ThreeView

All I can say is.....

2007-08-22T07:37:00.001Z

Fuck

Is it just me or does Mickey B have a problem with the English language?

There's a war going on people!!

2007-08-21T13:12:00.000Z

Saw an interesting little article today, Michael Bay (he off the very loud and not particularly good films) will not be making Transformers 2!! I'm still weeping now.

Now that fact that he won't be making Transformers 2 has nothing to do with him suddenly realising he made a right mess of Transformers 1, but more to do with Paramount and DreamWorks deciding to pop there arse completely over the fence, majestically landing on the side of HD-DVD. This has upset Mickey as his Magnum Opus (which sounds a bit like the Autobot they keep in the loft and don't like to talk about) will not be hitting Blu-Ray this Chrimmy. I hate to disappoint him but his little movie hit the Usenet servers roughly 3.5 minutes after its first screening.

This got me thinking. I have a dusty PS3 and a radiator I like to call a 360; Blu-Ray in one, HD-DVD in the other. This decision shouldn't worry me, as I have both systems and have no intention to buy Transformers on either format no matter how detailed it may be, but for some reason it does.

I'm beginning to feel that I have bought into the war, I have bought new format discs, I have supported both sides. I can no longer claim to be a conscientious objector, but that’s what I feel I should be.

For a while I have been converting my legally purchased DVD's into AVI files, storing them on a rather large hard drive and streaming them to the telly via XBMC on my old brick. Alternatively I have been downloading the films that I already own to save me the bother, in 15 minutes. You heard me correctly a good quality AVI in 15 minutes, perfectly watchable and in some cases my old eyes couldn't tell you the difference between the AVI and the DVD (even when up scaled). A library of films, all available at press of a button, a button even the Doris and kids can use!! Those shelves, the ones over there, see them, the ones that were groaning under the weight of all the DVD’s we own. Nope no more, they are all in the loft now, those are empty shelves, nice aren’t they. We live in a digital age, a world spinning to the sound of 0 and 1’s, so why are we arguing about a disc format? Why am I bothering buying any disc format? Where are my downloadable movies? In HD? With DTS sound (I have no need for 7 speakers)?

Sony, Microsoft UK (yes we know the sceptics already have this) I'm looking at you. Whichever one of you can get me my downloads, at a reasonable price, will win my business. Whichever one of you manages to get over yourselves and utilises your multi-media systems for multi-media rather than some crippled, DRM-infected file type, gets my sheckles. Do you want my sheckles?

Stop trying to get me to don my cammo gear and camp out for you in this war you seem to want to perpetuate, I'm sticking a flower in my hair and shouting peace man. We ain't gonna wait for you guys forever; there are ways and means, free love.

NS oot

Will SKU just stop?!

2007-08-20T16:38:00.000Z

Many moons ago when Microsoft released details it's new Xbox 360, Sony were quick to criticise the company. Two different versions of the one console was, they pointed out, confusing to consumers. To be honest I didn't think that it was complicated. I thought that the Core was lame, but not confusing. Premium was where I wanted to be, and I assumed that the Core would disappear after a while. Fast forward to the PS3 launch, and again it seemed two versions of the console would be released. Again, the choice seemed pretty straight forward for me though in the end only the 60Gb version made it to Europe.

I understand the desire to have a cheaper console along side the top spec one. But things are getting out of hand. Microsoft now have an Xbox 360 Core, Xbox 360 Premium and Xbox 360 Elite. Sony have the 20Gb, 60Gb and 80Gb versions of the PS3, along with slightly different insides depending on whether or not it has hardware or soft/hardware PS2 emulation.

The thing is, the temptation to upgrade just isn't there for me. The 360 looks stunning running on VGA, and I have no desire to start paying MS for films or TV. So they can keep their incredibly expensive new 120Gb hard drive (£130?!). I can pick up a huge SATA hard drive for the PS3 pretty cheap, so even PS3 owners with the 20Gb machine have no need to upgrade. I understand all of this - it's not complicated. But for an industry that says it wants to be mainstream, it has a lot to learn.

