Resistance-Retribution
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NGP backwards compatible with all PSP games (on PSN); smoothing and dual analog support included
The PlayStation Portable's lack of a second analog stick has always been a problem for shooters. Sony Bend's Resistance: Retribution had a clever – albeit complicated – solution for this shortcoming: let players tether a DualShock 3 controller to the handheld. So when Sony showed off the game running in emulation on an NGP last month, with full use of that right thumb stick, we assumed there was some benefit specific to Retribution. As it turns out, all PSP titles1 will be able to take advantage of that second analog stick, as well as other NGP enhancements. "All PSP titles that are currently available on the PSN can be played on the NGP," VP of product development at SCEA Scott Rohde told a crowd of game journalists. "And they'll take full advantage of the graphics smoothing capabilities of the system and the controls will be remapped to take advantage of the dual analog sticks." While I can't say much about the graphics smoothing – it definitely looked like it was being zoomed up 400% – I can say that the second analog stick worked wonderfully in Retribution. The game originally mapped the right stick to the four face buttons. It's unclear how the tech will work with other games, and the representative we spoke could only say that the technology we were using was early. In fact, the sole NGP prototype that had the emulation software belonged to SCE's Shuhei Yoshida, who was taking it with him back to Japan that night. We're hoping to learn more about how PSP games take advantage of NGP hardware at E3. Any specific questions or concerns, let us know in the comments. 1: Of course, the list of PSP games that never appeared on PlayStation Network includes several high-profile titles, like Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep, Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII, and Lumines.
Canadian Best Buy offers $30 inFamous, $10 Patapon 2
According to Best Buy's "Summer of Savings" flier, Canadian gamers are getting some seriously discounted games. PSP owners can pick up Resistance Retribution ($15) and Patapon 2 ($10), while PS3 owners will be able to get this summer's big PS3 blockbuster, inFamous, for only $30. Once again, these deals are Canada only -- our American readers can finally be jealous of our mounty-lovin' friends up north. [Thanks, Bryan!]
European PSN updates for March 19
Good grief. What a lot of content. Between the original Silent Hill, SOCOM Confrontation, our normal selection of DLC and a massive amount of PSP games (including Resistance Retribution and Ratchet and Clank: Size Matters), we're spoilt for choice. There's also a "launch trailer" for God of War III, which we suspect is being released about a year too early. Choose your platform to view the corresponding release list: (Note: Continue past the break to view both release lists.)
Resistance Retribution online tournament starts today
There's $25,000 worth of Sony merchandise up for grabs in the new Global Gaming Resistance Retribution tournament, which begins today. With the game only just appearing on shelves, it's a level playing playing field for all involved. Simply head on over to the GGL website and register for either the 2v2 or 4v4 ladders. The top players as of May 10 will face off again in the bracket playoffs between May 13 and May 31.The top players overall will win various Sony goodies, including "SonyStyle gear from PlayStation, PSP system prize packs, and Resistance: Retribution inspired leather bomber jackets." So get practicing and don't forget to register. Good luck! [Via the PlayStation Blog]
Sony Bend to participate in PlayStation.Blog live chat tomorrow
Resistance: Retribution is about to hit store shelves, and the masterful team behind it is Sony Bend. The team has earned critical acclaim for the impressive tech they've managed to squeeze into the Syphon Filter games on PSP. Those that want to find out more about the game and chat with the developers will get a chance tomorrow. The PlayStation.Blog is hosting a live chat event tomorrow, March 18th at 3:00PM EST.If you decide to attend, don't forget to use the phrase "bite my infected ass." We're almost 100% certain this will get your question answered.
