killzone-2
Latest
Killzone.com gets linked to your PSN ID
by03.14.2008
Remember that game, Killzone? Yeah, apparently PS3 fans think it's some sort of "big deal." The unsurprisingly named official site of the game, Killzone.com is being updated, and will integrate with your PSN ID. The latest update states: "Killzone.com is currently undergoing important changes behind the scenes. We're joining forces with the PLAYSTATION®Network to offer you new and exciting functionality. To take full advantage of future upgrades to the website, and to preserve your current profile, please link your Killzone.com account to your PLAYSTATION®Network account."While it's unclear what kind of enhancements are being made to the Killzone.com online experience, we're excited to see the PSN ID become more ubiquitous. SCEE also recently announced that its forums will integrate with the PSN. Clearly, we can expect something significant to happen in the coming weeks.[Thanks, grief!]
Killzone 2 dev responds to Eight Days' hype train
by02.28.2008In a PlayStation Forum thread titled "Ask the dev", someone decided that was optional and opted to instead make some base comments about how Eight Days' new information basically makes Killzone 2 look ridiculous and insists that all the hype surrounding the title has disappeared ... among other things. One developer took the time to craft a long, long response to the accusation and we can summarize it. Probably.He said, more or less, "if you want to go be excited about Eight Days then be my guest." He goes on to ask "is there only allowed to be one good game at once? When it is news that a game looks better than Killzone 2, I'd say that suggests that Killzone 2 looks pretty [darn] good." He also goes on to talk about the infamous 2005 E3 trailer, claiming it was not false, rather, an idea of what they thought they'd be able to do on the PS3. Leave it to the media to screw that up, he implies. There's a lot more to the response and it's interesting to read, so go ahead and knock yourself out. If games are already being compared to Killzone 2, we'd have to say there's a reason for it.
New Killzone 2 concept art discovered
by02.06.2008Using some first-rate detective work, the guys at ripten have unearthed a slew of gorgeous concept art spanning the entire Killzone series, including the highly anticipated Killzone 2. The person responsible for these amazing pieces of art is Xavier Marquis, a concept artist born in France who has worked for video game companies such as Sony, Eidos and Ubisoft. Several of the Killzone images were published in the June 2007 issue of ImagineFX, a fantasy and sci-fi digital arts magazine, but up until now, we really haven't seen many of them. The series has always had a great artistic look to many of the characters and Marquis really fleshes them out in his work. Hopefully, we'll continue to see his work for a long time. Go here to see the full set of Marquis' Killzone concept art. [Via ripten]
Rumor: Killzone 2 and LittleBigPlanet coming Fall 2008
by12.15.2007We're afraid your secret wish for Go! Team fueled romps through velvety, user-submitted playgrounds isn't going to be fulfilled for quite some time -- neither will your desire to play the highly anticipated sequel to the original "Halo Killer". According to a recent post on Three Speech (a "semi official" Playstation blog), both LittleBigPlanet and Killzone 2 aren't going to see the light of day until September or October of next year. While an official due date for Killzone 2 hasn't been nailed down yet, this new information contradicts the last release date we heard for LittleBigPlanet, which was "early 2008."We're holding out hope that these new schedules for big black's two potential killer apps are pure conjecture, but considering Three Speech's partnership with Sony, we're guessing that they know something that we don't; like, for instance, which dark, secret pastes give Phil Harrison's dome its intoxicating sheen.[Via 1UP]
Killzone 2 dev admits screenshots 'touched up'
by12.10.2007Even virtual worlds need to visit the powder room before parading in public. The practice of 'touching up' is something our shallow, image-conscious society accepts (heck, we expect it!), so long as the object doesn't stray too far from our idealized imaginations. So when Guerrilla Games rolled out a new batch of Killzone 2 screens, captured from this year's E3 demo, fans noticed the images looked a little too good to be true, drawing obvious connections to Killzone's infamous E3 2005 debut trailer, which substituted actual game content with pre-rendered 'target' video.Guerrilla QA manager Seb Downie joined the discussion on the PlayStation Forums, admitting, "[The screenshots] are only the tiniest bit touched up ... there was a little bit of colour-correction done and some minor polish, but nothing major." The comparison image above, also posted in the discussion (via PSU), seems to corroborate Downie's admission, revealing sharper colors and deeper contrasts in the 'doctored' screen on the right (effects that seem within the limits of standard display settings; i.e., a television could be capable of displaying both the dull and stylized versions of this scene by tinkering with its display settings). Also, the "original" version of the image is a frame snagged directly from video, so it's subject to a certain amount of blurring that's not necessarily an accurate depiction of gameplay frozen in that instant. In any case, how can a screenshot ever tell the truth? Downie concludes that Killzone 2 simply "looks better in motion."
