PlayStation LifeStyle » Killzone 2

Killzone 3 Fails to Beat Killzone 2 Launch Sales

Matt Baker — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 16:19:58 +0000

The first week sales for Guerrilla Games’ Killzone 3 – released last week – has failed to beat its predecessor’s launch sales figures.

Killzone 3 is the 14th fastest selling game for Sony in regards to week one sales, however, Killzone 2‘s launch sales betters its successor’s by being Sony’s fifth fastest selling title. Killzone 2 also remains the fastest selling game ever in regards to week one sales.

Killzone 3 is, on the bright side, Sony’s second chart topper in 2011; LittleBigPlanet 2 being their other. The shooter, meanwhile, managed to beat Bulletstorm to the top of the UK charts announced this morning. For more on the game, check out PlayStation LifeStyle’s review of the shooter.

[Via]

Guerrilla Games Has Yet to Push The PS3 to Its Limits

Mike Hartnett — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 11:35:19 +0000

It’s no surprise that whenever high-profile PS3 releases hits store shelves, we hear talk of developers behind these particular titles who claim that they’ve done all they possibly could and have essentially maxed out the console. More and more often these days, however, that doesn’t appear to be the case, especially when it comes to Guerrilla Games.

Speaking with IndustryGamers, Guerrilla Games is pushing the notion that it really is difficult to max out the PS3, as there are always workarounds and more efficient programming techniques which can be utilized to free up major sums of space. Guerrilla Managing Director/Co-Founder Hermen Hulst had the following to say:

“At the end of every project, we say, ‘we’ve maxed it out.’ I made that mistake at the end of Killzone 2,” Hulst admitted to IndustryGamers. “We felt that we’d pushed it absolutely to the max. We now know from experience there’s always more mileage in the tech. You can always find new techniques.”

Hulst then discusses how custom tech is the way to go if you want a true AAA product. The ability to manipulate technology that the team themselves have created has phenomenal advantages, and Hulst doubts that the high quality titles that we’ve come to know and love on the PS3 might not be possible had it not been for the custom engines developed in-house.

“The guys that created LittleBigPlanet, I don’t think they would have been able to create a game that looks as great on someone else’s tech and that’s the same with us,”
“For example, in Killzone 2, we introduced anti-aliasing to get rid of the jagged edges. We’re using that, but an improved version that is much more efficient, so we actually leave space for more detail, bigger environments and more polygons. Compared to Killzone 2, Killzone 3’s polygon count is three times as high, so we’ve been able to find new space, probably averaging out to 40 percent.”

Apparently, the freed-up space made room for the addition of the new jetpacks and melee attacks. Hulst has also taken a stand regarding 3D, stating that it’s here to stay and compares the difference between HD and 3D to mono and stereo, though a good few consumers, including myself, find it to be somewhat gimmicky. Let’s not forget that the PS2 really showed its muscle with games like God of War II towards the end of its life cycle, which means we’ve probably only experienced a Mustang’s worth of power, out of what is probably a Bugatti engine.

For all the latest gaming news, stay tuned to PlayStation LifeStyle.

Killzone 3 Swearing Reduced to Make it More Impactful

Matt Baker — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 11:56:25 +0000

If you’ve played Guerrilla’s Killzone 2 then you’ll know the swearing used by the characters are of large proportions. The swearing used in the shooter, however, was used to a certain extent that it became more of a constant presence rather than having it produce an effect. The swearing will be reduced in the game’s successor to deliver a more impactful experience, Killzone 3‘s game director has said.

Killzone 3 director Mathijs de Jonge believes the studio has hit the sweet spot regarding the amount of swearing present in the soon-to-be-released Killzone 3. The Guerrilla Games man told Edge:

In Killzone 2 we ended up with too much of it. The thing about swearing is that it’s highly effective when it’s done right, and in Killzone 3 I think there’s some swearing but if feels a lot more impactful.

de Jonge added:

It’s at the right times. In total, I think there’s seven ‘f*** yous’ and one ‘mother***er’. I think that’s fine.

You bet that’s f****** right, Mathijs.

Killzone 3 will be released on February 22nd in North America and and February 25th in the UK. For more on the hotly anticipated shooter be sure to check out PlayStation LifeStyle’s review.

