THE ISLAND PACK

If you can see it; you can drive it!

There is a new island.If you know Paradise City, you'll be familiar with the huge, under construction suspension bridge that leads into the ocean to the East of Downtown Paradise. But the question we've been asked by so many fans is - what's on the other side of the bridge.All we can say right now, is it leads to an area that's still under construction but will be available in 2009.The island is roughly the size of Downtown Paradise, but features gameplay unlike any other area in the game. We're running with the mantra "if you can see it, you can drive it" to introduce a new level of freedom to Burnout Paradise, and the island also features some big air jumps - the largest on the game.We'll be back soon with some up-to-date images, but in the meantime, here are the screenshots we released way back in May 2008.

Ubisoft to merge Tom Clancy range into Super Game

Ubisoft has a pretty special Christmas line-up coming our way, with heavy hitters Far Cry 2, Prince of Persia, Shaun White’s Snowboarding and Tom Clancy’s EndWar all queuing up to demand your money. Representatives from each of the games have been Sydney-side this week to have a chat, a beer and to show off more of their respective products to the local journos. And boy did we make the most of it, unearthing some pretty awesome news.We ended up having a good chat with Vinh-Dieu Lam, the Lead AI Programmer for Tom Clancy’s EndWar, an ambitious title that goes for the risky double whammy of being both a new IP coming out at Christmas and a game trying to make an RTS work on consoles. Balls are stacked up on a mini-guillotine there’s no doubt, but don’t worry, the next generation of Ubisoft coders are far from an endangered species. EndWar is quite special, and has such sophisticated voice recognition software that it really does take the whole controller or keyboard & mouse debate out of the picture. We know, we’ve played a fair bit of it. But financial and critical success may be simply a bonus short-term benefit for Ubisoft with EndWar. It seems that the developer has greater long-term aspirations for the franchise than we had ever imagined. Indeed, chatting with Vinh, we got a much better understanding of how important EndWar really is to the whole Tom Clancy canon. As you may be aware, Tom Clancy has sold his name over to Ubisoft, who can now go about taking the established IP like Splinter Cell, Ghost Recon and Rainbow Six wherever they feel like, while introducing the likes of EndWar and fighter-jet simulation HAWX. But unlike the other four which focus on niche elements of combat, EndWar offers the complete war. The full picture. So here is the exciting news. The plan over at Ubisoft is to use EndWar to facilitate a future Tom Clancy MegaGame that allows each of the five titles to behave as one giant experience. We’ll get into the analysis shortly, but first we’ll give you a transcript of how the conversation went down…

Chris Stead: So how many tie-ins are there with the units and the vehicles of EndWar with the broader Tom Clancy universe? Vinh-Dieu Lam: There are minor tie-ins with this game, but after this [game] there will be a lot more tie-ins. Some of our airstrikes come from the HAWX list of fighter jets, some of the Ghost Recon units are in the game, like Scott Mitchell is the commanding officer of the American army, so there are a few tie-ins. It all acts as a basis for future tie-ins. Chris Stead: When you say future tie-ins, how far will you take it? Like, would we see a multiplayer game where someone is flying the jets using the HAWX mechanics, while someone else is controlling a squad on the ground Rainbow Six style? Vinh-Dieu Lam: Yeah, eventually. But in the next versions you’ll find, say, missions generated in the next Ghost Recon (presumably GRAW 3) affecting the world map in the next EndWar (presumably EndWar 2). So maybe in the next EndWar you will need to attack Paris but before you can it may generate some sort of Splinter Cell recon mission or a Ghost Recon mission or things like that. But that is the direction we are looking at. Chris Stead: Right, so for the next iteration of releases is it a case of the five games being separate, but you have to play one and complete something before you can activate a mission in the next one and then finish that to open the next one? Vinh-Dieu Lam: Yeah, yeah, yeah. So with EndWar, the meta-campaign side of it is a standalone server so you can feed things into this system so it can basically generate any sort of mission. So its missions generate for EndWar at the moment, but there is no reason why we cannot generate missions from the other franchises. This is where we are looking at tying together the different franchises. Chris Stead: That’s really cool. So that kind of makes EndWar quite key to it all because it is kind of the bigger, broader one - it’s the link between all the franchises. Vinh-Dieu Lam: Yeah. Plus also in terms of the timeframe it is the latest one as it is set in 2020, whereas GRAW is set in like 2014 and HAWX is just prior to EndWar. So everything up to this point leads up to the EndWar conflict.

Chris Stead: So the Tom Clancy games were always focused on this one big vision - the EndWar? Vinh-Dieu Lam: Yeah. This is where Tom Clancy is heading. Chris Stead: So looking at the whole every-game-type-in-one end goal, is that realistically something for this generation of gaming? Vinh-Dieu Lam: Well I think the next set of games will have a few more tie-ins and we’ll see how long it takes to evolve from there. Chris Stead: Rad. Rad indeed: we must admit we’d been wondering about the potential to merge the various perspectives of combat that the Tom Clancy range offers into one all encompassing experience but doubted that it could actually happen. Early days yet, but from what Vinh was saying that looks to be the plan. How could it work though? Clearly Ubisoft needs to keep each individual Tom Clancy franchise as a separate entity to ensure five separate revenue streams, yet Vinh talks about allowing one game to open up paths in another. Surely, coercing gamers into owning all five games isn’t the way to go either without getting some major backlash, tending to suggest that what is described above is more related to bonus missions or perhaps to facilitate branching narratives. Ultimately each game will need to stand on its own merits. Unless, that is, there is some sort of subscription service. Buy the one game and then pay to unlock the other experiences hidden within – probably alongside a huge download. It would be like the perfect match of DLC and MMO… well perfect from a revenue point-of-view anyway. Sony has already been testing the waters with this kind of business model with SingStar and Gran Turismo 5. The other possibility that comes to mind is tuning EndWar into an MMO outright - a persistent conflict where five different game experiences co-exist within the one, globe-spanning war. It would be combat gameplay like we have never enjoyed before with each class of character completely changing the gameplay. And the user could be restricted to only playing the game type that they have bought - as in if you own only Splinter Cell, then you can only do recon missions – to protect the revenue streams. It all sounds a little outlandish though given the current limitations in tech. That said, look how far we’ve come this millennium: perhaps sometime in the next decade consoles, technology and bandwidth may be capable of facilitating such mind-blowing action. Damn, what an awesome gaming future that would be! Sign this Tom Clancy fan up right now, where’s the beta?

