Today is a big day in PS3 land. Rainbow 6:Vegas arrives today, but news is also coming through about another exciting release. It's what a lot of PS3 owners have been hoping for - a new Timesplitters games.
The new edition of Official PlayStation Magazine confirms that those lovely people ar Free Radical are indeed working on the new game. And word has it that the game is giong to be poking some fun at a certain Xbox 360 FPS that is very popular at the moment. If only we could see Cliffy B's face. Excited? Course you are! Have a look at the forum post here and rejoice
It would appear that the Spannish press have been given some release dates from SCEE (Sony Computer Entertainment Europe) for bothe PS3 and PSP. Let's have a little look shall we?
PlayStation 3 (PS3) titles: Singstar Next Gen: August 22 Warhawk: August 29 Heavenly Sword: September 12 Lair: September 26 Folklore: October 10 Eye of Judgment: October 24 Ratchet & Clank: November 7 Time Crisis 4 & GunCon 3: November 18 Gran Turismo 5 Prologue: November 21 Uncharted: Drake's Fortune: November 28
PlayStation Portable (PSP) titles: SOCOM Fireteam Bravo 2: July 4 PaRappa the Rapper: July 11 WipEout Pulse: September 10 ATV Offroad Fury Pro: September 19 Pursuit Force: Extreme Justice: September 19 Patapon: October 19 Syphon Filter: Logan's Shadow: October 24 SOCOM Tactical Strike: November 7 Everybody's Golf Course: November 7 Loco Roco 2: December 7
Why should we care? Well for Spannish release dates read European release dates. Some interesting titles there, with Heavenly Sword being given the job of stealing some of Halo 3's thunder. Yeah right. Still, good to see that thiongs are warming up for Christmas - speaking of which, what big guns do Sony have up their sneaky sleaves for December? All shall be revealed in the fullness of time dear readers.
We reported yesterday that a new firmware update was due to be released. And yea it came to pass that it appeared for download today. Coolio! This latest build should now support AVC High Profile (H.264/MPEG-4) playback. Backwards compatibility is also said to have been improved.
What is it with Killzone 2 just now? I can't anyone who loved the original game - lots of people hated it, a few didn't mind it, and one - yes one - thought it was ok. And yet the sequel seems to be the subject of most of the rumours circulating the interweb at the moment. Very odd. Latest unconfirmed titbit is that the game might be with us sooner than we thought. In America Power Unlimited magazine say that,
"expectations for the PlayStation 3 premier shooter are high, and Sony aims to release Killzone 2 during September."
Interesting. First of all, who calls a magazine “Power Unlimited”?! And secondly, since when did Killzone 2 become the premier PS3 shooter? Hmm. Still with You Know What due out on Xbox 360 around the same time, maybe Sony are going to surprise us all. Yeah right. More news as we get it.
Soooooooooooo thanks Bendz for the intro, what will I be bringing to this party? Well comment, opinion, reviews and the overuse of the work fucknard, as well as any juicy titbits of news that I come across in my daily travels accross the interweb.
Being the keeper of the three current nxtgen (you will all be using it soon, oh yes) consoles, I can fairly cast my withering gaze across the console landscape heaping praise and scorn were it's due.
So on with the show, and if anyone can give me a reason to dump my old brick and XBMC combo then I will award them a very special NS Brown Star for their troubles.
Welcome our latest scribe, Nightsun, to our happy family. Found wondering the Swiss Alps after having been raised by a cuckoo family, Nightsun isn't famous for in-depth reveiews and opinions. He can swear with the best of them though, and seems destined to be the main cause for Adsense deciding they don't have any appropriate ads for the site. Ladies and gentlemen I give you... Nightsun!
Another week, another firmware update. Ah yes. This straight from the official playstation blog...
