PlayStation LifeStyle » God of War 3

God of War Team To Double In Size For Next Project

Sebastian Moss — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 17:10:59 +0000

God of War III pushed the boundaries of what we thought was possible in current-gen games, with colossal creatures dynamically affecting the environment, while also acting as entire levels. Developers of the award-winning title, Sony Santa Monica, are now hard at work on their next project, and with the development team nearly doubling in size, it looks like their newest title will be even bigger.

It’s already been revealed that the Sony Santa Monica team are hiring for new talent, but the actual scale of the recruitment was previously unknown. Speaking on GTTV’s Bonus Round, Director of Product Development at Santa Monica, John Hight explained how the developers were planning to double in size:

During this particular part of our growth, which we’re right now at about 105 full time, we’re gonna go to about 200 people which is still huge. I mean God of War II had about 60 people so we grew quite a bit during God of War III.

John Hight previously revealed in an interview that the development team for the $44 million costing GOW III grew to 135 during production, still far shy of the 200 mark they are aiming for now.

Considering the fact that GOW II had half the development team of number 3, the next project – which could be anything from another God of War to a new IP – should be truly incredible. Do you want another GOW, or are you excited to see what else the talented team can come up with? Let us know in the comments below.

God of War 3 Unbeatable Price Slash at Gamestop

Ray Conley — Sat, 07 Aug 2010 08:40:14 +0000

One of the most iconic heroes for the PS3 has yet to be dethroned as king of console, or more appropriately, as the God of War. If you, for some insane reason, have yet to pick up a copy of the most brutal game to date, well then perhaps your luck has paid off. Now is the time – now is the chance for you to “steal” a copy of this Santa Monica Studio masterpiece at an amazing price.

Gamestop has pulled the pricing of God of War III to a heart-stopping price of $30 on their online store. On that same page, they have their “pre-owned” copies listed at $39.99. Was this a typo? Let’s not wait to find out! Hurry on over to Gamestop.com, and pick up a copy for yourself, or for your friend. We have not been able to confirm if this price change is permanent or a temporary game sale.

Did we forget to mention what sets this deal over the top? Enter the code “SAVER” at checkout to receive FREE SHIPPING!

God of War III has been held up as one of the best games of all time. It received top marks from major game review sites, including PlayStation LifeStyle, which awarded GOW3 a solid 10.

Red Dead Redemption Smokes the Competition

Adam Wolfe — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 05:47:11 +0000

Red Dead Redemption is the leading contender for Game of the Year. The game received amazing reviews (we gave it a perfect score!), combined with phenomenal sales. But how has John Marston fared against the rest of his competition in 2010 thus far? With the year being halfway over, we’re taking a quick gander at which games have sold the most up until this point in the year, according to NPD. Check out which games came out on top…

Red Dead Redemption is sitting pretty (and gritty) on top. Despite a huge buzz from the gaming media, many wouldn’t have believed that the wild west shooter would topple the likes of New Super Mario Bros, Modern Warfare 2, Battlefield Bad Company 2, and every other game released in or before 2010.

Other notables on the list is Modern Warfare 2 sitting at number 3, just one slot ahead of FPS competitor Battlefield Bad Company 2. This isn’t a real surprise since Modern Warfare 2 is very popular, but with it selling so much around the holidays last year you would think that due to the market being fully saturated already, that Battlefield could have topped it.

We’re going to go out on a limb here and say that nothing will be able to catch up to Red Dead Redemption and the Kentucky Saddler Marston has rode to the top of the sales chart, at least not in 2010. What games, if any, do you think will be able to knock Rockstar’s gem out from the top spot? Let us know in the comments below!

God of War III’s Previous Directors Wanted Alternative Endings

Anthony Severino — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 19:48:01 +0000

If you have completed God of War III, which I’m sure you have by now (and if you didn’t, shame on you) – you may have mixed feelings about the ending. If you didn’t care much for the finale, then you’ve surely imagined what could have been. The God of War franchise has had a total of 3 different industry veterans take the a seat in the director’s chair, and each one of them had a different vision for how the tale of Kratos should end. These endings were considered, but ultimately were scrapped. For the first time these alternate endings have been revealed.

