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Ratchet and Clank Trilogy brings HD lombaxes to Europe starting June 27
The PS3 Ratchet & Clank HD Trilogy has a trilogy of release dates for PAL regions, announced today on the PlayStation Blog. The remastered set will be released in Australia and New Zealand June 28, in the UK and Ireland June 29, and throughout Europe on June 27.That's a bit later than the proposed May 16 date originally given for Europe, but it's also a lot sooner than the fall 2012 date attached to the North American release.
Ratchet and Clank HD collection in NA this fall, Europe in May
The Ratchet and Clank Collection, an HD roundup of Insomniac's popular PS2 platformers, has been made official by the PlayStation Blog (Amazon spilled the sprockets earlier this month). The bundle, which includes Ratchet and Clank, R&C: Going Commando and R&C: Up Your Arsenal, will be available May 16 in Europe (as The Ratchet & Clank Trilogy) and "this fall" in North America."I know it's a little bit later than the spring European release, but it's because we have something very special planned for our North American fans to celebrate the 10th anniversary, and we'll share all the details very soon," Insomniac Games' CEO Ted Price wrote on the US PS Blog.All three titles will feature 1080p HD support (720p in 3D) and Trophies, along with the online, competitive multiplayer component from Up Your Arsenal. Ah, the internet was still such a new and magical place back in 2004.
Ratchet and Clank HD listed on Amazon France
A Ratchet and Clank HD Collection was spotted and pulled from Amazon France. Eurogamer grabbed an image of the listing before the takedown, which had a May 16, 2012, launch date.Since this is the Ratchet and Clank HD Collection, we take it to mean it includes the original game, Going Commando and Up Your Arsenal. It'd be a bonus if Deadlocked -- the Jak X of the series -- were also included.Ratchet and Clank being MIA from all the HD collections that Sony's been pushing out over the years has been a little odd. Anyway, none of this HD collection talk is official until Mr. Zurkon says so. Mr. Zurkon has the last word on everything.
Uncharted, Resistance, and Ratchet & Clank bundles out in Europe July 22
SCEE has confirmed an Uncharted collection, for those European PS3 owners looking for a fast-track method of catching up with the Uncharted series. The publisher told CVG that on July 22, it will release a collection containing Uncharted: Drake's Fortune and Uncharted 2: Among Thieves, along with a dynamic theme and an avatar. The same day will see a European release of the Resistance bundle (coming to North America July 5), which packs the first two games in that series and a Resistance 3 skin. Also out on July 22 in Europe: a Ratchet & Clank bundle containing Tools of Destruction and A Crack in Time, with bonus avatars and a Ratchet & Clank: All 4 One dynamic theme. No announcements were made about the Uncharted or Ratchet bundles in North America, but CVG's line of inquiry did begin with the discovery of the Uncharted collection on Best Buy's US website.
Insomniac shares more details on Ratchet and Clank: All 4 One
Ratchet and Clank: All 4 One (can you believe they didn't go with Four-play as the subtitle?) feels like a whimsical, cartoon version of Gauntlet. Using a more distant automatic camera, instead of the standard behind-the-back perspective used throughout the series, this Ratchet game introduces four-player cooperation to the franchise -- and that also means crazy four-player destruction, given Insomniac's flair for futuristic weaponry. Announced at Gamescom this week, the game features series regulars Ratchet, Clank, Qwark and Dr. Nefarious in a new story that still fits within the loose continuity built over the years. If you think it's a little too loose, you'll be pleased to learn that Insomniac will release a series of comics that bridges the gap between Ratchet & Clank Future and All 4 One.
Heroes on the Move coming to PS3, features list of Sony mascots
You've been waiting for a PlayStation Move-based party game featuring Jak and Daxter, Sly Cooper, Ratchet and Clank, and "others," right? Right?! Well good, because Sony dropped news of just such a game this afternoon at it's E3 2010 press conference. Very little is known about the title -- other than it being one that employs the forthcoming snowball wand -- but we'll be sure to let you know more as soon as we can. For now, take a look at that Jak above, eh? He's a real looker!