Killzone 2 footage, plus exciting commentary
by11.13.2007We love Killzone 2 as much as you do, so we're bringing you some footage that's touted as new and some commentary, also all new. There's a lot of talk about dynamic lighting and the use of a proprietary engine to bring us the fantastic lighting details in the game, so it's worth it just to hear that. If not, well, you get to see some excellent gameplay. We aren't sure if this game is going to hit shelves anytime soon, but we've been waiting for several years ... what's one more?
Killzone 2 dev: Blu-ray is a necessity
by10.17.2007The upcoming PlayStation 3 exclusive Killzone 2 could not fit onto a DVD (capacity of dual-layer disc: 8.5 GB), according to the game's producer Steven Ter Heide. In an interview with GamePro, Heide said, "It is not a luxury to have Blu-ray, but rather a necessity, as compression only gets you so far."He added that the one level shown at E3 took 2GB of space (approx. 24% of a dual-layer DVD), which is unsurprising since he said the same thing during an E3 presentation. Assuming he meant assets exclusive to the level (we're guessing quite a few vehicles and enemies will be seen in multiple levels), that'd make for a rather short game on DVD. Still, it's hard to be convinced by the statement when reusable assets are factored in. The real decider will be the final product; we're hoping Heide's statements indicates a plethora of content when Killzone 2 comes out. Heide also lauds the Cell processor. We wouldn't expect a Sony developer to join in on the hardware hate-fest, but we're not hearing a lot of other developers at this point standing up for the PS3. Killzone 2 still does not have a release date.[Via PS3 Fanboy]
Killzone 2 devs tout Blu-ray as necessary, ability to jump
by10.16.2007Because we just can't get enough of Guerrilla Games' high-profile Killzone 2, we're crashing another interview party that talks about environmental hazards and new gameplay elements. Instead of beating around the bush, we're going to dive right in and pick out all the juicy berries growing on the branches. The Helghasts have turned the environment of their home planet into weaponry, like the ARC weapon that harnesses lightning as firepower. While not directly an environmental hazard, there are other things planned to discuss. Like lightning? You can't choose different characters to play as in Killzone 2, since you follow the journey of Sev. You will meet up with buddies who have varied abilities, but as far as personal choice goes, you've got Sev. Luckily, he can wield most weapons ... just two at a time. Too early to confirm vehicles, but elements from Liberation, like boss battles and healing allies, will probably make appearances. You can jump in Killzone 2, but you can't jump and fire your weapons at the same time. There will also be a lot of context-based actions like leaning and peeking against and around things. No word on voice actors yet, but it almost sounds like the devs are hiding some bigger names than we'd expect. Better AI is a must, what with all the destructible environments and explosive bits found in the battlefield. Enemies and squad allies need to be aware of all that and each other, crafting complex attack and defense strategies on the go. On a final note, Guerrilla Games gave a nod to the Blu-ray camp, saying the graphics and level of detail found in the game could only be done with large storage space. "It is not a luxury to have Blu-ray, but rather a necessity, as compression only gets you so far. I mean, the level that we showed at E3 and Leipzig topped out around 2GB! Also having the CELL and SPUs means we can offload all of our physics processing to an SPU, or process AI using the SPU's." We're excited to hear more about the game, especially a solid release date. However, we don't expect it to come out anytime soon -- we want them to relax and craft an excellent gaming experience for us.[Via Digg]
Killzone 2: a step ahead of all things next-gen
by10.15.2007Some of you may have heard rumblings about this obscure Killzone 2 title -- we're not sure, it hasn't really gotten much attention from the press, but apparently it's being touted as one step ahead of all other console games in terms of next-gen technology. From an excerpt in the Official PlayStation Magazine UK: " ... the fact that Helghan is such an inhospitable hole, should mean that the game looks drab. The fact it doesn't is down to an array of visual tricks, the most important of which is deferred rendering, which involves blending the effect of light sources on an object... it makes the city look incredibly dynamic with light and shadow changing constantly as a result of muzzle flashes, burning wreckage and jags of lighting."In addition to those fancy bits of techno-babble, the firefights and ferocity of the situation the gamer is placed in seem to really draw a from a different well inside of our minds, causing the whole FPS experience to seem fresh and exciting. Those are our words, but they get the idea across rather well. In conclusion, OPM states that Killzone 2 "is genuinely a notch ahead of anything being done on consoles right now." We're glad to hear these glowing impressions, but we'd like to get our grubby mitts on it before every other game coming out on consoles catches up with this one in terms of technical prowess.
