Monday, October 15, 2007

Capcom: Three Bomb Hopes



Well, we are nearly a day away from Capcom's "earth-shattering" announcements. You know what that means? Time for predictions (and we are fairly bad at them, but earth-shattering can be anything now). You know what? We will call them our hopes. Here is our thoughts:
  • MegaMan Legends 3/Megaman Next-Gen: Everybody has been wanting Legends 3 or a next-gen MegaMan for a while now. When we heard the latest Legends was a mobile game, many people were upset. Bringing in a new Legends or Next-Gen MegaMan would truly be earth-shattering.
  • "Capcom Action PS3 Project": The other day, Capcom filed a patent for "Dark Void". Nobody knows what it is at the moment, but it could just be their Action PS3 Project.
  • Onimusha, Dino Crisis, Street Fighter, Breath of Fire Next-Gen: People love old titles, and they love them more when they are new. Don't throw these to far away, you never know what might be announced.
  • Dead Rising 2/Lost Planet 2: Even though Inafune denied it's existence (so far), you never know what a company could be hiding.
  • PS3 Exclusive Project: Capcom said that PLAYSTATION 3 owners will be very pleased come the announcement days. Perhaps a big project will be announced that is PLAYSTATION 3 exclusive?
Those are our thoughts, feel free to share yours in the comments.

Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare TV Spot


Sign up for an all new war with modern weaponry and enemies. Enjoy.

[Via GameTrailers]

Killzone 2 developer: "Blu-ray is Not a Luxury"

GamePro's Sid Shuman grills Killzone 2 producer Steven Ter Heide about the lethal planet of Helghan and Killzone 2's new gameplay...including jumping!

What environmental hazards will players find on the Helghast's home planet? How will these hazards affect the player?

The Helghast homeworld is called Helghan, and it is a very hostile place. The Helghast have adapted to the living conditions by using special goggles and breathing equipment. They have also learned to harness the power the planet offers and have turned them into weapons. For example, the ARC weapon you can see in the demo is powered by lightning. The player will encounter more environmental hazards, but we'll save details on those for later.

In the first game, players could choose to play as several characters, each with their own weapon of choice. What kinds of characters will the player be able to control? Is there any chance the player will get to play as any non-human characters?

In Killzone 2 we are introducing a new player character named Sev. Sev is part of a special forces squad called the Legion. You will see some familiar faces: Rico for instance is the squad's commanding officer. In Killzone 2, however, players will follow Sev's journey through the Helghast invasion. Other characters are not playable but will appear as buddies with different abilities. The player can wield a variety of different weapons, and carry up to two with him at any time. This way he can select those weapons suited to his playing style.

Park Terminal and Beach Head were favorite multiplayer maps from the first game. Will any of them return in Killzone 2?

We are not talking about the details of our multiplayer campaign just yet. It will however be an extensive component of Killzone 2, linking to Killzone.com as well as into Home.

Killzone: Liberation introduced Helghast dogs and tanks that the player could control. Will the player be able to operate other vehicles in Killzone 2? What about those hovering platforms from the trailer?

We are of course building on our strengths from previous titles, and working hard to improve on their shortcomings. Liberation certainly offered some new things like bossfights, and the ability to heal your buddies. These gameplay elements offered additional variety and we are working hard to include them in Killzone 2 also. Of course Killzone 2 plays on a different world than the previous games. This gives us a lot of freedom and will introduce some new unique enemies and situations. As for vehicles, it is still a bit early to confirm any details.

The first Killzone didn't allow you to jump. Will Killzone 2 add this feature? Why is this feature important, or not important?

We felt that navigating small obstacles was annoying in Killzone, but we also wanted to keep everything grounded in reality. In Killzone 2 you can jump, but you will not be able to fire at the same time. The player will also be able to perform lots of context-based actions that will be all in first-person (such as lean and peek). The feeling of immersion is very important to us.

Brian Cox was the voice of the Helghast dictator. Will that character return, and will Cox return as the voice actor? What about any other returning voice actors?

We can't say too much about the voice actors just yet. However, we will say that working with these kind of talented people really adds something to the game, especially when combined with our facial capture animation.

Squad artificial intelligence was a sticking point in the first game. What will Killzone 2 do to improve its A.I. of enemies and squad members?

