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Sony incentivizes Vita Cross Play with free PS3 DLC, and vice versa
In the expensive, devious world of advertising, a successful word of mouth campaign is worth its weight in gold. Building something into your product that's fun to show off and talk about makes the purchase feel justified to the buyer, and instills a sense of "Dude, I want this" in the buyer's friends. You've got to give them something to talk about, though, which is why Sony is making the Vita's Cross Play functionality easier to jump into via free DLC for two of its titles.Well, free with purchase, we should say. Anyone who buys Hustle Kings for the Vita will be able to download the PS3 version of the game for free, and vice versa. Wipeout 2048 pilots that already own Wipeout HD and its "HD Fury" pack will receive the Vita DLC versions of both at no charge when they're released this spring. Sony describes this as "promotional" pricing, so we doubt free cross-platform transference will always be the norm. For now though, it's a good step towards establishing Cross Play as more than a gimmick in the minds of Vita owners and their friends.
Wipeout dev seeks designer with racing game experience
Following a hiring surge in late July for an apparent "action" project, SCE Studio Liverpool is once again in need of a senior designer with "an encyclopedic knowledge of games," only this time with an "especially racing" kind of intelligence. Said know-it-all should have put this in-brained database to good use, too, and must have "shipped at least one successful racing title within a senior design role." According to GamesRadar, an earlier version of the job listing was more candid, describing the position as one in which the new hire would "work with a talented and experienced team on a high profile, futuristic racing franchise." Though it's unclear what prompted the edit (was that a spoiler?), Studio Liverpool's newest designer will likely be working on the WipEout franchise. Earlier this year, Studio Liverpool underwent a drastic reduction in size, with reportedly half of all staff laid off. Shortly before the restructuring, Sony confirmed that a number of projects within the studio had been canceled. Studio Liverpool's last significant release was the WipEout HD add-on "Fury" in mid-2009 -- unless you count this summer's grand opening of the "WipEout Museum" ... in PlayStation Home. [Pictured: Studio Liverpool; source: SCE Worldwide Studios]
PlayStation Home 'Wipeout Museum' preserves futuristic racing history
Have you taken the time to familiarize yourself with some of the biggest moments in the history of the Wipeout franchise? The original game's ship date? The day Psygnosis was acquired and rebranded SCE Studio Liverpool? How about the time young Billy Caruthers first traveled fast enough in Wipeout 64 to break the sound barrier, causing the speakers of his 17-inch television and his left eardrum to disintegrate? You can learn all about these momentous occasions by visiting the "Wipeout Museum" space, which recently opened in PlayStation Home. The space celebrates the franchise's 15th birthday with a few scale models of the game's hovercrafts and a couple of interactive minigames -- you know, games like Wipeout Shooter, which recreates all the thrilling shooting gallery action for which the core series is known.
WipEout HD to support customizable soundtracks
The ability to create customized soundtracks is a criminally underused feature in many games, as players are forced to turn down the volume and crank up the stereo just so they can tackle their boss of choice to the musical styling of their favorite 80s hair band. It's not too much to ask, and apparently Sony agrees, with the upcoming WipEout HD for the PS3 now confirmed to support fully customized soundtracks. Taking a page from the recently released Wipeout Pulse for the PSP, the upcoming racer will sport a handful of what we're sure will turn out to be suitably electronic tracks, though if you're in the mood for -- let's just say Barry Manilow – that's entirely your choice. [Via PS3 Fanboy] %Gallery-17035%
PSP Fanboy review: Wipeout Pulse
Wipeout Pure remains, to this day, one of the top rated PSP games of all time. And for good reason, too. When it debuted with the PSP launch, it delivered unparalleled graphics, tons of content, and a huge assortment of downloadable content that made Pure a great value for any racing fan. Nearly three years later, Studio Liverpool finally returns to PSP with the next installment of the Wipeout franchise. Wipeout Pulse attempts to do the impossible: improve upon the formula they created with Pure. Undeniably, they have succeeded. %Gallery-4074%
First DLC appears for Wipeout Pulse [Update]
Fans who enjoyed Wipeout Pure's free DLC are going to be very disappointed by this new. The first DLC for Wipeout Pulse has appeared on the UK PLAYSTATION Store ... at a cost of £3.49. The "Mirage Pack" includes a brand new team, and two new tracks (and their Zone variations). Update: Future packs have been unearthed on the official Wipeout website. They each include two tracks and one new team. Pulse is a fantastic game, and we don't mind having to pay for more of it. However, is £3.49 a bit too much for you? How much will DLC cost when the game launches in America in a week? Also available on the UK Store: Fade to Black (PS1), Theme Hospital (PS1), Motorhead (PS1) [Thanks, Forgot69!]
