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TheStreet.com rattles off the big games of '08
Though we're still shaking off the gaming haze of 2007, aught-eight is under way and waiting for no man. Just when it seems like nothing could top last year's surfeit of incredible games, along comes a feature by TheStreet.com, covering 2008's biggest known releases and reminding us that we're not out of the water yet. Considering their Wall Street pedigree, it shouldn't be surprising that they concentrate mostly on the major public companies and their biggest '08 releases. First up is Take-Two and Grand Theft Auto IV, the obvious frontrunner in terms of sales for '08. Next is EA's Spore, which presents a slightly more muddled outlooks; without a franchise name to build off of, and a nebulous release date, analysts aren't sure where to put it. THQ's been hurting a bit lately, so analysts are hopeful that Saint's Row 2 (expected in '08) along with licensed games (y'know, for kids) will help pull them out of their funk. Oh, and there's some Wii Fit thing which is supposed to make "Nintendo" a bunch of cash. Or something. The last two titles on their list are PS3 exclusives: Metal Gear Solid 4 they say "will be a bigger deal for Sony than for Konami" while LittleBigPlanet could "revive Sony's fortunes in the video games industry." What other big titles should we be looking out for in '08? [Via GamePolitics]
Best of the Rest: Ross' Picks of 2007
Team Fortress 2 (Xbox 360, PC, PlayStation 3)While Portal is being given its much deserved credit for the year, and Half-Life 2 has enjoyed years of acclaim, let's not forget about the other pillar of Valve's The Orange Box. It's been eight years since the release of Team Fortress Classic, and the game has undergone so many revisions and delays we half expected it to be released alongside Duke Nukem Forever sometime in 2012. As it turned out, the game not only saw the light of day but ended up being an addictive online experience. As a console gamer enjoying this with a gamepad, I don't care much much for the sniper, soldier, demoman, or anything except medic and occasionally the engineer. There's something brutally satisfying about charging into battle behind a heavy weapons guy, dodging the occasional bullet (people still haven't learned) and injecting him with a team-killing jolt of invincibility. Hours of enjoyment and not a single bullet shot. Pure. Enjoyment.
Rumor: Killzone 2 and LittleBigPlanet coming Fall 2008
We'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]
Confirmed: no LittleBigPlanet demo this year
And with a simple headline, all happiness disappears from our faces. Color seems to melt away from our vision -- could it be true? LittleBigPlanet's demo is not coming out this year. Unsurprising, considering the relative silence around the game. However, didn't Papa Sony promise that we'd get our grubby hands on the game? (The question was rhethorical. The answer is yes. From a Sony press release: "A demo of LittleBigPlanet for PS3 is slated for the PLAYSTATION Network this fall. The full version will follow in early 2008.")Beggars can't be choosers, so we probably can't complain about the release date of a free demo. Playable demo or not, we're still keeping LittleBigPlanet on our list of most-wanted games for 2008.
LittleBigPlanet demo not coming this year
As the year winds to a close, the staff at Joystiq has been discussing what's actually missing from 2007. Not delayed or canceled, mind you, but missing. Topping that list* was the demo for PS3 future-hit LittleBigPlanet, which was "slated" to appear on the PlayStation Network "this fall." Just days after the debut of an adorable, pirate-themed trailer – the memories of which are sure to manifest themselves as violent pangs of desire – MTV's Stephen Totilo cornered Sony and demanded answers! A spokesperson for SCEA told the vaguely menacing Totilo, "I can officially confirm that there won't be a demo this year." While we can't say we're surprised at the news (seriously, Fall's days are numbered), the finality of the official statement pretty much punches our secret wish for a holiday surprise right in its jolly gut.*(Also missing: PC Live Arcade ... hrmm).
Watch the VGA's Little Big Planet trailer
We gave this new trailer for Little Big Planet a hard time during last night's VGA liveblog, only because it seems like a really bad way to introduce the game to mainstream audiences. The game's premise (what little we know of it) is pretty complicated, so it might have been smarter to feature a trailer that included a little more explanation, just so Johnny Halofan could get the concept.That said, if you're already familiar with the game, the new trailer is a confirmed magical treat. Not only is it full of whimsy (a plus) but we're also finally given some idea of the extent to which LBP can be used to generate pirate-related scenarios, the true watermark for all entertainment software. The answer seems to be a resounding "Win ho!"[Via PS3F]
New Little Big Planet trailer shown at the Spike VGA
While the Spike Video Game awards weren't too successful for the PS3 (only one PS3 exclusive, Ratchet & Clank, got an award - and that was for "Best PS3 Game"), the show did feature an all new video for one of the system's most anticipated games, Little Big Planet. We've embedded it above so that you can see it in all its YouTubey glory. Nothing new here, really - just more Sackboys dressing up and having fun. In a pirate ship.We have a feeling we're going to lose our voices asking for the beta of Little Big Planet before it happens, so we're just going to sit tight and watch this video over and over again. At least then we can pretend we're playing it. [Thanks, DolphGB!]
