uk.playstation.com

An interview with Guerilla Games was posted on the UK Playstation website and some very interesting things were said regarding the future DLC plans for Killzone 2.

Quote:

“Even in the hugely comprehensive multiplayer (which allows a level of customisation rarely seen in a FPS), a high level of visual fidelity was always the aim, with the desire to create something that would be as equally pretty as its single player counterpart. “All the systems were developed with that in the back of our minds,” says Angie Smets, Senior Producer. “It was very difficult. It’s a balancing act in getting the most out of the hardware and making sure it runs smoothly, and we’re very happy with the result.”

“While this meant sacrificing split screen gameplay, there may be some co-operative modes on the horizon to keep the excitement going. “We’re investigating [co-op] now for downloadable content,” she smiles. “We’re looking at what would be the nicest possible things for downloadable content. We’ve already started on maps… we’re not allowed to talk about anything else unfortunately!”

Killzone is already looking to be one of the best games of this generation and if the addition of co-op becomes a reality then this will just make the game even more incredible than what it already is.

Pharoahe Monch- Simon Says

Yo classic guys. Godzilla beat and everything. Get you pumped up. GET THE **** UP!

G4 is the latest layoff victims. A rep for the network has confirmed that it’s cutting back its two daily programs, “X-Play” and “Attack of the Show” to three and four original episodes per week, respectively, starting March 2nd (two weeks from yesterday). While they declined to specify the number of layoffs, sources have indicated that a number of staffers on those two programs have gotten the axe, though the figures for the total network are in the single digit percentage-wise.

“X-Play” is G4’s daily news show about videogames, while “Attack of the Show” focuses more on general tech and pop culture as it relates to the network’s core demo of young guys.

G4 has apparently decided it wants to re-arrange spending and invest more in other series beyond its two big daily shows. A network rep insisted that today’s moves are not part of an overall budget cut, but a decision to shift spending away from the two big daily shows and toward other series. “Savings resulting from this move will go directly towards producing more original programming in 2009,” she stated.

It’s perhaps no surprise G4 wants to make changes, though, since nearly three years of ratings growth came to a halt in the second of of 2008 and the network has, like many of its counterparts, had trouble monetizing its substantial on-demand and online video views. Combine that with a recession that’s causing worries about advertising spending and G4 had to be rethinking its strategy a bit.

It wasn’t long ago, in fact, that there was talk of expanding “X-Play” to an hour daily. Then ratings and economic concerns caused G4 to stick with half an hour. And now it’s cut back to three half hours per week. That’s a blow for the show and for fans of videogame journalism in general.

Adam Sessler and Morgan Webb will continue to host X-Play in its reduced format

ADAM SESSLER IS THE MAN 1luv and god bless

SOURCE – http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/2009/02/layoffs-at-g4-xplay-hard-hit.html

Nintendo has announced the formation of a new development outfit,‭ ‬known as Project Sora, and has spoke of a “special project” currently underway.

Sora will be headed up by Masahiro Sakurai,‭ ‬the lead designer of Super Smash Bros Brawl and the man behind Nintendo’s Kirby.‭

According to a translation from news site‭ ‬Andriasang,‭ ‬the Nintendo subsidiary is located in Tokyo’s Idabashi district,‭ ‬and had officially formed on January‭ ‬22.‭ ‬Reports claim that the studio will have a group of thirty,‭ ‬and the capital of just over‭ ‬$2‭ ‬million,‭ ‬of which Nintendo has provided around‭ ‬72‭ ‬percent of that sum.‭

Sora’s new website states that‭ “‬the thoughts of game designer Masahiro Sakurai and Nintendo have become one,‭ ‬and a new project has started.‭ ‬In order to expand what can be offered to the world through games,‭ ‬we will have Nintendo’s full cooperation and make something that Nintendo could not do on its own.‭”

In regards to Project Sora’s new title,‭ ‬Nintendo President Satoru Iwata says it will not be a Smash Bros game,‭ ‬but‭ “‬a new experiment,‭ ‬both for Mr.‭ ‬Sakurai and for Nintendo.‭”

“We’ve started a special project,‭” ‬adds Sakurai.‭ “‬We’re not sure how it will sell or if it will be accepted.‭ ‬Our goal is not just to make a single game.‭ ‬We can promise that you’ll be able to experience something different.‭”

The development outfit is currently hiring,‭ ‬though it is unclear if this is to fill the developer’s proposed thirty-man capacity or to spread it outwards.

Edge reported last week that Nintendo had spent some‭ ‬$141‭ ‬million on a‭ ‬40K-square-meter lot that will be home to a new R&D facility.‭ ‬It is not precisely clear if the Idabashi studio is the outcome of that investment.‭ ‬

Neither Nintendo or Sora clarified which platform the new studio will be working on.‭

SOURCE – http://www.edge-online.com/news/nintendo-announces-new-development-studio

So I finally downloaded The Lost And Damned on the Xbox 360. While it is a fine game and a very good piece of downloadable content – it’s essentially the same game in almost every aspect. Except of course the improved bike physics (THANK GOD!)

