Hello Loyal Readers,
Playstation Access has moved over to Playstation-Access.blogspot.com. We made the change due to some restrictions with the original Playstation Access. You will still receive the same quality of news as you were before however it will just be relocated.
Thank You,
Playstation Access
9/07/2008
9/03/2008
Sam, a community developer over the PlayStation.com forums, states that there will be a "limited public beta" for LittleBigPlanet in September. No other details were given at this time. "If it will be possible to 'sign up' for this test, full information on how to do so will be made public in advance of the test. Similarly if the test is going to be conducted in an invitation-only we will let you know ahead of time."
In an earlier post, Sam also hinted at how many people will get in to this beta. Accommodating everyone will be impossible, but "it will be large enough that many people from around the world will get in." There also won't be a demo for LBP, at least not before the release date, "due to the complexity and scale of the game."
We'll keep you updated in regards to the beta as more information is made available.
PS3FANBOY
9/02/2008
So LittleBigPlanet is complete. You know this from our interview at Leipzig. We've been covering the game pretty closely since its reveal at GDC 2007, so we wanted something a little special for our PAX 2008 coverage. What could be more special than building the Joystiq logo and stickering the thing to death, before riding off in a fully-functional tank? We've sped it up and added some music you might be familiar with, to give you a bite sized, level building experience. Hopefully, for the LittleBigObsessed, we'll have the full 15 minute video available for you to check out soon.
Today is the last day you can head over to EA's Battlefield: Bad Company site to vote for which two maps you'd liked to see modified to become a Conquest battleground in an upcoming map pack. You can choose between Acta Non Verba, Crossing Over, Par for the Course, Ghost Town, Welcome to Bad Company and Crash and Grab. It looks like Par for the Course is at the head of the pack, with Acta Non Verba at a distant second. In addition to the two maps selected in this democratic manner, two will be dictated to us by DICE. Make your voice heard by casting your vote here.
PS3FANBOY
9/01/2008
It's slightly ironic to be writing an article about 'getting a job' on Labor Day; however, the work we speak of is probably one you won't want to take a holiday from. In an interview with CVG, Media Molecule's Pete Smith spoke about the possibility of recruiting top LittleBigPlanet community designers to join the Britain-based team.
"We will be aware of who those awesome designers are and certainly there's the potential to get them building levels as part of the dev team," said Smith. With LittleBigPlanet coming out on October 29 in Europe (open October date for other regions), that gives starry-eyed, yet Hotpocket-breathed gamers just about two months to start planning out those designs a curriculum vitae.
PS3FANBOY
Looks like Project Abraham, getawarjob and America First America Only, three of the four Resistance 2 ARG sites, have been met their ends. There is nothing left on getawarjob, while Project Abraham left us a few clues. A letter in the inbox shows the Project has been stopped and moved from Alaska to Bryce Canyon facility, as well as an end letter from Dr. Aklin summarizing the work she has done. The last test subject, Kenneth Danby, was apparently released as well.
At America First America Only, a letter declaring "They've been on to us!" has been left behind. They are moving "further underground" and the last issue of their news letter, volume 7, is hidden away in their archives.
The only site remaining is SrpaNet, but we haven't had any luck figuring out the new login. Is the Resistance 2 ARG over until the release of the game in a couple of months? Or will there be more? Luckily for us, there is a Resistance wiki over at Wikia, and almost all the documents on the site can be reviewed there. Check it out.
PS3FANBOY
8/31/2008
Black Mask
Eraser
Every Which Way But Loose
The Gauntlet
The Invincible Iron Man
Marine Aquarium
Married Life
The Next Avengers: Heroes of Tomorrow
Outbreak
Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles
Transformers
Under Siege 2 - Dark Territory
US Games
Mercenaries 2: World In Flames
Rapala Fishing Frenzy
Vampire Rain: Altered Species
NFL Head Coach 2009
Facebreaker
EU Games
Mercenaries 2: World In Flames
Assassin's Creed (Platinum)
FaceBreaker
Monster Madness: Grave Danger
Asian Games
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion (The Best)
8/28/2008
One of the big differentiating factors between Xbox LIVE and PLAYSTATION Network is the cost. PSN has tried to stand out as the better value, by offering free online gameplay. The Network is trying to expand to other free services, such as Home and the Euro-exclusive VidZone, which offers streaming music videos for free.
Of course, that's not the end to Sony's ambitious plans. Shuhei Yoshida explains to GI.biz that Sony alone cannot manage all the experiences it wants to provide. "We can't support all the needs of the consumer," Yoshida admits. However, "there are great companies providing services on the PC already - so we're very open to provide the opportunity to those companies to reach our user base as well."
Once again, it looks like unique advertising relationships must be established. By offering advertisers a unique platform to highlight their goods, players will be able to enjoy an expansive lineup of services for free. "We like to provide as many services as possible for free - we already provide our network access for gameplay for free - and the interesting thing about the network side and the Internet business is that there's a variety of revenue sources," he said. "Not necessarily getting people to pay, but with advertising and so on."
PS3FANBOY
MTV Games, via Entertainment Weekly, has unveiled the six upcoming downloadable albums for Rock Band 2. Each one is suppose to a "seminal full album" by each artist:
- "The Colour and the Shape" -- Foo Fighters
- "Blood Sugar Sex Magik" -- Red Hot Chili Peppers
- "Nothing's Shocking" -- Jane's Addiction
- "Peace Sells ... But Who's Buying" -- Megadeth
- "Texas Flood" -- Stevie Ray Vaughn
PS3FANBOY
In an interview with Die Welt, Sony CEO Howard Stringer tells the German newspaper he believes Sony captured the casual audience before Nintendo did. "We held the same target group with the Singstar karaoke game. But perhaps we neglected to pursue that avenue." He admits that PlayStation titles target hardcore gamers. "Playstation games are rather designed for those who play a lot. Although it's a different strategy, it pays off. We currently have a production bottleneck with the PlayStation 3 ... Consumers are purchasing our PlayStation 3 video game consoles faster than we can produce them." Stringer also doesn't see Nintendo as a rival. "The Wii is not succeeding at our expense – it is not hurting us. We decided years ago to build a game console that offers much greater functionality."
