Kicking off almost straight after the Nintendo conference - barely giving you time to absorb all the hardcore goodness from that show - was Sony's E3 effort.
Sony did manage not to leak everything - it had new motion controllers, Resident Evil on PSP and a fourteenth (!) Final Fantasy game up its sleeves, along with a nice look at some big titles like Uncharted 2, MGS: Peace Walker, Gran Turismo PSP and more. Here's everything that went down in one place:
Sony's intro video rolls. Jack Tretton, SCE CEO takes the stage. Jokes about the leaks. 364 games coming to PlayStation platforms this year.
"2009 will be our best year ever." Starts off talking PS2. Committed to PS2 for as long as consumers see value in it - won't kill it after 10 years. PS2 to get 100 new titles this year.
Talks PS3 sales, huge expansion in Latin America. PSN's doing well. It's all about games, says Tretton. inFamous one of 35 exclusive titles in 2009.
Even Wells, president of Naughty Dog enters to show off Uncharted 2. Games sets new levels of limit-pushing for PS3. Uncharted 2 multiplayer beta starts midnight tonight. Rolls gameplay demo.
Drake climbing through a rather spectacular-looking urban environment with female friend. Helicopters appear and shoot at them both as they scramble over rooftops. Wind blows trees, impressive damage to scenery, looks incredible. Falls into building, explosion busts hole in wall, Drake takes cover for gunfight with enemies as helicopter continues its assault. Pretty mental.
Gunfight moves to office room. Shoots more guards. Hole blows in wall. Whole building starts to collapse with you in it. Again, looks amazing. Demo ends. Says it'll be playable in the Sony booth.
Tretton's back. Exclusive on PlayStation means "only possible" on PlayStation. Talks about MAG - that 256-player shooter.
Producer enters to show off a live 256-player battle. Says everything about to happen is being done with real players around US. Enormous level - different squads with varying objectives.
Actually looks like a pretty slow-paced and strategical affair. Helicopters move in as players on the ground take out anti-air guns. Helis drop bombs to clear area and ground troops move in. MAG out this Fall.
Tretton's returns. Talking PSP - because smaller and lighter, and has added functionality over the years.
Sony to continue with new bundles: Hanna Montana bundle with Purple PSP. Pair with PSP is in a class of it's own, says Tretton. Introduces Kaz Hirai.
Hirai excited to be back on stage after sitting out last year, apparently. Sony asked gamers how to make PSP better - so he's about to pull out PSP Go, right? Yup, a white one, from his inside pocket. Seen it all before, Hirai. Soz. Hirai says he calls it "the worst-kept secret of E3", aka PSP Go.
Won't replace the PSP 3000. Is 50 percent smaller and 450 percent lighter. 16GB internal memory, download games and films, memory stick port - but you knew all that already, right?
Sony launching 'Media Go' PC app today, used to access PS Store direct from PC, transfer media to PSP more easily.
New app 'Sense Me' launching on PSP this autumn detects your musical tastes based on your music collection and suggests new songs to you.
Knows some people like to buy physical, discs and says all options will be available to gamers no matter their hardware choice. Doesn't explain how Go owners will play UMDs.
PSP Go to be $249 (249 Euros), releasing October 1 in US and Europe.
Video Store coming to PSP.
Kazunouri Yamauchi (Mr Gran Turismo) takes the stage. Announces Gran Turismo PSP. Holds up a PSP Go which is running the game. Says it's a "full scale" GT. 60 frames-per-second.
800 cars 35 tracks, 68 layout variations. Single player, time trials, mission challenge mode (like training). Re-assures it's not a shrunken down subset of the series. Added features for PSP - Ad-hoc mode for multiplayer. Trading of cars between players.
So many cars, difficult to get them all yourself, but car sharing makes that easier. Says it's an important part of GT PSP. Playable on the show floor. Runs a video. No in-game footage by the looks of it. Some real-time cutscene-like video. Looks decent.
GT PSP out on October 1 alongside PSP Go.
Hideo Kojima enters. Says after the revealing of PSP Go, PSP is "getting hotter". Annouces Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker - set in the 1970s. Is the "true sequel" of the MGS franchise. Main MGS4 team will help development - not a spin off or side story.
Will be a true MGS sequel with PSP elements. Rolls CGI trailer. In-game footage too - actually it looks very nice indeed. Snake tipsoes around mix of beach, jungle, dusty settings. Attaches chute to downed soldier, shoot up into the sky. Mutliple Snake's on screen - co-op gameplay? Comedy outro shows one Snake hide under box, joined by a second Snake, before both run off.