Now here I was playing through the missions and drinking vodka. After about 6 shots and 10 way-too-linear story missions, I decided to pop in the good ol quest of Kolya (Niko=Nikolay=Kolya) Bellick.

And do you know what hit me at that point? (besides the vodka)

Microsoft, the damn fuck faces, are the reason why GTA IV initially looked like crap.

Now I’m not going to say “TEH XBOX 360 is weaker than PI ES THR33 that’s becuz gta iv kud luk bettr!!!”. No.

Think about it.

Whenever a game is exclusive, it’s developed only for that specific platform to which it is exclusive. Fact.

Whenever a game goes multiplat, a single engine is developed for both platforms, but initially is tested out on console A – which is the main console. Only very few developers (Infinity Wards is amongst them) have dedicated teams that develop engines alongside for each platform. Rockstar isn’t one of them as far as we know.

Ok, so now you might be thinking – but since the explosions in GTAIV look better on PS3, it’s probably the main platform?

Wrong.

The explosions look better on the PS3 because it has more processing power (I am not contradicting myself with the upper quote, this is different), yet the main engine was developed for the Xbox 360.

Why?

Using my flawless 6-shots of vodka logic, I pop in Nikolays adventures from GTAIV and see that the game looks identical to the first DLC pack (Lost and Damned).

What does this tell us?

Merely that that is AS GOOD as the game can look. They CANNOT MAKE IT LOOK BETTER.

Microsoft gave out $50 GOD DAMN MILLION KAPITALIST DOLLARS for this content. Don’t you think M$ would pursuade Rockstar to make the game look better?

The expansion packs are EXCLUSIVE to the Xbox 360. You don’t need another team to port and/or develop specifically for another console. Allocate all your resources to this expansion and make it look better.

Wait, what, you can’t?

Ah, that’s right. It’s just that your console is weaker and you cannot make it look better. Tusk tusk.

I’m not being a fanboy here (or am I?), but I am very disappointed with the $50 million deal. It wouldn’t make ANY sense if the PS3 was the main console developed for, thus the Xbox 360 was ported onto it and the game was initially developed within Xbox 360’s technical limitations.

Ask any game developer about the situation, as in where one console is going to have extra content added to it further on, and the other won’t get that content. Which console would be the “main” one in this situation? HMMMMM what a tough choice.

Because of the Xbox 360, we got a WEAKER product.

I could’ve said that Microsoft is to blame for the shit-like brown look of the game itself, but I’m not sure about that one. But fact is that if it was developed for the PS3 as the main console, the game could’ve been something more. A lot more.

Just GOD DAMN LOOK AT IT YOU KAPITALISTS, CANT YOU SEE IT?

If you damn kapitalists don’t see it, I might just have to make a drunk video to show it to you.

SOURCE – http://thatsovietguy.com/gtaiv_lost_and_damned_review_sorta

On 16 February 2009, 20th Century Fox announced that they would be releasing toys based on the popular Halo Wars video game.

Today Tiltedscreen.com has dug up some photos of the upcoming toys.

Click the jump to view all pictures

PRESS RELEASE: Twentieth Century Fox Licensing & Merchandising Takes Halo® Franchise To Next Level With New Toy Deals Unveiled at Toy Fair

CENTURY CITY, CA – (February 16, 2009) – The highly anticipated release of “Halo Wars”, the newest video game in one of the most successful entertainment franchises, is just a few weeks away. In preparation of its release, Twentieth Century Fox Licensing & Merchandising (Fox L&M), licensing agent for Microsoft Corp., will unveil an all-new toy line-up from partners USAopoly, MEGA Brands and McFarlane Toys at Toy Fair.

USAopoly and MEGA Brands join the “Halo” franchise for the first time as Fox L&M continues its expansion for one of the most popular video game properties in the world. Speaking to the brand’s global appeal, Michael Peikoff, Senior Vice President, U.S. Licensing for Fox L&M, commented, “‘Halo’ has become much more than a video game franchise, it’s a true entertainment franchise. Our goal is to add value to this intellectual property by extending it with blue chip partners whose interpretation of the brand is seamless and will be embraced by the legion of fans worldwide”

Making its debut at Toy Fair for the “Halo” franchise, USAopoly will introduce the old world to the new world as it melds the “Halo Wars” storyline with the classic and best selling Hasbro branded Risk board game. Available at retail in Spring/Summer 2009, this groundbreaking execution will combine elements of two strategy games – “Halo Wars” adversaries will engage in strategic battle for domination of Arcadia.

MEGA Brands will develop the first-ever construction toy sets based on “Halo Wars”, available in Fall 2009. The line is comprised of buildable playsets ranging from 65 to over 350 pieces, and features the most recognizable and iconic elements From The video game, with highly detailed vehicles, weapons and articulated micro-scale action figures for a true “build and play” experience. Each set also includes UNSC Spartans or Flame Marines, and Covenant Elites or Grunts. The Halo Wars Collection of licensed product offerings will be marketed under the Mega Bloks umbrella.