How many non-gamers are looking at the current market and wondering what the hell is going on? It's not enough that we have three systems with three different disk formats. Now we have different versions of them too. It's a ridiculous state of affairs. Perhaps it's no surprise that the only new console on the market to have one simple SKU is the one that is running away with the first prize. If the Wii was any more mainstream it would be made by Ford. Yes it's no-frills, run of the harware. But it's easy for people to understand, even if they haven't been playing games for 25 years. It's time Sony and Microsoft started to learn some lessons from Nintendo.

My love for EA

2007-08-10T11:08:00.000Z

"Yes, at last!" I exclaimed as I watched my stats hit 100%, "finally I have acheived it, I have achieved my goal. I am now ready to take on the world, online play here I come" I shouted to bemused looks from the kitten chewing on my left foot. Tiger Wood 2007; you are mine.

Ok, maybe a little explanation is needed. I've never been a TW fan, I was always a Links lover on the ol' brick and 360, but due to my compatriates in OAP extolling the virtues of TW07 I decided to give it a shot. Down to Game I went clutching my grubby notes in my hand, these I exchanged for a new, shiney game. Home I rushed to present my gift to the black dust god in my lounge, and it began to load......

To begin with I was shite, absolutley shite. My first online game I managed a round of 100 odd..not good, time to stat up my golfer. So I approached the offline game...and I was hooked. I've now been playing this game for a solid 2 months, no other disk has been near PS3. It's a great way to relax after work, a couple of rounds of golf, sat on my arse for an hour after a hard days work sat on my arse for 8 hours. Last night I reached my goal, and thats where we came in.

Chatting to Bendz today, I mentioned my acheivment and whether he was up for a round or two this weekend, now that I may stand a chance. "TW07?" he asked, "TWo8 is out at the end of the month isn't it?". My blood ran cold, surely this could not be true, EA wouldn't do this to me would they? So off to the game website I trot, and yes, there it is, TW08 release date 31/8/2007.

WHY EA WHY? Why do this to me and the many other faithfull out there? It's still 2007, 2008 isn't for a fair few months.

On a serious note here and the point of the above tale, I'm sure this is the 21st century. We have PSN, a great idea...why am i expected to pay another £40 for an iteration of a game that now includes "Shot Confidence"? Now the game knows when I'm crap at a hole and (even if I may stand a chance) fuck my shot up for me because I have the other 20 times I've played it! This is a glorified upgrade isn't it? I would be more than happy to pay £20 for a download from PSN that "upgrades" my current version to the new.

Even worse, I can't find any mention of being able to transfer my golfer. I HAVE JUST SPENT 2 MONTHS IMPROVING MY GOLFER YOU BASTARDS!! So now I have to start again, all that work gone, my evenings...............gone.

EA I love you, but at the same time I hate you. I'll buy the new version, you know I will, thats why you do it to me. I'll even trade in the new version and get £1.99 for it as I'm sure you'll be turning the servers off in a couple of weeks. But hear me, and hear me good, if I see Tiger Woods walking down my High Street anytime soon, he will be getting a twatting........

.......and relax

(nieve) NS out.

PS. Special mention goes out to Kai...just because OK

Fanboys, Forums and Children

2007-08-05T09:41:00.000Z

I am old enough to remember some famous match ups in the video game industry. I was one of the playground foot soldiers fighting the corner for my beloved Speccy against the heathen C64 clan. I was there when the Atari ST and the Amiga fought to the death. I watched as Mario and Sonic beat the hell out of each other. When the Dreamcast was finally finished off by the PS1 before the PS2 had even got into it's stride, I was there to bid it farewell. Sony's dominance of course extended against the Xbox, but it was much closer than anyone expected. No-one dies. And now we are back to the traditional one on one bloodfest. PS3 v Xbox 360.

Now before any Nintendo fans jump down my throat I should say that I have not forgotten the Wii. On the contrary, the Wii is a huge (and inexplicable!) success. But it was Nintendo themselves who went to great lengths to tell us that the Wii was not next gen, but "new gen". They have cleverly placed the Wii in its own little place. So let's leave it there.

So it's Microsoft v Sony. Two companies that instantly generate opinions in the gaming world. MS is of course viewed as an evil corporation and peddler of sub standard products. Sony meanwhile is viewed by many older gamers as the scourge of gamer, putting quantity firmly before quality. And attracting lots and lots of kids. But what both sides have their own global PR departments. They don't hire any staff. They don't even publicly recognise that they are there. But both companies use them none the less. Fanboys.