"Hey everyone, you told us you wanted to hear about updates a few days in advance, so here’s a quick heads up that we have a PS3 firmware update in the works. Scheduled for release in the next few days, firmware 1.82 is an update that enables the playback of AVC High Profile (H.264/MPEG-4) files. As most of you know, these are high quality files that you’ll now be able to play on your PS3. Hopefully this update is moving us closer to the audio playback features many of you commented about in my post the other week. We’re continuing to evaluate and improve things across the board, including PS2 software compatibility. I’ll chime in here quickly with an update once the firmware is live and ready. Thanks for all of your support and feedback, keep it coming!"
If only Sony could get big games to be released as often as firmware updates... actually it is good to see that Sony are continuing to work on the firmware. Good work fellas! Now, who mentioned DivX...?
Well this won't come as much of a surprise to anyone. Konami are said to be looking at which titles it can release on Xbox 360. While Sonysexuals run off to their bedrooms to wonder why they have been forsaken, the rest of us are probably realising that as development costs for games continue to rise this is only going to become more commonplace.
The PS3 is not, let's face it, selling anywhere near as well as it needs to if we are going to see big exclusives coming to the machine. The 360 has a much larger installed user base, it's cheaper, it has far more quality games available (and on the way) and ultimately it's cheaper. Yes, the Wii continues to outsells both the 360 and the PS3, but ultimately it’s in its own market. Nintendo spent a lot of time explaining that it’s little white wonder was not “next gen”, but “new gen”. Both 360 and PS3 owners will feel happy with a Wii as a cheap second console. But that’s not the real battle.
At the moment the PS3 is in a difficult position. Without a real system seller, and with the 360 getting many of the titles that Sony must have wanted just for PS3 it is getting more and more difficult to justify buying a PS3. And with sales low who wants to sink millions into a PS3 exclusive? A price drop might help but I can’t help feeling that the momentum is falling away from Sony. E3 has never been more important for Sony. Many PS3 owners will be watching with baited breath – and with one eye on what Microsoft has to offer. It’s time to fight back before developers aren’t the only ones drifting to Xbox 360.
Just when you were starting to wonder why you bothered your arse to buy a PS3, along comes a nice bit of news-Wipeout HD will be out this year. Yup, the title will be hovering onto PSN complete with HD visuals and online multiplayer modes. Just what the PS3 needed, a brand new Wipeout game! Well maybe. Studio Liverpool have not yet confirmed if this will be a new game or a reworking of the original PS1 title. With a 2008 Wipeout release still planned I reckon this will be a rehash stopgap. Still, online Wipeout sounds good.
Squeenix is not known for punciality. Nor is it known for speedy development times. So it will come as no surprise that we're not getting anything from them this year. In fact don't bank on anything before April 1st 2008, according to Japanese newspaper Nihon Keizai Shimbun. If that;s a Japanese release then we might see something in Europe before PS4 is released. Maybe.
The trouble with free speech is that once people have it they have a tendency to use it. The internet makes this all the easier. Take, for example, petitions. It's really easy to start a petition. Which you would think is a good thing. However anyone who saw the "Please keep Devil May Cry on PS3 Only!" petition will know that this is not always the case. It was only a matter of time then before someone tried to save Manhunt 2. The game has been banned pretty much everywhere, but you can now add your name to the Save Manhunt 2 campaign here.
Ok, guess the game. Here are the clues. Firstly invites have been sent to selected magazine editors to attend an event on July 10th. Uh huh. The invite is clearly a Killzone image. Oh! The FedEx enveolope that said invite was in carries the words Killzone 2 Invite on it. Riiiiight.
Is it Gran Tourismo 5?
Ahem. Ok, so this will have some of you reaching for your gas masks and some of you running for the door. Killzone was a much anticipated title that failed to hit the spot with many PS2 owners. Killzone 2 didn't have the best start either, after it emerged that the first footage of the game shown at E3 was pre-rendered. As is Sony's way. The gaming world is waiting to be impressed. No pressure then.
ThreeView is pleased to announce the arrival of a new writer. Everyone say hello to Yaster! Yaster lives on the smelly, unfashionable side of Scotland, but we're not going to hold that against him. No, we are an equal opportunities blog you know.
If you are reading this and thinking, "I could do that!" then drop us a line. We are always happy to welcome good writers who share our videogame addiction. Of should that be affliction? Hmm...