Stringer confesses that the $3,000,000,000 spent on the PS3, discounting R&D, will take a long while to recuperate. Though Sony is still losing money on hardware, the CEO informs us that the amount they are making with software is greater than the lost they suffer with hardware. Finally, he doesn't think they will be a price cut for the PS3 before Christmas.
With games like the recently announced Eyepet, it seems like Sony at least wants in on some of that casual gamer action that Nintendo has been getting. Another point to ponder is, should Sony reconsider their strategy of selling a system with such huge losses the next time around? Or will the PS3 make back all the money it lost in the beginning, just like the PS2?
PS3FANBOY
8/27/2008
If you've been meaning to pick up Soulcalibur IV -- which was released about a month ago -- but have yet to, then perhaps you've been waiting for that demo that was promised. If you find yourself in with that crowd, perhaps getting some playtime with the newly released demo off the Japanese PS Store will tickle your fancy.
The demo, which is completely in English, weighs-in at about 879MB. It'll allow players to fight a few rounds as either Cassandra (pictured getting whacked in the head) or Nightmare (not pictured). For those of you who want to check out the weapon-clashing blades of SC IV, log into your Japanese accounts and download it. For those of you who don't have a Japanese account and are not in a rush, there's a pretty big chance of seeing the demo on your local PS Store update tomorrow.
PS3FANBOY
We love bizarre Japanese promotions, like this one between Sony Computer Entertainment and Tokyu Hotels. During the month of September, they'll have a special campaign which starts at 19,000 yen. Special Afrika-themed rooms will include a special projector screen displaying high-resolution images from the upcoming PS3 safari game. A special exotic meal will be prepared and delivered to your room as you enjoy the digitally rendered African environment from the PS3. At the very least, this beats having to stay in a boring non-Afrika themed room, right?
PS3FANBOY
he only time we ever saw a PLAYSTATION Network card was when Sony gave us one for Christmas. Never -- not even once -- have we seen these cards available at a retail store. This is easily one of the most demanded items from our readers, many who don't have a credit card to use for the PSN. Thankfully, support for these cards will expand in September to stores we've actually heard of.
According to the PlayStation website, these pre-paid cards can be found at Blockbuster, 7-Eleven and Rite-Aid this September. So whether you're renting a movie, drinking a Slurpee, or buying some condoms in a rush -- keep an eye out for these PSN cards.
PS3FANBOY
In a game like LittleBigPlanet, sharing user generated content is a big part of the experience. Ever more so, protecting one's personal creations is going to be an even bigger issue. With players expected to swap content daily, one has to wonder how will players control the distribution of unique content in the do-it-yourself platformer?
The answer is that the game will utilize a simple system called "copyright" which is not the same as the legal sense. Players can "copyright" objects which are collectibles in their levels; copyright items can be used by the people who've collected them, but they won't be able to alter your content or give it away to others. Non-copyright items can be edited and shared freely by anyone. Additionally, you can control who is allowed to use your levels by setting a difficulty rating and/or giving away invite keys.
PS3Fanboy
8/26/2008
Looks like the 80GB Core PS3 may be more energy efficient than ever. A user at the Slickdeals forum connected his brand new 80GB Core system to a Kill-a-watt and discovered a slight energy savings. For example, the 40GB model used 155.2 watts when playing MGS4 -- the 80GB model used only 130 watts. The 40GB used 125.8 watts when idle on the XMB, while the 80GB used 111.9 watts. The popular theory is that Sony has secretly switched to new 65nm RSX chips: these are cheaper to manufacture, and are considered more reliable. Sony has not yet responded to these claims, but we wouldn't be surprised if each new SKU introduces new savings for the costly PS3 manufacturing process.
PS3FANBOY
Home and LittleBigPlanet have a lot of common elements. Both focus on empowering the player with a wide range of customization options, both are PS3 exclusives, and both will be available this fall season. With so many parallels drawn, it's only natural that somebody would ask Media Molecule co-founder Alex Evans if the two would share cross functionality with one another. Eurogamer were not shy to inquire; however, Mr. Evans was a tad reluctant to spill the Sackboy beans.
While Evans said that he couldn't "announce anything right now," he did open up the doors to possibility. Pointing back to GDC, Evans reminded of a presentation which was done in Home and had a Sony-built LittleBigPlanet space. Not only was there proof that such content can exist, but he also cited how close the LBP crew was with the Home team -- they're "just down the road from us ... I'm looking forward to getting the LittleBigPlanet space in there, working on it and making it cool." It seems like the possibilities are very real; however, it also looks like you'll be customizing levels in LittleBigPlanet first before ever tinkering with LBP in Home.
PS3Fanboy
8/25/2008
It's funny you should ask, because Joystiq just posted a hands-on report of Killzone 2's Multiplayer from Leipzig. So if you're as intrigued by this game as we are we suggest you check it out and see what they thought. By which, we mean us. All this third-person talk is starting to get a little confusing, so just click the link and be done with it.
