In the early weeks of its life, the PS3 was Super Stardust HD. That's how I remember it anyway. And when the PS4 came around, it turned out that the PS4 was Resogun. The news today that low sales have forced Housemarque, who made both these games, to declare that 'Arcade is dead' lends all of these memories a bittersweet tinge. And yet - and I mean this as the highest compliment I can come up with - it's hard to have too many emotions around games like Super Stardust and Resogun, other than panic and excitement - extreme, panoramic excitement. Bittersweet melancholy doesn't stick about for long.
Super Stardust HD
Key events
22nd March 2011
3rd July 2010
1st June 2010
18th June 2007
Housemarque brings "longstanding commitment to the arcade genre to an end"
"It's time to move on to new genres."
"Lackluster" sales of the brilliant Nex Machina were the icing on the cake for Finnish developer Housemarque - from here on out it will no longer make arcade games.
PlayStation Plus' March Instant Game Collection includes Galak-Z, Broforce
Also Super Stardust HD, The Last Guy and more.
PlayStation Plus' Instant Game Collection - i.e. free bonus games for subscribers - will include Galak-Z and Broforce for PS4 come 1st March.
Defender creator Eugene Jarvis is teaming up with Resogun dev Housemarque
"All I know now is that it is going to be explosive."
Super Stardust developer Housemarque's recent PS4 opus Resogun was described by many as a modern update to Eugene Jarvis' 1981 arcade game Defender. And now the developer is working with Jarvis himself on its next game.
Sony to offer free games, PS Plus subs in $15m PSN hack settlement
It's a good deal, for Sony. (US only.)
Sony's PlayStation business emerged relatively unscathed (stronger, even) from the PlayStation Network hack of 2011, but the legal ramifications are still ongoing.
Super Stardust spiritual successor a PlayStation 4 exclusive
Housemarque also making an unannounced PS4 project.
The Super Stardust spiritual successor is a PlayStation 4 exclusive, developer Housemarque has announced.
Finnish developer Housemarque, which also made Dead Nation and Outland, is hard at work on the game as we speak.
Housemarque boss Ilari Kuittinen said: "We are super excited to be working on Sony's next-gen hardware. The platform's performances are enabling us to do things that wouldn't be possible otherwise and we truly believe that better technology can lead to better gameplay. The more tools and resources we have at our disposal, the better.
FeatureRetrospective: Stardust
Rock blockin' beats.
"It's a gamer's game."
New Super Stardust HD DLC announced
Impact Mode smashes into PSN next week.
New DLC for hit PlayStation Network shmup Super Stardust HD is on the way, Sony has announced.
As revealed on the PlayStation Blog, Impact Mode arrives on 30th March priced at £1.59 / €1.99.
"The Impact mode plays on and twists the game rules – in place of the weapon system your ship is now fitted with an experimental new matter-to-energy boost engine technology, which means once you activate the boost, you can stay in boost as long as you can hit meteors and enemies with it!" explained developer Housemarque's CEO Ilari Kuittinen.
Digital FoundrySuper Stardust HD: 3D performance analysis
Twice the frames, all the performance. Awesome.
Digital Foundry3D Super Stardust boosts 2D performance
1080p60, extra AA, split-screen upgrades.
Housemarque has said that the 3D update to its stunning PSN shooter, Super Stardust HD, also significantly boosts elements of the existing 2D version of the game.
Maguire: People will buy 3D content
"People who bought iPads will buy 3D TVs."
Sony Computer Entertainment's UK boss Ray Maguire has told Eurogamer that he has no worries about people buying into the company's 3D dream because there will always be early adopters.
PS3 3D titles priced, out this week
Patches free to owners, 3D TV buyers.
Sony has announced launch details for PlayStation 3's early stereoscopic 3D line-up.
Japan's PS3 3D game updates next week
SSHD, WipEout and PAIN. PAIN's to cost.
Sony has announced that the first 3D updates to PlayStation 3 titles will be released in Japan next week.
Patches for Super Stardust HD, WipEout HD and PAIN will be released on 10th June according to the Japanese press release.
While the 3D-specific updates to Super Stardust HD and WipEout HD will be free, gamers will need to pay 300 yen to grab the PAIN 3D update.
Sony 3D TV buyers get free games in June
3D PS3 firmware to precede HX803 launch.
Sony has announced that people buying its new Bravia HX803 3D TV in June will receive a PSN voucher entitling them to four 3D versions of PS3 games.
FeatureTech Retrospective: Super Stardust HD
The behind-the-scenes story of PlayStation 3's first great shooter.
It's hard to believe that Super Stardust HD recently celebrated its second birthday. Play the game today and it's still one of the most technically adept, brilliantly conceived and ultra-addictive shooting games available on the current generation of consoles. Where Xbox 360 has its Geometry Wars, PlayStation 3 has Stardust. Both superb, both essential.
PlayStation Store covered in E3 goodies
Fatal Inertia EX, Warhawk patch, videos.
The European PlayStation Store has finally gotten its digital mitts on Fatal Inertia Ex.
PS3 trophies now in Super Stardust HD
Uncharted, Burnout Paradise to join in.
Super Stardust HD has been updated to support the fancy trophy system for PlayStation 3.
Everyday Shooter, GH3 tracks on PSN
Everybody's Golf PS3 demo, too.
Riff: Everyday Shooter leads the weekly PlayStation Store update this week, but you should already know that if you glue your face to Eurogamer.
Plus Snakeball, Stardust demos.
Did you get what you wanted for Christmas? That's a shame. But Sony was looking out for you - sneaking a 1.7GB-shaped demo of The Club under the celebratory bristles of the PlayStation Network tree with the sort of festive love and care glaringly absent from other elements of this boringly appointed sentence.
Joined on PSN by two others.
Super Stardust HD has been released on PlayStation Store today priced GBP 4.99, having picked up a whopping 9/10 review from us just a few days ago. Sadly there's no sign of a demo.
Calling All Cars, Stardust dates
MotorStorm update this week.
Sony UK has dated a few upcoming additions to the PlayStation 3 Store.
Ziggy plays PS3.
Stardust first materialised on the Commodore Amiga in 1993 and instantly found a dedicated fanbase thanks to its state-of-the-art graphics and glorious playability. Taking the core elements of the ancient arcade classic Asteroids and grafting on power-up weapons and extra enemy spacecraft, it proved beyond doubt that some gameplay concepts are timeless, classic and worthy of resurrection. Fast-forward 14 years and the game is set to do the same all over again, this time in the guise of the all-powerful Super Stardust HD.
Let's not beat about the bush - this game is the best fun I've had on the PlayStation 3 since the machine launched. Sure, at its heart, it's still just Asteroids (albeit with multiple operations' worth of Demi Moore-quality cosmetic surgery) but the fact of the matter is that just about everything Super Stardust HD sets out to achieve, it does with absolute style.
Take the graphics for example. Every object from the largest asteroid to the smallest piece of space debris is perfectly lit and beautifully animated. The light show and explosive effects you get courtesy of the power-up weaponry would do Treasure proud. Super Stardust HD lives up to the latter part of its name by rendering everything in 1080p with no hint of slowdown - even when the screen is ram-packed with enemy spacecraft, RSX-fuelled gunfire and a meteor storm's worth of unexploded asteroids. Considering the amount of activity on-screen, it's a hugely impressive technical achievement for the PS3 and the best use of 1080p since Ridge Racer 7.
Plus more Stardust details.
Sony has revealed details of Snakeball, which is set to launch exclusively on PlayStation Network this July.
From PlayStation Day.
From PlayStation Day.