Adams Briscoe
Articles by Adams Briscoe
Kojima speaks out some more on MGS4!
So if Afrika didn't do it for you and nothing else tickles your fancy on PS3 just yet, then you know there's always Metal Gear Solid 4 to look forward to. Hideo Kojima shared some great information about the gameplay for the upcoming title in an interview with PSM2. One of the things he talked about was the "octo cam" suit. This puppy can adapt by changing color and form based on your surroundings. Of course that will happen on the fly, and most interestingly enough is only possible on the PlayStation 3 (the graphical effect that is, according to Kojima). He also talked about the destructible environments. Only certain things will have that potential, so don't expect everything to just go down in flames. He wrapped it up with his infamous sign-off stating that this would be his last Metal Gear title ("No guys I'm serious this time...").
Microsoft calls PS3 online strat "plagiarism"
The turf war continues with Chris Lewis of Microsoft kicking up some dirt about Sony's online strategy for the PlayStation 3. In an interview with Eurogamer, Mr. Lewis accused Sony of stealing their idea and implementing it as their own."Plagiarism is a good thing - that in itself isn't such a problem, it's what the market wants. But we've known that's what the market wanted all along," he said. Adding that he thinks it's flattering, Chris stated that he's glad to see Sony bridging the gap and covering ground to catch up, but that he's a little hazy on the whole thing."How the pricing is going to work still to me seems very unclear." Well, if Sony sticks to their guns, then the answer is simple: it'll be free![Via Xbox 360 Fanboy]
Bling bling! Chrome shell now available
Coming to you from Team Xtender is the full chrome controller shell, complete with LEDs for seizure-inducing fun. How's that for a pimpin' accessory? They say more pictures of the wireless controller shell will be put up soon, but the current ones are just as impressive. These kind of awesome additions could go great with some creative faceplates too.
Screenshot roundup: Virtua Fighter 5
Here are a handful of screens from Virtua Fighter 5, slated for a spring '07 release. If you haven't been following the title and want to sink your eyeballs into some more images, check out this link to find some from earlier last month. So far it's shaping up to look like a winner (but how will the new controller interface with it?).
More growing concerns over PS3 hardware?
It's not hard to connect the dots or figure out how all this started, but Sony's flagship console (the newest version at least) has started to become the system everyone loves to rail on.Take this latest article for example. According to the author's source, Sony is having some major problems with their hardware before manufacturing has even started. We're not talking malfunctions or anything either. Apparently the specs are not very pretty.For starters, the Cell processor has some major disparity in the memory performance. Speaking in terms of local memory, which is very crucial, the Cell can only Read 16MB/s while its Write speed is 4GB/s! The picture from the slide speaks for itself ("no this isn't a typo..."). So what does all this mean? Here's what the author had to say: "Someone screwed up so badly it looks like it will relegate the console to second place behind the 360." Keep in mind where this is coming from, and make up your own decision after reading it with a critical eye.[Thanks, Joe]
Media roundup: Chromehounds, Dead Rising
Here's a media update for those of you looking forward to big mechs and messy zombies. The guys at Xboxyde have some good media worth checking out, including a 720p video of gameplay from Chromehounds. But if the screenshots of Dead Rising seem a little over-the-top to you, then just think about possibilities that the image above conjures up.[Chromehounds, screens + vid][Dead Rising, screens]
Should Blu-ray have been optional?
This is the question posed by the lengthy Ars editorial. The author opens it up with the angle on the current console race and how it differs from generations in the past. The big difference this time is, of course, the medium and formats.But the big picture here is simple: should Sony have made their Blu-ray component an option for the PS3? Much in the same way Microsoft planned to make HD-DVD an add-on to the Xbox 360, Sony could have gotten away with doing the exact same with Blu-ray. Costs would have been lower and delays would have been shorter.We all know how hard they're pushing for the adopting of the format though, so that would have essentially changed the console's very strategy. The article also suggests that by bundling the player with the system, Sony could have secured a spot in the future with stronger sales. But the issue rears its ugly head when faced with the reality that time will be the only way to tell if that move will pay off. Read on for more, including a hypothetical analysis of how much the PS3 would be without it.
