Also, while you earn respect with the various gangs at Bullworth, you can't choose which side to ally with. You're stuck doing the predetermined story missions which influence your respect. There are some other small niggling issues, but they're really not worth mentioning.

Bully is a fun and interesting open world game and less complicated than Rockstar's Grand Theft Auto titles. This one comes recommended with a score of 8.5 out of 10. It's also available on Wii.

Lucky Spring Sale at Play-Asia

If you haven't noticed already, Play-Asia has a sale on at the moment. Each order has a chance to win some great prizes. Don't believe me? See for yourself. Plenty of bargains for every console, so get in quick and don't miss out on grabbing a bargain and your chance to win!

Sale ends at the end of march. The more eligible items you buy, the more chances to win. How's that for a double dose of 'for the win'?

Play-Asia receives praise from popular Australian Game Magazine

Australian Hyper magazine has given high praise to Play-Asia for its competitive pricing and reliability in the February 2009 Issue (184). Hyper recommends Play-Asia as the safest and best priced option for Australian gamers and their import needs. Click the image to read the scan of the section from the magazine. Hyper magazine is one of the biggest and most popular gaming magazines in Australia and you can find the shopping guide on pages 32-37.

Along with the Best Independent Online Retailer from Cheap Ass Gamer, Play-Asia is off to a fantastic start in 2009. We strive to provide the best possible service and is very happy to receive this recognition. Thank you to Hyper for the kind words!

Play Asia Weekly Special: Tomb Raider Underworld

This week's upcoming Play-Asia Weekly Special is a new adventure by the grand dame of aventuria: Lara Croft!

"A new advancement in exploration-based gameplay. As fearless adventurer Lara Croft explore exotic locations around the world, each designed with an incredible attention to detail resulting in breathtaking high-definition visual fidelity that creates truly believable world and delivers a new level of challenge and choice."

The game achieved a 4.5 out of 5 stars on Play-Asia.com's users ratings, this should be proof that the game is all but boring. Tomb Raider Underworld has been voted the best of the late adventures of Lara Croft and we can attest to that. For sale from this Tuesday afternoon for an unbelievable US$19.90. You better hurry up before it does the out of stock thing again!

Play Asia Weekly Special: Hellboy: Science of Evil!

Take a preview at the upcoming Play-Asia weekly special. This week, we're getting mighty Hellboy in Hellboy: Science of Evil!

From the textbook: Hellboy: The Science of Evil will give players the opportunity to experience the epic adventures of the acclaimed comic book hero, fusing action, atmosphere and humor. In his latest quest, Hellboy uncovers an insane Nazi plot for world domination and must rush to defeat the crazed Hermann Von Klempt before he can exert his evil will upon earth. As a visceral brawler, the game lets players unleash Hellboy’s superhuman abilities as they smash their way through hordes of enemies with contextual use of the environment for added destructive power and strategy. Just another day for Hellboy…

Don't miss this week's weekly special for sale at an unbelievable US$ 12.90 for the region-free, english version from Korea. We suspect this will be a good seller, so don't wait too long to pick it up!

Play Asia Weekly Special: TimeShift for Xbox360

Take a sneak peek of Play-Asia's upcoming weekly special. This week, it' TimeShift for Xbox 360! Before you get get lost in time(-shifts), let's hear what "they" have to say about the game:

In TimeShift, you assume the role of renowned test pilot Colonel Michael Swift who recently lost his only daughter in a bus accident.

Depressed and desperate for an escape from his misery, Swift decides to accept a recent offer from the U.S. Government.

Armed with a time-control device called the "Quantum Suit" and a time machine called the "Chronomicon," Swift sets out to test the most significant inventions of the century.

He is briefly sent back in time to 1911 to plant an experimental probe. Upon his return to the present, a shift has occurred. The world he left has changed beyond all recognition. And his knowledge of this timeshift has made him an enemy of the state.

Swift is now both on the run and on a mission to set time straight once again.

Swing from hero to the enemy of state and back again. Timeshift is available as a region free Asian version for an unbeatable bargain price of US$ 16.90 only.

Play Asia Weekly Special: Kung Fu Panda for Xbox360

Here's a sneak peek of the upcoming Play-Asia Weekly Special. Based on the DreamWorks Animation high-octane martial arts movie Kung Fu Panda, Kung Fu Panda (the game) takes you on an action-packed adventure through the movie and beyond. Battle against Tai Lung and his minions, navigate awesome environments, and overcome dangerous obstacles on your quest to become the legendary Dragon Warrior.

The Asian version of Kung Fu Panda works on all Xbox360 consoles sold worldwide.

