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Kaz Hirai non-confirms the PlayStation Phone and tablet
Kaz Hirai, President and CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment, just twirled a fine dance around the PlayStation Phone. In discussing Sony's future strategy for offering a coherent and extremely expansive consumer offering, he used the words "tablets," "smartphones" and "PlayStation" in the same sentence, whetting appetites but never taking the leap to confirm what we all pretty much know his company is working on: Strategy encompasses driving the development of a variety of new strategic products and services including tablets currently in development as well as smartphones, all the while of course integrating the knowhow and the assets that we've accumulated from our PlaySation business. Oh Kaz, just admit it.
Sony's Kaz Hirai talks up virtues of touch controls, weighs in on PlayStation phone
The PlayStation phone keeps popping up time and again, and still no one at Sony is going to flat-out admit anything -- but that hasn't stopped playful speculation. Even SCE chief Kaz Hirai is joining in the fun. "We don't want gamers to be asking, what's the difference between that [a PS phone] and a PSP... we have to come up with a message that users will understand," he told The New York Times. "It would have to be a product that keeps the PlayStation's strengths intact." So that's the issue, then, differentiating a new PSP and a variant with phone capabilities -- nothing a good marketing campaign can't fix, if you ask us. But enough about the phone, what of the PlayStation's portable brand in general? Hirai seems to fancy touch controls, actually. "Depending on the game, there are ones where you can play perfectly well with a touch panel," he said, adding that "immersive games" -- the ones he think are Sony's focus, vs. the more casual fare offered by Apple and Android -- do well with physical buttons, and that some games work well with the two. We can't help but notice he said touch panel and not touch screen, which reminds us of the touchpad we saw on the PS phone leaks, but we wouldn't want to harp too much.
Ico remastered preview: Not too little, definitely not too late
I'm going to say something now and I don't want you to get mad. Promise that you won't? Promise?! Okay, fine -- I've never played Ico. It just didn't happen. A mixture of procrastination and disc-read errors have conspired to keep me from the lauded PS2 classic. That changed late last week at a Sony press event, where the publisher showed off the forthcoming, double-game remaster Ico and Shadow of the Colossus Collection. %Gallery-102414%
PlayStation Move Sharpshooter hands-on: a first-party SMG peripheral coming in February
This isn't the first PlayStation Move peripheral to replicate a firearm, but the Sharpshooter is brought to you by Sony itself, so you expect a higher degree of quality than from the third-party deluge. And if you're the sort who like to accessorize, it's a pretty good offering. We had a chance to check it out this morning over a brief round of Killzone 3, which Sony says was the inspiration (along with the upcoming SOCOM). Overall, it's pretty light and sturdy. The Move controller slides into the front, and the buttons then become mapped around the gun: RL is under the grip, the Move button is just under the trigger, start and select rest on opposite sides of the barrel, and Square / Triangle are mirrored above the trigger, making it easier to reach regardless whether you're right- or left-handed. There's a cradle under the stock for the Navigation Controller to rest, the butt is adjustable, and the top has a mount for a scope (no details on that peripheral of a peripheral). There's additionally a lock button and what seems like burst-fire mode that won't be used by Killzone 3; the reps told us they spoke with various other developers to make sure the accessory fit their needs as well but couldn't elaborate more. So, how did it handle? We'll say the buttons were all easy to get to, but this accessory is fundamentally not for us. Having to move the entire submachine gun (or your whole body, as it were) to aim felt more unwieldy than simply twisting a wrist like you would with the first-party Shooting attachment (or the Move controller by its lonesome). Speaking of which, the Sharpshooter is lacking in retro aesthetic, something we really liked in the "1950s laser pistol" replica that came out last month. We get the feeling this wasn't made with us in mind, anyway. Sharpshooter should hit store shelves in February (same month as Killzone 3) for a penny under $40. Looking for something more traditional? A jungle green DualShock 3 is also coming in February for $55. Press release after the break. %Gallery-110228% %Gallery-110247%
Gran Turismo 5 patch v1.03 adds tiered damage to online races
Those of you taking Gran Turismo 5's detailed vehicles onto the information superhighway will be glad to hear that the latest patch for the game adds selectable car damage. After downloading the patch, GT5's "My Lounge" section allows you to choose how much mechanical damage you're willing to suffer during online play, from "None" to "Heavy" ("Mechanical damage will be more severe, and can only be repaired by making a pit stop ... damaged parts will be indicated with on-screen icons"). The "Light" damage option means parts of your car can be damaged, but its health regenerates (no, we're not joking). It's not clear whether the update also adds cover for your cars to hide behind while said health regenerates. The patch is available as of right now and it takes up approximately 150MB of HDD space -- Polyphony Digital has yet to detail any other fixes/additions the patch brings with it. If you spot anything else, feel free to drop us a line! [Thanks Russ!]
The Gran Turismo 5 launch trailer is here
In case you have yet to see the retail boxes at your local brick-and-mortar, Gran Turismo 5 is, like, totally out. Further proof? Sony's released the game's launch trailer. So it must be out! Seriously! Oh, right, we also reviewed it, so there's that too, ya big doubting debbie.