Following the success of the 2008 “Halo 3″ figures, McFarlane Toys extends its partnership with “Halo” with the release of new “Halo Wars” specific action figures and vehicle collections. Available in March 2009, this set of exquisitely crafted figurines, promises to raise the bar for detail and realism in the collectible toy genre. Friends can collect and/or trade the figures and build up an army from the battlefield. The heroic-sized figures are 2.5-inches tall and have mobility at the waist. Each 3-pack includes “Halo Wars” characters in different colors and poses, with weapons.

“Halo Wars” is an action strategy game based on the legendary Halo universe and created exclusively for Xbox 360. It is slated for release in the US on March 3, 2009. Players will be immersed in an early period of “Halo”, allowing them to experience events leading up to the story told in “Halo: Combat Evolved” for Xbox. They will take command of UNSC armies during mankind’s first encounters with the Covenant, an alien coalition threatening to obliterate the universe. “Halo Wars” is developed by Ensemble Studios, the team responsible for the best-selling and critically-acclaimed “Age of Empires” franchise on PC. The “Halo” series as a whole has sold more than 25 million copies worldwide.

Pre-orders for “Halo Wars” are taking place at participating retailers nationwide now. Fans who pre-order will receive an exclusive in-game Warthog with flame decals. The Limited Collector’s Edition is also available and includes a special in-game “Honor Guard” Wraith, a graphic novel, six Leader cards and a “Spirit of Fire” patch. As an additional exclusive, LCE owners will get early access to the in-game “Halo 3″ Mythic Map Pack for exciting new multiplayer action.

SOURCE – http://tiltedscreen.com/?p=2657

A member of the GameTrailers Forums said the following:

“Okay, GT, i lurk these boards a lot so i’m going to throw you a bone. Take it or leave it. Anyway, A friend of mine works in an R&D department at Sony and recently let me in on the firmware details for 2.7. If you were disappointed with 2.6, you’ll probably like what you’re about to hear, but it’s still missing some very crucial (and heavily requested) features. Here’s a list of the things he told me will be changed:

Friends List:
- Voice Messaging is now available as an alternative to text after selecting a user on the friends list. Voice message recordings are capped at 30 seconds.
- Home Integration: Saved Playstation Home avatar photos can be selected as photo ID for Gamer Card/Friends List.
- Trophy number and Gamer Level are listed under Friend names for quick reference.

Gamer Card & Trophies:
- Gamer Card layout has been changed to more closely resemble the Playstation Store aesthetic.
- Past Trophy information can be viewed in detail by selecting “Recent Trophy History” option.
- Newly aquired trophies auto-sync in the background
- Server infrastructure for Trophies has been optimized. Resulting in faster retrieval time for Gamer Card and Trophy information.

In-Game XMB:
- Loading time for In-Game XMB has been drastically reduced, resulting in a more seemless in-game experience.
- “Theme settings” options while in-game is now available, allowing custom themes to be applied to the In-Game XMB.
- Internet Browser can now be accessed while in-game.
- Voice messaging and voice chat options can be used while in-game.
- Options that cannot be used in the XMB during game sessions are grayed out (but still selectable) to eliminate user accessibility confusion.

Misc:
- Other slight UI tweaks and enhancements.

Seems like there is still no word on cross-game invites, but i think the integration of Home (as small as it is) into the rest of the Playstation experience is still a step in the right direction. The update is pretty big but he said it would hit sometime in Q2 of ‘09″.

Consider this jsut a rumor, but it would be awesome if this is true, In-Game Internet Browser, In-Game voice chat and voice messaging look really awesome. I hope that this is true

SOURCE – http://ps3trophiesguides.wordpress.com/2009/02/18/rumor-firmware-27-details-leaked/

UGO writes: “With God of War 2’s Art Director taking the helm of Game Director for God of War 3, Ken Feldman has stepped into the role. We talk to him about how he thinks they can make God of War 3 a fresh, epic experience that’ll make Kratos weep for joy.

UGO: Clearly people are pretty familiar with the setting of God of War. How do you strive to make God of War 3 a unique-looking experience?

Ken Feldman: First off, this is the first game that we’ve been able to make on a PlayStation 3 and the team is excited about that. Obviously we have a much more powerful machine and we get to learn a lot of new techniques. What we’ve always wanted to do on God of War 1 and 2, whether it was the first time you saw Hades or you were fighting the hydra on the ships, or even meeting up with Atlas in God of War 2, there were things we really wanted to do on that game, but were absolutely limited by that technology. We’re not limited by the technology anymore, so what we’re able to do is go back to those games and start redefining these moments we wanted to bring to fans. Not that we’re going to have the hydra in this game or you’re going to battle Atlas in this red environment, by any means. But we can take those types of experiences and bring that stuff into God of War 3 in a fantastic, epic manor.”

READ MORE HERE

http://gamesblog.ugo.com/index.php/gamesblog/more/god_of_war_3_interview_with_art_director_ken_feldman/