Whoops, Killzone 2 is not Halo 3
by09.25.2007The BBC featured a report on the hotly anticipated Halo 3 launch. The video shows some of the crowds waiting for Xbox 360's FPS behemoth, and even features an interview from Shane Kim. Too bad the video footage they used was from Killzone 2, a game we hear won't make it on the Xbox 360. Whoops![Thanks, iceatcs!]
Lean and peek at this new Killzone footage
by08.24.2007Straight from Leipzig, the developers at Guerrilla demonstrated some of the gameplay features of the highly anticipated PS3 first person shooter, Killzone 2. While the game is mostly known for its graphics technology, gamers should be most curious about the way the game plays. Certainly, is the gameplay as advanced as the way it looks? Watch this new footage to see the cover and aiming system in work in this new video.
Creating the Killzone look with deferred rendering
by08.12.2007How did Guerrilla pull of its distinctive "Killzone look?" Their Develop presentation was all about "deferred rendering," a process which adds Hollywood-quality visual effects to the images rendered by the PS3. Extensive post-process effects allowed the team to create "highly dynamic lighting in environments" with "complex geometry" and "MSAA" -- whatever that is. Those with technical know-how will appreciate the Develop presentation the team delivered, which goes into some intricate detail about how much SPU power is being used by the game. Even with already-impressive results, the team has a long way to go. In fact, there are still "a lot of features planned," such as: ambient occlusion, contact shadows, shadows on transparent geometry, more efficient anti-aliasing, and dynamic radiosity. [Thanks, sheppy!] Read - Presentation (in PDF form)
LittleBigPlanet and Killzone win Game Critics Awards
by08.01.2007Was there any doubt that LittleBigPlanet is the most original game of E3? The Game Critics Awards have named Media Molecule's 2D wonder the "Best Original Game" of E3 this year (a week after we named it the best PS3 game; and Joystiq also named it the "Best Original Game"). In addition, Killzone earned special honors in graphics -- it didn't match the visual fidelity of the original trailer, but boy did it get close. Finally, the Game of the Show was Rock Band ... a multiplatform release that'll find its way on PS3. Not a bad line-up of awards for the PS3, no? [Via PlayStation.blog]
Dying for some more Killzone 2 footage?
by07.14.2007Lucky for you, we check Gametrailers all the time for the latest footage of our favorite games. If the downloadable E3 trailer of Killzone 2 from the PS Store wasn't enough to satisfy, we've got some more in-game footage detailing parts of the demo we weren't able to see. Sure, there's a lot of button-pushing and tower-shooting, but to think about all that's happening on screen at any single moment is pretty awe-inspiring. Much more happening on these battlefields than, say, in narrow corridors. Let us know what you think!
