David Perry, founder of Shiny Entertainment and current thorn on Sony's side, is again asserting that the PSP2 is real, and that it won't have a UMD. He's also challenging Sony to call him a liar.

Details after the link.

Again and again, over the past few months, we heard the PSP labeled as dying and, in some cases, already dead. Of course, Sony kept saying, "No it's not. Just wait until 2009!", but hey, we hardened gamers can recognize a line when we see one, right? Turns out it wasn't just a line. Now the future of our beloved handheld seems pretty bright thanks to the announcement of a whole slew of big PSP titles that are all supposed to come out this year. Keep reading for another edition of the PSP Weekend Warrior!

Originally posted on February 27, 2009

Is the UMD finally dead? That's what Shiny Entertainment founder David Perry suggests, saying that Sony finally "removed the stupid battery-sucking UMD disc drive" in the PSP2.

*UPDATE* David Perry says the PSP2 is real. Believe, or else a PSP angel will lose its wings.

Visit: QJ.NET PSP speculation thread

Yet another one boards the "hate E3" wagon. David Perry, founder of Shiny Entertainment and chief creative officer at Acclaim, has called the event "broken," "stupid," and an "embarrassment." More after the "read more" link.

Look out - it's a classic one-two! Interplay Entertainment has just wired in the news that it is finally pushing through with the development of a new Earthworm Jim title, and this one's got official support from the original creator himself. Douglas TenNapel, the mind behind the run-and-gun worm in a robotic suit, will be collaborating with Interplay to jump start the video game, TV, and toy legacy that was Earthworm Jim. Just a little bit more to reveal at the full story.

After taking a year "off," veteran game developer David Perry appeared at Montreal Games Summit 2007 to talk about his supposed vacation. It turns out that he's going back to the scene with three MMORPGs being developed under his belt, and he talked about the free-to-play model which will make his projects work.

More on David Perry's keynote speech at the full article!

Game publisher Atari US has revealed yesterday that they've experienced a loss of US$ 7.7 million for the second quarter of the fiscal year, adding to their woes from Q1 losses.

Addressing these financial issues, they have taken a number of steps for a long-term strategy (details in the full article) but they aren't confident that these are sufficient footholds.

Young talents Dakota Blue Richards and Freddie Highmore will grace the upcoming multi-platform video game The Golden Compass by sharing their voices to breathe life into the game's main characters. Richards plays as protagonist Lyra and Highmore assumes the role of Pentalaimon, Lyra's Daemon.

This is Dakota's first major voice-over acting job, while Freddie has prior experience in similar roles before. "I do find it quite difficult, but I also find it fun," comments the young star as she compares the challenge to acting in front of the green screen for the film tie-in.

On the other hand, Freddie says "I have performed voice over work in the past," and shares "to convey the essence of a character you've got to believe in it and I think you have to get into the character, because if you don't believe in it no one else will."

The Golden Compass from Sega and Shiny Entertainment is a game based on the upcoming film of the same name which tells the story of a girl named Lyra who sets out on a quest to rescue her kidnapped friend. Along the way, she must use her wits to elude enemies and get past obstacles. She must also befriend strange creatures who can help her in her cause.

Just about every gamer will have a chance to join Lyra in her journey when it becomes available on the PC, Microsoft Xbox 360, Sony PlayStation 3, Nintendo Wii, Sony PlayStation Portable, and Nintendo DS.

Buy: [ The Golden Compass (PS3) ]

Buy: [ The Golden Compass (360) ]

Buy: [ The Golden Compass (Wii) ]

Buy: [ The Golden Compass (PSP) ]

Here's the latest gameplay video and screenshots for the Playstation Portable version of upcoming title The Golden Compass. Developed by Shiny Entertainment and published by Sega, this video game should come out some time in December (PSP, DS, PS3, Wii, PC, Xbox 360, PS2) to coincide with the movie launch.

Both Sega and Shiny Entertainment have promised that the game will remain as faithful as possible to both the movie and the novel. In this game, players follow the adventures of Lyra Belacqua as she tries to save her uncle in prison and look for her kidnapped best friend.

You will receive help from several in-game characters such as the spirit demon Pan, the armored bear Lorek, and of course the Golden Compass itself. Without this piece, every effort and attempt to discover the truth will be in vain.

See the gameplay video after the jump!

Shiny Entertainment founder and Project Top Secret leader David Perry has expressed his disdain for the Sony PSP's UMD format, saying that the small disk is "waste of money, time, and investment".

Perry has his own ideas for the PSP, saying that if he were in charge of PSP development, he would take out all UMD mechanisms and make all existing UMD games available for download so that PSP gamers can still play their UMD titles. He also gave his own ideas on how gamers can give proof of purchase of the PSP UMDs that they own in order for them to get the downloadable versions of their games.

This is Perry's impression of a UMD-less PSP:

That will make it even more sexy-looking, because it will be thinner again when they get all that junk out. Then, hopefully, the platform will actually get enough interest so that people will make a game specifically for it.

If UMDs had feelings, they must feel a bit bad after being referred to as "junk".

Perry also went on to say that the UMD-less PSPs may be very beneficial both for Sony and retail stores, since costs of shipping, insurance and warehousing are eliminated. Retail stores would also get their valuable shelf space back.

Well, that certainly was some radical concept from Perry. But considering that his former studio created the offbeat Earthworm Jim franchise and that he is the director of the innovative Project Top Secret, it's really no surprise that he managed to come up with those ideas.