PlayStation LifeStyle » Sony

David Jaffe Wants To Make “God of War Meets Zelda”

Tony Wibowo — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 14:57:32 +0000

Aside from working hard at putting the finishing touches on Twisted Metal for its release date on February 14, 2012, David Jaffe likes to write blogs on his personal website. On his latest blog post, the eccentric developer contemplated what it would be like if he ever directs another God of War game. And although he actually would prefer not to come back to the game franchise that made him famous back in the PS2 era, he mentioned that he would consider a return if and only if the conditions were right.

Right conditions for developers usually mean that whether he/she will be given enough budget and time to make it, as well as plenty of creative freedom. However, David has a slightly different take on it:

A lot of people ask me if I’d ever make another GOD OF WAR (assuming that opportunity was offered) and I always say the same thing: if it were GOD OF WAR meets something like ZELDA (formula wise), then yes (aka Darksiders, right?)…But if it were GOD OF WAR using the current formula, I would not. For me- and this is just me PERSONALLY (I get and respect not everyone shares this same thinking)- directing GOD OF WAR made me realize that as a game designer (and certainly as game director) I want our games to serve the gods of GAMEPLAY first and foremost. My and then team’s desire to tell a story/make a movie may or may not get to be fulfilled (depending on the game) but if we do tell a story, it will never come at the expense of the gameplay (the thing that makes our medium matter and special). Games can have story (and many should, such as God of War) and most games- even pure play games- should have strong world and IP. But working on God of War made it clear that- for me- if we have to cut a set piece or bit of spectacle because of our desire to put play first, then so be it. Ideally, the BEST games are those that do both.

Come on Sony, David just made his move, now it’s your turn!

[Via]

New PSP Bundle announced; PSP Refuses to Die

Tony Wibowo — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 09:22:43 +0000

Sony Europe’s announcement of a new PSP SKU this past gamescom came as a surprise to many, with people thinking that, since the PS Vita is coming out soon, the PSP will be put to rest. Sony has once again proved that they’ll keep on supporting the original handheld by announcing a new PSP bundle coming for this holiday season, only this time it is for North America.

The PS Blog revealed that a new PSP Entertainment Pack will release on November 15th. Carrying a retail price of $159.99, the pack will contain a black PSP-3000, 2GB Memory Stick PRO Duo, a copy of FIFA 2012 on UMD and a PlayStation Network voucher to download Cars 2: The Video Game.

Current owners of PSP can purchase Cars 2 separately when the game releases on November 8th for $29.99 on PSN and UMD.

As a proud owner of 6 PSPs, this bundle is not for me. For some who are interested in having a PlayStation system on the go and not wanting to get a PS Vita at launch,this is certainly a good deal.

Sony to Stream gamescom Press Conference Through Home

Alex Osborn — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 22:41:26 +0000

That’s right gamers! Get ready to fire up Home after what has likely been months, because Sony will be live streaming their press conference from gamescom on August 16th.

According to the PS Blog, the gamescom space within Home will officially go live that day at 5pm CET (11am EST / 8am PST) and will also pop up in the “What’s New” section of the XBM at that time. The conference itself doesn’t start until 7pm CET (1pm EST / 10am PST) and lasts for an hour, so be sure to tune in then to see what surprises Sony has in store.

With rumors swirling around the web regarding a PS3 price drop, a firm Vita release date and game reveals, this is one conference you won’t want to miss. While Sony hasn’t shared many more details beyond the fact that the conference can be streamed via Home, expect to be able to view the conference through other online outlets as well, as well as being able to follow live coverage right here.

PS3 Sales Ahead of 360′s for the Year, Analysts Predict Shifts Incoming

Paulmichael Contreras — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 17:43:01 +0000

This generation of video game consoles has seen numerous monumental shifts so far. Sony came out on top in the previous generation, but was ousted when Microsoft beat them to release by a full year. Couple that with Nintendo’s wildly successful bid for the casual market, and Sony suddenly found themselves playing a bit of catchup. Ever since the introduction of the PS3 Slim though, things have been looking up for the behemoth, and this year is looking like no exception.