First off let me immediately acknowledge Fangirls. This is not something which is unique to males. But the term Fanboy has come to be more of a generic term, so that's what I'll use here. So. Fanboy. Let's turn to our lexicon of all things, Wikipedia for a definition.

"Fanboy is a term used to describe an individual (usually male, though the feminine version fangirl may be used for females) who is utterly devoted to a single fannish subject, or to a single point of view within that subject, often to the point where it is considered an obsession. Fanboys remain loyal to their particular obsession, disregarding any factors that differ from their point of view."

Sound familiar? Thought so, particularly the part about "disregarding any factors that differ from their point of view". That's important because without that you become a little more rational.

So we have one set of people screaming on about the PS3 being the best thing ever, while at the same time mocking any and every aspect of the Xbox 360. Two way traffic here though, as the 360 owners ate pointing at the PS3 and doing exactly the same thing. So what? As I said this has been happening for years. Nothing new. Well there are a couple of subtle differences this time round. Firstly people have far more access to the internet now than in the past. So it's easier for someone to post their views up on a forum. Moreover, there is less responsibility required because of the faceless nature of forums. You can rant on in the most illogical and ill-informed manner you like. There’s no real comeback.

The second difference is the one that mystifies me. Fanboys are not boys anymore. They are men and women. The pursuit of childish division is now carried out with gusto by otherwise rational adults. Why? Are these just fanboys who have grown up only to find that part of their brain hasn't developed? It's very odd. And very. very boring. I frequent a number of forums that purport to be aimed at mature gamers. Mature? Are you kidding?! Go onto an Xbox 360 or PS3 forum and mention the other machine and you will often be met with a barrage of childish, inaccurate and downright pathetic comments. Others will constantly snipe, hiding behind the façade of “just having a laugh”. And these are “adults” remember. Even more bizarre is the situation faced but people like myself who own both systems. Some people simply cannot handle that you could enjoy the different games offered by both systems. Why do they do this?

I guess there are a few factors. All fans are like this. Ask a football supporter what he or she thinks of their fierce local rival and you will rarely get an answer of “yeah they are a good team, play attractive football”. So maybe I am expecting too much. The companies involved certainly don’t want it to stop. They drip feed information and misinformation to their loyal fans and then leave them to evangelise their systems and games all over the place. I think that one of the biggest factors might be money.

If you buy a games console you are investing a lot of money. If you have bought a PS3 then right now the stark reality is that you have spent hundreds of pounds on a system that has so far failed to deliver a game that goes anywhere near justifying that investment. The 360 meanwhile will be 2 years old this year, and so will plateau in the next 6 months. Do you really want to admit that the system that you have been pouring money into for the last 2 years is getting on a bit?

So maybe todays fanboys and girls aren’t trying to convince anyone else that their system is the best one. Maybe they are trying to convince themselves. But keep it down will you? While you are banging on about hardware architecture, servers and subscription fees some of us are trying to play games.

A New Dawn for PS3?

2007-07-28T16:26:00.000Z

It’s been a long time coming. We have endured sloppy Xbox 360 ports that weren’t as good as the original. We have seen exclusive after exclusive popping up on the release schedules of other consoles. Weeks went past with nothing of note appearing on PSN. But there is light at the end of the tunnel. The good times are almost here.

It all started with, curiously enough., an Xbox 360 port. When Rainbow 6: Vegas arrived on PS3 things changed. It wasn’t the first network game, it wasn’t the first FPS. It’s not even the best looking. But for a game that demands good communication and teamwork it can’t be bettered. Just as important is the dead room Players can chat with other corpses and their remaining team members and it perhaps this more than anything which has made this the game that is defining the PS3 online experience

So at last we have game that we can spend hours online with. But of course you could have done this on an Xbox 360 couldn’t you? Or a PC for that matter. It’s not exactly a reason to rush out and buy a system. Is it? Well maybe not. Not on it’s own anyway. But Vegas isn’t going to on it’s own much longer.

E3 showed just what a game that is built from the ground up for PS3 can look like. Killzone 2 wowed everyone with it’s graphical quality. But this week saw the first game play footage of a title that is even more important. Metal Gear Solid 4. And it didn’t disappoint.