New next-gen Gran Turismo screens
Dubbed Gran Turismo HD, it is actually considered to be in prototype-phase as opposed to a GT product. The idea is to show off the muscle behind the PS3, and anyone would be hard to argue that these fall short of doing just that. Of course what would a next-gen Sony console be without some sort of Gran Turismo installment? This statement should give fans of the series something to look forward to: "The wait for the next generation of Gran Turismo, post launch of PS3, may not be as long as you think."
Japanese developers talk shop
The game makers across the Pacific have been sharing their opinions on the next-generation of console gaming and some of the things that surprised them coming out of E3. Some of the big-name developers with big-name contributions spoke their mind, like Resident Evil 4 producer Hiroyuki Kobayashi.Kazuma Kujo, creator of R-Type, brought up a great point about cross-platform gaming. He believes that the stark contrast between the control scheme of such systems like the PS3 and the Wii "will discourage many developers from making games for multiple platforms." If this turns out to be true, will we finally see some innovation? If game makers are tightening their focus and concentrating on just one system, then gamers may finally get their hands on new concepts.One developer's biggest surprise from E3 was the price of the PlayStation 3 (O Rly?). This pretty much sums it up: "As a Blu-Ray player it's cheap; as a game console, it's expensive. ... Is it a 'game machine' or an 'entertainment machine'?"
The salvation or scourge of Sony?
Here's another great article outlining the perspective of the PlayStation 3 being Sony's saving grace or big stink.Ever since E3, critics and fans alike have been a little edgy about the company's strategy for the next-gen console. But we've said it before and it's worth mentioning again: the PS3 is poised to become Sony's cornerstone for their consumer electronics market. It's a do-or-die scenario for them.The write-up mentions that certain analysts are placing the total cost of the system at $715 or more. This means that by the end of year, Sony could lose $1 billion, just on the hardware. But they want gamers to want this system. If they can heckle the console into people's homes, Blu-ray is in. But these are still gamers we're talking about, and some of them may not be too keen on all the bells and whistles; just the games.
And now a word from Peter Moore
Kikizo sat down with Peter Moore for a big video interview where he spoke candidly about all things Microsoft, Xbox 360, handhelds (kind of), their competition and more. It's packed full of information, so go ahead and watch it to get the full effect.Here's a little comment from him on the topic of widening the scope of games industry as a whole and what he believes the competition is doing for everyone: "I think Nintendo's doing their job, in broadening the look and feel of what games are about for the consumer. And, you know, Sony wants sell high definition movies."Touché Mr. Moore.
Dyack responds to Too Human feedback
If you followed the 360 coverage from E3 at all, then you probably have some concerns over what we and other members of the press thought about Silicon Knights' Too Human. What we were shown was an early build that chugged along with framerate afflictions which gave off the vibe that it was way too soon to be playing the title. However, you've got to keep in mind that Too Human is still in development, and as such, it still has some tweaking to go through. We knew this when we played it. Nailing down the framerate seems to be one of the last legs of the development cycle, so the showing at E3 didn't necessarily leave a bad taste in the mouth. Even so, 1UP decided to ask Denis Dyack what they thought about the show and the feedback that they received. During the interview, Dyack guaranteed that gamers will not have an issue with the framerate and that no such problems will arise like they did at E3. He even went as far to say that there won't be any concerns in co-op or multiplayer either. Check out the rest of the interview for his other responses.
Europeans to get steeper next-gen prices
Sorry European gamers, it looks like you'll be getting the short end of the stick yet again.Atari has dropped the skinny about the pricing of some next-gen titles slated for Europe, and it doesn't look pretty. These higher costs probably won't bode well with gamers, but it wouldn't be a shocker to see similar price hikes all around the market. So just how much will Europeans have to pay?Sonic the Hedgehog on PS3 will be available for around 68 euros (that translates to about $87!). World Snooker Championship 2007 is even higher at 73.99 euros, or almost $95. If you thought that the console alone was going to run you up a pretty penny, then you better keep saving because it looks like the games are going to be a steep investment too.
Phil Harrison: the PlayStation 3 will kill PC
Oh no he didn't! Yes gamers, he did. In a recent interview, Phil Harrison of Sony stated that PC gamers will find themselves without a viable platform once the PlayStation 3 hits the shelves. When he wasn't defending Sony against "copy-cat" allegations concerning the new controller and Nintendo, he had this to say: "We believe that the PS3 will be the place where our users play games, watch films, browse the Web, and use other [home] computer functions," said Harrison. "The PlayStation 3 is a computer. We do not need the PC."One thing is for sure: with the price of the PS3 being closer to a PC than a home console, it better damn well perform like it. Now whether it's going to be killing off the personal computer as we know it (for gamers, at least) is debatable. The PC has always staved off the threat of videogame consoles, so it's hard to imagine that a system with so much ground to cover could show up and take out a platform that's been historically healthy throughout the years.Think you'll be getting rid of your PC when the PlayStation 3 comes out in November?
