Original Post 2/7/08 9:14 PM: If anybody has downloaded the Lost Planet: Extreme Condition demo as I have, then you are probably not playing it yet. The demo has been receiving a huge connection error, as you can probably tell by visiting forums such as NeoGAF and GameTrailers.
The game rooms always say they are full (sometimes when there is 1/8 people), you get a connection error, or you join but the game doesn't start. What is the problem? We will be contacting Capcom to see whats going on.
Update 2/7/08 9:47 PM: We've got a response from Capcom. A simple "Working on it…" tells a lot: They are working on it.
Update 2/8/08 9:45 PM: Chris Kramer, the man I spoke with in the e-mail, has updated us on the PlayStation.Blog that the Lost Planet: Extreme Condition demo is being temporarily taken down from the PlayStation Store. They are going to fix the problems and get it back online as fast as possible.
Friday, February 8, 2008
Lost Planet Demo: The Pain in the Ass [Update #2]
Grand Theft Auto IV: First Hands-On With PLAYSTATION 3 Version
The PLAYSTATION 3 version of Grand Theft Auto IV hasn't been shown yet as far as we know. Well, the latest issue of PSM3 features twelve-pages of an exclusive preview with the PLAYSTATION 3 version. The magazine reveals further details.
- The preview was based on the PlayStation 3 version of the game. This is the first time (as far as we are aware) that the PS3 version has been previewed by the gaming press.Seriously, I don't know how Rockstar is doing this. This is going to be one amazing game, and as I read in a comment on the site earlier, the best multiplatform game of the year.
- The faster you tap X, the faster Niko runs. He doesn't appear to get tired.
- Major collisions on motorbikes cause the helmet to fall off. You can see it fall onto the ground.
- Heavy fire will scar - and permanently destroy - parts of the environment.
- They previewed a mission called "To Live and Die in Alderney," which is the second part of "Truck Hustle." The second mission is called "Jamaican Heat," and acts as a tutorial for the new cover/targeting system. The third mission is called "Jacob's Ladder," and the fourth (and final) mission is called "Harbouring a Grudge." This mission introduces an Irish character called Patrick McReary, who is related to Francis.
- The mobile phone can be used to call the police, the paramedics, and the fire department.
- There are 18 radio stations in GTA 4 - one of which is Russian. All of these stations can be accessed via the mobile phone.
- You can take photos with the mobile phone and upload them to the police computer.
- Health is represented by a green semi-circle on the left side of the radar, and a right semi-circle represents armour. You can restore health by resting, by using medical kits, and by eating.
- In taxis, you can ask the driver to change the radio station by pressing D-pad left or right.
- The GTA 4 equivalent of the Lincoln Tunnel is known as the Booth Tunnel.
[New Previews from PSM3 and Games Master]
Grand Theft Auto IV: GamesMaster Preview
The latest issue of UK gaming magazine, GamesMaster features a new preview for Rockstar's upcoming Grand Theft Auto IV. The summary is below.
- The game features a Gears of War like cover system, allowing you to 'snap' to your cover.
- You can see characters breath when it’s cold.
- Some missions, you will encouraged to ‘kneecap’ people.
- Shoot a tire and you will hear the air escape.
- Moths fly around the street lamps.
- You can see cockroaches scurrying across the floor in some of the dodgier places.
- You can see car exhaust fumes.
- You may be able to befriend a doctor/medic as a way to earn health.
- You can shoot chains holding logs together on flatbed trucks to spill them.
- You can hear other car’s stereos.
- Characters in the game wear different brands of clothing and are wearing something different every day you see them.
- Two minutes in real life is an hour of game time.
- Niko can loose health when he takes a hit while driving. Unlike previous games although, his car won't explode when flipped over.
- Niko can toss grenades and lock on to his targets while he is driving.
[GamesMaster plays GTA IV]
Rumor: Grand Theft Auto IV's Multiplayer & Mini-Game Details
We love rumors, especially when they are as good as this. The new site for Grand Theft Auto IV has launched today (view new screens and videos here), and the internet is jumping with Grand Theft Auto IV fever.
However, the site doesn't reveal any details on the game's multiplayer, but only teases us by saying "Coming Soon." A trusted source has stated some of the names of the game's multiplayer modes, and the title's mini-games as well.