Stig Asmussen, director of God of War III, in a recent interview, shed some light on the two other endings that were being considered for God of War III. The endings, however, were not chosen as Asmussen believed he would not have been passionate about them. The reason being was due to the endings were not his ideas, instead were ideas from the previous directors. God of War director David Jaffe had one idea which was really out there, and God of War II director Cory Barlog had another interesting twist.

What David Jaffe talked about doing was — and I’m not sure how it would happen — basically, you destroy Greek mythology and then Norse mythology is right around the corner. That’s the next thing that Kratos would go after. It becomes clear at the end that he’s going to become this harbinger of death across different mythologies in the world and maybe carry the series on from there.
Cory Barlog talked about Kratos becoming Death. He pretty much becomes the Grim Reaper at the end of the game and his blades become sickles. They’re both incredibly good ideas, but you need a director to be passionate about the story and understand it intimately. If I had used Dave or Cory’s idea, I wouldn’t have been as passionate about it.

Which ending would you choose – the original God of War III ending, David Jaffe’s ending, or Cory Barlog’s ending? Maybe none of those at all, tell us how you’d put an end to Kratos’ adventure.

[Source]

Deal of the Gods: God of War III for $38 with Free Shipping

Max Murray — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 22:45:50 +0000

Kevin Butler’s favorite distraction was undoubtedly the most anticipated games of this year up to its release on March 17th. God of War III topped charts, surpassed expectations, and even had a few surprises. If you haven’t had the opportunity to play this powerful game, a hot new deal might change your plans.

By a combination of promotional codes and coupons, Gamestop is offering God of War III for the unbelievably low price of $38.24. Here’s what to do:

Make your way to GameStop.com and during checkout enter these 3 codes:

10AUTO
15NEW
SAVE

If you’ve been waiting, holding out for some secret deal, this is it. This is the one that makes these last few weeks of helplessly dodging internet spoilers worth the pain. The promo code ‘SAVER’ even earns you free shipping, and as this applies for NEW copies, used-game boycotters can rest easy. Trust us, this is one of the cheapest prices you’re going to find until GOWIII inevitably becomes a greatest hit. But if you need that last bit of peer pressure, check out our review.

God of War III is ‘Too Tight’ for DLC

Andrej Cilkov — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 21:23:47 +0000

God of War III, one of the most highly-acclaimed hack and slash games to debut on the PS3, may not be receiving any major DLC, claims GOW3 director Stig Asmussen. Amussen believes that the game is “zipped up so tight” that there isn’t much that Santa Monica can do content-wise.

However, this is not to say that an epilogue to the game isn’t within the realm of possibility, although it seems that at this stage, skins and challenges are about all that could be released, claims Amussen.

“The problem with this game is that it’s so tight, it’s zipped up so tight, and it’s designed to work one way. We couldn’t just put in new AI characters or something like that without breaking the whole thing.”

But does this mean that the related teaser site (unlocked upon obtaining the game’s Platinum trophy) is just that? A teaser? Or could it mean more?
One thing we know for sure is that as each quarter gets filled, the intensity of the rain and thunder increases. Currently, it’s at 50%.

God of War III was released on 16th March (in North America) and has sold over 1.3 million copies to date (with the series selling over 11.5 million in total).

God of War’s Vengeful Soundtrack Strikes for Free

Jonathan Leack — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 18:35:40 +0000

The critically-acclaimed God of War series is world renowned for its memorable epic moments spurred with intense orchestrated soundtracks. All of the God of War titles had blood, sweat and tears put into their individual soundtracks, and that work paid off with its positive influence on the experience throughout all four games. Now God of War fans have a chance to get the full soundtrack for God of War I through God of War III for absolutely free!

Santa Monica Studios is hosting the full God of War Trilogy soundtrack for free on their official website. All God of War songs including the Blood & Metal EP are available for download through the site. These tracks were exclusive to owners of the God of War III: Ultimate Edition until now, so this is most likely a limited but great opportunity.