The 15 minute demo showed off lot’s of very cool features. The active camouflage system looks fantastic. The ability to throw yourself on your back and fire at enemies behind you is a great idea. But as well as the obvious stuff there were some lovely little touches. The scraps of paper blowing in the wind, swirling on a backdrop of a war torn city in the middle east, the PS2 pad used to control the Metal Gear robot, even the lad mag that you can use to divert the attention of enemies – it’s a game that seems to excel on the little details as much as it does on the big and flashy features. Hideo Kojima loves his series, and with this being the final instalment you can bet that he is going to be going all out to make a fitting swansong.

Also this week the Heavenly Sword demo went up on PSN. It’s short – maybe 6 or 7 minutes of game play – but it is a beautiful game. At the beginning of the level you get a close up of your characters face. The emotion as she describes the fate of her villagers instantly makes you want to help her. Although you can just bash your way through the demo you will get far more out of it if you take your time. There is more to this game than meets the eye, and getting into a button tapping rhythm is the most satisfying way to despatch the enemies. The counter system works wonderfully well too. Again there are some nice little touches. For example you can pick up an object and throw it. Nothing particularly clever there, but if you keep the button held down then you get an in-flight view of the object. Better yet you can steer the object using the Sixaxis tilt function. Clever huh?

Other good news included an announcement from Rockstar that they are developing a brand new franchise. Exclusively for PS3. No word on how much this has cost Sony – the GTA Xbox 360 exclusive content is rumoured to have cost Microsoft $50 million. Imagine paying $50 million just to stop people playing a video game. Madness

So things are looking up. The release schedule is getting pretty crowded. Both Lair and Warhawk now have release dates. And don’t forget Little Big Planet and Home are coming too. From now until the end of the year we are going to have plenty of games to play, and 2008 should be the best year yet. So keep the faith. We are going to have a lot of fun.

After the storm - E3 2007

2007-07-16T18:46:00.000Z

This years E3 was arguably the most important in Sony’s videogame career. The PS3 has not, it’s safe to say, had the easiest of times. From hardware delays to the loss of exclusives and a threadbare release schedule the PS3 has had a bumpy old ride. The machine’s highlights have been few and far between, so it seemed important that Sony made a strong showing at E3.

Microsoft held their conference first. After a nice live rendition of the main Halo theme the Seattle beast presented a safe line-up that held no real surprises. They didn’t need to though-with Halo 3, Bioshock and Mass Effect waiting in the wings the 360 has plenty of games coming that will keep fans happy. More importantly, they already have a pretty big selection of top games to choose from.

Next up Nintendo outdid themselves on the strange-o-meter. Reggie did his best not to look too uncomfortable as the Wii told him that he has had a few more pies than he should have. Meanwhile fitness trainers waved their limbs around in an effort to look as though this really is the future of keeping fit. We weren’t convinced, and to be honest even Reggie looked under whelmed. Nintendo have made some strange decisions over the years, but you have to wonder how this one will fair.

So with the competition playing it safe and barmy in equal measure Sony were left to try and inspire. Phil Harrison appeared in person and on Home throughout, and it makes a nice change to see company devote so much time to something that is ostensibly free. Ok, so it gives Sony and it’ partners an easy way so sell stuff, but the integration between Home and games looked promising. Home could well become the main “dashboard” for the PS3.

What we were really looking for though was retail games that would sell the PS3. And to be fair Sony ticked a lot of boxes. Wipeout HD looked really nice, and was moving at a fare old rate. Gran Tourismo 5 looked gorgeous, but neither game really showed what play would look like.. Little Big Planet continues to impress both graphically and in terms of the gameplay mechanics. It’s just the sort of innovative title that the PS3 needs.

Another title that continues to excite is Uncharted. Visually it’s stunning, all the more cinematic for shunning any sort of HUD. If they nail the gameplay this could be a cracker.

There were others of course, butt he over riding impression that I had from the conference was that as good as Sony’s presentation was, it still has a long way to go. PSN needs to be developed further, and they desperately need to get some high profile exclusives that will shift hardware. Microsoft has some top titles due for the 360 for the rest of the financial year. Sony needs to start matching these.

It also appears that Europe has slipped on Sony’s list of priorities. With everything from PSN releases to retail titles slipping here, and with prices here just about as high as they are anywhere in the world, I can’t help but get the impression that we are getting the Nintendo treatment.