Swag Sunday: PlayStation Toy Bundle [update]
Update: We've closed the comments and will pick a winner shortly. Keep an eye out! We're picky and choosy about which video game-themed "action figures" make their way onto the empty spaces at Joystiq HQ, but we'd happily add this week's Swag Sunday prize: the Ratchet & Clank "Series 1 Ratchet with Transforming Clank" (seen above). For a chance to adorn your abode with the pair, all you have to is tell us in the comments below what your favorite Ratchet & Clank game is and, more importantly, why. You see, we've got this ModNation Racers papercraft we've been itching to give to someone. Someone who's really eloquent, though. The kind of person who would thoughtfully explain their choice for favorite R&C game. But who do we know like that? Hmmm ... Leave a comment telling us what your favorite Ratchet & Clank game is and why. You must be 13 years or older and a resident of the US or Canada (excluding Quebec). Limit one entry per person. This entry period ends at 5:31PM ET on Monday, May 24. At that time, we'll randomly select one winner to receive one package containing one Ratchet & Clank "Series 1 Ratchet with Transforming Clank" (ARV $19.99) and one winner to receive one ModNation Racers papercraft; check your emails! For a list of complete rules, click here. What is Joyswag? Since we don't keep the games and merchandise we receive for review or promotional purposes, it becomes "Joyswag," which is passed along to our readers. Please note that Joyswag may be in "used" condition. For more info on our policy, click here.
Sony Europe launches 'PSP Essentials' budget line
Sony is encouraging European PSP owners to take a trip through the console's back catalogue, with a new line of budget games priced at just €9.99. The new "PSP Essentials" line is launching June 2 with a selection of 20 games, including Daxter, Patapon 2, Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters, LocoRoco and more. They'll be available at the same price on UMD and as downloads on PSN. In the PlayStation Blog post announcing the line, SCEE's Mayumi Donovan indicated that in addition to these 20 games, "there will be more games to follow." The line is slated to launch in Australia and New Zealand later in 2010. See the launch lineup after the break.
Insomniac CEO creates Ratchet & Clank girlfriends in ModNation Racers
Sorry to disappoint you, Ratchet & Clank yaoi fans (warning: link NSFW). But what if Insomniac's famed duo had girlfriends? Insomniac CEO Ted Price brings that concept to life through the character creator featured in ModNation Racers. To showcase the creator's versatility, Price created female companions for Ratchet and Clank (like the bikini-clad lombax pictured above). "I think over the next few years, we'll see more and more examples of really great player tools appearing in games," Price says in the video demonstration (embedded after the break). "I certainly hope that happens. I know that we're inspired by what [United Front Games has] done."
Unlockable Bancho Ratchet is one bad mother... shut your mouth!
We're just talkin' about Ratchet. Insomniac is sending some pre-Valentine's love by giving players the unlock code for the Bancho Ratchet skin. Already hidden inside A Crack in Time, the bad boy costume can be unlocked by inputting this elaborate series of buttons and directions on the pause screen: Up, Right, Down, Left, Triangle, Square, X, Circle, R3. It's called a "cheat." Bancho Ratchet was the winning entry in a Japan-only contest for CoroCoro Magazine. As for what a Bancho is, the best explanation we can figure is a "delinquent," especially with Ratchet's resemblance to John Travolta's character in Grease. Well, if you ignore the flippin' huge ears. [Thanks, Solace]
Ratchet and Clank, Resistance figures now on sale
Six-inch tall news now, as DC Comics has released a line of figures based on Insomniac properties Ratchet and Clank and Resistance. As you can see above, the gang's pretty much all here -- the titular duo of Ratchet and Clank, along with Dr. Nefarious and Captain Qwark. Oh, then there's the Resistance guys, like hero Nathan Hale and Chimera A and Chimera B and (our personal favorite) Chimera C! We kid, but if you're interested in plunking down some green on these bath-time buddies (where do you play with your action figures?), you can find them at most retailers. [Via PlayStation Blog]
Hardcore Ratchet fan crafts Lombax Scrabble set
An Insomniac Games forumite named Paul Grzelak recently completed the labor of love you see above -- a stainless steel Scrabble tile set using the Lombax language from the Ratchet & Clank series. The set came about as a collaboration between Grzelak and Insomniac's Paul "Pacman" Haile -- a collaboration that not only resulted in the tiles seen above, but also in the formalization of the Lombax language, for which Grzelak received an in-game credit in A Crack In Time. Neat story, right? If you were hoping to get your hands on a set of these tiles for ... some bizarre reason, you're out of luck. Grzelak only made 25 sets, one of which went to Insomniac. We'd be willing to bet the other 24 are still proudly displayed in his swingin' bachelor's pad. [Thanks, Steliosco]