All 1,031 of Gran Turismo 5's cars catalogued
Now that we have a new, totally for sure release date for Gran Turismo 5 (we hope!), information has begun steadily arriving about the final product -- it probably doesn't hurt that retail copies were spotted in the wild last week. Eurogamer laboriously catalogued every single automobile in the forthcoming sim racer, from Acura to Volvo (and everything in between), totaling 1,031 cars in all. And just think, as recently as yesterday we were totally worried that the game would only have one year's version of the Acura 3.2 CL Type-S. But no -- GT5 has both the 2001 and 2003 models! We can finally sleep again at night. Peep the whole list right here so you can too.
Gran Turismo 5's full Trophy list revealed
Alongside today's news that Gran Turismo 5 retail discs have begun popping up in Europe comes a video detailing the game's entire Trophy list, minus three "Hidden" Trophies. Czech site Konzolista has the whole shebang, backed up by a clip found on GT Planet. Rather than detailing the Trophies, we're gonna leave it to you to choose -- the clip has been embedded after the break and contains potential spoilers (albeit, seemingly minor ones). You've been warned!
Gran Turismo 5 retail discs spotted in Europe
Over the weekend, a handful of tipsters sent Gran Turismo fansite GT Planet photos of what appeared to be retail versions of Gran Turismo 5. The photographic evidence began to pile up, and it seems that some gamer slash gearheads in Europe are already playing the game -- this is, of course, after the game was delayed to an unknown release date. Additionally, the game's entire Trophy list has been revealed, adding fuel to the fire. At the very least, this confirms GT5 director Kazunori Yamauchi's statement about discs for the game already being in production, though it doesn't put us any closer to knowing when exactly the game will finally arrive at retail. Will GT5 follow the path of the Sega Saturn and simply become available "right now," whenever the publisher deems it so? It certainly seems possible as of this report. But then, we all know how well that went for Sega's game console.
Sony earnings call entertains PlayStation Phone, reveals tablets are on the radar
Earnings calls aren't usually that interesting, and that's doubly true when trying to listen via official translators. Still, we couldn't help but give an ear to Sony's fiscals, and sure enough, someone asked about our (still real) PlayStation Phone leak. We're not sure who answered since it's through interpreter, either Executive VP / CFO Masaru Kato or Senior General Manager of Investor Relations Division Gen Tsuchikawa (we're assuming the former). Citing the aforementioned device, the curious party asked if such a product would come out of Sony or of Sony Ericsson, and no, it wasn't a complete denial. Instead, we're told just how such a device would happen, that a gaming phone would be planned and prototyped under the (recently restructured) Network Services umbrella. We're also told how SCE's move to Sony City headquarters now puts them closer to the planning and engineering group, meaning the company "can better incorporate all these capabilities better... so when the timing is right we can probably announce to you the new product we have." Ericsson is later cited as a resource "on smartphone and for the games devices," although this might be something peculiar with translation. Again, that's far from a confirmation, but they're certainly entertaining the notion in a very, very detailed response. But that's not all; there's also apparently a tablet brewing in the background, one that would obviously fall somewhere in between PC and Sony Ericsson's efforts. There isn't much else said, but if you're up for psychoanalyzing executive commentary, we've transcribed and placed the full quote after the break.
PlayStation Move review
The PlayStation Move. It's funny to think just 15 months have passed since Sony first unveiled its motion controller, and now we're mere weeks away from hitting the retail market. To be sure, it's not like the company didn't have waggle on the mind already -- patents dating as far back as 2005 reveal as much, and of course the incredible success of Nintendo's Wii proved there's a market for more physically exerting gameplay. And it's not just PlayStation; Microsoft's got its controller-free Kinect motion camera system coming this November. So, in the year where all major game consoles now ask you to get off the couch and earn arm muscle, how does Move fare? Read on for more!
Sony, Tohoku University develop blue-violet laser with 100 watt output, eyeing 1TB optical disk future?
As much as some would like to envision a world entirely bereft of disk-based media, with Blu-ray being the medium's swan song, that ain't happening. Sony's already looking to the future, and in cahoots with Tohoku University, it has developed a blue-violet laser capable of 100 watt output. That's reportedly more than 100 times the "world's highest output values for conventional blue-violet pulse semiconductor lasers." In the press release, the company said its tested using such technology for next-generation, large-capacity optical disc-storage, and while that doesn't say too much at face value, the Examiner reports (by way of various Japanese news outlets) that it equates to 20 times the storage of current Blu-ray disks, or about 1TB of data. Don't worry, we're sure all those 4K 3D films will still find a way to justify a "barebones" release dearth of features before magically making room for a second (and even third) Special Edition in time for respective holiday seasons.
