Chris Hinojosa-Miranda, Associate Producer of SCEA, writes:

"Where's the demo? What about the demo? When are we going to get a demo? Why no demo? Are we there yet? Are we there yet? Are we there yet?

So to answer: no, we will not have a demo.

At least not your run-of-the-mill-this-is-meh demo ¿ we couldn't do that for Patapon. That would be - as Rolito would say - tre passé. So instead we've conjured up some mad PSP Juju and created the first ever demo-to-final save technology, also includes a demo-only exclusive: The Spear of Protection, an ultra-rare pon-weapon."
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Gameplayer are reporting on a great disparity in the cost of upcoming PSP game Patapon - from the mad geniuses behing LocoRoco - between territories, in particular Australia and the USA.

"This is extraordinary. It's doubly disappointing, given that the game is looking so good."
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Director of Software Marketing Jeff Reese writes on the PlayStation.Blog that Patapon will be released on February 26th at $19.99 in the US:

"As you can see, Patapon is really different and highly creative, a new kind of PSP experience we don't want anyone to miss. So to make it more accessible to everyone, we are happy to officially announce that we are releasing it at $19.99, lower than other new PSP games. It's a game that shouldn't get lost with some other big titles launching on the platform. It deserves your attention because it's very cool.

Normally, this price had been reserved for our Greatest Hits line, a collection of well established titles. But we felt that the unique nature of Patapon fit nicely into this pricepoint, and would work to attract the masses (casual, younger) who may otherwise miss it. So we'll see if it works!"
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Kombo Writes: "On the official Sony Blog, Chris Hinojosa, Associate Producer of Patapon, revealed several of the locations within upcoming title, Patapon. Highlighted on the PlayStation Blog are Festival Plaza, Rah Gashapon, Ubbo Bon and Pan Pakapon's Jazz-a-Mataz, Rumble Thump and Kon Kimpon's Toe Xylophone, Stone Obelisk, Patapon World Map, HQ, and finally, Mater the Tree of Life.

Each location will carry its own unique characteristic and humor. Check out the full description of each location inside."
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SCE Benelux announces Europe price and release date for the highly anticipated Patapon game for the PSP.
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What would make Patapon even better? How about a budget price? It looks like SCEA may be trying to woo gamers into taking the plunge with these lovable critters by making the game launch at the very tasty price of $20. We don't know if this is just a price glitch on Gamestop's part, or if this price is official. We're hoping for the latter -- we know a lot more people will try this innovative game if they see it's available for so cheap.
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Chris Hinojosa-Miranda, Associate Producer of Patapon, writes on the PlayStation.Blog:

"On the eve of holiday break¿and the launch of Patapon in Japan, we here at Patapon Central (aka Pon-SCEA) have been very excited over a few little Pata-tidbits that are currently circulating in the media, both locally and overseas.

First, great Pata-News came to me from Japan: Famitsu, one of Japan's leading gaming publications, has awarded Patapon a Platinum Review award."

In this post Chris Hinojosa-Miranda clears up the confusion on who-did-what-where between Patapon and LocoRoco.
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The numbers in square brackets are shipments. All numbers are estimates:

¿ Final Fantasy IV (DS): 180,000 [400,000]
¿ Naruto: Shippuuden N-Ultimate Accelerator 2 (PS2): 45,000
¿ Card Hero DS (DS): 30,000k [50,000~60,000]
¿ Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Matsuri: Kakera Asobi (PS2): 23,000
¿ Dora Base (DS): about 20,000 [40,000]
¿ Powerful Pro Baseball 14 Final Edition (PS2): 17,000
¿ Time Crisis 4 (PS3): 10,000
¿ Myself; Yourself (PS2): 6,000 [10,000]
¿ Hajime no Ippo (PSP): 6,000
¿ The Prince of Tennis (DS): 6,000
¿ Patapon (PSP): 5,000
¿ Powerful Baseball Final Edition (Wii): 4,000
¿ Survival Kids (DS): 3,000
¿ Medal of Honour: Airborne (PS3): 2,500
¿ The Legend of Heroes: Sora no Kiseki Complete Edition (PSP): 1,000 [3,000]

Source: Sinobi
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All of the details for this week's little PS3/PS2/PSP event.

New screenshots, release dates and details for a number of upcoming 1st party published titles, including MLB 08, Patapon, Twisted Metal: Head-On: Extra Twisted Edition, Wipeout Pulse and more.
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Sony today announced that its unique handheld 2D platform-action hybrid known as Patapon is coming to North American shores February 2008.
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The new issue of HGZine has a complete rundown of 130 games set for release next year with the latest details and screens on the Top 50 picked to be the "ones to watch" for PSP and DS.
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This past week in Tokyo's Akihabara district, an entertainment festival was held by the name of Akiba Enta-Matsuri. While most of the festivities involved were anime and comic related, Sony did set up an area over the weekend exhibiting just a few of their new and upcoming games.
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According to Team ICO Gamers, Japanese message boards and blogs are claiming that the mysterious drum puzzle game Patapon, inspired by the work of artist Rolito and to be released on PSP this winter, is being developed by staff from Team ICO and the Locoroco Studio and is being directed by Fumito Ueda.

Visual flourishes like the owly drums, totems and horned horseriders, which are very similar to the artwork in the previous works of the designer (ICO, Shadow of the Colossus) suggest this could be likely.
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Famitsu has a few more details on this game of little fighting eyeballs marching towards the end of the world. The player's rhythmic accuracy is what keeps these little spear-wielding eyeballs going; the better the beat sounds, the more fierce the fighting. Button presses determine how the fighters react, with each acting as a command of sorts: attack, defend, advance, and so on.
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