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Killzone: Mercenary update adds PlayStation TV support
If you prefer to dispatch Helghast hordes from a stationary position while seated in front of a sizable television, you'll be happy to hear that the latest Killzone: Mercenary update adds support for the imminent PlayStation TV device to the formerly Vita-exclusive first-person shooter. "The game does indeed look fantastic on the big screen, and the DualShock controls bring a new feel to the game's mechanics," reads a description on the PlayStation.blog. "We've reworked all the touch mechanics to maximize the experience when played with those controls. Knowing that PS Vita players will play directly with PlayStation TV players online, we've worked hard to ensure the game is balanced for both parties, without either one having a competitive advantage." The PlayStation TV is slated to launch tomorrow, October 14. Additionally, the update adds a new "restart-from-checkpoint" system to the sci-fi shooter, allowing players to put their mission on hold without having to suspend the game to the PS TV or Vita menu screens. [Image: Sony]
Killzone Mercenary DLC adds offline multiplayer
Today, developer Guerrilla Cambridge will unleash a new DLC pack for Killzone Mercenary, which adds offline multiplayer to the Vita shooter. "With the purchase of the Botzone Soldier Training Pack, all of our multiplayer maps can be played offline in Mercenary or Guerrilla Warfare modes," a post on the PlayStation Blog from Guerrilla Cambridge' Tech Director, Matt Porter, revealed. With the new content, players can face off against up to seven AI soldiers. Porter notes that, with the offline mode, players will have a chance to collect some of the portable game's "harder-to-obtain" multiplayer trophies. Additionally, the content brings with it a mandatory update, which tackles some longer standing collision issues reported in the game's multiplayer maps. The free update will be available today. The BotZone DLC will be available to purchase on the PlayStation Store, but at the time of publishing, no price was made available for the content. [Image: Guerrilla Cambridge]
Killzone Mercenary tacks on another massive patch
The good news is that Killzone Mercenary has received a new update designed to improve online functionality; the bad news is that this is yet another patch that will occupy greater than 1GB of your Vita's storage. Alongside improving the game's online multiplayer, the update is also designed to create a better distribution of spawn points in multiplayer maps. Additionally, the patch includes " a number of stability fixes, to address some of the crashes that have been reported." As with all Vita game patches, this update should be applied the next time players fire up Killzone Mercenary, assuming they have the requisite free space. If all of this sounds familiar, it should: Developer Guerrilla Cambridge released a 1.1GB update for Killzone Mercenary immediately following its September launch which was also aimed at improving the game's online functionality. As we mentioned in our review, lag has been a problem for Killzone Mercenary since its debut. Realizing how much of a hassle it can be to download patches of this magnitude onto a Vita handheld, Sony offers the following: "We're currently investigating solutions to reduce the overall size of the title and free up more of your valuable memory card space," states the PlayStation.blog. "We hope to be able to share more news on that work very soon. However, it seems unlikely to us that the overall size of the downloaded game, plus the patch, will ever be under 4GB."
Aesthetics trump gameplay in Killzone Mercenary launch trailer
To celebrate the debut of Killzone Mercenary, Sony has issued a launch trailer for the Vita-exclusive first-person shooter, focusing heavily on the game's undeniably impressive graphics, but featuring almost no gameplay footage. For a more in-depth examination of Killzone Mercenary, try our review.
Killzone Mercenary patch improves online stability
Developer Guerrilla Cambridge has issued a patch for the just-released Killzone Mercenary said to improve the game's online connectivity and multiplayer stability, issues which stood out in our recent review. "The multiplayer game has been through a few stages of Beta Trials over the last couple of months and, we've said this elsewhere, we are immensely grateful to all those people who took part, especially those who took the time to provide feedback," wrote senior producer Mark Green on the game's official blog. "We've worked hard to make sure those views were taken on board (we were overwhelming by how much feedback we received!), and the day one patch is a direct consequence of that feedback with changes made to improve standard things like stability and connectivity, but also to get people back into the game quicker." Addressing the patch's notably large 1.1GB size, Green continues, "We appreciate some users' frustration over the patch's size, but we offer every assurance that we couldn't have included its changes any sooner, and that the enhancements - borne of the beta -offer dramatic and worthwhile improvements. The Beta Trials were limited in what they showed, just one or two modes and maps, but we hope you'll feel the impact of all the time that has been dedicated to perfecting the multiplayer experience when you play the game." When we reviewed Killzone Mercenary, we were impressed by how well the generally console-based franchise was translated to the Vita handheld, but noted significant latency problems in multiplayer. Since downloading the patch, overall lag during online gameplay has drastically improved (though it remains a periodic issue), while random disconnects seem more prevalent (though not to such a degree that they're an ongoing frustration). Killzone Mercenary is now available for the Vita for $40.