Grand Theft Auto IV's multiplayer mode will be deep. It will include deathmath, team play, and some ranked cooperative missions. Some other modes include "Deal Breaker," "Bomb da Base," and one called "Hangman's Noose". Sadly, no details were revealed on those three.
The mini-games to be included in Grand Theft Auto IV are games like darts, bowling, and pool. There will also be a min-game called QUB3D as well.
When Rockstar confirms these details, we will update. However, Destructoid assures us their source if highly credible.
[Rumortoid: Grand Theft Auto IV multiplayer, mini-game details]
Rainbow Six Vegas 2: Building & Satellite Gameplay
Some new gameplay videos of Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Vegas 2 have appeared today. The new gameplay shows some satellite gameplay along with some building gameplay that reminds me a lot of Counter Strike. Enjoy!
LEGO Indiana Jones: First Five Screenshots
[LEGO Indiana Jones in images]
Ken Kutagari: Father of the PlayStation Awarded at DICE 2008
At the DICE 2008 Summit, the Academ of Interactive Arts & Science honored Ken Kutagari was awarded with the 2008 Lifetime Achievement Award.
We also have Kutagari to thank as well. Without him, we wouldn't be playing Uncharted, God of War, and future titles to come.
[Father of the PlayStation Honored at D.I.C.E.]
Activision: No Problems Developing for PLAYSTATION 3
Activision stated today that it has no problem developing on the PLAYSTATION 3 as other companies like Electronic Arts claim.
Michael J. Griffith, president and CEO of Activision's Publishing Unit, said during a conference call today:
“What you are seeing with many publishers is they are unable to simultaneously develop and launch on the PS3 and the Xbox 360. Instead, they develop and release one SKU at a time or they simply don’t release a PS3 SKU at all. Call of Duty 4 represents the best-in-class next-generation development, making it the number one selling title of all time on the PS3.During the call, Activision also lined up games like Guitar Hero IV and Call of Duty 5 for their fiscal 2009.
“Over the past year, our central technology group has created a proprietary set of tools for next-gen development that has enabled our developers to address the challenging PS3 architecture in efficient ways. Our tools allow us to identify performance bottlenecks in the PS3 and focus our effort in a targeted way to improve performance that would otherwise without these tools simply be a trial-and-error approach.”
[Activision: PS3 Development Not a Problem]
PS3 Rainbow Six Vegas 2 Will Not Be an Xbox 360 Port
Good news for Rainbow Six Vegas fans. The upcoming sequel, Rainbow Six Vegas 2, will not be a port from the Xbox 360 version.
Philippe Therien, a designer on the title, said that the team is "working really hard right now to put them on par graphics wise" but admitted that there will be "slight differences" each version, including lighting.
He went on: "They're (the PS3 and Xbox 360) very different. PS3 and Xbox 360, it's not the same at all. When we were working it's not like there's a 360 version and it's being ported on PS3, that doesn't really work. So what we did is we split the team in three, we got people working on Xbox, people playing PlayStation and people working on PC. These three teams are working together but in parallel to make sure everything gets to the same point. That's not to say that one console is better than the other, they're just different. We just want people to choose the platform of their choice to play Vegas the way we want them to."
Well, maybe this time around (with multiplatform games), we won't get the short end of the stick. We will wait and find out.
[PS3 Rainbow Six Vegas 2 will not be a 360 port]
Grand Theft Auto IV: Site Opening Screenshots, Videos
Wardevil: New Tidbits of Information
Some new information on Wardevil was released today. The developers really seem to be making use of the PLAYSTATION 3's technology.
- They are not finished with the game yet, still adding improvements both gameplay wise and graphically.Sure it doesn't reveal much about the game, but at least we know it's going along smoothly.
- They are making good use of the SPU's and streaming off of the Blu-ray disc.
- Their goal is to get the Blu-Ray film & game to look as identical as possible... so there is no transition between game/cinematic.
- They are taking development in a new direction different from everyone else.
- They will not be at GDC.
[Wardevil and the PS3...]
Blu-Ray Exclusivity: Filmax Movies
It shouldn't even be news anymore when a film company goes Blu-Ray exclusive. It just happens to often.
Filmax, a Spanish film distributor revealed today that they are only going to release high definition titles on Blu-Ray disc. These movies include Resident Evil, Flyboys, and Million Dollar Baby.
No release date was given for any of these movies however. At least there is another company in the bag.
[Filmax Now Exclusively Blu-ray Too]
