Recently released in Europe is Gran Turismo 5 Prologue (coming to the US on April 19, 2008). The Blu-Ray disc version of the game comes with an advertisement for the upcoming PlayStation Network social community, Home. The advertisement displays the features of Home along with some of the requirements. Great to see they are getting it out.
[Home is being advertised on flyer In side GT5 prologues disc case!]
Well look at what we have here. Polyphony Digital has a nice surprise for experienced Gran Turismo 5 Prologue gamers who complete every event in every class. When you do that, you get this Honda CBR 600 in your garage free of charge. Talk about winning an online race.
[Honda CBR 600 in Gran Turismo 5 Prologue]
Konami knows how to build hype for Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots. First, they released Metal Gear Solid on the Japanese PlayStation Store, then they released The Essential Collection on the PS2. Of course, us American and European audiences would like Metal Gear Solid on our PlayStation Stores as well.
Ryan Payton stated on the latest episode of the Kojima Productions Report podcast that if many people in Japan download the classic re-release, then its interest could be released elsewhere. Lets hope Japan comes through for us.
[MGS1 on PSN could happen if Japanese interest is high enough]
A Sony Computer Entertainment contact for BitBag seems to have revealed some more on the upcoming PlayStation Store redesign. Since it's nothing official, we will smack the rumor label on this.
First off, the new store design is going to have a much better categorization system, letting you sort the items on each page by name, most downloads, date added, and category.
Second off, newer download types are going to be added to the PlayStation Store, meaning you'll be able to download full-length movies.
Now, lastly, there is going to be a mature section on the new store. The mature section features M-Rated games along with adult movies and such. To access the store, you'll need to go to the sign-up page, and verify your age. Then in 3-4 days, you'll receive a message on the PlayStation 3 from Sony, allowing you to access the content.
[PSN Store Redesign: Giggity Giggity.]
Today, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe officially announced SOCOM: Confrontation for the PlayStation 3. The game is going to include all these features when it releases late this year.
London, March 28th 2008: - SOCOM: Confrontation™ brings the highly decorated SOCOM franchise to PLAYSTATION®3 (PS3™). Focused exclusively on on-line play and powered by PLAYSTATION®Network, SOCOM: Confrontation delivers the contemporary combat experience that the SOCOM series is known for.
SOCOM: Confrontation allows players to freely associate, form teams and compete in up to 32 player battles and massive player tournaments. Customize your character and equip him from a selection of weapons. Recruit others, or be recruited, into an elite unit formed from free agents or friends you have served with before. Whether you are a Squad leader, or a soldier taking orders, everyone has a part to play. This is the chance for your team to confront the best soldiers the world has to offer and prove your superiority.
Featuring some of the most highly trained Special Forces regiments in the world, SOCOM: Confrontation is, like all true military scenarios, all about strategy and teamwork. Reward your troops not only when they are brave and fearless but when they use intelligence and work as a team. Trawl the world for the best soldiers to strengthen your team as you lead your men against other highly skilled outfits.
Country Name (abbreviation) Name in full
USA SEALs US Navy SEALs
UK SAS Special Air Service
France 1er RPIM 1er Régiment de Parachutistes d’Infanterie de Marine
Spain UOE Unidad de Operaciones Especiales
Germany KSK Kommando SpezialkräfteSOCOM Confrontation’s online offering on PLAYSTATION Network is supported by SOCOM.com - which allows you to manage your team online away from your PS3 – and will be backed by regular downloads from PLAYSTATION Network, including new Special Forces characters weapons and maps.
Competition is also a major factor in SOCOM Confrontation and many tournaments are available for you to show off your clan’s military knowledge and prowess. Choose from pre-set tournaments tailored to your schedule; these run on weekdays and weekends and are split on a regional and global basis.
