Damien McFerran

Damien McFerran

Editorial Director

Author Profile

Damien has been writing professionally about tech and video games since 2007 and oversees all of Hookshot Media's sites from an editorial perspective. He's also the editor of Time Extension, the network's newest site, which – paradoxically – is all about gaming's past glories.

Damien began his professional journalistic career with Retro Gamer magazine and has since written for Pocket Gamer, Eurogamer, CNET, Red Bull Gaming, SFX Magazine and many other clients within the tech and video game industries.

Username
Damo
Articles
131 (15 reviews)
First Article
Thu 2nd, September 2010
Avg. Review Score
7.9
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  • Gran Turismo 6 Demo Racing Into View Next Week

    3

    News Gran Turismo 6 Demo Racing Into View Next Week

    July 2nd, to be precise

    Those of you who can't wait to get your sweaty hands on Gran Turismo 6 will be pleased to know that a demo is hitting PSN next week. On July 2nd you'll be able to put Nissan's Leaf, 370Z and GT-R through their paces on the UK-based Silverstone circuit, which is making its series debut in Polyphony's forthcoming game. A...

  • Sony: Physical Games Will Be Around Longer Than People Think

    32

    News Sony: Physical Games Will Be Around Longer Than People Think

    Sony's Guy Longworth takes another stab at Microsoft

    Everything seems to be pointing to a digital future for games, but Guy Longworth — Sony's senior vice president in charge of PlayStation brand marketing for Sony Computer Entertainment of America — has voiced the opinion that the consumers aren't totally ready to ditch physical games just yet...

  • European PSN Maintenance Pencilled In For Tuesday 25th June

    3

    News European PSN Maintenance Pencilled In For Tuesday 25th June

    5.30pm BST / 6.30pm CET until midnight

    It has been confirmed that the PlayStation Network will be down tomorrow for "routine maintenance". The process is due to take place at 5.30pm BST / 6.30pm CET, and will finish around midnight BST / 1.00am CET. As usual, the PlayStation Store, PlayStation Home and Account Management will not be accessible...

    • PSN
  • Tekken Revolution Could Punch Its Way To PS Vita

    5

    News Tekken Revolution Could Punch Its Way To PS Vita

    Free-to-play fracas

    Tekken Revolution is out now on PlayStation Network, offering a fresh way to experience one of gaming's most popular one-on-one brawlers. However, it's currently exclusive to the PS3 — but that could change, according to series producer and director, Katsuhiro Harada: [tweet A Vita version would certainly convince more...

  • LittleBigPlanet PS Vita Dev Signs Agreement With PixelJunk Studio Q-Games

    2

    News LittleBigPlanet PS Vita Dev Signs Agreement With PixelJunk Studio Q-Games

    More details to come later

    LittleBigPlanet PS Vita developer Double Eleven has signed an publishing agreement with PixelJunk creator Q-Games. Double Eleven recently ended its exclusivity deal with Sony, and has since moved into publishing, with Limbo and Frozen Synapse being two games it has helped bring to market. Here's what Dylan Cuthbert,...

  • Ellen Page Doesn't Sound Too Pleased With The Last Of Us Likeness

    29

    News Ellen Page Doesn't Sound Too Pleased With The Last Of Us Likeness

    Actress less than impressed with Naughty Dog's Ellie

    The Last of Us is a truly remarkable game, but it hasn't gone down well with everyone. Actress Ellen Page — famous for her roles in Juno and Inception — has voiced her annoyance at the similarity between herself and lead character Ellie. Speaking during a Reddit "Ask Me Anything" session,...

  • Castlevania's Gory PlayStation Bloodline

    9

    Feature Castlevania's Gory PlayStation Bloodline

    We take a look back at the Sony history of Konami's famous franchise

    Konami’s Castlevania series may have established its reputation on Nintendo consoles, but in recent years it has branched out to find commercial and critical success on other systems, most notably the PlayStation line of consoles. With Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 looming...

  • Sony Pulse Wireless Headset

    10

    Hardware Review Sony Pulse Wireless Headset

    Audio extravaganza

    While a great many of us are more than happy to experience game audio through a gigantic set of speakers that tickle your intestines every time a bass line drops, the reality for most players is that they can’t be keeping the neighbours up all night with their entertainment pursuits. Some kind of headphone-based alternative is a...

  • Under Defeat HD: Deluxe Edition (PlayStation 3)

    4

    Review Under Defeat HD: Deluxe Edition (PlayStation 3)

    Nice chopper

    Famous for being one of the SEGA Dreamcast’s final releases, Under Defeat is a vertically-scrolling shooter which wears its old-school credentials as proudly as possible. Updated with high-definition visuals and boasting deluxe features to entice on-the-fence buyers into making a purchase, Under Defeat HD is a fantastic way to...

  • Aqua Kitty Creator Tikipod Talks PlayStation Mobile

    3

    Interview Aqua Kitty Creator Tikipod Talks PlayStation Mobile

    Milking mobile

    PlayStation Mobile's launch has been and gone, and one of the titles we've been playing most on our Vita is Aqua Kitty, coded by independent UK studio Tikipod. It's a pixel-rich love letter to the shooters of old, where an itchy trigger finger was a base requirement for success. Founder Dugan Jackson was kind enough to take some time...

  • Crash Lab's Steve Ellis On Developing For PlayStation Mobile

    1

    Interview Crash Lab's Steve Ellis On Developing For PlayStation Mobile

    Former Rare staffer talks about working with Sony on bite-sized games

    Sony recently launched its PlayStation Mobile service along with a selection of games that includes Twist Pilot from UK studio Crash Lab, which was founded by former employees of Rare. We spoke to Crash Lab's Managing and Technical Director Steve Ellis about developing for the...

