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Soul Sacrifice being given up to NA April 30, EU May 1
Keiji Inafune's Comcept is relinquishing Vita action-RPG Soul Sacrifice to North America on April 30, and to Europe the day after on May 1. It'll be in both stores and on PSN on its day of release. The game received its Japanese release date of March 7 last month.Both regions get the same pre-order bonuses, such as the two character costumes and three magical aids for battle. Those aids are the Spirits' Flamepike, which spears a fiery five-hit combo attack, the Spirits' Blightstone, which stirs up a poisonous explosion, and Spirits' Fulgurwood, which can both track enemies and cast a thunder spell.The most curious bonus is that of Japanese voice-overs. It's always great to have the option, but tying it to pre-orders is certainly unusual. If you're not gonna sacrifice your dosh for the pre-order, take note that the voice-over pack will be sold separately. %Gallery-177521%
PS All-Stars dev SuperBot lays off unknown number of employees
Superbot Entertainment, the Sony-owned developer responsible for PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale, has suffered layoffs today, IGN reports."SCEA can confirm that SuperBot Entertainment did make a reduction in their workforce today," a Sony representative told IGN. "The studio and SCEA remain committed to supporting PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale post launch, including developing the title's forthcoming DLC releases in the coming months."Currently, the number of employees affected by the downsizing remains unknown, though we have reached out to both Sony and Superbot for more information about the situation and will update as details become available.Update: Sony has confirmed to us that layoffs have indeed hit Superbot, though no further information was given. Its full statement on the matter can be found after the break.
Kat, Emmett join PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale Feb. 12
Gravity Rush's Kat and Starhawk's Emmett Graves will be joining the fray as PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale's first DLC characters on February 12, Sony has announced. Both characters will be free for their first two weeks of availability, though their price point after the fact remains unknown.As we learned during their initial reveal last December, both characters make heavy usage of the abilities their own games are based on, with Kat (above) manipulating gravity and Emmett summoning mining equipment, as seen after the break. Both characters sport the same amenities as the original cast: extra costumes, full arcade stories and trial modes, etc.The previously announced Heavenly Sword/Wipeout stage has also been slated for February, though a specific release date or price was not provided. We're still holding out for a ship from Wipeout as a playable character.
The Last of Us behind the scenes vid shows how mo-cap becomes final copy
This video for Naughty Dog's The Last of Us introduces the Tess character, played by Annie Wersching (Renee Walker in 24). It also neatly shows off the effects of what's required to get from motion-capture to final animation, and those bauble-dotted mo-cap suits which are always fun. %Gallery-173446%
God of War: Ascension's multiplayer trailer is straight-up gross
This God of War: Ascension multiplayer trailer and the ending of Apocalypse Now! have more in common than we'd generally like, except instead of a cow this has a beefy guy, and there's some Southern rock/railroad building blues playing in the background. Greece has a "South," right?
The Last of Us pre-order bonuses detailed, trailer unveiled
Naughty Dog revealed the pre-order bonuses for The Last of Us this weekend, hot on the trail of the new trailer from the VGAs, which you can watch above. As for the pre-orders, they're split into the stuff all participating retailers are offering and the additional in-game content GameStop is bundling in.All participating pre-orders include the game's official soundtrack, a PS3 dynamic theme based on the box art, and 'Winter Joel' and 'Winter Ellie' PSN avatars. That sounds perfect for a game confirmed for late spring - May 7, 2013, to be specific.Pre-order at GameStop and you'll also get multiplayer goodies on top of the soundtrack, theme, and avatars. Those goodies include bonus XP, a melee attack booster, customizable character items, bonus skins, and a bit of extra in-game cash to help you on your way. Naughty Dog confirmed earlier this year that multiplayer would be coming to The Last of Us, but not in the form of campaign co-op.
