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PlayStation Classic and original PlayStation, side by side
At the Tokyo Game Show Sony showed off its PlayStation Classic system for the first time in person. Engadget Japan editor Ei Ito said it wasn't playable so we don't know if this is just a mockup or the real thing, but it is sitting next to one of the original consoles that launched in 1994 so you can get an appreciation for the hardware design. Unfortunately Sony is still keeping quiet about the other 15 games it will pack-in, but a press release does note that the miniaturized console (45 percent smaller on the sides and 80 percent smaller in volume) will output video in 720p or 480p only, so it's likely that your TV will have more upscaling work to do.
Surely I just played my final 'Final Fantasy XV' demo
While Final Fantasy XV's decade-long development doesn't beat Duke Nukem's excessive run, it's still a hell of a long time for another part of one of gaming's biggest, longest-running franchises. And it's still not here. However, at the Tokyo Game Show, I got what is possibly the last taster before the main course: a lengthy 30-minute play-through that, barring some brutal initial loading times, felt like a finished game.
'Gravity Rush 2' expands a portable adventure to PS4 scale
The original Gravity Rush was a key launch title for the PlayStation Vita — a (rare) original adventure that wasn't a portable iteration of something that already existed. But when it came to the sequel, Sony's Japan Studios wanted to bring it to home consoles and Gravity Rush 2 was announced alongside a PS4 remaster of the first game. I got to play the latest demo of the sequel here at the Tokyo Game Show, and it looks and feels like a bigger game in nearly every way -- exactly what GR2 needs if it wants to stand out on Sony's main console against stiff competition.
The next 'Resident Evil' game is an online competitive shooter
Resident Evil's recent track record for hits is... patchy. And we're being nicer than we should because of how fondly we remember the earlier games. More recent spin-offs and adventures for the series that all-but invented survival horror might have watered down that (t-virus) formula, but that's not stopping Capcom's very own hideous experiments. Tying into the 20 year anniversary of Resident Evil (or Biohazard), the company announced Biohazard Umbrella Corps, a game that'll see you shooting zombies and... other people that also seem to also be shooting zombies. The trailer was heavy on the action and gore, but expect to control your characters in first person when accuracy demands it, as well as a bunch of new zombie not-so-friendly gadgets and weapons. The game arrives in early 2016 on PS4. (Update: and also PC.)
Bloodborne demo defeats players at PAX Prime, TGS
Recent public playtests indicate that From Software's Dark Souls series successor Bloodborne is shaping up to be just as difficult as its predecessors, DualShockers reports. During Tokyo Game Show last week, producer Masaaki Yamagiwa and marketer Yasuhiro Kitao revealed that less than one percent of players at PAX Prime were able to complete the Bloodborne demo. Only 20 out of approximately 3,500 players were able to kill the Cleric Beast boss and complete the quest at PAX Prime. Around 40 out of 1,250 attempts at TGS were successful. Dark Souls fans who thrive on challenge may take these results as a positive sign, as the series has traditionally focused on gameplay that require patience, preparation, and a willingness to learn through failure. Bloodborne launches exclusively for the PlayStation 4 on February 6, 2015. [Image: From Software]
With Cyberith's Virtualizer, you can run around wearing an Oculus Rift
There was no shortage of VR headsets at the Tokyo Game Show this year -- but that didn't stop the lines forming endlessly over the weekend. Hidden, at least slightly, in Hall 8 was Cyberith, demonstrating their now successfully crowdfunded VR gaming mat, the Virtualizer. It pairs a second-generation Oculus Rift headset with three different sensor arrays, which, with the assistance of a low-friction mat and some "rental socks" from the Cyberith team, we got to test it out. How does it work and (most importantly) when can the rest of you play it? Well, for the latter, a commercial product is planned for launch in 2015 and for the former, we'll let the founders do some of the explaining in a quick video after the break. We'll fill you in on the rest.
Sony plans to sell 5 million PlayStation 4 consoles by the end of the fiscal year
Ambition? Sony's got that. The company just announced during its Tokyo Game Show keynote that it plans to sell a solid five million PlayStation 4 consoles by the end of the fiscal year. It's a bold enough goal on its own, but doubly so when one considers the bomb the company dropped last week: the PS4 won't even launch in Japan until February. To put that number into perspective, Nintendo's floundering Wii U only sold slightly more than half of that much during its own launch window. Perhaps a better comparison would be the sales of its own predecessor, the PlayStation 3, which didn't reach the five million mark until almost a year after launch. Although five million is little more than a drop in the pond for the kind of numbers Sony undoubtedly expects to sell over the next several years, it could give the company a competitive edge over its competition. Update: We caught up with Sony's Andrew House after the keynote, who clarified that the five million sales goal was for the fiscal year, ending in March. Check out all our Tokyo Game Show 2013 coverage right here at our hub!
