Let’s face it, the PSP’s approach to notifying end-users that their battery is in need of a recharge isn’t exactly obvious, especially when your thumb is covering the LED power indicator at times. In response to this dilemma, homebrew developer Zack has devised a custom firmware plugin dubbed Battery Warning Plugin. As the name implies, it displays a on-screen warning message when remaining battery power reaches a certain threshold, in this case 15 percent.

Quite handy, we say. Now you’ll have ample time to react to a low battery in midst of playing a game. Zack notes that future releases will incorporate a configuration manager. Grab the latest build at the link below.

Download Battery Warning Plugin v0.3.1

Release Thread

As part of a restructuring plan at Sony Liverpool, the studio responsible for the PlayStation-centric WipEout series, it has been confirmed that several projects are in the process of being axed due to “project prioritisation.” However, rumor has it that this plan will extend past the mere scrapping of projects, possibly resulting in a headcount reduction and a rather significant one at that.

A source close to Develop who was reportedly affected by the ongoing cuts says that as much as half of Liverpool’s workforce may be forced to part ways, bleakly noting that Sony’s restructuring initiative was “looking heavy.” Not encouraging to say the least.

Sony has yet to comment on the supposed layoffs at Liverpool. Always a shame to see this happen, especially to such a prestigious studio responsible for countless hits.

Famed Metal Gear Solid creator Hideo Kojima has weighed in on the practice of delaying titles, which he feels is the ultimate crime as a  game developer. more »

Liverpool-based Bizarre Creations, the minds behind Project Gotham Racing, are in pursuit of an experienced designer for a yet-to-be-announced title.  The job notably involves working on a title that is associated with an “extremely high-profile major movie license.”

Furthermore, the qualifications call for experience with creating engaging game experiences – preferably in the realm of first and third-person shooters. While still not a direct confirmation, those two tidbits are rather revealing, considering that Bizarre has been previously rumored to be working on a licensed 007 effort. All bets are on Bond.

The job listing made no mention of what platforms the applicant will be responsible for working with, but knowing Activision, this will undoubtedly be a multiplatform affair.

Konami today announced that a Metal Gear Solid bundle package consisting of all three of Snake’s PSP outings — Portable Ops, Portable Ops Plus, and MGS: Digital Graphic Novel — will be made available digitally on the PlayStation Store tonight.

Altogether, it’ll ring in at $29.99. Not too shabby of a price if you’ve been holding out this long or are looking for a reason to ditch those UMDs.

The NPD Group today released its year-end sales report. No matter how you construe the numbers, 2009 bowed out with a strong showing for all console hardware manufactures. Hardware sales were up a staggering 16 percent in December of last year, with Nintendo notably shifting an excess of 3.8 million Wii and 3.3 million DS units. Those are record numbers for both platforms as far as monthly sales go. Software sales took a slight tumble, down 7 percent from December of 2008.

Despite marginal gains over last December, industry sales declined from a full year-over-year perspective, recording $19.66 billion in sales compared to 2008’s $21.4 billion. Clearly the weakened economy dampened potential growth, but if last month’s figures are any indication, the road ahead looks convincingly bright for 2010. Hit the jump for the complete breakdown of sales figures.

Oh, and it looks like Reggie won that little bet. New Super Mario Bros. sold more units than Modern Warfare 2 on both PS3 and Xbox 360 combined. Impressive. more »

When the Assassin’s Creed franchise comes to mind, you think of a large-scale single player experience. Ubisoft is looking to broaden that narrow view with the next “episode” in the series, which is said to feature an online multiplayer component. This tantalizing tidbit was casually dropped in the company’s revised 2009-10 outlook and as such further details are nonexistent at the moment. Certainly piques our interest, though.

Ubisoft was keen to mention that this upcoming installment is a new episode, not a new entry, ruling out the possibility that it will be called Assassin’s Creed 3. The title is due out in the company’s 2010-11 fiscal year, meaning the latest it could hit is March of next year. Platform specifics were not divulged. More details will follow soon, we’re sure.

Namco Bandai’s long-running combat flight sim series is primed to take flight on PSP for a second time in Ace Combat: Joint Assault, the company announced today. Featuring more than 40 fully licensed aircraft, players will find themselves engaging in intense dog-fights across a number of real-world locations, including Tokyo, San Francisco, and London.

Namco has implemented an advanced enemy AI that tactically adapts accordingly towards decisions made while progressing through a campaign. In addition to an adrenaline-fueled singe player experience, Joint Assault features a variety of multiplayer modes accessible via ad-hoc or infrastructure (WiFi) connection.

In an interesting approach towards co-op, players can take down enemy forces with up to three friends cooperatively in campaign mode, breaking up into divided teams and simultaneously complete mission objectives on two separate maps. Additionally, Joint Assault will support eight-player adversarial matches. Look for the title to land on PSP “later this year.” Screenshots can be found after the break.

Ace Combat: Joint Assault Screenshots

Times have taken a troubling turn at Rockstar’s San Diego branch. According to Joystiq’s inside source at the studio, 2009 saw the firing of several key developers connected to the Midnight Club series, including vets Jay Panek and Mark Garone. Other people followed and quit, primarily due to being fed up with how the company handled Midnight Club: LA but also as a result of a lack of interest in working on Red Dead: Redemption.

With the core team essentially dissolved, the future of Midnight Club is an uncertainty. Poor management practices at Rockstar San Diego has led to a state of peril, with the wives of employees lamenting over inadequate working conditions coupled with unrealistic deadlines and long hours. The unethical neglect is beginning to take its toll on employee’s  at the studio, with those affected prepped to take legal action if the situation does not improve within the “upcoming weeks.”

Considering the Midnight Club franchise is one of Rockstar’s top earners, there’s little doubt that parent company Take-Two is watching the developments surrounding this situation closely. Rockstar, for its part, has yet to issue an official comment in response to the allegations.

Sources: Rockstar San Diego not working on more Midnight Club games, future games in jeopardy [Joystiq]

London-based development studio Mediatonic has chosen Sony’s  Minis platform to release their first game, entitled Monsters (Probably) Stole My Princess! An upwards-scrolling platformer presented with clean and vivid 2D visuals, players assume the role of a demon known as “The Duke.” Setting out for revenge under the pretense that monsters were probably responsible for the kidnapping of her majesty, players are tasked with taking down monsters with brute force by crashing into them three times. Platforms are scattered across each level in an escaling fashion, which when touched allow players to build up a combo, in turn beefing up speed and power attributes.

Weighing in at a tad over 95MB, Monsters (Probably) Stole My Princess! will be one of the largest Mini titles to grace the PlayStation Store yet. And as a PSP Mini, it is playable on both PSP and PS3, thanks to Sony’s most recent firmware update on the PS3 side that brought cross-compatibility.

Look for Monsters (Probably) Stole My Princess! to join the Minis lineup in February 2010 in all its monster slaying glory. More screenshots can be viewed after the break.

Monsters (Probably) Stole My Princess! Screenshots