Tretton is back again. Starts talking about Resident Evil. Series has done 40 million sales on PlayStation since 1996 debut.
Resident Evil coming to PSP next year, designed specifically for the portable. No other details.
Rolls PSP software video. LittleBigPlanet, Jak and Daxter, MotorStorm, Final Fantasy, Soul Calibur, Fat Princess, Star Wars, NFL, Rock Band and others.
Tretton says PSN comes to E3 with momentum. 24 million registered users worldwide. 475 million downloads. 90 exclusive titles available. 50 PS1 classics coming this year. Final Fantasy VII today!
Home "growing by leaps and bounds". inFamous, Buzz and Socom content for Home, plus publishers EA, Activision, Eidos and others working on content. Rolls video. Nothing new in there.
Tretton says "2009 is all about content on PS3." Runs a PS3 software video. Uncharted 2, inFamous, NFL, Final Fantasy XIII, MAG, Batman (Joker gameplay), Colin McRae, Ghostbusters, Ninja Gaiden, SAW, Tekken, Tiger Woods, Rock Band, Heavy Rain, PixelJunk Shooter, Katamari, Fat Princess, Burn Zombie Burn, Fuel, LittleBigPlanet, BioShock 2, Jak and Daxter, Fight Night, God of War III and others.
Lost Planet 2 PS3 confirmed for early 2010. New property from Rockstar North - 'Agent'. Will take a player around the globe in espionage quest, set in 1970s. PS3 exclusive. Same must-have value as GTA, says Tretton.
Ubisoft enters to present Assassin's Creed 2. Focus on "diversity". More options, more ways to approach the game. Player wandering around firework party seen in already-released trailer. Climbs building to roof. Throws guy off roof as he hangs by his hands. Uses "flying machine" to glide through the air. Swoops down to kick enemies who try shooting at him. Looks amazing.
Only way to reach target is by flight. More assassination techniques. New AI type - the seeker. 30 new weapons, connectivity with PSP game, Bloodlines. Uses a new smoke bomb to evade enemies - jumps into water. "The game is massive in scope". Will be out this holiday alongside AC Bloodlines on PSP.
Hello again Tretton - shows new FFXIII video. More pretty movie sequences followed by in-game battles. Do want!
Final Fantasy XIV (14!) announced, out in 2010, PS3 exclusive. Eh? Movie sequences. Ah, it's called Final Fantasy XIV Online.
"So there's one that didn't leak out, huh?" jests Tretton. Starts talking about motion control. Sony "working to create an experiences closer to real life than ever before", says Tretton.
Sony engineers take the stage to show new PS3 motion tech. Prototype of new controller - buttons and internal motion sensors. Looks like stick with glowing sphere in top, which PS Eye can track. Shows tech demo, empty room with controller floating around with 1-to-1 tracking.
Video of player shown on screen, virtual bats placed into hands of the player on screen. Tracks fast movements pretty much instantaneously. Flashlight in player hands, a gun.
Great for casual gamers, but also good for core games - shows FPS style gameplay. Player moves around the room shooting objects on the floor. Uses two remotes at the same time to manipulate on screen blocks, demoing depth perception. Trigger on the controller is analogue. Uses it to spray paint on a wall.
Next demo shows demo of two controller gameplay controlling the sword and shield of an on-screen fighter, attacking a skeleton dummy. Throws ninja stars at approaching enemies. Nice archery mechanic - reach one remote behind back to get an arrow, then stretch back in archer stances to ready and shoot arrow. More "in the near future", says Sony man. Launch in Spring 2010.
Play, Create, Share not just a catchphrase for LBP - is a new genre only on PS3. New PS3 game from United Front Games: ModNation Racers. "Modern take on classic kart racing". Racers are blank canvases which you create yourself. Cars also user-created. Real time physics on everything. Weapons - rockets shown. Jumps throw karts up huge cliffs. Game made with a tool called Track Studio - shows how you can use the tool to create the same track in five minutes.
Create tool uses driving controls to map a track, completing a loop makes it playable. Pulls mountains out of the ground, changes road surface and makes lakes easily.
Tretton returns to reveal another new game from Team Ico - 'The Last Guardian' announced. Trailer rolls. Looks like the same trailer leaked a few weeks back - looks a bit more detailed. The giant beast is different, now has chicken-like legs, in case you're interested. Lighting and animation is incredible.
Finishes, before Tretton runs Gran Turismo 5 video. Official WRC (World Rally Championship) and Nascar logos appear. Pretty reply-style footage - can't tell if it's in-game or FMV.