Key features that make SOCOM Confrontation such a great online game include:
- Intense online combat experience with up to 32 players delivered in High Definition
- 7 highly detailed maps
- New engine built for PS3 with advanced physics, lighting and ballistics including penetration modelling
- Choice of playing as one of five special forces units: United States Navy SEALs, Special Air Service (SAS, United Kingdom), Kommando Spezialkräfte (KSK, Germany), Unidad de Operaciones Especiales (UOE, Spain), 1er Régiment de Parachutistes d’Infanterie de Marine (1er RPIMa, France)
- Unrivalled Community Features with increased clan & ladder support
- Tournaments available at the regional, national and global levels
- Advanced player matching enable players to form teams with their friends and easily join an online game
- Integration with SOCOM.com: Stat tracking, clan management tools, My SOCOM pages and more
This is a 21st Century game for the 21st Century online soldier. SOCOM Confrontation™ launches on PS3 and will be available on Blu-ray Disc and as a download from PLAYSTATION Network.
On April 17, 2008, the PlayStation Store will be receiving some cake. It's not a lie this time. The famous ending song of Portal, titled "Still Alive" by Jonathan Coulton will be arriving on April 17, 2008 for the low price of $0.00. Yeah, that means free.
We should of been receiving it this Thursday or tomorrow, but due to the "no updates" till April 17, 2008, we will have to wait.
[Rock Band Weekly: Still Alive free tomorrow on XBM, April 17 for PSN]
A Sony Computer Entertainment source has told EuroGamer that the new PlayStation Store "will no longer use the PS3 browser". The new Store, launching in Mid-April, will feature a slick new interface along with improvements in other areas too.
"It will cache all images properly and is much faster than the old one," he says.
He told us that the Store "will require everyone to upgrade to 2.30 [firmware]," which Sony hasn't mentioned yet in public. Seems correct due to having to remove the old store icon and add in the new one.
[Revamped PS3 Store "will no longer use the PS3 browser"]
“The new design will deliver a hugely improved navigation system, much greater scope for categorisation and a dynamic new user interface,” said the company in a statement.
They state that there will be no content updates until the store relaunches in April. Kind of sucks, but at least the new store is coming. The official screenshots can be seen above and below. View the press release below. [VG247]
PLAYSTATION®Store to undergo April revamp
Customer feedback drives new design, interface and navigation
Updates on hold for two weeks; new-look Store launches mid-AprilThis April, PLAYSTATION®Store, the online content store on PLAYSTATION®Network, is getting a whole new look and feel – and it’s in response to feedback from the millions of PSN registrants in the PAL region.
The revamp comes in response to a survey last year which showed that many PLAYSTATION Store users wanted a better interface and easier navigation. The new design will deliver a hugely improved navigation system, much greater scope for categorisation and a dynamic new user interface.
Content will be suspended for two weeks while the improvements are carried out but users can look forward to a special update in mid-April.
There will be no weekly content updates between now and the re-launch, although users can still download content from the back catalogue, such as Warhawk™ and Gran Turismo™ 5 Prologue.
The PLAYSTATION Store revamp will not affect PLAYSTATION Network accounts or the virtual wallet system.
A new PlayStation 3 SKU may be on the way as the FCC has just approved one. As of now we have no idea what we have no idea whether this is a brand new model, or part of the upcoming Metal Gear Solid 4 bundle, or even a new color. Of course, when we find out, we will let you know.
[FCC Report]
The latest issue of ZOO Magazine features of course, a preview of Rockstar's upcoming Grand Theft Auto IV. The new preview shows camera off-screen pictures of their play through of Grand Theft Auto IV. That means in-game screenshots.
There were two in this preview, one at the link, and on on the left there. They show the little map at the left and they look stunning.
[ZOO pics right here, GTA4 in game]
The newest issue of PSW Magazine discusses one of the most important things in the history of gaming. The PlayStation 3 version of Grand Theft Auto IV is likely to include PlayStation Home support . Getting the in-game achievements gives users new items for their Home space along with items to decorate their avatars. The PlayStation 3 is also likely receive it's own downloadable content soon after the Xbox 360 receives theirs according to Jeronimo Barrera. (Thanks Kaddas!)
[Grand Theft Auto IV to Include Home Support & Exclusive PS3 DLC]
Okay, as you know, I wasn't in New York this weekend. I was in Boston due to Family Matters (no deaths, nothing serious, no worries). I get back to see the readers of the site doing my job and posting the news in the comments for me. So here it is, the weekend update all in one post. Lets take a look.
