The Tanooki » PlayStation 3

Day in the life of PAX

Pete Betcher — Sat, 03 Sep 2011 01:09:23 +0000

PAX is nothing like other game conventions. There are very few people in the Convention Center merely doing their job, very few frowns on the show floor, very few people closeted in the corner getting away from everyone, and very little whining about lines or swarms of people. I think its why I always pick PAX Prime as my show of choice. Not GDC with it’s professionalism, or e3 with its megaton potential, or even comic con for it’s over-the-top cosplay.

So I guess when I said PAX was nothing like other shows, I meant to say it is exactly like all of them, in one beautiful package. PAX lands smack dab in the middle, busting with cosplay, wall to wall with unreleased software, and laced with more developer commentary than you could stick a shake at. While we are on the topic, if anyone has an extra shake and needs somewhere to stick it, I’ll take vanilla please and aim for my mouth.

That being said, here’s why I’m here. I would like to present to you unbridled PAX emotion caught on film. I took a few hours to photograph unsuspecting gamers doing what they do best: Gaming.

Sony announces immediate price cut for PlayStation 3

Jason Leavey — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 23:41:37 +0000

Today at Gamescom, Sony surprised legions of German and non-German attendees by announcing a price cut for their PlayStation 3 console, effective immediately. The 160GB PS3 is now priced at a competitive $250, down from its previous $300 price tag. The 320GB PS3 will also drop $50, now coming in at $299.

Sony also announced a limited edition inFAMOUS 2 bundle, which includes a 320GB system, a copy of the game, plus a 30-day PlayStation Plus membership. The price? Still $299.

These prices are far, far away from the $600 price tag the initial 60GB model when the system launched almost five years ago. Got to love technology! Will you be picking one up?

PlayStation Blog

Valve interested in Wii U development

Holly Green — Sun, 26 Jun 2011 23:07:40 +0000

Valve bigwig Gabe Newell recently had some promising things to say about the possibility of a Valve game on Nintendo hardware:

“Wii U seems to be a lot more powerful than the previous generation…It sort of fits better into the scalability in terms of graphics performance and CPU performance, so I think it’ll be a lot easier for us to fit it into our scalability model.”

He goes on to add that they’ve “always loved Nintendo” but the performance gap between the Wii and the PC and HD consoles was simply too much of an issue. Now, “it’s a lot easier to look at Wii U and have it fit within that framework.”

Can you imagine a Valve game on a Nintendo console? That boggles my mind more than the knowledge that Zoey originally had a thing for Francis in Left 4 Dead. SERIOUSLY? Francis?!? We all know Louis was the hotpiece!

CVG

E3 2011: First impressions Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Holly Green — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 16:30:25 +0000

Welcome to Skyrim, or as I like to call it “future reason to upgrade my PC”. This stunning fifth entry in the Elder Scrolls series was by far my highlight of E3 2011, in fact, it was almost overwhelming. I say overwhelming because it’s difficult to both watch the screen, AND Tweet every play by play, on top of wondering just how offended the Bethesda peeps would be if I spent the demo shopping for my next graphics card on my smart phone.

But once you see the screen shots and trailer, you may understand my sense of urgency. With the all new Creation engine, created specifically for Skyrim, Elder Scrolls undoubtedly looks more breath taking than ever, with richer textures, improved shadows, and superior flora rendering. The menu system has also been overhauled; players who found the previous menu busy and ornate will enjoy the sleek and simplified design (for a good visual, check out the official site’s age gate). A interface with compass like points directs the user to the necessary menu areas on the left, right, or top of the screen, with gorgeous results when you press “up”:

Magic spells can now be wielded in either your left or right hand. You can choose to use a weapon in the remaining hand, or switch up combinations between the two as you see fit.

Skyrim, set 200 years after Oblivion, marks the revival of the ancient dragons of Elder Scrolls lore. The mythic beasts now play largely in the gameplay, descending on you or others at random. The main character can gain skills from slaying dragons, absorbing their power after battle and gaining “dragon shouts”, which can have powerful effects and aid in combat. The process of absorbing the dragon shouts, not shown in the trailer, is gorgeous; the Creation engine really shines when it comes to fire and weather effects. It has also significantly improved the facial structures of the NPCs; I can actually bear to look at Kajits (and everyone else, for that matter) now. The beauty of this game cannot be overstated.

