SCEE
Latest
Sony 'studied the possibility' of 3D in NGP, decided against it
We've covered an awful lot of Sony news over the last 15 or so hours -- 23 posts thus far and counting, including this one -- and not once did the company bring up its 3D efforts. The entire NGP announcement has remained mysteriously devoid of one of Sony's biggest talking points of 2010, and Sony Europe head Andrew House has an explanation for why that is. "We view 3D as having the greatest potential, in the near term, in what I would call a dedicated entertainment environment," he told Eurogamer. House continued, "That's in the home, around the television, and where it's a shared experience. I think that's really important." A statement from Sony clarified that, "In the development process, we had studied the possibility of introducing stereoscopic 3D feature to NGP, but decided not to install it." House added to that, needling Sony's handheld gaming competition a bit in the process. "We struggle a little bit to see how that 3D, shared experience translates to portable devices as they currently stand." Perhaps he was holding the 3DS at a weird angle? We can't be sure.
Killzone 3 open beta starts February 2nd or 3rd (depending on what zone of killing you're in)
Killzone 3 is bringing its particular brand of first-person shooting (the "killing in a zone" brand, we presume?) to retailers in North America and Europe on February 22 and 23, respectively. Unfortunately for those of you who reside in the zone of killing known as Europe, the upcoming "beta" gives North American players the same one-day lead, according to the regional arms of the PlayStation Blog family. For 12 days beginning February 2 in North America, all PlayStation 3 owners will be able to download the "open beta" (read: demo) and treat themselves to stereoscopic 3D, Move support, and access to just one map, titled "Frozen Dam." Inside that one map, you'll at least be able to try out all three online multiplayer modes – 16-player "Guerrilla Warfare," 24-player "Warzone," and 16-player "Operations" – in addition to the bot-based, offline mode cleverly titled "Botzone." Because it's Killzone ... with bots. But look on the bright, less-killy side, Europe: When North America's open beta access cuts off on February 14, you'll still have one more full day of jetpack-enabled fun. While you wait, take a look at the latest multiplayer video after the break, showing off killstreaks in the game.
Sony Europe aware of PlayTV crashing issue, working on fix
A Sony Europe representative has informed Joystiq that the company is aware of a current issue with PlayTV, the HDTV DVR add-on for PS3 available in the region. Users have reported encountering a system-crashing bug after applying the most recent premium update to the device. "We are aware that since the latest PlayTV update, certain issues have arisen," a company representative told Joystiq. "We are working to fix these and hope to have a solution very shortly." A Joystiq tipster suggests the issue can be fixed by reinstalling PlayTV, though doing so will erase all data, including the paid update. [Thanks, Antony D.]
Rumor: Killzone 3 to include split-screen
According to an image from NicaGamerz of an alleged Killzone 3 preview build, the third Helghast murder simulator will allow for split-screen co-op -- a function that previous entries lacked. Sony of Europe gave VG247 an official "no comment" on the possibility, but also didn't deny the rumor. However, earlier this year at E3, president of SCE worldwide studios Shuhei Yoshida spoke to us about Killzone 3's 3D functionality, saying, "We were going to give players two screens anyway, for some mode ... for some gameplay anyway." Split-screen, perhaps? Given that Killzone 3 is a 3D title and its video is already being rendered twice for the 3D effect, the possibility of split-screen is a bit of a given. As for whether the split-screen will allow friends to take the game online together is unknown, but it seems players will at least be able to shoot up yellow-eyed baddies on a couch together. Let's put it this way: we're giving today's news the "rumor" tag, but calling the possibility "very likely."
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.
Sony Ericsson boss on PlayStation Phone: Where there's smoke ...
Sony Ericsson Chief Executive Bert Nordberg must have just come back from holiday on Glib (it's one of Greek Islands), because he expertly delivered one of the most urbane quotes on the PlayStation Phone to date. In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, the executive said on the subject of the device, "There's a lot of smoke, and I tell you there must be a fire somewhere." Perhaps it's in the R&D building. As if channeling Monty Python's "Nudge Nudge, Wink Wink" sketch, Nordberg gave another interesting answer when asked why the company's phone division hadn't tapped into Sony's gaming resources before. "I haven't dug into that history, but the future might be brighter." The PlayStation Phone, which the WSJ speculates will carry Sony Ericsson's Xperia brand, is still a phantom, existing in "read between the lines" executive comments and leaks that allegedly showcase the prototype.
Gran Turismo 5 course creation tools demonstrated on video
One of the main reasons Gran Turismo 5 has been in development for so, so long is because Polyphony Digital has packed it to the gills with content, and that includes the race track creator demonstrated after the break. Just think of the all the Mario Kart levels you could repurpose for the game's kart races ...