There is the update, after this, all news will be updated regularly as it was before my trip.
- PlayStation Store Redesign Advertised on European Store - The European PlayStation Store features a banner on the right telling of a PlayStation Store redesign that is coming soon. (Thanks Anonymous!)
- Dylan Jobe Mentions New PlayStation Store for April - Along with the above, more confirmation came from Dylan Jobe where he confirmed in a comment on the PlayStation.Blog the new store coming next month. Jobe: "I know! April is crazy right? New store, new games… …and GT5 is wicked fun! I’ve been playing it way too much!" (Thanks Anonymous!)
- Valkyria Chronicles: Isara Gunther Trailer - A new Valkyria Chronicles trailer is online displaying Isara Gunther, the younger sister of the main character, Welkin Gunther. Enjoy it! (Thanks Jimmy!)
- Ubisoft Teases With New GRAW - It seems Ubisoft is planning on adding something to the Ghost Recon series, such as a Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 3 or something through a teaser on the website.
- Prototype Looses Multiplayer - Sierra's Prototype was supposed to feature online cooperative play, but it seems Radical is making it strictly single-player. Tim Benninson told Team XBOX that it wouldn't "be able to pull it off with the same level of quality and polish that we're aiming for with the original single player story." Too bad.
- PixelJunk Monsters Expansion Coming Soon - An upcoming expansion for PixelJunk Monsters titled PixelJunk Monsters: Encore will be hitting the store late April. It adds the island of Toki to the original game’s island of Tiki.
Alright guys, for the next two days (three if you include today), onAXIS isn't going to update you with the latest news. This will be in effect until around 7:30 PM on Sunday March 30, 2008.
The reason is because I'm going to Boston for family reasons, and where I'm heading, I have no internet access. My laptop is unfortunately busted as well. We hope you'll still visit in those three days, keep onAXIS going with traffic.
Once the new site opens (possibly next week), we will have more writers meaning this kind of thing will not be a problem. I'm terribly sorry for this, and I will see you guys Sunday. For now, feel free to drop some news, rumors, and such, in the comments discussion.
Matt Turner, Assistant Producer for Army of Two, revealed today on his blog about an upcoming Army of Two demo and downloadable content.
"So guess what people. The demo is coming. Oh Yeah. Sha-bam. Looks like it will be going live April 1st. So for those of you that have yet to give our game a whirl you can download it off Xbox live and take it for a test run. It’s the training and first map of the game so it gets you familiar with the systems and then lets you get a taste of the combat. We figured that now is as good a time as any to get it out there. It will be free, of course, and waiting to entice you like a piece of raw meet dangling over an alligator pond…jumping, snapping, being generally menacing until you grab it and take it deep under water for a good ol’ fashion death roll… animals! Again! I always get on nature tangents…it’s kind of a thing these days I suppose.Sadly, a demo will not come to the PlayStation 3 because Electronic Arts wants to shaft it once again. They also revealed details on the upcoming patch for the PlayStation 3 though.
Moving on. So there is 1 new multiplayer map arriving as well as 2 new campaign maps in the not too distant future. As well as SSC Challenge- that’s the obstacle course for mercs that I mentioned in my previous post. So that being said there is some good stuff to look forward to in the future for AO2."
[Details of Army of Two Demo, Downloadable Content and Patch Revealed]
- Problems connecting to EA servers
- Getting Disconnected from Multiplayer matches
- PS3 Headset issues
- Region Lock
Checking out the Japanese PlayStation Store may bring you upon the new Armored Core: For Answer demo that was just made available today. The demo weighs in at 517MB and can be downloaded now. Enjoy!
[Armored Core: for Answer demo out in Japan]
The latest issue of Electronic Gaming Monthly comes with a very brief rumor. Supposedly, Sony's Studio Liverpool is working on a "stunning" action game called The Protector. Thats it, the rumor ends there. Oh, how we hunger for more.