Selling for US$19.90, this is a must-have not only for fans of the movie. The weekly special will be effective on 20th of Jan around 19:00 HKT (11:00 GMT)

Play Asia Weekly Special: Siren: New Translation

"An American TV crew has arrived in Japan to film an expose on the legend of the “vanished village.” Controlling seven different playable characters, the player must uncover the mystery behind the curse that grips the eerie village of Hanuda. The unique “sight jack” system allows the player to see from the point of view of the Shibito, or living dead, to avoid their detection or watch as they close in on the player and companions. Intense graphics, realistic character animation, and a gritty film-like graphical presentation add to the horror of Siren: Blood Curse."


This week's Play-Asia Weekly Special is the Asian Version of Siren: New Translation. It contains all 12 epiodes on one Blu-ray disc release and is fully english.

Price point is US$24.90.

Play-Asia Weekly Special: Naruto: The Broken Bond

We didn't bring you the news early like we did last time. I, myself, will use the excuse of being away from a computer for most of my Christmas holiday. Anyway, enough about me, what you probably care about is the games.

Building on the success of Naruto: Rise of a Ninja, this new action adventure takes the story to a deeper level within the Naruto Universe. Now a respected ninja, Naruto evolves into a mature and strong hero. However, with his new status comes responsibility, and Naruto will soon find himself surrounded by conflict. Forced to relive bitter memories, Naruto's best friend Sasuke strikes out on a self-destructive quest for power. Now with the help of his friends, Naruto must confront Sasuke and save him before it's too late. Team up with multiple characters, explore open 3D environments and challenge some of the fiercest enemies from the Naruto Universe.

Play-Asia's weekly special makes the latest game in the popular Naruto franchise available to us gamers that have small bank accounts due to Christmas shopping (or to those lucky gamers that received some cash gifts).

Naruto: The Broken Bond has received high marks from all the major review sites. For example, IGN has given it a score of 8.3. More reviews can be found here.

Play-Asia is bringing this to you for US$29.90 this week. Get it while it lasts!

Play-Asia Weekly Special: Midnight Club: Los Angeles

The best way to see Los Angeles is at 245mph.

Race at breakneck speeds through the streets of modern-day L.A. recreated in stunning detail. Drive the hottest range of real-world tuners, muscle cars, exotics and superbikes on the streets today. Customize your vehicle with the best after-market performance parts and custom kits. Illegal street racing with no track, no load times, no rules: Welcome to the Midnight Club.

Play-Asia's upcoming weekly special satisfies the need for speed in you.


Midnight Club: Los Angeles is rated 5-stars on Play-Asia, that means it's a really great game. Let's have 'Jouk' do the talkin':

Old School, really old school.
Remember the days when one tiny mistake, that the AI drivers never would make, cost you the race?

Remember when one fall on a bike, 20 meters from the finishing line cost you 15 minutes of races because you got busted?

Still yearn for those "old skool days"? Then get this. It looks amazing, drives well (arcade physics -wise) and sounds great. And it's relentlessly unforgiving, meaning you won't be cruising any races except the easy green ones... ;)


Available from tomorrow, the 16th of December at around 0800 GMT for an astonishing price of US$14.90, you can't miss that. Just make sure that you own a Japanese or European console, it won't work on North American ones...

Play Asia Weekly Special: Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway

Dean and Sam Winchester fighting their way across the country in a 1967 Chevy Impala in search for their father. Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway lets you ... oh wait... Stop. Ctrl-A - DEL. Wrong track, sorry. But given the name, right...?

Here: "In Brothers in Arms Hell’s Highway you join Matt Baker, Joe Hartsock and the rest of the 101st Airborne Division in Operation Market Garden as they fight to open the infamous Hell’s Highway in a daring bid for a quick end to the war. The classic authentic, squad-based combat series explodes on next-generation hardware, offering unprecedented graphics and features".

I can't really vouch for the accuracy of above statement, unprecedented graphics and features, well I have to see them first so I can say that they were previously unseen. At any rate, the game got some good reviews, not really enough reviews on Play Asia so that we could tell for sure how much fun this game's gonna be, but for US$17.90, there's hardly a mistake to be made.

Our vedict, as usual: Buy!

Lego Double Feature Weekly Special Cont'd

As rumored last week, legoism continues on Play-Asia with Lego Batman. Includes Robin, The Joker and other villains (wait, Robin's a villain?) and remember not for kids below 3 due to small parts that could be eaten that should not. Back on track, here's the story:

In LEGO® Batman™: The Videogame, play as Batman and his sidekick Robin as you build, drive, swing, and fight your way through Gotham City capturing escaped villains including The Joker, The Penguin, and Scarecrow and putting them back in Arkham Asylum where they belong. Then jump into the story from the other side and play as Batman's foes! Enjoy the power you wield and battle Batman while spreading chaos throughout the city. There's no rest for the good (or the evil!).

They (Play Asia) put it on sale for US$19.90. That's good, we all need a little spending break in preparation for Christmas. Alright time to grab this one now before it does the out of stock thing.

Update 12/07/2008: It IS out of stock now :(