God of War III
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God of War 3 won't sacrifice your time with HDD install
We can only imagine that if Kratos were a real person (wait -- he's not?), the idea of having to wait for God of War 3 to install a portion of itself onto the PS3's hard disk wouldn't sit too well with the rage-filled Spartan. Heck, even we don't dig mandatory installs. It's a good thing, then, that God of War 3 won't have one -- this according to Sony Santa Monica director of technology, Christer Ericson. Ericson stated via Twitter that, "God of War 3 does NOT do a HD install. The 5MB listed on box back is for save game only." This is in stark contrast to other games (yes, we're talking about you, Devil May Cry 4) that require -- nay, demand! -- multi-gigabyte mandatory installations. Of course, for some, the ability to install an entire game to the PS3 hard disk, potentially cutting down on loading time is a welcome option -- but it won't be for GOW3. "No there is no HD install option," Ericson replied when asked if the game will allow for it. Given that the final back cover of the God of War 3's box only lists the 5MB space requirement, this pretty much rules out the game secretly carving out HDD space for caching data -- data that would eventually translate into images of Kratos carving up enemies on-screen. [Via Eurogamer] Source -- Twitter Source -- Twitter
LGJ: Dante's Infringement (or lack thereof)
Mark Methenitis contributes Law of the Game on Joystiq ("LGJ"), a column on legal issues as they relate to video games: While I'm still waiting for my copy of Dante's Inferno, I have been checking out the review sites, Achievement guides and message boards in preparation for the arrival of the game. One question that keeps being asked over and over again, between many different boards, is "How is EA not being sued over this game?" While the overwhelming majority of these posts reference God of War, I have even seen mention of a "license" to Inferno (as a part of the Divine Comedy). Before I begin, I know many people might have issue with me writing this before playing, but I can assure you between the videos available online and the demo, I've experienced enough of the game to be able to come to a simple conclusion: No infringement here. Let's get the latter, more absurd suggestion off the table first. There's not now, nor will there ever a be, a license to Inferno, the epic poem by Dante. Why is that? It's a part of the public domain. It, as a work, would have been eligible for copyright had such laws been in place at the time, but even with the modern expansive rules, the copyright would have ended hundreds of year ago. After all, taking the normal 'life of the author plus 70 years' for works created after 1978 in the US, 70 years after Dante's death was 1391. We're well past 600 years after Dante's death at this point; in fact, 2021 will mark the 700 year anniversary of Dante's death, 10 times the length granted by statute. So, this particular statement was absurd even for forum posts, but the idea that Dante's Inferno infringes on God of War isn't much more sound.
Spike TV holding casting calls for nightmarish God of War 3 contest
Good news, The Tester -- you're off the hook for being the worst idea for a video game-themed game show. Look sharp, Spike TV's recently announced God of War 3 promotion/contest Last Titan Standing -- you're officially on notice. According to a recent press release announcing the show's casting call, Last Titan Standing (which airs the night before GoW 3's March 16 release) pits players against one another for a chance to play the game "before the rest of the world." Kind of a lackluster prize -- what will they be doing to win it? Well, according to the casting call: "The story, puzzles, and straight-up action in God of War 3 will be recreated and YOU can be standing in the midst of the battles." Thanks, but no thanks, Last Titan Standing -- all things considered, putting up with pre-order panhandling from our friendly neighborhood GameStop clerk is marginally more bearable than getting our arms ripped off by a minotaur.
GameStop handing out giant Kratos poster with God of War III pre-order
Do your living quarters need more art installations featuring massive, ashen dudes wielding massive, angry blades? You're in luck -- a recent PlayStation.Blog post has revealed that folks who pre-order God of War III at GameStop will not only gain access to an exclusive "Phantom of Chaos" in-game costume, they'll also snag a 17 x 24 poster of Kratos, signed by the game's concept artist, Andy Park. To catch a glimpse of the poster, check out the full scan after the jump. It's going to look a lot like that, only without the words "FOR DISPLAY ONLY" plastered proudly across its midsection. (We hope!)
