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Motorstorm gets patched to 3.1
We've got to admit it: We've been really impressed by the level of support that Motorstom has received. If our calculations are correct, it's already gotten 846 patches, and it shows no signs of slowing. The latest patch (released yesterday) brings the game to version 3.1. It's like an operating platform at this point, we're just waiting to get our hands on Motorstorm XP. Most excitingly, all of the levels in the game can now be reversed, which should provide some interesting challenges. Also, in this version the vehicle selection screen is a bit quicker thanks to a 2D grid view (the old 3D is still there if you prefer). There are also two new audio tracks. While the changes may not exactly be earth-shattering, they represent a level of long-term support from Evolution Studios that puts most devs to shame.
Motorstorm updates with 10 new races, 6 vehicles
Still playing Motorstorm but starting to get the urge for something fresh in the muddy title? Seems you'll get your answer, as Sony and Evolution Studios plan an update today, upgrading their servers to 3.0 and adding new Devil's Weekend stuff to the PS Store. We'll detail what's in the patch and content below. DualShock 3 support has been added. Adjustable sensitivity controls for Sixaxis. In the same online lobby, your position in the previous race determines your spot in the following race. Grid order is randomized for the first race in any online lobby. 4 new tickets, totaling 10 new races will be available for download. 5 new vehicles, with one special unlockable vehicle will be available -- each with three new skins. There's also a free Halloween skin added once you update. A little late, but free stuff is free, right? It's nice to see this game getting a nice stream of updates and new stuff. It seems Sony wasn't lying that downloadable content on their games is going to actually matter. What do you off-road racing fans think? Like getting these updates?
Sony dished out 16 million for Motorstorm devs
While it may not be the most exciting news to grace your face (so to speak), it's still something that a lot of curious minds want to know. Ever since the announcement of Sony buying out Evolution and BigBig Studios, something in the back of our minds asked "how much? Those studios are relatively small, right?" but we weren't told anything at all, until now.Turns out the deal was made for around £16 million, which equates to roughly $33 million. In addition to the deal, we've come to learn that, as is natural with development studios, they're hard at work on other titles. Evolution has undoubtedly started work on Motorstorm 2. We're just glad Sony brought these guys under their wing -- maybe their next installment will fix whatever was broken in the original.
TGS07: Sony nabs Evolution and BigBig Studios
At Kaz Hirai's keynote speech, there were only a few, erm, key announcements made. One of these was the DualShock3. Another was the expanded remote play presentation and a third was the delay of Home. Another tidbit worth mentioning is Sony's acquisition of Evolution and BigBig Studios, makers of MotorStorm and Pursuit Force, respectively. These are part of Sony Computer Entertainment Worldwide Studios now and will be overseen by Phil Harrison. Philly H released this statement regarding the acquisition: "Our strategy is to create the best games by working with the best talent and Evolution and Bigbig are world-class additions to our team ... The incredible people in these studios further extend the depth and skill of the industry's largest platform-exclusive development resource." We're glad to hear it and expect to hear new games coming from Evolution Studios soon. BigBig is releasing their second Pursuit Force game on the PSP at the beginning of October.
Evolution Studios talks about the PS3 and... stuff
MotorStorm has been released. It's good. Evolution Studios made it. They're good. Now that we have the backstory out of the way, let's get down and dirty with the CEO of Evolution Studios, Martin Kenwright, and talk about how people should approach the PS3 and the future of gaming, including downloadable content.How should people approach development of games on the PS3? "I think you've got to think big now, or go home. We're in an industry full of hits, and an average product isn't good enough. You have to find an edge and I think when you look at the billions being invested in hardware, at the end of the day it's only as good as the games that being developed on that platform...You do need this scale and scope to stay at the top tier of games development." More development coming? Downloadable content? "We hope to show, not tell, and this is a curtain-raiser. I know that there's some amazing things we can do, and I don't want to go off and promise a load of stuff that we can't deliver, but what we can say in terms of graphics and processing power [is that] we are only hitting a fraction of what we could be doing. Our motto is, "If anyone can, Evo can," and we want to push the hardware." "We looked at [downloadable content] and we said that we wanted to do something fresh and exciting, underpromise and overdeliver if you will. We want to set a precedent for DLC basically. We already have 12 cars running together without any latency or slowdown, and that's a remarkable achievement beyond anything else that exists on any format. I think the experience will be great and we hope to bring you as much new content and game modes as possible." There's a lot more discussed, but it's mostly industry babble and mostly reiteration of stuff we already know. What would you guys like to see in some downloadable content for MotorStorm?
MotorStorm 720p, 30fps (not True HD)
The 'True HD' concept is certainly off to a rocky start on Sony's console that could. Despite confirmation from SCEA senior VP of marketing Peter Dille that MotorStorm would rocket to the US at 60fps in glorious 1080p, Sony today rescinded that remark. MotorStorm, alas, will be presented in lowly 720p, chugging along at 30fps.Seriously though, those numbers will keep MotorStorm competitive -- and in HD. We just couldn't miss out on an opportunity to muffle the True HD buzz.[Thanks, Jonah]
MotorStorm rushed to Japan (and it shows)
An IGN staffer calls the Japanese version of MotorStorm "the most featureless racer I've ever played." The hurried release lacks both online and offline multiplayer, time attack and free run modes, and basic settings for number of racers and lap count. But trim doesn't equal fast, as load times stretch to the 45-second mark; even vehicle selection is bogged down by model load-ins (and you'll have to break out the manual for vehicle stat comparisons).Still, IGN holds out hope for the "real" version of MotorStorm (expected to launch in March), anticipating "one of the finest racing experiences ever." How a racer can be both utterly featureless and "the most technically impressive game I've ever played" is a bit of an enigma to us, but IGN has certainly been impressed by MotorStorm's potential. PlayStation 3's first must-have? Not yet.
MotorStorm tops Japanese sale charts
To be brief, MotorStorm has become the top-selling PS3 game so far in Japan, shooting up to #1 on Japanese sales charts. Not saying too much, since there are a multitude of games sitting on the shelves but a severe lack of systems to play them on. Even so, by December 10th, MotorStorm sold 8,000 copies and has probably passed the 10,000 mark by now. If the game has done so well in Japan, where off-road racing (actual off-roading) and western-developed titles don't really do well by themselves, then how will the rest of the world react? Good question, but we all know the answer. This is going to be a fun game and many people will grab it. Argue about graphics, the SIXAXIS, or whatever, but the truth is, this is a great showcase title for the PS3. Especially for the European debut! This should be good news for all of us, so let's pop out that bottle of New Year's champagne early, eh? No noisemakers, please. Those suck.
MotorStorm stalled
Sony has pushed back MotorStorm's Japanese release another week, vaguely citing production-related issues as the reason for delay. MotorStorm will now launch alongside Armored Core 4 on December 14.Just a reminder: Westerners won't be ridin' dirty until next March. As a consolation, Evolution will include an online mode for the 2007 release of MotorStorm. So why rush an incomplete Japanese version off to retail?