Breaking Sony news

Most of the gameplayer staff are currently tied up at a Sony event and have sent back some important news via a series of smoke signals, Morse code and SMS. In regards to the upcoming Resistance 2 Sony had this information to divulge:
There will be a massive 60 map/mode combinations available for online play.
The game will offer 100 hours of cooperative play, separate to the single-player campaign.
The MyResistance website will be launching properly in two weeks. Sony has also announced that on the 23rd of October a PS3 and LittleBigPlanet bundle will go on sale. No word on a price point currently, but we’ll keep you updated when the info becomes available. We're not sure if this is an Australian specific bundle, but regardless, it's a brilliant marketing move by Sony because it will appeal to the masses seeking both a PS3 and the awesome LittleBigPlanet. We expect this bundle to sell extremely well.UPDATE:
We can now tell you the following information as well. Single-player will be 10-12 hours on normal difficulty.
Insomniac will definitely not be releasing any episodes as DLC like they did with Ratchet & Clank.
The co-op and single-player are different campaigns, but tell the same story from a different perspective (like Cyrsis and Crysis Warhead).
The updated MyResistance.net was modelled on Bungie.net.

Resistance 2 beta access codes going out now

Well, this is a pleasant surprise. After having just arrived home after a long-haul flight, what does this blogger happen to find inside his e-mail inbox? Resistance 2 beta access codes, that's what. Yes, it looks like the public beta is finally set up for business and at least is ready for download. Whether you've pre-order, signed up, or did something illegal to get into the beta, you'll find that your access codes are on the way at this very moment -- so keep checking those e-mails. The 2.2GB beta can be downloaded off the PS Store (do so by testing out that new "redeem codes" button next to "view downloads"). We haven't actually finished downloading it yet, so we're not sure if it's ready to play.

Resistance 2 Beta uploaded on PSN

MyResistance.net: "Well like i said in another topic...i got my code from PS...always that i enter it it says it is invalid...and a mod said that the code will work when the beta goes live...so i saw that in beta.myresistance.com was down for "login" i checked my code and...IT WORKED!!!! here is the proof: When i click in download it gives me a error code....so mods i have to wait until the beta is completely uploaded to download?Thnaks for any info...that means the beta will begin TOMMOROW!!"

New Burnout Island Location Revealed

We'll show more video on our upcoming new island location soon and start to reveal some of the special new gameplay we're working on just for that area.In the meantime, here's how it's coming on!

The island is scheduled for release as part of our Eastwood software update.Big thanks to John and the team for talking us through there. Look out for more soon.

We know everyone's keen to see more of the island coming in the Eastwood update, so here's a new shot:

Keep checking with us as we're going to be showing a lot more very soon.

A lot of forum chatter on this one!

It seems no-one believed we’d post this, but we’ll stand by what we said yesterday:We want to bring you the news from Criterion Games as it happens.We’re not wasting time on flashy edits, faked screenshots, or pre-rendered “game footage”.This is live and direct – the beginning of the transformation of Paradise.We’ll show you what we’re doing and we want to hear what you think.This video shows the continuation of the Dust Storm’s journey out of Paradise City and into the first of our new locations. You’ll see incomplete graphics, but you get the idea.

And here’s a brief aerial reveal...

We’re looking forward to revealing the unique gameplay that’ll be found here. Keep checking back to the site for more or look closely at the environment – the clues are right there!

SOCOM Confrontation update

We’ve noticed a couple of comments today on the blog from gamers who purchased SOCOM Confrontation; you’ve been asking “Where are the trophies?”
Well, I just wrapped up a conversation with the SOCOM team, where they’ve confirmed the fact that trophies *will* be coming, via a patch, within the next couple of weeks.
Stay tuned to SOCOM.com for the latest on SOCOM Confrontation.

Attention Canadian Gamers: Try Out PlayStation’s Top Holiday Titles This Weekend

It’s Fall, the leaves are changing, football is back on TV, and the air is getting crisp. That means it’s time for our annual exclusive Canadian preview event! We took over a very cool venue last week to give media and consumers a look at some great 2008 holiday titles for PlayStation Portable and PLAYSTATION 3.








Attendees were able to get hands-on time with Resistance 2, MotorStorm Pacific Rift,LittleBigPlanet and many more top SCE games. It was also the first Canadian showing of Resistance: Retribution and Killzone 2. A very special thank you to James Stevenson from Insomniac Games and my fellow SCEA PR counterpart (and blog poster) Brian Keltner for coming up to demo the Resistance titles.
We had great third party support as Ubisoft, EA, Activision, THQ, Bethesda, Namco Bandai, Sega and 2K Games attended. Some of the playable third party games included Guitar Hero IV: World Tour, 007: Quantum of Solace, Rock Band 2, Mirror’s Edge, Call of Duty 5: World at War, Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm, Sonic Unleashed, WWE Raw vs Smackdown 2009, Bioshock, Prince of Persia and Fallout 3.
The best part is, for those of you who couldn’t attend the event and will be in Greater Toronto Area October 17-19, we will also have a big presence at Best Buy’s Gaming Invasion 08. Gamers will have the opportunity once again to get hands-on time with all of our holiday titles before they hit stores





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Thanks to everyone who participated and we look forward to having you back next year. Now that the event is over, I’m really looking forward to playing all of these titles!!!

Rumor: Home Out November 19th?