With Killzone Liberation we already saw improvements in AI behavior. They were able to target destructable or explosive objects, flank you, and work together. For Killzone 2 we have improved on that even further. The world is more complex with lots of physics objects and destructible environments, which means the AI has to navigate and be aware of all of that. They also have to be more aware of each other and their enemies, as we will see many more characters on screen at the same time. We are making sure that the AI is ultra challenging, and each character has unique and recognizable behaviors, allowing the player to judge the situation and decide how to deal with them.

It's pretty obvious (at least to us) that Killzone 2 has some of the best graphics ever seen. What is it about the PS3 that allows you to pull off this kind of detail? And would you say it's accurate that the in-game E3 footage surpassed the E3 2005 CG cinema?

The E3 2005 trailer was all about setting our ambition and goals for the game. We wouldn't have created that movie if we did not think we could deliver that [level of detail]. There is of course a difference between a movie and a game. Allowing more freedom for the player and not have it as scripted meant we had to create technology and a number of systems to help achieve that level of intensity while playing. We've created our own proprietary technology to drive the game, and this is using many of PS3's specific strengths.Large quantities of data can be streamed because we have a great deal of storage capacity. This allows for the level of detail you can see in the game.

It is not a luxury to have Blu-ray, but rather a necessity, as compression only gets you so far. I mean, the level that we showed at E3 and Leipzig topped out around 2GB! Also having the CELL and SPUs means we can offload all of our physics processing to an SPU, or process AI using the SPU's. All this processing power just means we can add more detail and create that Hollywood-type realism we're after.

[Via GamePro]

Bionic Commando Producer Discusses New Version


Ben Judd, producer of Bionic Commando, discusses the history and future of the IP with GameSpot. It was just announced earlier today with screenshots provided. Enjoy the watch.

[Via GameSpot]

The Simpsons Game: Big Super Happy Fun Fun Trailer 2 HD


Supreme Lisa and Captain Homer are headed to Japan to take on the vile Mr. Dirt! Enjoy.

[Via GameTrailers]

The Simpsons Game: Neverquest Trailer 2 HD


Homer gets his fantasy on as he and Marge enter the world of Neverquest. Enjoy.

[Via GameTrailers]

Metal Gear Solid Portable Ops: Infinite War Coming?



In a new e-mail sent out to PLAYSTATION Underground members by Sony advertising T-Mobile HotSpots, something interesting is shown.

The last title on the list says "Metal Gear Solid Portable Ops: Infinite War". Could this be the US version of Ops Plus? Also, NBA 09 is listed as well, when 08 just was released.

Capcom: Bionic Commando Next-Gen Announced



Released in 1988, the original Bionic Commando introduced a novel grappling hook mechanic into a stagnating side-scrolling 2D platformer genre. While the Capcom-developed game was highly regarded (and even named as one of GameSpot's Greatest Games of All Time), the franchise has been dormant outside of a 1992 Game Boy version and a 1999 Game Boy Color pseudo-sequel.

That's about to change, as Capcom has revealed to GameSpot that it is developing a new Bionic Commando game for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC. Simply called Bionic Commando, the new game will bring back the original game's hook (pun intended), with players able to use the main character's bionic grappling arm not only to navigate levels but to take out enemies at close range, rappel down sheer surfaces, or toss objects (like cars) at enemies.

Where the original Bionic Commando followed players on a mission to rescue a fellow agent named Super Joe, the new game's storyline appears to carry a more cynical edge. After serving his country honorably in conflict with the Imperials, technologically enhanced agent Nathan Spencer is framed for a number of crimes by his superiors and sentenced for execution. Fate intervenes, as an experimental terrorist weapon is detonated in Ascension City on the day Spencer is to be executed. With the city in ruins and Spencer uniquely equipped to handle the many skyscrapers, monorails, and suspended roadways, the government reluctantly turns to its imprisoned bionic commando for help.

To help the game live up to its pedigree, Capcom has made development of the game an international affair. An American producer, a Japanese creative advisor, and Stockholm, Sweden-based studio GRIN will be collaborating on the project. GRIN's most recent projects have included the PC conversions of Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter and its sequel.

For more on Bionic Commando, check out GameSpot's continuing coverage throughout the week.




[Via GameSpot]

The Club: Official Boxart



Here is the official boxart for the PLAYSTATION 3 and Xbox 360 game by Bizarre Creations, The Club. The game is being published by SEGA and is rated M.

In The Club, Bizarre Creations will shake up 3rd person shooters as they have the racing genre. The game focuses on addictive gameplay and will test your skills and have a relentless pace. It will have frantic, fast-paced gameplay with a unique style.