As reported earlier on Threeview, the PSN version of Tekken 5 is to get a brand new online mode. Today Namco Bandai has confirmed this update is indeed heading to the west, though at present it is only our chums across the pond who know for sure they are getting it, as well as how much it is going to cost.
For the sum of $9.99 you will be able to get your hands on the new online mode (to feature Opti Match, Quick Match, Custom Match, and Friend Match) as well as new single player modes, Practice and Survival.
No release date has been mentioned other that "later this year". Set your watches.
Ubisoft have released some dates for their upcoming titles. November could be an expensive month: Assassin’s Creed - November 9th, Brothers in Arms: Hell’s Highway - November 16th, Haze - November 23rd. These could well be three top titles for the PS3...assuming that they actually appear on PS3 on these dates. In the way that The Darkness won't be. Tsk. Stat fans may note that Haze is a PS3 exclusive. For a week. That's gonna shift some PS3s, mark my works!
It would appear that the recent publicity surrounding Resistance: Fall of Man has had a most predictably result. Yes, while church leaders crucified the game (ahem) for being insensitive to both Manchester's gun crime problem as well as the teachings of the church, something was happening on the streets. People were buying the game. So many people in fact that sales for the title are up. So much so that Resistance is back at the top of the PS3 chart. Oops. Rumours that Sony are now including a gun fight in a church in every game in developmenmt are entirely made up. By me.
Oooh! This looks nice! Fender Strat sir? Why certainly! Joystiq have managed to get hold of these images via a GameStop newsletter. Is it just me or does this thing look a bit more, well, grown up than the Guitar Hero Gibson Explorer? Have a look and make your own minds up folks. Seemingly the beast will offer "reverb, flange, wah, delay and more." Personally I am already practising my Hank Marvin routine. All we need now is a price...
Kazunori Yamauchi is the designer of the Gran Tourism series. That makes him important. So when he speaks we listen. Yamauchi has recently been chin wagging with French motorsport program. Are you sitting comfortably? Then we'll begin.
"To translate the real car into 3D, we use data and assets provided by the car manufacturers, but we also use a scanner that completely digitizes a car,"
"Here's a scoop: We're also modeling the dashboards because you can drive from the interior view in the upcoming Gran Turismo 5."
So there you go. I get the feeling that we are going to be drip fed details from now until close to release. Give us a damage model. Go on.
The BBFC, protectors of the innocent and all round moral super beings, have decided that we can't be trusted to play Manhunt 2. Wii and PS2 versions failed to get a certificate. Director David Cooke has this to say;
"Where possible we try to consider cuts or, in the case of games, modifications which remove the material which contravenes the Board’s published Guidelines. In the case of Manhunt 2 this has not been possible, ...Manhunt 2 is distinguishable from recent high-end video games by its unremitting bleakness and callousness of tone in an overall game context which constantly encourages visceral killing with exceptionally little alleviation or distancing. ...There is sustained and cumulative casual sadism in the way in which these killings are committed, and encouraged, in the game, ...Although the difference should not be exaggerated the fact of the game’s unrelenting focus on stalking and brutal slaying and the sheer lack of alternative pleasures on offer to the gamer, together with the different overall narrative context, contribute towards differentiating this submission from the original Manhunt game, ...Against this background, the Board’s carefully considered view is that to issue a certificate to Manhunt 2, on either platform."
This is not the first time that the BBFC has refused a certificate for a game. In 1997 Catmageddon was refused a certificate following a contraversial marketing campaign.
The latest edition of Gametrailers’ Bonus Round features an interview with director of PlayStation Network operations Eric Lempel. Lempel discusses the inevitable comparison with Xbox Live;
“Microsoft had a year jump on us for the launch and essentially we’re offering a lot of the same stuff. I don’t think there’s a big difference in exactly what we’re offering when it comes down to the nuts and bolts of what’s actually there for the consumer… We’re not charging money for our service. That’s a key differentiating factor.”