God of War III devs enter to show off Kratos' latest. Demo shows of "energy and spirit" of his brutal nature. Title screen blends nicely straight into cutscene, then gameplay. Kratos commences enemy battering. Uses flame bow to roast foes, enters cave. Hooks onto flying creature and stabs it to death as it flies him to higher platform.
Back outside, giant lava boss appears. Kratos fights enemies as lava man shoots fireballs his way (you've seen this bit in screens). Enemies pile on top of him, Kratos busts free. Fights monkey-rat thingy, QTE-style finisher sees plenty of chest and face stabbing. Kratos rips off his horns, and stabs it through his head. March 2010 release.
Tretton: "Sony is extremely proud of its line-up this year". Show's over folks.
Shocker is not a good word for them to use. Not only is it attributed to a certain sexual practise, it is usually reserved for something of an upsetting nature...
And also a bad 80's horror film starring Mitch Pileggi of "Assistant Director Skinner off X-files" fame.
GoW 3 release Date, this year. Hardcore Heavy Rain action and release date. R* and Epic's Ip's Trico Price Cut (I know but it is the elephant in the room).
And of course a few choice surprises. Sly Cooper anyone?
Shocker is not a good word for them to use. Not only is it attributed to a certain sexual practise, it is usually reserved for something of an upsetting nature...
And also a bad 80's horror film starring Mitch Pileggi of "Assistant Director Skinner off X-files" fame.
Admittedly, I like Sony, but I'm no fanboy. Bar the obvious MGS, COD DLC and that motion detection thing, I fail to see why the MS Press conference was so good?
Don't get me wrong, it wasn't bad, but comon, it wasn't spectacular!
I'd love to see in game MAG and a couple of lovely surprises.
I get the feeling that Sony have paid a few people to sit in the front row and yell at everything.
Anyways, so far Sony aren't really holding attension. While Uncharted 2 looks great, MAG isn't my sort of of thing and the PSP Go doesn't bother me at all. Still, I'm hoping on Kingdom Hearts 3. And can someone please tell Jack Tretton to get his head out his back side.
hold on so ff 13 is multi plat and out this year? and ff 14 is exclusive to ps3 and is out next year, wot the hells the point in that? why make ff 13 exclusive then take it of them jus to give them another?
"Kazunouri Yamauchi (Mr Gran Turismo) takes the stage. Announces Gran Turismo PSP. Holds up a PSP Go which is running the game. Says it's a "full scale" GT. 60 frames-per-second. "
Wasnt this supposed to come out years ago? I'm sure they showed some GT PSP stuff before launching the original handheld. Thats the PSPs big game for this E3?
UK Resistance are gonna have a field day with this one...
I really hope Sony mention a price drop. If they can get the PS3 below Ł200 with a game then they can count me in. Thats still their biggest stumbling block. Still waiting on some new IP from this E3 though, some of that stuff was shown last year. (Same as MS)
My God is it ever going to END. this really is to long for what they have show so far.
I have to admit but it is also boring the hell out of me. There is nothing really new being shown. The best parts so far are a Wii Remote and Mario Kart rip offs.
this has been the best conference of all. started off with uncharted 2... then assassin's creed 2 and the car mod game. brilliant, especially the first 2 i mentioned.
Hoped they would have shown something of Agent, still time left during the week though. FF was looking good until they said online. Motion control started off bad but got better, though Natal has it beat IMO. Trico looks amazing, best graphics so far this gen! I'm not too sure about GT5 yet, didn't look in-game to me. GoW 3 looks very cool.
Whislt none of the 3 actually blew me away (though Natal was pretty close, I think?), what we do know is that we all have some great games to play this year and next.
New exciting IP's, sequels to well established franchises and loads of cool things to download and play .
Oh and God of War up against Alan Wake, wow and brilliant! My 2 most anticipated titles on each console coming out around the same time.
Damn, why am I the only person who feels a little let down! Yea there were some very nice looking games in there. It's just such a shame we have seen almost all of them before. Maybe I'm picking too much but I just wanted to see alot more new games (We have not yet seen).
An amazing showing across the board, exciting news for each of the big three this year. As the owner of a PS3 and PSP I'm especially excited about alot of Sony's software (although hardly even curious about this new motion sensor malarkey ).
Whislt none of the 3 actually blew me away (though Natal was pretty close, I think?), what we do know is that we all have some great games to play this year and next.
New exciting IP's, sequels to well established franchises and loads of cool things to download and play .
Oh and God of War up against Alan Wake, wow and brilliant! My 2 most anticipated titles on each console coming out around the same time.
Now to find the Time and Money .