Page Chronica registers PSN release date of December 4
Red Hare Studios turns Page Chronica onto North America's PlayStation Network on December 4. The PS3 puzzle-platformer's producer, Dr. Wee Lit Koh, also tells us that although a date for the European release isn't set yet, it too is "just around the corner." The price tag is also unconfirmed, but Dr. Koh told us last month his studio is targeting $10.99/€10.99.Page Chronica presents a curious mix of wordplay and platforming. By collecting and rearranging the letters spread across its dreamlike worlds, players can create enchanted words that grant them powerful attacks and magic. Edward Bulwer-Lytton once wrote the pen is mightier than the sword, and that's especially true if the pen magically grants you a big old mighty sword. Or if it's some kind of explosive pen gun.
Wizards of the Coast sued over 'Electronic Trading Card' patent infringement
Wizards of the Coast is being sued by Texas-based Wildcat Intellectual Property Holdings over an alleged patent infringement. Courthouse News reports Wildcat believes Wizards of the Coast's 2002 game Magic: The Gathering Online infringes upon the former's 'Electronic Trading Card' patent, and is seeking an injunction to prohibit the transgression.The patent in question, US Patent No 6200216, was filed by Wildcat on March 6 1995 and issued on March 13 2001. It describes. among other components, "taking the traditional trading card metaphor and uniquely updating and enhancing it for application in consumer digital media." Wildcat claims the patent applies to its game 'Unit Commander' which it calls "the ultimate mercenary trading card game."Wildcat's allegations seem to date back to a lawsuit filed last year against Wizards of the Coast and 11 other companies, including Nintendo, EA, Sony Computer Entertainment America, Sony Online Entertainment, Konami, and Zynga. The complaint pertains to the same patent infringement Wildcat is presently suing Wizards of the Coast over.According to The Cardboard Connection, as of August 2 of this year Chaotic USA and Nintendo were dismissed without prejudice, leaving both open to being sued by Wildcat again separately. It's unclear if Wildcat's present case against Wizards of the Coast is a retooling of the previous one following a similar dismissal.
When Vikings Attack pillages PSN next week, 30% pre-order discount for EU PSN
Vikings are set to invade 1970s England this Tuesday, November 6. When Vikings Attack, from new developer Clever Beans, launches for PS3 and Vita as a PSN cross-buy title. The game tasks players with corralling English villagers and uniting them against the invading viking hordes – the more villagers you've amassed, the bigger the items you can pick up and hurl.Anyone who actually lives in England (or elsewhere connected to the European PlayStation Network) can shave 30 percent off the game's £7.99/€9.99 price by pre-ordering it now through the PS3's PSN Store. Shaving the beard off a viking, however, is considerably more difficult and not something we should ever have tried.
This is madness: GameStop God of War: Ascension pre-order perk is '300' DLC
Gamestop's God of War: Ascension pre-order bonus is an exclusive multiplayer costume taken from Zack Snyder's 2007 movie 300, because nothing says "brand-new video game based on Greek pseudo-mythology" like a random costume from a five-year-old movie based on Greek pseudo-history.Specifically, the costume replicates King Leonidas' red cape, helmet and "armor," which we assume is what they're calling his tiny little baby man-shorts. The costume also includes a spear that provides new moves and abilities, as well as a double-sided God of War: Ascension poster. It does not, however, include a pit for disposing of foreign dignitaries or a bottle of chest grease.
PlayStation 3 Slim review (late 2012): is the third time a charm?
More Info Sony announces a slimmer PlayStation 3, 250GB bundle launches September 25th for $269 Sony PlayStation 3 (2012) up close and personal (eyes-on) Sony explains missing PlayStation 3 price drop on old models, EU exclusivity of Flash memory version What else can be said about the PlayStation 3 at this point that hasn't already been said? Since launching in 2006, there have been approximately 400 different permutations of the console: variations on hard drive sizes, functionality, physical shape and, of course, price. The latest model, the PlayStation 3 Superslim, is no different. It comes in just two permutations: 250GB ($270) and 500GB ($300). With the latter launching at the end of October, we've spent the last week with the already available 250GB model. Is it time to finally jump in to the PlayStation 3 party, or upgrade that aging 2006 model? Head below to find out.
