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Sony's Steinberg says 2009 lineup is 'relentless, AAA-quality'
Speaking with David Radd at GameDaily, VP of Product Marketing at SCEA, Scott Steinberg, wants you to know that, if you were under the impression Sony had "punched itself out," you're mistaken! Citing Killzone 2 as the beginning of, "a great lineup [that is] relentless and AAA-quality," Steinberg names MLB 09: The Show and this summer's inFamous as two titles that are, "going to arrest the momentum from competitors." That's without mentioning the Heavy Rains and Uncharted 2s of the world, we might add. And though Steinberg's remarks are filled with marketing speak (that's the technical term, folks), we can't help but agree that the company's 2009 lineup seems a lot more fleshed out three months into the year than its competitors. Maybe next week's Game Developer's Conference will change some of that. We'll just have to wait and see.
New inFamous trailer may burn your eyes
If you weren't excited for inFamous before, this new trailer may change your mind. The trailer, cut using only in-game footage, is masterfully mixed with dramatic music that's incredibly fitting for the game's dark and brooding mood. The use of slo-mo and rewind make Cole's electric powers look all the more fantastic. Pay close attention to the particle effects: the number of individual sparks that the game renders is rather impressive. See the trailer after the break.
inFamous launching worldwide in June, demo on the way [update]
You're currently looking at the box art for Sucker Punch's upcoming PS3 exclusive, inFamous. The cover, along with the release date (well -- month, at least), was revealed on the PlayStation Blog today. You'll be stepping into the electrified shoes of Cole McGrath at some point in June. We're not sure inFamous will be as successful as last June's major PS3 exclusive, but players will be able to try this one out before they buy, as a demo has already been confirmed. The game's soundtrack has also been detailed on Music 4 Games. Update: The source link for the soundtrack information has been removed, but the article alleged that the game music would be a collaborative effort between Amon Tobin, Jim Dooley, Mel Wesson, Martin Tilman who, between them, have worked on Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory, Pushing Daisies, Pirates of the Caribbean and Black Hawk Down. The now-removed source added that in order to produce a more urban, gritty sound, the composers will be creating music from "real-life objects and materials found in urban environments." In response to these alleged details, Sony states, "We have not made any official announcements regarding the music in inFamous." (That's right Sony! Stuff the cat right back in that bag.) We'll let you know when the truly infamous soundtrack is ready for your ears -- and eyes.
New inFamous trailer heavy on story, light on gameplay
In this, the latest trailer for body-surfing, open-world action game inFamous, we get a glimpse at more of the story, though a straight up plot remains inFamous-ly absent. What do we know? There's a little girl who's scared, maybe of you, maybe of everything else. There's an explosion and some kick flips. Oh oh, and plenty of electricity. It might not be the most intellectually stimulating game coming from Sony on the horizon but it sure "has the potential to be far more substantial and rewarding" -- at least we thought so back at New York Comic Con.
Calendar clarification: God of War 3, MAG before March 2010
Had your hopes up that God of War III and Zipper Interactive's "massive action game," MAG, would be all up in your PS3 before January 1, Ought-10 rolled around? Better let them down ... gently. Following two disparate announcements -- one saying both games (among others) would hit within calendar 2009; the other citing fiscal 2009 -- Sony has confirmed to Joystiq that the release window is, in fact, the latter: before March 1, 2010. Two other games listed in the original press release are pretty much locked for release within the year, though. Heavy Rain, Quantic Dreams' dreamy-looking adventure game, was confirmed for calendar '09 release last August. The Sucker Punch developed action-platformer, inFamous, is coming "this spring," according to a packaging insert going out with tomorrow's major release, Killzone 2.
Sony: God of War III, MAG coming within the year
A triumphant Sony press release which heralded next week's arrival of Killzone 2 and, effectively, the kick-off for its 2009 line-up, contained a tentative list of the games that will likely cause PS3 owners to foam at the mouth with anticipation over the coming months. The list contained two mammoths in particular -- according to Sony, both God of War III and Zipper Interactive's MAG: Massive Action Game will be among the "blockbuster exclusives" which will land on the console "throughout the year." The imminent launch window for the two titles (which were mentioned alongside inFamous, Heavy Rain, MLB 09: The Show and Uncharted 2: Among Thieves) is just a bit surprising -- though we suppose Sony's selective wording ("throughout the year") could mean that the listed titles will be dropping by this time in 2010. Still, barring any delays, 2009's shaping up to be a heck of a year for the enthusiastic supporters of Sony's monolithic home console.