I'd say Sony would've won it if they'd shown Agent, surely there has to be some decent footage by now. But I have to point out I'm taking out the PSP as I don't like handhelds, include that, and I'd say they won due to some quality PSP titles. I'd say a good showing from MS and Sony, Nintendo were ok.
Whislt none of the 3 actually blew me away (though Natal was pretty close, I think?), what we do know is that we all have some great games to play this year and next.
New exciting IP's, sequels to well established franchises and loads of cool things to download and play .
Oh and God of War up against Alan Wake, wow and brilliant! My 2 most anticipated titles on each console coming out around the same time.
Now to find the Time and Money .
I'd say Sony would've won it if they'd shown Agent, surely there has to be some decent footage by now. But I have to point out I'm taking out the PSP as I don't like handhelds, include that, and I'd say they won due to some quality PSP titles. I'd say a good showing from MS and Sony, Nintendo were ok.
Funny I would say Nintendo were the best! If only for the fact it may even get me to set the damn thing up again lol!............. Real games for the Wii atlast. :/
why all this motion control crap?ok let me be neutral now i see it as being more responsive than wii and the fact that you have physical media makes it more suitable to more game types (theoretically)than natal.however, having said that casual gaming is not my forte so i fear this may be my last console generation and i'll work,save up and get a decent gaming pc next gen.having said that sony killed it with their exclusives and i can't wait to hear more about heavy rain,the agency,dc universe online(i know i was skeptical at first but looks interesting).psp is finally getting love oh yes.ps3 is just going from strength to strength in terms of software gow 3 looks so good.enough sony salivation.us gamers on all platforms are in for a treat as the multiplatform games look tasty.e3 is back thank god for that.
A new Jak & Daxter, finally, also when FF VII comes out on the store is it going to be available for the PS3 or will it be for PSP only?, or will it even be made available in europe for that matter?.
If you have to look at E3 like a fanboy competition, (and it isn't, by the way) then you have least have to be half objective about the whole thing.
Sony had some stunning new gameplay footage from their heavy hitters that were shown as pre-rendered footage at last year's E3, a massive portable showing with new PSP model, an underwhelming Wiimote me-too and a LOGO for a new Rockstar game. And the PS2.
Nintendo had new versions of the usual suspects, another stupid useless peripheral, and a new Metroid game made by Team Ninja.
Microsoft had some stunning new gameplay footage from their heavy hitters, THE FRIKKIN' BEATLES , Steven Spielberg, the control system from Minority Report, (that escaped E3 and made non-gaming news services around the world) Sky TV, an early iteration of the AI that will surely destroy us all, the hottest social networking crazes of the moment (and Felicia Day), some Metal Gear Solid nonsense, and that sweet, sweet looking XBLA platform/shooter from Epic.
Clearly, if it's a competition, Nintendo won hands down.
If you have to look at E3 like a fanboy competition, (and it isn't, by the way) then you have least have to be half objective about the whole thing.
Sony had some stunning new gameplay footage from their heavy hitters that were shown as pre-rendered footage at last year's E3, a massive portable showing with new PSP model, an underwhelming Wiimote me-too and a LOGO for a new Rockstar game. And the PS2.
Nintendo had new versions of the usual suspects, another stupid useless peripheral, and a new Metroid game made by Team Ninja.
Microsoft had some stunning new gameplay footage from their heavy hitters, THE FRIKKIN' BEATLES , Steven Spielberg, the control system from Minority Report, (that escaped E3 and made non-gaming news services around the world) Sky TV, an early iteration of the AI that will surely destroy us all, the hottest social networking crazes of the moment (and Felicia Day), some Metal Gear Solid nonsense, and that sweet, sweet looking XBLA platform/shooter from Epic.
Clearly, if it's a competition, Nintendo won hands down.
It was a good E3 all round and I think owners of one platform can be happy about their lot. I would have liked a glimpse at the PS3 Slim, but they'll probably hold of on that closer to Xmas. And to think there's still more to come this week alone!
Very very happy with this years Sony E3! loved the offerings of the psp!The Agency I wanted to see alil more of, but that would be revealing too much I guess! GT5 finally with GTpsp! FF 13 and 14 looked sweet,expected to hear alil on Versus mind! GOD3, MAG, Uncharted 2, The Last Guardian, MW2 and AC2/AC Bloodline where pure quality!The Motion Control Stuff with the eye toy and sticks was brilliant also! Lost Planet 2 on ps3 will be cool! and there's so much more, Sony really kicked it this year, best hands down! awesome!