Killzone 3 is the PS3′s Most Massive Game to Date

Paulmichael Contreras — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 17:44:21 +0000

Killzone 3 is less than a month away now. With a game so epic in scope, Guerrilla Games has their sights set on topping their efforts from Killzone 2, which does result in using up more disc space. So just how much room does their latest title take up? As it turns out, Killzone 3 may be the largest game of this generation.

According to Justpushstart, Killzone 3 weighs in at a hefty 41.5 GB. This is nearly 3 1/2 times the 12 GB of space that its predecessor took up, and puts Killzone 3 at the top of the largest games list for this generation of titles on the PlayStation 3. It should be noted that although the game is quite large, there is no installation required for the PlayStation 3′s hard drive. Much like in Killzone 2, the entire game is streamed directly off the single dual-layer Blu-Ray disc. Killzone 3 is releasing on February 22, 23 and 25 in North America, Europe and the UK respectively.

Five PS3 Greatest Hits Titles + DualShock 3 = Deal!

Corey Schwanz — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 22:46:52 +0000

Remember that previous bundle at Sam’s Club that let you purchase Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune and a DualShock 3 for only $48? Well, Wal-Mart saw that deal, and decided to call their bluff. That equals more savings for you!

What Wal-Mart is calling a “PlayStation 3 Greatest Hits Game & Dualshock 3 Wireless Controller Bundle,” is called a great deal for consumers. For the low price of $49 with only 97 cents for shipping and the option of shipping to a store, you can snag one of these incredible titles and another controller. Gamers can choose between inFamous, Killzone 2, LittleBigPlanet GOTY, Resistance 2, and the God of War Collection and get their fancy new controller. If you get the God of War Collection, you even get the ever coveted RED DualShock 3. This is the first that the colored controller has been seen in a special bundle like this, so it’s bound to go fast.

If you need any MORE convincing to pick up one of these must-have titles, check out their reviews by clicking on the games above. This deal seems too good to last for long, so go here to order, and enjoy!

[Via]

PSP Capable of Streaming Full Retail PS3 Games Via Remote Play

Mike Hartnett — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 03:31:53 +0000

The PSP’s Remote Play feature was definitely cool when it first debuted, as the thought of being able to stream games straight from players’ PS3′s was definitely a big step forward, technologically. The only drawback was that users couldn’t stream everything, namely retail PS3 games and most titles available in the PlayStation Store. Recent developments on the homebrew front show that that’s no longer the case and, as usual, that the PS3 is more capable than we think.

User blacksheep, over at PS3Hax, has proven that retail PS3 titles, and more, can be streamed to the PSP via Remote Play, when he successfully managed to load up titles like Street Fighter IV and Killzone 2, and then stream them to his PSP with no audio, video or control issues whatsoever. This, of course, means that he had to utilize some hacking and modification methods in order to unlock this feature, namely PS3 FTP and PSJailbreak. The full method can be found below:

1. Dump any game of your choice to your hdd
2. Install Ps3 FTP and launch it
3. Connect via ftp and navigate to your hdd folder then to games -> LAUN12345 -> GAMEZ -> YOUR GAME ID -> PS3_GAME
4. Now copy PARAM.SFO and make a backup of it just in case
5. Download SFO Editor open the sfo and check “enable remote play”
6. Save it and then open up the FTP and transfer the modded sfo back into the PS3_GAME folder.
7. Now connect your psp in remote play and enjoy.

With the recent developments surrounding the PS3 homebrew community, it’s only a matter of time before the veil is pulled back on what the PS3 is truly capable of, as we tend to say year-after-year. Hopefully this will push Sony to get new, quality features out faster, because it looks like they now have a little competition. While utilizing the PS3′s hardware is definitely awesome, we must insist that you only attempt to back up games that you already own.

Joris De Man Behind Killzone 3 Soundtrack

Matt Baker — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 12:21:04 +0000

Following his landmark Ivor Noverllo award-winning musical achievement thanks to Killzone 2, Joris De Man will be returning to provide a brand-new original music score the Guerrilla Games’ Killzone 3.

