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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!]
Ratchet & Clank blasting into PAL territories in November
Insomniac Games noted on its official Twitter page that Ratchet and Clank will get a little help from their PALs when A Crack in Time makes its way to European territories on November 4th . It lands on British shores shortly afterward on November 6th. It also appears that the R&C demo will not be available this week in the EU -- hopefully that'll arrive soon. A Crack in Time launches next week in North America, with one of two demos available later today when the PlayStation Network updates.%Gallery-65017%
Dual demo details: Ratchet follows Clank into A Crack in Time
Sony's Playstation Blog announced today that the two expected Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time demos will hit the PSN over the next couple weeks. The first one, releasing this Thursday, is the Clank demo (he's the robot). Players will take the bucket of bolts with a destiny through the Great Clock, as he learns some "time-based abilities" for puzzle solving.Next week will be Ratchet's turn to shake his money maker so you'll buy the game. Although the details are scarce as to what players will do in the demo, if we know anything about that lombax -- and after seven games, we certainly know plenty -- it'll involve blowing stuff up with crazy weaponry. %Gallery-65017%
Ratchet & Clank crack two demos this time around
The troubled sleepers of Insomniac Games want to make sure you play the upcoming Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time. The developers announced during their latest Full Moon Show podcast that the upcoming time-bending platformer will receive not one -- but two -- downloadable demos before the game's release. It certainly makes sense, considering how drastically different the traditional Ratchet gameplay is from the more puzzle-oriented Clank sections of the game.Both demos should hit the PlayStation Store before the game's upcoming late-October release date, giving players plenty of time to explore these free samplers.[Via PS3center]
It's like you're playing Ratchet & Clank's Axiom City level
Many of you are eagerly awaiting the upcoming A Crack in Time -- and for good reason too, it's pretty fantastic (from what we've played so far). With a game's release still a month away, this new video walkthrough from the PlayStation.blog may be the closest thing to playing the game yourself. Insomniac's James Stevenson talks about the many returning (and new) weapons featured in this final part of the R&C Future trilogy. Which is your favorite?%Gallery-68684%
A familiar trek through Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time
Insomniac Games has a winning formula with its Ratchet & Clank franchise. Problem is? They're almost too reliably good. The franchise has been known for its mix of platforming and sci-fi gunplay, and the latest, A Crack in Time, is no different. The requisite improvements necessary for a sequel are all in play: better (and more stylized) graphics, more explosions, and even more powerful weapons. However, A Crack in Time has a genuine chance of being the best Ratchet & Clank ever, thanks to its increased focus on challenging platform stages.The weapons have always been the stars of the franchise, but A Crack in Time's time-bending theme makes for some interesting and ingenious moments that are, put simply, fun. You've already read about the unique Clank stages, in which players must record copies of themselves to solve puzzles. These interludes make for a far more thoughtful game than previous iterations in the franchise and emphasize the kind of depth Insomniac is trying to add to the experience.%Gallery-65017%
Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time box art multiplayer listing simply 'placeholder'
Click to embiggen. The PlayStation.Blog has announced the release date for Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time. But wait -- isn't that, as commenters like to point out, old news? Thankfully, more can be gleamed from the box art included with the post.In addition to touting the redesigned PS3 logo, the box art for A Crack in Time features the now-standard PlayStation Network banner on the back. The various PSN features include Trophies, PlayStation Home support, leaderboards and ... multiplayer? That's certainly new to us.Unfortunately, a SCEA representative confirmed to us that the box art posted on the web was constructed from a template and that all information listed in the PSN banner is simply placeholder. That doesn't mean A Crack in Time won't have multiplayer -- but it means that this is far from the "omg confirmationz!!!!1" that many have been hoping for. Update: SCEA's Jefferson Dong puts it more directly: "There is no multiplayer."[Thanks, tmacairjordan87]
Exploring space exploration in Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time
Click to embiggen. It's time for the dynamic duo to go into space! No, we're not talking about Batman and Robin. Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time will expand the space exploration elements of Tools of Destruction by replacing the on-rails shooter sequences with an open universe to traverse through. Players will be able to stop on various moons and small planets and partake in spherical platforming sequences inspired by Super Mario Galaxy er, Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando.We're not entirely sure how big the explorable galaxy will be, but we're sure platforming freaks are excited of the prospect of a universe's worth of fetch quests. With battles scattered throughout space, we're hopeful that Insomniac has the insight to make the universe a tad more exciting than the oceans of The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker.%Gallery-68684%
Clank's mysterious past explained in new Gamescom trailer
The story started in Tools of Destruction comes to an epic conclusion in A Crack in Time, the end of the first Ratchet & Clank Future trilogy. This new trailer released in time for Gamescom delves into the intricate time-bending story, and shows the surprising importance of Clank's role in the universe. Looks like the stakes have never been bigger before in a R&C game. Watch carefully, and you'll see a planet explode real nice in this trailer.A Crack in Time will reunite a lot of familiar faces. We're just glad Captain Quark is back (he was absent in Quest For Booty). Certainly, his bumbling antics will get even more crazy when time travel is involved!%Gallery-70397%
Hands-on: Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time