In terms of potential hours invested, Skyrim is said to have up to 300 hours of total content, spanning over five cities and 150 dungeons. Better go invest in an I.V. and a bath chair (don’t Google that) now, you’re gonna need it come November 11, 2011 when Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim debuts on PC, Xbox 360, and Playstation 3.

GTA V rumored to be in development, on track for a 2012 release

Holly Green — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 21:01:37 +0000

While it was more or less predictable that GTA V is on the way, all the same, the confirmation is sweet. Sources tell Gamespot that Grand Theft Auto V is “well under way”, with a 2012 “pretty likely”. Recent casting calls indicate the game will take place in LA, making it likely that Grand Theft Auto is making a return to San Andreas (which is fine with me. The first thing I’m gonna do is bomb my way through to the Los Santos police station showers and see if there’s still a dildo). The game’s scale is also said to be vast, with the source adding “It’s the big one”. If San Andreas is in fact the setting, I wonder how the boasted size will affect the landscape we’ve come to know and love and commit virtual crime in.

Gamespot

New Silent Hill: Downpour screen shots trickle down from E3 2011

Holly Green — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 07:30:18 +0000

I got a chance to play Silent Hill: Downpour for about twenty minutes during my booth tour at Konami, and I have to say, I’m every bit as much looking forward to this as I was before E3 2011. Which is a lot. The balance of action and puzzle solving as you teeter on the fence between reality and hell is as engaging and dynamic as ever. The combat however, more emphasized in Downpour than in previous titles, will still make you want to scratch your own eyes out. Check out screen shots below.

E3 2011: First impressions Renegade Ops

Holly Green — Sat, 18 Jun 2011 20:38:17 +0000

Renegade Ops is definitely one of the games I’m most excited to check out post E3 2011. Think Zombie Driver: isometric view, 3D rendered, item pick-up based, only with vivid jungle environments and a military theme. Characters are played in-vehicle, each employed with a primary and secondary weapon. Each vehicle can have up to four upgrades, which you can mix and match for bonuses in particular skill sets (not unlike those in the Diablo II skill trees, if you’re familiar). Three difficulty modes allow the player to decide the level of depth they want to encounter in the game, from an easy button mashing misadventure, to a full challenge driven experience. Four person co-op, however, will be the lynchpin of this game’s appeal; knowing how to use each character in a team setting and plan vehicle bonuses accordingly is part of the strategic fun.

No word yet on how many levels or what price, both of those questions got me shut down in quick fashion during the Q&A session I had with the producers, but we do know it’s on the way for digital download on PC, PSN, and XBLA, this summer. Check out the screen shots of this compelling visual experience below.

E3 2011: Mass Effect 3 trailer and screen shots

Holly Green — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 07:25:24 +0000

As previously reported, one of the many rumors pre-E3 was a more confusing one, that of Mass Effect 3 and supposed Kinect compatibility. But it was undeniable, as a copy of the cover art, complete with the iconic purple Kinect bar, sat on their servers before this past week’s big event. With Microsoft’s major press conference we not only were able to confirm this news, but also learn a little more about what this Kinect compatibility would entail. The Kinect features as it turns out are more audio-oriented, with dialogue trees and squad positioning now voice controlled. So far this is the only Kinect control known to be in the game, though it’ll be interesting to see if anything has been incorporated into the revised combat system. Hard to say though, as they probably would have already revealed that at E3. Other features, as before, will include full IP continuity–characters killed previously will not be present, previous love interests will become entangled in a triangle–and an improved duck and cover system. We’ll see what that means later, I’m sure. Check out the theatrical trailers, “Invasion” (after the jump) and “Fall Of Earth” (above) from E3 2011, as well as some screen shots, below.

Mass Effect 3 debuts on PC, Xbox 360, and Playstation 3 on March 6, 2011.

E3 2011: Tomb Raider “Turning Point” trailer

Christian Ponte — Sun, 12 Jun 2011 00:18:28 +0000

I probably spent more time hovering around the Square Enix booth than I needed to, but hey… I do that every year. Part of their lineup that was keeping me around was the upcoming Tomb Raider reboot. You can view the E3 trailer above, before heading out to your local mall to pre-order the title. You know you’ll want to.