Summoning monsters as a plant-based wizard in Soul Sacrifice
I'm still not clear what the actual name of the character I selected during my demo of Kenji Inafune's upcoming Vita game Soul Sacrifice was, nor was I able to grasp the more delicate workings of some of its deeper mechanics because the Tokyo Game Show demo I experienced was (surprise!) completely in Japanese. But I worked around it.Though the context of the upcoming universe alluded me, the combat in Soul Sacrifice broke down language barriers ... because it spoke the universal language of kick ass.%Gallery-163120%
Sony's PlayStation 3 getting 'PSN Day 1 Digital' to launch games digitally alongside retail
Taking a cue from Nintendo's Wii U, Sony's PlayStation 3 is getting digital versions of some games delivered at the same time as their physical counterparts starting next week with Resident Evil 6 and NBA 2K13. via "PSN Day 1 Digital." Unlike Nintendo's initiative, however, Sony's is third-party focused -- not one game on its initial list of eight titles is published by any of Sony's international publishing studios. It's unclear whether this is a full-on initiative for Sony's PlayStation 3 or a promotion for October alone, but Sony's PlayStation blog calls PSN Day 1 Digital "a new program," which indicates it's something more than just a one month promo -- all the same, we've asked Sony for more info. Beyond just offering a smattering of games digitally at launch, PSN Day 1 Digital allows for pre-orders, and even offers a 10 percent discount on 007: Legends should you pre-order as a PlayStation Plus member. Head past the break for the full list of titles.
Of PlayStation Vita owners, 'almost all' own PlayStation 3 as well
Sony isn't sharing exact numbers, but Sony Computer Entertainment America VP of marketing, handhelds and home consoles John Koller teased that "almost all" PlayStation Vita owners are also PlayStation 3 owners. We were discussing the potential crossover between Vita and PS3 -- the obvious comparison to Nintendo's latest offering, the Wii U, and its tablet controller. The Vita and the PS3 are capable of producing similar functionality, and, if anything, with higher fidelity, as the Vita is a standalone console. Koller says Sony invites the comparison. "We tell our PlayStation fans all the time that what the Wii U is offering is something that Vita and PS3 can do quite easily," he says. It's not just about the functionality, however, it's about whether implementing that functionality makes any sense. "It's dependent on the content. So we need to make sure the content isn't force fed. And, to us, making sure that the gamer receives the right type of experience is what's most important. So we're gonna pick our spots, but that technology does certainly exist here." It wouldn't be hard to imagine Sony bundling the Vita and its new PS3 model together for holiday sales, pushing up against this holiday's Wii U launch. Koller says not just yet, though. "As we look at the lineup, there are gonna be some opportunities to do that. Whether we want to bundle the hardware together remains to be seen," he explains. It sounds like we'll be hearing more on that front in the future, as "retails asks for it all the time," Koller says. For now, however, he's happy knowing that the vast majority of Vita owners are already prepared for cross-functionality between the two consoles. "In the meantime, you look at the Vita consumer and a very high percentage -- almost all of them -- own a PS3. So you see that crossover works."
