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LittleBigPlanet 2 grabs onto Nov. 16 release date; Collector's Edition and pre-order bonuses detailed
Here's that LittleBigPlanet 2 release date you were looking for: November 16. That's just under four months away, which leaves you just enough time to make some tough decisions. Here are your choices: you can either pre-order the game from select retailers to score a number of special costumes -- as seen in our gallery below -- or you can opt for the $80 Collector's Edition, which is also a limited edition, by virtue of actually being limited. Pre-orders from Amazon will net you both Ratchet and Clank costumes, along with four new "Animals" costumes for a grand total of six. Order from BestBuy and grab, claw-style, the Toy Story Alien costume along with, you guessed it, the four Animals costumes. Lastly, order from GameStop and get a Tron suit along with the same four Animals costumes. There's also a Gonzo costume, but Sony's not saying which retailer that's tied to. If all this pre-ordering sounds hard, why not just do it the American way? Throw money at the problem! 80 bucks nabs you a copy of the game, a 7-inch Sackboy plushie (cute!), LittleBigPlanet 2 bookends, all the above mentioned costumes, and exclusive Jak and Daxter costumes. Not bad for a $20 premium. The catch: This Collector's Edition is actually a limited edition, "so you better pre-order soon to ensure you get one," Sony says. %Gallery-98081%
3D Blu-ray PS3 update dated for September, YouTube 3D support planned
You can expect another firmware update for your PS3 this September. No, it won't add PlayStation Move support to the system (you already have that, folks!); instead, it will add support for 3D Blu-ray movies -- of which there's currently only one. As with Blu-ray movies, Sony is using the PS3 as a Trojan horse for pushing new technology. 3D is a major corporate focus for Sony, as evidenced by plans to support not only 3D movies and games, but 3D photos as well "later in the year." SCEE senior director Mick Hocking has also promised support for 3D broadcasts through the Europe-exclusive PlayTV service, as well. Additionally, "YouTube will be supporting 3D content over the next 12 months as well – and you'll be able to watch that on the PlayStation 3." Hocking also believes that many of us will adopt 3D cameras of our own in the future. "And as you start taking 3D pictures of your family or 3D camcorder movies, you can play those back on PS3, too," Hocking explains. Hopefully, that means we'll be able to use our PS3s to share 3D photos taken by our Nintendo 3DSs.
Preview: MotorStorm: Apocalypse (in 3-D)
The first thing I notice as I fit the 3-D glasses over my eyes and launch into the MotorStorm: Apocalypse E3 demo is that there are people running all over the place. "Looters ... crazies," art director Simon O'Brien corrects, as I plow into one, sending his ragdoll body flying out of the screen at us. I figure I'm not going to have many, if any more chances to play MotorStorm: Apocalypse in 3-D (I'm no early adopter), so I settle in and run through the demo a few times. The third MotorStorm game for PS3 has been in development for two years and its 3-D component for half that time. Developer Evolution Studios has done an admirable job implementing this technical gimmick, and in 3-D mode the demo maintains a steady 30fps framerate and the visual details hold up (at least better than in Killzone 3's first take in 3-D). MotorStorm: Apocalypse is understandably chaotic, however, and the 3-D distractions, like those flying crazies, make an already difficult race course more challenging to navigate. I slam into a few walls, not easily seeing turns in the impromptu "track" -- a straight-shot race through a crumbling, fictional West Coast city. I finish in something like 13th place and ask if I can see the game in "2-D mode," but the demo doesn't allow for us to switch over. %Gallery-94881%
Video: Motorstorm's apocalyptic vision
Evolution Studios' third MotorStorm game races out of the jungle ... into a self-destructing city, it seems. This is definitely one game that's difficult to capture in screens, so watch the trailer after the break. Stay tuned for our hands-on preview.
EyePet Move Edition ... now in 3D!
