motorstorm-apocalypse
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MotorStorm rolls out, over 6 million copies
The MotorStorm franchise, which includes five games across PS2, PS3, PSP and Vita, has sold more than 6 million units, Sony XDev Studio Europe's Pete Smith said at GDC Europe on August 13. Smith gave a talk discussing tips of pitching to publishers, citing MotorStorm's Evolution Studios as an example of a team with a clear focus and solid marketing technique.The latest MotorStorm installment, MotorStorm RC, launched on PS3 and Vita in March.
MotorStorm devs saved from Apocalypse by Sony
After the well-reviewed MotorStorm Apocalypse failed to move the sales needle in the states and Europe (it wasn't even released in Japan, following the March tsunami) Evolution Studios boss Matt Southern worried it would be the death of the studio. "We made a game we're really proud of and for some really heartbreaking reasons things didn't go so well," he told Eurogamer. But like a late-race turbo boost saving a car from elimination, Southern said that Sony has given the studio a shot in the arm with the Vita-bound mini-racer, MotorStorm RC. "We split the company up into three teams, one making RC, one supporting MotorStorm Apocalypse post-launch with DLC and multiplayer, and another bunch of guys just brainstorming new ideas. In a climate like the one we've had this year, that is rare." It's great to hear about any studio staying in business for whatever reason, but if the last MotorStorm sold poorly despite its quality, isn't yet another MotorStorm game an odd choice for a follow-up?
Buy a PlayStation 3D Display at Best Buy, get a PS3 for $100
Like a horseman of the apocalypse, Sony's undeniable spokesperson Kevin Butler has stormed the holiday shopping battlefield, riding a sale horse. The ad above has the juicy details: At any Best Buy across the country, anyone who buys a PlayStation 3D Display -- the Sony-branded, $499 bundle that comes with MotorStorm Apocalypse -- can attach a 160GB PS3 to their purchase for just $100. Think of it this way: For the original launch price of the PS3, you can buy the console, a game and a television which shoots pictures directly into your brain. The times, friends; they are a-changin'.
Playstation 3D Display hits shelves November 13, Sony answers your burning questions
We'd imagine come November 13th, the above will be the scene inside many a PS3 owner's house. That's when Sony's hot little 24-inch PlayStation 3D display will officially be available in the US, Canada, Europe and parts of Asia. Sony took to its US PlayStation Blog today with the news, along with a lengthy FAQ to keep your GAS at bay in the meantime. If you'll recall, the 240Hz 1080p display packs a single set of component inputs, two HDMI 1.4 ports, stereo RCA outputs, a headphone jack, an integrated subwoofer, and of course, 3D-capability with supported titles. For five hundred bucks you'll get the PS 3D Display, one pair of USB-rechargeable 3D Glasses ($70 for each additional pair), a copy of Motorstorm: Apocalypse and even an HDMI cable. Notably, its fancy (and exclusive) SimulView feature will let two sets of 3D shades grab either the left or right side feed in supported 3D games for a private 2D view. Disappointingly, this puppy isn't wall-mountable, but hey, that 24-inch panel surely makes it ideal for a desktop setup, no? Full details at the links below, along with a refresher shot of those 3D specs just past the break.
Sony officially puts Resistance 3 back in PS3 3D Display bundle (if you pre-order)
All this time, we've thought Walmart, Amazon, and GameStop were stickin' it to the man by offering Resistance 3 as a pre-order bonus for Sony's 3D PlayStation Display, even after the bug-hunt simulator had been officially replaced by MotorStorm: Apocalypse. It seems we were wrong. As it turns out, this was Sony's plan the whole time, for some completely inexplicable and incomprehensible reason. While still not officially part of the actual bundle, Resistance 3 will be included with any 3D PlayStation Display pre-ordered before September 30. MotorStorm: Apocalypse's inclusion is not dependent upon pre-ordering, however, so you've still got until the launch in November to decide if the features offered can justify $500.
MotorStorm Apocalypse update adds make-a-mode, Move support
Evolution Studios and Sony America have announced the release of an update to Motorstorm Apocalypse that's probably beefy enough to charge for -- luckily, they didn't! The update, which went live earlier today, adds a network for sharing your customized vehicles, streamlines a few online multiplayer options, and includes support for the PlayStation Move and select racing wheel peripherals. The update also adds a "Mode Editor," which allows you to tweak pretty much anything you want in a given race. For example, with two clicks, you can disable both brakes and gravity. The potential for unintentional hilarity here is dizzying.