God of War 3 trailer will boulder you over
Are all those Xbox 360 megatons getting a bit monotonous? Here, try something in PS3 flavor. Specifically, a brand new God of War 3 trailer. In it, Kratos proves that, for him, carrying around a big boulder is no Sisyphean task. In fact, it becomes somewhat of an improbable method of propulsion. The game also puts a giant monster on an even bigger giant so Kratos can fight while he fights. It's a festival of excess, tied loosely into Greek myth. Total God of War stuff, essentially.
Latest episode of Qore features God of War 3 E3 demo
Wait, you're telling us you still haven't played that demo for God of War III which we got our hands on like, eight months ago? What, did you not get one of the download codes that came bundled with District 9 and the God of War Collection? We're trying not to be too condescending, it's just ... look, we're already playing the demo for God of War IV. If you don't make the effort to catch up, then what are we even doing here? Consider this your last chance: According to a recent Playstation.Blog post, the next episode of Qore will land on the PSN alongside a God of War III demo, which will be available to the program's subscribers. Why not pick it up, and attempt to close the ever-widening gap between us, dear readers? We miss you.
God of War III Slurpee tastes like Kratos' fury; it's delicious
When playing the God of War games, we've often wondered, "If Kratos' unflagging rage could be assigned a flavor, what flavor would it be?" Finally, that question will be answered by Mountain Dew and 7-Eleven, which are collaborating on the next advancement in frozen sugar-drink technology: The Kratos Fury Slurpee. We know that sounds like the kind of thing we'd make up for comedic effect, but we assure you, it's berry real. You can pick up a tall, refreshing cup of Fury (which includes nonconsumable codes for DLC armor and other content) starting February 1, at which point you'll learn that Kratos' anger actually tastes like a pleasant mix of blackberries and lime -- and the blood of a freshly-slain Gorgon. But, yeah, mostly just blackberries and lime.
A date with Kratos: God of War III hits the US on March 16
digg_url = 'http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/28/a-date-with-kratos-god-of-war-iii-hits-the-us-on-march-16/'; click to titan-size Sony has announced (via PlayStation.Blog) that God of War III will launch domestically on March 16. That's just 47 days away (which is exactly 47 days too many). In addition to firming up the date, SCEA released the final box art (it's rated M!) and revealed that a new trailer for the game -- hopefully showcasing the considerable upgrades it has received since the playable demo hit -- will debut on February 11. A box shot of the Ultimate Edition has also been released -- a package within which ultimate collectors will find a replica Pandora's Box containing the game (shocking, we know) along with collectibles and DLC (it's digital and physical!). Personally, we find a paltry cardboard box rather unbefitting of such a powerful artifact, so we'll be holding out for a "Supreme Ultimate Edition," which will obviously come in a replica Pandora's Temple on the back of a replica Cronos. You can see the current, less "Grr! Extreme!" packaging after the break.
Heavy Rain, God of War III PS3 bundles listed for Europe
If you're in Europe, you'll have the option to buy an even bigger, more expensive, but less crazy God of War III box than the "Ultimate Trilogy Edition." An Amazon.fr listing for a God of War III PS3 bundle has been spotted, complete with very believable image. According to Amazon, it'll be available March 17 for €349.95 (roughly $490) and will include the game and a 250GB PS3. A similar bundle will also be released for Heavy Rain on February 24 for the same price, according to Amazon France -- and wouldn't you know, the bundle box image is classier than the North American game box. There's also a supposed MAG bundle due out January 29, but Amazon just shows the bundle as a regular 250GB PS3 and a copy of MAG. [Via Kotaku; thanks francisco dang!]