Killzone 2 is shaping up to be an incredible game, and not just graphically. While we didn't originally expect the multiplayer to be a big draw for the game, it's definitely now the most exciting aspect. If Guerilla Games succeeds in giving us an awesome single player campaign too, Resistance 2 will have to make the most of its few months head start, because Killzone 2 has the potential to flatten it.
PS3FANBOY
Repeating its E3 performance, LittleBigPlanet took top honors at this year's Games Convention show as the "Best PS3 Game." At this point, we shouldn't have to explain exactly why it's so popular -- we're pretty sure you can see for yourself.
Another repeat winner took the crown for "Best PSP Game" -- Resistance Retribution. The upcoming Sony Bend shooter bridges the gap between the first and second games and does so in jaw-dropping style.
Finally, "Best Xbox 360 Game" went to Mirror's Edge ... which coincidentally enough, is also coming on PS3. See the full platform winners on GameDaily.
PS3FANBOY
8/24/2008
US Games
* Disgaea 3: Absense of Justice
* Tiger Woods PGA Tour 09
* Ferrari Challenge
* Vampire Rain: Altered Species
EU Games
* Tiger Woods PGA Tour 09
Asian Games
* Tiger Woods PGA Tour 09
* Afrika
* Battlefield: Bad Company
* Disgaea 3: Absense of Justice
The much-anticipated former HD-DVD exclusive TV series Heroes is making its way over to Blu-ray this week. That alone is enough to make many of us quite happy, but check out the rest of this week's releases:
* Action Starter Pack (Miami Vice / End of Days / U-571)
* The Adventures of Robin Hood
* Afro Samurai: Season One - Director's Cut
* Blue Man Group: How to Be a Megastar Live!
* Dude, Where's My Car?
* End of Days
* Guge: The Lost Kingdom of Tibet
* Heroes: Season 1
* Heroes: Season 2
* Miami Vice (Unrated Director's Edition)
* The Nightmare Before Christmas
* Ocean Oasis (IMAX)
* Pale Rider
* Postal
* Redbelt
* The Secret
* U-571
* What Happens in Vegas
A favorite amongst the Hot Topic crowd, a definitive edition of The Nightmare Before Christmas featuring a ton of new bonus materials is a must-have for fans of the film. Ashton Kutcher devotees should savor his comedic films Dude, Where's My Car? and What Happens in Vegas. The Action Starter Pack, which includes the movies Miami Vice, End of Days and U-571, are a collection of rather mediocre affairs that can be used to show off your new HDTV to the neighbors. The Secret takes an old concept of spirit possession and takes it into a taboo territory, and the results are a little mixed. Pale Rider, one of Clint Eastwood's lesser known Westerns, is also worth checking out.
PS3FANBOY
8/23/2008
Confident Sony takes advantage of Bank Holiday as new SKU launches today
Sony has told MCV that the introduction of its new 80GB PS3 will rapidly push up demand for the console – as it brings the launch date forward a week to this Friday (August 22nd).
Following its flurry of announcements at the Leipzig Game Convention last night, SCE UK boss Ray Maguire told MCV that the platform holder is very confident in its new SKU – as it goes head-to-head with Microsoft’s 120GB 360 Elite and newly launched 60GB Xbox 360 Pro.
Maguire said that PS3’s “easily removable” hard drive sets it apart from its competitor, and claimed that PS3’s downloadable content is second-to-none.
“Our operations department in Japan managed to deliver the 80GB PS3 a week earlier than was originally anticipated in order to maximise the Bank Holiday weekend,” Maguire told MCV. “In terms of demand, we expect this to increase.
“Currently we have titles ranging from the Pixel Junk series and Siren Blood Curse, to Gran Turismo Prologue and Warhawk all available within the PlayStation Store – and looking ahead we have much to look forward to, with releases such as Ratchet & Clank: Quest for Booty and SOCOM Confrontation amongst others.
“Similarly, many of our upcoming Blu-Ray releases feature DLC and, with the importance of such content increasing with the releases of games such as LittleBigPlanet, we wanted to give consumers more hard drive space.
“Of course, for the hardcore users who need even more space, we are still very proud to offer the only gaming console with an easily removable hard drive – giving consumers the option to upgrade their memory as and when needed.”
MCVUK
So, looks like Valve cannot ignore the success of the PS3 anymore. Market Director, Doug Lombardi, critically sparked a bit of controversy when he repeatedly attacked the PS3's difficult development architecture, calling it a "waste of time." His studio refused to work on a PS3 version of The Orange Box, leaving it to EA to do the eventual PS3 port.
However, it looks like the continued success of the PS3 has the studio taking back some of his words. "We're always evaluating what's happening in the marketplace and certainly something that's happening in the last couple of months is that Sony's managed to sell some boxes," said Doug Lombardi to CVG. "So whether or not you like developing for that platform, if they've got millions of people connected to that platform and buying their games you have to take it seriously."
While there's "zero chance" for a PS3 version of the upcoming zombie multiplayer game Left 4 Dead this year, there's now a "50-50" chance that it will happen some time next year. While we're fans of Valve's work, we're not entirely sure if the PS3 audience will welcome them with open arms.
PS3FANBOY
The console version breaks cover for the first time.
It's finally made its way to arcades in Tokyo -- and hopefully before long some enterprising arcade owners will import it out into other territories -- and now Street Fighter IV has made its first appearance running on an Xbox 360.
Retaining the glorious new ink and polygon aesthetic and reviving the spirit of the fondly remembered Street Fighter II, Street Fighter IV on the Xbox 360 is identical to its arcade counterpart in practically every way. Although there's one of Microsoft's subtly revised pads lying around, we took to the game the way it's meant to be played -- with a pair of Hori sticks -- and though we've already had a brief hands-on before, we're pleasantly surprised by the amount of depth at hand. While on the surface its Street Fighter II put through the polygon machine and buffed to HD perfection, there's an immense amount of depth bubbling away underneath.