Joris De Man’s inspiring music for Killzone 3 promises to enhance the game’s Hollywood-style, action-focused narrative and drives the dramatic movie sequences and cinematic, visceral gameplay. De Man said:

“Winning the Ivor this year gave me such a boost because receiving was not just recognition for my work on the score, but being awarded it in its first year meant being part of a growing appreciation of game music in general. The achievement spurred me on and has given me a new energy that I hope will be heard in the music I’m now writing for Killzone 3. I was thrilled to be invited again to work alongside the team at Guerrilla; they continue to push the limits of design and technology and I’m really proud to be a part of their next opus.”

Mathijs de Jonge, Game Director at Guerrilla Games had this to say on de Man’s appointment once again for the shooters’ soundtrack:

“Joris is the kind of composer that keeps developing his skills and throughout the years he always manages to amaze us with new sounds, themes and direction in his music and for Killzone 3 he’s doing exactly that again. Killzone 3 will be the seventh title that I’ve worked on with Joris and it’s great to see how the projects we work on keep growing both in scale as well as popularity. I think it’s very important to have this kind of creative connection with the composer as it adds so much to the experience when music and game complement each other.”

The latest hotly-anticipated installment from Guerrilla Games is currently scheduled for a release in February next year. To listen to Joris De Man’s excellent Killzone 2 soundtrack, hit the break.

Guerrilla: KZ3 Controls ‘Closer to Standard Run-and-Gun’

Andrej Cilkov — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 15:49:29 +0000

When Killzone 2 was first released back in Febuary 2009 it raised the bar for any modern FPS game. Stunning graphics, immense online-play, overpowered weapons and intimidating Helgast, not to forget a mesmerizing story. Despite Killzone 2 having so many positive aspects there was still one part of the game design which was heavily criticized, even though it was what made Killzone 2 a fresh breath of air in the world of FPS games. The rather heavy and lethargic control setup was the only thing that many gamers could not agree on.

Regardless, Guerrilla Games director Herman Hulst has confirmed in the latest issue of the Offical PlayStation Magazine that Killzone 3′s controls will be “closer to standard run-and-gun responsiveness”.

Hulst told PlayStation Magazine:

“The heavy sensation of Killzone 2 is absolutely gone; instead this feels much closer to standard run-and-gun responsiveness”

Herman also expressed:

“I’m confident that when Killzone 3 comes out, we’re going to have a set of controls that will really appreciate the vast majority of audiences”

Whether or not Killzone 3 will have controls similar to that of Modern Warfare 2 or Battlefield : Bad Company 2 – hence appealing the the masses – remains unknown. Though one thing is certain it’s that we would most likely not be seeing any of those rare ponderous controls in Killzone 3.

Would you like to see a control option implementing Killzone 2 controls as well as more standard run-and-gun controls? Leave your response in the comment section below!

Killzone 2 Caused Guerrilla Games “Growing Pains”

Steven Garcia — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 06:22:09 +0000

It was just a little over 5 years ago when Sony not only revealed their brand-spanking new system to rule them all, but also jumped the gun a bit when they proudly displayed what it was capable of. While there’s no doubt in our minds the CELL and its 8 SPE’s are technically competent in their ability to reproduce a just as detailed, playable version of the infamous Killzone 2 trailer – as shown by the title itself as well as others, including the more recent Uncharted 2 –, the consequences of its appearance where two fold; it created a massive amount of hype for the console – somewhat needed to justify the then staggering $600 price tag — and game alike, but also placed a magnitude of pressure on the developers ultimately responsible for answering the call. Ironically, however, Guerrilla Games claims it was all for the best.

In an interview found in the latest issue of Gamepro Magazine, Guerrilla’s managing director, Herman Hulst, reflects on the issues the team had going into developing the sequel.

“Damn, heading into Killzone 2 was a lot of pressure, I’m sure you know the story.”
“The most rewarding part of the first Killzone sequel was that we created our vision early on, and consequently, we knew what we were striving for from the beginning. The hard part was transitioning quickly from developing games for PS2 and PSP with a rather small team to making a blockbuster state-of-the-art PlayStation 3 game with tremendously high expectations.”

Hulst makes it clear that, although the path they took was grueling, hindsight shows the benefits of the end result far outweigh the costs.