Feel the Pulse, the WipEout Pulse
If you read our hands-on impressions, you'd know that we're in love with WipEout Pulse. Looks like IGN is quite enamored too -- and they have videos to show you. Unfortunately, these videos don't quite capture how intense the game really feels when it's in your hands. The silky smooth framerate adds a lot to the experience. New modes, like Elimination (our favorite), are a welcome addition to the franchise. And, the experience "loyalty" points you get after each race has us trying to grind for more unlockables. It's just a better game than Pure, and that's saying a lot. Check out all of IGN's videos here.
PSP Fanboy hands-on: Wipeout Pulse
What could possibly be better than Wipeout Pure? Simple: a sequel. It may be hard to tell from the videos, but Pulse is a vastly improved sequel in almost every way possible. Visually, the graphics have come quite a long way. With the full 333MHz of PSP's power unlocked, it appears Studio Liverpool has doubled the framerate. Yes, Pulse appears to run at a silky smooth 60fps. This is almost unprecedented in a handheld game, especially one that looks as good as this. The new HUD and announcer is intense, adding a lot of tension to the already-exhilarating gameplay. Weapons are much more important in this iteration of the franchise, as it appears that ships are far less durable than before. Just after a few nicks on the wall, you'll see significant damage accumulate on your shields. Thankfully, you can absorb items by pressing O. We expect the increased power of the weapons to cause far more ships to explode during a race -- and that's just cool. Another significant change is the way ships control. Even though we're familiar with the teams from Pulse, we were surprised to see how differently they control in this sequel. The ships are much more responsive, and the over-compensation we typically used in the previous game actually had us crashing into walls more often. Obviously, the easier controls will be better for those that found Pure a bit too difficult. With better graphics, better presentation, better controls, a brand new screenshot mode that lets you capture images in-game all add up to an experience that betters its predecessors in every possible way. We're insanely jealous of our European friends that can play the game now. For the rest of us, we'll have to wait until next year. %Gallery-4074%
Wipeout Pulse demo to hit PC Store today
It's Thursday. You know what that means. The PC PLAYSTATION Store will be updated later today, and it looks to carry a nice treat. A downloadable demo of Wipeout Pulse will be available on the Store -- at least in Europe. According to Eurogamer, players can expect one track and one team from the FX400 League, playable in either Single Race or Time Trial modes. Stay tuned for today's PSN updates to see if this exciting demo makes it way to our neck of the woods. %Gallery-4074%
Wipeout Pulse website opens with skin editor
For those of you lucky enough to enjoy Wipeout Pulse right now, you may want to pay attention. The official Wipeout website has opened, and it features a skin editor so you can create your very own ship designs and import them into the game. You'll need a PLAYSTATION Network ID in order to get started. We're going to join the others that are going to play with this fun new tool -- even though we don't have the game yet! We're confident that a lot of PSP Fanboys are going to do the same. [Via NeoGAF]
Wipeout Pulse looks good (even in German)
Here's the German trailer for Wipeout Pulse. The German text that narrates the video doesn't bother us a single bit. For all we care, it can just be saying "this is awesome" over and over again (not that it does). We were particularly impressed by the lighting and weather effects we saw in this hotly anticipated sequel. Thankfully, it isn't too long until its launch later this year.