According to Jesse Divnich from EEDAR, the PS3 has outsold the Xbox 360 by 10% in the first six months of this year. In addition, the console is outselling its competition worldwide, though North America continues to be the place where the 360 thrives. Billy Pidgeon of M2 Research said :

Should Microsoft release a successor to Xbox 360 and shift the pipeline for hardcore games over to the new consoles, that would be a possible scenario by which PS3 could bypass Xbox 360′s active installed base. This scenario would give PS3 the opportunity to soak up the hardcore sector.

With Nintendo’s recently-announced Wii U and Sony’s heavy emphasis on the PS Vita, a new Xbox cannot be too far off. David Cole from DFC Intelligence predicts a shift towards Sony’s console by the year’s end when it comes to active systems rather than those simply purchased:

In terms of our forecasts, we have the PS3 sales matching Xbox 360 in 2011 but that still leaves them behind in cumulative sales. However, when we measure what we call active installed base or number of systems in use we forecast that the PS3 will reach the Xbox 360 this year. This is because the failure rate on many older Xbox 360 systems was high. I know personally I have gone through 3 Xbox 360 systems and still have my original PS3.

Though the failure rate on the 360 has improved significantly, there was a time when it was estimated that one in every three systems failed, which – before an extended warranty offer by Microsoft – resulted in another system being sold as a replacement unit. How many people do you know who have gone through a couple of 360s by now? Finally, Colin Sebastian of RW Baird leaves us with what he believes should be Sony’s game plan to put them ahead of Microsoft:

…as quickly as the tide changes in the video game industry, you would never want to count the PS3 out – for instance, if Sony combined a strong first party lineup (e.g. Uncharted/Resistance) with another hardware price reduction, I believe we would see a nice pick-up in unit sales this fall.

So who’s right? Who’s wrong? Nobody will know for sure until this generation of gaming consoles is in the record books. One thing’s for sure – with all the upcoming heavy hitters, it’s going to be a fun ride.

Sony Extends Identity Theft Protection Enrollment Window

Paulmichael Contreras — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 17:04:04 +0000

Many people are still recovering from the massive hack that took place on the PlayStation Network back in April. In fact, some regions such as Japan only recently came back online, thanks to the government intervening so it could ensure the network was up to snuff when it came to security. Sony announced a partnership with Debix to offer everyone with a valid PSN account prior to the attack which grants access to identity theft protection including a $1 million insurance policy. The initial signup window has passed, but Sony has decided to extend the length of time that you can sign up for the service.

As announced on the PS.Blog, US customers can request an account with Debix, free for a year, until the end of this month. The original signup period ended on June 28th as indicated on emails that had previously been sent out. The program is called “AllClear ID Plus,” and includes “cyber monitoring and surveillance,” “priority access to licensed private investigators and identity restoration specialists,” and the aforementioned “$1 million identity theft insurance policy per user.” So if the Welcome Back program or Uncharted 3 beta distracted you and you forgot to sign up, now is your chance! Is this a worthwhile program to sign up for in your opinion?

Former Sony Employee Sues Nintendo Over 3DS Technology

Josh Fernandes — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 06:59:21 +0000

Nintendo has faced several lawsuits due to alleged claims of copyright infringement in the past. A Japanese company, Milestone Co., sued Nintendo over the camera lens system for the DSi, which was one of many defining features of the handheld. This last February, a Texas patent-holding company accused Nintendo of infringing on a patent for motion-sensitive video game controllers. Nintendo was also sued over the Wii remote’s trigger, the Wii remote itself, and even Wii Fit. Nintendo is facing another lawsuit, but this time it is from a former Sony employee.

Seijiro Tomita, an employee of Sony until 2002, has filed a lawsuit against Nintendo in a New York district court. In the case, Tomita alleges that Nintendo infringed on a patent that he filed in 2003 and was issued to him in August 2008. The patent is for “A stereoscopic video image pick-up and display system,” which is designed for the “eyes of a viewer,” which means that it does not require special glasses. The patent goes into a lot of specifics including a claim for storing images intended for the left and right eye, a display system using LED’s, and a video image pick-up device adapted to feed out information on the depth of an area. The patent also includes claims of measuring the distance from the device to the user. According to the lawsuit filed by Tomita:

Mr. Tomita has done substantial research and development in the area of stereoscopic display technology. Among other things, Mr. Tomita invented and developed technology relating to displaying stereoscopic (3-D) images on-screen for viewing with the naked eye, i.e., without utilizing glasses or other devices. The ’664 patent asserted in this action covers 3-D technology invented and developed by Mr. Tomita.