Thanks to a tip from Tommy C., we might have found the release date of Home. Over at PC Authority, they have stated in a recent article, “Sony’s Home virtual world for the Playstation 3 will be released on November 19th”. This would make sense as it would go against Xbox 360’s new dashboard update. As soon as we get more details, we will bring it to you readers

Konami "looking into" MGS4 for Xbox 360

The saga of whether Metal Gear Solid 4 will forever remain a PS3 exclusive has been ongoing for some time now. It's been going on like this: "Yes it will no it won't or will it yes no yes no no one cares."
Now good old Konami has cranked up the rumour mill once again. Speaking to Japanese publication Morningstar (thanks Kotaku), PR type Yoshitaka Arai said the game could yet make it to Microsoft's console.
"The worldwide demand for an Xbox 360 version [of MGS4] is quite high, and it is something we are looking into," Arai stated.
But can it even be done? Unlikely, reckons series creator Hideo Kojima. Back in August he told Eurogamer, "Because MGS4 was optimised for the PS3 it is probably not possible."
That clears that one up then.

Resistance 2 public beta starting October 17th?

The public beta for Resistance 2 is due to kick off on October 17th according to Jersey-based etailer Play.com.
During an announcement revealing that customers who pre-order Insomniac’s upcoming FPS game from them will be guaranteed a place on the public beta, Play let slip that the beta will be available to download on PlayStation Network from next Friday. A closed beta for the game has already been running behind closed doors for numerous weeks.
So if you want a guaranteed place on the beta, go and pre-order the game from Play.com. It’s going to be good - we promise!
Resistance 2 launches exclusively on PS3 this November.

SOCOM Confrontation Marred by Missing Features

Like any good Sony PlayStation fanboy, you're well aware that SOCOM: Confrontation launched yesterday. This new addition to the SOCOM family was much anticipated and the hype was spurred on by a beta that allowed a large number of people to test out the game.Now that its out, some of the people that bought it are starting to notice that some of the features they thought, and in some cases told by devs, would be in the game are missing.The rub is many of these missing/nerfed items are not little things, they are essential features.

Here is what people are complaining about:

No following friends into games
Clan support screwed right now (calendar, tournaments)
Stat system only working sometimes
No PS3 trophies
Proximity chat also lets you hear enemies talking

Now to be fair, we haven't played the game yet but our list is current and was culled from several sources and people we know playing the game right now.

In the beta, Slant Six was pretty good about getting patches out the door but a lot people are asking why a "finished" game should need patches of features that should have clearly been added to the game. It's a fair question and unfortunately, the addition of hard drives to consoles is a blessing and a curse. Without the hd, consoles would be limited but the hd now allows companies to release almost-ready games and patch them when they are ready. Honestly, at this point it's almost as bad as PC game releases.

Day 1 patches, here we come.

Firmware Updates: PS3 (v2.50) / PSP (v5.00)

+ Posted by Eric Lempel // Director, PlayStation Network Operations

Hi everyone. We’ve been listening to all of your feedback about the PS3 and PSP, and with these next firmware updates (coming soon), we’ve added a number of new features and improved some existing functionality to make your PS3/PSP experience even better.

PSP (v5.00) update
Let’s start with the v5.00 update for PSP. In this version, you’ll notice the addition of the PlayStation Network icon on the XMB. You can now sign up for PlayStation Network, manage your account and access PlayStation Store directly from your PSP - meaning you can download games directly to your PSP while connected via Wi-Fi. Getting games, demos and trailers while on-the-go has never been easier! Check out the screen below.
The current PlayStation Store on the PC will be down in the interim as we take some time to revamp. Don’t worry, it will re-launch soon after we’ve made some tweaks. Please keep in mind, if you already have a PlayStation Network account, simply sign in on your PSP using your existing information. The same account and wallet can be used on PS3 and PSP. You will be able to check out the PlayStation Store on the PSP soon, as we’ll have a video demo featuring Grace Chen posted soon on the Blog.

Update v5.00 adds a sleep timer option that can be used while you are playing music on your PSP. In addition, we’ve added a full screen keyboard option for text entry and have redesigned the background of the XMB. You’ll be able to find all of the information on Firmware v5.00 here once it goes live.

PS3 (v2.50) update
Now on to the PS3 v2.50 update. The latest features/enhancements include:
Support for the PS3 Official Bluetooth Headset - we’ve told you about the upcoming Bluetooth Headset and SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Confrontation Bundle on the Blog. This latest firmware installment enables High-Quality (HQ) mode, which delivers clear and wide-band online voice chat. On top of that, an added on-screen indicator shows battery status, volume level and use of HQ mode.
PlayStation Trophies interface enhancements - I know that many of you are busy collecting trophies and raising your PlayStation Trophy level. This update makes sharing and comparing your trophies with your friends even easier. On 1st part of the profile page you’ll see a symbol under level that represents level and the actual percentage towards the next level along with the existing level meter. The level symbol carries over to the trophy comparison screen where you will now be able to see your level, your friend’s level and the percentage towards the next level for both users along with all of the game by game comparison information you see today.
Friend status – Offline friends on your Friends list will have information below their avatars that will indicate how long it has been since they were last online.
Video – This update adds the Scene Search feature similar to the feature on the PSP. Activating this feature while viewing a video on the PS3 will break the video up into scenes that you can quickly access by pressing the X button. You can break the videos into one, two or five minute intervals. In addition, you can now choose to have all of the videos under the video section of the XMB play in sequence. Go to Settings then Video Settings to turn this option on.
PlayStation Store – We’ve added a redeem codes option right on the store to make it easier to redeem your PlayStation Network Cards and promotion codes. In addition, PlayStation Network Sign Up and Account Management have been redesigned.
Power Save Settings – You can now set your PS3 and wireless controllers to turn off automatically after set periods of inactivity. Go to Settings then Power Save Settings to turn on these features.
Background Downloading - You now have the option to set the PS3 to turn off automatically after a background download or installation of content has completed. This option is available when you turn off the system from the button under [Users] while content is being downloaded or installed.
In-game Screenshots - this tool will allow everyone to capture, share and in other words, immortalize their favorite gameplay moments. This will be supported on a game by game basis. Please check back to find out which games will support this feature.
In addition to all of the features above there are some additional features and enhancements included in 2.50. Once the update launches, you can read all of the details here.

The support for the Bluetooth Headset will be of particular interest to all of you SOCOM fans. With the “Proximity Chat” feature, SOCOM: Confrontation gameplay is intensified as it allows you to experience high-quality voice playback in full surround sound. Whether the action is near or far, Proximity Chat clearly matches distance to sound effects and voiceovers within the game, putting you in the heart of the action.