Indeed, while many of the series' hardcore fans may have bemoaned the supposed dumbing down of Street Fighter after the technically exacting third installment, what we've seen from today's few bouts is that Street Fighter IV has just as much to offer. While it's perfectly possible to bound around the screen taking potshots as we did in our SNES-playing youth, there's also a wealth of extras and specials for the veterans to indulge in, with features like the focus attack and revenge moves proving particularly satisfying.
There's only the most basic of modes on offer for this early build, though we're told to expect a lengthier single player mode similar to that of Virtua Fighter 4 in the final code -- though as yet none of this has been confirmed. All the arcade characters are present, and are soon to be joined by Super Street Fighter II's Cammy, who's sadly absent today. Expect to see more characters unveiled soon -- and we wouldn't bet against personal favourite Fei Long to make an appearance -- and even after the game's release we're told there's likely to be more coming down in the shape of downloadable content.
As for when to expect the port to hit shelves? Our Capcom source tells us that seeing that the original arcade board is a PC in a box, and given that the 360 is a PC in a box, it's unlikely to be too long a wait.
We're hoping to head to Capcom's offices over the next few weeks to bring you fuller impressions, and stay tuned for our in-depth interview with the game's amiable producer Yoshi Ono -- who confirmed our age-old belief that Street Fighter is the thinking man's chess -- later next week.
IGN UK
Although WipEout HD is a PSN download-exclusive game, it looks like it may be priced like a standard retail game. A snapshot of the game's Trophy screen shows a Platinum Trophy for the game -- one that's reserved for full retail games. Shorter, cheaper games on PSN, such as PixelJunk Eden, Super Stardust HD and PAIN, do not feature a Platinum Medal. However, full-priced retail games, such as Uncharted, do grant Platinum Trophies.
With this evidence, we can postulate that WipEout HD will be available for download for at least $30 (the cost of Warhawk, downloaded from the PLAYSTATION Store). SCEA still hasn't announced an official release date or price for the game, but rest assured that the news is forthcoming.
PS3Fanboy
8/22/2008
Sony Computer Entertainment Japan announces today that it has partnered with the world's largest global WiFi community FON to roll out FON access points for a free internet browser via the PSPxFON collaborative service. Starting today, there are approximately 44,000 FON spots across the country and something like 2,200 in Tokyo alone. Via the service, it's easy to connect PSPs to download game demos, clips, wallpaper and the like. To mark the beginning of the service, there are downloadable goodies for upcoming PSP title DISSIDIA.
Kotaku
We're confused, Mr. Pete Smith, producer of upcoming platform-a-thon LittleBigPlanet. When we spoke to you during today's LittleBigPlanet breakdown session you said that "the game will have a global server." Now we hear that you told CVG something a little different. User generated content will be region locked? Normally we'd say "we're not sure who to believe" at this point, but seeing as both statements come from the same person, we're doubly confused.
Maybe you meant that the gameplay servers would be global. But what good is that if the people playing with each other can't access the same content? Will we be limited to playing with our foreign friends in one of the 50ish levels included on the game disc? Kind of defeats the point of the game, doesn't it? Sadly, we're not able to find out for sure until after the weekend, but rest assured we're actively looking to get confirmation either way.
PS3FANBOY
According to a listing at the ESRB, the formerly XBLA exclusive puzzle game GEON: Emotions is headed over to the PSN. GEON's gameplay is somewhat similar to Pac-Man, where you collect pellets known as emotes on a two-sided grid. When the cube is charged after consuming enough emotes, you attempt to score a point by landing in the central area of your opponent's side of the grid. You also choose an emotion at the start of each match, which then determines which power-up gives you the strongest effects. Check the trailer for the XBLA version of the game, after the jump.
PS3Fanboy
Prince of Persia has been revamped and cel-shaded and is evident in the video above, the developer of the game has graced us with a seven minute walkthrough to show you what the game will be like. The voice behind the Prince is non-other than Tim Schafer.
After watching the Killzone 2 multiplayer trailer, we wondered how much more fun the game's online mode would be without your typical multiplayer douche. Well, now we can find out! The upcoming FPS will, indeed, feature bots. These will be fully customizable difficulty-wise, and can fill in for players either online or offline, allowing any Billy-No-Mates to enjoy a friendly match every once in a while.
Additionally, vehicles are currently only available in the single player mode. Multiplayer vehicles will be patched in after the game is released. Also being patched post-launch is a co-op mode for the story. Whether this will be online or not, we're not entirely certain. Considering the long delay Killzone has suffered enjoyed, we're surprised this won't be included from the get-go. Perhaps we'll have to pay for it, but we're used to that by now, right? Be sure to check out our full Killzone 2 hands-on impressions, coming soon.
Update: Guerrilla has a history of making free DLC with Killzone: Liberation (PSP). They released an Infrastructure multiplayer mode and an extra single player level months after the game's release.
PS3FANBOY
Did you try out the demo for The Last Guy yesterday? If you did, and if you liked it, you'll probably be glad to know this bit of news. According to IGN, The Last Guy will be available for the North American PS Store next week on August 28. As for the price, it's going to cost only $9.99 -- nearly half the price of the Japanese version which will release on the same day.
So make sure you play up that demo over and over again, and practice saving the herds and herds of people. You'll also want to check out Andrew's hands-on with the US version to prepare for the monster-dodging to come.
PS3FANBOY
We had a video of the NES Emulator on the site a couple days ago and we thought we were doing a disservice to all of our daily readers if we did not show you how to run/install the PS3 Filer v0.0.3 with NES Emulation onto your Playstation 3.