PlayStation Phone prototype further detailed, codenamed 'Zeus'
Continuing coverage of the PlayStation Phone leak, Engadget has now posted details about the unannounced gaming slash celly device. Apparently the phone is currently known as "Zeus" internally and isn't running Android 3.0 firmware just yet (it's said to be running on 2.X for now). Additionally, Engadget reports, citing "multiple, trusted sources ... and we're not just talking good tipsters -- some of our information comes from people much more closely connected to the project," that the "rumor" nature of the device is no longer in effect: "The PlayStation Phone in the photos we ran last night, and the device reported on back in August is most definitely real. We're not saying that because we want to believe or because we're gingerly trying to nab pageviews: we're saying it because we know it to be true."Meanwhile, SCEE's original statement regarding the device -- "These images are definitely fake" -- has turned into: "Sony doesn't comment on rumour or speculation" (as has Sony Ericsson's statement). When contacted, SCEA counterparts similarly told us, "We do not comment on rumors or speculation." Unfortunately, suggesting to Sony that the PlayStation Phone doesn't appear to be either "rumor" or "speculation" didn't elicit further comment.
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]
Move sales around 1.5 million in Europe, 300K estimated for US
It seems that Sony settled on the right name for its PlayStation Move motion controller, as the company is definitely moving plenty of units in Europe. Speaking to Bloomberg, Sony Europe's Andrew House noted "very significant sales" for the Move, saying that it has sold "somewhere in the region of 1.5 million units for the new controller across just Europe." He added that sales have exceeded Sony's original hopes, and that the company will likely increase production of the peripheral. Sales may not be as motivated in America, however. In a report released to the media, Wedbush Morgan's Michael Pachter estimated that the motion controller sold around 300,000 units in its US debut, including Move console bundles; though it's important to note that SCEA has not released official sales figures. Despite the sluggish launch estimate, Pachter expects both the Move and Kinect to drive console sales in the US this holiday season.
Killzone 3 public beta starts October 25 in the US
Guerrilla Games' Killzone The Tres is set to unleash a public beta on October 25, the PlayStation Blog promises. Of course, there's a catch: in order to get in on it, you'll need to be a PlayStation Plus subscriber before the beta rolls out, and download a custom Killzone 3 XMB theme, which'll release on October 19. The first 10,000 to download the theme will get access -- 5,000 from the US, 5,000 from Europe. You'll also want to keep an eye on your email inbox, because Sony plans to mail out codes on October 25 to the lucky 10,000 who snagged the XMB theme first. To help tide you over, Sony's got a new trailer, which you can check out past the break.
LittleBigPlanet 2 delayed to avoid launch-day patches, Evans says
Media Molecule delayed LittleBigPlanet 2 until next year because the developer did not want the game to be dependent on launch-day patches. Speaking with VG247, MM head Alex Evans explained the team wanted the retail disc to "perfect" and something the company could be "proud of," ensuring that folks who didn't have a PS3 connected to the internet would still receive the "full experience" without patches. "We could have shipped it and it would have been fine," Evans told the site. "However we realized that with just a couple of extra weeks we could make the game super amazing, adding the super onto the already amazing which exists today. This is something that will live forever and the delay, people will forget about." Strangely, at no point in the interview did Evans say, "Oh yes, and one more thing, the real reason we delayed LBP2 was to spite that Griffin McElroy. Muahahahahahahaha!" Seriously, poor guy hasn't stopped rocking in the corner, wracked with denial, since the delay was announced last month.
Eat Them! preview: War of the Rampage
Somewhere there's an alternate dimension where monster games like Rampage and War of the Monsters are not oddities but rather fine examples of a whole "monsters destroying crap" genre. Eat Them!, which I played recently at PAX 2010, is a game directly from that dimension. In Fluffy Logic's (Savage Moon) upcoming PSN release, you play as a monster that you've customized every slimy, scaly inch of, from his shoulder rockets to his tentacle legs. Then ... well, you destroy shit.
European developers rally to help ex-Realtime Worlds employees
It's when things seem at their darkest when the true light and goodness of humanity can really shine through ... or something like that. Following APB developer Realtime Worlds' decision to go into administration -- and the 75 percent staff cut the studio was forced to undergo -- fellow game developers Codemasters, The Creative Assembly, Blitz Games Studios, Activision and Sony Europe have announced recruitment events in the coming weeks to help the displaced staff get back on its feet. There should be plenty of openings to go around for the 185 unemployed artists, writers and programmers -- Codemasters alone is reportedly looking for 150 new hires to fill its UK studios and The Creative Assembly is staffing up to work on an "unannounced AAA title" for Sega. Not to be outdone, Activision's also making a huge hiring push -- though these unfortunate souls will be relegated to the dance cages located in the foyer of Bobby Kotick's Miami-based "party palace." (Fine, we made that last part up. Please don't sue us.)