EyePet may have been delayed a year for its North American debut, but it's become a far more advanced game since its original release (at least technically). High tech families equipped with a super-fancy 3DTV will not only play the game with the Move motion controller, but with newly added 3D support as well. Whereas implementing support for Sony's motion controller added about nine months of development time to London Studios' pet simulator, 3D took about a month to implement. Unlike many other games, very little detail has been sacrificed to produce the 3D effect. The character model has been largely untouched, although some of the props have received some tweaks. (Other games drop the polygon count or texture resolution to achieve the demanding technical requirements necessary for 3D.) Most families won't experience EyePet in 3D, an unfortunate reality of the formats infancy. "The switch to 3D won't happen overnight but we're very proud to be pushing the first family titles in 3D, including Eyepet," a Sony rep told us. However, EyePet's implementation of 3D is some of the best we've experienced from Sony. Instead of focusing on flashy effects, there are a number of subtle implementations. The best part of the demo was washing the EyePet. Over time, steam appears on what appears to be virtual glass. The steam builds up slowly over time, and the slow drops of water that roll down are incredibly believable in 3D. Does it change the game? No. But did it look cool? Absolutely.%Gallery-95463%
Sony's Andrew House: PSP Go launched in part to 'learn more about what the consumer wanted'
Sony's certainly been fairly candid when discussing the PSP Go in the past, but SCEE CEO Andrew House went quite a bit further than usual in discussing the download-only handheld with MCV recently. When asked if he considered the PSP Go to be a success, he responded by saying that it was "introduced in a mature lifecycle to learn more about what the consumer wanted," and that Sony has "definitely learned a lot," adding that "one of the reasons we launched PSP Go was to understand where that consumer behavior was going." He further went on to say that Sony was "getting signals from consumers that this was the kind of device that they wanted," but says that Sony needs to "recognize that consumers like their packaged media library." Does that mean a return to physical media for the eventual PSP 2? House unsurprisingly wouldn't say, but we have a feeling Sony will be getting plenty of questions about it at E3 next week.
Sony: PSP Go 'experiment' revealed consumers' love of physical media
Speaking to MCV, SCEE CEO Andrew House categorized the digital-only PSP Go as an experiment of sorts. "One of the reasons we launched PSP Go was to understand where that consumer behavior was going," House said. "We were getting signals from consumers that this was the kind of device that they wanted. But we need to recognize that consumers like their packaged media library." Of course, House is omitting most of the reasons that the PSP Go isn't the best value proposition. Sure, people like to collect and display game cases and other retail bonuses. But they also like buying games on their release dates, rather than several weeks later -- or not at all -- as is the case with many digital versions of PSP games. They also like having the choice between digital and packaged versions of games, as is possible with every version of the PSP hardware but the Go. What they don't like is paying an $80 premium for the privilege of being limited only to digital releases. We admit, we haven't commissioned as much research into consumer behavior as Sony has -- but we think we have a handle on this particular phenomenon.
SCEE president alludes to upcoming paid PSN subscription option
Even though Sony officially "won't comment on rumors or speculation" regarding a paid PSN offering in the near future, Sony Europe president Andrew House gave a bit more substantial answer in a recent Q&A on the UK PlayStation site. When asked outright, "Will PlayStation Network become a paying service?", House responded, "Kaz Hirai stated a few months ago that we were looking at a premium service to sit alongside the current free service and that objective has not changed. You'll learn more about it very soon." He went on to console potentially upset readers with the knowledge that "the current PSN as you know it will remain a free service." That said, it seems like times are a-changin' for Sony's online network, and some (if not all) of the claims in our recent report on a "PSN+" service may come to pass in the not so distant future (cross-game chat, anyone?). If we were bettin' folks, we'd bet that not so distant future will start around the time of E3. [Via 1UP]
LittleBigPlanet 2 FAQ clears up some confusion, confirms Stephen Fry
The debut trailer for LittleBigPlanet 2 created more questions than it answered, most of them relating to the sequel's compatibility with DLC for the first game, and how the new features promised in said trailer would function. A handful of these queries have been put to rest by a FAQ post published on the PlayStation.Blog. For instance, the post confirms that all objects, costumes and decorations collected in the original game should carry over, except for objects using a graphical glitch or exploit. More importantly, QI host and wildlife enthusiast Stephen Fry will reprise his role as the game's omniscient narrator. However, the FAQ also references "custom Voice Acting," a feature with a capacity for hilarity that we've yet to be able to comprehend. For more answers to your burning questions, check out the full LittleBigFAQ.
Sony bringing on-demand movies to Aussie PS3 owners, MUBI doing similar in Europe
International PlayStation 3 owners have long since enjoyed spoils unavailable to North American consumers (PlayTV, anyone?), but one area where they're lagging is the availability of on-demand films. Thanks to a couple of serendipitously timed announcements, PS3 owners in Australia, New Zealand and far-flung corners of Europe will soon have a couple of new options for bringing digital movies to their television via their favorite Sony-branded game console. For starters, Sony itself will be launching the hotly-anticipated Australian on-demand movie rental / purchase service on Thursday, which will offer up (initially, anyway) 600 titles, though the breakdown of HD vs. SD isn't given. We're told that around 50 new movies will be added each month, and after paying the rental fee, you'll have a scant 48 hours to ingest it as many times as you so desire. In related news, MUBI will also be bringing a similar service to a smattering of overseas nations. So far as we can tell, this is what a child would look like if parented by Facebook and Vudu, and the concept is admittedly intriguing. Unfortunately, HD streams won't be available at launch, but hopefully it'll get with the program in short order. Speaking of the program, hit those source links for more details on both.