Wipeout HD looking sharp, fast, furious
Playable for the very first time at Leipzig, the downloadable hyper-fast racer Wipeout HD has finally emerged from the shadows of head scratching and shrugs to show off how it's coming along. The first thing the fellows over at 1UP noticed was how nice and smooth the 1080p visuals were, then realized the controller, as opposed to the PSP control scheme, felt so much more natural. We'd have to agree, since the Sixaxis analogs just feel a bit better than the PSP's nub. Even though the game is essentially a spiced up port of the PSP titles, the visuals are really sharp. There are a few hiccups in the graphics department, though -- apparently the explosions are quite pixelated, which is understandable for a port. But if you can get over that kind of small detail, you'll thoroughly enjoy the action Wipeout HD has to offer. We'll keep you posted until the PSN title gets a solid release date this Fall.
Speed through this new Wipeout Pulse video
Okay, so we're in love with Wipeout Pulse. Can you blame us? Its silky smooth gameplay, beautiful graphics, and sweet new tracks are seriously tempting us ... and we can't take it anymore. This video highlights everything we love about Wipeout, and the one thing we don't -- it's not out yet. Please, Sony! Get it to us faster!
Hands-on: Wipeout Pulse
Franchises rarely improve this much over time. Wipeout Pulse, the newest addition to the long revered Wipeout series, somehow manages to improve upon the already-sublime PSP launch title, Wipeout Pure. It isn't a revolutionary change from previous iterations -- but significant tweaks can be immediately noticed within a few seconds of play. Of most importance must be the game's altered controls. Ships handle tighter than ever before, something that casual gamers will certainly appreciate. Using the analog nub feels even more precise than before (although we still prefer driving with the D-Pad). Ships still can't do hairpin turns like in F-Zero GX, but the Wipeout series always did have a different flavor than Nintendo's racing classic. The updated HUD looks sleek -- we love seeing it shake every time we scratch the car. Weapons feel even better in Pulse: they feel more damaging, and look especially good. The ability to absorb power-ups returns, which adds a welcome layer of strategy to each of the races. Pulse adds custom soundtracks, Infrastructure gameplay, and an in-game photo capture tool to make this one of PSP's most features-packed games yet. Pure still looks incredible on PSP ... and somehow Pulse looks even better. Futuristic racing fans will find almost nothing to complain about: Pulse is easily on its way to becoming the definitive Wipeout experience. %Gallery-4074%
Joystiq impressions: Wipeout Pulse (PSP)
Franchises rarely improve this much over time. Wipeout Pulse, the newest addition to the long revered Wipeout series, somehow manages to improve upon the already-sublime PSP launch title, Wipeout Pure. It isn't a revolutionary change from previous iterations -- but significant tweaks can be immediately noticed within a few seconds of play. Of most importance must be the game's altered controls. Ships handle tighter than ever before, something that casual gamers will certainly appreciate. Using the analog nub feels even more precise than before (although we still prefer driving with the D-Pad). Ships still can't do hairpin turns like in F-Zero GX, but the Wipeout series always did have a different flavor than Nintendo's racing classic. The updated HUD looks sleek -- we love seeing it shake every time we scratch the car. Weapons feel even better in Pulse: they feel more damaging, and look especially good. The ability to absorb power-ups returns, which adds a welcome layer of strategy to each of the races. Pulse adds custom soundtracks, Infrastructure gameplay, and an in-game photo capture tool to make this one of PSP's most features-packed games yet. Pure still looks incredible on PSP ... and somehow Pulse looks even better. Futuristic racing fans will find almost nothing to complain about: Pulse is easily on its way to becoming the definitive Wipeout experience. %Gallery-5017%
Wipeout HD on PS3 in 2007
Wipeout's a pretty slick portable game (and easily one of the best racers on PSP), but remember when it was a console title? Sony does, which is why they're planning not one, but two Wipeout releases for the Playstation 3, 1UP reports. The first isn't a completely new game, but rather an HD upgrade (think: Gran Turismo HD); likely cribbing from Wipeout Pulse, the upcoming PSP sequel. The Sony team will also be working on a brand-new PS3 Wipeout sequel, tentatively due in 2008. Wipeout HD, which is planned for release on PSN later this year, will feature an online multiplayer mode. Further details will come when the game is officially announced, which might happen as early as E3.