“I like how their marketplace is integrated directly into their user interface….Talking across games is fantastic. That definitely builds momentum for games and actually migrate users to other games and keeps you in touch with your gaming community.
"We’re working on an achievements system... I can’t say if it’s definitely tied to a gamerscore or something like Xbox does but that is an important feature."
“We’re continuing to build on this. We’re definitely going to have all of those features at some point. We know that they (consumers) want it and we’re building to get there… It’s not in the next firmware update but it’s something we’re working on."
Good to know that Sony appear to be listening to their customers. The achievement system will, I suspect, be tied to Home - that's something that Sony have already talked about. I think that most people want 2 things on PSN though - cross game comms and cross game invites. Then Sony can really say that they are on the same page as Microsoft.
Just rumour at the moment, but in appears that Europe may not be getting The Darkness on the 29th of June after all. N4G is reporting that the game may have slipped to July 20th, though the US release appears to be on schedule. Play, Gameplay amd Amazon are still showing 29th of June for the time being.
The 29th was shaping up to be the best release Friday since the PS3 was launched, with Rainbow 6: Vegas also due to arrive on that date. More news as I get it - fingers crossed folks.
The battle to be the number one football title on the next generation of consoles promises to be closer than ever this year. EA are talking a good game (as ever), but PES is probably the title that footie fans are banking on. A press release today from Konami has shed a little more light on what we can expect from the next title in the series.
A new AI system named Teamvision will be in place, which is designed to adapt to your playing style. Visuals have been spruced up to,
...full facial animation and the high-definition detail afforded by the hardware used to show full movement and subtle details to the various kits during the course of a match. All ‘Next Gen’ versions will also benefit from an extensive Edit mode, allowing gamers to customise their PES experience.
Traditionally PES has failed to match FIFA in terms of looks, but edged ahead in playability. If Konami can nail both this could be a very impressive game.
HaloJ has spotted a little titbit regarding the US release date of Half Life 2. It looks like the Orange Box is due to hit the shops on October 9th. As usual we have no indication of when the game will be out in Europe. Let's hope that the regionalisation of the title will be speeded on by the fact that it's already been done for the PC version.
HL2 is one of the most anticipated titles of the year, not least because the PS3 version is going to have Team Fortress, Portal and Episodes 1 & 2 included. Sounds good, though I think that Portal might make my brain ache.
You know how it is. Friday afternoon, and it's time to relax and have a few beers. But just as I try and bring the shutters down on another week here at ThreeView, a late bit of info appears. It's that bloody PSN Store again. Here's the gen. Next week you should finally see some PS1 classics for your delictation; namely Crash Bandicoot, Wipeout, Medievil, Jumping Flash and Syphon Filter. We should finally see Calling all Cars skidding into view too. SuperStardust HD hits a week later, but by then I will be lost in Rainbow 6 and The Darkness. Unless they are delayed of course...
We reported these dates earlier in the wek, but they are now official. Which is nice.
This weeks we actually have stuff to download. First stop should be the Haze dev diary. Enjoy those game clips! Other highlights include a Motorstorm dev interview, a Darkness trailer (how sweet is this game looking?!), and Joust. Check it all out now gamers, and happy weekend!
Just when I was ready to give Sony a right pasting (which, since you ask, they still deserve) the Motorstorm update appears. But before you rush off the the PSN Store a word of caution - before you do anything make sure that you stick the MS disk in and let it update itself. Once that's done restart the PS3 and head over to the store for the update.
No, I'm not joking. The update which has had more false release dates than Paris Hilton has been pushed back to... well we don't know. Here's what IGN's Sony monkety had to say;
A new issue was found on the 1.2 patch that could result in consumers not being able to establish network connection. At this time we need to continue to run tests and monitor the issues to ensure that it does not occur when the patch goes live if there is network latency. It is in the best interest of the consumer that we resolve the current problem to ensure the bug does not cause problems for future patches or updates.
Bloody hell. Good things come to those who wait. And wait. And wa...
It doesn't seem that long since the last firmware update does it? That's because, well, it's not. This is just a little 'un though-here's the gen...