Sony explains missing PlayStation 3 price drop on old models, EU exclusivity of Flash memory version
Call it the "SuperSlim," the "Ultrasvelte," or the "LipoStation 3" -- just as long as "it stays positive," says Sony Computer Entertainment America VP of marketing, handhelds and home consoles John Koller. The new, even thinner version of the PlayStation 3 doesn't have a new name to distinguish itself from the myriad other PS3 models. Like Apple's third iPad iteration, the third iteration of the PlayStation 3 is simply, "The PlayStation 3." And like the second PS3 console, Koller says the new model is Sony's new standard, with previous models going the way of the Puerto Rican shrew (poor little guy is totally extinct). The new PS3 comes in two models for North America, 250GB and 500GB, which Koller says is a result of North American consumers being more "digitally inclined" than other territories. "We have to provide the hard drive size and the opportunity for them to be able to, out of the box, utilize that content," he argues. But this philosophy may be flawed -- one of Sony's main competitors, Nintendo, is applying the same logic to its Wii U, albeit with starkly different results. Nintendo argues that it doesn't want to pass the rapidly declining cost of memory on to the consumer, so you'll be able to attach any form of external memory to its console. That functionality also exists in the PS3 -- Flash memory via USB or a full-on internal HDD replacement -- but Koller says consumers are more inclined to purchase additional consoles rather than replacing internal storage. "When you look at some of the earlier chassis, and the really early adopters -- the 20GB, and the 60GB -- that consumer had a choice. They could either go out and buy another hard drive -- and it's an easy install, so we make it easy for the consumer if they want to take a hard drive off the shelf and plug it in, they can do that. They had a choice of doing that, or purchasing another PlayStation 3. And what's been happening is we're seeing a lot of adoption of second consoles in-house," Koller says. That philosophy is why Europe's the only territory getting a 12GB Flash-based PlayStation 3. Sure, consumers can expand the system's memory with Flash -- the new model allows for internal memory expansion as well, except for the 12GB version -- but that doesn't line up with SCEA's goals in its territory. "The smaller Flash drive isn't coming to North America, and a lot of that reason is the digital consumer," Koller says. "We really want to make sure, out of the box, that there is an option for them to be able to download that content. That is really critical for us, very very important."%Gallery-165870%
Meet LittleBigPlanet Karting's antagonists, 'The Hoard'
Apparently, after the events of LittleBigPlanet 2, mysterious beings from far away lands arrived on Craftworld and began hoarding all of the world's most valuable treasures, with no other motivation than to be in possession of them. Somehow, this all translates to go-kart racing.
This Unfinished Swan story trailer is delightful
This trailer for The Unfinished Swan from PAX 2012 delves into the Sony-published, Giant Sparrow-developed game's mysterious plot. While no specific release date has been revealed for this PSN-exclusive game, the game's official site indicates it will launch some time in 2012.
LittleBigPlanet Karting pre-orders at Gamestop include 'Headstart Pack,' exclusive Sackboy and kart
We caught wind a while ago that pre-ordering LittleBigPlanet Karting from Gamestop or Amazon would net you a sweet Kevin Butler Sackboy and golf-cart kart, but now Gamestop's pre-order offering has been upgraded with some extra chotchkies.For starters, Gamestop pre-orders now come with an exclusive "Headstart Pack" that immediately unlocks 900-plus pieces of construction materials, costumes, karts and music that would normally have to be earned by, you know, playing the game. It also includes a United Front Games-themed Sackboy and accompanying arcade cabinet kart (as seen above), as well as the Kevin Butler stuff we already knew about.
God of War: Ascension Euro dates announced, along with Special / Collector's Editions
God of War: Ascension will be available on March 13, 14 or 15, depending on whether you plan on buying it in greater Europe, Australia/New Zealand, or the UK/Ireland, respectively. Meanwhile, North American folk can still expect to rain bloody death down upon their enemies on March 12.Non-North American revenge aficionados looking for something a little more substantial than just the game itself will have both Special and Collector's editions to choose from, which each contain varying levels of goodies, both in-game and out. The Collector's Edition is identical to the North American version and includes a steelbook case, eight-inch Kratos figure, digital copy of the soundtrack, a PS3 theme and avatars, a double multiplayer XP boost and a voucher for all future DLC.Special Edition, on the other hand, includes everything listed above except for the statuette and the DLC pass. No pricing information or pictures of the packs have been released as of yet, thought details are expected in the "near future," according to the European PlayStation Blog.
Nariko and Fortesque confirmed for PlayStation All-Stars [update]
Two more characters have been announced as members of the PlayStation All-Stars: Battle Royale roster, both of which attach firmly to either side of the "deep cut" spectrum: Nariko of Heavenly Sword fame, and MediEvil's Sir Daniel Fortesque.As has been the case with the last few All-Stars character reveals, both Nariko and Fortesque were originally rumored a few weeks ago when files pulled from the beta found their way to neoGAF. Nariko's fighting style is described as "high risk, high reward" by designer Seth Killian in the video above, while Fortesque is said to be much slower and more methodical. Both characters, however, use weapons culled from the annals of their respective series' history.Update: The video originally embedded above, belonging to Gamespot, has been set to private. We have replaced the video with a mirror located here and have updated this post's source link to reflect that change.