[EGM #228, May 2008: SOCOM hits the PS3, BioWare's Sonic RPG revealed]
Buisness Week spoke with Microsoft in regards to the new Master Cheif character modification for Unreal Tournament III for the PlayStation 3. Microsoft attorney Don McGowan had this to say about the situation.
"Actually it's nothing more than the Game Content Usage Rules...in action. When these were developed, people all thought they were focused on machinima. The truth is that while they do address machinima they also allow for a lot of other things. Mods like this are one of them."He continues on, getting more personal.
The developers aren't selling the mod, they're not monetizing Microsoft's IP, they're just creating something to share their love of the Master Chief on a new platform...And no one is taking characters from PlayStation games (do they even have any games?) and putting them on our platform..."Oh no he didn't!". Come on Sony, lets here a good comeback for the guys at Microsoft. Perhaps nobody is taking characters from PlayStation games and putting it on the Xbox 360 because they don't allow community modifications.
Well, Rockstar has just confirmed it. The new Social Club will be computable with the PlayStation Network and Xbox Live. Players can register on the site on April 15, 2008 and start tacking all the stuff they can do for Grand Theft Auto IV's release of April 29, 2008. The site will rank players by time to single player completion, tracking the first to complete 100% of the game, and something titled the LCPD Police Blotter where a virtual map lists every single-player crime committed in the game. The full press release below. [Kotaku]
On April 29th Rockstar Games will release the most anticipated game of 2008, Grand Theft Auto IV. In addition to the game, the company is launching the Rockstar Social Club, a new website that will extend your experience of Grand Theft Auto IV and all future Rockstar Games titles.The Rockstar Social Club is more than just a standard gaming site. It features all of the statistical leaderboards that gamers have come to expect, and combines them with performance-based competitions and awards.
Registration for the Rockstar Social Club begins on April 15th and anyone can sign up with their Xbox Gamertag and/or a PlayStation Network ID.
GTA IV, the first game featured on the Rockstar Social Club, has exciting features beyond multiplayer leaderboards, including:
* LCPD Police Blotter — A virtual map and tracker of single-player criminal activity logged in Liberty City from the aggregated data of millions of connected players - showing the most dangerous areas of town, most commonly used weapons and more.
* The Story Gang — This special single-player leaderboard recognizes players who complete Niko Bellic's main story arc of Grand Theft Auto IV - The leaderboard ranks players according to the total amount of playing time it's taken to complete the story, as well as a historical rank by who has completed it first. Members of this club will receive special online widgets and merit badges marking all of their in-game accomplishments.
* The 100% Club — Watch to see who will be the first to complete 100% of the game. The first ten people to be identified on the Social Club as reaching 100% will be sent an ultra-rare commemorative 'key to the city' to mark their accomplishment. In the future, the 100% Club will then carry a historical leaderboard showing rankings of who has completed 100% of a game in the shortest span of playing hours.
* The Hall of Fame — This area will dynamically recognize those singularly elite players who have reached the top of the hill on various statistical leaderboards, and will also contain a personal awards display of special in-game landmarks and successes in Social Club competitions.
* The Liberty City Marathon — A ranking of special physical milestones achieved in the game - from the amount of miles walked, driven, or swam - to the number of bullets fired and stunt-jumps jumped. There will be additional special marathon-based competitions in the future from this area as well.
The Rockstar Social Club doesn't stop there. With special competitions, leaderboards and challenges rolling out regularly in the weeks and months following the game's release, this is just the beginning of an on-going Liberty City experience and is a small taste of what's to come from Rockstar Games for GTAIV and beyond...
Rumors about Rockstar Games opening a new community site a few weeks ago seem to be coming true. Rockstar updated their official site today with a link to the "Rockstar Social Club", which seems to be some sort of community site. When it launches, we will update you on what it is exactly.
