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Former Last Guardian devs' teaser trailer is so Vane
Friend and Foe Games offered a teaser trailer for one of its two introductory games this week, Vane. The Tokyo Game Show 2014 trailer shows the game's desert-and-ruins environment, following a bird in flight before observing a shadowy sprinting child. The team of five at Friend and Foe Games includes credits on Team Ico's The Last Guardian, Bionic Commando, Battlefield 3 and the Killzone series. Head past the break to check out the trailer. Announced in June, the game's youthful character has an "odd ability" and is stuck in a "strange land." While the trailer doesn't shed any light on Vane's setting other than it being prone to severe lightning strikes, the child does appear to leap off a platform and morph into a bird near the end of the video. Vane is in development for PC with other consoles to follow and does not currently have a release date. [Image: Friend and Foe Games]
Engadget goes thumbs-on with new 3DS XL
There was always that one kid in your fourth-grade class who "had a cool uncle" that worked at Nintendo, and "totally knew" about all the fancy doodads and thingamajigs the company was working on. Well, we've got a cool uncle too: His name is Engadget, and he's gotten some hands-on impressions of the recently-revealed new 3DS XL model. It was Engadget Senior Editor Mat Smith who had the privilege of toying about with Nintendo's new hardware, and his initial impressions have left him ... well, not exactly jumping for joy, but not weeping in woe either. "If we're honest, there really wasn't much difference from my now-obsolete 3DS XL at home on initial handling," Smith wrote. "There are no games that appropriately make the most of the analog stick (at least, not yet). Here at TGS 2014, with Monster Hunter 4G, the right stick was assigned to camera duties, a role it shared with the d-pad and, er, about a third of the touchscreen too." At least when it was getting use, the new stick felt responsive and pleasant. Smith also noted that the new ZL and ZR triggers on the back of the device were "appropriately spaced" so that users shouldn't have problems with accidentally bumping the wrong button. The new 3DS and 3DS XL launch in Japan on October 11. As for those of us stateside and in the Europe/Australia regions, well ... we can hope. [Image: Engadget]
Watch Sony's pre-TGS press conference right here [update: it's over!]
Update: It's over! Check out all the news here. Or replay the conference below that break. As the sun begins to set on PAX Prime in the West, it's also beginning to rise on the Tokyo Game Show in the East. While Japan's most major of games conventions doesn't begin for another two weeks yet, one of its most important precursors is under an hour away: Sony Computer Entertainment Japan Asia's 2014 press conference. Last year's conference didn't disappoint in terms of big announcements, including the unveiling of the Vita 2000 and Vita TV, and the PS4 release date for Japan. Then again, 2013 was such an important one for Sony with the PS4 launch, so what are the chances we'll see an encore this year? Well, you can find out firsthand by joining us to watch the show. You'll find the livestream below the break of this post, and the conference is scheduled to begin at 2AM ET (7AM UK, 11PM PT August 31.) As ever, we'll endeavor to bring you all the news on the site as soon as we can.
Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate to be playable at Tokyo Game Show
Grab the biggest sword you can find and drag it along to this year's Tokyo Game Show in September, because Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate will be playable at the Japanese expo. You probably won't need the sword to play the upcoming 3DS action-RPG, but if you want to cut those queues you can [JOKE REDACTED] Details-wise, 4Gamer (via Gematsu) reports attendees can face off against the game's new main beastie in the TGS demo. Also, Capcom confirmed a new Monster Hunter Festa will deliver more monstrous celebrations to the country, but specifics are yet to be announced.
Sony to foot the bill for indie exhibitors at Tokyo Game Show
Furthering its efforts to be seen as the console manufacturer that cares about independent game developers, Sony has announced plans to pay exhibition fees for all games appearing in the Indie Game Area at this September's Tokyo Game Show. There's no word on how many development teams will take Sony up on its offer, but according to the company's announcement, indie developers will be able to appear without any cost to themselves, regardless of which platform their game appears on. Sony claims that it will spend 99,900 yen (about $980) on each indie developer during the first four days of the show, as well as 32,400 yen (about $320) for the final two days, in which the Tokyo Game Show is open to the public. Additionally, Sony has agreed to sponsor the annual Sense of Wonder Night, in which 10 "unprecedented" game ideas will be publicly showcased for their originality. Indie developers suddenly itching to attend TGS should keep a few caveats in mind. First, Sony is only allowing developers to exhibit their games at these gratis booths. No one in the Indie Game Area will be allowed to sell their wares directly to visitors. Further, only 50 booths will appear in the Indie Game Area. If you're interested, you should get your application to the TGS Management Office as soon as possible. [Image: Wikimedia Commons]