WipEout HD coming to a PSN near you before the year's end
With E3 only a couple of weeks away, we generally don't expect to come across revelations like this. Developers are keeping their cards very close to their chests so that they can make some huge announcements when the games show comes around. Sony's Studio Liverpool, it appears, is the exception to the rule. 1Up spent some time with them recently, during a showing of WipEout Pulse for the PSP in London (our invite must have got lost in the mail) and managed to get some information out of the game's director Tony Buckley. Buckley confirmed that Studio Liverpool will be releasing WipEout HD on the PSN before the end of the year. An official announcement will be coming in August (as was previously announced), or possibly at E3. As well as high definition graphics, the game will feature an online multiplayer mode. Whether this will be a remake of the PS1 classic or not is unclear. However, this is only the beginning of Studio Liverpool's plans for the series on the PS3. They have their eye on a 2008 release date for a "major" Wipeout release on the console. After hearing so little about possible PS3 outings for the series for so long, it's great to see the recent torrent of news coming out of Studio Liverpool. We look forward to hearing more from them in the near future.
Because we love you: Wipeout Pure downloads
One of our readers, Eric, has been unable to find the downloadable expansions for Wipeout Pure -- they seemingly disappeared off the face of the internet. Don't worry Eric, we got your back. Because we love our readers, we've uploaded all the tracks that were released post-launch. These levels add a significant amount of gameplay to the already-amazing launch title. Download the ZIP file. Extract the contents of the zip file (there should be many folders that start with UCUS). Connect your PSP via USB. Browse the Memory Stick. Save folders in PSP/SAVEDATA. Enjoy!
Complete Wipeout Pulse soundtrack listing
The Wipeout series is known for its incredible techno-heavy soundtrack, and Pulse doesn't look to disappoint. The upcoming racer will have yet another licensed soundtrack, which CVG has unearthed: Flat Out by Dopamine Chemical by MoveYa! & Steve Lavers Tokyo by Stanton Warriors Break ya self - Wipeout mix by B Phreak & Groove Allegiance Slingshot - Wipeout mix by Rennie Pilgrem & BLIM X-Project (100% Pure mix) by DJ Fresh Frontline by EdRush, Optical & Matrix Seven Stitches by Noisia Smart Systems by MIST Exceeder - special mix by Mason Steady Rush by Booka Shade Fenix Funk 5 [wipeout edit] by Aphex Twin Aero Dynamik by Kraftwerk Suspicious Thoughts by Skream Sea of Sound - Wipeout mix by Guy Gerber & Shlomi Aber City Lights (Martin Buttich remix) PSP Cut by Loco Dice Of course, if this doesn't suit your tastes, you have customizable soundtracks as well. With customizable ships, infrastructure multiplayer, and significant gameplay improvements, Pulse sounds like it will almost certainly be a winner. We can't wait to find out more.
WipEout Pulse interview reveals vehicle customisation tool
In an interview with Kikizo.com, Tony Buckley - Director of WipEout Pulse - laid out some more details for the upcoming PSP game. Discussion includes PSP technical limitations, graphical improvements, the Photo mode and custom soundtracks. Have a read, it's good stuff. Also mentioned during the interview is a vehicle customisation tool. This will allow players to produce their own skins for their ships, Forza 2 style. While it is unclear as to how exactly this will work, we assume that the actual designing process will take place on a PC, with the edited texture downloaded onto the memory stick for use in the game. This has never been done before on the PSP and, with the right amount of 'Game 3.0' added, could make for an exciting new dimension in WipEout gaming. Buckley already mentioned his idea for a ship texture contest. Though he might have to come up with a better prize than a date with him, if he wants a decent amount of entries. The only danger with functionality like this is that people will be spending more time designing their vehicles than they will be driving them.