In 1.80 we added an option to the XMB under settings allowing you to choose between RGB Full and Limited. Basically if you are connecting your PS3 to your TV using an HDMI cable, and if your TV supports RGB full range, the picture quality may be improved when this option is set to Full. Some of you pointed out that the Full setting would sometimes revert back to Limited and 1.81 will address this issue. Please keep in mind that this setting is only effective when the PS3 is connected to a TV using an HDMI cable.
So there you go. Most boring update ever? Could be...
This game is starting to get some real character about it. A new interview reveals some more details on the two agencies that you can join from the outset. 4 player online co-op is confirmed, as is PvP. Looks great, and from what little we've seen the sense of humour looks spot on. Hey, do some of the grunts remind you of the Team Fortress video that came out a while back? Maybe it's just me... It usually is.
Well ok, not exactly vintage - it's been up a couple of weeks now, but it's worth seeing again. This video confirms the 4 player co-op will be online. Apart from that it's a little embarassing. Stick in there! We are now officially Haze-centric :o)!!!
Haze has been on the radar for a while, but now we have some footage of the game doing it's stuff. That Free Radical were the Gods that gave us Time Splitters was enough to convince most people that this game was going to be special, and this video shows that we might just have a real treat on the way. Big ups to HaloJ for spotting this one - Free Radical can't do anything without her knowing about it, in spite of that court order...
Who could have predicted this?! Neogaf reports that Tekken 5:DR, which has been avaialable for some time on PSN, is to get an online patch. The info comes from Famitsu magazine, and suggests that the title will retail for 2800 Yen or US$22.89. Don't worry if you have already bought the game though, you can upgrade to the online-tastic version for 1000 Yen or US$8ish. No release date yet, but if Lagatha Christie keeps away this could be a lot of fun. SDTekken.com are speculating that an online leaderboard, new practice mode, and a new survival mode will also be added to the game. Good news for a change!
PSU has received news that Dark Sector has been pulled from its 2007 release schedules. Tamara Sanderson (PR for D3Publisher) explains,
"D3 has decided to pull Dark Sector out of a very crowded fourth quarter and the game is now slated for release in early 2008.”
Seems fair enough really - we are heading for a pretty hecic time as far as game releases go. Shame that the industry still works like this - weeks of sod all followed by the usual end of year glut. Must do better publishers, must do better.
You can keep up to date with the latest happenings on the game at the official website.
This is the game that I think will really kick start the PSN. This new video shows that the game looks pretty much identical to the Xbox 360 version. Which wasn't gorgeous. It was, however, one of the best Xbox Live games out. And still is. As long as Ubi haven't ruined the controls or messed up the comms this is gonna be huge. June 29th seems to be the agreed release date, so only a couple of weeks to go.
Oooh! I like Soul Calibur. It gives me a warm feeling inside. Of course, that could be hreatburn... no matter, here is the first SC4 trailler. I say trailler, it's more os a teaser. It would appear that breasts have got bigger over the years, so in that respect don't expect a groundbreaking, mould shattering title. You can reasonably expect the best fighter around though. Soul Calibur has always delivered in the past, and there is no reason to suspect that this latest iteration will be any different. This video will basically tell you nothing about the game other than the fact that the game is due in 2008. Still, enjoy.
Is this going to be a regular drip feed from those crafty coders through Edinburgh way? Looks likely. The GTA 4 website has been updated to advertise that a new trailler will be available from June 28th. Expect much gnashing of teeth as servers fall over amd the internet slows to a crawl. Nothing more is known at this stage, but if this creates anything like the hype that the last tiny peek at the game did it should keep us in rumours well into July.
Setup up your sleeping bag here and settle down for the wait.
How do you fancy an MMO that features sneaky spy type espionage? Hmm? Yes, interesting isn't it? Have a look at this video. It's for the Agency, amd it's looks very cool. The movie features in-game footage, cut scenes, and various developers talking about the game. Two sides make up the game, Paragon and Unite. Lot's of gamers have tinkered with the spy theme, but this baby looks to be a full on Harry Palmer experience. Kind of. Anyway have a look and see what you think dear readers...
