UK publisher Xplosiv has unveiled a new party based PSP UMD title called KAZook.

Developed by MonteCristo, the quirky sounding title KAZook is billed as a state of mind : “Getting into the crazy state of KAZooK means opening your mind to the possibility that anything could happen, and it does!”.

KAZook offers a selection of 16 characters over 30 mini games allowing gamers to try their hands as gangster rappers, sumo wrestlers, goth chicks and cool street dudes.

"To become a KAZooK super-star you have to make your way through the ultimate party games collection that can take you anywhere and bring to life your wildest dreams, or weirdest nightmares."

There are 3 solo gaming modes and 2 over Wi-Fi.  Game sharing will no doubt be a welcome addition, allowing two PSPs to share 5 mini games using just one UMD disc.

KAZook has an October release date for Europe, with no plans as yet for a US release.

Jealous of the IM capabilities built into the Sony mylo?  Robert Howells has posted a step by step guide over at Pocket Gamer which allows you to emulate MSN Messenger using a service from e-messenger.net using the wireless capabilities of your PSP.

The Sony mylo will always have the benefit of a factory built-in keyboard, but this feature is a good example of how the PSP can be expanded with web services.

Sony has promoted Kelly Nielsen to senior VP of worldwide creative at Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, reporting to Lexine Wong, Sony senior executive VP of worldwide marketing.

The position sees Nielsen responsible for packaging design and production on the UMD format, among others.

“Kelly’s passion and creativity coupled with her keen knowledge of the home entertainment business have been instrumental in the development of SPHE’s most successful marketing campaigns,” Wong said.

Namco Bandai has announced that MotoGP is in development for the PSP.

Slated for release in Autumn this year, the UMD release comes on the back of a string of successful titles under the MotoGP franchise on various platforms.

Features include wirless multiplayer with up to eight players, unlockable rewards and the chance to play as one of the 2005 rider roster including Valentino Rossi, Marco Melandri, Nick Hayden, Troy Bayliss, Carlos Checa, Alex Barros and Shinya Nakano.

NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc is the result of a merger of successful gaming brands Bandai Co., Ltd. and NAMCO LIMITED a little under a year ago.

Sega have announced a partnership with game studio Planet Moon Studios which plans to content from a classic Sega brand to the PSP.

Planet Moon studios are already active in PSP game development, and best known for Infected, a "fast-paced, over-the-top 3rd person shooter".

No further details were announced.

A Sony representative has denied that there are any imminent plans to reduce the price of the PSP handheld system.

Speaking to GamesIndustry.Biz, a Sony UK spokesperson denied the recent PSP price cut rumour and prediction from industry analyst P.J. McNealy - "Currently we have no plans to cut the price of the PSP at this time."

An article from CNN Money suggests that a PSP price drop might be imminent.

Sony is apparently stockpiling finished gaming hardware which analysts believe hints towards a fall in the price of the PSP unit.

With the holiday season fast approaching, and with Sony keen to make up ground on sales of the Nintendo DS and provide a boost to UMD sales numbers, any truth to the theory would certainly seem a logical one.

EA executive VP David Gardner has warned Sony to make more of an effort with the PSP.

Alongside mounting bad publicity regarding the PlayStation 3 and doubts over the future feasibility of the UMD format, Gardner has stated that the PSP is falling behind main rival Nintendo DS.

“I don’t think Sony can afford to sit back,” Gardner told MCV. “I think they still have things they can do with the price and performance of the machine – things that they need to address.”

He expanded his comments hinting that more effort would be put into producing for the DS platform.

“There’s no doubt that EA has historically bet more on PSP. I think we were excited by the technology, but the consumers have proven that actually what they want is fun. We must never forget that what we need to focus on is fun and so EA is putting more effort behind DS games – and creative ones that really take advantage of the hardware.”

Sega has today announced the launch of the SEGA Genesis Collection for the Sony PSP.  The pack, which will also be available in a version for the Sony PlayStation 2, will port a selection of SEGA Genesis console titles to the PlayStation Portable.

Marking the debut to handheld for many titles, the SEGA Genesis collection will feature more than 30 accuractly reproduced classic SEGA titles such as Golden Axe™, Sonic The Hedgehog™, Shinobi III™, Altered Beast™ and Phantasy Star™.

"SEGA has always been, and will continue to be, an innovator of gaming technologies," said Scott A. Steinberg, Vice President of Marketing, SEGA of America, Inc. "The Genesis was the first 16-bit gaming system released in 1989, setting a new standard for gaming hardware technology for years to come. SEGA Genesis Collection will take gamers back to experience the golden age of gaming during the 1990s."

SEGA Genesis Collection will be available Autumn.

Sony has announced a new title called Cash Money Chaos for the PSP.

Cash Money Chaos is an overhead shooter with over 50 levels of wacky, fast-paced gameplay.

Gamers will blast their way around various environments gunning down everything from alien chickens to homocidal clowns.

Expect a Q1 2007 release and an MSRP of $29.99.

Sony has announced details of its first communication and entertainment device, the Sony mylo.

The Sony mylo looks a little bit like a PSP.  However a closer look reveals a different story, and no UMD drive.  The Sony mylo, short for "my life online" is a dubbed as a handheld communication and media device.  The Sony mylo is WiFi enabled and will allow users to use instant messenger programs, browse the web, send emails, listen to music and view photos.

The Sony mylo comes equipped with a 2.4 inch colour LCD screen with a slide out QWERTY keyboard.

The Sony mylo will come preloaded with Google Talk™ and Yahoo! Messenger™ IM clients along with Skype for VOIP calls.  JiWires hotspot directory will be included to allow user to find local hotspots and make full use of mylo primary functions.  Supported audio includes MP3, WMA and ATRAC, while video is playable in MPEG-4 format.

Media storage is taken care of by 1GB of flash memory and this is extendable with full Memory Stick Duo™ compatibility.

mylo does share similarities with the PSP aside from how it looks and support for Memory Stick Duo™ media.  mylo will also support wireless mylo to mylo communications allowing users to share media.

mylo will be available from September for circa $350 in the US from Sony Style both online and from stores, along with authorised dealers. 

Upcoming PSP title Gangs of London has been leaked to the internet, appearing on various BitTorrent sites.

Sony are understandly none to pleased that the inaugral consumer experience of The Getaway spinf-off will not be via a UMD disc.  Speaking to GamesIndustry.biz, Sony Computer Entertainment UK spokesman was quick to warn consumers that the version of the game leaked was incomplete and buggy.

"The version of Gangs Of London that you have brought our attention to here is a pre-production 'preview' version," he revealed. "It is not the complete game and it has anomalies in the code since it hasn't been through our QA process yet."

Gangs of London is a SCEE Team London release, and is due or release in September this year.