ModNation Racers hardware bundles speeding to Europe
SCEE loves bundles, so it comes as no surprise that Sony is preparing special ModNation Racers packages for both the PS3 and PSP in Europe. The PS3 package, spotted by TheSixthAxis, is rather no-frills, simply bundling the game and a 250GB Slim system for €315. The PSP package is slightly more interesting, including a PSP-3000, a copy of the game on UMD and a ModNation-branded case for €150. Neither of these offerings have been announced (or are expected to be announced) for America. Expect a review of ModNation Racers tomorrow.
Become Iron Man with new flying game on PlayStation Home
This may be the greatest thing to ever happen to PlayStation Home ever. To promote the upcoming Iron Man 2 movie, Paramount Pictures and Audi have partnered up to create a brand new Iron Man-themed mini-game, exclusively for PlayStation Home. Debuting on Thursday, April 29th, the Audi Space will be updated with a game that has your avatar donning an Iron Man suit, flying through an aerial obstacle course. The best times will be recorded on a leaderboard, and the top 10 scores by the end of June will be awarded with a virtual Iron Man suit to keep, making this one of the rarest virtual items ever offered for Sony's online community. Unfortunately, this game is exclusive to the European PSN, meaning those of you outside of SCEE's domain won't be able to partake in the fun. To see what you're missing out on, check out the trailer after the break.%Gallery-91832%
PlayStation 3's 3D implementation explained, may require upscaling and reduction in detail to work
It was only a couple of days ago that Sony flicked the switch on 3D compatibility for the PS3 -- albeit without retail games that can yet exploit it -- so what better time to dig into the nitty gritty details of the company's implementation of the third dimension? Digital Foundry have done just that, starting off with a discussion of how Sony translated WipEout HD from 2D into 3D. Noting that the original version ran at 1080p, Sony's senior development manager Simon Benson explains that notching resolution down to 720p opened up some pixel processing overhead (one 1080p stream requires nearly 2.1 million pixels, whereas a duo of 720p images is around 1.85 million in total), while reducing the refresh rate to 30Hz allowed the devs the breathing room to complete the extra geometric calculations required by 3D. That's certainly not the 1080p video at 100Hz per eye that we were hearing about at IDF last year, but at least it shows that games that haven't been coded for 3D can be translated, albeit at more demure settings. In the case of Motorstorm: Pacific Rift, the game already ran at a 720p / 30fps clip, so the solution was to generate it at a lower resolution and to use hardware upscaling and a few optimizations to make 3D work. Lest you think the transition was all bad news on the graphical immersion front, the SCEE devs also mention that quite a few field-of-view and motion-illustrating effects could simply be disabled in 3D, as in that mode "you get [them] for free." Of course, we're still only talking about retrofitting 3D, and Sony's big hope is that developers will code for the new format right from the start, resulting in visually richer and technically more efficient implementations. Hit the source for more.
Former Sony Europe head David Reeves joins Capcom
David Reeves, who "retired" from Sony Europe last year, will take up the Mega Buster at Capcom and charge up the publisher's European operations. Reeves states he had a "close working relationship" with Capcom during his 14 years with Sony. He will replace COO Mark Beaumont in the region, who passed away suddenly earlier this year. Reeves was a very public and outspoken figure during his Sony days. He was also the executive who, back in 2007, kinda stole broke Sony's thunder by stating that the first PS3 price drop was actually a clearance sale. It'll be interesting to see how public a role Reeves takes with his new employer.