New Alone in the Dark screenshots
Feast your eyes on some saucy new screenshots for Alone in the Dark. While Atari hasn't officially come out and confirmed it for PS3, other sources have hinted at it coming to the Sony machine. Taking that into consideration, we don't have a solid release date, but it'd be nice to see it in November.
Gates on PS3 controller: "not mainstream for most games"
The big man himself piped up about Sony's new controller, and he shares a mentality not uncommon to the rest of the gaming community (judging from the reaction of Tekken 6 using such features).In an interview with MTV, he believes it isn't mainstream enough for most games saying, "It's tough because sometimes you move the controller, and you don't [mean] to fly into the ground. You just want to put the controller down... People aren't that good at totally standing still. Even pilots actually sit in a chair when they do their flying. So there's a lot to be learned about these controllers."Apparently there is. Microsoft would know, considering that they tried it already with the Sidewinder Freestyle Pro which was flagrantly mediocre. Sony's got their work cut out for them with this one. It'll be interesting to see how it's integrated with all of the "mainstream" titles, if at all.
Gates on PS3 controller: "not mainstream for most games"
The big man himself piped up about Sony's new controller, and he shares a mentality not uncommon to the rest of the gaming community (judging from the reaction of Tekken 6 using such features).In an interview with MTV, he believes it isn't mainstream enough for most games saying, "It's tough because sometimes you move the controller, and you don't [mean] to fly into the ground. You just want to put the controller down... People aren't that good at totally standing still. Even pilots actually sit in a chair when they do their flying. So there's a lot to be learned about these controllers."Apparently there is. Microsoft would know, considering that they tried it already with the Sidewinder Freestyle Pro which was flagrantly mediocre. Sony's got their work cut out for them with this one. It'll be interesting to see how it's integrated with all of the "mainstream" titles, if at all. [As seen on PS3 Fanboy]
The Xbox 360 and glitching, six months later
While the occasional glitching is just a part of owning new technology, there's something about that little red power ring that has the potential to send chills down any 360 gamer's spine. IGN set out to investigate the "glitch in the system" that plagued certain consoles last November from a six-month-later perspective.Some cases are just extreme though. Take Chris Szarek, for example, who had to go through so many replacement consoles that he eventually got a personal call from Peter Moore who apologized for the matter. While he and other gamers with such issues could possibly be storing their consoles in an oven or something, there are other people who are clearly taking the right steps to avoid any sort of problems.One of the IGN staffers had this to say once his own system bit the dust: "... while I was on the customer support line, I heard two guys in the background giving the exact same 'detach cables and hard drive' speech to other poor souls with dead 360s, so I think the problem of dying 360s is still pretty common." Read on for some interesting information regarding this "common" issue. It makes us wonder though: Are any of our readers out there still experiencing such problems?
Sony and the aftermath of E3
It started with the press conferences. From then on, Sony was out to prove something during E3. Just like a confident kid in the locker room, the PlayStation 3 was well equipped. It had hardware, it had capital, and it had a fanbase.But something was holding it back. As this feature suggests, all the signs could very well point to a lack of a big game. And by that I'm of course speaking about that magical title which should have pulled Sony through in flying colors. Sony had to use E3 to gain momentum, and while they most definitely had an entertaining show in LA, it's arguable about whether or not they could have done some things better.Ask anyone who they believe "won" E3, and chances are you won't hear about Sony's next-gen console. Again, it wasn't that they necessarily got curb stomped, they just lacked a few key elements that their competition had. So what does this mean? It still doesn't change the fact that Sony needs to deliver in November with some fun, exciting games that will make gamers want to drop $599 on the new machine.[Thanks Joe]
New Battle for Middle Earth II trailer available
This is for all those LOTR fans out there. Check out the Battle for Middle Earth II trailer (in HD) and see what will be hitting the Xbox 360 in the coming weeks. Gamers will be able to throw down over Xbox Live and challenge each other to battles. Hope you have that Orc-killing attitude ready.