UPDATE!!!!! QJ.net has the following info on the game...
Become An Elite Agent: The Agency offers hundreds of unique missions with varied end-goals requiring combat, stealth, and style. With gameplay ranging from sneaky assassinations to all out assaults, from vehicle challenges to casinos loaded with mini-games, there’s something for every aspiring agent.
Build Your Own Agency: As players advance through the ranks of their faction, they’ll also begin building their own Agencies. Players will increase their power even further by creating Joint Agencies with others.
Mercenary or spy, the choice is yours: In The Agency, collect the right weaponry, gadgets, vehicles, gear, attire and aliases to gain access to various locales and influence over the people within them.
Put Operatives to work: Operatives are collectible non-player characters who provide the goods players desire, the services to keep them alive, and allow them to concentrate on the mission at hand. Operatives work 24/7, regardless of whether players are logged in, and they can even keep them up-to-date through email and instant messages.
Fun Now, No Waiting: The Agency is not about waiting for the fun to start. At any point, players can take a break from their high-flying career to engage in a number of other activities. Veterans and new players alike can take on other players at the card tables, the shooting range, or in head-to-head combat.
This is another one of those announcements where I think, "Really? That's nice." in a really non-committal kind of way. Sure it’s nice to have the little fella on board. Is this going to sell PS3s? Well, no. Still good times ahead. With Guitar Hero III and Rock Band already on the way the PS3 is proving to be a musical big beastie!
Sony has denied that it plans to turn it's handheld PlayStation into a mobile phone. David Reeves, Head Important Man at SCEE has said,
"…I know nothing about a PSP phone...I haven’t heard anything about it at all – and I would know. They wouldn’t develop it without our knowledge.”
Fair enough.
In other PSP news details appear to have been leaked regarding the PSP redesign that has been on the rumour radar for some time. It appears that a slimmer, more energy efficient beast is in the wings, with 8Gb on board memory for faster loading times, redesigned buttons and a PS2 style D-pad. The new screen is said to extend battery life by up to 4 times. Do we think Nintendo are trembling in their counting houses? Nope, me neither.
Ok so that might not be the most exciting headline ever, but it is at least accurate. So while we sit on our hamds waiting for something new to play we can at least watch this video. No rocket scientists needed for this - if you are in last place at the end of the lap you are eliminated. Simple idea, but it worked well in PGR3 on the Xbox 360.
I suspect that this will be a hoot on the PS3. You might even forget that you are still playing a release game because nothing better has turned up.
No big surprise here folks, but Sony has confirmed that the 80Gb version of the PS3 won't be released in Europe. David Reeves, President and CEO of SCEE has confirmed that the slightly upgraded model will be staying east, while a 20Gb version is also unlikely;
"I can confirm that it’s highly unlikely that the 20Gb version will be launch in PAL territories. The majority of retailers are happy that we launched with just the one unit. It has made things simple for them.
As for the 80Gb console, there are markets like Korea where there’s very high broadband penetration and the people there are used to downloading content, so they require a certain size hard drive. But at the moment we don’t see a requirement for launching this version in Europe. Certainly not in the foreseeable future."
Given the ease with which the PS3 hard drive can be cheaply upgraded we don't really need a new PS3 with only 20Gb extra.
Reeves goes on to talk about the great performance of the PS3 in the UK and other PAL regions. He also says that,
We don’t have our eyes on the competition in any way.
Really? Might be an idea to have a little peek now and again mate. Just, you know, to see what's happening.
This video has turned up over at Game Trailers. I was just a little bit old for the series when it was released in the UK, but this game is lookinmg pretty cool. I particularly like the transform animations - jumping off a building while you morph into a fighter jet has got to be fun! Check it out below and see what you think.
Looks like the barren times may be at an end for European PS3 owners. Semi-official blog Three Speech has revealed some info about forthcoming releases. The Motorstorm update should appear as if by magic on June 15th. This is free (I should bloody well think so). Other releases include Calling All Cars on June 22nd (about bloody time) for £4.99 and Super Stardust on June 29th, also for £4.99. Since I have been complaining about the lack of updates for the European store for weeks now I have to say that I am glad that we are finally getting something new to play with.