Check out the 2 links below to download all of the God of War music tracks:

God of War Trilogy Soundtrack
God of War – Blood & Metal EP

[Source]

The Storm Picks Up on God of War Secret Website

Dan Massi — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 21:04:09 +0000

The storm is picking up, the rain is getting heavier, and the sky is getting darker. No, we are not reciting a poem, but something even better. God of War, the hack n’ slash series from Sony Santa Monica, has been on everyone’s minds lately, and not just because of the recent release of God of War III. Last week, anyone dedicated enough to attain the coveted Platinum Trophy were treated to a link to a mysterious website. When it began, the site was merely a rain storm and what appeared to be a timer. As time progressed, and more people saw the “Spartans Stand Tall” page, speculation began to build.

Now, the speculation will surely mount from here. The Spartans Stand Tall webpage has been updated for the first time, revealing a harsher rainstorm that would even make Heavy Rain jealous. Also, the “counter” is now more full than before, encircling half of it.

Last Week

Today

Theories have arisen speculating that this counter could be for a new God of War title, with Kratos supposedly facing his mysterious brother. These theories could be backed up by the God of War Collection, when viewing the video Birth of the Beast would net you a “Legend of the Twins” Silver trophy. The story detailed Kratos and his brother, who was exiled for being weak, and was forced to live on his own. Because of this, Kratos’ brother seeks revenge on him, for abandoning him. Ironstar Movement notes that Gaia narrates the story, who knows all of Kratos, so, is it possible she knows about his brother as well? Others theorize that this page is simply counting down to the first DLC for God of War III.

Going back to the counter, we believe that this is either a countdown that is time-based, or has something to do with the amount of Platinum Trophies players are earning. If that’s the case, then help the cause to get this secret revealed, and use our trophy guide.

Hopefully, we’ll be seeing the full reveal of Spartans Stand Tall soon.

[Source]

Kratos Invades Canada, Brings Titan-Sized Amount of Pre-orders

Dan Massi — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 11:07:18 +0000

God of War III is hitting stores very, very soon. Kratos anticipated return hits March 16th, and boy, people are excited. In fact, it seems many Canadians are also anticipating the God of War’s triumphant entrance onto PS3.

Ever since God of War III was revealed, it hasn’t left PlayStation gamers radars. The title has been followed closely, showing its evolution in graphics, and eventually becoming one of the best looking titles on PS3. The game is the end of Krato’s trilogy, and Canadians cannot get enough. TheStar.com reported that there are over 250 000 pre-orders for God of War III, setting a record for the most pre-ordered PlayStation 3 exclusive.

God of War III hits March 16th in North America, March 18th in Europe, and March 18th in Australia. While you’re waiting for your inevitable purchase, check out our review of the game..

[Source]

Epic God of War III ‘Launch’ Screenshot Gallery

Anthony Severino — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 22:53:03 +0000

Today the embargo on God of War III lifted, so we unleashed our perfect score review of the blockbuster PS3 exclusive onto the masses. To prepare for the launch of God of War III next week, Sony has released a new set of screenshots showcase some of the best moments the game has to offer. These newest screens are the best we’ve laid our eyes on and are a prime example of just how good the game looks.

Click on each thumbnail to view in full-size.

PS3 Review – God of War III

Anthony Severino — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 17:00:42 +0000

God of War III is easily the most-anticipated title ever to be released on the PlayStation 3 platform. The two previous PS2 installments and the PSP’s Chains of Olympus are all hailed as some of the best games to grace their respective platforms. God of War III not only continues upon the series’ deep-rooted heritage, but takes it to new heights beyond any and all expectations you may have.

God of War III picks up right where the previous game left off. The Titans are at war with the Gods of Olympus, and Kratos is caught dead smack in the middle of the epic showdown. From the second the game begins, you’re thrown directly into the heat of battle; traversing a lush forest environment while slashing away at sentry after sentry. However, the very ground you walk upon is actually the back of a Titan named Gaia. Although the Titans are massive, the Gods make up for their lack of size with absolute power. Zeus, along with his brothers Hades, Hermes, and Poseidon, attacks the titans in hopes of thwarting their advance on Olympus.