Best of the Rest: Alexander's Picks of 2009
Valkyria Chronicles "BUT THAT GAME WAS 2008!!11one!1!" Well, yes, in the strictest sense. Sega's strategy role-playing game, an epic tale chronicling the hardships and victories of Gallian militia Squad 7, was sent out to die by the publisher when it released in November 2008. However, word-of-mouth, critical praise and some discounted pricing helped the saga find a place in many people's lives (and hearts) by mid-2009. One of the most endearing mechanics implemented in the game was giving all the playable members of Squad 7 bonuses (or flaws) based on their neuroses, relationships and desires. Also, every character had a different personality that shined during their turn through little quips and order recognition comments. It gave the entire cast more depth of character, even as the player only saw a handful of the troops during cutscenes. Despite the requisite Japanese RPG flair and melodrama, there was a simple beauty and charm in the storytelling, while the gameplay introduced a great basis for iteration. Valkyria Chronicles is a series that, with love and attention, could become so much more. I look forward to returning to Gallia and hope future installments recognize that the delightful characters are as important to the series as the strategic gameplay.
Five features you may have missed in Ratchet & Clank: A Crack in Time
Ratchet and Clank games usually have a little extra for true series fans who want to dig deeper, and A Crack in Time isn't looking to break that trend. Developer Insomniac wants to make sure that those who have played the game are getting out of it all that's in there, pointing out five things for fans not to miss: Space Radio Dynamo of Doom Community Profile Insomniac Museum Return to the Great Clock What does it all mean? Check out the video after the break for the full details.
Ratchet & Clank's primary audience isn't kids, but 20-somethings
It probably comes as no surprise to you -- our well-informed and educated audience -- but the Ratchet & Clank series isn't just designed for the kids. Edge spoke with Insomniac writer TJ Fixman, who expressed that the primary audience for the weapon-indulgent platformer is the "male 18-34" demographic. He notes that teens who played the first game back in 2002 are now in their twenties and stayed fans of the series.Fixman notes that males under 18 could be the "interchangeable primary-secondary market," but that the PS3 user base skews older. He compares the Ratchet style to the Shrek series, explaining that Insomniac tries to find the right blend of humor that'll appeal to a large audience. Now the question remains: When will we see Ratchet & Clank again?
Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Price
If you didn't pick up Ratchet & Clank's latest adventure yet, you're in luck. Amazon.com is selling the game for an already-discounted rate of $49.99. But, with coupon code ratchet3, you'll be able to get an additional $5 off. With free shipping and no sales tax in most states, you'll be able to pick up A Crack in Time for $44.99 -- 25% off the current retail price. For such a new game, this is a really sweet deal.Most likely, you'll have to rush to take advantage of this promotion. And unlike Clank, you probably don't wield a staff that lets you rewind time just in case you miss this opportunity.[Via Slickdeals.net]
Dev: 'A Crack in Time will probably be Insomniac's last 60fps game'
"We want to give you guys, our fans and players, the best looking games you can buy on a console," Insomniac developer Mike Acton wrote on his company's blog. There's certainly no doubt that the team's latest release, A Crack in Time, is a very good looking game. But how much better could it have looked if Insomniac was willing to sacrifice its 60fps rate? Consoles only offer a finite amount of resources, and developers utilize various tricks to get the results they want. For example, Bungie noted that a drop in vertical resolution in Halo 3 offered them increased bandwidth for improved lighting effects. Dropping the framerate would allow Insomniac -- and other developers -- to increase the amount of detail in each frame, something the studio is seriously considering. "There is virtually no advantage in sales or reviews of a 60 fps game versus a 30 fps game," Acton notes. In fact, in some cases, a lowered framerate actually makes a game look better, Acton explains. "A drop in framerate is interestingly seen by some players as a reward for creating or forcing a complex setup in which a lot of things must happen on the screen at once." We nickname that phenomenon the "Otogi 2 effect." With all of these aspects considered, it seems the studio will no longer focus on locking a 60 fps rate. "It means that framerate is still important to us here at Insomniac, but it's not on the same pedestal it was before. And that Ratchet and Clank Future: A Crack in Time will probably be Insomniac's last 60fps game." [Thanks, Marius!]