The Church of England is considering legal action against Sony. Resistance: Fall of Man features Manchester Cathedral in one level, and the church is not happy. The Bishop of Manchester, the Rt Revd Nigel McCulloch, described the decision to use the cathedral as "highly irresponsible". He goes on to say,
"It is well know that Manchester has a gun crime problem...For a global manufacturer to re-create one of our great cathedrals with photo-realistic quality and then encourage people to have guns battles in the building is beyond belief and highly irresponsible. Here in Manchester we do all we can to support communities through our parish clergy. We know the reality of gun crime and the devastating effects it can have on lives. It is not a trivial matter"
Not to be outdone on the soundbite front, The Dean of Manchester Cathedral, The Very Revd Rogers Govender, also had a few words to say, claiming it was "undermining" the work of the church.
"We are shocked to see a place of learning, prayer and heritage being presented to the youth market as a location where guns can be fired. This is an important issue. For many young people these games offer a different sort of reality and seeing guns in Manchester Cathedral is not the sort of connection we want to make. Every year we invite hundreds of teenagers to come and see the cathedral and it is a shame to have Sony undermining our work."
It never fails to amaze me that people can be so outraged by video games. Maybe the real problem here is that we have a clash of fiction. The game suggests that in an alternative universe earth is invaded by aliens, and a bloody battle ensues. The church, on the other hand, says that the son of God was born of a virgin. He then performed lots of miracles, was nailed to a tree. came back to life, floated up to heaven and now watches over us. Oh, and he is actually God as well. And the holy ghost. And white. And homosexuals are evil. And women are second class citizens. Now I ask you, which is the harder to believe? And which is the more dangerous? Seems to me that the real thing that undermines the church and it's teachings is reality.
Killzone is a game series tinged with controversy. From the PS2 game that failed to live up to the hype, to the real time E3 action shown at E3 last year. That was actually CGI. Still, hope springs eternal, and Guerrilla Games seem to be pretty upbeat about Killzone 2. Killzone Unit has had a quick Q&A with the developers, who had this to say on the new title;
Erm… hmmm… let me see. Well it has Online. I can’t say anything about it though. There will be a Public Beta, but not till later in the year. It will be a FPS, but I guess you figured that out by now… Phew. There really is absolutely nothing I can actually talk about. Oh well. See you at E3!
Not a lot of info there then. But they do seem determined to erase the memory of last years E3 debacle,
Everyone wants their game to play look and sound perfectly when the public first get to see it. If you are working on an AAA Next Gen beast of a game or something for mobile phones you want to make a good impression on people. And if you have the baggage that we have we have to give it that extra little bit. Hopefully it will all go brilliantly and we’ll shut up even some of the most ardent critics.
Sounds like these boys and girls are out to impress. Let's hope they do.
Another week, another quiet time on the releases front. No games to buy at retail, and only Mortal Kombat 2 turning up on PSN. Sigh. Here's the latest stuff that you can't download from the European PSN:
1. The Motorstorm Update. The 1.2 update is now due on June 11th. Probably. This won't include the new Time Attack mode though. That would be too obvious. No, you will have to wait until the 14th for that.
2. Resistance: Fall of Man Update. The global server update and map pack are no-where to be seen. Cue SCEE's Alyssa Casella:
"During the final testing of the global server for Resistance: Fall of Man a few last minute issues have come up. We are working to resolve the issues as quickly as we can, but unfortunately, can not resolve them prior to our announced launch date of June 7th for the map pack and content update. The delay will not be long, and we'll have a firm date to share with you shortly."
Thanks Alyssa.
3. Calling All Cars is, as always, AWOL.
4. Anything else worth downloading.
Yes it's pretty bleak isn't it? The Resistance delay is particularly frustrating, as I am just starting to get back into this online. Never mind, maybe enext week... Until then you can pick up the aforementioned MK2 for £1.99.
