wipeout-pulse
Latest
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.
Report: Half of Studio Liverpool staff laid off
According to a report from Develop citing inside sources, Sony has terminated half of all employees at Studio Liverpool -- the team behind the WipEout franchise. In January 2009, Sony merged Studio Liverpool (formerly Psygnosis) with Evolution Studios and last week announced plans to restructure the new team. In its report of the restructuring, GamesIndustry.biz noted redundancies "may be necessary;" however, Sony has yet to confirm how many positions were affected by the decision. Within the comments of GI's original article, a user registered as SCEE programmer Paul Ripley wrote "I would estimate about at least 50% of Studio Liverpool has [just] been culled (myself included). Hard to work out exact numbers at the moment." Develop's inside source relayed similar information, noting Sony's layoff plans for the studio were "looking heavy." Joystiq has reached out to Sony for comment, but has yet to hear back as of this publishing. If you work/worked for Studio Liverpool and would like to speak to us on or off the record, we're all ears.
WipEout Pulse PS2 port revealed by German ratings board
Not too long ago, we reported that a WipEout Pulse port was rumored to hit the PS2. Back then it was still intangible gossip; however now, there is substantial evidence that such a title is indeed in the works. German ratings board USK (Unterhaltungssoftware Selbstkontrolle) has this PS2 port listed down in its database -- the record of which can be seen embedded in the image above.Without any reciprocal rating on North America's ESRB, the PS2 WipEout title may never leave Europe -- that is, if it gets off the ground in the first place.
Rumorang: WipEout Pulse for PS2 still in development
Eurogamer claims to have knowledge of a PS2 version of WipEout Pulse in development, but an official Sony statement on the as-yet unannounced title muddles the actual status of the futuristic racer.In the official statement, Sony reminded Eurogamer that "over 9.5m PS2s" exist in the UK and that the publisher is still supporting the platform with titles such as SingStar and Buzz!. While Sony has never mentioned WipEout Pulse plans in the past -- other than to deny the original listing of the rumored game -- the manufacturer explained it would decide future PS2 releases on an "individual basis and make decisions accordingly," based on consumer demand. Perhaps it'll gauge consumer demand through an online petition. Those work, you know.
Rumor: Wipeout Pulse headed to PS2, Fat Princess due in March
According to an alleged Q1 release schedule issued by Sony Computer Entertainment Benelux, the PlayStation Network can--Yes, that's right. Sony Computer Entertainment Benelux, which handles the European economic union comprising Belgium, Netherland and Luxembourg. Anyway, VideoGamesBlogger claims to have received this schedule, which includes a PlayStation 2 version of PSP racer Wipeout Pulse -- due in February -- and a March PSN release for obese royalty roll-a-thon, Fat Princess. In addition, the--What? Yes, of course we asked Sony for comment. The company indicated awareness of an "out of date" release schedule being mistakenly circulated to the media and could not confirm any of the games nor release dates. Even though Flower's already been confirmed for February 12th. The other ...No, we're not being hasty. We're just trying to convey some information here. It would be truly helpful if you could just stop interrupting us. We're trying to write a post here. In the nice, padded room.
Rumor: Daxter and Wipeout Pulse porting to PS2
French site Jeuxvideo.fr states that PSP games Daxter and Wipeout Pulse are being ported to the PS2. The story seems probable considering how many PSP to PS2 ports there have been, but at this time it's an unconfirmed rumor. Given the history of high-profile PSP games like R&C: Size Matters and the GTAs being ported to the the PS2, we have to wonder if GoW: Chains of Olympus and Secret Agent Clank will make the leap at some point; the Chains of Olympus port rumor is already old news. [Via PSP Fanboy]
Rumor: Wipeout Pulse and Daxter moving to PS2
It shouldn't be too surprising to see Wipeout Pulse and Daxter move to PS2. Sony has made it something of a tradition to move its big PSP exclusives back onto Sony's aging home console. While this potential move may anger some, it's important to note that these ports usually come out over a year since the original release -- long past a game's relevance at the store shelves.These ports are not confirmed (the only source we see is French site Jeuxvideo.fr). But with Wipeout HD coming out on PS3 and Secret Agent Clank coming out on PSP, there's very little reason for fans to get up-in-arms about these potential projects.[Thanks, Joe!]