Total War: Rome 2 fails to conquer Saints Row 4 in UK charts
These are the days of the Saints Row empire. Despite a brave attempt by Total War: Rome 2, all roads still lead to Saints Row 4 in the UK charts, where Volition's game is now into its third week as Numero Uno. Not that it was a bad launch for Rome 2; the strategy sequel upped the previous Rome game's first week sales by 4,000 copies, and it managed to pip the console versions of Diablo 3 to second place. Get tu, Rome 2! Okay, we're out of Roman references. Lower down the order, we find two new releases in Vita game Killzone: Mercenary, which docks in eighth, and - oo-arrrr! - Farming Simulator 2013, which crops up in tenth. That unusual combination pushes Final Fantasy 14: A Realm Reborn just out of the top ten, the PS3 and PC MMO coming in 11th. Finally, if we peer right down the top 40 we just about find Dead or Alive 5 Ultimate - in 35th. At least Tecmo Koei can reflect on the updated fighter's debut in the knowledge the original shipped 580,000 units worldwide in its first month. Oh, and get this: FIFA 13 isn't in the top ten! It's the first time in recorded history (or close enough) that FIFA 13 has been sighted as low as (gasp!) 14th. Truly, this is the silly season.
Unpaid intern sues Sony, gets paid
Sony has opted to settle a suit brought against it by former intern Chris Jarvis for £4,600 ($7,189.34), reports The Independent. In 2012, Jarvis was hired by Sony Computer Entertainment Cambridge (now known as Guerrilla Cambridge, developers of Killzone: Mercenary) to act as an unpaid intern. Instead of typical intern duties, he was asked to work from 9:30AM to 6:00PM for three months as a tester on the studio's in-production games, claimed Jarvis. When he approached his bosses to ask for typical tester's wages he was instead told that his intern status effectively made him a volunteer employee, and was thus not due compensation. Jarvis reported Sony to the British customs authority and the case was scheduled to be heard in front of a tribunal. Instead of court, Sony opted to settle, awarding the former intern £4,600 - £1,000 more than Jarvis was seeking.
Killzone Mercenary review: Hired gun
From a superficial perspective, Killzone: Mercenary is about as rote a shooter as you'll find. It stars former soldier Arran Danner who has opted for a more lucrative life as a mercenary, battling the Helghast invasion as part of the Phantom Talon Corporation. This sets the plot up for many cliché twists and overwrought scenes of dramatic betrayal that players will see coming miles away. And yet, despite its tired storytelling, Killzone: Mercenary largely succeeds by focusing on the sort of well-polished, frenetic first-person shooter gameplay rarely see on the PlayStation Vita (though not for lack of trying). When you first step into the world of Killzone: Mercenary, you'll notice its gorgeous graphics. There's no hyperbole in saying these are some of the best the Vita has ever seen – Killzone: Mercenary could very easily pass as an Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3 game. Fans of earlier Killzone games might find this worrying, as the series has earned a reputation for being overloaded with cutscenes that, while attractive, remove control from players for lengthy stretches of time. The developers behind Killzone: Mercenary seem to have learned their lesson on this front. Mercenary does feature periodic interludes, but they're primarily used to segue into and out of missions, and seldom last more than a few moments. Of course, this added autonomy would mean nothing if the gameplay were not worthwhile. Thankfully, in a pure, gut-level way, Killzone: Mercenary stands alongside almost any recent shooter – for better or worse.
Gamescom trailers and screenshots giga-post
Psst, hey kid. You want some ... trailers? How about some Gamescom trailers? C'mere for a second. Yeah that's right, we got all kinds of trailers. Murasaki Baby, Dragon Age: Inquisition, Resogun, Infamous: Second Son, Watch Dogs, pretty much any kind of trailer you wanna put in your eyeballs, we can hook it up. Hey, and you know what? Since you seem like a nice kid, we're gonna throw in some screenshots too. Oh no, put your wallet away – the first one's free.
PSN Tuesday: Saints Row 4, Divekick, The Walking Dead on PS Vita
The weekly PlayStation content update has downloads of Saints Row 4, The Bureau: XCOM Declassified, Splinter Cell Blacklist and Divekick. On the PS Vita side, The Walking Dead makes its platform debut. PlayStation Plus subscribers can snag a free pair of games today: Star Wars Pinball and Darkstalkers Chronicle: The Chaos Tower. Rounding out this week's update is the public multiplayer beta for Killzone: Mercenary, the PS Vita installment in Guerrilla's glowy-eyed shooting gallery.
