Leading video games publisher, NAMCO BANDAI Games Europe S.A.S., announced today that ACE COMBATTM JOINT ASSAULT has gone gold for the PSPTM system. Sporting more than 40 state of the art aircraft, ACE COMBATTM JOINT ASSAULT goes full throttle with edge-of-your-seat action and will be available throughout PAL territories for the PSPTM and PSPTMgo systems on September 24th , 2010.

Developed by Project Aces, ACE COMBATTM JOINT ASSAULT blazes onto the PSP system with fast-paced dogfights, fantastic new visuals, real-world locations and the most robust multiplayer options seen yet from the world’s number one flight-action series. Take to the skies and reign supreme through multiple real-world locations including Tokyo, San Francisco, and London. A sophisticated dogfighting system, increased sense of speed and photorealistic graphics make ACE COMBATTM JOINT ASSAULT one of the most intense experiences ever on a handheld system.

Additionally, ACE COMBATTM JOINT ASSAULT features action-packed adversarial and team-based multiplayer modes via ad hoc or infrastructure. Team up with three friends to take down the forces of evil in campaign mode, featuring the specially designed Joint Assault Mission System. Players break off into two teams and simultaneously complete objectives on two separate maps. Objectives completed on one map will affect battle conditions on the other. ACE COMBATTM JOINT ASSAULT also includes intense eight-player adversarial matches across a variety of locations.

Disney Interactive have just released a new trailer for it’s upcoming Tron Evolution. Tron Evolution is an upcoming action adventure game for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PSP, Wii and DS. It will be released on December 7 and is actually based on the upcoming movie: Tron: Legacy. The new video shows the main character performing some acrobatic platforming moves and taking out the bad guys to. take a look at the video below.

“Puzzle Quest 2 for the PSP will have all your favorite Puzzle Quest 2 content, including Tournament and Endurance Modes, along with a new Elite Mode, where the battles will be tougher and the rewards far greater,” the devs say.

Nothing else has yet been announced. More info on this matter as it builds will be made available to you soon.

The hype train for Tokyo Game Show is in full throttle with major publishers coming forward and announcing their line up. Sony have announced their line up too and to be honest it’s a pretty strong line up with the likes of Killzone 3 and Little Big planet 2. Check the entire list below:

• LittleBigPlanet 2

• Killzone 3

• Heavy Rain

• Gran Turismo 5

• MotorStorm 3

• Tokyo Jungle

• SOCOM 4

• Sly Cooper Collection

• Heroes On The Move

• Hustler King

• Me&My Pet

• Ape Escape Fury! Fury!

• Beat Sketch!

• Echochrome II

• High Velocity Bowling

• Kung Fu Rider

• Sports Champions

• The Fight: Lights Out

• The Shoot

• Tsumiki BLOQ

• TV Superstars

• Start the Party!

• God of War: Ghost of Sparta

• Patapon 3

About Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Predator (PSP system)

Deep in the jungles of Sri Lanka, the Ghosts have 72 hours to prepare the way for a U.S. invasion force. As open conflict with Pakistan looms, the Ghosts uncover proof that they’ve been targeting the wrong enemy. Now they must act before falsified intelligence lures America into an unpredictable and devastating war. Game features include:

• An exclusive tactical experience: Decide what tactics are best – use your massive firepower to eliminate powerful enemies or use the jungle to sneak behind enemies and strike using the element of surprise.
• Electronic warfare: Use high-tech equipment to hunt, such as drones, air support and prototype weapons. Gaining experience for your squad allows customization of your Ghosts, making them more powerful.
• Multiplayer co-op: Create a rifle team with two other friends (up to three players ad-hoc). Use flanking tactics with your teammate to outsmart the opposition.

About Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon (Wii)

After being inserted in Moscow and separated from the rest of their team, Ghost soldiers Hibbard and Booth must operate as a two-man team, relying on the intel of the local militia to fight their way to their target in a city infested with enemies. With the numbers clearly not in their favor, they will have to use their advanced weaponry and training to make sure the odds are. Game features include:

• A true Ghost Recon experience: Progress through 12 missions of high intensity combat, tactical infiltration and WOW moments, from the villages of Norway to the streets of Moscow. No matter your skill level, Ghost Recon on Wii is designed to specifically accommodate a wide range of players, from casual players to hardcore gamers.
• Built from the ground co-op experience: Two players in third-person on one screen make the experience more natural, more intuitive and more social than ever. Co-Op Hot Join: Friends can hop in and out of co-op at-will, with the AI taking over as needed.
• Arcade Mode: Play in cooperative mode and compare your score online on the world leader boards.