Win a copy of Wipeout Pulse!
Wipeout Pulse is now available in stores! Read our review to find out more about the game.A lot of high quality PSP titles were released in the past few weeks. Perhaps you missed this one. Get a copy of Wipeout Pulse for PSP by simply leaving a comment. Just tell us you want the game. Really, just leave a comment. It's as simple as that.. The comment must be left before Friday, March 7th, 5PM EST. Owo winner will be selected in a random drawing. Grand Prize Winner will a copy of Wipeout Pulse (ARV: $30). Click here for complete Official Rules. Eligibility is restricted to the legal residents of the 50 United States (including DC). You must be 18 years or older to enter.
European PC Store updates for February 21st
Small update today, but not necessarily a bad one if you're a fan of WipEout Pulse. The third add-on pack for the game is now available. When will these packs stop coming? Good question. Next week is the final update. Here's the full release list: WipEout Pulse "Harimau" add-on pack (£2.99/€3.99) Worms Open Warfare 2 theme pack (free) This week's add-on pack adds another ship to your repertoire as well as two new tracks. Not bad for three quid. We're sad to see that there are no PS1 games or demos this week. Maybe something interesting will hit the American store later today. We'll keep you informed.
PSP Fanboy review: Wipeout Pulse
Wipeout Pure remains, to this day, one of the top rated PSP games of all time. And for good reason, too. When it debuted with the PSP launch, it delivered unparalleled graphics, tons of content, and a huge assortment of downloadable content that made Pure a great value for any racing fan. Nearly three years later, Studio Liverpool finally returns to PSP with the next installment of the Wipeout franchise. Wipeout Pulse attempts to do the impossible: improve upon the formula they created with Pure. Undeniably, they have succeeded. %Gallery-4074%
First DLC appears for Wipeout Pulse [Update]
Fans who enjoyed Wipeout Pure's free DLC are going to be very disappointed by this new. The first DLC for Wipeout Pulse has appeared on the UK PLAYSTATION Store ... at a cost of £3.49. The "Mirage Pack" includes a brand new team, and two new tracks (and their Zone variations). Update: Future packs have been unearthed on the official Wipeout website. They each include two tracks and one new team. Pulse is a fantastic game, and we don't mind having to pay for more of it. However, is £3.49 a bit too much for you? How much will DLC cost when the game launches in America in a week? Also available on the UK Store: Fade to Black (PS1), Theme Hospital (PS1), Motorhead (PS1) [Thanks, Forgot69!]
PSP Fanboy Theatre: Volume 46
CES 2008 interview with John Koller (28.6MB) Also featured: Wipeout Pulse, SoulCalibur IV, LittleBigPlanet and Downstream Panic!
First-person Wipeout will make you lose your lunch
Be warned, Wipeout Pulse can, and will, get dangerously fast. The speeds of Phantom and Zone are mind-shattering (could this iteration outdo every previous game in the series?). However, to really understand how exhilaratingly fast the game moves, one has to play in first person. Only then, will you really feel like you'll lose your lunch. Catch more videos, after the cut.
Feel the Pulse, the WipEout Pulse
If you read our hands-on impressions, you'd know that we're in love with WipEout Pulse. Looks like IGN is quite enamored too -- and they have videos to show you. Unfortunately, these videos don't quite capture how intense the game really feels when it's in your hands. The silky smooth framerate adds a lot to the experience. New modes, like Elimination (our favorite), are a welcome addition to the franchise. And, the experience "loyalty" points you get after each race has us trying to grind for more unlockables. It's just a better game than Pure, and that's saying a lot. Check out all of IGN's videos here.