Heavy Rain patch development complete, release 'very soon'
While the Joystiq staff hasn't experienced a game-ending Heavy Rain crash, there are a number of vocal members of the PlayStation forums that have reported some serious issues, most notably save file corruption. Quantic Dream is working on a new patch for the adventure game, one that "address a range of minor issues," but isn't "targeted purely at the issues reported." According to Sam_Protagonist, SCEE has had difficulty in reproducing the reported bugs, but hopes that the patch should fix various "contributing factors" that may be at the root of Heavy Rain's issues. "We're optimistic that this patch resolves your problems but cannot guarantee that this will be the case." Development on the patch is now complete, and is undergoing the "final stages of testing." Let's hope the patch actually does its job -- otherwise, angry Heavy Rain owners will be left with nothing to play but Press X to Jason. [Via VG247]
EyePet to support PlayStation Move, hits North America holiday 2010
digg_url = 'http://digg.com/playstation/EyePet_supports_PlayStation_Move_US_release_this_holiday'; Sony announced during its GDC 2010 press conference that the upcoming US release of EyePet will feature support for its motion controller, PlayStation Move. The game will allow players to manipulate toys and also play games with their EyePets. Furthermore, it's even possible to create new toys. The promotional video during the event showed off a child using the Move to draw a car on some virtual paper, which then jumped off the page and became an object that players and the EyePet could then interact with. In addition, Sony announced that EyePet is slated for a North American release this holiday. There was no mention of what will happen to the European version of the game, which was released last year. Presumably, Move support will be added once the peripheral launches.
Media Molecule becomes a wholly-owned Sony first-party studio
A lot of developers have earned publishing deals with Sony this generation, but only a small handful have managed to deliver a real "blockbuster." (Sorry, Lair and Heavenly Sword.) Three million copies, two million levels, and one Game of the Year edition later, Sony Computer Entertainment has decided to purchase LittleBigPlanet developer Media Molecule. The Guildford-based studio will join the ranks of other SCEE teams, such as London Studio, Guerrilla Games and Evolution Studios. While Media Molecule is no longer an independent studio, Michael Denny, Senior VP of Sony Worldwide Studios promised to continue supporting the team: "Media Molecule will simply continue to make great games. Welcoming Media Molecule into the PlayStation family will allow us to better support their future titles and ambitions." The acquisition likely guarantees that Media Molecule will continue to work on the LittleBigPlanet "platform" for years to come -- although we hope SCEE allows the team to explore creating new franchises as well. Of course, considering the ambitious plans the team has for LBP, it seems Media Molecule will have their hands full for quite a long time.
Sony reorganization shuffles names, but doesn't mess with the games
You ready? Okay -- follow along: Sony announced today that the Sony Computer Entertainment subsidiary will change its name to SNE Platform (or "SNEP"), and then transfer its video game operations to a new subsidiary, named -- surprise! -- Sony Computer Entertainment. On April 1, SNEP, which will be primarily operating Sony's network services and business as a wholly-owned subsidiary, will merge with Sony, and then promptly dissolve into the parent company. Since Sony already owns all shares of SNEP, there's not going to be any market action (issuance of new shares, share capital increases or cash payments) upon the merger. So, wait, what's happening? Essentially, Sony is moving its network business out from under the gaming wing and bringing it up to the parent company level. This is a different path than the one laid out a year ago, which suggested SCE, as then operator of the network business (think: PSN), would begin to play a larger role in the unification of the company as it pertains to an online strategy. Instead, the "new" Sony Computer Entertainment will have a slightly more narrow focus, "mainly consisting of the planning, development, manufacturing and sales of home-use/portable game consoles and software," according to the reorganization announcement; and Sony Online Service, including the proposed expansion of PSN IDs to non-gaming Sony devices, will seemingly be handled by a new division (but possibly the same personnel) within the Sony parent company. Though listed as the "Representative Director" of the short-lived SNEP subsidiary, Kaz Hirai will presumably remain in charge of the PlayStation division now and after the April 1 merger. Sub-divisions SCEA and SCEE are unaffected by the reorganziation.
Watch Heavy Rain's European TV ad
PlayStation Blog has dropped the European advertisement for Heavy Rain. The ad, which you can watch after the break, places a heavy emphasis (geddit?) on the various choices that players make throughout the game. Specifically, it asks players to "start a journey that changes with every single decision." The PS Blog post notes that different versions of the ad will be airing in several countries over the next few weeks, so be sure to keep an eye out for it. If there's any justice in the universe, the US version will feature Kevin Butler.
Sony downplays meaning of MotorStorm 3 domain purchase
SCEE has registered the domain "motorstorm3.com," according to WHOIS data first found by The Gaming Liberty. The domain, which currently redirects to the UK's PlayStation site, would seem to provide a hint that a sequel to the PS3's flagship truck-dirtying simulator is on the way. Or does it? Sony told VG247 that "It's not uncommon for us to secure the URLs containing the names of our successful IP, and those actions should not be interpreted as an announcement of a new title in a franchise." That leaves only the knowledge that MotorStorm is one of Sony's major PS3 showpieces and of course there's going to be another one. [Via Eurogamer]