Updates

Monster Hunter Freedom Unite – Sale (now $14.99, original price $29.99)
Downloadable Games

Top Gun ($14.99)
Top Gun is a free-flying air combat shooter based on the film. In Top Gun, players enroll in the Academy as Maverick with their RIO Goose to go up against the best for top honors. Following graduation, players fly into the danger zone with fellow US Navy pilots, where they shoot down enemy jets, attack bases and engage in large-scale dogfights. Top Gun also features 5 multiplayer modes, allowing 16 players to battle it out online.
ESRB Rated T
File size: 240 MB
Game Demos (free)

NHL 11 Demo
Celebrating its 20th year, the franchise that captured 22 ‘Sports Game of the Year’ awards has raised the bar again with NHL 11. Powered by an all-new Real-Time Physics Engine, NHL 11 lets you create highlight reel moments and experience NHL action with realistic gameplay featuring broken sticks, faster dangles, and big hits unlike any other. Play the NHL 11 demo for a chance to win a free card pack for the all-new Hockey Ultimate Team mode.
ESRB Rated E10+
File size: 1.26 GB

Joe Danger Trial
Download and try the death-defying thrill-ride starring Joe Danger, the Master of Disaster! Race, ride and defy death to thrill the crowd and break world records! Combo, boost and pull ludicrous stunts to fill Stadiums and put Joe back on the podium. Race against your friends or take on your rivals. Play in the sandbox to make and share your own Stunt Spectaculars. Exclusively on the PlayStation 3 computer entertainment system.
ESRB Rated E
File size: 265 MB

Tom Clancy’s H.A.W.X. 2 Demo
Tom Clancy’s H.A.W.X. 2 places you in the shoes of an elite pilot with access to the most advanced and deadliest aircraft ever engineered!

* Go head-to-head in close-range dogfighting
* Destroy all enemy aircraft and refuel mid-air
* Sweat through night precision bombing
* Take off and land on carriers

ESRB Rated T
File size: 1.96 GB

Add-on Game Content

LittleBigPlanet: Marvel – Hulk ($1.99)
Sackboy doesn’t really get angry, which is fortunate, because if he were to get angry he’d dress up in his Hulk costume. You wouldn’t like Sackboy if he was angry. NOTE: to download this costume, you must already own LittleBigPlanet.
File size: 1.04 MB

LittleBigPlanet: Marvel – Punisher ($1.99)
Armed with nothing more than a Paintinator, Sackboy goes looking for vengeance clad in his Punisher costume. NOTE: to download this costume, you must already own LittleBigPlanet.
File size: 1.04 MB

LittleBigPlanet: Marvel – Green Goblin ($1.99)
When dealing with any meddlesome web slingers, Sackboy is frequently found in his Green Goblin outfit – now all he needs is his goblin glider to be fully equipped! NOTE: to download this costume, you must already own LittleBigPlanet.
File size: 1.04 MB

LittleBigPlanet: Marvel – Magneto ($1.99)
Sackboy may not possess the ability to manipulate metal with his mind yet, but that doesn’t stop him from looking the part in his Magneto costume. NOTE: to download this costume, you must already own LittleBigPlanet.
File size: 1.04 MB

LittleBigPlanet: Marvel – Storm ($1.99)
While he might not have control over the elements, Sackboy is often to be found in all kinds of weather in LittleBigPlanet in his Storm costume. NOTE: to download this costume, you must already own LittleBigPlanet.
File size: 1.04 MB

LittleBigPlanet: Marvel Costume Kit #4 ($5.99)
Look out “True Believers”, your favorite Marvel heroes and villains have landed on LittleBigPlanet! Grab this costume pack and you’ll be ready for action with 5 costumes of your favorite Marvel characters including Hulk, Punisher, Green Goblin, Magneto, and Storm! NOTE: to download this costume, you must already own LittleBigPlanet.
File size: 1.04 MB