Sony E3 2011 presentation LIVE

Holly Green — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 00:15:28 +0000

Well folks, we Tanooki peeps have made our way to the big Sony E3 2011 press event, having already filled our bellies with only the finest mini corn dogs and Heineken (meaning, they were free) before the conference. Gotta say, for a mea culpa party, Sony sure knows what they were doing. Had I known the beer and food was free, I’d probably have stuffed eight mini hot dogs and four beers down my throat before even making it to the arena, but hey, the gesture is nice. At any rate, here we go with the Sony presentation, brought to you moment by moment LIVE.

5:22 PM: The press conference has started with an apology over the PSN issues, of course, both to consumers (“You are the lifeblood of our company”) and their partners. Also confirmed was that use of PSN is up to 90% of the numbers pre- breach. The games presented will be available on arcade machines to try out after the conference.

Talk has turned to Naughty Dog and Uncharted 3 Drake’s Deception. The demo starts out stormier than we’ve previously seen Nathan, abroad whatlooks like a wrecked ship in the middle of a typhoon. So far the much beloved combat and climbing systems are pretty much the same but the change in atmosphere is beautiful as always. The footage delved a little into the plot, that of the female protagonist Katherine challenging Nathan’s claim to a descendant of Francis Drake. Oh, and Elena is still around.

7:38 PM: Resistance 3 has taken stage, for which they’ve given us handy dandy 3D glasses. The effect is nice, but frankly I could give a shart less about 3D gaming. The visuals and action make it pretty appealing though. Resistance 3 Doomsday Edition has also been announced.

Kratos is going 3D in God of War Origins Collection, remastering the originals, and Ico and Shadow of the Colossus will be coming remastered in high definition.

7:44 PM: Details on the upcoming 3D bundle for Playstation 3 is revealed, which will include Resistance 3.

7:46 PM: Talk has switched to NBA 2K12. A new feature is NBA On The Move, allowing you to perform with your players via the Move. Kobe Bryant showed up to confirm the improved realism of the game with this new feature.

7:52 PM: Medieval Moves Deadmund’s Quest, another motion controlled combat game, is showcased. The art style is pretty uninspired, but their use of the Move to create open options for solving puzzles is kinda cool. Available Fall 2011.

More to come! The laptop died during the presentation but we have all the footage to review and will update with more details shortly.

Details on the newly confirmed Sonic Generations 3DS

Holly Green — Sat, 04 Jun 2011 15:54:56 +0000

The latest issue of Nintendo Power is all about Sonic this month, with a batch of new details on the now confirmed Sonic Generations, coming to Xbox 360, Playstation 3, and Nintendo 3DS. There were a number of new revelations specific to the 3DS version, which will have exclusive stages and boss stages, among them the Casino Night Zone from Sonic 2. The Green Hill Zone will be the only shared stage between the HD console and Nintendo 3DS versions. While the story between versions will have a few differences, generally they will be the same. The console version will predictably have more characters than the 3DS iteration, which will stick to only those integral to the story.

Of course, the Nintendo 3DS version will have exclusive StreetPass features, including unlockable challenges (which can also be opened through Play Coins).

Sonic Generations, celebrating Sonic’s 20th anniversary, debuts on Xbox 360, Playstation 3, and Nintendo 3DS in November 2011.

SonicStadium

Sony kicks off Welcome Back Program on PSN

Christian Ponte — Sat, 04 Jun 2011 01:00:31 +0000

Sony has finally launched its Welcome Back Program as a thanks to PSN users for their loyalty and patience during the lengthy outage. As long as you signed up before the outage began on April 20th, you’re eligible to download two games for each the PS3 and PSP.

Through July 3, PS3 owners have a buffet made up of Dead Nation, inFAMOUS, LittleBigPlanet, Super Stardust HD, and Wipeout HD + Fury. PSP owners can pick their pair of games from LittleBigPlanet, ModNation Racers, Pursuit Force, and Killzone Liberation. In addition, non-PlayStation Plus subscribers will get 30 days free of the Plus service, while existing subscribers have already had 60 free days added to their subscriptions.

There are a few more freebies for you, so hit the link below or check your email. Sony also notes that as the new program launches, you may encounter erros trying to access it. The solution? Keep trying or come back later.

PlayStation.Blog

Top Gun and Days of Thunder getting movie/game hybrid Blu-rays

Christian Ponte — Sat, 04 Jun 2011 00:00:36 +0000

Do you feel the need? The need for Tom Cruise?

Next week, hybrid Blu-ray releases of both the Top Gun and Days of Thunder movies and video games will be available in store. That’s right: a single Blu-ray disc for each release. Previously, the games were released as downloadable titles only, so this gives you a better reason to buy both games if you haven’t already.