So, as I said this was probably Sony’s most important E3 to date. Was it a success? I’d say a cautious yes. But they have a lot of work to do if they are going to challenge Microsoft. It could be a very interesting 12 months.

ThreeView Changes

2007-07-12T19:11:00.000Z

No, we are not dead!! Far from it. But we have been extremely busy playing games. I was going to kid on and say that we have been busy at work, have personal lives that need looking after, that we had joined a gym... yeah I know, you wouldn't have believed any of that. Safe to say certain Mr Clancy has come along and given us new love for all things Sony. Well, the PS3 at least. And it’s just going to get better from here on in.

Here’s the deal. There are a lot of PS3 and video game related websites. Most of these report news that appears on other sites. And they are doing the same. So everyone is chasing the same news and trying to spin it in different ways. That’s time consuming and largely pretty unsatisfying from a writers point of view, and ultimately a little shallow for you. So we are changing. We will still comment on important news stories of course. But from now on we are looking to give you features. Fewer articles yes, but more detailed and more original. We play games a lot, just like you do. We know what you want to see.

ThreeView is written by gamers, for gamers. So that’s what we will concentrate. We will leave the Reuters chasing stuff for others. We hope you enjoy the new approach. If you have any comments or ideas on ThreeView content then get in touch.

ThreeView

Lair site open

2007-07-02T16:19:00.001Z

Lair has been on the radar for a long time now - so long in fact that I was starting to lose a bit of enthusiasm for the title. Just as well then that Sony have opened a lovely new website for the game. Its suitably dramatic orchestral score sets the scene well, and if the actual gameplay is anything like as pretty as the cut scenes then we could be onto a winner.

SIXAXIS contol is also an intriguing prospect. Although a few games have supported it, it's been very much in the "Oh yeah that's kind of cool... can you turn it off now?" category. Fingers crossed folks. Check out the new site here.

Final Fantasy XIII misses E3

2007-07-02T16:11:00.000Z

Hands up if you are surprised by this. Anyone? Nope. 1UP appear to have revealed in a recent podcast that FFXIII won't make it to the party this year. It's a real shame, because this game could well shift consoles. If the preview CGI from last years E3 is anthing to go buy this game is going ot be beautiful. Never mind, all good things come to those who wait. I hate that saying. Nuts, give us our games now!

New Timespltters title!

2007-06-29T09:18:00.000Z

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

Games dated in Spain

2007-06-28T22:58:00.000Z

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.

1.82 now available

2007-06-28T06:57:00.000Z

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.

Killzone 2 in September?

2007-06-27T20:25:00.000Z

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.

Playstation 4?

2007-06-27T13:31:00.000Z

Nah, of coure not.

Just the latest supercomputer that IBM have up, running the good ol' cell processor.

Rub me for more info

Stream, Media Stream

2007-06-27T11:47:00.000Z

Ok so not stricktly PS3 related, but it may be a step in the right direction for us streaming media fans.

The BBC IPlayer will be launched on 27th July, allowing us humble mortals to download BBC content for up to 7 days after a program has aired.

The interesting part of the report is:

"Later this year, the service will also be available via links from YouTube and could also appear on other websites such as MSN, Bebo, and Facebook."

So it seems that we will soon be able to download and view BBC content through our PS3 browser, well lets keep our fingers crossed.

Touch me for the full report.

Greetings from the shadows

2007-06-27T09:19:00.001Z

one two, one two....is this thing on?

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.

More staff!

2007-06-27T08:26:00.001Z

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!

Firmware update - again

2007-06-27T08:16:00.000Z

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...?

More PS3 games to do a 360 - will you?

2007-06-26T17:24:00.000Z

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.

Wipeout HD this year

2007-06-26T17:13:00.000Z

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.

No Square Enix games this year? No shit!

2007-06-26T17:06:00.000Z

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.

Manhunt 2 Petition. No, honestly...

2007-06-26T11:16:00.000Z

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.

E3 game confirmed?

2007-06-26T10:52:00.000Z

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.

New Staff

2007-06-26T10:46:00.000Z

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...

Tekken 5 DR Online for the US

2007-06-20T16:46:00.000Z

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.

Release dates

2007-06-20T10:25:00.000Z

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!

Church helps sell Resistance

2007-06-19T20:29:00.000Z

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.

Rock Band guitar piccies!