Wangan Midnight Portable: Japanese Trailer


The hit manga and anime series is bringing all its intense racing action to the PSP! Enjoy.

[Via GameTrailers]

Metal Gear Solid 4: Over 200 Developers



In an interview with Gamasutra, Ryan Payton of Kojima Productions gives some information about the development process of Metal Gear Solid 4. Over two hundred people are currently on the development team for the game, making it one of the largest single teams working in one place on a single gaming project. This is a great thing for the game, showing much dedication, but if there are so many developers, why such a long wait?

Payton also hints at some DUALSHOCK 3 innovations being used in the game that "people are going to really dig." This is no surprise - Kojima has always been a big fan of using rumble imaginatively, ever since Metal Gear Solid 1.

[Via PS3 Fanboy]

NCAA March Madness 08: In-Depth Interview


The producer of the new March Madness talks about the controls and features in the game.

[Via GameTrailers]

Assassin's Creed: Sidequests and Target AI Interview HD


We learn about the NPCs, collectibles, sidequests, and different AIs that are packed into this much anticipated title.

[Via GameTrailers]

Famitsu's Most Wanted 9/21 - 9/27



As usual, Famitsu's most wanted list is dominated with games for the PLAYSTATION 3 console. Games like Final Fantasy XIII and Resident Evil 5 are in the top five, while games like Devil May Cry 4, The Last Remnant, Versus XIII, and Gran Turismo 5 are in the top 15-20.

[Via GameTrailers]

Afrika: Two New Scans



NeoGAF user MassiveAttack has posted two new scans of Rhino Studio's upcoming PLAYSTATION 3 animal title, Afrika. Little is known on Afrika right now, as news comes on the game's details, we will have you covered.

[Via NeoGAF]

PLAYSTATION Network EULA Agreement Update Does Not Mean 2.00

Here comes a big let down for all the PLAYSTATION Network members who were hoping for a version 2.00 firmware update by the end of this month.

When an updated EULA PLAYSTATION Network agreement hit the web, fans cheered at a line:

"Version 2.0 (October 30, 2007)"
Sadly, this line, like I've stated before only means its version 2.0 of the EULA Agreement, and the changes will go into affect on October 30, 2007, the date mentioned above.

A Sony representative has even told JoyStiq that, despite internet murmurs latching onto the "Version 2.0" nomenclature, the recent update to the PSN End User License Agreement has no "bearing or affiliation with any future firmware upgrades."

[Via JoyStiq]

Sony Ramping Up PlayStation Network Video Service

Straight from GameDaily BIZ.

Sony chief executive Sir Howard Stringer is getting his company ready to turn the PlayStation Network into a full-fledged video and music downloads service. The PlayStation Network is expected to extend beyond PlayStation platforms, he said. There's still no time frame for the launch, however.

Sony CEO Sir Howard Stringer recently spoke to the Financial Times about his company's plans to finally offer downloadable video and music on the PlayStation Network.

Microsoft has seen a good deal of success with its Xbox Live Video Marketplace, but the company has yet to announce any plans to offer downloadable music a la iTunes. Considering that Microsoft is attempting to take Apple head-on with its Zune digital media player, a logical next step might be to offer music on Xbox Live as well, or perhaps video that's transferable to the Zune.

Whenever Sony eventually does launch its video and music download service, one advantage the company will have (as previously pointed out by SCEA chief exec Jack Tretton) is that it can rely on its own movie studio to provide a wealth of content – content that would likely not appear on Xbox Live, of course.

According to Howard Stringer, the goal is to take the download service beyond the PS3 by turning the console into a multimedia device capable of networking with other Sony hardware.

"We are building a software infrastructure to distribute video and music, more particularly video, through the PlayStation Network," said Stringer. "That is a Japanese and American combined effort to build a platform around a common software architecture to distribute video via the PlayStation network into the [PSP handhelds] and beyond."

He continued, "We are trying to get our devices to talk to each other efficiently. PlayStation Network should migrate from gadget to gadget. But initially it starts with PlayStation devices and then to TV and beyond. That's the goal."

As Microsoft recently hinted at yet again, the company wants to take control of the living room – gaming is merely one component. It's quite clear that Microsoft and Sony have similar goals when it comes to dominating the total entertainment picture.

But this battle won't get interesting until Sony starts challenging Microsoft with its own video downloads. When will that happen? Stinger wouldn't say. "We won't know how effective [the effort] is until early next year," he noted.