PAIN – Jolly Character ($0.99)
Put a PAINful spin on the holidays with this downloadable character! Jolly is a little lacking in the festive spirit, so it’s time to knock some cheer back into this disgruntled elf. Definitely more naughty than nice, Jolly will help you start spreading the PAIN all the way up the Leaderboards. Download Jolly today!
File size: 100 KB

Uncharted 2 – DLC Pack 4: Sidekick Skin Pack ($2.99)
Itching for more player skin options in online multiplayer modes of UNCHARTED 2: Among Thieves? Lucky you, they have arrived! Grab this pack to get 8 awesome new skins of characters as seen in UNCHARTED: Drake’s Fortune and UNCHARTED 2: Among Thieves.
Download the “UNCHARTED 2: Among Thieves Sidekick Skin Pack” for the “GAME OF THE YEAR” award winner, UNCHARTED 2: Among Thieves today!
File size: 312 KB

ModNation Racers: Mouse Trap Mod ($0.99)
Ready to try and fill his belly, Mouse Trap is a clever cat who speeds around in a big wedge of cheese to lure in his next meal! This ModNation Racers Mod includes a fully-designed Mod, as well as several accessories for you to Create with in the Mod Studio. Download this Add-On today!
File size: 100 KB

ModNation Racers: Mouse Trap Kart ($0.99)
Speed around in a big wedge of cheese to lure in your next victim! This ModNation Racers Kart includes a fully-designed Kart, as well as several related parts and accessories for you to Create with in the Kart Studio. Download this Add-On today!
File size: 100 KB

ModNation Racers: Mouse Trap Mod and Kart ($1.75)
Ready to try and fill his belly, Mouse Trap is a clever cat who speeds around in a big wedge of cheese to lure in his next meal! This ModNation Racers Mod and Kart pack includes a fully-designed Mod, Kart, as well as several related parts and accessories for you to Create with in the Mod and Kart Studios. Download this pack today!
File size: 100 KB

Skate 3 – Skate.Create.Expansion ($6.99)
If you’re looking to change up your look and spice up your skate.parks, then the Skate.Create Upgrade Pack has got you covered. With new gear to wear, objects to shred and new lots to build on, this pack takes creativity to a whole new level of fun.
File size: 83 MB

Guitar Hero
For all song credits please visit www.guitarhero.com.

* “Beverly Hills” – Weezer ($1.99)
* “Island In The Sun” – Weezer ($1.99)
* “Pork And Beans” – Weezer ($1.99)
* Weezer Track Pack ($5.49) – Downloadable Track Pack featuring “Beverly Hills”, “Island In The Sun”, and “Pork And Beans” by Weezer. Please Note: Many songs are available both as singles and as part of a Track Pack, so please carefully consider your purchases before downloading.

File size: 34 – 35 MB (singles), 102 MB (track pack)

Rock Band
Build your Rock Band library by purchasing these song game tracks. For song credits, visit www.RockBand.com.

* “1983″ – Neon Trees ($1.99)
* “Animal” – Neon Trees ($1.99)
* “Sins Of My Youth” – Neon Trees ($1.99)
* Neon Trees Pack 01 ($5.49) – Build your Rock Band library by purchasing this song game track pack: Neon Trees Pack 01. This pack includes “1983″, “Animal”, and “Sins Of My Youth” by Neon Trees.
* “I Got Mine” – The Black Keys ($1.99)
* “Strange Times” – The Black Keys ($1.99)
* “Your Touch” – The Black Keys ($1.99)
* The Black Keys Pack 01 ($5.49) – Build your Rock Band library by purchasing this song game track pack: The Black Keys Pack 01. This pack includes “I Got Mine”, “Strange Times”, and “Your Touch” by Ministry.