Dragon Quest X expansion set for TGS 2013 reveal
Square Enix has announced plans to reveal a brand-new Dragon Quest X expansion at Tokyo Game Show 2013. Titled The Ghost That Never Sleeps, the content addition will expand upon the main Dragon Quest X story and add new maps, systems, jobs, and crafts. This announcement follows news that a PC version of Dragon Quest X would be seeing release on September 26th and comments from Square Enix indicating that the game is edging closer to an overseas launch. Tokyo Game Show begins September 19th. Check out the trailer for the PC launch after the break.
Killzone: Shadow Fall, Gran Turismo 6 headline Sony's TGS lineup
Sony has revealed its booth lineup for this month's Tokyo Game Show, announcing plans to showcase more than 30 coming releases for the PlayStation 3, PS Vita and PlayStation 4. Featured PlayStation 4 games include Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed 4, Bethesda's Wolfenstein: The New Order, and Capcom's Deep Down, along with the first-party releases Driveclub, Killzone: Shadow Fall and Knack. Sony's PlayStation Vita lineup highlights Spike Chunsoft's adventure game compilation, Dangan-Ronpa 1 & 2 Reload, Falcom's RPG Eiyuu Densetsu: Sen no Kiseki, and Namco Bandai's Monster Hunter-like God Eater 2. A number of PlayStation 3 games will also be on display, including Gran Turismo 6, Sengoku Basara 4, Dark Souls 2 and Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z. Find a full list of featured games after the break.
Tokyo Game Show theme this year is 'GAMES: Limitless Evolution'
Tokyo Game Show's annual tagline for 2013 is significantly less wacky when compared to those used in previous years, and we're kinda bummed out about it. Whereas other TGS events have been embodied by excellent phrases like "GAME: Dancing Your Heart" and "Game, it's so energetic!" this year's slogan is "GAMES: Limitless Evolution," which is lacking a certain je ne sais quoi. Japanese artist Ippei Gyoubu's female personification of the event (full-size here) is as fantastic as ever, though: "In this year's main visual," the announcement reads, "character 'She' who is the core of games wears a wide variety of devices and tools as parts and she is now going to transform herself into 'something' beyond the reach of imagination to dynamically represent 'GAMES: Limitless Evolution' which is the main theme of Tokyo Game Show 2013." The conference will take place between September 19 and 22 at the Makuhari Messe convention center in Chiba, where officials expect an estimated 200,000 visitors. Last year, the Tokyo Game Show broke its previous attendance records by drawing a total of 223,753 folks over the course of four days.
Tokyo Game Show 2012 wrap-up: Sony's new PS3, 'Prototype-SR' and assorted gaming peripherals
After a few humid and sweaty days in Tokyo, TGS 2012 is drawing to a close. While the public days continue through the weekend, us media types are headed back to our respective homelands until next September. The lasting impression from the week -- aside from eating massive amounts of gyoza -- will undoubtedly be the news Sony dropped the day before the show started at its own press event. A new, even slimmer PS3 is on the way and two new colors for the PS Vita were outed -- at least for Japan. On the show floor, though, we encountered some peripherals well-suited for other gaming tech like Nintendo's 3DS XL, Xbox 360 and PC rigs. You can peek at those for yourself in the Sony Tokyo Game Show gallery that follows and relive all the action in the wrap-up that lies just beyond the break. Also, don't forget to check out our pals over at Joystiq for more coverage from this week's happenings. %Gallery-166241%
Razer BlackShark gaming headset hands-on (video)
At the end of August, Razer outed a black and green-cloaked version of its BlackShark gaming headset. The original unit first broke from cover just ahead of E3, but on that particular show floor, the aviator-inspired set of cans was sporting the blue and orange hues consistent with its Battlefield 3 branding. Here at TGS, we were able to take a closer look at the version that lacks a game-specific allegiance. The hardware is identical with the lone exception being the new paint scheme. If you're unfamiliar with the BlackShark, the headset does a stellar job of recalling classic pilot units complete with detachable boom mic for use with your PMP of choice. The $120 peripheral also features quite comfy heavily-padded, leather-esque earcups and the same material wraps the headband with a dash of bright green stitching -- all held over from the BF3 model. We weren't able to test the audio quality on the show floor, so until our review unit arrives, consult the gallery below and the video that just past the break for a closer look. %Gallery-166225%
Circle Pad Pro for 3DS XL spotted at TGS, we go hands-on (video)