The lawsuit was filed last month, and doesn’t go into specifics about how Nintendo violated the patent. Tomita began filing patents after he left Sony, and there are dozens in his name ranging from monitor displays to an “amusement ride camera system.” Stick with PlayStation LifeStyle as we keep you updated on this story.

[Source]

Celebrate The Birthday of PlayStation Plus With A Nice Bonus

Joseph Peterson — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 19:51:16 +0000

Yes, it has already been an entire year since the paid service of PlayStation Plus launched, and it has been quite successful. This most likely is due to the high amounts of discounts and bonuses that users get with the service. One of the huge perks of the service is that PlayStation Plus users are able to store their game saves online so nothing happens to them. Now that PlayStation Plus is 1 year old, Sony has a great deal for users in celebration of it’s birthday – at least in the US.

Sony is now offering a great addition of “Birthday Bonus Months” when purchasing PlayStation Plus. By purchasing PlayStation Plus for 1-year you then receive an extra 3-months as a bonus, and those that choose to get the 3-month package will receive 1 extra month as a bonus. Sony has some stats from the first year of the service and the amount of content given is amazing:

More than 50 Free Games
Over 100 Free DLC Items (Add-ons, Avatars, Themes)
170+ Discounts
Over 100 Exclusives and Early Access items
$800+ in Savings

Below is the birthday flyer summarizing the deal:

This deal begins today and is available through July 11th, be sure to check it out so that you don’t miss out on this great deal. Sony Europe has yet to announce a similar deal.

New PSP Dual Packs Officially Announced

Allen Tyson — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 22:43:12 +0000

The PSP hasn’t had much in the way of new releases; at least on North American shores anyway. That doesn’t mean Sony has completed stopped supporting it however. Today, a much-needed shot of epinephrine is given to the PSP by way of a set of new Dual Packs.

Crystal MacKenzie, Sony’s Associate Brand Hardware Marketing Manager, announced that PSP owners looking to add to their library now have a few more choices, although we spotted them back at E3. New PSP Dual Packs with a retail price of $14.99 will go on sale this week and are available via download on the PSN. The titles included round out a nice choice of classic PSP games: Secret Agent Clank and Daxter, Syphon Filter: Logan’s Shadow and Killzone Liberation, and Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror and SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs: Fireteam Bravo.

No further announcements have been made on what to expect in the future, but PSP owners can take comfort that Sony hasn’t abandoned them entirely—and the ability to obtain them in digital form bodes well with the PS Vita on the horizon.

[Source]

Vita Game Pricing Shows Major Bang for the Buck

Jonathan Leack — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 12:08:27 +0000

Out of Sony’s near two-hour press conference this year, the announcement of a $249.99 PlayStation Vita was arguably the biggest item of interest. It immediately breathed pressure onto Nintendo, and an intense battle will be soon sure to follow later this year. But what about the games? Good news: GameStop has posted several PlayStation Vita games on their site, and they’re listed at an extremely fair price.

See some proof below:

This puts Vita games at the same price as PlayStation Portable releases, $39.99. Given the technical quality of what we’ve seen from software this far, this is extremely competitive in the current market. It has become evident that Vita games are aiming to deliver console-sized experiences on a handheld. Heck, many of the games look as good or better than their PS3 counterparts, just in a smaller image.

Do you feel that that the pricing of both the console and hardware will help Sony net substantial sales? Share your response in the comments below.

Kevin Butler Returns, Features in inFamous 2 Commercial

Zak Islam — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 12:57:19 +0000

Although Kevin Butler was unfortunately missing from Sony’s E3 press conference yesterday, the PlayStation mascot is back in a new commercial for Sucker Punch’s inFamous 2.