Installation:
Download: PS3 Filer 0.0.3
Thanks PS3-Hacks!
Eurogamer TV has just obtained a brand new trailer for Resistance 2. It doesn't show any gameplay. Rather, it explains in detail the sick, twisted alternate history of the upcoming PS3-exclusive FPS. See how the Chimeran attack against America begins here.
If you're not a Qore subscriber, you may wish to drop the relatively small amount of cash for an annual subscription. Otherwise, it seems you'll keep missing out on special stuff like this.
First, those who purchased Qore episode three were given special treatment when it came to the Resistance 2 beta (at least, that's what should happen in the very near future), and now, more special treatment for Qore members. According to DarkZero, Sony plans to release a playable demo for the highly anticipated MotorStorm: Pacific Rift with the next Qore episode on the PlayStation Network. You'll get to play it "a month before anyone else," because while the demo is coming to the PlayStation Store for everyone to try, it won't arrive until one week before the launch of the game...and that's not until the first of October. The fourth episode of Qore, on the other hand, is set for the first week of September. Well, at least, we assume that's when it will drop; the first three Qore episodes came on the first Thursday of every month, so that would put episode four on September 4.
Many are anxiously awaiting the sequel to one of the PS3's best early titles, and in doing the research, we've learned MotorStorm: Pacific Rift should be bigger and better in every possible way.
PSXExtreme
Two new passwords have been revealed for Metal Gear Solid 4. Inputting the access codes in the 'Extras' menu gives players two new weapons: Thor .45-70 large-caliber hand rifle and The Boss' Patriot from Metal Gear Solid 3. Here are the two codes, respectively: tshsniammr and pkhhnwhsjt.
In addition to the new codes, there's also new music for the in-game iPod titled "Battle." It's a track from the Plant Chapter in MGS2. It seems Konami is really cranking up the fan service ... and we like it!
When you have a title as long as Supersonic Acrobatic Rocket-Powered Battle-Cars, you don't really want to make an even-longer headline. This PSN-exclusive brings multiplayer arcade car-battling to the PS3, and we're in shock -- we were actually surprised at how fun this looks! With Trophy and YouTube support, we're going to pay closer attention to this potential gem in the PSN library.
PS3Fanboy
It looks like Qore has scored yet another exclusive for its upcoming issue. The PSN video magazine will cover games like LittleBigPlanet, Prince of Persia, MotorStorm: Pacific Rift and BioShock. However, more exciting are the Burger King-sponsored downloads. Qore purchasers will be able to get their hands on the MotorStorm demo a month before the general public, and they'll also get an exclusive LittleBigPlanet theme.
Qore is available for $2.99 an issue, $24.99 for an annual subscription. Annual subscriptions include access to Calling All Cars.
PS3FANBOY
It looks like the PS3 version of Alone in the Dark really is getting quite a significant revamp. A number of changes have been chronicled at Gamespot, with the game's major changes coming from the controls. Edward, the game's lead protagonist is now more agile, being able to move around in a quicker less "tank-like" manner. A new camera will make things easier to see -- expect players to die less frequently on the PS3 thanks to the easier controls and improved camera.
But that's not all. The innovative inventory system still returns, but players can now quickly select items with the D-Pad. Driving has also been far improved, with much more realistic suspension. Your female companion will scream directions during the much-too-confusing driving segments, assisting players greatly. Finally, the PS3 version will also get an added scene in the game's sixth act that takes place in the subway. "It involves a subway train, a large enemy, and lots of explosives--we'll say no more about it for now, for fear of spoiling it for you."
Will all these changes help improve the overall experience on the PS3? We're hopeful. Expect more before the game's release in November.
PS3FANBOY
Looking forward to the 160GB PS3? Then we hope you are not in Australia, for you will not be getting the configuration. Though the new 80GB configuration is still headed your way on August 28th for AU $699, which includes a single DualShock 3 controller.
Now onto the good news: the wireless keypad attachment has been confirmed to debut "before the end of the year." PlayTV is also confirmed for Australia in the "first half of 2009." Though with the recent reduction in features, we wonder if you guys Down Under still want the DVB-T tuner peripheral.
PS3FANBOY
It's another massive week for store content. That shouldn't come as a surprise; after all, there is a major convention going on this week which has already dropped a ton of Sony-related news bombs and media nukes. Anyway, the store has been updated and here's the full list. Videos, Wallpapers/Themes, and Rock Band DLC are after the break.
Playable Content
- Ratchet & Clank Future: Quest for Booty Full-Game ($14.99)
- Star Wars: The Force Unleashed Demo (free)
- The Last Guy Demo (free)
- NFL Head Coach 09 Demo (free)
Add-on Content
- Hot Shots Golf Kratos Character ($1.99)
- Haze Domination Pack (free)
- EA Sports Fantasy Football Live Score Tracker ($0.99)
- EA Sports Fantasy Football Live Draft Ticker ($0.99)
- Dragonforce Track Pack ($6.25)
Videos
- Ratchet & Clank Future: Quest for Booty Leipzig Trailer
- PSN Leipzig Trailer
- inFamous Leipzig Trailer
- Warhawk Fallen Star Trailer
- The Last Guy Cities Trailer
- 2x PAIN Trailers
- 2x Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway Trailers
- 2x Vampire Rain: Altered Species Trailers
- 3x Madden NFL 09 Trailers
Wallpapers and Themes
- inFamous Theme
- Ratchet & Clank Future: Quest for Booty Theme
- 3x TNA iMPACT! Wallpaper
- MotorStorm: Pacific Rift Wallpaper 2
- Ratchet & Clank Future: Quest for Booty Wallpaper
Rock Band DLC
- Devo - "Girl U Want" (new original recording) - $1.99
- Devo - "Through Being Cool" (new original recording) - $1.99
- Duran Duran - "Girls on Film" - $1.99
- Duran Duran - "Rio" - $1.99
- The Janitors - "Get Your Rock On" - $0.99
8/21/2008
If you thought yesterday's Trophy news was good, today's will knock your socks off!! Today, we managed to view some fantastic games and the cherry on top of this was when these bad boys were confirmed to receive Trophies.