The God of the Sea dives into the ocean below, summoning a fleet of monsters called Leviathan to rid Mount Olympus of the giants. Kratos is tasked with taking down the Leviathan in a multi-tier fight that takes place on and inside Gaia herself. After taking down the leviathan, you’ll face off against Poseidon himself in a scene that ends so brutally, you’ll grimace with each devastating blow. All of these events unfold within the first half hour of the game, and from this point on, the action doesn’t waiver until the credits roll. The epic scale of the Titans’ desperate climb, the stunning power of the Gods of Olympus, and the relentless brutality of Kratos all set the tone for the rest of the game. What follows is one man’s journey to take vengeance against his father Zeus, the King of the Gods.

Kratos isn’t your normal game hero, he’s a merciless murderer hell-bent on revenge. His unstoppable and unrelenting anger toward the Gods has become his sole reason for living. Nothing else matters to the Ghost of Sparta other than slaying his father, Zeus. Despite the insurmountable odds he faces, Kratos doesn’t show any fear, and his fearlessness will spur you on; you’ll actually look forward to decimating the evil denizens of Greece. No matter how large or how much in number, Kratos has little trouble making quick work of his enemies. That’s not to say the game isn’t difficult, rather you’ll take such enjoyment in bathing in your enemies blood that you’ll beg for more combat.

This time around, Kratos has plenty of new moves and an all-new arsenal of godly weapons. Gone are the Blades of Chaos, and in their place, Athena bestows the Blades of Exile upon Kratos to assist him on his journey. Kratos will come across many other deadly yet useful weapons and tools along the way. Unlike the previous installments in this beloved PlayStation franchise, you’ll have to make use of each weapon frequently throughout the game. Some enemies are particularly susceptible to one weapon, while another weapon could be almost completely ineffective. You’ll have to pay close attention to the strengths of the weapons at your disposal and tactfully apply them in battle to ensure your survival.

As you progress, the onslaught of enemies gets more and more difficult to overcome, so you’ll have to continuously upgrade your weapons with the red orbs you’ve collected. Searching for hidden treasure chests also becomes vital in your quest for vengeance. Discovering Gorgon Eyes, Phoenix Feathers and new to the series, Minotaur Horns, is necessary to increase your health, magic, and item meters respectively. Without constantly honing your skills and abilities, you will fall victim to the endless assault of the perilous foes that wait.

Enemies are more ferocious than ever before. The AI has received a significant boost versus the previous God of War titles; enemies will dodge, counterattack, and even team up to take down Kratos. Lesser enemies have the smarts to protect more significant boss types. Enemies also vary greatly in size, speed, agility, and strength. These differences require you to strategically select a weapon from your arsenal that will allow Kratos to more easily cut them down to size. For example, if you try to use the powerful, close-range Cestus against an enemy with speed and range, you’ll find yourself dead in no time at all. The enemies are much more difficult overall than in the previous games and you can easily be overcome by a gang of sentries if you’re not skilled enough. Throw some massive Cyclops or some speedy Wraiths into the mix, and Kratos will have a serious challenge on his hands. A whopping 50+ enemies can be on-screen at once, all with one goal: kill Kratos.

As enjoyable as it is facing off against the hordes of enemies, the real fun is in the game’s boss battles. Epic is a complete understatement to describe the encounters with the towering gods and demi-gods. Battles can be long and arduous, but you won’t mind for a second since you’ll be too busy repeatedly picking your jaws up off the floor. As you wear the bosses out, they begin to attack in desperation, unleashing some incredibly powerful blows that, if landed, could spell the end for Kratos. When the dust finally settles and you’ve slain each boss, you’ll be left panting, and your heart will be racing. Each boss battle is more monumental than the last, and many will go down in history as some of the most marvelous moments in gaming. And if the battle itself wasn’t rewarding enough, once you defeat some of these bosses, you’ll gain a weapon or power to use.

Next Page >>

Santa Monica Studio Is One of a Kind

Jonathan Leack — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 16:38:42 +0000

Santa Monica Studio has been at the forefront of top-quality gaming entertainment since 2001. With the release of their prized God of War series, the company quickly hopped into the arena as one of the top gaming development companies worldwide. Now that trailers of epic proportions for God of War III have been released, many have wondered how Santa Monica Studio does such great work.