Check out the new TV ad for the just-released inFamous 2 featuring the VP of practically everything below:

inFamous 2, which releases today in North America, will see a release in European territories this Friday. Those who purchase the game will receive a beta code for Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception.

inFamous 2 is set in a brand new city entitled New Marais, which is New Orleans-inspired. The game’s protagonist, Cole MacGrath goes into the city expecting to further strengthen his electrical abilities. Players who played the game’s predecessor to certain extents will be rewarded in the electrifying sequel with enticing rewards.

For more on inFamous 2 be sure to check out PlayStation LifeStyle’s extensive previous coverage and be sure to check out our review soon.

PS Vita Priced, To 3G or Not to 3G

Zak Islam — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 01:37:23 +0000

Ever since the NGP’s announcement the PlayStation Portable successors’ price has always been discussed. Will it be expensive as many predict or will Sony surprise the masses by sticking an affordable price tag on the powerful handheld device? The company has announced PS Vita’s official price.

Sony has announced during their E3 press conference that the PlayStation Vita will be available for $249 for the standard Wi-Fi model and $299 for the 3G model.

In Europe, PlayStation Vita will be €249.99 (£223) for the Wi-Fi model. For the 3G plus Wi-Fi model, meanwhile, it’ll be priced at €299.99 (£268).

A leaked GameStop image of the retailer’s upcoming video game releases showed that PlayStation Vita’s price would be $299.99. Sony, however, said a few months back to Eurogamer that the device would be affordable for consumers:

I can’t put a ballpark on it in terms of figures, but what I would say is that we will shoot for an affordable price that’s appropriate for the handheld gaming space.

Are you satisfied with PS Vita’s price? Share your thoughts via the comment section below.

World Premiere: Uncharted 3 E3 Gameplay Footage

Zak Islam — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 00:49:33 +0000

Last year, Sony showed a stunning live demo of Uncharted 2: Among Thieves during their E3 presser. A live demo for the game’s successor, Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception was expected to be unveiled during this year’s E3 press conference and the company has done just that.

Check out the great demo Naughty Dog presented below:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Uncharted 3 is currently scheduled for a release on November 1st, 2011.

New God of War Collection Announced For PS3

Zak Islam — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 00:42:47 +0000

A new God of War game has been in development from Sony Santa Monica Studios for a while. Sony has now announced that a God of War collection for the PS3 is currently in development.

Sony has just announced a God of War collection for the PlayStation 3, and it’ll release this September. It’s called God of War Origins and will feature 3D remastered PSP titles: God of War: Chains of Olympus.

Earlier, Forbes seemingly confirmed a new God of War game:

Sony’s press conference will announce some additional titles, including a new God of War 3D adventure, but these five titles should help drive sales of PS3 hardware this year and also keep PS3 gamers happy now that the hacking incident is over.

Are you excited for yet another adventure with Kratos? Share your thoughts on the forthcoming God of War game via the comment section below.

Keighley: “Special Surprise” in Sony E3 Presser

Zak Islam — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 23:45:55 +0000

Sony are surely to announce a few surprises during their upcoming E3 press conference. However, Spike TV host Geoff Keighley has just reaffirmed that by saying a few surprises are incoming.

During the GameTrailers’ live show, Geoff Keighley stated that Sony has a “special surprise”, as well as saying:

Surprises from Sony, we actually have a special surprise coming right after the conference.

Sony are rumored to announce a new God of War title and, of course, a few others the company has up their sleeves.

Stunning Journey Gameplay Released

Zak Islam — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 12:43:10 +0000

Thatgamecompany has already created two memorable titles for the PlayStation 3, Flower, and Flow. Their next hit for the PSN, Journey, is set to come out later this year, and with E3 about to start, footage for the game has been released.

The gameplay, which can be viewed below, showcases what Journey is all about. The PlayStation 3 exclusive gives the player a unique experience; you take the role of a mysterious character within a desert, where there are no maps or instructions to aid you. The aim of the game is to travel towards a mountain that can be seen in the distance, and whilst players travel they can meet other plays and pursue their journey together.

Check out the brand new Journey gameplay footage below:

Click here to view the embedded video.

In Journey, players cannot communicate with each other at all, as the developers have spoken about their desire to limit communication with fellow real life players.

Journey is currently scheduled for a release sometime this Fall.