There were 4 main publishers on our appointment cards today, namely; SouthPeak, Midway, SEGA and big boys, EA. The vast majority of the titles on show today looked great and some actually looked golden already.
Anyway I'll stop dilly-dallying, the following upcoming publishers responded to the following titles and their Trophy situation.
Two Worlds: The Temptation - Trophy support confirmed.
X-Blades - Trophy support confirmed.
Mortal Kombat v DC Universe - Trophy support confirmed.
This is Vegas - Trophy support confirmed.
The Wheelman - Trophy support confirmed.
The Godfather II - Trophy support confirmed.
Need For Speed Underground - Not 100% and I quote "maybe"
Mirror's Edge - Trophy support confirmed.
Stormrise - Trophy support confirmed.
Alpha Protocol - Trophy support confirmed.
Bayonetta - Trophy support confirmed.
Sonic Unleashed - Trophy support = another "maybe".
Heroes Over Europe - Trophy support confirmed.
Alone in the Dark - No Trophy support.
Again, that pretty much wraps up the day, some great titles there particularly Bayonetta and Alpha Protocol which rank as two of my favourite games of Leipzig this year. Look out tomorrow for news from Bethesda, Warner Bros, Codemasters, Rockstar and more EA goodness.
PS3TROPHIES
Those of you looking to upgrade your existing PSP to a PSP 3000 this October, prepare yourself - the console will only be available to buy in a package bundled with software.
Speaking to us.playstation.com SCEE President David Reeves broke the news that those of you looking to pick one up at launch will be forced to buy some software with it.
“We’re going to introduce PSP-3000 in October, and this will be sold initially as part of a bundle, with a piece of software. During this period, PSP-2000 will remain as the base PSP model.”
SCEE confirmed that the PSP 3000 will only be available to purchase in a bundle packaged with either FIFA 09, Buzz! Master Quiz or Harry Potter. Part of us wonders whether the bundle will be used to justify the 30 Euro price-hike over the existing model.
PSP 3000 was announced at GC yesterday sporting an improved screen and in-built microphone.
D+Pad
One of the biggest pieces of news that came out of Sony's press conference at Leipzig yesterday was the announcement of the PSP-3000. At the time, they didn't provide any release details, although SCEA confirmed special bundles for the U.S. for October 14. And now, with this news from SCEJ, we should be looking at a worldwide simultaneous release.
Sony Computer Entertainment Japan has stepped forward and delivered their information, so let's take a look at that. First of all, they remind us of all the new features you will receive with the freshly revamped PSP: despite retaining the same design, the display has been improved with "higher contrast, higher color depth, and faster response time." Anti-reflection technology is going to assist in playing games outside, and the unit will boast a built-in microphone, Skype compatibility, and a new update for the video-out functionality. Before, the PSP was only able to play its games on a progressive TV screen, but this overhaul will allow those games to play on standard analogue TVs as well. Now, onto those release details. The PSP-3000 will become available in Japan in October, and in three designer colors: Piano Black, Pearl White, and Mystic Silver.
We're not sure if North America will see the new PSP - in standalone fashion - at the same time, but we certainly should. With those North American bundles coming on the 14th of October, it seems we're looking at a worldwide simultaneous launch of the PSP-3000. Sweet!
PS3Extreme
ig things are expected of Ubisoft's new Prince game. And not just from us. New shots and a movie released at Leipzig have done little to lower our expectations - they've been raised even further. It's looking that good. But to tell us why the wait (and £40) will be worth it, we'll hand you over to producer, Ben Mattes.
What platforms will this new PoP be available on?
Ben Mattes: Xbox 360, PS3 and PC. We're also developing a completely different game which is specifically designed for the DS.
When will the games be released?
Mattes: Holidays season 2008.
Who is in charge of the development?
Mattes: Ubisoft Montreal Studio, who has recently released Assassin's Creed, is developing the next gen versions. Most of the core creative team has worked on the previous PoP trilogy; they know the franchise by heart.
The DS title is in the hands of the Ubisoft Casablanca studio, which is developing a strong expertise on DS titles.
Do you need to have played the other games in the series to understand the storyline?
Mattes: We're opening a new chapter in the Prince of Persia universe with a new story and a new Prince. Having played the previous episodes isn't necessary to understand the storyline.
So what is the storyline of the game?
Mattes: Transported to a land of myth and legend, our Hero finds himself caught up in an epic battle between the primal forces of light and darkness: the God of Light, Ormazd versus his brother Ahriman, the God of Darkness. Our Hero arrives just in time to witness the destruction of the legendary Tree of Life - an act which threatens to plunge the entire world into eternal darkness.
The Prince will have to stop the rise of the ancient destructive God, Ahriman. This new epic storyline is close to Persian Mythology (Zoroastrianism).
Storyline has always been an integral part of all PoP games. With the new PoP video game, we not only have an epic storyline, but we are letting the player choose how the story unfolds within the same story frame.
What have been your inspirations to design this new Prince?