Enjoy and please share your thoughts with us.

Alone in the Dark: Inferno Details

One of this year's most innovative videogames will get a blazing rework for its PLAYSTATION3 computer entertainment system debut this November as ATARI ignites Alone in the Dark: Inferno. Development studio Eden Games has responded to the feedback of media and gamers and has turned up the heat to deliver an even more entertaining, immersive and action-packed blockbuster experience for PLAYSTATION3. The hosts of sizzling gameplay enhancements, red-hot content and the hellish storyline have inspired the name Alone in the Dark: Inferno for the ultimate Alone in the Dark experience on PLAYSTATION3 system...




Read Full Story >>

Halo 3 expansion named, Tekken 6 coming to 360, more

Yesterday, Microsoft grabbed the chance to host a press conference at Tokyo Game Show 2008 to talk about all things Xbox 360, and though TGS is an event targeted toward the Asian game crowd, there was plenty of news that will be music to everybody’s ears.
First in the line of big announcements was the news that Star Ocean: The Last Hope will be hitting store shelves in Japan on February 19, 2009 and North America on March 3, 2009, with European and Asian versions to follow later on. After a brand new trailer of Resident Evil 5 was shown, Microsoft VP John Schappert announced that Feel Plus and Q Entertainment are working on Ninety-Nine Nights 2, the sequel to 2006’s Xbox 360 exclusive action game, Ninety-Nine Nights. No further details were given

Next, Microsoft revealed that it has managed to secure another once-Sony exclusive franchise, announcing that the much-anticipated Tekken 6 will be releasing on the Xbox 360 alongside the PS3 in Fall 2009. Great news for fighting fans indeed!

Going hand in hand with the recent rumours, Microsoft announced that the New Xbox Experience will be made available for download on November 19. Check out some new screenshots of the new look below
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Moving on, Microsoft even took some time to show off the latest games in the Halo franchise, including the recently unveiled Halo 3 expansion. Halo Wars’ lead story writer Graeme Devine first demonstrated a new build of the highly-anticipated real-time strategy game, followed by the reveal of a new (non-playable) race found in the game – The Flood. Then, the second part of the Halo 3 expansion trailer was shown. Scheduled for release at retail stores in Fall 2009, Halo 3: Recon (the game’s real title) will add new campaign missions to Halo 3, the story of which precedes the events that unfold in the last game in the trilogy and does not feature Master Chief, but a new hero altogether.
Main game features:
All-new campaign content. The “Halo 3: Recon” campaign is an intriguing side story that takes place during the terrifying events leading up to the Master Chief’s return to New Mombasa in “Halo 3.” Experience the fate of Earth from the brand-new perspective of a special forces ODST (Orbital Drop Shock Trooper), adding a unique outlook and new gameplay elements to the events that unfold in the trilogy’s finale. While the feel of this new chapter will greatly resemble that of previous “Halo” experiences, “Halo 3: Recon” will require players to employ more elements of stealth and cunning than ever before.
A new hero: Prepare to drop. Known for their courage, valor and, at times, insanity, ODSTs are among the fiercest UNSC soldiers, priding themselves on being the first unit deployed into hostile situations. While not as large or supernaturally gifted as their Spartan comrades, these “Hell Jumpers” more than compensate with their ferocious attitudes and unwavering nerve.
Expanded multiplayer collection. No “Halo” experience would be complete without groundbreaking multiplayer content,* and “Halo 3: Recon” gives fans more of what they love. With exclusive new maps and full Forge options, players will find more multiplayer content than ever before with “Halo 3: Recon.”
Ever-growing community options. Players will continue to enjoy all the great “Halo 3″ technological innovations, including Saved Films, screenshots, Campaign Scoring and four-player co-op. All of the new multiplayer maps fully support the Forge editor, offering endless gameplay customization possibilities for fans.

Last but not least, a bunch of new Arcade games were announced:


“ARKANOIDTM Live!” (TAITO). First appearing in the 1980s as a block-breaking game, the next evolution will now be available on Xbox LIVE Arcade. Gamers can enjoy “Arkanoid” in high -definition with beautifully choreographed background movies and background music. “Arkanoid” is loaded with 120 stages and colourful cooperative and versus modes.
“The King of Fighters ’98 Ultimate Match” (SNK PLAYMORE). The original “dream match” comes to Xbox LIVE Arcade with new features, characters and game modes. Gamers can face their favourite “The King of Fighters” characters to determine the ultimate champion.
“Metal Slug 7” (SNK PLAYMORE). Gamers can join Marco, Tarma, Eri, Fiolina, Clark and Ralph as they prepare to take on Modern’s Forces across seven new missions. “Metal Slug 7” will also feature new weapons, colossal new bosses, new gameplay modes, and new Slugs to pilot.
“R-Type Dimensions™” (Microsoft). “R-Type Dimensions” combines the genre-defining coin-op classics “R-Type” and “R-Type II,” with a twist. For the first time ever, “R-Type Dimensions” allows multiplayer co-op play locally or over Xbox LIVE for up to two players. Gamers fight through all 14 Bydo-infested stages in the original 2-D or all-new 3-D graphics, and can swap between the two seamlessly.
“SPACE INVADERS EXTREME™” (TAITO). Gamers can experience “Space Invaders” in fully immersive sound and vivid high definition on the next-generation system, with visuals that will excite their senses.

TGS 08: First Details on Halo 3: Recon Emerge

Standalone expansion to Halo 3 includes Forge and co-op, plus a need for stealth

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By now, you've no doubt seen the full debut trailer for Halo 3: Recon. In it, we see a new hero -- an ODST Marine -- the Covenant, and the Superintendent. We were left to guess at the details, but Microsoft has gone ahead and filled us in on some of the particulars we've been wondering about.
Unlike we were assuming, Recon will be a standalone, disc-based expansion to Halo 3. The story predates Halo 3 and the Master Chief's return to Earth. We're also told that the game will feel very similar to existing Halo titles, but will "require players to employ more elements of stealth and cunning than ever before."
Multiplayer will support four-player online co-op (is this perhaps the squad element we've heard about in the past?), new maps, and "full" Forge options. It's unclear if that means Recon will support all of the Forge functionality from Halo 3 or if Bungie will be implementing new features like the ones we were hoping for back in August. We'll be keeping a close eye out for new details, should any emerge. 1UP is in Japan all week giving you the best coverage of one of the biggest gaming conventions in the world -- the Tokyo Game Show. Be sure to check out our TGS hub page for all the latest news, previews, videos, and everything else from across the ocean.