In an IndustryGamers interview with Steve Caterson from Santa Monica Studio, Caterson emphasized that the studio had to draw inspiration from themselves in order to make such a big leap in gaming. Steve Caterson stated the following:

“For us, it’s always been about previous games we’ve worked on,” he continued. “Nobody came into the office one day with a game someone else made and said, ‘Look at this, we need to have this in our game.’ It’s always been about outdoing ourselves; with God of War II, we had to outdo the Hydra and I think we did it with the Colossus battle, and this time, we had to be even bigger than that with God of War III. I’d like to think we succeeded.”

Santa Monica Studio have completely outdone themselves with the upcoming title God of War III. While both previous installations of the series are hailed as epic masterpieces, God of War III downright trounces both titles and anything else on the market in terms of scope. The imagination and effort put into the title truly shines through, and will be a delight for gamers to enjoy in just over a week.

The official PlayStation LifeStyle review for God of War III will be released on Monday March 8th, while the game will become available on March 16th, 2010.

[Source]

Kratos’ Revenge Starts With a Midnight Release

Jonathan Leack — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 15:22:57 +0000

God of War III is almost upon us with less than two-weeks until the official debut of Kratos’ assault on Mount Olympus. If the Gods themselves cannot stop Kratos, then he will not be contained within standard business operating hours. That is why one of the largest retailers in the US has announced that they will be celebrating the release of God of War III with a special midnight event.

Best Buy will be holding a midnight opening for God of War III’s North American release. Gamers across the country have been invited to join the title’s debut at one of over 200 Best Buy retailers. Check with this list below…

ALABAMA
Hoover
Oxford

ARIZONA
Casa Grande
Flagstaff
Goodyear
Paradise Valley
Thunderbird Rd
Tucson
Yuma

CALIFORNIA
Arden Fair
Auburn
Beaumont
Chino Hills
Citrus Heights
Clovis
Compton
Corona
Culver City
Culver City Westfield
East Orange
Elk Grove
Fairfield
Folsom
Fresno
Fullerton
Irvine
Mission Viejo
Natomas
Northridge
Otay Ranch
Pasadena
Pleasant Hill
Redding
Roseville
Santa Clarita
Santana Row
Torrance
Tracy
Tustin
Vacaville
Victorville
Westwood
Woodland
Woodland Hills

COLORADO
Grand Junction
Parker
Westminster

CONNECTICUT
West Hartford

DELAWARE
Christiana
Wilmington

FLORIDA
Clearwater
Daytona Beach
Fort Myers
Gainesville
Jacksonville
Jensen Beach
Millenia Mall
N. Palm Beach
Orange Park
Pembroke Pines
Winter Garden

GEORGIA
Canton
Gainesville
Gwinnett

ILLINOIS
Addison
Bolingbrook
Butterfield Road
Carbondale
Champaign
Deerfield
Evanston
Harlem and Irving
Mundelein
N. Avenue
Orland Park
Oswego
Rockford
Springfield
Tinley Park

INDIANA
Apple Glen Cross
Bloomington
Valparaiso

IOWA
Cedar Rapids
Davenport
Des Moines II

KANSAS
Olathe

LOUISIANA
Lafayette
Veterans Blvd.

MAINE
Portland

MARYLAND
Germantown

MASSACHUSETTS
Cambridge

MICHIGAN
Chesterfield
Farmington Hills
Flint
Grand Rapids II
Gratiot
Rochester Hills
Saginaw

MINNESOTA
Apple Valley
Blaine
Maple Grove
Rochester South
Shakopee

MISSOURI
Battlefield
Columbia
Mid Rivers Mall
Watson Road

MISSISSIPPI
Tupelo

MONTANA
Billings
Missoula

NEVADA
Carson Valley
Centennial
Maryland Parkway
Reno
Sparks
Summerlin

NEW HAMPSHIRE
Nashua

NEW JERSEY
Eatontown
Manalapan

NEW MEXICO
Santa Fe
W. Albuquerque II

NEW YORK
Clarence
Hartsdale
Riverhead
Union Square

NORTH CAROLINA
Asheville
Carolina Mall
Charlotte RiverGate
Gastonia
Waynesville
Wilmington