2007-06-19T20:17:00.000Z

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...

Interior views confirmed for GT5

2007-06-19T13:04:00.000Z

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.

Manhunt 2 banned in UK

2007-06-19T12:44:00.000Z

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.

PSN = Xbox Live?

2007-06-18T16:00:00.000Z

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.

Darkness delayed?

2007-06-18T15:48:00.000Z

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.

PES 2008 details emerge

2007-06-18T13:20:00.000Z

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.

PES 2008 has a loose release date of Autimn 2007.

Half Life 2 gets US release date

2007-06-17T12:21:00.000Z

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.

And yet more PSN updates

2007-06-15T16:50:00.000Z

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.

PSN Updates

2007-06-15T16:41:00.001Z

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!

..oh no it isn't!

2007-06-15T16:38:00.001Z

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.

Wow!!! Motorstorm update is... delayed

2007-06-15T06:41:00.000Z

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...

Firmware 1.81 out now

2007-06-15T06:39:00.000Z

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...

More Agency footage

2007-06-13T16:54:00.000Z

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.

Vintage Haze

2007-06-13T13:14:00.000Z

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 video - hubba hubba!!

2007-06-13T13:02:00.000Z

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...

Tekken 5 goes online

2007-06-13T12:31:00.001Z

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!

Dark Sector delayed

2007-06-13T09:40:00.000Z

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.

New Vegas footage

2007-06-13T09:31:00.000Z

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.

Soul Calibur IV video

2007-06-13T09:20:00.000Z

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.

New GTA 4 trailler on 28th

2007-06-12T07:02:00.000Z

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.

The Agency - this looks good!

2007-06-11T19:00:00.001Z

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.

PS3 gets Parappa 3

2007-06-11T18:44:00.000Z

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!

PSP off the hook

2007-06-11T13:03:00.000Z

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.

Motorstorm Eliminator mode video

2007-06-11T12:50:00.000Z

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.

You can see the video here.

No 80Gb for Europe

2007-06-11T10:17:00.000Z

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.

Transformers The Game video

2007-06-10T10:51:00.000Z

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.

Some PSN details at last

2007-06-09T13:23:00.000Z

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.

Church of England considers legal action

2007-06-09T12:00:00.000Z

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 devs reveal, um, nothing

2007-06-08T14:12:00.000Z

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.

PSN delays. You don't say...

2007-06-08T13:58:00.000Z

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.

Suggest a song for Rock Band

2007-06-08T07:25:00.000Z

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?

North American PSN update

2007-06-08T07:18:00.000Z

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!!!

New Condemned 2 artwork

2007-06-07T08:41:00.000Z

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.

What's happening on June 11th?

2007-06-07T08:18:00.000Z

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.

You can listen to the podcast here.

No more FF love for 360

2007-06-06T09:39:00.000Z

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!

Name F.E.A.R. 2

2007-06-05T22:53:00.000Z

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".

FIFA 08 details emerge

2007-06-05T22:37:00.000Z

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.

New Japanese PSN titles

2007-05-31T18:42:00.000Z

As if the dearth of content on the European PSN wasn't enough, more and more content seems to be appearing everywhere else. The Japan PSN today received a bumper bag of fun - have a look at this list:

Guilty Gear
King of Fighters ‘95
King of Fighters ‘96
King of Fighters ‘97
Little Princess: Maru Oukoku no Ningyou Hime 2
Real Bout Garou Densetsu Special: Dominated Mind
Samurai Spirits: Kenkaku Yubinan Pack
Septentrion
Spectral Force 2
Spectral Tower
Suna no Embrace
XI (Sai) demo (aka Devil Dice) *released for free.

Sigh. Q*Bert anyone?

New Street Fighter 2 HD Remix

2007-05-31T13:33:00.001Z

Ryu Ken! Ryu Ken! Tatsu Hadoken!! Ah yes, those words bring back many happy memories. From the days when you played games until your fingers were so blistered that you just couldn't take any more... ok, maybe one last round ;o). Street Fighter 2 is a game that always brings a smile to my face, and it would appear that the game is headed for 1080p goodness on PS3. Check out Brian Dunn's blog here, and expect more artwork and goodies to appear there over the course of the games development. This image is the first one released, with all the characters, backgrounds and animation getting a make over. Chun Li in HD?! Fight!!