Rock Band Network

* “Blow At High Dough” by The Tragically Hip ($2.99)
* “Hook, Line, And Sinner” by Texas in July ($1.99)
* “Let The Games Begin” by Anarbor ($1.99)
* “Mandelbrot Set” by Jonathan Coulton ($1.99)
* “Unfurling A Darkened Gospel” by Job For A Cowboy ($1.99)

File size: 13 – 34 MB (singles), 65 – 86 MB (track pack)
Avatars

Street Fighter III: Third Strike Avatars ($0.49) (x3)
File size: 100 – 120 KB
Game Videos (free)

Pulse 8/17 Edition
File size: 268 MB (HD), 421 MB (1080)

Resident Evil – Afterlife 3D Trailer (US Only)
File size: 87 MB (HD), 146 MB (1080)

Brink Developer Diary #2
File size: 117 MB (HD), 193 MB (1080)

Dragon Age – Golems Of Amgarrak Trailer
File size: 34 MB (HD)

Vanquish Gameplay Trailer #2
File size: 84 MB (HD)

Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days – Focus On The Job Multiplayer Trailer
File size: 48 MB (HD)

Red Faction: Armageddon E3 Trailer
File size: 63 MB (HD)

E3 2010 3D Sizzle Trailer
File size: 201 MB (HD)

Ratchet & Clank: All 4 One Trailer
File size: 71 MB (HD), 119 MB (1080)

Dead Nation – Survival Guide Trailer
File size: 58 MB (HD), 97 MB (1080)

inFAMOUS 2 – New Marais Cutscene
File size: 58 MB (HD), 96 MB (1080)

Behind the Scenes with Tony Hawk
File size: 100 MB (HD), 168 MB (1080)

PlayStation Pro Moments – Boston
File size: 51 MB (HD), 83 MB (1080)

Ryan Sheckler – Boston 2010
File size: 85 MB (HD), 148 MB (1080)

Talkin’ with Bastien Salabanzi
File size: 76 MB (HD), 119 MB (1080)
PS3 Themes

Resident Evil Dynamic Theme (US Only) (free)
File size: 3.86 MB

Uncharted 2 – Dynamic Theme ($2.99)
File size: 2.16 MB

Kick-Ass Theme (US Only) ($1.99)
File size: 3.82 MB

Top Gun – Premium Theme ($1.99)
File size: 6.78 MB
PlayStation Store for PSP
Downloadable Games (also available from PS3 Storefront)

Ys Seven ($29.99)
The legendary action RPG series returns, this time exclusively for the PSP (PlayStation Portable) system. Join Adol and Dogi for their largest adventure ever! Discover the many mysteries sealed away in the vast country of Altago, and awaken the Five Great Dragons to save the world! New Original Story, Same Ys Legacy.
ESRB Rated T
File size: 448 MB
Game Demos (also available from PS3 Storefront) (free)

Phantasy Star Portable 2 Demo
Download the Phantasy Star Portable 2 demo and experience the expanded universe either in single-player or multiplayer ad-hoc mode!
ESRB Rated T
File size: 342 MB
PSP Minis (also available from PS3 Storefront)

Carnivores: Dinosaur Hunter – Minis ($3.99)
ESRB Rated T
File size: 36 MB
Add-on Game Content (also available from PS3 Storefront)

LittleBigPlanet PSP – Wild West Costume (free)
Be the best dressed Sackboy in the Wild West with this free Brave costume. NOTE: Manual Update required
File size: 1.45 MB

LittleBigPlanet PSP – Wild West Pack ($2.99)
Yeehaw! This rootin’ tootin’ six-gun shootin’ pack is jammed full of stickers and costumes that will help make good, bad or even ugly levels look great! Includes 5 costumes and 12 stickers to make your own Wild West levels! NOTE: Manual Update required
File size: 1.49 MB
Game Videos (free)

Pulse 8/17 Edition
File size: 43 MB

inFAMOUS 2 – New Marais Cutscene
File size: 9.21 MB
PSP Themes (also available from PS3 Storefront)

SCAR PSP Theme 1 ($1.49)
File size: 413 KB

Chey Tac PSP Theme 1 ($1.49)
File size: 528 KB

FRONT MISSION 3 is a sprawling strategy sci-fi adventure which gives you giant mechanical battle machines known as “Wanzers” to command in explosive, high-tech, turn-based warfare.