Get a job: work on LittleBigPlanet
Media Molecule is hiring! If you have the skills to be a Network Engineer, a Gameplay Programmer, or a Senior Artist, you'll be able to work on the upcoming LittleBigPlanet. Yes!If the game (and corresponding website) are of any indication, this might be the happiest place to work. Honestly, Media Molecule ... you don't have a "Blogger" position open by any chance? Please?[Via ThreeSpeech]
See PlayStation Eye used to customize games
Long ago, cynicism hardened the hearts of the Joystiq staff to lumps of coal (or in Ludwig's case, a conflict diamond), so it's hard for us to get too excited about anything. That said, we're almost certain we feel a few cracks in our ticker when we watch these videos of Sony R&D using the PlayStation Eye to customize games. In one video, a staffer draws a spaceship and a planet surface on a sheet of paper then the PS3 generates an impromptu game of Lunar Lander with them on the fly. In another, a Combat-esque game is interrupted when another player wants to scan his own hand-drawn tank into the game. This is all just research at this point rather than an actual product, but it's hard not to be excited about the possibilities. (Little Big Planet object creation? Dare we dream?)
Reggie Fils-Aime thinks LittleBigPlanet is on the wrong console
Reggie Fils-Aime, one of the heads of the hydra at Nintendo (figuratively speaking ... or are we?), was recently asked which titles he was jealous weren't on the Wii. Without hesitation, Fils-Aime barked out: "I've been very intrigued with Little Big Planet (from Sony). I don't know that it belongs on their platform." He then said Nintendo would like the first person shooters from Microsoft like Halo and Bioshock. But he never said those didn't belong on the 360.Now, color us crazy, but is Fils-Aime implying that LittleBigPlanet would serve audiences better on the Wii? He does realize the graphics would get a pretty noticeable downgrade and that there needs to be a very open, accessible, and powerful online platform behind the game, right? No? Oh well. Sure, it may seem like it fits in with the casual crowd more, but the casual crowd also wouldn't build a level and upload it for their friends to play. What do you guys think? Is the PS3 the right platform for LittleBigPlanet or not?
LittleBigPlanet: creating cute creatures video
Is there anything more adorable than LittleBigPlanet? On the PS3, we don't think there is. This latest video shows off the room where you create your potato-sack-like persona, as well as the intuitive interface to customize the critter to almost no end. Though, we hope the final game has more than this one song which we've heard time and again. No matter, that's the least of our worries as everything else oozes adorable, which is slightly orange and smells faintly of chamomile. Enjoy the video and curse in anger as you realize this game is still quite a few months off.
LittleBigPlanet cardboard robot boxing match
As the guy who sent this in to us said, if you can watch this without cracking a smile, you probably don't have a soul. Here's another example of the possibilities within LittleBigPlanet -- out of nothing, two players create large cardboard boxing fighters complete with stickers matching their personality (we love the hairy chest on the left fighter) and duel to the death! It's a really fun video and you get a good deal of insight into the workings of LBP. We should all train to be able to create such crazy ideas and beyond![Thanks, McComber!]
Mario & Master Chief possible in LittleBigPlanet
You may recall a while back when Sony released a few concept pics of LittleBigPlanet, specifically their character creation sketches, that drawings of Mario, Master Chief, and Katamari were included. Many people thought this was cute and/or funny, but not entirely possible. Creative director Mark Healey assures us that, while concept art, "...you can customise your character so much that that's entirely possible." This is done by importing "stickers" from your hard drive -- something we don't quite understand, but are entirely sure it's straightforward to do once you try for about ten minutes.Sony will leave it mostly up to the community to report and moderate dodgy comment. Healey cedes that "the first thing I'd do is make a big c*** and publish it, but clearly we can't allow that." Someone will, Healey, someone will. But it'll be up to us to lay the ban hammer on them and keep our LittleBigPlanet clean and habitable. Either way, we can't wait to see Mario teaming up with the Master Chief alongside, say, a Helghast in order to make it through a level in LBP.