Joystiq Review: Resistance: Retribution (single-player)
If only Resistance: Retribution hadn't been on the Playstation Portable. A game with such high production values that's a direct iteration of one of the PS3's flagship franchises could have been a downloadable episode for Resistance 2 -- and about five hours shorter. That's not even getting into the pacing issues, which are exacerbated by a number of dramatic difficulty spikes throughout. %Gallery-27792%
See how Resistance Retribution connects to the PS3
Resistance Retribution connects the PSP and PS3 systems in a brand new way. See what new content you unlock in the game's "Infected" mode, available for those that own both the upcoming Resistance Retribution and PS3's Resistance 2. Fans of the franchise will earn a brand new mode of playing, access new areas and weapons and get some new story bits as well.Another new feature is the ability to play the game with two analog sticks ... via DualShock 3 controls on the PS3. If you're unfamiliar with how this connectivity works, take a look at the video after the break to see how you'll be able to connect these two games.
Resistance Retribution uses mo-cap technology
Motion capture is the kind of tech reserved for big-budget PS3 games. Resistance Retribution doesn't care that it's coming to PSP -- it's a big-budget game and proud of it.IGN continues its week-long look at the upcoming PSP-exclusive, and the latest video reveals the motion capture technology that powers the animation in Bend's latest shooter. We're sure you know how this stuff works: guys wear tight black suits covered in white balls that get tracked by a computer. It's oh-so-familiar, but we're thrilled to see it used in a PSP game.
Resistance Retribution video chronicles franchise story
If you own a PSP, chances are you're excited about Resistance Retribution. But what if you've never played one of Insomniac's PS3 games? Will you be in the dark?Most likely not. The story of the Resistance games are pretty easy to follow: evil alien things attack earth, you fight back. A new series of videos on IGN will chronicle some of the behind-the-scenes elements of the game. Today's video, which you can check out after the break, details the franchise's story and how it ties into the upcoming Retribution.(Also, does anyone else notice the "Rise of the Chimera" title that's in the background? Most likely it's an early name for Retribution, but it would be hilarious if we accidentally discovered a new Resistance game.)
NYCC 09: Riding a mech in Resistance Retribution
Resistance Retribution continues to impress. Bend's upcoming prequel to Resistance 2 will be one of the best looking games on PSP when it releases next month. You should be familiar with our glowing praise of the game's standard third-person combat. The team has really nailed PSP controls perfectly. However, at Comic Con, we were able to try another section of the game. Here, players will get a chance to ride a giant mech. It's a fairly straightforward segment which gives players access to a chaingun and giant explosive missiles. The destructive power on display is rather impressive, but there are some tactics to consider.You can't spam your weapons. Players will want to keep a close eye on the bottom right side of the screen to see when their missiles are ready. When there are flying enemies, for example, it's best to aim at the floor below and let the splash damage take out a large handful of enemies. Even with regenerating armor it's pretty rough.Check out screens of this new mode in our gallery:%Gallery-44129%
Resistance Retribution: to infect, or not to infect?
Want to know what Resistance Retribution looks like when you infect it with Resistance 2? GameTrailers has posted an interesting comparison video, showing the subtle (and not-so-subtle) differences that occur when you play with an infected copy. When your game is infected, you'll have access to a new health system (regeneration), and gain access to areas that won't be available to regular players. Watch the video, after the cut.
Resistance Ret. pre-order demo also at GameStop, BB
Previously, we've reported that those who pre-order Resistance Retribution from Amazon would be getting an early access demo ahead of the game's scheduled March 17 release. However, now we've come to learn that other retailers like Game Crazy, Best Buy and GameStop will also be receiving the goods.PS.Blog notes that GameStop patrons can pre-order via the online store, same with Best Buy (when their pre-order page goes up), but sadly Game Crazy is in-store only. For now, have a gander at that slick box art and make a decision -- pre-order and get demo? Or, uh, not.
Resistance Retribution in your hands March 17th
It feels like it's been a long time coming. Resistance Retribution has a release date at last: March 17th. Other PSP releases in March include Hammerin' Hero, MLB 09 The Show, Dynasty Warriors Strikeforce and Phantasy Star Portable. Resistance may be the best of an already-amazing lineup for March.See this PlayStation.blog video to find out more about the game. It details things we already revealed at TGS: connectivity with Resistance 2 and the ability to play with DualShock 3. A direct-feed version of the story trailer is also included in this video. [Thanks, Hashbrown_Hunter!]