Nintendo is starting to make a habit of quietly releasing products at trade-shows they don't attend. Kyoto's premiere gaming outfit still isn't present on the TGS show floor, but Capcom has once again seen fit to trot out the firm's latest kit: The Circle Pad Pro for 3DS XL. Just like last year's model, this beefy cradle puts the already large 3DS XL outside the realm of pocket-ability, trading the handheld's slim profile for a luxuriously thick grip. Indeed, the fatty accessory makes the console quite comfortable to hold, adding a smooth, slightly contoured back, larger shoulder buttons and, of course, that all important starboard analog pad. The new Circle Pad's bulk is slightly more forgivable for the size of its host device. Yes, the attachment makes the XL a bit more unwieldily, but its supersized form already made it a non-contender for most pants pockets. Sadly, the accessory still sports its predecessor's greatest fault: it blocks the 3DS' cartridge slot. Gamers will have to get used to undocking their console, or else make a habit of buying more downloadable titles. Mum's still the word on pricing and availability, but the accessory was shown with a copy of Monster Hunter 4, which is due out in March of next year. We wouldn't be surprised to see it show up in early spring. Hungry for more? Check out our gallery below for an eyeful, or peek past the break for quick video overview. %Gallery-166218%
Of PlayStation Vita owners, 'almost all' own PlayStation 3 as well
Sony isn't sharing exact numbers, but Sony Computer Entertainment America VP of marketing, handhelds and home consoles John Koller teased that "almost all" PlayStation Vita owners are also PlayStation 3 owners. We were discussing the potential crossover between Vita and PS3 -- the obvious comparison to Nintendo's latest offering, the Wii U, and its tablet controller. The Vita and the PS3 are capable of producing similar functionality, and, if anything, with higher fidelity, as the Vita is a standalone console. Koller says Sony invites the comparison. "We tell our PlayStation fans all the time that what the Wii U is offering is something that Vita and PS3 can do quite easily," he says. It's not just about the functionality, however, it's about whether implementing that functionality makes any sense. "It's dependent on the content. So we need to make sure the content isn't force fed. And, to us, making sure that the gamer receives the right type of experience is what's most important. So we're gonna pick our spots, but that technology does certainly exist here." It wouldn't be hard to imagine Sony bundling the Vita and its new PS3 model together for holiday sales, pushing up against this holiday's Wii U launch. Koller says not just yet, though. "As we look at the lineup, there are gonna be some opportunities to do that. Whether we want to bundle the hardware together remains to be seen," he explains. It sounds like we'll be hearing more on that front in the future, as "retails asks for it all the time," Koller says. For now, however, he's happy knowing that the vast majority of Vita owners are already prepared for cross-functionality between the two consoles. "In the meantime, you look at the Vita consumer and a very high percentage -- almost all of them -- own a PS3. So you see that crossover works."
Sony explains missing PlayStation 3 price drop on old models, EU exclusivity of Flash memory version
Call it the "SuperSlim," the "Ultrasvelte," or the "LipoStation 3" -- just as long as "it stays positive," says Sony Computer Entertainment America VP of marketing, handhelds and home consoles John Koller. The new, even thinner version of the PlayStation 3 doesn't have a new name to distinguish itself from the myriad other PS3 models. Like Apple's third iPad iteration, the third iteration of the PlayStation 3 is simply, "The PlayStation 3." And like the second PS3 console, Koller says the new model is Sony's new standard, with previous models going the way of the Puerto Rican shrew (poor little guy is totally extinct). The new PS3 comes in two models for North America, 250GB and 500GB, which Koller says is a result of North American consumers being more "digitally inclined" than other territories. "We have to provide the hard drive size and the opportunity for them to be able to, out of the box, utilize that content," he argues. But this philosophy may be flawed -- one of Sony's main competitors, Nintendo, is applying the same logic to its Wii U, albeit with starkly different results. Nintendo argues that it doesn't want to pass the rapidly declining cost of memory on to the consumer, so you'll be able to attach any form of external memory to its console. That functionality also exists in the PS3 -- Flash memory via USB or a full-on internal HDD replacement -- but Koller says consumers are more inclined to purchase additional consoles rather than replacing internal storage. "When you look at some of the earlier chassis, and the really early adopters -- the 20GB, and the 60GB -- that consumer had a choice. They could either go out and buy another hard drive -- and it's an easy install, so we make it easy for the consumer if they want to take a hard drive off the shelf and plug it in, they can do that. They had a choice of doing that, or purchasing another PlayStation 3. And what's been happening is we're seeing a lot of adoption of second consoles in-house," Koller says. That philosophy is why Europe's the only territory getting a 12GB Flash-based PlayStation 3. Sure, consumers can expand the system's memory with Flash -- the new model allows for internal memory expansion as well, except for the 12GB version -- but that doesn't line up with SCEA's goals in its territory. "The smaller Flash drive isn't coming to North America, and a lot of that reason is the digital consumer," Koller says. "We really want to make sure, out of the box, that there is an option for them to be able to download that content. That is really critical for us, very very important."%Gallery-165870%