Lair renamed, more screens

2007-05-31T13:18:00.000Z

Lair has a lot resting on it's shoulders. It's one of the games that PS3 owners point to when trying to convince friends and family that yes, the system really was worth £425.

In Japan where everything is just that little bit different, the game has got a new name: Rise From Lair. Coolio! So far the European and US name remains Lair. You can see some new screens here. Let's hope it's not rubbish. That would be bad....

Ps Don't worry, that picture isn't from the game ;o)

Championship Sprint Hits US

2007-05-31T13:12:00.000Z

PS3 owners in the US can now download the classic top-down racer Championship Sprint. The game will cost you the paltry sum of $4.99. European gamers will be surprised to hear that out PSN Store has been updated with exactly fuck all. Thanks Sony, we love ya!!

Insomniac Grilled

2007-05-30T08:09:00.000Z

Three Speech have done a nice interview with Insomniac, Ratchet & Clank and Resistance creators. As well as confirming some technical details on how the new R&C game is shaping up, they also confirm that they have plans to develop a PSN downloadable title. Read all about it here.

Blu-Ray Humps HD-DVD?

2007-05-30T07:59:00.000Z

Oh ah! It appears that the release of the PS3 has helped the cause of Blu-Ray in Europe. No real surprise really, especially when you consider what the PS2 did for DVD. North America and Europe both showed spikes in Blu-Ray sales following the PS3's arrival, and the format has continued to perform well. The week of the PS3 launch saw BR account for 87% of all HD sales, and has remained ahead of HD DVD ever since. BR is so far responsible for 67% of the total sales of HD disks so far this year.

Friday for Folklore demo in Japan

2007-05-30T07:31:00.000Z

While Europe sits around on it's collective hands waiting for something (anything!!) worthwhile to arrive in the PSN Store, our Japanese pals can look forward to a new demo on Friday. Folklore will weigh in at 1,019 MB but at the moment that's about as much as we know. Exciting isn't it?

We reported a few days ago that the demo would be arriving in June, but we didn't realise that meant June 1st. That's efficient isn't it? If you haven't yet set up your own Japanese PSN account you could always console yourself with a few games of Q*Bert. Hmmm.

PS3 price drop meaningless, BoA

2007-05-29T18:32:00.000Z

Ah yes, I do love it when big money corporations talk about games. It's the price that we seem to have paid for the industry going completely barmy and becoming so mainstream. Oddly enough I don't remember analysts making statements about the Speccy v C64 war. Sign of the times folks.

This time it's Bank of America bringing us the undoubted benefit of their wisdom, with Michael L. Savner having this to say on the PS3's current 'sales problems',

"Despite growing anticipation that a $100 price cut for the PS3 is imminent this summer or early fall, we do not believe such a move would meaningfully improve stagnant PS3 sales and we are growing more concerned that a share shift away from Sony and Microsoft to Nintendo's Wii platform is incrementally negative of all third-party publishers,".

Lordy! But that's not all...

"Based on our analysis, we conclude that a $100 price cut for the PS3 (we have dismissed a potential $50 cut as meaningless) would still leave the 'all-in' cost for a PS3 console and basic accoutrements 20-25% higher than the comparable Xbox 360, and does not even reflect the possibility that Microsoft could also lower its hardware prices. Further, an important driver of Sony hardware last cycle was exclusive games, such as Grand Theft Auto. Unfortunately, Sony does not have a similar advantage this cycle. Halo 3, a highly anticipated game release this year is a Microsoft-published game only for the Xbox, and Grand Theft Auto IV, by Take-Two's Rockstar unit, is being released on both the Sony and Xbox platforms."

Hmm. It's easy to read this and think, "yeah right, now fuck off back to your Excel spreadsheets", but maybe this guy has a point. Time will tell, but I suspect that the $200 price drop that Savner suggests may well be met with hysterical laughter from Sony. Now, back to my spreadsheets.

Silent Hill 5 this year? Yeah right...

2007-05-29T18:13:00.000Z

The games industry is one littered with rumour, counter roumour and complete rubbish. Most stories fall under the "Highly Speculative" category, some actually have some foundation in truth and a very few are bang on. It's easy really. Let's try it.

"Halo 4 released Christmas 2010!!!"