Amazon also bundling Resistance 3 pre-order with PlayStation 3DTV
It appears as though GameStop won't be the only retailer to reject Sony's new Motorstorm: Apocalypse-only PlayStation 3DTV bundle. Like its brick-and-mortar competitor, Amazon will also toss in a copy of Resistance 3, which was originally slated to be the 3D display's pack-in title. So, just to recap, that's a 24" 3D television, 3D glasses, HDMI cable, MotorStorm: Apocalypse and Resistance 3, all for 500 smackers. Sure, it sounds like a good deal but, frankly, we're holding out until Amazon ponies up a free copy of Tangled. [Thanks, Steven]
Gamestop bundling Resistance 3 with PlayStation 3DTV anyway (if you preorder)
In an effort to prove that Sony ain't the boss o' them, Gamestop will be bundling Resistance 3 with each pre-order for the now-MotorStorm-infused PlayStation-branded 3DTV, launching this November. It's also possible that Gamestop is simply honoring its existing pre-orders while sweetening the pot to attract new buyers, but where's the fun in that? As weird as pre-ordering a television set is, having two 3D-capable games certainly adds a little extra something to deal, and when you're spending $500 on anything it's important to get your money's worth. It will be interesting to see if other retailers follow suit, but considering the fact that this is a 24-inch 3DTV, we doubt potential buyers will have room for anything larger than another disc. [Thanks, MLC!]
Sony replaces Resistance 3 with MotorStorm: Apocalypse in 3DTV bundle
If you live in a dorm room, or an efficiency in Manhattan, or a tiny Harry Potter staircase closet, you were probably chuffed to bits when Sony announced their 24-inch PlayStation-branded 3DTV/Resistance 3 bundle during this year's E3. Now though, it looks like denizens of diminished domiciles will be doing a lot more wicked jumps, and lot less alien shooting. Responding to inquiries regarding this Amazon listing, which shows Sony's PlayStation 3DTV bundled with MotorStorm: Apocalypse instead of Resistance 3, Insomniac Games confirmed the switch in a tweet, apologizing for any inconvenience. According to a statement made to Gamespot, MotorStorm: Apcalypse will also support the full-screen-but-also-split-screen functionality touted by Resistance 3, however no information about why the games were switched has been given as of yet.
MotorStorm Apocalypse trailer shows off features, blows them up
The launch trailer for Evolution Studios' newly released (in North America, anyway) MotorStorm Apocalypse shows off some of the game's most bullet-pointable features on some huge, in-game billboards. Then it blows those billboards up. So, basically, we hope you're a really fast reader.
MotorStorm Apocalypse review: Crash test dummy
As far as awesome spectacles in gaming go, MotorStorm Apocalypse is up there with the best. I don't know if I've ever seen a game, let alone a racer, with this amount of action happening at any given moment. I can't help but marvel at the degree and detail of the destruction it renders on a city-wide scale -- which is a problem, since I'm supposed to be focused on racing. Everything comes at you so fast, furious, loud and bright that opponents trying to ram you off the "track" (little in this game resembles an actual race course) are the least of your worries. No, the greatest risk is running into the scenery ... over and over and over again.%Gallery-121827%
MotorStorm Apocalypse crashing down May 3 in North America
The indefinite delay that struck the North American release of MotorStorm Apocalypse has become specific: Sony has announced that the game is delayed until May 3. The game's launch date was shaken up in all regions in an effort to distance the racer's eye-catching urban destruction from the recent events in Japan. As compensation for the delay, Sony is offering up a Premier Pack DLC voucher -- which enables two exclusive in-game vehicles -- in "every new copy of the game."
European PSN releases for April 6
There's no time to waste with silly banter, dear reader -- this week's European PSN update is a doozy. There's the downloadable launch of MAG, a beta for SOCOM: Special Forces, a demo for Motorstorm Apocalypse, and the arrival of Red Faction Battlegrounds, just for starters. To top it all off, there's another round of discounts and permanent price cuts on PSP classics, and a huge batch of PlayStation Plus bonuses. You'd better start reading the full list after the jump. Choose your platform to view the corresponding release list: (Note: Continue past the break to view both release lists.)
MotorStorm Apocalypse gets March 31 release date in UK
One week after Sony made the decision to postpone the launch and remove marketing materials for MotorStorm Apocalypse, Sony Europe has confirmed to VG247 that the racer will arrive in the UK on March 31. The title had already begun shipping to retail locations in the UK when Sony decided to delay it, due to the parallels between its earthquake-centric gameplay and the earthquake and tsunami which devastated Japan earlier this month. There's no word on when the title will reach North America, after being delayed indefinitely from its rescheduled April 12 launch date. We've contacted Sony to see if a decision has been made on the game's U.S. release.
MotorStorm Apocalypse delayed indefinitely in North America
Sony has put the brakes on the North American release of MotorStorm Apocalypse, delaying the game indefinitely in the wake of last week's devastating earthquake and tsunami in Japan. The delay, announced on the PlayStation Blog, doesn't exactly come as a surprise, given that the title's launch had previously been postponed in Japan and the UK. Set in an earthquake-ravaged costal city, the Evolution Studios developed racer had been scheduled for release on April 12. Sony told Joystiq earlier this week that the date still stood. When contacted today, SCEA confirmed the delay and added that there is "no new date at the moment."