Featuring the Double Feature Scenario System, you can choose from one of two independent stories, each with its own unique characters, situations and environments. Up to 150 hours of engrossing gameplay – complete with a myriad of twists and turns – awaits you. Are you ready to uncover the truth?

Larry Sparks, Vice President Brands PAL Region of Square Enix Ltd. comments, “With the forthcoming release of FRONT MISSION EVOLVED , the FRONT MISSION series is back with a bang. Before the evolution of the series, we think it’s the perfect time to revisit a previous classic instalment with FRONT MISSION 3. We’re very pleased to be able to bring this compelling title to the PlayStation Network.”

FRONT MISSION 3 will be available in all PAL countries where the PlayStation Store is available. The release date and pricing information will be announced soon.

The Good: Unique social sim mechanics, Simple to learn and hard to master combat, Fantastic visuals, New female main character drastically alters the game, Huge variety of Personas to find and merge

The Bad: Combat can get a little repetitive, Still not quite as good as Persona 4

When I was told that the folks over at Atlus had mixed a social simulator with Jungian psychology into a JRPG framework, I laughed heartily at what seemed to be a rather ridiculous idea. I stopped laughing when I actually got to play it, and found it to be one of the best RPGs I’d played during that whole console generation. Having been released for the third time now, has Persona 3 still got what it takes to wow fans and newcomers alike once more?

The story is set in a fictional city in modern day Japan where our teenage hero (or heroine) has recently transferred for their schooling. They soon find out that a mysterious hour between midnight and one AM called the dark hour sees everyone transform into coffins each day. There are a select few who remain conscious during the dark hour, but their minds are prey for the evil shadows, the evil monsters that emerge during the dark hour. Our character soon discovers that they and a selection of school friends possess the power of Persona, a magical being that grants them the strength to combat the shadow menace.

Thus the band of heroes take it upon themselves to explore the shadows’ nest, the mysterious tower of Tartarus, and attempt to put a stop to the dark hour once and for all. It’s certainly an interesting scenario and the plot has enough twists and turns to keep you engaged. The characters too are well designed and entertaining and the whole affair has a very high school anime feel to it. The Jungian psychological concepts examined throughout the plot aren’t particularly subtle, but it certainly gives the story an interesting slant that beats the generic “orphans out for revenge against the empire” paradigm.

Hey look the menu is pink. Get it, because you're playing as a girl? (Slaps face with palm)

Our heroes begin adventuring into the mysterious tower of Tartarus at night and must attempt to climb to the top in order to unveil the mysteries of the dark hour. You have to do a lot of combat as you make your way up, so it’s a good thing that the combat is easy to pick up and hard to master. Combat is a standard turn-based affair with a wide variety skills available to each character through their Persona. The main mechanic that separates the battles in Persona 3 Portable to other titles is the extra turn system. By landing a critical hit or attacking with an element the enemy is weak to they can be knocked down, granting an extra turn. You can keep chaining attacks across enemies this way until, when they are all knocked down, you can perform an all-out attack with your party that deals heavy damage to all enemies. It’s a simple system that has a surprising depth, and always keeps you on your toes. Several tweaks to the combat have been made for the new portable version of the game. For a start a defend command has finally been added. When you level up one of your main character’s Personas to a certain level they will give you a skill card that allows you to transfer particular skills between Personas. Possibly one of the best additions is the way that now, whenever your main character is about to be defeated in battle, one of your party members will take the blow in their place. This is exceptionally helpful as, unfortunately, Persona 3 is one of those games where if your main character is defeated the game ends immediately. The combat is fun aside from a few frustrating moments, but sadly can wear a little thin after a while.

It’s good then that the combat is accompanied by several other game mechanics that keep things fresh. For a start there is the Pokémon style collection aspect of trying to collect new Personas for your hero. Your main character has the unique ability to use multiple Personas and change between them during battle. You collect new Personas as you battle your way through Tartarus and you can merge Personas together to create new ones in the mysterious Velvet Room. As you mix Personas certain skills are passed down to the new one created. It’s a deceptively simple system, but is always entertaining trying to make each Persona with your favourite skills. It also goes a long way to keeping the combat interesting as you are always gaining new Personas with new strengths, weaknesses and abilities.