505 Games is releasing both for $30 each on June 7th.

Amazon.com
via Joystiq

SoulCalibur V gets an official E3 trailer

Christian Ponte — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 23:00:30 +0000

Namco Bandai has released the official E3 trailer for SoulCalibur V, coming next year and set 17 years after IV. We get a decent look at Patroklos and Pyrrha — the son and daughter of Sophitia — among others.

Be sure to check back next week when we’re sure to have more information on the game from E3 itself!

SoulCalibur V

Rayman Origins new screens show off 2D renaissance

Christian Ponte — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 23:00:14 +0000

Mega Man. Super Mario. Sonic the Hedgehog. Everyone’s getting a back-to-roots revival these days, and Ubisoft’s Rayman isn’t getting left behind.

Rayman Origins, originally planned as an episodic, downloadable title, is getting a full retail release later this year. Fans of the original games’ 2D platformer gameplay will probably want to keep an eye on this new title. In it, Rayman, with the help of best friend Globox and the Teensies duo, must help to save the Glade of Dreams from the “nefurrious” Darktoons.

The four-player co-op seems to function much like that of New Super Mario Bros. Wii, so that should be a fun bonus on top of the 60 levels, 100 characters, and 12 environments that come with the game. You can read all the details and check out the gallery after the break!

UBISOFT GOES BACK TO ITS ROOTS WITH RAYMAN ORIGINS

Michel Ancel, celebrated creator of Rayman®, Beyond Good & Evil® and the Raving Rabbids® returns to his roots to bring us Rayman® Origins: a high-definition, 2D side-scrolling, platforming adventure in full 4-player co-op.

Play Rayman Origins and discover or rediscover the magical universe and legendary 2D gameplay that captured the hearts of millions of fans.

When the Glade of Dreams is overrun by “nefurrious” Darktoons, the Fairy Council hastily invokes Rayman to save the day; but the hero of light isn’t quite all there…To help him, Rayman teams up with his best friend, Globox, and two crafty wizards, the Teensies. Together, the world’s most hilarious team of heroes will need to restore peace to the Glade or watch as their beloved home vanishes like a bad dream…

Key Features

Rebirth of a Platforming Legend: It’s been 15 years since the first launch of Rayman. Rayman Origins brings back many of the classic characters, revived in their original 2D form, as well as a whole new world of characters and environments. Discover the roots of Rayman by collecting pieces of the Glade’s history, and assemble them to reveal the truth behind Rayman’s origins.

4-Player, Jump-In/Jump-Out, Co-op Gameplay: Play as Rayman in the solo campaign or have up to three friends jump in at any time to play as Globox or as one of the two Teensies. Players can leave at any time without affecting the others’ progression.

Unique Approach to 2D Art: A rich world with over 100 characters and 12 unique environments created by some of the VG’s most reputed artists and animators. This creative approach to 2D design will recapture the hearts of platformer fans and introduce a new generation to one of the industry’s best-loved characters in his original 2D form.

A Vast Playground: Rayman Origins includes over 60 levels of 2D platforming gameplay designed for all ages and playing styles. Unlock new abilities progressively and return to previous levels to discover new paths and secrets.

Variety of Gameplay: Rayman Origins is a platformer at its core, but it has elements of many game genres. Rayman, Globox and the Teensies gain unique abilities as they progress through the adventure, including swimming, diving and the sensational “HairlyCopter.” The game also features many elements of action, adventure and beat-’em-up gameplay.

Epic Boss Fights: A giant pink monster with hundreds of eyes… A possessed, mountainous golem… An evil daisy-cum-carnivorous plant… Rayman Origins will put players to the test with these and many more challenging boss battles!

A Handful of Highly Talented Artists and Engineers: Rayman Origins was developed by the UBIart team in Montpellier and is built on an open-source game engine—the UBIart Framework—designed by Michel Ancel to allow much smaller teams of artists and developers to produce incredibly high-quality graphics and gameplay quickly and efficiently. This garage-game approach has led to great strides in creativity and innovation.

Product Specifications:
Publisher: UBISOFT
Developer: UBIart Montpellier
Ship Date: Holiday 2011
Genre: Platformer, Action/Adventure
Platforms: PlayStation®3 system, Xbox 360®, Wii™
Rating: ESRB E

The Tanooki » PlayStation 3

Day in the life of PAX

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