“Killzone 2 gave us real growing pains, but we’re really glad to have gone through them.”

So are we, Herman. Killzone 3 is currently slated for a 2011 release, and if the screen shots and recently released teaser are any indication of what to expect when you push the PS3 to it’s known limit, we’re definitely in for a treat.

[Source]

Guerrilla: Killzone 3 Controls Will Be Better

Christopher Gordon-Douglas — Sat, 29 May 2010 16:12:10 +0000

Killzone 2 released in February 2009 to mass critical acclaim, praising the game for outstripping the first installement. But one of the most widely criticized aspects of Killzone 2 was the slow response of its aim control most notably it had a weighty feel to it, Guerrilla attempted to solve the problem by adding a “Precision Controls” mode, which was supposedly implemented to give better response. With Killzone 3 freshly announced, that’s something that developer Guerrilla Games says won’t be a problem in the third game.

In an interview with the PlayStation Blog US, Senior Producer at Guerrilla Games Steven Ter Heide, has said that they have addessed the issue,

“Killzone 2 had a slightly different way of approaching controls in terms of the weight – we really wanted to have that feeling that you’re carrying a loaded weapon and it’s heavy.”
“But at the same time the lag, the responsiveness of your controls, we felt we could improve that and we needed to improve that.
“We remedied most of that with the patch but we’re taking it a lot further for Killzone 3 so it’s one of the key areas that we really want to improve on.”

Also worth noting is that that cover system has been reworked and that it will cater for “run and gun” players, with also an option to slide into cover, expect more Killzone 3 a E3. Be sure to check out PlayStation LifeStyle regularly for more E3 news.

Brink Squeezing PlayStation 3′s Potential

Kyle P. — Fri, 28 May 2010 01:51:46 +0000

Fans around the world are eagerly awaiting the release of Splash Damage’s first foray into the console world, Brink. The first person shooter is trying to seperate itself from the competition, with its seamless blend of single and cooperative gameplay. In an interview with PlayStation LifeStyle, Splash Damage’s Creative Director, Richard Ham, talked about the high-caliber talent working on the game, and why PS3 fans should get excited.

Responding to a question posed by PSLS about how the transition has been from creating additional content for PC games to making full-fledged games, Ham said the following:

To help out, we’ve hired some of the best console developers in the business to ensure we’ve got a game that really rocks on console. For instance, we’ve got the lead coder from Heavenly Sword to help us squeeze the most out of the PS3. We’ve got the lead level designer from Killzone 2 to make sure our maps are awesome. And we’ve got the lead designer from Syphon Filter on the original PlayStation (that’s me) to ensure the game plays well on console.

Certainly, that should get any sane PS3 fan, or gamer in general, excited. To know that some senior designers of top-notch PS3 exclusives are helping out with development, is quite reassuring. And with the assertion that they are onboard to “squeeze the most out of the PS3″ gets everybody here at PlayStation LifeStyle very excited.

Stay tuned for the rest of the Richard Ham interview.

Killzone 3 Using 100% of the PS3′s SPUs

Paulmichael Contreras — Wed, 26 May 2010 17:18:30 +0000

Killzone 2 was, and still is, one of the best-looking shooters ever created. Its sequel was recently announced, and the folks at Guerrilla Games are already touting Killzone 3′s technical prowess.

In speaking with VG247, Managing Director at Guerrilla Games Hermen Hulst revealed just how intensively they are running the PlayStation 3:

“…I think we’re pushing 100 percent [SPU load] right now…You see there’s steam coming out of the machine, almost.”

Hulst points to the scale, environments and action that’s taking place on screen for where this SPU pushing is taking place. For example, a level shown during a presentation is “ten times bigger than the average Killzone 2 level.” Clearly, this is an ambitious effort and time will tell if Guerrilla’s persistence pays off. Killzone 3 is due out sometime in 2011.

Sony Officially Announces Killzone 3

Matt Baker — Mon, 24 May 2010 16:35:53 +0000

There has been constant speculation surrounding Killzone 2′s sequel. Jack Tretton “promised” there would be another installment in the Killzone saga and he certainly wasn’t joking around. That’s right folks, hold on to your seats, no more rumors, no more speculation, Sev and company are officially back in Killzone 3.