Turn-based battles: Love them or hate them, they're here to stay

The game isn’t all about fighting however. Remember how I mentioned that the hero transfers to the local school? Well by day you have to attend school and are given the choice of socialising with your peers in your free time. It’s tempting to assume that the social elements of the game are a pointless distraction, but the characters you meet and interact with are interesting and are usually very well written. Increasing your social links also offers great combat benefits. Each friend you increase your social link with is associated with a particular arcana, or type of Persona. As you level up your bond with them, you find that when you merge Personas that correspond with their arcana, the resulting Persona is given a massive experience point boost that enhances their abilities. It’s the quickest way to level up and gain new skills, and you’ll quickly find yourself having to balance your social links with regular combat training as well as revising for those pesky exams that crop up from time to time.

The amount of depth in the game world is astounding, from all the places you can go and people you can meet, to all the things you can do. With all that goes on during the game it is a good thing that the interface has been so well designed for the PSP. The exploration of Tartarus plays out the same as ever, with a standard 3D perspective, but the exploration of the school and town has been stripped down somewhat. You now are given a top down view that looks a bit like a map with symbols representing places, people and objects of interest. You interact by moving a cursor to the relevant icon and hitting X. It sounds a bit basic, but it retains the same level of detail that was present in the PS2 version. I actually found it almost preferable to the standard 3D camera, as going through the menus makes navigating and moving around much quicker and easier.

A major addition to the portable incarnation of Persona 3 is the option to play through the game with a female protagonist as well as a male one. Playing through as the female character I found that a completely different experience was awaiting me. The social links you have the option of pursuing are completely different, and the new dialogue and ability to engage in social links with your party members really changed the game in a big way. It’s amazing just how much new content has been included in this way.

Visually speaking P3P is second to none. Aside from the town exploration being slightly stripped down the game looks practically identical to the PS2 version. The style of the visuals is also unique, with the bright vivid colours of the daytime successfully contrasted with the dark and gothic aesthetic of the dark hour. The enemy and Persona designs are still intriguing and well realised, and new Persona designs for the female play-through are a welcome addition. Some may find the static character portrait cut-scenes a bit cheap, but they do the job. I personally began to be annoyed by the interface changing to a hot pink when playing as the female protagonist. It just seemed a little bit insulting. Regardless of a few irritants, Persona 3 Portable remains one of the visually strongest games on the system.

The interface may have been a little stripped down for the PSP, but it still retains the detail of the original

I was very impressed with the technical feats of the audio in P3P, with the game retaining the same voice acting found in the original for almost the entire game. It certainly helps you feel immersed in the experience and the voice overs are just as strong as they’ve always been. A lot of new music has been recorded for the new female perspective, but as impressive as this is, a lot of the music tracks are still really bad. It’s not necessarily a deal-breaker, but some of the hip-hop style tracks are quite embarrassing. It’s a shame that these get in the way of an otherwise fantastic aural experience.

The lifespan question is very easy to answer in the case of P3P. This game will last you for a long time indeed. There is so much to see and do and so much that you would miss on a first play-through that multiple run-throughs are a likely eventuality. Even if you’ve finished the original P3, the new tweaks and key differences when playing through as a female character will warrant you returning to the world of Persona 3 once again. With all the Velvet room side-quests, vast array of skills, items and equipment and the wide variety of social links Persona 3 is well worth the asking price. The original game was one of the best of last generation, and now it returns in its definitive form on the PSP. Even if you’ve finished it once already and even if you’re not a fan of JRPGs, Persona 3 is edgy and different enough to the point where I’d recommend everyone with a PSP pick up a copy.

The hardware sales saw a 12 % increase in sales, when compared to those of July 2009, with the earnings of $313.8 million, handhelds and consoles put together.

Also, it looks like the Xbox 360 has regained the momentum it had lost in the past few months. After becoming the highest selling console in June, and second highest selling system overall (second to the DS; check the full figures here), the Xbox 360 has taken a step further, and has become the highest selling system of July in the States, according to the newly revealed NPD figures. With a 443,500 units sold, it has topped even the DS and the Wii, which sold 398,400 units and 253,900 units respectively. In fourth place was the PlayStation 3, with 214,500 units sold, and the PSP tail-ended the list with just 84,000 units.