[Rockstar Social Club] [N4G]
GamesThere is the update, ashame to see no PlayStation 3 demos although.PSP Demos
- flOw Bundle ($8.99)
- Warhawk Price-Drop ($29.99)
Add-Ons
- R-Type Command demo (free)
Game Videos
- High Stakes on the Vegas Strip: Poker Edition Multiplayer Video Chat (free)
- Karaoke Revolution Presents: American Idol Encore Downloadable Songs
- "How You Remind Me" - Nickelback ($1.50)
- "ABC" - The Jackson 5 ($1.50)
- "All My Ex's Live in Texas" - George Strait ($1.50)
- "Baby One More Time" - Britney Spears ($1.50)
- "Beat It" - Michael Jackson ($1.50)
- "Billie Jean" - Michael Jackson ($1.50)
- "Bizarre Love Triangle" - New Order ($1.50)
- "Boot Scootin' Boogie" - Brooks & Dunn ($1.50)
- "California Dreaming" - Mamas & The Papas ($1.50)
- "Chain of Fools" - Aretha Franklin ($1.50)
- "Chattahoochee" - Alan Jackson ($1.50)
- "Crawling in the Dark" - Hoobastank ($1.50)
- "Crazy" - Patsy Cline ($1.50)
- "Don't Know Why" - Nora Jones ($1.50)
- "Everything You Want" - Vertical Horizon ($1.50)
- "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" - Cyndi Lauper ($1.50)
- "Hey Jealousy" - Gin Blossoms ($1.50)
- "Hit Me With Your Best Shot" - Pat Benetar ($1.50)
- "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch) - The Four Tops ($1.50)
- "I Hate Everything About You" - Three Days Grace ($1.50)
- "I Heard it Through a Grapevine" - Marvin Gaye ($1.50)
- "I Want You Back" - The Jackson 5 ($1.50)
- "I'll Make Love To You" - Boyz II Men ($1.50)
- "It's the End of the World as We Know it" - REM ($1.50)
- "Jessie's Girl" - Rick Springfield ($1.50)
- "Just My Imagination" - The Temptations ($1.50)
- "Kiss Me" - Sixpence None the Richer ($1.50)
- "Like a Virgin" - Madonna ($1.50)
- "Love Shack" - B-52'S ($1.50)
- "One Week" - Barenaked Ladies ($1.50)
- "Oops!...I Did it Again" - Britney Spears ($1.50)
- "Please Mr. Postman" - The Marvelettes ($1.50)
- "Save Tonight" - Eagle Eye Cherry ($1.50)
- "She Talks to Angels" - Black Crowes ($1.50)
- "Shining Star" - Earth, Wind & Fire ($1.50)
- "Son of a Preacher Man" - Dusty Springfield ($1.50)
- "Take my Breath Away" - Berlin ($1.50)
- "Virtual Insanity" - Jamiroquai ($1.50)
- "When a Man Loves a Woman" - Percy Sledge ($1.50)
- "You Really Got Me" - Van Halen ($1.50)
- "Fame" - Irene Cara ($1.50)
- Rock Band Downloadable Songs
- Boston Pack 01 ($9.99)
- “More Than A Feeling” by Boston ($1.99)
- “Peace of Mind" by Boston ($1.99)
- "Smokin'" by Boston ($1.99)
- "Rock and Roll Band" by Boston ($1.99)
- "Something About You" by Boston ($1.99)
- "Hitch A Ride" by Boston ($1.99)
- Turok Multiplayer Map Pack 1 ($4.99)
- Unreal Tournament III Map Pack (free) (Morbias, Facing Worlds, Searchlights)
Blu-Ray Disc Trailers
- Grand Theft Auto IV Trailer 4 - "Everyone's a Rat" (free)
- God of War: Chains of Olympus - TV spot (free)
- Winter X Games '08 Play the Pros (free)
- Gran Turismo 5 Prologue - Mars Volta Video (free)
- Gran Turismo 5 Prologue - Thin Lizzy Video (free)
- Gran Turismo 5 Prologue - Weezer Video (free)
- Warhawk Update v1.3 Trailer (free)
- PURE Gameplay Trailer (free)
- PURE CG Trailer (free)
- Jean Wyclef’s “Fast Car” Music Video (free)
Themes
- SPHE Fall 2007 TV Spot (free)
- Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story Blu-ray Disc Trailer (free)
Wallpaper
- Eye of Judgment Theme (free)
- Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots SNEAK OUT Wallpapers (free)
GameStop has now received these special Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots pre-order discs in today. The DVD comes with a beta code for Metal Gear Online, going from April 17, 2008 to download, and April 21 until May 5, 2008 to play. The DVD also comes with these sections, showing the saga of the game.