Killzone 2 developers talk development, E3 2005
by07.11.2007Sony released a new Q&A with the Killzone 2 developers at last night's event. The Sony-published interview doesn't provide the most critical look at the game's development, but nonetheless offers a new look at this hotly anticipated game. How big is the team currently at Guerrilla? 135 people Please describe the work atmosphere at Guerrilla. It's a very creative environment, with a great international workforce. We have over 20 different nationalities inside the studio. What is the premise of Killzone 2? It's 2 years later and the ISA are invading the Helghast home planet of Helghan. The goal is to capture the Helghast leader and bring the war machine to a halt.
Killzone 2 screenshot to get us hyped for tonight's demo event
by07.10.2007As if you didn't know already, tonight is the Killzone 2 event at E3. As if it wasn't hyped enough, Sony has released an in-game screenshot from the demo that our journalist pals (including our own Andrew Yoon) will be playing tonight. The USAToday website has an article about four 'show stealing games,' with a little more info about Killzone 2 and the full res image can be found on Threespeech. Screenshots (well, singular) are all well and good, but we really want to see the game in motion. Hopefully there'll be footage galore after the press event this evening. [Thanks Justin]
Rumour: Killzone 2 could be coming sooner than we think
by06.27.2007There's a chance we may be seeing a Killzone 2 release as early as September. Game Planets is reporting that the latest issue of Power Unlimited magazine states that "expectations for the PlayStation 3 premier shooter are high, and Sony aims to release Killzone 2 during September." While we're going to reserve judgement for now, we wouldn't be surprised if this was true. We first got a glimpse of the game two years ago and, judging from the way Sony is handling the Killzone 2 presentation at E3, they must have something spectacular to show us now. A pre-Halo 3 release would also do the game a great deal of good, especially if its as groundbreaking as they say. We'll keep you updated as and when any developments occur. [Via N4G]
Sony E3 invite hints at Killzone 2 unveiling
by06.25.2007We love receiving mysterious packages at Joystiq HQ and are particularly enamored by the ones that don't violently explode upon their opening. The card pictured above matches the latter description, though it seems to indicate that demolition and destruction is nevertheless in our near future. The card glibly invites its recipient to attend a unique two and a half hour Sony event on the evening of July 10th, just as Min-E3 gets underway. Unless Sony has taken a very interesting approach to promoting the next SingStar, the disagreeable fellow on the card implies that Killzone 2 will be the event's focus. Considering the event's length and the game's brief showing at GDC, a playable version of the anticipated shooter seems increasingly likely to appear. Once we finally see whether or not it lives up to the infamous 2005 prerendered trailer graphically, we can move on to more pertinent questions like, "Is it any fun?" We suspect we'll have an answer next month.
Killzone 2 will be shown at invite-only pre-E3 event
by06.25.2007Supposedly, there's this big game called Killzone 2 coming out for PS3. We haven't heard of it. But, that will change come Tuesday, July 10th. Instead of going to the Microsoft keynote, we're going to head to this invite-only Sony event, which we're assuming will feature something Killzone-related (see invite, pictured above). Only 150 people have been invited to the event, so we're hoping that we can get some intimate alone-time with a playable Killzone 2. Stay tuned for more. For a more detailed look at the invite, visit our Facebook page.
Killzone devs say they'll shut up the critics
by06.08.2007Ever since that over-ambitious trailer from E3 2005, the fellows in charge of Killzone have had to dodge tomatoes from everyone in the universe, it seems. Surely, no game could look that good, could it? Guerrila Games has issued a pretty telling statement regarding their showing of Killzone 2 at this year's E3: "hopefully it will all go brilliantly and we'll shut up even some of the most ardent critics." Well, that and their inner voice telling them "OH MY GOD WE ARE ALL GOING TO DIE!" So says Sebastian Downie. We can't even imagine what they'll have to say at E3. It's going to be very difficult to satisfy fans and critics alike because they can't get over the fact that the graphics in the game can't possibly match that shown in the 2005 video, which served more as a tech demo than a hint at a game, like Final Fantasy VII. At least, not gameplay. What we were told to expect, however, was the announcement of online capabilities and some kind of public beta coming later this year. We'll see these guys at E3!