Resistance: Retribution & Resistance 2 Interoperability and Then Some

Hi everyone, my name is John Garvin, co-director of SCEA’s Bend Studio, and I wanted to give everyone a quick update on Resistance: Retribution. Chris Reese (my co-director at the studio) and I are in Tokyo this week presenting Resistance: Retribution at TGS. After our game was revealed at E3 in July, we got a lot of questions about connectivity between Resistance: Retribution an Resistance 2 on the PS3. We’re pretty excited to announce that yes, we will be providing additional game play and features if you connect R:R to R2! Here’s how it works
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Connect R:R to R2 using a USB cable. Go into the R2 options screen, and select “Infect your PSP!” That’s all it takes.
Infected mode lasts until you power down your PSP. So, what is “Infected mode ?

Infected mode provides an alternate story within our alternate history. While in prison for desertion, Grayson is recruited by Specter Lieutenant David LaSalle (from the R2 storyline) and is infected with a mutated version of the Chimeran virus … a different version of the virus that infects Nathan Hale.
While playing in “infected” mode, Grayson wears a Specter uniform and has glowing Chimeran eyes. He gets to use one of the new weapons from R2: the HE .44 Magnum, which fires explosive rounds that can be triggered remotely. He has regenerative health and no longer needs to look for health packs. He can breathe underwater, allowing him to reach hidden areas that he could not reach before. And we’ve added another whole class of Intel that are hidden throughout the levels. Collecting all of the “infected” intel will unlock another R2 weapon, the Plasma Grenades.
Another cool feature we’re including is something we call PSP Plus !

Activated from the R2 options screen, PSP Plus! allows you to play Resistance: Retribution using your Dualshock 3 wireless controller. We remove aim assist and increase the challenge level of the game. We even support the vibration function of the controller. If you’re playing at home and want to experience Resistance: Retribution in an all new way, this is it.
That’s it for this update. In the near future we’ll have some news on our multiplayer game. Stay tuned.

Resistance 2 beta to start next week?

Dpad’s reporting that Play’s sent out emails to Resistance 2 pre-orderers saying the game’s beta’s to go live next Friday.
No confirmation yet, but we’ll know soon enough from the sound of it.

Qore Episode 5 Hits PSN Thursday

Hey everyone, my name is Kevin Furuichi and I’m the new Executive Producer here at the PlayStation Network. The Qore team’s put together a spook-tacular, monster-themed Halloween Special for Episode 05 available in the PlayStation Store on Thursday, October 9, here’s a preview.




Fallout 3
Nuclear winter in Washington, D.C. and mutated humans and beasts are really not so happy about the way things turned out. Do you dare leave the bunker and confront their radiation-amplified personality issues?

Resident Evil 5
The series that invented the term “Survival Horror” is back and better than ever on PlayStation 3 - just don’t call them “zombies” – they HATE that!

Dead Space
Talk about creepy. Our “trio of terror” is complete with a game that’s banned in China, Germany, Japan. When you see the gameplay, words really fail to describe… well, actually, how about “Strategic Dismemberment.” Also included is an exclusive graphic novel!

Shaun White Snowboarding
Well, it’s not exactly spooky, but Olympic Champion Shaun White is a monster on any mountain. Veronica meets “The Flying Tomato” in Park City, Utah for a personal tour of his new game.

New Downloadable Content:
Included in this episode is exclusive access to SEGA’s Valkyria Chronicles demo. Qore Episode 05 also contains three different shooting galleries. Clear the galleries to reveal a horrifying bonus video segment.

Finally, check out the “What’s Hot” section for Audrey Cleo’s roundup of the top Blu-ray releases in October.

USA Today Has the Last of the LittleBigPlanet Beta Keys

Those of you who missed out on a chance to snatch a beta key from us last week, this one’s for you! If you’re still itching to get into the awesomely fun LittleBigPlanet beta, head over to USA Today Online, which is offering up the last of the available beta keys (15,000 to be exact - sounds like how many e-mails we got last time!). Just click the purple button that reads, “Do you want to test drive the game?”
While you’re there, check out the great LittleBigPlanet story that ran in yesterday’s newspaper. Lots of good info and interesting quotes from the good folks at Media Molecule. Good luck, and see you - and your creations - online!

End War VIP beta demo starts…now

Ubisoft UK has announced that the Tom Clancy’s EndWar VIP beta demo is scheduled to start today on Xbox 360. Now, even.
If you’re not sure what to do and how, through the link there’s a handy FAQ that explains everything. So have a look.

NYKO Media Hub+

Have you purchased a 40GB PLAYSTATION 3? If so, this might be a little something you might consider purchasing for yourselves. As you know, your PLAYSTATION 3 doesn’t have a multimedia card reader, and has only 2 USB ports, rather than the 60GB and some 80GB predecessors. NYKO, however, has a solution. It’s called the NYKO Media Hub+, and it retails for $19.99.

It is made to fit the PLAYSTATION 3 , and attaches to one of the USB ports. It only uses 1 USB port, however, once plugged in, it acts as a hub for 3 more USB ports. In addition, the Media Hub+ supports SD and Memory Sticks.