Motorstorm: Apocalypse launch postponed in UK
Despite the fact that MotorStorm: Apocalypse has already begun shipping to brick-and-mortar stores in the UK, Sony says it will "postpone the launch" for the time being, missing the March 18 launch date. SCE issued a statement (via CVG) that specifically cites "the impact of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan" and "the parallels between these events and the underlying theme in MotorStorm" as reasons for the delayed launch. The game's March 17 Japanese launch has also been delayed to a "TBA" date, alongside several other titles. "Although the game itself is already in distribution, we are ceasing any further shipments and removing as much of the marketing materials as possible," SCE's statement continues. "Our thoughts are with all those affected, including our colleagues within the Sony family, living and working throughout Japan." SCEA confirmed with Joystiq that MotorStorm: Apocalypse will still ship in the US on April 12 -- perhaps signaling when the game will be made available across the Atlantic as well.
Yakuza: Of the End, Motorstorm: Apocalypse delayed in Japan; Disaster Report 4 canceled
Citing "various circumstances," both Sega and Sony have announced delays of major game releases, reports Andriasang, while Irem has outright canceled Disaster Report 4. Sega announced that Yakuza: Of the End has been pushed back to a "TBA" release date in Japan, while Sony has altered the MotorStorm: Apocalypse launch to "TBA," as well. both titles were scheduled to be released in Japan this Thursday, March 17. While neither company directly cited the massive earthquake and devastating tsunami that struck Japan on March 11 as the cause of the delays, it's evident that the disaster prompted the moves; though it's unknown if the reasons extend beyond the two games' disaster-themed premises. Andriasang also reports that Sony has temporarily closed its PlayStation repair and information center, located in one of the worst hit areas of Japan, the Miyagi Prefecture. Just yesterday, Square Enix temporarily shut down the Final Fantasy XI and XIV servers to conserve power in the country. Meanwhile, Irem has canceled Disaster Report 4 without citing a specific reason, according to Andriasang. As the title suggests, DR4 centers around players escaping a city that has just suffered a devastating earthquake. Both DR4 and Yakuza: Of the End were only announced for release in Japan. It's unclear at this point whether MotorStorm: Apocalypse is still on track to launch across Europe this week, as SCEE told GameSpot UK, "[The game's release is] under discussion at the moment. We'll get back to you when we know more." (The game's release in New Zealand was previously delayed following the severe earthquake that struck Christchurch last month.) The North American launch was set for April 12 two months ago. To find out more about how you can help those affected in Japan by the past week's events, head over to RedCross.org.
MotorStorm Apocalypse closed beta in session
A MotorStorm Apocalypse private beta test is underway, according to an invitation forwarded to us by a UK-based tipster. The beta includes four scheduled event nights over the next two weeks, as detailed in the invitation (in full after the break), which are intended to stress test the servers and online matchmaking leading up to the game's April 12 launch. According to a recent thread on the Official PlayStation Community (EU) forums, the beta appears as "Network Beta Trial Notification - PlayStation 3 beta Trial PSN" to better disguise its identity. Don't take it personally -- it's private, after all. You'll likely get your test run in the (public) demo, which is due on PSN before the full Apocalypse. [Thanks, Feigned-existence]
MotorStorm Apocalypse crashing down April 12
The mere mention of a "motorstorm" itself sounds pretty apocalyptic to us. Just imagine: 1000-pound engine blocks falling from the sky! Given that, can you even begin to imagine how severe a MotorStorm Apocalypse could be? Well, you don't have to, it's happening, as Sony has announced the game's April 12 release date on the PlayStation Blog. With a few months to go before the arrival, you've still got some time to save like, so, so many coins for that 3D TV. You do want to experience the Apocalypse the way it's meant to be played -- in "mind-blowing 3D" -- don't you?%Gallery-114376%
MotorStorm Apocalypse dev diary details 'The Festival' campaign mode
Sony has delivered a MotorStorm Apocalypse dev diary video -- and it's quite festive. Seriously: it features "The Festival," which is the single-player campaign mode of the game. As you can see in the video below, the Festival mode will offer up a real story to go with your urban wasteland racing, seen through the eyes of three characters: a rookie, a pro and a veteran. Races in the mode occur in a set sequence, and while some will make use of the new Supercar and Superbike classes others will get crazy with vehicle choices, like pitting one measly motorcycle against a whole field of competitors in big rigs. This latest sequel to MotorStorm and its Split/Second-esque take on urban racing is looking pretty darn good from a gameplay standpoint, but its visuals are clearly still a ways from being finished. Hopefully they'll be spruced up by the time the demo hits.