Chapter 001 - Prologue[Got my Metal Gear Saga Vol. 2 / Online Beta disc]
Chapter 002 - Metal Gear 20th Anniversary
Chapter 003 - Big Boss - The Origin of Snake
Chapter 004 - Liquid - The Second Snake
Chapter 005 - Solidus - The Third Snake
Chapter 006 - Solid - The First Snake
Are you in love with Insomniac's Resistance: Fall of Man? Getting psyched for Resistance 2? We are. The Chimera skull from the first game's boxart is now up for auction on eBay. It was originally used in an early TV advertisment for the game.
The auction begins on March 28, 2008 at 11:00 AM for those who want to buy it. Unforunately, we want it, and it is starting at a good 2.5K. Oh well.
[1037:Chimera Skull from Playstation 3 game TV ad]
Today, Sony Computer Entertainment launched the official SOCOM.com site. David "Point Man" Brothers was here to greet us. He is the guy SCEA brought in to give us the lastest on SCEA, Slant Six Games, Zipper Interactive, and people part of the SOCOM development. Visit the official site at the link below.
[SOCOM.com]
Ubisoft has released a statement today stating to retract the date they released yesterday for their upcoming HAZE.
“Please note: Change to HAZE release date is MAY release,” said a spokesperson. “Confirmation of the release date soon.”I know it is still in May, but Ubi, you've got to be kidding me.
Here are some new details from the recent blowout of SOCOM: Confrontation information. Lets get to the breakdown.
[SOCOM: Confrontation BLOW OUT!]
- Your clan can talk via open chat, but you can L2 to chat to everyone on your team. Or if you have proximity chat then you chat with who ever is around you.
- The new Crossroads has an extra outer ring that the PS2 version didn’t have. There are two towers now.
- Confrontation is 32 players but you can make smaller maps for 16 players total.
- The SIXAXIS tilt can be tweaked for sensitivity
- There will be 7 maps total at launch. All maps will be based in North Africa.
- There are exploding barrels and cars.
- There is an underground map that has a collapse part triggered by the enemy.
- View distance is big, so no more fog like SOCOM 2.
- Clan support will be available on SOCOM.com where the leader can change their clan, add players etc.
- Audio has changed. Sounds around a corner sound muffled.
- There is now a run/sprint mode. You can run/sprint but you can't shoot and your gun will not be accurate after running. So basically just use this too avoid snipers.
- Ranked matches are automated. If you want to set up your own room with specifics (no grenades, etc) it wont be ranked. This stops cheaters and rank ups.
- They are planning on having a new headset for SOCOM. (could this be it?)
- They are bringing back a new game mode called “Elimination ” like in SOCOM 2. Kill the whole other team or take a draw.
- You can no longer set up a match exactly defined to your teams exact strengths and create a honeypot to raise your clan ranking. For you clan to have a global ranking you now have to be a rounded team with good strategies for dealing with all the maps. Now , you can build all the custom games you want - the room system is still there, which i know is really important to socom fans. you can do all your clan tryouts and training in those rooms. and even playing within those games aggregates different stats, because we track a lot of information about the player, but it doesn’t directly go into the global clan ladder” (no rank up).
A new IGN interview with Aaron Blean of Swordfish Stuidos, developers of the upcoming 50 Cent: Blood on the Sand game. In the interview, Aaron discusses the story. Lets take a look.
"...what's inspired the title is, 50 and G-Unit are putting on a sold-out performance somewhere in a fictional Middle Eastern setting. This is where the 'blood on the sand' comes in. They put on the performance; the people are pleased, but the concert promoter stiffs them and doesn't give 50 and G-Unit their payment.So, of course, 50 isn't going to leave until he gets paid, so he hassles the concert promoter, [saying] if he doesn't come up with the money now, there will be consequences. And instead, the promoter offers him a very valuable gift - something that's valuable to this particular country - a diamond encrusted skull.