Resistance 2 Trophies Discovered

Only a few days after the insanity of October has passed, Resistance 2 will hit store shelves. It seems as if most every PlayStation 3 owner out there is eagerly anticipating its November 4 release, and given this year's addition of Trophies to the PS3, a bunch of you are suddenly very achievement-driven.
Receiving Trophies is a good thing, of course, but we've found that certain titles so far have extraordinarily difficult requirements for snagging the Silver and Gold rewards (Wipeout HD, anyone?). The Platinum is typically the same - get all other Trophies - but developers are starting to get very inventive with Trophy ideas in general. It seems the full list of Resistance 2 Trophies has been revealed, and it consists of 27 Bronze, 8 Silver, 4 Gold, and yes, the 1 Platinum, which is going to take some serious time and skill and receive. Some of the more unique ones are "They Go 'Boom'" (Get 30 Kills with the Magnum secondary fire), "Spitting Lead" (Kill 50 enemies using the Wraith with the force barrier engaged), and "Mind Your Surroundings" (Get 50 indirect kills using explosive objects in levels). Then you've got the online Trophies that'll probably take a while, like the Gold "Killing Machine" (Score 10,000 kills in ranked matches in Online Competitive Multiplayer) and the Silver "Specter Officer" (Reach max level (35) with one class in the Cooperative Campaign).
Okay, so now that you've seen them, are you gonna try and snag 'em all? Are you only targeting the realistic ones? Or is it simply not high on your priority list, and whichever ones you end up getting is fine by you? We're probably of the latter mindset, but it may have something to do with the absurd amount of games coming out.

MotorStorm Monday: The Vehicles … All of Them

There is something deeply satisfying about a vehicle designed and built to be driven off-road. Call me weird, but forget Ferraris, Porsches and such - give me an old Land Rover (not your modern shiny SUV, I mean your old series 3 boneshakers with leaf springs and bench seats, preferably covered in dirt, and a healthy dose of rust) then you’ve got me all tingly. Space frames, roll cages, fat tires, the fuel economy of a battleship and not a curve in sight are where it’s at, and hopefully you’ll see my peculiar brand of automotive perversion throughout MotorStorm: Pacific Rift

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You probably think I’m weird, and you’re probably right.

But it’s great to create a game where the brutal beauty of off-road racing machines is shown in all its diversity. A game where is not just all about how fast your motor is, or how much bling you can stick on it, it’s about driver skill, it’s about ruggedness of the vehicles and it’s about the variety of situations these machines have to deal with.

And it’s also about pitting a variety of these machines against each other. From the very start of the first MotorStorm game we knew we wanted to build something where a bike can share a race track with trucks, ATVs and big rigs. MotorStorm is like some latter day automotive cola advert, we’re a model of diversity and harmony, with all shapes, sizes, colour, ability and looks (scratch that analogy, you never see ugly folk in a cola advert). Pacific Rift has all kinds of vehicles, which ultimately boils down to eight distinct vehicle classes.

Cue obligatory shopping list -

The Bike - It’s my personal favorite. Yes you die a lot, it comes with the territory because you’re the most fragile thing on the track. But its maneuverable, hair-raising and loads of fun to drive.

The ATV - Sure footed and sturdier than the bike, the ATV is one of those marmite (A British, yeast based spread, either the food of the gods, or Satan’s toe jam, depending upon your point of view. Common British parlance for something you will either love or hate. IMHO the pinnacle of 10,000 years of human civilization) vehicles, you’ll either love it, or think it’s like a bike, but not as much fun

The Buggy - I like the buggy in Pacific Rift. The handling model for the one in the first game just wasn’t quite right, but we’ve gone back to the drawing board and completely re-worked it. Agile, and rear-wheel driver, means there’s lots of oversteer to be had. Its also really stable in the air; when describing how it should behave to the designers I wanted it to be cat-like in its in air stability, and I think they’ve done a real good job.

The Racing Truck - This is the vehicle class you want to start with. Its fast enough, its tough enough and its sure footed enough. Steady and reliable, and slap -in-the-middle across all the traits.

The Rally Car - Acceleration akin to a fighter jet makes it awesome off the line, but it’s a thoroughbred and as such you’ve got to nurse the Rally Car through the technical and rough bits, as it’s basically a road car with better suspension. If you try and do anything too rugged with it, you’re going to get screwed. Always look for the flattest, smoothest line. However, if you’re a MotorStorm: Monument Valley connoisseur then don’t expect the rally car to be the all-conquering online car of choice this time around - the tracks are much more cunningly balanced this time around.

The Mudplugger - the forgotten son of MotorStorm: Monument Valley, the Mudplugger has had something of a facelift and a handling makeover ensures it not just a slower racing truck this time around. This is especially true as its major trait, the ability to cross any kind of terrain without blinking an eye, is more relevant this time around with our increased track diversity.

The Big Rig - The immovable object of MotorStorm. The Big Rig is great for bullying, and has a really good top sped, just try not to slow down as its acceleration is more supertanker than supercar.

Monster Truck - We’ve shouted a lot about the Monster Truck in the early press, and we think it’s a fantastic addition to the lineup. We wanted something to sit at the top of the MotorStorm food chain, something that the other vehicles (with the exception of the Big Rig) are afraid of. I’m pretty sure that not many of you have driven a real monster truck, so we’ve taken a few liberties with the handling model, creating something that feels like a monster truck ought to be, rather what they actually are. You see in real life these are fragile machines.
Yes, they can crush cars, prance around arenas and get rednecks all exited, but they’re not exactly robust, or maneuverable or particularly good at keeping up with the likes of a rally car. The Monster Trucks in MotorStorm are fast, angry, practically indestructible, and above all, loads of fun

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And ultimately that’s what it’s all about: fun. It’s a game. If you stop and think ‘That’s stupid, no one would ever do that on a bike/truck/etc.’ Then you’re missing the point, loosen up a little.

Gran Turismo 5 Prologue Update Available Now! And Includes NEW CARS

Hello Blog Readers and GT Fans! I enthusiastically return to the blog with very good news. Hitting on our promise to continue to evolve the GT series, a new update for Gran Turismo 5 Prologue is NOW available. This update adds three new vehicles to the game’s line-up, plus a number of gameplay and performance enhancements we think you’ll be excited about. Here we go…
New VehiclesAll three vehicles and manufacturers have special ties to Gran Turismo developer Polyphony Digital. They will be added to their respective Dealership areas in GT5 Prologue.
GT by Citreon - The “GT by Citroen” concept car is the result of a groundbreaking collaboration between French automaker Citroen and Polyphony Digital. The formal debut of the vehicle took place yesterday at the Paris Motor Show, coinciding with the release of today’s update to the game. A video of the “GT by Citroen” can be viewed in HD within Gran Turismo TV Check out the screenshots below and for photos, follow this link




The two other new cars are the Ferrari California and the Lotus Evora. They are a lot of fun to drive. For a look at these sexy vehicles, check out the images below.