Insomniac says PS3 won't be maxed for at least another two years
According to Insomniac's James Stevenson, the developer might not begin maxing out the PlayStation 3's power for at least two or three years. The senior community manager's comments (via CVG) are directed towards how efficient developers have become at using Sony's platform to develop its titles. Since it launched, the PlayStation 3 has been notoriously -- and perhaps erroneously -- described as difficult to develop for, but Stevenson applauds Sony for creating hardware with "really long life spans." "We're using all of the PS3 right now," Stevenson says. "But you can always be more efficient in the way you use it." Insomniac's latest, Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time arrives in stores Stateside today and will no doubt include some of the wackiest weaponry gamers have ever been privy to, regardless of how much of the Cell processor is needed to render 'em.
Previous Ratchet & Clank saves unlock bonuses in A Crack in Time
For dedicated Ratchet & Clank fans, playing the previous two entries in the series is going to reward your devotion with a couple of unlocked bonuses in upcoming Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time. Folks who played Tools of Destruction will receive discounts with weapons merchants and those who played Quest for Booty will be rewarded with a pirate hat, ThatVideoGame Blog reports. [Image Credit: PS Nation]A representative for Insomniac Games clarified for us that "You receive discounts on the returning weapons (Negotiator, Buzz Blades, Mag-Net Launcher, Mr. Zurkon, Groovitron Glove) for a Tools of Destruction save, and the pirate hat for Ratchet on the Community screen for the Quest for Booty save." Though neither bonus will dramatically affect time spent with A Crack in Time, it's always nice to see developers rewarding franchise loyalty.%Gallery-68684%
Metareview: Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time (PS3)
Not everyone is brave enough to venture through the cracks in time -- well, Ratchet and Clank are. The duo has found no reason to retire and have once again set out for adventure within your PS3. The latest entry in the series -- Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time -- promised to bring an epic story and non-stop chimpin' action this time around. Has it delivered? 1UP (A): "I'm a casual fan of the series and I still found myself excited to get home and play the game each night the past week. It may be a lot of more of the same, but more of the same has never been so darn addicting." IGN (90/100): "Insomniac has created a visually appealing game with enough personality to match its good looks. With so much to level-up and enjoy, there's enough to keep even hardcore Ratchet fans coming back for more -- especially with the new Clank sections that feature some enthralling puzzles. Now that the awkward space sections from Tools of Destruction have been replaced, there's almost nothing I don't like about Crack in Time. Unfortunately, as Crack in Time still relies heavily on the tried and true Ratchet Formula, gamers that were satisfied with old Ratchet games might not have enough reasons to come back." GameTrailers (89/100): "If A Crack in Time is indeed the final Ratchet & Clank game, then the series has been finished the right way-with a solid game that doesn't stray from what fans love while giving them plenty of service in the process. And in this way, it's also guilty of playing it a bit safe, but when expectations are that high, and are met, it's a sure sign of a quality game." Videogamer (80/100): "Fans of Ratchet and Clank will find A Crack in Time to be more of the same, with a few twists here and there. It's a fine end to the current storyline and packs in loads of content that will see you playing well beyond the closing credits. The lack of fresh ideas, especially during Ratchet's sections, will be seen by many as a negative, but there are so few games that nail the action platforming genre that it's easily forgivable. If you're looking for a fun, imaginative, family friendly PS3 game, A Crack in Time fits the bill perfectly." Eurogamer (70/100): "But I've been playing R&C games for years now, and I was hoping for something extra. That doesn't mean radical change - goodness knows no one wants Ratchet to "go dark" or start running round sandbox environments. I still want a meat feast pizza, I just want it to have a stuffed crust. And maybe some dips. Or in other words, a proper selection of exciting new weapons, original puzzles and a bit of innovation. It's not that A Crack in Time is all fur coat and no knickers. The problem is, it's all fur coat and the same knickers it's been wearing for seven years. Time for a change." %Gallery-68684%