So 50 gets the skull, and as he's about to leave this war-torn country, when they're ambushed and the skull is taken. They escape the ambush, but they're without the skull. So 50's motivated to get what belongs to him. So basically, throughout the game, he's trying to track these people down and find out who they are and why he was ambushed."
Woah, national treasures? Skulls that make me think of an episode of Family Guy? A rich billionaire who cannot stand to loose a couple hundred thousand. Weird.
They also mention some of the game modes, such as the drop-in, drop-out cooperative mode (like in Gears of War) where your friend can drop in being either Lloyd Banks, Tony Yayo or DJ Whoo Kid. Unfortunately, they cannot reveal if the only two characters that matter, Eminem and Dr. Dre, are in the game.
Seems like we are going to have to wait a bit longer than we thought till we get our hands on SOCOM: Confrontation. The game is officially hitting Stores on September 16, 2008.
To celebrate, Sony Computer Entertainment will be launching SOCOM.com tomorrow. It is a site devoted to the game with regular updates, news, and a community for fans.
Sigh, why do all the good games have to be so far away?
[SOCOM Confrontation Marching Out on September 16]
Tomorrow, the European PlayStation Store will be receiving the UEFA Euro 2008 soccer demo as part of their Thursday update. Whether this applies to the US update as well, we are not sure.
"I'm sorry that you have tried downloading the file and are experiencing problems with it, however, the UEFA EURO 2008 PC demo is scheduled for tomorrow (March 27). The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 demo's are also scheduled for tomorrow too!"
[UEFA Euro 2008 demo to materialize this week]
On a new post about the Gran Turismo 5 Prologue mixtape, a commenter was wondering whether or not he should get the game depending on how long Gran Turismo 5 will take to come out. Chris Hinojosa-Miranda of SCEA responded.
"You could borrow it from someone, but that’s like licking the bowl after someone’s finished the ice cream…There you have it, we still got a year, so all you out there still undecided, you might as well pick up Prologue to tide you over.Also, to further clarify, GT5 is still about a year away. You should just decide now to buy it, enjoy it, go online and race against anyone and everyone, rank number one worldwide, get the girl (or guy) and become the most popular kid in town. The end."
VideoGamer.com seems to have gotten their hands on a release schedule for Sony Computer Entertainment UK. According to the release, KILLZONE 2 and LittleBigPlanet will be arriving sometime in September, with Resistance 2 following after in November. This was even confirmed by Sony.
Summer to Fall is going to be a great time for PlayStation 3 owners. No word on a North American release schedule, but they are probably around the same.
[Killzone 2, LittleBigPlanet, Resistance 2 get release window in UK]
Take-Two has opened it's company to third-party offers today, since it has been receiveing interest from a number of third-parties. Earlier, their board of directors dismissed Electronic Arts' offer until after the release of Grand Theft Auto IV on April 29, 2008.
"The board has commenced a process for considering strategic alternatives in order to be prepared to engage in discussions with any parties, including EA, interested in a strategic business combination following Take-Two's release of Grand Theft Auto IV," said the company in a statement.
"The company has received indications of interest from third parties with respect to possible business combination transactions involving the company since EA's announcement, but no substantive discussions have yet occurred," detailed Take-Two.
"Our Board, after careful review, has unanimously determined that Electronic Arts' offer continues to provide insufficient value and remains opportunistically timed to capture the value of the upcoming Grand Theft Auto IV launch at the expense of our stockholders," said Zelnick.
"We are effectively working toward a process to review all available options to maximise this value, either as an independent company or in combination with a third party, and are open to beginning informal discussions starting now.
"Our stockholders' interests would hardly be served by accepting an offer from EA at the wrong price and the wrong time," he added.
I don't know what your thinking, but I'm thinking Sony should try and get at this deal, if Take-Two allows them.
[Take-Two opens door to third-party offers]
We knew the announcement was coming. Vivendi has announced 50 Cent: Blood on the Sand for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. By the looks of it, 50 Cent is in the middle-east this time, but the developers won't say.