Considering Clank was entirely absent from Quest for Booty, it makes sense for developer Insomniac to give the robotic sidekick the spotlight in its upcoming A Crack in Time. A Crack in Time will feature the largest amount of Clank gameplay in the Ratchet & Clank franchise so far (barring Secret Agent Clank, of course) -- and that's a good thing, as our hands-on with Clank's devious time powers proved a refreshing change for the franchise.If you've watched our previous video coverage, you'll know that Clank acquires a few Braid-inspired powers. Clank has the ability to throw an orb that slows down time, allowing Clank to effectively run circles around enemies, and slow down certain platforming obstacles. This ability makes Clank the most powerful he's ever been in the franchise, but that's not what makes his gameplay so exciting.Rather, Clank's ability to create time clones, proves to work quite well in the context of the game. Yes, it's a gimmick that's becoming increasingly common in games, but it feels entirely appropriate for the Ratchet series. To activate Clank's various time clones, he must stand on special colored pads that will allow him to record his actions. One minute of gameplay can be recorded, during which Clank can open a door, pull a switch, or throw a time orb. By activating another pad, Clank's previous actions will be replayed, while this new Clank is able to progress further.%Gallery-65017%
Watch Clank use time to defeat his enemies
It's that time of the year folks. Yep, Insomniac is churning out yet another Ratchet game. This time around, Clank will have the magical ability to control time, as you can see in this new video released in time for Comic-Con. The graphics, as you can tell from our gallery below, look absolutely stunning. Who knew that Insomniac could improve upon the first Future game so much? The new time-warping gameplay looks like a fun, and logical, addition to the Ratchet universe. But, that's not all!Insomniac took the time to explain a brand new weapon that'll be introduced in the upcoming game -- the one created by fans. You'll have to watch the video after the break to find out exactly what it is.%Gallery-68684%
Insomniac not backing down from crowded pre-holiday release
If we were game developers, we'd be appropriately terrified of dropping our precious labors of love into the pre-holiday retail arena -- a battlefield filled with two-ton gorillas like Assassin's Creed 2 and Modern Warfare 2. Still, Insomniac Games hasn't thought twice about the late 2009 release date of Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time -- nearly all of the company's titles hit store shelves in late fall, after all.In an interview with GamesIndustry, Insomniac director of marketing and communications Ryan Schneider explained the company has "had a lot of success" dropping its games around November. He went on to declare, "The Holiday season is still a great time to release a title." You know what else is a great time to release a title? Right now. The dust on our gaming consoles has actually started to collect its own dust.
Create a Ratchet and Clank comic, win entry to Sony Comic Con events
So there's this contest going on at the PlayStation Blog, but you needn't bother. As you can see above, we've already won. If you insist on trying your luck, you can find the comic template at the PlayStation Flickr account. In order to win the prize, which is access to VIP events at Comic Con on July 22 & 23, including hands-on time with Ratchet and Clank: A Crack In Time and other games. Can't make it to Comic Con? There's still some schwag in it for you, so you may as well give it a go. Except we've already won, as we've said. Still, your entries will need to involve something to do with time and must be sent to rcfcomiccon@gmail.com by midnight, July 10. Include your name, address and let them know whether you'll be in San Diego on July 22.
'Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time' pre-order bonuses vary per retailer
The pre-order incentives for Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time are now ready for perusal on the PlayStation Blog. The bonuses reportedly start today at Amazon.com, Best Buy, Game Crazy, GameStop and other participating retailers. Each retailer has its own thing going, so explore before you plunk down the pre-order cash. Check out the four different programs after the break.
Meet the characters of Ratchet & Clank: A Crack in Time
Click to embiggen. Did you know that Ratchet & Clank, like Madden, is an annual franchise -- having only missed the year 2006? The third Ratchet & Clank Future game on PS3 in as many years is coming this fall as A Crack in Time.A Crack in Time promises to deliver more story than ever before. We'll find out more about Ratchet and the Lombax race thanks to the revelation of Alister Azimuth, another member of what was thought to be an extinct species. We'll finally find out what happened to Clank -- and we'll probably discover how he got that badass staff. See all the major players of the upcoming R&C by browsing our gallery here:%Gallery-66523%
Design a weapon for Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack In Time
You've already seen the Ratchet And Clank Future: A Crack In Time GDC announcement and the subsequent teaser trailer. Now, the PlayStation Blog is announcing that the A Crack In Time Weapon Contest is officially open. Between now and April 10 you're required to submit weapon designs for the next Ratchet And Clank game. The best one will be digitized and produced as a usable weapon inside the game. Not only that, but the winner will receive a life size replica of the weapon and will be transported over to San Diego for this year's Comic Con, where the weapon will be revealed to the world at large. For a list of rules and regulations check out the PlayStation Blog and the official competition website. If you need inspiration, check out the video after the break, in which some Insomniacs chat about their favorite Ratchet and Clank weapons from the past.[Via PlayStation Blog]
Fashionably late: Ratchet And Clank: A Crack In Time teaser trailer
The lombax is out of the bag. Insomniac's next game is Ratchet And Clank Future: A Crack In Time, making 2009 the fourth year of leapfrogging between the Resistance and Ratchet And Clank franchises. The game was announced via press release during GDC, but game assets were nowhere to be found. Thankfully we haven't had to wait long before this teaser trailer, which can be seen after the break, was aired on GT TV.The trailer doesn't show a lot, though there is a lot of narration about the nature of time involved. We're hoping there's a sufficiently mind-bendy-time-paradoxy storyline in the final game. While most of the visuals in the trailer revolve around various pipes and cogs, we do get a glimpse of a mysterious pocketwatch, as seen above, and an elderly lombax. Are those Ratchet's parents? Who's the flying, growly voiced lombax? We're looking forward to finding out this autumn.