Razer's customizable fight stick returns to TGS for final beta, is still nameless (video)
Remember that disassembly friendly, unnamed Xbox 360 arcade stick Razer trotted out at TGS last year? It's back, and while it hasn't gained any traction in the moniker category, it's received a few notable hardware tweaks. Razer's TGS team told us the stick has been through a total of thirteen revisions since it entered closed beta last year, and is now entering its final beta before production. Leveraging feedback from over 200 enthusiasts, Razer has made a number of tweaks to the controller, including alternative joystick tops, an included miniature screwdriver and a honeycomb screw-mount bottom so modders can install custom PCBs. The new unit also wears an acrylic cover, allowing perspective buyers to swap Razer's default artwork for a custom inlay. Just like last year, this unit features Sanwa Denshi components -- but picky players will be able to swap them out for their preferred parts without fear of voiding their warranty. Razer couldn't tell us how long the final beta phase would last, and only said that the stick would be released once it was "perfect." Our host did hazard a guess, however, that it would be out by early next year. Want to see more? Relive our TGS booth visit after the break.
Turtle Beach Ear Force NLa and N11 stereo Wii U headsets hands-on (video)
Nintendo may be MIA at TGS this year (as usual), but that hasn't stopped Turtle Beach -- it brought a pair of Wii U headsets to the show anyway. We dropped by the outfit's booth to take a peek, finding seemingly empty boxes in lieu of product. Turns out they weren't so empty -- the Ear Force N11 and NLa headsets are so lightweight, we didn't even notice they were there. After a brief unboxing, this editor wrapped each set around his head, finding the headband tension of both the over-ear N11 and the on-ear NLa to be just as light as the accessories themselves, squeezing my skull with only the gentlest of pressure. The sets' earmuffs seemed built for comfort as well, soft, and not the least bit irritating. Staff on hand told us that the internals weren't quite final, but sound quality aside, we could easily see settling in with either of these products for a long, comfortable gaming session. Both sets arrive later this year -- $35 for the white, on-ear Ear Force NLa cans, and $50 for its black over-ear cousin. See our impressions for yourself in the video after the break.
Sony PlayStation Vita Sapphire Blue hands-on (video)
After breaking from cover at yesterday's pre-TGS presser, the two new PlayStation Vita color variants have gotten cozy at the Sony booth on the show floor. Unlike the quick photo opp that we snagged a few hours ago, we were able to actually fondle the "sapphire blue" model in all its metallic-hued glory. Speaking of shiny exteriors, both the blue and red schemes feature a bit of sparkle along with the slathering of new paint. The duo look quite glittery, giving the two some added flair over the regular ol' black and white versions in addition to the color change. The hardware is the same as the existing models and the key difference is strictly visual. As you can see in the gallery below, the backsides of these Vitas is also covered with the same shimmering color as their facades. The pair will arrive in Japan in November and we're keeping a close watch on availability elsewhere.
Redesigned PS3 caught on camera, up close and personal
After Sony's Tokyo Game Show 2012 press conference, our compadres at Engadget got lots of close-up shots of the re-redesigned PlayStation 3 hardware. While they weren't able to get hands on the unit, it appears that the disc-tray now operates on a sliding mechanism. Furthermore, the newer, slimmer unit seems to come with a stand to stabilize the console in the vertical position.Head over to Engadget for lots of pictures.
Sony's PlayStation Vita gets a blue and red-hued makeover, we take a closer look (eyes-on)
After the new PS3s had their moment in the spotlight at Sony's pre-TGS press event, the company also announced color variants for the PS Vita. We weren't able to fondle the pair just yet, the key difference is quite obvious: "cosmic red" and "sapphire blue" exteriors. Both of the new models share the same glossy coating as the original model, so they're sure to attract your fingerprints. These two round out the paint schemes at four when you include the "crystal white" version that's already been unveiled. While we snag a spot in line for a hands-on at the Sony booth, take a peek at the gallery that follows for a quick look at the duo.%Gallery-165877%