NYCC 09: Infamous hands-on (PS3)
Click to embiggen. A huge shadow has been cast over Sony's upcoming Infamous -- and it's called Prototype. It's strange that two very similar games are coming out so close to each other. Both games involve learning superpowers in a post-apocalyptic, open-world environment, but Prototype seemingly has more hype due to the over-the-top nature of its presentation. In spite of their similarities, the two games play very differently. Whereas Prototype has an immediate hook, Infamous is a more meticulous affair, taking its time to draw the player into its world. Prototype is more of a beat-em-up, with easy lock-ons and quick melee combos. Infamous, on the other hand, plays a lot like a traditional third-person shooter, with the slow progression of a RPG. It may be a bit less flashy than its competitor, but it has the potential to be far more substantial and rewarding. %Gallery-44232%
inFamous update: three screenshots, dev walkthrough
Click for high-resolution image. SCEA just released three more screenshots of their PS3 exclusive, inFamous. Sony is starting to reveal more about the game, showcasing the various electric powers and moral choices that are present in the game. Sucker Punch did a presentation at CES this year, and GameTrailers has captured it on video for you to watch. Find out what the main character was before the events of inFamous and what he must fight in the upcoming game. Check it out, after the break. %Gallery-12672%
CES 2009: inFamous videos show off a lotta lightning
Straight outta CES, Sony's offering two videos of its open-world shock-em-up, inFamous. On display here: open-world gameplay, various lightning attacks, and some grating sound effects (bzzt bzzt bzzt!). What's really got us, though, is this: Sony first revealed Sucker Punch's inFamous in July 2007 at E3, just one month before Sierra (now Activision) took the wraps off of Radical's Prototype, an exceedingly similar concept. It's like when two movie studios, operating totally independently, plan big-budget movies about asteroids colliding with Earth. Just replace "asteroids" with "super-powered dudes" and replace "Earth" with "Empire City" and "New York City" respectively. Just like it.
A pair of inFamous videos
inFamous is a PS3-exclusive action title in which you're able to manipulate the powers of lightning for good ... or evil. The developers of Sly Cooper have shown a lot more footage at CES, and while it's intriguing, we're finding ourselves drawn to the over-the-top violence of the similarly-themed Prototype. Watch these videos and tell us which one you prefer.
inFamous more about quality than quantity, dev says
Typically, developers don't start apologizing for how short their games are until they're released. But Sucker Punch creative director Nate Fox is ahead of the curve, talking quality over quantity before inFamous even has a release date, citing games like God of War and GTA IV as titles that left people wanting more. "It seems to me that it's not about length, but about quality," Fox told Eurogamer. "And because I love both of those games, I hope that developers never try to shoot for a long game, but instead for the most fun they can pack onto the disc - at any length. That's what we're doing for inFamous." The way we see it, discussing the game's length this early could only mean one thing: inFamous will only be 27 minutes long, 30 if you get all the trophies. You heard it here first.
inFamous not about length, but quality and fun
In Eurogamer's chat room style interview with inFamous game director Nate Fox, he states his belief that Sucker Punch will win audiences over with their "commitment - stupid, unfailing commitment -- to iterating on the gameplay until it is wicked fun." Furthermore, Fox tells us the team is striving for not just length in the upcoming superhero sandbox title, "but instead opt for the most fun they can pack onto the disc." Fox goes on to talk about various mechanics in the game; game decisions related to morality, the way the protagonist Cole gained his powers in a tragic accident, his "hot" girlfriend and more. None of the information will be truly new if you've been following our coverage of the game, but he does promise Trophy support ("We'd be complete and total jackasses not to support Trophies") and hints at a demo ("You can expect to see some downloads from PSN closer to our release date"). Head over to Eurogamer for the entire interview.
TGS 08: InFamous eyes-on
It's been over two months since we last saw InFamous, but developer Sucker Punch took some time at TGS to show us how it's progressing. So how's it look? Pretty much the same as last time. The demonstration was set in a different part of the in-game city, but very little new gameplay was actually revealed. Sucker Punch's Ken Schramm guided us through a mission, titled "Blood Trail," while senior producer Grady Hunt talked us through what was going on. The level is fairly early in the game -- about five missions in -- and has protagonist Cole discovering a new power. "Post-Cognition" allows you to read people's memories; in this case, giving you a new objective. A dead woman's mind (do dead people still have minds?) reveals an "echo" of her running through the streets towards a Reaper hideout. %Gallery-34052%
Five minutes inSIDE inFAMOUS
The first PS3 title from Sly Cooper creator Sucker Punch was shown behind closed doors at E3, which is a shame. inFAMOUS looks great, leveraging its developer's talents in art design, animation, and platforming to create an electrifying open-world action experience. We've already reported on what we saw of this promising 2009 title; now it's your chance to get a five-minute guided tour of the game. There are no edits in this HD vid (courtesy of G4), so you get a feel for what it's like to have a developer walking you through its creation. Of course, this also means there's plenty of running around not doing much, since all the cool bits haven't been condensed into a trailer. The parts of this video that stand out most are the platforming (strong Assassin's Creed vibe there), a moment in combat when the player "restrains" a foe to the ground with electricity, and a very unique use of his powers – acting as a human defibrillator to jump-start the heart of a dying pedestrian. Click here to watch the full clip at G4. [Via PS3 Fanboy]
Five minutes of inFAMOUS
G4 has five minutes of direct-feed footage of the upcoming PS3 exclusive from Sucker Punch, inFAMOUS. Needless to say, it looks pretty exciting even in this early state. All footage was captured during E3 -- undoubtedly, it's shaping up even better now. Visit G4 to see inFAMOUS for a full five minutes in glorious HD.