Mattes: We wanted to explore how our hero will eventually become a Prince through an epic journey. At the start of the game, the future Prince will be an adventurer and a drifter wandering from adventure to adventure with no real ties, always living in the present. To him, the past is gone and he carries no burden from it, the future is to come and will take care of itself. All that matters is now - the thrill of the moment, the next heartbeat, the next corner, jump and sensation.
We drew our inspiration from adventurers like Sinbad in the Arabian Nights, Han Solo from Star Wars and Aragorn from the Lord of the Rings.
Like all epic heroes, what The Prince wears says a lot about who he is and what he has been through. We really wanted to communicate visually the dichotomy that is the life of a wandering adventurer. On one hand, he has elements of luxury in his dress - the red and blue cloth that he uses as a turban and scarf that would be available only to those with money. However, he is also perfectly comfortable putting function before form, wearing plain leather leggings to help protect his legs rather then dazzle the eye.
We see that the Prince has a new appearance, but what about new abilities? What new tricks/attributes does the Prince have up his sleeve?
Mattes: Our Prince has a lot of new abilities in both combat and acrobatics. He is taking the agility of the previous Prince to new heights of deadly acrobatic artistry. His range of acrobatic skills is wider than ever, allowing him to defy the laws of gravity with style and velocity.
In addition to his sword, he is wearing a gauntlet that will be used both in acrobatics and in combat. This bounty from the Prince's earlier adventures will open new dimensions in his acrobatics and combat style. For instance, by using the gauntlet, you will be able to slide down very high walls and cliffs. So be ready to discover some very impressive new moves in the coming months!
Combat has evolved since the last games as our ambition is to add the reactivity and strategy typically found in fighting games into our new combat system. We have studied numerous fight games and learned what worked/what didn't work, and implemented the most absorbing moments into our gameplay. We want the dramatic attack sequences of the Prince to be complemented by the use of camera, sound and visual effects to create an overall combat sequence whose intensity rivals the most spectacular choreographed fight scenes in cinema. In addition, the enemies you fight will be more cunning then any ever seen in a PoP game before, strategically using the environment to gain the upper hand, forcing the player to use quick thinking and reflexes to succeed.
We have also changed the role of the female character in a PoP game. No longer a secondary character, but instead a strong supporting character with heavy gameplay implications, the new female lead, Elika, will add value to every layer of the game: exploration, combat, acrobatics, puzzle-solving, storyline and overall immersion. She is a powerful companion of the Prince who accompanies him throughout the game - she adds an element of mystery, deepening the epic storyline. Our goal is to revolutionize the supporting character in an action-adventure game.
How are you going to revolutionize the supporting character in an action-adventure game?
Mattes: The level of innovation we're bringing to Elika is similar to the innovation we brought with the Sands of Time system in the previous trilogy.
Elika is always a positive for the player. She interacts with the player in combat, acrobatics and puzzle-solving and always in a positive and helpful way. She enables special moves such as cooperative acrobatics, special combo attacks and navigation. Additionally, all of her magical powers come into play when the player requests them. She can never be killed and will never force her will on the player.
In terms of control, she will be controlled by AI but the player will have a specific "Elika" button to trigger specific coop moves, attacks and magic. Our philosophy is to leave as much control to the player as possible without having her bog down the fast-paced rhythm of the game. This way we add a layer of strategy and make sure the player uses Elika when and how he wants.
Besides the gameplay asset that Elika represents, we want to build a strong bond between her and the Prince. Elika behaves as no other NPC has ever behaved in a video game.
What have been your inspirations to design Elika?
Mattes: Elika is a practical and intelligent woman. Independent and strong, she doesn't need to be protected. We drew inspiration from the Elizabeth Swann character in Pirates of the Caribbean or Padmé Amidala in Star Wars.
She is very light. Her element is the air in opposition with the earth, that of the Prince's. She embodies the fluidity in their duo.
Even if she has magical powers, at first sight Elika is a human being; we didn't want to reduce her to her magical abilities. On that specific point, we drew our inspiration from Arwen in Lord of the Rings. Her magic is graceful with arabesques in contrast with the Corruption which takes on tribal forms.
Have you developed a new game engine for this version?
Mattes: We have improved and adapted the engine developed internally for Assassin's Creed. It is a great tool for our artists and engineers and we want to push it even further.
In that respect, we have added a lot of new systems that will help create the seamless fluidity and the overall look and feel we are looking for.
Can you describe some of the moves the Prince can perform?
Mattes: Thanks to this new engine, we are able to improve every move of the Prince; we removed some and added others to increase the feeling of agility. That being said, we re-did all our animations from scratch for this new opus. They all are hand-made key frame animations, a fiddly work for our animation team who craft all these new moves and give them the extra touch of fluidity we could never reach with motion capture.
The game has a very different art style than previous PoP. Why did you change the art direction?
Mattes: The new PoP game features a brand-new art style never before seen that is very graphical and illustrative. We are lucky enough to have one of the most talented team of concept artists in the industry. PoP fans have always been very passionate about their work. So this time, we wanted to remain very close to their 2D concept arts, keeping the essence of their artworks in the 3D world.
Next-gen tools help us create a game which has a unique visual identity without sacrificing art to technology, which is often the case in video games. The Prince of Persia universe is so rich and special that it would be a shame to picture it in a photorealistic way. It calls for fantasy and almost poetry to be true to its Arabian Night origins.
What are your goals for the PoP series?
Mattes: We have high ambition for this game. We strongly believe that we will rejuvenate the PoP brand with strong innovations and a whole new experience that will not only excite our current fans, but will appeal to new fans. We are all excited about the new Prince of Persia; be prepared to see some amazing images in the coming weeks.