OHIO
Canton
Chapel Hill
Colerain
Dayton Mall
Elyria
Fairfield Township

OREGON
Clackamas

PENNSYLVANIA
Century III
Harrisburg East
No. Hills Village
Oxford Valley
Pittsburgh Mills
So. Hills
State College
Wyomiss/Reading

SOUTH CAROLINA
Charleston
Columbiana Mall
Greenville
Summerville
Two Notch

SOUTH DAKOTA
Sioux Falls

TENNESSEE
Hickory Hollow
Mt Juliet
Nashville West
Rivergate

TEXAS
Bastrop
Gulfgate
Heritage Trace
Hulen
Mesquite
Midland
North Arlington
North Irving
Pasadena
Ridgmar
South Fort Worth

UTAH
Riverdale
Washington

VIRGINIA
Christianburg
Leesburg
Roanoke
Virginia Center Commons

WASHINGTON
Everett
Lacey
Olympia
Puyallup
Seattle-Northgate
Tukwila

WISCONSIN
E. Madison
La Crosse

WYOMING
Casper

The official list of retailers and other details can be viewed on the official Best Buy website. The midnight store opening will be held at midnight on March 16th, 2010.

God of War Team is Clueless for Future Project

Kyle P. — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 07:51:53 +0000

Gamers around the world are eagerly awaiting the release of God of War III, the third title in the long-standing series that has become a cornerstone for the PlayStation family. The internal Sony team, Sony Santa Monica, has been hard at work for the past three years working on the game, and has had little time for anything else. In a recent interview, Senior Producer Steve Caterson said the team has “no idea” what they want to do next.

When pressed by Industry Gamers about what the studio is doing now, Caterson said the following:

“I have no idea! I just finished three years of my life on God of War III and seven years on the God of War series – I have kids younger than that! We’re excited to work on large projects but it’s not a decision that’s made flippantly and we’re going to take our time with it,” he said.
“The only game I had the chance to play through the past few years was Dead Space; there are other games that have released that I want to have a chance to sit down and have those experiences! Actually playing some of those great games out there and seeing what other developers are doing… I’m looking for to it – that’s the best part of finishing a game!”

Then, when pressed about whether there’ll be another God of War title from the studio, he remarked:

“Well, God of War III is the end of the trilogy. We didn’t leave you on a cliffhanger but I think it’s not the end of the franchise. I’m looking forward to do something different if we can. It also might be nice to return to the franchise if we can and bring all that knowledge back from wherever we go. Anything’s possible. It’s premature to say what it might be, since I don’t even know what I’ll be doing next week!”

Worldwide anticipation has hit record peaks, as we are just days away from one of the most anticipated titles of the PS3′s history. It is quite obvious the studio has worked hard on this title. What do you think the studio will do next? Post your thoughts and feelings in the comments section below.

Prepare for Kratos’ Final Battle with Godly Savings

Jonathan Leack — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 20:00:30 +0000

God of War fans worldwide are eagerly anticipating the epic upcoming title known as God of War III. On the other hand, millions of gamers had missed out on the PlayStation 2′s critically-acclaimed God of War titles and are not only unsure about getting the third installation in the series, but aren’t brushed up on the plot for the game. Thankfully, Amazon has a deal available to catch gamers up with this massively successful series by Santa Monica Studios.

Amazon.com has the God of War Collection available for a low-price of only $24.99. To top that off, all purchases before God of War III’s release date are eligible for a $5 credit toward the purchase of God of War III. This is a great opportunity for those who missed out on the previous titles to not only get caught up with the great storyline of the series, but also save a few dollars on the upcoming God of War III.

The God of War Collection includes both God of War I and God of War II on one blu-ray disc upscaled to 720p HD with two platinum trophies. God of War III is set to release on March 16th, so be sure to take advantage of this offer while it’s still available.

Also don’t forget, when you buy God of War III at Amazon.com (whether you use the $5 God of War Collection credit or not) you also get a $10 credit toward a future video game purchase, adding to your overall savings.