"Once we get the game out there ... I think people will realize right away where our focus for the sequel is," Vivendi Games producer Aaron Blean told MTV News. "We've emphasized the gameplay quality [more] than anything this time around. We can't wait to show the game around."
"50 is going to create exclusive tracks for the game that you can only listen to in the game," Blean said, describing the game as the "ultimate 50 Cent experience."
Maybe Vivendi will get it right this time around. Seriously though, it's 50 Cent, he was good years ago. Where is my Talib Kweli video game?
[50 Cent Video Game: 'Blood On The Sand' Details]
A trust-worthy source seems to have leaked some more information regarding SEGA's Sonic Unleashed to Kombo. Whether it is true or not is unknown, but they state it's trust-worthy. Lets look.
Hmm, and exclusive Sonic game to the PlayStation 3 and Nintendo Wii. I wouldn't mind, but Sonic should be enjoyed by all fans, especially if this is the "good Sonic" we've all been waiting for.
- It's being said that a good chunk of this is a real leak, and SEGA isn't happy about it. Word is that ONM in the UK and Play were supposed to have exclusives, but now? No telling where that stands.
- In addition, the screens are said to have been taken from the FTP server, but the video? That came from somewhere else. And SEGA's trying to perform damage control and get it removed from YouTube wherever they find it, or so they say; we aren't having any trouble finding it, and no "this video has been removed" yet. But let's face it, this cat is well out of the bag.
- While confirmation for any system is sketchy, it seems that the PS3 and Wii are the main ones right now, with the screens and video coming from the PS3 dev kit. No Wii pics yet, but it's said to be in the works. 360? Never say never, but at the moment, it remains "unconfirmed," as different SEGA people seem to be saying different things.
This makes some sense, given the presence of what appear to be Secret Rings-styled segments, and the 360's lack of motion control.- For gameplay, it's said that the game will be using the same engine as Sonic Rush for the Nintendo DS (not graphics engine, of course). Wolf Sonic, Were-Sonic, call him what you will, he's supposed to be real. But it's said that no details have been revealed as to his gameplay, regardless of what you may have read.
Here comes yet another multiplayer preview for Grand Theft Auto IV. There is a lot to read, so read, imagine it, bash your head against the wall for having to wait 33 more days, then love it.
You can view the scans of the multiplayer mode (with actual new screenshots) at the link.
- In all multiplayer modes entire Liberty City is available (Host sets what area people respawn at this is the main battle area but you can go anywhere).
- Your online character can be male or female.
- The money you get determines you rank online.
- You get money by killing people.
- Host can set how the game chat works (everyone hears you, only teams can hear eachother, or proximity chat).
- In race mode anything goes (you can use helicopters, boats, or even run across finish as long as your first you win).
- Shooting and driving is fairly difficult (as it should be).
- Hangmans NOOSE is 4 players and starts at airport where you must take Kenny Petrovic to safe zone in city while persuade by the NOOSE team (National Organization of Security Enforcement).
- You can skip rockets across the ground if aimed correctly.
- Free roam is just that: no rules, no cash, host decides weapons.
- OXM believed that free roam will be Grand Theft Auto IV's app and said it was incredible fun and will last for years and years they believe.
- Jeronimo Barrera, a senior developer at Rockstar, says it takes testers playing 4 hours a day "a good 2 weeks to get through the whole single-player game".
- Rockstar's Steve Hahnel says the ambition of Grand Theft Auto IV is the reason the game was delayed. Multiplayer was one of the main things responsible for the delay. Gameplay needed to be balanced, and "an authentic Liberty City had to be created for 16 players to explore and destroy simultaneously."
- In multiplayer, as stated previously, the host gets to decide on a number of options such as weather, vehicle types, spawn location, etc. The host also gets to decide if auto-aim can be used.
- Health, armor and cash pickups are available during multiplayer. The cash determines your online rank - from 0 to 10. Kill people and steal their money to boost your online credibility.
- You can wander anywhere during multiplayer, but if you die you will respawn in the area that the host has set.
- You can't play as Niko during multiplayer, but you can create your own character (male or female) using different clothing.