Interview: God of War III ends trilogy, but not franchise, Sony's John Hight says
While God of War III will conclude the trilogy, it won't spell the end of the franchise, Sony Santa Monica's John Hight reveals in a recent interview with Joystiq. With the third game "capping off what we started with God of War," Hight says we should expect more God of War games to follow, but the decision on where to take the franchise after the initial trilogy (and portable prequel) won't be taken lightly. "We're going to be really careful about what we do next," he assures. The full interview can be viewed in its entirety above. Select portions of the interview can be read in the following transcription: Can you explain the new technology that you're showing off today? So what we've kept under wraps until this time is dynamic environments. It means we can take literally anything in the game, including creatures and in this case, extremely large thousand foot plus creatures, and turn them into an environment that Kratos can now navigate, battle on, engage other creatures on, find treasures, you name it. Even since the very first God of War, we keep a running list of features that we'd like to have. So you're in the middle of making something ... some of them make it into the game, and some of them get moved to the next game. And this was the case of definitely a feature that the team has thought about for a while, but God of War 3 and the technology of PS3 enabled us to actually build it.
Hands-on: This is God of War III
You should probably click this image. I summed up the E3 demo of God of War III with this opener: "God of War, in HD." That's not a "bad" thing per se, but for a franchise that's been known for pushing the graphical envelope, it simply wasn't enough. Thankfully, my concerns were obliterated last month when I got to play the latest build of the game. It only took a minute or so before I was able to say "this is God of War III -- and what it was always meant to be." The demo was incredibly short, perhaps two or three minutes long. But that's all Santa Monica Studios needed to effectively demonstrate the scope of their vision. The graphical improvements were immediately noticeable: motion blur, depth of field, better lighting and special effects. However, it was the cinematic camera work and the incredibly inspired level design that really left an impression. Once again, this demo takes place on the Titan, making his way to the top of Mount Olympus. What the VGA trailer failed to capture effectively, though, is how dynamic battles will feel atop a moving giant. Remember how impressive Uncharted 2's dynamic set pieces were? Imagine scenes like Uncharted's collapsing building and train, and remove the sense of "reality" that Nathan Drake has to adhere to.%Gallery-83381%
Get God of War 3 pre-order poster, cup of coffee at 7-Eleven
If you're trying to decide just which gas station through which to secure a copy of God of War 3, 7-Eleven has an interesting proposition for you. Pre-orders have opened up at 7-Eleven stores in the US, and include the exclusive poster seen above, which features Kratos checking out some totally sweet destruction courtesy of a Fire Titan. You can see the poster in Titan-size here. Supplies are limited, so we advise you to go pre-order the game now if you want one of these. 7-Eleven is a very convenient store, after all, meaning it shouldn't take too long for others to find their way there and claim a poster.
God of War III gets a Japanese release date
We've known that God of War III would be arriving on the Playstation 3 in March for a while now, but Sony has blessed Japan with an actual date: March 26, 2010. There's no official date for the rest of the world yet, but we'll let you know when we see one. The good news is that it's possible the game could come out earlier in the US, being as it's a title developed right here between the shining seas. But either way, that demo will have to tide you over for a couple more months.
God of War 'Ultimate Trilogy Edition' coming to Europe
Dear Europe, We're really sorry you weren't able to get God of War Collection this year. But we wanted to let you know that it's not you, it's us. Yeah, you really wanted it, but we thought you would want EyePet instead! To make up for the delay, we're making you an Ultimate Trilogy Edition of God of War III. Not only will it include a fancy box and a copy of God of War III, but it will also include God of War Collection, so you can have all three games in one garish box. We're also throwing in an art book and postcards, along with a lot of digital extras that America is also receiving. Does this make you feel better, baby? Love, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe
God of War 3 fan video contest offers signed 'Ultimate' editions
Here's a challenge from the gods: the Playstation Blog has challenged followers to putt their dignity on the line to win one of 20 copies of the God of War III Ultimate Edition, signed by the development team. All you have to do is make a video that encapsulates your love for the game and explains why you deserve to open Pandora's Box. Creativity is important -- though we're sure they'll give bonus points for embarrassment. Not everyone can pull off that buff Kratos kosplay, you know ... The top 20 submissions will also be included in the credits of God of War: Unearthing the Legend, "a full-length movie documentary depicting the history of the God of War franchise." Check out the video for the contest after the break to gain some inspiration.