  • Jet Set Radio (PlayStation 3)

    9

    Review Jet Set Radio (PlayStation 3)

    Get your skates on

    It’s genuinely hard to believe that Jet Set Radio is 12 years old. To look at the game now, you’d swear blind it was a modern release; the gloriously inventive cel-shaded visuals (well, they were innovative back in 2000, anyway) still possesses an alluring quality, and the quirky soundtrack is virtually assured to get the toes...

  • PC Indie Hit Terraria Is Coming To PSN Next Year

    4

    News PC Indie Hit Terraria Is Coming To PSN Next Year

    Build your hopes up now

    PC indie success Terraria is heading to PSN. The title - which has been described by some as a 2D Minecraft - was launched in 2011 and has since shifted an impressive 1.6 million copies. Andrew Spinks - the sole talent behind the original PC release - appears to be involved with the port to consoles (it's also coming to Xbox...

  • GTA V To Launch In Time For Christmas

    2

    Rumour GTA V To Launch In Time For Christmas

    Don't hold your breath, though

    Leaked screenshots which feature unbelievable release dates are always a little on the dodgy side. Why are they always blurry and low res? When was the last time you saw a computer do a screen grab and then apply a Vaseline-like filter over the top? Answers on a postcard to the usual address, please. Back on topic,...

  • Sony Europe Offering PlayStation Plus for £22.49 in UK?

    5

    News Sony Europe Offering PlayStation Plus for £22.49 in UK?

    Someone in marketing is going to be in hot water

    An image taken from the PSN Store shows that Sony Europe is advertising its PlayStation Plus service - which normally costs £29.99 for an annual subscription - for just £22.49. The advert for the service, which gives access to exclusive features such as free games and discounts on downloads,...

  • Dishonored Developer Documentary Charts The Game's Shadowy Inception

    2

    News Dishonored Developer Documentary Charts The Game's Shadowy Inception

    Behind the scenes on Arkane's supernatural stealth title

    Bethesda Softworks and Arkane Studios have released the first in a series of documentries focusing on the production of Dishonored. Entitled 'Inception', this first video covers the creation and conceptualisation of the game, and features input from the development team as they explain how...

  • PS Vita Hack Apparently Allows The Use of Homebrew Code

    14

    News PS Vita Hack Apparently Allows The Use of Homebrew Code

    The legacy of PSP hacking lives on

    An exploit has been discovered that alledgely permits the use of 'custom' code - otherwise known as homebrew - on the PS Vita, according to Wololo.net. Hacking the PSP was a popular pastime for many owners, and it would appear that the same desire to tinker is afflicting Vita fans. It's hard to confirm the...

  • Beatshapers Bundles Up Indie Classics for PS3, Vita and PSP

    7

    News Beatshapers Bundles Up Indie Classics for PS3, Vita and PSP

    Five games for not much cash

    Publisher Beatshapers has announced today that its Indie Bundle - which contains five titles developed by esteemed independent video game makers - is going to be made available on PlayStation Stores all over the globe. The bundle includes Wizorb, Canabalt, Enigmo, Galcon Labs and BreakQuest.

  • Don't Try This Insane Assassin's Creed Parkour at Home, Kids

    2

    News Don't Try This Insane Assassin's Creed Parkour at Home, Kids

    This is no game

    Excited about a live-action Assassin's Creed movie? Well Parkour expert Ronnie Shalvis has already made one, and it thankfully features no tortuous dialogue, hammy acting or needless exposition - just lots of free-running and death-defying leaps of faith.

  • Past Classics Cut Down to Size in PSN Retro Game Sale

    10

    News Past Classics Cut Down to Size in PSN Retro Game Sale

    32-bit gaming has never been so reasonably priced

    Sony has confirmed that a whole bunch of PSone titles are to have their prices slashed to celebrate the recent 1.80 Vita update. These cuts happen on 5th September, and only apply to Europe, Australia and New Zealand. Sorry, North America! At least things are slowly getting better on your side of...

  • Chinese Vita Copycat Droid X360 is a Lawsuit Waiting to Happen

    7

    News Chinese Vita Copycat Droid X360 is a Lawsuit Waiting to Happen

    Attack of the clone

    While western companies take each other to court over the tiniest little patent infraction, over in China hardware manufacturers have no such concerns; they'll happily copy a rival product right down to the design - something which is proven perfectly by the Droid X360. Looking every inch like a PlayStation Vita, this is...

  • More PlayStation Classics Now Compatible With North American Vitas

    4

    News More PlayStation Classics Now Compatible With North American Vitas

    Still lagging behind Europe, though

    Sony's 1.80 update for the Vita brought with it a large selection of PlayStation classics for European players, but those in North America were left feeling a little glum by the somewhat paltry selection they received. Thankfully, it looks as if Sony is listening to the complaints, as it has quietly added some...

  • The Making Of Castlevania: Symphony of the Night

    16

    Feature The Making Of Castlevania: Symphony of the Night

    Koji ‘IGA’ Igarashi reveals the history behind the gothic classic

    Castlevania: Symphony of the Night marked a major turning point for the Castlevania series. With the exception of the free-roaming Simon’s Quest on the NES, over a decade’s worth of instalments had displayed an unwavering commitment to the fairly straightforward ‘platform...

  • Kojima Productions and Platinum "Clash All the Time" Over Metal Gear Rising

    1

    News Kojima Productions and Platinum "Clash All the Time" Over Metal Gear Rising

    From conflict comes perfection

    Speaking in a recent interview, Kojima Productions' Yuji Korekado has admitted that his company and Platinum Games have clashed several times during the production of Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance. However, far from presenting these tussles as a negative thing, Korekado was quick to point out that the process has...