The GT by Citroen is available for 1 Million credits; the Ferrari California will go for 300,000 credits the Lotus Evora for 100,000. Piece of cake, right?!?
GamePlay EnhancementsWe’ve also added some great new gameplay enhancements to continue to improve the racing experience in GT5 Prologue. This includes changes to the penalty system; specifically, during Time Trial events, speed penalties have been removed, and instead incurring such a penalty now invalidates the lap time for that particular lap. Race events are also being updated, with tweaked difficulty levels and increased earnings for winning a top spot. Additionally, improved responsiveness when using the wireless controller, and improved sound volume balance for sound effects and music for a better racing experience. Drift Trial races have also been changed to feature a rolling start.
Disclaimer Note Here: Rankings, arcade time trial times, drift trial records, as well as vehicle-specific quick tune settings and custom key layouts will all be reset with the new update. Replay data created before the second update will no longer be viewable after this update. To confirm the version you have before updating the game, check the in-game manual.

Direct-feed Gears 2 footage shows start of gameplay

There are a couple of Gears of War 2 videos after the break that show sections of the first two chapters from the game. It’s direct-feed stuff and taken straight from play. Don’t watch if you want to stay pure, obviously.

Ubi pushes back EndWar’s VIP multiplayer demo

Ubisoft just sent out an email to those eligible for the EndWar multiplayer demo, saying the test was supposed to be starting today but has been dropped back a week. Here’s the message in full:
Thank you for registering for the EndWar VIP Demo. We are excited to give you this pre-launch exclusive access to the game. The VIP Demo was originally scheduled to start today, but we will be changing the start date to October 7 in order to ensure you have the best experience possible.
We appreciate your patience and watch for your token to arrive on October 7.
Many thanks, Gekidami!

New MGS4 Maps Coming Soon

US, October 1, 2008 - There's a new Metal Gear Online expansion on the way, and it's set to debut at next week's Tokyo Game Show. Famitsu got an early look.Titled Metal Gear Online Meme Expansion, this second expansion for the online counterpart to Metal Gear Solid 4 will add three new stages to the game: Silo Sunset, Forest Firefight, and Winter Warehouse. New characters for the update include Liquid Ocelot and Mei Ling.Pricing and release information for the expansion was, sadly, not provided by the magazine, but it did confirm that TGS attendees will get a chance at directly sampling the new elements.

Rumor Busted: Open Home Beta Not Coming With Update 2.5

Last month, PlayStation Home Community Manager "TedtheDog" made some statements in the U.S Home Beta forums that got everyone talking. It started when someone asked about a particular bug found during testing, and he replied that firmware update 2.5 would fix the bug.
It's what he said after this that got the rumors started. He said that update 2.5 would arrive this month ("later October is my guess," he stated), and at about the same time, Home version 1.0 would also become available. The media put two and two together and came up with the theory that the long-awaited open Home beta would launch along with update 2.5 and version 1.0 (kinda makes sense), but now, Ted has clarified the situation. He went on the official European PlayStation Home forums and said- "Open beta will be later this year after 2.5 is released. Sorry about that, I should know better than to say anything that could be misconstrued like that on such an important subject." Eh, it's probably our fault, Ted. Whenever we hear anything that can be interpreted as good news in regards to Home, we get a little antsy. Sometimes, we just want to make something out of nothing...we journalists are guilty of that from time to time.
Anyway, Home is still scheduled to come to your PS3 later this fall, and probably just in time for the holiday rush. As soon as we can pin down an actual release date, we'll be sure to let you know.

Resistance 2 Beta Public Beta Sign-Up

Everyone is rushing to score a key for the LittleBigPlanet beta but if you didn't get in, you may want to try something easier: simply sign up for the Resistance 2 beta, which should begin next week.

If you pre-ordered the massively anticipated FPS from GameStop, you're already in the beta test, as you should've received your code from the retailer. If you pre-ordered online, it came via e-mail; if you pre-ordered in the store, they simply handed you a card with the code on the back. When you have this, you head on over to http://register.myresistance.net/, input your key code and PSN information, and you're good to go. However, if you haven't done this, there's an even simpler method: simply visit the public beta sign-up page and make your presence known! If you're a member of the PlayStation Underground, you should've received an e-mail yesterday, alerting you to the existence of this site. It was up for a little while before, then taken down again (presumably to keep the number of participants from skyrocketing). But it's available now, so sign up while you still have a chance.

Resistance 2 is going to be one of the most gargantuan releases of the year, so why kill yourselves trying to locate a code for the LittleBigPlanet beta? If you're in both, bully for you, but if not, relax and sign up for the R2 test. It's just so easy

PlayOn Beta Unlocks Netflix, Hulu, and More For Xbox 360, PS3

Watch CBS, YouTube, ESPN and other online streaming video sites through your console.

1UP Boards has pointed our way to the PlayOn Beta, a new service available for the Xbox 360 and PS3. PlayOn allows Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 owners to watch Internet content from Netflix, Hulu, CBS, YouTube, ESPN and other video streaming sites on their television.
PlayOn is accepting applications for beta testers, so if you're interested, check out the PlayOn page at the MediaMall site. The full version of PlayOn is due out soon and MediaMall expects to support the Wii by the end of 2008.
I've actually been following this service for a while now. Being able to watch all my Netflix on my big screen TV in HD has a lot of appeal. If the full version of MediaMall can beat out the New Xbox Experience update in bringing Netflix support to the 360 (not to mention the other home consoles to boot), they could really gain a lot of popularity

See the Official PlayStation Bluetooth Headset

Hey PlayStation fans! Thanks for your enthusiastic response on our first blog post on the advanced features of the official Bluetooth Headset for the PS3. We have put together a feature video for the Headset and wanted to post it here so that you can see it firsthand.
As you may already know, this headset will be available with the SOCOM: Confrontation bundle ($59.99 MSRP) on Oct 14th and as a stand-alone peripheral ($49.99 MSRP) shortly thereafter.