These strong Xbox 360 sales can probably attributed to the newly released Xbox 360 S and the newly invoked $50 discount on previous Xbox 360 models. Also, we’re pretty sure the looming release of Halo: Reach and the casual-friendly Kinect have been attracting a lot of players to Microsoft’s home console.

As opposed to the hardware sector, where the sales were on the higher sides when compared to the figures for the same time last year, the software sales saw a drop of 8 %, with sales worth of $403.3 million for July. NCAA Football 11, EA’s recently released Football sim, took the first and second places- the Xbox 360 version sold a total of 368,000 units and topped the charts, while the PS3 version came second with sales of 298,800 units sold. Crackdown 2 was in third place, surprisingly enough, and seemed to be coming along pretty impressively with sales of 193,000 units. Super Mario Galaxy 2 was close behind, finishing in fourth place.

Here are the entire sales figures:

JULY 2010 US GAME SALES

OVERALL DOLLAR SALES
Games: $$846.5 million (-1%)
Hardware: $313.8 million (+12%)
Software: $403.3 million (-8%)
Accessories: $129.3 million (-2%)

HARDWARE SALES
Xbox 360: 443,500
DS: 398,400
Wii: 253,900
PlayStation 3: 214,500
PSP: 84,000

TOP 10 GAMES
1. NCAA Football 11
System: Xbox 360 | Publisher: EA | Sales: 368,000
2. NCAA Football 11
System: PS3 | Publisher: EA | Sales: 298,800
3. Crackdown 2
System: Xbox 360 | Publisher: Microsoft | Sales: 193,000
4. Super Mario Galaxy 2
System: Wii | Publisher: Nintendo | Sales: 193,000
5. LEGO Harry Potter Years 1-4
System: DS | Publisher: Warner Bros. | Sales: 141,700
6. Red Dead Redemption
System: Xbox 360 | Publisher: Take-Two Interactive | Sales: NA
7. LEGO Harry Potter Years 1-4
System: Wii | Publisher: Warner Bros. | Sales: NA
8. Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Sky
System: DS | Publisher: Square Enix | Sales: NA
9. New Super Mario Bros. Wii
System: Wii | Publisher: Nintendo | Sales: NA
10. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
System: Xbox 360 | Publisher: Activision | Sales: NA

It actually makes sense, if you think about it, and in more ways than one- it would give a big boost to Android based gaming, which has been largely underwhelming so far. It might revitalise flagging sales of Sony Ericsson mobile phones, and give the company ammunition to survive the onslaught of Apple’s iPhone. It would certainly be the only sensible way the PSP brand could continue to be viable- the PSP handheld, succesful though it was, had dismal software sales, declining hardware shipments, and zero third party and consumer interest. A PSP phone would be just the thing that might make the platfor releveant again, particularly in an era of iPhone gaming, and it would help it stay afload and on par with Nintendo’s upcoming 3DS handheld.

Now for the phone itself- it allegedly shares the PSP Go’s form factor, and includes a sliding gamepad. The gamepad will be identical to the PSP Go’s existing gamepad, shoulder buttons and all, except for the fact that there is now no analog stick, and there is a touch pad there instead, similar to the ones found on laptops, for analog controls. Sounds sensible enough, so far.

The phone is equipped with a camera with a resolution that may be as high as 5 megapixels, a large display, between 3.7 and 4.1 inches wide, and a snapdragon 1 GHZ processor being pegged as ‘likely.’

The device will be powered by Android 3.0, and the Android Store will be given an overhaul to have an all new section dedicated to games.

By the way, this won’t be out of line with what Sony execs have themselves told us in the past. When questioned about the PSP’s future in an interview, he suggested that the PSP might be en route to being a smartphone soon.

As of right now, Sony has declined to comment on the rumour, although I don’t think we need their confirmation at this stage. ll evidence seems to point towards the rumour being fact, and the company certainly has a notorious reputation with keeping secrets- last year, for instance, both the PS3 Slim and the PSP Go were prematurely ousted.

It seems a PSP successor is on its way. And it may not be what we thought it would be.

We’ll have more for you on this story, so stay tuned.

IMAGE COURTSEY OF KOTAKU