This game looks like it could be huge. Even bigger than (whisper it) Guitar Hero. And now you have the chance to influence the songs in the game. Oh yes. Just head over to the official website and suggest a few tracks that you think should be in the game. I suspect that they are going to get quite a few suggestions. Here's my Top 5...
1. Holidays in the Sun - Sex Pistols 2. October Swimmer - JJ72 3. Goodbye Toulouse - The Stranglers 4. Epic - Faith No More 5. White Riot - The Clash
Ok, maybe I woud have some Strawberry Switchblade in there for old times sake... What would you like to see included?
This week PS3 owners in North America can enjoy the following...
Heavenly Sword Gamer's Day trailer MLB 07 The Show trailer Stranglehold trailer Transformers movie trailer HD Bruce Springsteen with the Sessions Band: Live in Dublin trailer
Ok, so I'm not so sure that a Bruce Springsteen trailer is going to set the heather alight, but it takes all sorts right? Best of the bunch is probably the Heavenly Swrod trailer. Purdy!!!
One of the early highlights of the 360 game line up for me was Condemned. Bags of atmosphere, a gripping story and a department store full of creepy mannequins made for a great game. Not to mention twatting zombies in th face with a tray. Ahem. Anyway the sequel is coming to PS3, and some new character artwork has appeared over at Qj.net. This one is worth keeping an eye on folks.
I do like a mystery. And this is starting to snowball into something of a cracker. We are not talking Murder, She Wrote or Columbo here. But all the same this has got us thinking...
According to the latest podcast for VG Chartz Sony are going to make us all very happy on June 11th. That's it. No more information, apart from the inplication that said announcement is for something that Xbox 360 owners can only dream of. An Xbox 360 that survives beyond 6 months without failing? Time will tell good readers. Time will tell.
While the PS3 loses exclusive titles left right and centre it may come as some comfort for Sonysexuals to hear that the Xbox 360 has seen it's last Final Fantasy title. Shinji Hashimoto from Square Enix has stated that:
"For the Wii, we have FF Crystal Chronicles in production,...As for FF on the Xbox 360, it's currently a completely blank page."
Of course the Eggs Box 360 has plenty of IP to fill the void, not least the recently announced a Phantasy Star Online title. Still, I'm sure this will bring a smile to a few faces today!
Fancy naming the sequel to F.E.A.R.? Get your thinking caps on and head over to nameyourfear.com because Monolith and Warner Brothers are offering you the chance to put creative juices to good use. Here comes the blurb...
"A monstrous explosion devastates an American city: thousands dead, innumerable injured.
Within the chaos, Alma awaits...
A child born with extraordinary psychic power, Alma was once the center of an advanced weapons research program. The program was designed to breed psychic commanders who could telepathically control an army of bioengineered soldiers. Despite her potential, her power proved uncontrollable - with deadly results. The program was closed and buried.
Some cruelty cannot remain hidden. Freed from the program's containment facility, Alma stalks a shattered city. Her motives are unknown.
Sent by the government, you must seek out the answers to the unfolding catastrophe. As the line between reality and nightmare blurs, Alma's suffering has just become yours.
Sometimes, ignorance is bliss... but not this time. "
Don't go stealing my entry of "F.E.A.R. 2 - You'll Shit Your Pants".
Qj.net has posted up some interesting details about the next installment in the FIFA series. Of late EA has tried to bring something new to each iteration - perhaps as a reaction to the criticism of endless sequels that the company releases. This time round we can expect top visuals, with Rooney looking just as ugly in game as he does in real life. AI has been ramped up, with a 35-point decision engine giving the AI players roughly double the IQ of their real life counterparts. Players will also be able to create their own signature moves - which could be cool. Maybe my dream move of running to the opposition fans, dropping my shorts and waving my arse in the air at them will be possible. Then again, maybe not. All will be revealed later this year, probably October-ish.
Today is a big day in PS3 land. Rainbow 6:Vegas arrives today, but news is also coming through about another exciting release. It's what a lot of PS3 owners have been hoping for - a new Timesplitters games.