Killzone Mercenary multiplayer open beta starts August 20
Killzone: Mercenary's open beta program is right around the corner, opening August 20 for PlayStation Plus subscribers. Vita owners without a PlayStation Plus subscription will have to wait until August 27 for their turn with the game's multiplayer mode. The beta program closes on September 3, ahead of the game's September 10 launch. Killzone: Mercenary's multiplayer offerings allow up to eight players to do battle in three modes and six maps. It also features a "valor card" system that ranks players on a daily basis, with each card representing a player's "earning ability." Players drop their valor cards upon dying in the game, offering greater rewards to the victor if the card is of a higher valor level.
Killzone Mercenary beta opens on PS Vita next month
Eager beavers looking to sample Killzone: Mercenary prior to its launch in September will get a chance in late August when an open beta kicks off. A closed beta, for which Sony solicited participants earlier this month, starts today. The multiplayer side of Killzone: Mercenary is made up of three different modes spanning six maps. The flagship mode is Warzone, a team-based mode where players must complete five missions of varying objectives.
Killzone: Mercenary closed beta open for sign-ups
The Killzone: Mercenary closed multiplayer beta program is just around the corner, as players can sign up to join it now. Sign-ups are open until 2:00pm PDT on Wednesday, July 17. The Vita game's multiplayer offerings include six maps and three modes for up to eight people to play simultaneously. Killzone: Mercenary is due out on September 10 for Vita.
Killzone: Mercenary multiplayer stages a three-pronged attack
Killzone: Mercenary, the series' first installment on Vita, has a multiplayer component for up to eight players, with six maps and three modes: Mercenary Warfare, Guerilla Warfare and Warzone. Mercenary Warfare is a free-for-all race to earn the most Vektan Dollars before time runs out, and Guerilla Warfare is team deathmatch. Warzone is a five-mission team mode with different objectives in each mission. The scores from all missions are added up at the end to crown a winning team. Killzone: Mercenary is due out on September 10.
Killzone: Mercenary deployment moved up to September 10, pre-order goods revealed
Killzone: Mercenary, the upcoming PS Vita installment in Sony's shooter series from Guerrilla Cambridge, has had its release bumped up a week. Previously pegged for a September 17 launch in North America, Killzone: Mercenary is now due on September 10. In addition to moving up the date, Sony has revealed some pre-order incentives for Killzone: Mercenary over on the PlayStation Blog. The first perk is a 48-hour double XP boost, which spans all in-game contracts, bonuses and payouts. Joining that is additional in-game cash at the outset and a pre-order exclusive machine gun, the M224-A1.
Seeking good looks and plenty of cash in Killzone Mercenary
My first impression of Killzone Mercenary has a few upsetting implications. Developer Guerrilla Cambridge (formerly SCE Cambridge) has somehow translated the Killzone Engine to the PlayStation Vita with such fidelity that I wonder if I'll even want to go back to the isometric strategy universe of Killzone Liberation – perhaps my favorite PSP game. If Killzone 2 helped set the bar for graphics early in the PlayStation 3's life, then Mercenary has been handed the torch for Sony's handheld. Perhaps one of the best examples of the device's power, Killzone Mercenary almost seamlessly executes with sharp environments and high-quality animation. Though there is some recognizable pop-in to textures as you move through the environment, it's never jarring – even in a preview build, which I'd expect to look worse than the final game when it ships in September."The most difficult thing, honestly, was untangling all the code from Killzone 3," Guerrilla Cambridge Senior Producer Mark Green tells me about bringing the Killzone Engine to the Vita.But good looks aren't the only thing Killzone Mercenary has going for it; this game is all about the money.%Gallery-177727%
Killzone: Mercenary enlists on Vita Sep. 17 in NA, Sep. 18 EU
Killzone: Mercenary is contracted to take out North America on September 17, and Europe on September 18. The sci-fi shooter series' first Vita entry gets a new trailer as payment, along with some screens to sweeten the deal.Mercenary's single-player campaign includes nine missions, each nearly an hour long according to Guerilla Games producer Poria Torkan, while its multiplayer features six maps for up to eight players, with three different modes to choose from. %Gallery-177727%
Killzone Mercenary takes a stab at Vita's neck
The next game coming to Vita is Killzone Mercenary, Sony announced at its Gamescom press conference today. Sony showed off a live-action video that transitioned to a back-stabbing, screen-swiping Vita frenzy of glowing gas mask eyeballs.If this is the previously rumored Killzone title, it is in development from Sony's Cambridge studio. Sony hopes to share more information about it in the coming months.