Resistance Retribution continues to astound
Click to start gallery. SCEA had Resistance Retribution on display at this year's CES. Bend Studios has managed to tap into the PSP in a way never seen before. Of course, graphics are one thing -- the story of Retribution looks to be quite satisfying, especially for Resistance fans. Bridging the gap between the first and second games on PS3, the story looks nothing short of epic. You'll have to check it out, after the break.%Gallery-27814%
amazon.com offers 'early access demo' of Resistance Retribution
Do you want to play Resistance Retribution? The upcoming third person shooter is coming to PSP very soon -- although if you want an early hands-on, you'll have to pre-order the game. A pre-order bonus demo is hitting amazon.com. Pre-order through January 12th, and you'll get access to the demo. For hardcore Resistance fans, demos are a dish best served as soon as possible.[Via PlayStation Boards]
Film composers record new highs in game scores
We may take offense to mainstream media's characterization of early game music as "annoying loops of ear candy," but there's no denying that today's game soundtracks are truly professional endeavors. The Seattle Times today published a profile of some of the industry's most established composers and their processes -- not to mention their paychecks. By the article's estimate, composer Garry Schyman (he scored BioShock, ya know) could earn something like $126,000 for his work on the Resistance: Retribution soundtrack.Currently, Schyman is working with a nine-piece brass ensemble in the London Bridge Studio in Shoreline, Washington -- the grunge era haunt of Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains and Soundgarden, to name a few. While those bands grew out their hair and donned pop's, uh, grungy flannels, Schyman was breaking into the game scene, being among the first to record orchestral music for a game (Voyeur, if you must know). Today, Schyman works almost exclusively on game soundtracks. "Film music can be very soft and ambient," says Schyman. "But game developers want strong musical statements. So from a creative standpoint, games are a great place to be right now."
Telling stories: The next hurdle for story telling
As games have evolved, so too has the role of storytelling in the titles we play. As we turn the corner on 2008, we asked multiple industry personalities across all walks of game development on titles such as Dragon Age: Origins, Bionic Commando and Guild Wars for their thoughts.What's next for in-game story telling? In this, our final segment looking at video game narratives, our collective of industry professionals offer insight into what they believe is the next big challenge facing the evolution of story telling in the games we play.
Telling stories: The games that got it right
As games have evolved, so too has the role of storytelling in the titles we play. As we turn the corner on 2008, we asked multiple industry personalities across all walks of game development on titles such as Dragon Age: Origins, Bionic Commando and Guild Wars for their thoughts.It's rare that story tellers get all of the pieces of their narrative to fit together exactly right in any medium. But in this industry, where story shares a balance with gameplay and endings often get the short end of the development stick, weaving a complete and compelling tale must be a daunting task. Now, gifts unwrapped and bellies full, our panel of industry personalities sound off on those games that they feel were up to the challenge, delivering storytelling experiences above and beyond their peers.
Telling stories: How much is that ending in the window?
As games have evolved, so too has the role of storytelling in the titles we play. As we turn the corner on 2008, we asked multiple industry personalities across all walks of game development on titles such as Dragon Age: Origins, Bionic Commando and Guild Wars for their thoughts.Epic Games' Michael Capps recently caused quite an uproar among gamers with his suggestion to offer the conclusion to games as premium DLC rather than as part of the core experience. As the latest in our continuing week-long feature, we asked our panel of industry personalities what they thought of the proposal. Interestingly, much of the group was noticibly more tight-lipped in their responses than when answering other questions.
Telling stories: What's up with lame endings?
As games have evolved, so too has the role of storytelling in the titles we play. As we turn the corner on 2008, we asked multiple industry personalities across all walks of game development on titles such as Dragon Age: Origins, Bionic Commando and Guild Wars for their thoughts.While narrative has taken on a larger role, time and again we end up being left unsatisfied in the final moments with endings that fail to wrap up stories in interesting or compelling ways. In our continuing week-long feature, we asked our diverse collection of industry personalities why so many endings in the games we play leave us cold.