Dream Theater adding even more metal to God of War III soundtrack
Dream Theater, a heavy metal band best known for creating songs that are impossible to play in Rock Band -- and, based on the image above, for serving as the artistic inspiration for Metalocalypse's Dethklok -- has chosen to lend its potent rock powers to the soundtrack of God of War III. This announcement was made by Theater drummer Mike Portnoy, who mentioned on the band's blog, "we will then enter the studio right after New Year's to write and record a brand new instrumental track for inclusion on the upcoming Gods [sic] Of War 3 soundtrack." Between the inclusion of this track and the exclusive Trivium song (which was announced late last month), we appreciate the metallic infusion Sony's trying to introduce to the title. However, if it doesn't culminate in an unlockable electric guitar weapon, then you can expect us to be stricken with grief for a few months after the game's release. [Via VG247]
God of War III Ultimate Edition to rip apart your wallet
digg_url = 'http://digg.com/playstation/God_of_War_III_Ultimate_Edition_to_rip_apart_your_wallet'; You'd think that with a box as obnoxiously large as this, the God of War III "Ultimate Edition" would be overflowing with goodies. However, don't expect an abundance of physical goods in this 8.3" wide x 10.5" long x 5.9" tall "High-End Sculpted Replica of Pandora's Box." With the exception of the God of War III art book, all the bonuses packaged into this collector's edition are downloads: God of War Combat Arena containing an exclusive environment and seven challenges Premium Kratos Skin – Dominus God of War: Unearthing the Legend Franchise Documentary – a full-length movie documentary depicting the history of the God of War franchise God of War Trilogy Soundtrack – God of War, II, and III scores from the game (mp3 digital download). God of War: Blood and Metal EP – a heavy metal homage featuring original music inspired by God of War (mp3 download). So how much will this big box o' digital goodies cost you? $100! Of course, a big-budget game isn't complete without a requisite pre-order bonus. God of War III's pre-order bonus is none too surprising: a downloadable demo of the game you just put a deposit on! With the same demo releasing via the God of War Collection and the District 9 Blu-ray, chances are good you'll end up with more than one access code to the GoW demo before it ships next year -- heck you might even see a code pop up in your e-mail this weekend!
God of War III demo included on District 9 Blu-ray
If you're interested in checking out God of War 3 early, but don't want to play the first two God of Wars again, Sony corporate synergy has a solution for you! The Blu-Ray release of District 9, due December 29 (a bit later than the God of War Collection), will include a playable demo of God of War 3. Once you've played through the demo, a making-of featurette will be unlocked (for the game, not the movie).While District 9 and God of War 3 are united in that they're both things that people presumably want to see, it strikes us as odd that this rather random collection is the first Blu-ray/game demo pairing for SCEA. The Watchmen movie and game actually related to one another in some way, and they came on separate discs.
Trivium to rock God of War III with exclusive tune
We can all admit the God of War series is pretty metal -- it's about a dude killing gods and tearing apart most of the Greek mythos' bestiary with his bare hands! And even though all of the orchestral tunes playing Kratos along his rampages have certainly been nice so far, Sony has seen fit to spice it up a bit and tap metal band Trivium for an exclusive track for God of War III. The news was revealed by Trivium guitarist/vocalist, Matt Heafy, during an interview with Baltimore rock station 98Rock's Kid Christoff. It's definitely an "original song," Heafy said -- don't expect a tune lifted from one of the band's previous albums. If you're looking for a sneak preview, we suggest you crank this and watch this. [Via G4]
God of War 3 director considering downloadable challenge rooms
God of War 3's director Stig Asmussen thinks a good way to keep players involved beyond the single-player campaign is through downloadable challenge maps. Speaking with GamePro, he acknowledges the game will ship with a certain amount of challenge rooms, with a possibility of adding more, via DLC, at a later stage. He mentions a challenge in which players have to ride a Cyclops and kill a certain number of enemies in a time limit, possibly using "the Cyclops to get through a certain type of hazard or area or something like that."Asmussen notes that creating challenge maps occurs late in the development process, but hopes that things move beyond the planning phase within "the next two months."