Sony Plans To Turn Closed LBP Beta Into Open Demo

Everyone is going absolutely nuts over the LittleBigPlanet beta, as multiple gaming sites all over the Internet are giving away thousands of access codes. But you may not have to get lucky if you wish to play the game before its October 21 release date...
According to reliable inside information delivered by a reader, it seems Sony plans to open up the beta testing during the final week to give everyone a shot at it. Essentially, they produce the closed beta to generate hype and interest, and then open it up to the public in the form of a playable demo a week before the game launches. The tipster in question posted the following in the Blu-Ray.com forums-
"If you don't get in, don't worry. They are supposed to be opening up the public beta for the final week. Last I heard they were still planning on doing so, this closed beta is just there to generate a bit (a lot) of hype for the game before it releases. Basically they are talking about turning the limited time closed beta into a demo for the week before launch. It is easier to do this than to release a demo."
This info evidently comes straight from SCEE, and if that's true, there's no denying its validity. The concept makes perfect sense to us, too, so we're going to say we're about 95% certain this rumor will be proven correct very soon. For now, we have to say its unconfirmed, but we're definitely leaning towards "truth" rather than bogus. Thanks to our loyal reader for letting us in on the details; we agreed to keep this quiet for a while to keep the beta hype high, but now that hype is un-killable. So we figure it's safe to tell ya about this now.

Grand Theft Auto IV trophy list revealed

Grand Theft Auto is one of the latest games to support the trophy system. The game will be getting patched soon to include over 50 unlockable trophies - all of which match the Xbox 360 achievement list. However, is it likely that you will need to play the entire game again in order to unlock these shiny rewards, as we speculate that trophies will not be retroactive. An official announcement regarding retroactive trophies has not been made yet so keep an eye out for that. See below for the complete trophy list.
Trophies:
Off The Boat (Bronze Trophy) You have completed the first mission.
One Hundred And Eighty (Bronze Trophy) You scored 180 with 3 darts.
Pool Shark (Bronze Trophy) You beat a friend at pool.
King of QUB3D (Bronze Trophy) You beat the high score in QUB3D.
Finish Him (Bronze Trophy) You completed 10 melee counters in 4 minutes.
Genetically Superior (Bronze Trophy) You came first in 20 singleplayer street races.
Wheelie Rider (Bronze Trophy) You completed a 500 foot wheelie on a motorbike.
Gobble Gobble (Bronze Trophy) You got a turkey in 10-pin bowling.
Rolled Over (Bronze Trophy) You managed 5 car rolls in a row from one crash.
Walk Free (Bronze Trophy) You successfully lost a 4 star wanted rating.
Courier Service (Bronze Trophy) You completed all 10 package delivery jobs.
Chain Reaction (Bronze Trophy) You exploded 10 vehicles in 10 seconds.
Order Fulfilled (Bronze Trophy) You completed all 10 Exotic Export orders.
Manhunt (Bronze Trophy) You completed the most wanted side mission.
Cleaned The Mean Streets (Bronze Trophy) You caught 20 criminals through the police computer.
It'll Cost Ya (Bronze Trophy) You made a taxi trip from one island to another without skipping.
Sightseer (Bronze Trophy) You have taken all variations of the helicopter tours of Liberty City.
Warm Coffee (Bronze Trophy) You were invited into your girlfriend's house.
Half Million (Bronze Trophy) You have amassed a fortune of $500,000.
Full Exploration (Bronze Trophy) You unlocked all the islands.
You Got The Message (Bronze Trophy) You delivered all 30 cars ordered through text message.
Assassin's Greed (Bronze Trophy) You completed all 9 assassin missions.
Under The Radar (Bronze Trophy) You flew under all the main bridges in the game.
Teamplayer (Bronze Trophy) You killed 5 opposing team members.
Cut Your Teeth (Bronze Trophy) You were successfully promoted up a rank in multiplayer.
Join The Midnight Club (Bronze Trophy) You won a multiplayer race without damaging your vehicle too much.
Fly The Co-op (Bronze Trophy) You completed "Deal Breaker", "Hangman's NOOSE" and "Bomb da Base II" in time.
Taking It For The Team (Bronze Trophy) You were on the winning team in all multiplayer team games.
Top Of The Food Chain (Bronze Trophy) You successfully killed 20 players with a pistol in a deathmatch.
Top The Midnight Club (Bronze Trophy) You won 20 different multiplayer standard races.
Auf Wiedersehen Petrovic (Bronze Trophy) You won in all variations of multiplayer games.
Let Sleeping Rockstars Lie (Bronze Trophy) You killed a Rockstar in multiplayer.
One Man Army (Silver Trophy) You survived a 6 star wanted level for a full 5 minutes.
Dare Devil (Silver Trophy) You completed all the unique stunt jumps.
Endangered Species (Silver Trophy) You collected every hidden package in the game.
Liberty City (5) (Silver Trophy) Your friends all like you above 90 .
Liberty City Minute (Gold Trophy) You finished the story in less than 30 hours.
Key To The City (Gold Trophy) You completed GTA IV to 100 .
Wanted (Gold Trophy) You achieved the highest personal rank possible in multiplayer.
Secret Trophies:
Driving Mr. Bellic (Bronze Trophy) You unlocked the special ability of Roman's taxi.
Retail Therapy (Bronze Trophy) You unlocked the special ability of buying guns from Little Jacob.
Lowest Point (Bronze Trophy) You completed the mission "Roman's Sorrow".
Fed The Fish (Bronze Trophy) You completed the mission "Uncle Vlad".
That's How We Roll! (Bronze Trophy) You unlocked the special ability of Brucie's helicopter ride.
Impossible Trinity (Bronze Trophy) You completed the mission "Museum Piece".
Dial B For Bomb (Bronze Trophy) You unlocked the special ability of Packie's car bomb placement.
Gracefully Taken (Bronze Trophy) You completed the mission "I'll Take Her".
No More Strangers (Bronze Trophy) You've met all the random characters.
That Special Someone (Bronze Trophy) You completed the mission "That Special Someone".
You Won! (Bronze Trophy) You have completed the story.
Taking A Liberty (Bronze Trophy) Sorry for taking liberties with your time.