Well all of the big three had good showings this year not phenomenal but good enought to keep me happy untill they announce the next killer games. But 360 probably won it for me with the service expansions and the exclusives they have announced plus they kept ME2 as a console exclusive. That being said the other companies had some good portable announcements and PS3 did manage to get FFXIV exclusive and Ninty had lots of Mario this time.
Sony's E3 in my opinion- it was ok. Last Guardian looks awesome, Uncharted 2 looks great, possibly God of War 3... but the rest (especially the PSP) stuff- a bit, meh.
Whislt none of the 3 actually blew me away (though Natal was pretty close, I think?), what we do know is that we all have some great games to play this year and next.
New exciting IP's, sequels to well established franchises and loads of cool things to download and play .
Oh and God of War up against Alan Wake, wow and brilliant! My 2 most anticipated titles on each console coming out around the same time.
Now to find the Time and Money .
Exactly.
All 3 showed some very good games in development, Sony's only problem was that most of their announcements had already been leaked. Now just finding the cash to play all the good titles. coming.
Uncharted 2 looked far and away the best game at the show, in my humble opinion. In fact, it was the only game there that had the 'wow' factor. The video had everything; from a fantastic draw distance (which literally blew me away when Drake scanned the vista) to superb textures, no slowdown and it just felt alive. The way the potted plants swayed violently in the turbulance of the helicopters rotor blades was amazing.
Nothing came close and it comes out in October! Yipideedoodahday!
Oh, and GT5 slipping cheekily through with the official WRC and Nascar content, not to mention a brief glimpse of damage, topped things off nicely for me. Awesome.
I'd love to see something from 'The Agent' before E3 closes as that sounds awesome. Can't wait to see the afro's and flares! And no doubt we'll be getting down to some Jackson 5 and T-Rex. Cool. 70's R* stylee. Yes please.
Brilliant Sony show all round and not disappointed in the slightest. Hell, even the motion control that folk are already ripping apart looked like a cool extra.
Uncharted 2 looked far and away the best game at the show, in my humble opinion. In fact, it was the only game there that had the 'wow' factor. The video had everything; from a fantastic draw distance (which literally blew me away when Drake scanned the vista) to superb textures, no slowdown and it just felt alive. The way the potted plants swayed violently in the turbulance of the helicopters rotor blades was amazing.
Nothing came close and it comes out in October! Yipideedoodahday!
Oh, and GT5 slipping cheekily through with the official WRC and Nascar content, not to mention a brief glimpse of damage, topped things off nicely for me. Awesome.
I'd love to see something from 'The Agent' before E3 closes as that sounds awesome. Can't wait to see the afro's and flares! And no doubt we'll be getting down to some Jackson 5 and T-Rex. Cool. 70's R* stylee. Yes please.
Brilliant Sony show all round and not disappointed in the slightest. Hell, even the motion control that folk are already ripping apart looked like a cool extra.
As for PSP GT.... Ace.
The Uncharted 2 and GoW III footage was standout, mindblowing stuff.
I also forgot about that Gran Turismo 5 (finally) new trailer - AMAZING. They've combined WRC and NASCAR to create a racing game from the heavens + damage! It really is looking like the ultimate racing game no doubt
Lastly, showing a fully working 800-car GT5P running on PSP and announcing a MGS3 sequel is also heading for the miniture handheld...well, let's just say I'm getting one of those now.
why all this motion control crap?ok let me be neutral now i see it as being more responsive than wii and the fact that you have physical media makes it more suitable to more game types (theoretically)than natal.however, having said that casual gaming is not my forte so i fear this may be my last console generation and i'll work,save up and get a decent gaming pc next gen.having said that sony killed it with their exclusives and i can't wait to hear more about heavy rain,the agency,dc universe online(i know i was skeptical at first but looks interesting).psp is finally getting love oh yes.ps3 is just going from strength to strength in terms of software gow 3 looks so good.enough sony salivation.us gamers on all platforms are in for a treat as the multiplatform games look tasty.e3 is back thank god for that.
I don’t get all the motion fuss either, just cause Grandma plays the Wii, doesn’t mean we all want to join the novelty bandwagon. Even my better half, who knows nothing about games was watching the MS video on the news last night and questioned how responsive it would be for quick actions and said she understood how with a controller its all about quick reactions. I was quite amazed. I still see it as an add on and not the future though. Some people don’t want to dance round their lounge/Bedroom to play games, let alone have the space for it.
Its was a big old list from Sony and probably the biggest coup for me was the Rockstar north “Agent” exclusive. Just love to get some more details on it now. Not had chance to see all the new video’s, but there are a lot of good looking games coming, especially uncharted and Heavy rain.
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