LittleBigPlanet best original new game, say Game Critics
In a second story regarding the Game Critics Awards, LittleBigPlanet walked away as the winner of the best original title. As a follow-up to their win, technical director for Media Molecule Alex Evans answered a few questions about the win. Needless to say, Evans and the rest of the dev team were stoked to win the award, especially showing off such an early build of their vision. It paid off, they said.When compared to the reaction they got at the Game Developers Conference, Evans says the two are very different since they put the "create" tools in the hands of knowledgeable gamers this time around. Again, he says, the fact those people understood their vision was a great way to bolster confidence in their ideas. Their ideas are plentiful, it seems, as Evans repeats how what we've seen is pre-alpha code and there's a lot left up their sleeves. We're excited to get our hands on something, so we'll wait until they're ready to show off more of our favorite little big game, LittleBigPlanet.
LittleBigPlanet and Killzone win Game Critics Awards
Was 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]
Enemies, bosses bound for LittleBigPlanet
While it may not come as a surprise -- even Sim City had antagonists -- Media Molecule Senior Producer Pete Wilson has told Electronic Gaming Monthly (via 1UP) that LittleBigPlanet will feature enemies and bosses."I think that's a fundamental part of good gameplay," said Wilson, adding that the bad guys will range from small, meandering robots to elaborate giants. A recent villain, said Wilson, was "composed entirely of materials that you wouldn't expect." That statement, coupled with what we saw at E3 2007, gives us the impression that we will also be able to create our own colossal enemies.%Gallery-1943%[Via PS3 Fanboy]
LittleBigPlanet does, in fact, have enemies and bosses
In an oft rumored but never confirmed way, we had expected LittleBigPlanet had more under its hood than character and level creation/sharing/playing. In an EGM interview with Media Molecule, it has finally been confirmed that getting in your way across the levels will be enemy creatures and sometimes big bosses. Said senior producer Pete Wilson: "They will range from little robots that simply roam from left to right to spectacularly complex beasts that pose quite a challenge. We've recently built this big, huge giant, and, as with other objects in the game, he's composed entirely of materials that you wouldn't expect. He's quite intimidating, and shows the possibility of what designers can create."Creating our own enemies? Talk about awesome. Expect us to create a MegaMan style level for you -- little enemies, then a boss. Or perhaps a Dr. Wily style room with teleporters leading to all 8 bosses in the game! Well, who knows how many, but you get the idea. More possibilities to consider on top of the already endless list.
Could Craftworld (LittleBigPlanet prototype) be in development?
LittleBigPlanet had some pretty humble beginnings. Media Molecule started with a 2D demo, then called Craftworld. Sony loved the approach they were taking with the game, and signed Media Molecule to develop what is now (our game of E3) LittleBigPlanet.When speaking with Mark Healey, Newsweek's N'Gai Croal asked whether or not there were plans to ever continue working on Craftworld, either as a new PSN or PSP title. He stumbles a bit, almost revealing something: "There's--we're not allowed to talk about that, are we?" Unfortunately, the PlayStation publicist silenced him before he could go on further.There's something happening with LittleBigPlanet. We just don't know what, yet. We'd be a little bit more demanding to find out more ... but we're too busy waiting for LittleBigPlanet to be finished.
LittleBigPlanet is almost done, public beta in a few months
Are you just itching to find out more information about LittleBigPlanet? Today we've got a quick summary for you, as PSU had a fairly detailed hands-on report to dish out, not unlike our own glowing review. If you are curious about LBP but don't want to read for ten minutes, we'll summarize the important points for you to take into consideration. Your character has different moods (changed by hitting a direction on the D-pad) and depending on these moods, he will control differently. He will bounce as he moves if happy, or keep his head low and walk like he's pouting when sad. Player vs. Player mode will be available -- there's more than just cooperating to create a level. An example of this would be the "Racing Mode" where levels are built for speed. If you've ever played the final stage in Earthworm Jim 2, we expect something like that footrace with Psy-Crow. That was a hard level. LBP is nearly complete and a public beta is supposedly hitting the PSN sometime this fall prior to release. That's about the high and low of it. We never expected this PSN title to burn so brightly in the Hype Furnace, but we can't resist the warmth of its glow. It looks fantastic. However, does anyone think its a system mover? Will the idea of this game and more to come like it push people into rethinking about the PS3's price? We'd like to imagine so, especially with the immense number of exclusives coming this holiday season.[Thanks, Justin!]
Today's good things in small packages video: LittleBigPlanet (PS3)
We've played LittleBigPlanet twice and are waiting for its Spring 2008 release to get unlimited time with the final game. Even as a casual game, there have been rumblings between Joystiq writers that this could be a killer PS3 app. GameTrailers shows LittleBigPlanet level construction in a new interview with one of its developers, Alex Evans.Here's hoping that this quirky little game makes a big impact. See the video after the break.%Gallery-1943%