In the meantime, Sony continues to face an uphill battle with the PS3, but Stringer downplayed the "perceived slow start" for the console, when asked by the Financial Times. Stringer claimed the PS3 "had suffered at its Japanese launch from a shortage of games capable of taking full advantage of its processing power," according to the report. Sony expects to have 200 games for PS3 by Christmas, however.

[Via GameDaily BIZ]

Unreal Tournament III: 360 Still In Works, PS3 Coming Extremely Well



In reference to the rumors posted yesterday about Unreal Tournament III being canceled for the Xbox 360, Mark Rein posted on the official Unreal Tournament III forums:
"So there is no change. Xbox 360 still in the works for 2008. In addition I'd like to point out that PS3 version of the game is coming along extremely well. We had some fan sites in here last week to play the game and one of them reported that they didn't see any difference between UT3 running on a high-end PC and running on the PS3 which is pretty amazing considering that our play test lab contains some pretty high-end PC hardware. Tomorrow I'm heading to San Francisco to take a few copies of UT3 PS3 to play at one of the major magazines and let them see how cool it is as well."
Seems like a good deal, maybe we will still get a 2007 release?

[Via UT3 Forums]

Army of Two: Recruitment Trailer HD


Oh yes, more videos for the upcoming EA Montreal title, Army of Two (giggles). As long readers may know, I'm anticipating this game very highly and would love to do co-op with any onAXIS reader upon it's release. If you can stay focused on combat, camaraderie, and cash, then you have what it takes to be a member of EA's Army of Two.

[Via GameTrailers]

GameTrailers: The Orange Box Review


GameTrailers review for The Orange Box can be viewed above, although it is not released yet on the PLAYSTATION 3, the above is what you are going to get. Three years after Half-Life 2, is the Orange Box the total package that gamers have been waiting for?

[Via GameTrailers]

Call of Duty 4: Play at GameStop October 17, 2007

An open invite has just gone out courtesy of Activision and Infinity Ward! Select GameStop locations will be opening their doors allowing eager gamers to experience the single player version of the game hands on before the official release on November 6th.

To get in on the fun, be one of the first 100 to enlist on the scene at participating GameStop locations. Swag and prizes include a signed call sheet from Infinity Ward.

Here is the list of participating stores currently listed on GameStop.com (this list may change)

New York
Store# 1363 33rd/Broadway
1282 Broadway,10001
(212) 967-9070 Los Angeles
Store# 4619 Universal Citywalk
1000 Universal Studios Blvd, Ste 101, 91608
(818) 980-5766

Chicago
Store# 4866 Broadview Village
7550 Braodview Village Sq, 60155
708-410-1830 San Francisco
Store# 4437 San Francisco/Powell
151 Powell St, 94102
(415) 362-7601

Dallas-Ft Worth
Store# 815 Arlington B&N
934 East Copeland Road, 76011
(817) 261-8981 Houston-Galveston
Store# 4558 Woodlands Mall
1201 Lake Woodlands Drive, Space 2182, 77380
(281) 296-8315

Philadelphia
Store# 620 Whitman Plaza
330 Oregon Ave., 19148
(215) 271-9399 Washington DC
Store# 662 Smoketown Square
13277 Worth Avenue, 22192
(703) 492-8627

Atlanta
Store# 2373 Camp Creek
3662 Marketplace Blvd., 30344
(404) 349-5719 Minneapolis
Store# 606 Rosedale Commons
2480 Fairview Ave. N., 55113
(651) 638-9551

For more information, including an up to date list of participating GameStop locations, head on over to: http://www.gamestop.com/gs/cod4ftp/default.asp. Good luck.