Joystiq E3 eyes-on: inFamous
An explosion obliterates a six-block area of your city, killing everyone but you in the blast. During the following weeks and months, society breaks down. People take to the streets, comitting crimes and cultural suicide. The city is quarantined and abandoned. You wake up from a coma, the sole survivor of the original blast, with the power to control electricity at your finger tips. In the power vacuum of the city, you are able to make a difference, but will you be a benevolent savior or a malevolent power titan? This is the question you're asked when you load up inFamous. Sucker Punch delivered a behind closed doors gamplay demonstration of the game this year at E3, demonstrating the direction they're going in with the title. Gameplay during the presentation consisted of exploring a small part of the city, which felt very similar to Assassin's Creed. Cole is an urban explorer, a hobby he had since before the blast, so he has ability to climb around the city at ease. How convenient. Cole's more supernatural abilities are all related to electricity. Those demonstrated consisted of a thunderbolt zapping power and telekenesis (manipulation of electro-magnetic fields, apparently -- that's electricity related, right?) In order to remain powered up, you must continue to syphon energy from the city, drawing it out from electricity pylons and other sources. Sometimes the city will suffer from a blackout, leaving you without any way to refuel should you come across any particularly brutal enemies.
PS3 Fanboy eyes-on: inFamous
An explosion obliterates a six-block area of your city, killing everyone but you in the blast. During the following weeks and months, society breaks down. People take to the streets, comitting crimes and cultural suicide. The city is quarantined and abandoned. You wake up from a coma, the sole survivor of the original blast, with the power to control electricity at your finger tips. In the power vacuum of the city, you are able to make a difference, but will you be a benevolent savior or a malevolent power titan? This is the question you're asked when you load up inFamous. Sucker Punch delivered a behind closed doors gamplay demonstration of the game this year at E3, demonstrating the direction they're going in with the title. Gameplay during the presentation consisted of exploring a small part of the city, which felt very similar to Assassin's Creed. Cole is an urban explorer, a hobby he had since before the blast, so he has ability to climb around the city at ease. How convenient. Cole's more supernatural abilities are all related to electricity. Those demonstrated consisted of a thunderbolt zapping power and telekenesis (manipulation of electro-magnetic fields, apparently -- that's electricity related, right?) In order to remain powered up, you must continue to syphon energy from the city, drawing it out from electricity pylons and other sources. Sometimes the city will suffer from a blackout, leaving you without any way to refuel should you come across any particularly brutal enemies. %Gallery-12672%
Shockingly pretty: Direct-feed inFAMOUS trailer
Sony isn't letting anyone get their hands on it, but inFAMOUS, Sucker Punch's super-hero-or-is-it-villain action-platformer for PS3, is still making a stir at E3. We've gotten our eyeballs on it – now you can, too. The formal trailer shows off some very smooth platforming (something to be expected from the developer of Sly Cooper) as hero/anti-hero Cole scampers up walls and along rooftops. What's equally impressive is the apparently wide variety of ways he can use his electric powers to generally make a mess of the game world. As pointed out during Sony's E3 press conference, inFAMOUS is a 2009 title, so there's every possibility it will turn out even more drool-worthy than it looks now. Erm ... electricity and drool? Probably not the safest combination.
inFamous to get 'blockbuster multimillion dollar' support
Click for high-resolution image. inFamous is going to be the "next big thing," if Sony has their way. The upcoming 2009 PS3 exclusive from Sucker Punch is going to be getting a massive marketing treatment from SCEA, with a "blockbuster multimillion dollar marketing campaign" in the works. According to a SCEA press release, inFamous will be treated to "aggressive television, print, online and viral advertising campaigns, full promotional support, dedicated point-of-purchase displays and merchandising support." For an untested, new IP, Sony is daring to support the title as a true flagship title. Sony has become much more aggressive with marketing as of late, especially with the upcoming Resistance 2, which is also getting the same treatment. It'll be interesting to see the extent of this "blockbuster" marketing campaign, and how it will be able to shape the public opinion of such an ambitious (and cool-looking) game. %Gallery-12672%
inFAMOUS is looking infamously most wanted
Did you read about that awesome inFAMOUS trailer in our liveblog earlier today? If you did, we bet you'd really want to see it. Well guess what? Now you can. It's been conveniently embedded above for your viewing pleasure. The game is looking rather enticing with all those superhuman powers. Just as a reminder, the game is a PS3-exclusive and is currently set for a Spring 2009 release for both North America and Europe. Also, don't forget that we've got some more screens in our gallery below. So scan through them please. %Gallery-12672%