PSP Fanboy hands-on: Wipeout Pulse
What could possibly be better than Wipeout Pure? Simple: a sequel. It may be hard to tell from the videos, but Pulse is a vastly improved sequel in almost every way possible. Visually, the graphics have come quite a long way. With the full 333MHz of PSP's power unlocked, it appears Studio Liverpool has doubled the framerate. Yes, Pulse appears to run at a silky smooth 60fps. This is almost unprecedented in a handheld game, especially one that looks as good as this. The new HUD and announcer is intense, adding a lot of tension to the already-exhilarating gameplay. Weapons are much more important in this iteration of the franchise, as it appears that ships are far less durable than before. Just after a few nicks on the wall, you'll see significant damage accumulate on your shields. Thankfully, you can absorb items by pressing O. We expect the increased power of the weapons to cause far more ships to explode during a race -- and that's just cool. Another significant change is the way ships control. Even though we're familiar with the teams from Pulse, we were surprised to see how differently they control in this sequel. The ships are much more responsive, and the over-compensation we typically used in the previous game actually had us crashing into walls more often. Obviously, the easier controls will be better for those that found Pure a bit too difficult. With better graphics, better presentation, better controls, a brand new screenshot mode that lets you capture images in-game all add up to an experience that betters its predecessors in every possible way. We're insanely jealous of our European friends that can play the game now. For the rest of us, we'll have to wait until next year. %Gallery-4074%
Wipeout Pulse demo to hit PC Store today
It's Thursday. You know what that means. The PC PLAYSTATION Store will be updated later today, and it looks to carry a nice treat. A downloadable demo of Wipeout Pulse will be available on the Store -- at least in Europe. According to Eurogamer, players can expect one track and one team from the FX400 League, playable in either Single Race or Time Trial modes. Stay tuned for today's PSN updates to see if this exciting demo makes it way to our neck of the woods. %Gallery-4074%
Wipeout Pulse website opens with skin editor
For those of you lucky enough to enjoy Wipeout Pulse right now, you may want to pay attention. The official Wipeout website has opened, and it features a skin editor so you can create your very own ship designs and import them into the game. You'll need a PLAYSTATION Network ID in order to get started. We're going to join the others that are going to play with this fun new tool -- even though we don't have the game yet! We're confident that a lot of PSP Fanboys are going to do the same. [Via NeoGAF]
Wipeout Pulse screens showcase the beauty of speed
Click for full-resolution image. Sony's been focusing a great deal on their upcoming early 2008 line-up today. Joining God of War: Chains of Olympus is another heavy-hitter for the system: Wipeout Pulse. Out friends in the UK will be able to enjoy Studio Liverpool's latest this week, but the rest of us will have to wait until early next year to get our hands on this futuristic racer.With full support for Infrastructure multiplayer, Pulse is looking like more than a worthy follow-up to Pure (which remains, to this day, one of the best games on the system). Check out the new screenshots below:%Gallery-4074%
Wipeout Pulse videos are so much better than screenshots
If a picture can say a thousand words, what does a video say? Jeuxvideo has some incredible new videos of the game in motion, and it's clear how the visuals have been improved. The new lighting, the new HUD all look quite sexy. Add Infrastructure support, and you have a worthy successor to the already-incredible Wipeout Pure.Check out another video at Jeuxvideo.
Martin Audio describes his music in WipEout
Music soothes even the savage beast. The WipEout games are no exception. Their music, while not exactly soothing, gets you into the game in such a way that you can actually relax whilst your vehicle flies around at unseemly speeds. The current soundtrack list gives you an idea of what to expect -- the very best of electronic and techno beats. Martin Audio, one of the musicians in the soundtrack, shared some thoughts on getting involved with the game.After someone heard his music, that someone asked if they could create a track for the PSP title -- after some work, the song "Chemical" was a shoe in. A snug fit. Fit like a glove. Et cetera. Audio has been a longtime fan of the WipEout games, so his musical inclusion is definitely something he's proud of. When asked about licensing, he agreed that it was a powerful tool to get your music out there and gain a new audience's interest. So long as the music isn't compromised, licensing is a great idea. If you want to learn more about Audio's experiences DJ'ing and how the creative process works for his music, check out the rest of the interview. Otherwise, get pumped to hear some great tunes on the next WipEout game.