Call of Duty 4: All Weapons Leaked



Springer, from the COD4Forums, was able to provide us with a list of every single multiplayer and single player weapon for Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare. The list, is below:
Multiplayer Weapons
  • AC130
  • Airstrike
  • AK47
  • AK74u
  • Artillery
  • Aw50
  • Barrett
  • Beretta
  • Binoculars
  • Bomb
  • Bomb defuse
  • Brick Blaster
  • C4
  • Claymore
  • Cobra20mm
  • CobraFFAR
  • Colt45
  • Concussion grenade
  • Desert Eagle
  • Dragunov
  • Flash Grenade
  • Frag Grenade
  • G3
  • G36c
  • HindFFAR
  • Humvee50cal
  • M1014
  • M14
  • M16
  • M21
  • M4
  • M40a3
  • M60e4
  • MP44
  • MP5
  • P90
  • Remington700
  • RPD
  • SAW
  • Skorpion
  • USP
  • Uzi
  • Wt4
  • Winchester1200
Single Player Weapons
  • 50cal Turret Technical
  • AC130(105/25/40mm)
  • AGM114
  • Airstrike
  • AK47
  • AK74u
  • AT4
  • AW50
  • Barrett
  • Barrett Fake* (Don't know what is it)
  • Beretta
  • Binoculars
  • BM21 Missile
  • BMP Turret
  • Bog Mortar Turret
  • Bradley Turret
  • Brick Blaster
  • Brick Bomb
  • C4
  • Camera (10/20/30/45/5fov)
  • Claymore
  • Cobra20mm
  • Cobra Air Support
  • Cobra FFAR
  • Cobra Hellfire
  • Cobra Seeker
  • Cobra Sidewinder
  • COD3mg42 Turret
  • Colt45
  • Default Vehicle Weapon
  • Desert Eagle
  • Dog Bite
  • Dragunov
  • Facemask
  • Flash Grenade
  • Frag Grenade
  • G3
  • G36c
  • GP25
  • Heli Minigun
  • Heli Small Arms
  • Heli Spot Light
  • HindFFAR
  • Hind TMP Rocket
  • Hind Turret
  • Humvee50cal
  • Hunted Crash Missile
  • Javelin
  • M1014
  • M14
  • M16
  • M1a1
  • M203
  • M4
  • M40a3
  • M4m203
  • M60e4
  • Mark19
  • MG42
  • Mi28
  • Minigun Player Turret
  • MP44
  • MP5
  • P90
  • Parabolic
  • Remington700
  • RPD
  • RPG
  • Saw6 missile
  • Saw
  • Skorpion
  • Slamraam Missile
  • Smoke Grenade
  • Stinger
  • T72 Turret
  • USP
  • Uzi
  • Winchester1200
  • ZPU Turret
[Via COD4Forums]

Official Playstation Magazine: KILLZONE 2 is Ahead of Anything on Consoles

The Official Playstation Magazine in the UK had the pleasure of recently jetting off to Amsterdam to get a world exclusive hands on with the hotly anticipated Killzone 2. Obviously as one might expect, after some time with the creators and the game itself, the OPM writers were left amazed and remarking that Killzone 2 is a 'notch ahead' of anything else being done on consoles at the moment, which is ultimately a very good thing for PS3 owners.

OPM go on to discuss the visual impact of Killzone 2 saying that even with a inhospitable and colour drained setting the graphical trickery the PS3 is capable of lets the game shine and come alive with incredible detail and dynamic lighting.

The de-saturated colour palette, and the fact that Helghan is such an inhospitable hole, should mean that the game looks drab. The fact it doesn't is down to an array of visual tricks, the most important of which is deferred rendering, which involves blending the effect of light sources on an object... it makes the city look incredibly dynamic with light and shadow changing constantly as a result of muzzle flashes, burning wreckage and jags of lighting.
The next firefight proves more problematic. The Helghast are dug in behind cover in the building opposite, with a thin gantry separating our positions. A direct assault ends predictably.
When I finally put the pad down it's with relief, excitement...and caution. What's currently most impressive about Killzone 2 is the technology, which is genuinely a notch ahead of anything being done on consoles right now.

So basically if the gameplay shapes up as nicely as the technology driving it then all PS3 owners will should be very happy with Killzone 2 and until our invitation to Amsterdam comes through we will just have to take OPM's word for it!

[Via PSPSPS]

Imabikisou Demo Now on Japanese PlayStation Store

If you have a Japanese account, head over to the PLAYSTATION Store and you'll notice a new demo is up, and thats Imabikisou. It's approximately 907MB.

Imabikisou is a traditional Japanese "Sound Novel" adventure, The storyline of Imabikisou revolves around a drug called "Vision" which seems to be responsible for a string of mysterious deaths. The game's main character and heroine, attempting to flee the curse of the drug, travel to a mansion that is believed to be the source of all the problems. There, they get themselves caught up in a mystery involving a strange flower, the Imabikisou of the title.

HAZE: Five New Screenshots Emerge



New screenshots, including snaps of the shooter's co-op mode, are on this page and demanding your attention.

Haze is set in a near-future where the government has outsourced military operations to private multinational corporations. You play Jake Carpenter, a soldier who works for the Mantel Corporation who has access to high-tech vehicles, kick-ass weapons and performance enhancing bio-medical support.




[Via CVG]