Sony, Level-5 and Matrix Software are hoping PS3 and PSP owners want to make some pacts with knights. Apparently, the original White Knight Chronicles performed well enough to make the companies want to take a chance on English language releases of White Knight Chronicles 2 (PS3) and White Knight Chronicles: Origins (PSP). Only in Europe, for the moment though, as SCEE has confirmed both for May 2011 releases. Perhaps they’ll even be released on the same day…

I guess Sony learned nothing from the PSPgo. Sony Computer Entertainment Europe’s president Andrew House just dropped a bomb on potential customers – the games they’re looking for might only be found on the PlayStation Store. House spoke to MCV about the digital and retail issue, inferring that only big-name games, like Uncharted will be available in stores and as a download.

If it’s a smaller NGP game, then it’s up to the publisher…

Most game developers don’t solicit ideas from fans. They accept feedback, but specific elements of a game usually aren’t accepted. There are legal matters that prevent that from happening. Can you imagine what would happen if a game publisher made a game based on some random person’s idea? Lawsuits would start pouring out from plaintiffs all over accusing companies of stealing their million dollar idea. This won’t be the case with The Bearded Ladies and Sony Computer Entertainment Europe’s new initiative called Gamocracy.

Brilliant minds are currently working on a way to bring holographic images into our homes. By 2017, researches expect holographic television technology to be embedded in consumer devices. Television advancements go hand in hand with videogame consoles. We know how big a difference having a HDTV makes when playing a PS3 or Xbox 360. 3DTVs are the next step in advancing how we view videogames. The next leap forward could be holographic 3D games.

Companies like to brag about good sales figures. When a new system – or new iteration of an existing system – is released on the market, companies want consumers to know how successful it is. It isn’t a bad idea, really. If people see a system or a console is a winner, then they’ll be more likely to jump on the bandwagon as well.

The thing is, we aren’t seeing that with Sony’s PSPgo.

The PSPgo debuted October 1, 2009. It’s been out for nearly two weeks and Sony has yet to start gloating about the system’s sales. There were no first two- or three-day sales figures reported. Sony hasn’t even released first-week sales figures. This leaves consumers to wonder whether or not the PSPgo is really doing all that well.

During the Tokyo Game Show, Sony Europe announced a customer loyalty program that would reward current PSP owners who’d upgrade to a PSPgo. PSPgo Rewards would bestow three free downloadable games (from a list of 17), provided the owner followed precise instructions that added the PSPgo to his PlayStation Network account. Sadly, things don’t always go that smoothly.

Some European PSPgo owners have found that the PSPgo Rewards didn’t work out the way they planned. It turns out if they download their three free games to their PS3, then transfer them to their PSPgo, DRM kicks in and renders the games useless. They can’t play them.

Sony is aware of the problem. At the moment, the company is advising that any PSPgo owners wanting to redeem and download their three free games…

PSP owners have just been given another reason to think twice about upgrading to the PSPgo. The first pause would naturally be caused by the PSPgo’s $249.99 price point, about $100 more than a standard PSP and now even $50 more than a Wii. The second pause will be caused by the latest news from Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) and Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE) – there’s no method for converting UMD games to digital ones in sight.

That’s right owners of PSPs with a UMD drive. If you decide to upgrade to a PSPgo, all of those UMDs are useless. They’re even to small to use as coasters! Last night Kotaku reported the heartbreaking news that the UMD conversion program was a pipedream. The SCEA representative spoken to said the program won’t be available “at this time.” So much for the conversion kiosks people were teased with at E3 2009. Now, at TGS 2009, SCEE has announced that there won’t be any UMD conversion method available in Europe either.

Yes, SCEE is going to offer you three free games with the PSPgo Rewards Program if you have an existing PSP and UMD, but IndustryGamers has gotten word from SCEA that residents of North America aren’t going to have that luxury…

As of this writing Sony still hasn’t offered a practical solution to everybody’s growing UMD problem. With the launch of the PSPgo only days away, we still don’t know how or if we will be able to enjoy our UMD based games if we choose to purchase a PSPgo. Well lets take our minds off that issue for a second and talk about a new promotion Sony Computer Entertainment of Europe is having called PSPgo Rewards.

PSPgo Rewards is Sony’s way of easing us into the digital download only process the PSPgo will offer. It’s offering three free downloadable games from a list of 17 available titles that includes Wipeout Pure, echochrome, Killzone: Liberation and Patapon .

Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE) used the 2009 Tokyo Game Show to make two big announcements concerning the PS3 and PSPgo. First, the SCEE announced a new version of the PS3 Slim that has a 250GB hard drive which everyone is excited about. The second announcement was the PSPgo Rewards program, which will reward existing PSP owners who purchase a PSPgo with three downloadable PSP games.

The PSPgo announcement is an attempt to get current PSP owners to upgrade to the PSPgo. When the system debuts October 1, 2009, the PSPgo Rewards program will launch as well. Users with both systems can then log into the PlayStation Network with both systems to unlock three free game downloads. There are some catches though. First, you have to claim your three free games before March 31, 2010. Second, You have to have a UMD in the old PSP unit. Third, you can only choose from 17 PSP games.

Here are the 17 PSP games you can choose from, in alphabetical order…

As the proud owner of a Playstation 3, I admit to being impressed by what it has to offer, including its Blu-ray capabilities, free online play and a collection of unique exclusives that do their best to distinguish themselves from the available offerings on competing consoles.

However, one aspect of the system that continues to irritate me is its high price point and I find myself having to constantly rationalize my purchase to my peers who contend that its features can be accessed through cheaper means.

After all, how would it look to your friends if you told them that you spent $400 dollars on a piece of technology if its features can be accessed on a similar item for $200?

Regrettably, the PS3’s price point problem will not be resolved anytime soon, according to…