ComputerVideoGamers
PlayStation3 homebrew seems to be picking up some tempo. A Japanese coder recently released a NES emulator for the console using BD-J. Aside from being an emulator, the program also acts as a filer that displays certain kinds of images (PNG, GIF, JPG).
Check out our forums for more information on the program courtesy of Cooguy1212. The forum thread is linked below. Anyhow, here's a video of the homebrew in action, playing the classic of classics in video gaming, Super Mario Bros.
ps3.qj.net
Some have been bugging us to put the new Tomb Raider trailer on our site. The franchise has really found its groove since the successful series revamp in Tomb Raider: Legend. The upcoming Tomb Raider: Underworld looks like a very dramatic continuation, filled with tons of reasons for Lara to wear wetsuits and other inappropriate-for-an-explorer outfits. This one's coming to all the platforms out there, including PS3.
PS3Fanboy
We've just obtained a brand new trailer for the PS3 exclusive fighting game, Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm. This new trailer is more revealing than ever, showcasing the game's free roaming adventure mode. Players will be able to partake in 100 unique missions through the single player adventure as they go through the early parts of Naruto's ninja career. New screenshots (featured below) highlight series favorites, like Gaara, Guy, Itachi, Kimimaro and Rock Lee. These are but a few of the 25 characters that will be in the game when it releases exclusively on PS3 in November.
PS3Fanboy
Quantic Dream president David Cage has confirmed there will be playable demo of Heavy Rain. He indicated that he "wouldn't want to spoil the story" as it will surprise people due to its unusual-for-a-video-game nature. Eurogamer speculates that the demo will therefore most likely focus on the game's mechanics.
Apparently, the video that was released yesterday is a separate episode that is unrelated to the main plot, which prompted the question of whether there will be DLC episodes in the future. Cage agrees its a possibility, but concedes that it is simply too early to talk about. The interface of Heavy Rain is "entirely contextual" and therefore open to the possibility of other stories.
Our very own Jem Alexander just got some hands-on time with Heavy Rain at LGC, so stay tuned for more details about this PS3 exclusive!
PS3FANBOY
The Last Guy will be fully released in Japan next week. On August 28, the full game will be available on the Japanese store for ¥2,000 ($18.44). For those who purchased the Japan Premium pack (which was the Asakusa-only level), you can get a refund of your ¥500 for purchasing the full game. However, you'll only have until October 31 to get the "discount."
Checking out the newly released trailer (embedded above), the game will include cities such as London, Berlin, Sydney, Yokohama, Washington D.C., and San Francisco, and will also include a whole slew of new (and deadly-looking) monsters. Now, all we need to do is wait for dates and prices on a Western release to pop up.
PS3FANBOY
Bethesda has announced that the release date for their post-apocalyptic RPG title Fallout 3 is October 28th. The European release is three days later on October 31st. All versions of the game will be released this day, including the Collector's Edition and the uber-super Survival Edition. We added a couple of new screenshots in the gallery below, along with some concept art. To some of us, this is one of the biggest third-party titles to come out this year. We can't wait!
PS3FANBOY
And here is the general consensus from day 1. I'll warn you know though, the day started badly for Sony's Trophy system, but certainly got better throughout the day.
Click the jump for the full list of confirmed Trophy titles.
- Prince of Persia - No Trophy support
- HAWX - Trophy support confirmed
- Shaun White's Snowboard - Trophy support confirmed
- Borderlands - Trophy support confirmed
- Spider Man: Web of Shadows - Probably not because it was too late in the development stage to add them in.
- Far Cry 2 - Trophy support confirmed
- EndWar - Trophy support confirmed
- Quantum of Solace - Trophy support confirmed
- Call of Duty: World at War - Trophy support confirmed
- Legend of Spyro: Dawn of the Dragon - Trophy support confirmed
So there you have it, as the holiday period approaches, more and more titles get Trophy support. Unfortunately the impressive looking Prince of Persia will not, but surely Far Cry 2 and Call of Duty: World at War will make everyone sleep a little sounder tonight.
PS3Trophies
Resistance series hero, Nathan Hale, was injected this week on Project Abraham. Truth be told, this week's video wasn't as exciting as previous attempts, simply because we all knew Hale wasn't going to have his guts spilled on the floor like the others. So what did happen to him? Well, he's now in a coma. You can see the clip here.
Adding on to that, several new documents on Hale's dossier page have appeared. That includes lab results and notes from Dr. Aklin about the progress of the vaccine and Hale's current condition.
There are only two soldiers left to stick needles in: Captain Frank Gennaro and Lieutenant Kenneth Danby. What's going to happen to them? Will their results save Hale from comatose? Are they getting closer to a cure?
PS3Fanboy
During Sony's press conference yesterday at the Leipzig Games Convention, SCEE announced EyePet for all PAL regions. According to the official press release, these cute, furry little creatures "won't make a mess on the floor or claw at your curtains." This is the definitive virtual pet that responds to everything you do as you sit before the video screen with your handy PlayStation Eye. The creature, a "loveable, simian-like pet," exists on your screen and operates on what Sony is calling "Augmented Reality." See, the pet won't just react to you; it's "fully aware of people in the room and will interact" with them, as well as other things in the immediate environment. Give it something to play with and if it doesn't recognize the object immediately, it'll toy around with it until it does. Heck, you can even playfully tickle your virtual pet.
You can customize your pet almost entirely, and that includes facial expressions, so perhaps the possibilities are limitless. EyePet launches later on next year, and as far as we know, there hasn't been an announcement concerning any other territories. But hey, don't you want these fuzzy virtual pets to come to North America?
Note: Check out the video of EyePet Here
PSXExtreme
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