White PS3 Slim with 160GB HDD hits Japan July 29th, new 320GB HDD option
Looks like we've (almost) solved the mystery of PlayStation 3's FCC-bound CECH-2501 models. Sony just announced a "classic white" PS3 Slim (as opposed to the "ceramic white" original) for Japan, model CECH-2500, coming July 29th with 160GB HDD. For 34,980 yen (about $400 translated to US currency) you can now start off with 320GB of storage in your "charcoal black" model -- not to worry, the aforementioned 160GB still retails for 29,980 yen ($342). So, when are we gonna see this elsewhere in the world, hm? Update: Post edited to make clear that the new "classic white" model is only available with a 160GB HDD.
Patapon 3 multiplayer demo moves to the beat next week
Demo-demo-demo! That's what we imagine you'll be screaming to yourself as you download the Patapon 3 demo from PSN this upcoming Tuesday. To make things even better, the PlayStation Blog informs us that it's a multiplayer demo -- a sampling of the internet-based functionality that will be included in the franchise's third installment. Now, before you ask, the demo isn't exclusive to PlayStation Plus subscribers, so one and all looking for their taste can get it. Clear up some space on your Memory Stick -- you're going to want to check this out on Tuesday, July 6.
Video interview: Sony's Shuhei Yoshida on Team Ico, Insomniac, Move, and more
While at E3, we had a chance to speak with the always affable Shuhei Yoshida, President of Sony Computer Entertainment Worldwide Studios. That title means he's the man in charge of Sony's first-party software, which also means he's the man to ask about Team Ico's absence from the show (No Last Guardian? No Ico / Shadow of the Colossus HD remake?), Insomniac's multi-platform future, the responsibility of first-party studios in defining the potential of PlayStation Move, the oft-rumored Warhawk sequel, the new Twisted Metal game, and more.
A look at ICO and Shadow of the Colossus in HD
With rumors suggesting that Team Ico's art house games, ICO and Shadow of the Colossus, will receive the God of War Collection Blu-ray treatment, Digital Foundry decided to have a look at what the results might be. Using PC emulation -- which reportedly got "very, very close" to looking like the final product with God of War -- the group captured video of the SD version and what the games may look like in HD. God of War's PS3-fication allegedly didn't replace any in-game art "aside from the on-screen text and button graphics." If ICO and Colossus are indeed given the same Blu-ray treatment, the latter is sure to benefit from the PS3's hardware. Shadow of the Colossus pushed the PS2's tech to the breaking point, with a frame rate that could turn the Colossi into Harryhausen monsters.
Sony looks to boost PSP Go sales with ten free games -- in the UK, at least
We're not sure if this is the "relaunch" that we've been hearing about, but it looks like PSP Go buyers in the UK will soon have one big new reason to consider the UMD-less handheld -- Sony says that it'll be throwing in a whopping ten free game downloads with each system. That deal will apparently also apply to at least some existing PSP Go customers (those that registered their system after April 1st), and it looks like you'll get a surprisingly solid lineup of games, including titles like Little Big Planet, Gran Turismo, Wipout Pure, Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars, and Need for Speed Shift, to name a few. Unfortunately, there's no indication on when or if the promotion will launch over here, with SCE's UK sales director Mark Howsen only confirming that it will be rolling out in the UK "next month."
Press X to Jason: the music video
We know it's supposed to be a moving moment in Heavy Rain, but we can't get enough of parody tributes to the game's true protagonist, little lost Jason. First there was the hit Flash game Press X to Jason and now the Dead Workers Party brings us "Press X to Jason," a bubbly, melodic retelling of the story of the boy who touched America's heart as America touched its X button. You can find it right after the break. We're intentionally being pretty vague about the content of the scene here, since you really shouldn't be watching the clip unless you've already played Heavy Rain. Like, you really shouldn't. Trust us. [Thanks, Spencer]
Unique Features acquiring Heavy Rain movie rights
Heavy Rain continues its slow progression from "like a movie with lots of button inputs" to "just a movie." Deadline reports that Unique Features is in the process of acquiring the film rights to Quantic Dream's game. Unique Features is a production company started by Bob Shaye and Michael Lynne, who used to be with New Line, the studio that had optioned the rights to the game in 2006. Shaye and Lynne are apparently so interested in the project that they bought the rights with their own money. Maybe the game was too hard for them and they just wanted to see how it ends. [Via Dread Central]
Heavy Rain sells one million worldwide
No one was exactly sure if Sony's gamble with Heavy Rain would pay off. With no aliens, no stealth kills, and no epic boss battles, the game strayed so far from the mainstream norm that some wondered if it could possibly succeed. Considering the incredible technical effort Heavy Rain represented, it's clear that this was also an expensive experiment for both Sony and Quantic Dream to take on. After seven weeks of release, Heavy Rain has managed to sell through a million units worldwide, according to an announcement on the PlayStation.Blog. No specifics are offered, but we'll deduce that Europe represents the largest piece of the sales pie; Heavy Rain was completely sold out in that part of the world. It's unclear if a million units sold is enough for Quantic Dream and Sony to break even on Heavy Rain's lengthy development. Undoubtedly, the game will continue selling through the year, which has us hopeful that the industry will be unafraid to invest in another game like it in the future.