Do I have any facts to support this? Course not. Easy isn't it?! Ok, let's put our cynical heads to one side for a moment. Rumours of the next installment of everyone's favourite pant filler Silent Hill are discussed in an an interview between Electric Shock Magazine and Konami chief director Masashi Tsuboyama. Tsuboyama neatly avoids actually saying anything concrete about the game, even stopping short of confirming that the game would make E3. TGS 08? Maybe... I wouldn't like to speculate :o)

FIFA v PES Mind Games Round 1

2007-05-29T17:50:00.000Z

The battle between EA's FIFA series amd the Konami beast that is Pro Evolution Soccer has been raging for some time. Like the Mortal Kombat v Street Fighter arguements of yester year, PES and FIFA each have their own fans.

EA have been talking to MCV, a trade magazine here in the UK, and EA Marketing Manager Dan Holman couldn't resist a little snipe,

"I'm happy to say that we're comfortably on top in the whole FIFA vs Pro Evolution Soccer battle, our market share has kept on increasing over the past three years, and more and more core gamers are being converted to FIFA all the time."

Hmm. Certainly the gameplay gap has narrowed between the two, as EA has striven to copy the PES formula. But more sales do not, we would suggest, mean a better game. EA will still need to pull out all the stops if they are to exclipse PES as the more discerning gamers number one footie game.

Xbox 360 Failure Rates Soar

2007-05-28T09:22:00.001Z

Having had two Xbox 360s fail on me before I gave up and refused to get another one, this article interested me. Basically it's GamesIndustry.biz letting off a ittle steam about the hardware failures and the incredibly poor way that MS have dealt with them. Anyone who has been left on hold for hours on end waiting to find out if anyone at the MS end knows where their console is will agree with a lot of what they say. Antway, if you are thinking about picking up 360 it might be worth a read.

PS3 Releases

2007-05-28T09:07:00.000Z

This week Euro PS3 owners can look forward to... well... nothing. No new games this week. In fact you have 18 days to wait before a new game appears for the system. And that's Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer. Let's hope that Sony go some way to filling this void by giving us something worthwile in the PSN Store. For a change. Must try harder Sony.

Elsewhere Asia has no releases while America gets Surf's Up. This is a dream come true for any gamer who has always wondered what it would be like to be a surfing penguin. Is that a Linux reference?! ;o)

Sony Sued Again

2007-05-27T22:09:00.000Z

Phases. We all go through them. For a while I liked Southern Comfort. I wore eyeliner for a bit. I even had an Xbox 360 phase(!). Sony, it appears, are going throug that phase that some kids experience, where they steal stuff. Not just sweets from the local shop though. Oh no. Sony are into technology. First it was Rumble technology. Now it seems to be Blu-Ray.

Target Technology, a company based in California, is taking legal action against Sony over its technology being used in the thin alloy film coating on Sony's Blu-ray discs. Oops. Sony have just handed $97 million in damages to Immersion Corporation after loosing a recent fight over the force-feedback technology used in the Dual Shock 2 controller.

Still, maybe they'll grow out of it. I wonder if I still have that eyeliner...

Folklore Demo in June

2007-05-27T21:51:00.000Z

According to watch.impress the Japanese PSN Store is to get a playable demo of Folklore In June. The game looks a little like a grown up Pokemon type thing. With pad waving. Ok, so it sounds better than that. Much better. And the visuals look pretty tidy too. If you don't have a Japanese PSN account yet, looks like you will need one in June.

Resistance Opens Servers

2007-05-27T21:44:00.000Z

This might not be the best news you have ever heard. depending on your experience of playing on open servers. R:FoM is to get open servers. In other words rather than just playing against people from your own country you will soon be able to get "Totally fucking owned you fucking newb!!" by our friends in other countries. Smashing. You want my advise? You have a Friends List. Use it.

New GT 5 Details?

2007-05-27T21:31:00.000Z

French games magazine Joypad are currently running an interview that they scooped with Gran Turismo series creator and Polophony Digital boss Kazunori Yamauchi. The mag suggests that...

All cars and tracks from GT4 will be included in GT5
More cars and tracks should be downloadable
There will be 4 driving views
Damage for the race cars(!)
All Ferrari & F1 cars
New city tracks
Online drivers 12-20
Changing weather during races

How much of this is true remains unclear until we learn French. Merde!