Gran Turismo 5 arriving in Europe on November 3
If you're willing to believe any Gran Turismo 5 date announcement, you'll be glad to know that the game will -- allegedly -- be racing to retailers in Europe on November 3. Sony announced as much at its Gamescom presser this morning.
Live from Sony's Gamescom keynote
The Sony Computer Entertainment Europe Gamescom keynote is about to get underway in Cologne – last year it brought us the PlayStation 3 Slim, so who knows what this year has in store. We should be getting underway soon ... just so long as the WiFi holds up. What we're hoping for: Some more HD remasters ... like Ico and Shadow of the Colossus. There was a rumor about BBC4 being available on demand on PS3, perhaps we'll get a confirmation of that. So head on after the break and join us.
Killzone 3 beta site launches, not letting anyone in yet
Just like its older brother Killzone 2, it appears that upcoming Guerrilla Games FPS Killzone 3 will be getting a beta in some form. A recently launched site with the URL "http://beta.killzone.com/kz3/beta-login.html" and a gated login (that's apparently not allowing anyone in as of right now) certainly seems to imply as much. Adding to the possibility is the fact that the Killzone 2 Community Website service on PSN lists "Killzone 3 Beta Website" as a launchable location, as spotted by Iron Star Movement. We've reached out to Sony and Guerrilla for more details, but we have to imagine it won't be completely different from betas we've seen in the past-- (say, the Killzone 2 beta, for instance -- with online multi and a few game modes, perhaps). That said, this game does have jetpacks, and that changes things a bit -- namely, our excitement for more info. Update: Sony responded, saying, "Guerrilla Games is currently testing a number of elements internally with Killzone 3 and further details will be available soon." [Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]
Heavy Rain Move Edition patch coming 'pre-Xmas,' free if you own the game
SCEE product Manager Ross Alexander took to the EU's PlayStation Blog earlier today and revealed that the PlayStation Move-enabled version of Heavy Rain will be available "pre-Xmas." He also noted that it will be digitally distributed for free via PSN to those who already picked up the disc, though he gave no word on a re-release of the retail edition with Move functionality already baked-in. Apparently, the waggle-ified version of Heavy Rain will be playable both with the Move and a DualShock 3 or a Move and the Navigation Controller -- the latter of which Alexander claims is the only way to get the "full experience." Trailers with the new Move controls are forthcoming, but why wait? We've dropped a handful of screens into a gallery below right now.%Gallery-98998%
PlayStation Move Starter Pack includes nine demos in the UK
The PlayStation Move is set to launch in the US on September 19 alongside several bundles. The Starter Pack -- a $99 bundle including one PlayStation Move controller, a PlayStation Eye camera and a copy of Sports Champions -- is apparently going to be a bit different when it launches in the UK on September 15. MCV reports that the UK Starter Pack won't include a full copy of Sports Champions, instead giving gamers a taste of nine different titles. The nine demos included in the package include snippets of six retail Move titles: Sports Champions, Start the Party, The Shoot, EyePet: Move Edition, TV Superstars and Tiger Woods PGA Tour 11. The remaining three demos will be for PSN games: Echochrome 2, Tumble and Beat Sketchers. In the UK, the Starter Pack will have a suggested retail value of £49.99.
Sony Studio Liverpool staffing up for new project, probably not Wipeout
Despite having culled its workforce earlier this year, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe's Studio Liverpool -- which has historically produced the Wipeout franchise and is bunked up with former Evolution Studios (MotorStorm) staff -- is hiring once again. In this case, it's looking for a senior designer to pitch in on a yet-unannounced title. One that, from the want ad, sure sounds like a third- or first-person (or both) action game. Last we checked, neither Wipeout nor MotorStorm would fall under that heading. The job posting calls for an individual who has "shipped at least one successful action game" and possesses an "encyclopaedic knowledge of games, especially 3rd / 1st person action." The studio also desires that its ideal candidate be an "enthusiastic, confident, positive personality," which pretty much rules out any of us for the position, though we probably never had a chance and couldn't care less. There's no specific platform experience mentioned in the listing, so the target platform for whatever the title is could be PS3, PSP, PS4, PSP2 or jump right to the PS5 (although it's probably 99.99 percent for one or both of the first two). We'll let you know when we learn more.
