News
New dating for Resistance on the PSP
Sony spill a few beans
Insomniac's new Resistance game for the PSP handheld moves a step nearer to our (small) screens today, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe revealing that the game will arrive on the 13th of March.
Sony had previously only stated that the new handheld take on the popular FPS will be with us in the 'spring', so this concrete dating is welcome news - especially to the many crying out for new PSP games.
Retribution has been designed from the ground up to take advantage of what the PSP has to offer, while Sony are assuring us that 2009 will see the renaissance of their handheld (which only seems to have done well in Japan over the last year or so).
More on this as we get it.
PAIN cameo for Captain Kirk
Shatner lined up for DLC
Old-school starship hero Captain Kirk, William Shatner to music fans everywhere, is set to make a cameo appearance in Sony's PSN hit PAIN.
Cult hero and burger-eater David Hasselhoff has already made an appearance in DLC form, and Shatner will be joining him on the 19th of March.
The ragdoll-chucking game was one of the biggest hits on Sony's download platform last year, and sees players throwing flailing characters through decidedly jagged cityscapes.
Engage.
Fallout 3 level cap on the up
Bethesda to introduce level 30 in March
UK website Eurogamer.net reveal this afternoon that Bethesda are upping the level cap for players of their hit RPG Fallout 3.
The cap will move from 25 to 30 according to lead producer-man Jeff Gardiner. The alteration will come into effect with the advent of new DLC for the game, due to hit town in March.
Broken Steel, the DLC itself, will extend the life of the game beyond the present ending, while upping the cap will just let players get more out of the game anyway.
The producer promises that players shooting for 30 will experience "a long, hard climb".
Killzone 2 out in Europe before the US
Well, a bit...
Okay, that headline might be a slight exaggeration, what it should say is that Killzone 2 on the PS3 will be out in Europe two days before it hits stores in the US. I had put something though, didn't I?
Guerrilla's new FPS opus will swagger to the continent on February 25th, Sony tell us today, the US release scheduled for the 27th - which is probably when most of the UK will get it anyhow - unless stores make special plans (which they might).
Sony had been ambiguous over their release date plans for the game in Europe, leading many to speculate that European gamers might have a wee wait on their hands.
This, we're happy to report, is not the case.
February release for second Godfather game
Is that the sound of violins?
My my, we have had a veritable smorgasbord of release date news on the wire this afternoon, EA the latest publisher to toss their hat in the ring with word that their Godfather sequel will arrive next month worldwide.
The Godfather II will be out in the USA on February 24th, and will hit Europe on February 27th.
The game has been made for the PC, PS3 and Xbox 360 - and was crafted by EA Redwood Shores.
Can you refuse?
Doubt hangs over Ferrari Challenge DLC
System 3 reveals licensing nightmare
Word on the street this afternoon (thanks VG247) implies that the long-promised DLC for racer Ferrari Challenge may never emerge, because of complex licensing issues surrounding the game.
The content was supposed to emerge way back in August, but that never happened, despite developer System 3 assuring it would.
"Unfortunately the realities and dead end streets of making licensed content available as a download, and then making it available in different territories have bitten us on the backside," a rep told website CVG.
"System 3 has tried and is still trying to make content available and we haven’t forgotten the people who paid good money for Ferrari Challenge. The unfortunate reality is that the content we wanted to release, all of which has been sat around in completed form for months, may never see the light of day as DLC."
Ubi games go East with Square Enix
New deal official
French publishing giant Ubisoft have today confirmed an important-sounding deal with Japanese favourites Square Enix, that will see Square dishing out Ubisoft's creations in Japan.
"By partnering with the Ubisoft Group we can now work to provide high-quality overseas-produced games to Japan, thus invigorating the Japanese game market while strengthening our presence as a global leader in the video game industry," enthused Square Enix boss President Yoichi Wada.
"The global video game market is expected to maintain sustainable growth thanks to geographical expansion and diversification of its customer base."
We're unsure which games will be heading East as part of this deal, but we'll try to find for you.
LittleBigPlanet sells 200k in the UK
Slow start for sackboy and co
UK sales of Media Molecule's much-hyped LittleBigPlanet have hit 200,000, according to word from ESLPA, who have slapped a Gold status on Sony's title.
This figure shows that the sandbox platform game hasn't sold in anything like the quantities Sony might have hoped, Sackboy having slipped outside the all-formats top ten.
The platform holder, however, contend that game sales are holding up, and that Christmas competition is the only reason the title is not in the top ten. Sony describe the game as 'evergreen', and expect it to be a slow-burning hit.
Sales in other regions have yet to be confirmed.
Evolution to merge with Sony Liverpool
SCEE reshuffle in the south-west
Speaking with GI.biz, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe's Michael Denny has revealed that the platform holder are planning to merge Evolution Studios with Sony Liverpool, presumably creating one huge studio.
The two branches already share management, apparently, and are using combines resources, so Sony perhaps see this as an easy simplification of matters.
While the Sony branches will merge, Denny assures that each team will keep their own "internal concepting group" to enable the dreaming up of new games and the like.
Sony are expected to in re-jig numerous areas this year in a bid to make the PS3 profitable.
Sony lambast features of rival systems
Says 360 works out more expensive with add-ons
CES 2009 is now in full swing over in Las Vegas, with Sony commencing something of a fight-back yesterday evening, against criticisms from across the industry.
In a new release (thanks VG247) titled "Keeping Gaming and Entertainment Simple," Sony speak of a platform that comes with everything you need for 10 years of entertainment out of the box, while rival systems need expensive upgrades and won't last as long.
Sony describe their embattled PS3 as a "future-proof system via firmware updates that offer new services and features."
The platform holder even offers up a direct comparison of features with rival systems the Xbox Arcade, and the Wii, putting it bluntly: "The Xbox 360 requires additional money, multiple upgrades and additional external devices, putting a burden on the wallet and adds clutter to the entertainment center."
Continuing: "And the Wii’s lack of enhanced features comes at the expense of a comprehensive entertainment solution. So as PS3 continues to evolve without the need for additional parts or expenses, expect the competition to continue peddling add-ons in an effort to keep up with the Jones’."
Me-ow.