Killzone 3 has officially been announced. It was recently revealed in the latest edition of GamePro. The details have been rolling in, revealing that Killzone 3 will be 3D! Yes, you read that right, Sony’s first of the many 3D games will be Killzone 3, and apparently it’s going to be spectacular.

Official press release is below (Beware of spoilers):

The Helghast are back. Killzone®3 announced for PlayStation®3 [PS3™]
The war is far from won. Get ready for an epic battle against the deadliest enemies on PS3
London, May 24th 2010: Sony Computer Entertainment Europe has confirmed the return of its iconic first person shooter, Killzone®, to PlayStation®3 [PS3™]. Bringing back the trademark ferocious action on a grand scale, Killzone®3 is an explosive cinematic experience more intense than ever before. Loaded with more vehicles, explosive high powered weapons and a vicious close-combat system, resume the fight against a remorseless Helghast Army of colossal proportions. This is David vs. Goliath…if Goliath had thousands of troops and a thermonuclear arsenal.
The story begins where Killzone®2 left off, with Visari, the vicious Helghast dictator, lying dead at the feet of Special Forces soldiers Sev and Rico. The battle may have been won but the war is far from over. Visari’s death has left behind a world of political scheming, infighting and outright murder. Meanwhile his parting gift, a nuclear bomb detonated in Phyruss, the Helghan Capital, has decimated the ISA invasion force. With no re-enforcements and supplies quickly running out, you must now fight against ruthless Helghast war machine alone. With levels ten times bigger than in Killzone 2, this is Helghan like you’ve never seen it before. You’ll face brutal combat in a host of environments that threaten to bury you on the deadly planet. Killzone 3 will see you trudge through toxic nuclear wastelands, get lost in a lethal alien jungle, fight in bitter arctic conditions and take the battle into space as you fight against Helghast domination – with every location featuring a distinct gameplay style for you to master.
Killzone 3 will be fully playable in Stereoscopic 3D, immersing you more deeply into the ferocious world and putting you at the heart of the action. But be careful. While you experience this world in incredible, High Definition, Stereoscopic 3D detail – you’ll learn to fear what’s around every single corner.
The Helghast are back and they’re bigger and fiercer than you’ve ever seen them. From Jetpack troopers to enemies wielding portable weapons of mass destruction, your enemies will be tougher, scarier and equipped with a host of new toys in their quest for destruction. Prepare for battle! Find out more at www.killzone.com.

Jetpacks eh? In addition to the juicy information seen from the above press release, feast your eyes on the scans and first official screenshots for Killzone 3.

GameFly Subscribers Receive Huge May Savings

Jonathan Leack — Tue, 18 May 2010 17:01:56 +0000

This year has already been home to many great deals ranging from Amazon bonus credits for huge 2010 titles to PlayStation 3 Ultimate Bundles which include a game and controller. Now GameFly is hopping on the wagon and is delivering a huge used game sale for all subscribers of their service.

The popular video game rental service, GameFly, is currently holding a May Storewide Used Game Sale. Some of the best deals include the following:

BioShock 2 – $21.99
Dragon Age: Origins – $24.99
Ghostbusters – $9.99
inFamous – $24.99
Killzone 2 – $24.99
Prototype – $12.99
White Knight Chronicles: International Edition – $17.99

All games are used but include a new case as well as a new manual. These deals are available to anyone but GameFly subscribers receive FREE shipping with their order!

If you’d like to see the full-list of used PlayStation 3 games in the bargain bin, head over to GameFly and see what they have to offer.

Helghast Invades Lost Planet 2 in New Screens

Matt Baker — Mon, 17 May 2010 10:42:33 +0000

Recently, Capcom confirmed that the PlayStation 3 will be receiving exclusive Lost Planet 2 downloadable content, with Killzone 2 invading the shooter. A batch of new screenshots have been released showing the upcoming DLC.

The screenshots show the Helghast Assault and Helghast Scout troops in Lost Planet 2. Check them out below:

The Helghast Assault and Helghast Scout troops skins for Lost Planet 2 will be available at the end of June for the cheap price of free.

[Via]