"We're going to keep going and going."

When it comes to off-road racing, nobody does it better than the MotorStorm team, Evolution Studios. eu.playstation.com stepped inside its halls to see what it’s like to live with the brainchild of brutal off-road racing.

Dirt sprays, engines roar. The race is on and it's already claimed a couple of victims in its rage as a bike is rammed into a tree, sending its driver flying, which in turn forces an ATV into a sudden veering lurch to try and avoid the sprawling ex-biker. Not to spare the poor guy - it's just far easier to swerve from the racing line and let some other vehicle suffer the melee than deal with the slowing impact of a body on the windscreen. Ladies and gentlemen - welcome to the world of MotorStorm.

And yet... you wouldn't think this all came from a demure studio set in the rather quiet industrial town of Runcorn, in the North of England. In fact, you could almost be fooled into thinking you've accidently come to the home of some unassuming puzzle title instead of the birthplace of brutal off-road racing. That is, until you step inside...

The Evolution of MotorStorm

There's an excitable atmosphere in Evolution Studios. The modest, if surprisingly spacey office space crackles with energy and enthusiasm. The team working on MotorStorm: Pacific Rift consists of around 100 people, with three quarters of them being coders and artists, joining the remaining number of designers and support staff spread across the campus. And despite having a throng of visitors all eager to take a look at the progress of the anticipated sequel, there are smiles all round to accompany the genial feel, before a swift presentation kicks the day into gear.

MotorStorm: Pacific Rift opens with a beautiful vista shot of the island it's set on, showing you a serene and tranquil side that contrasts to the bass heavy mayhem that's soon to follow. Sure, the game's extravagant setting may be based on one of the most gorgeous islands on Earth - Hawaii - but no one is here for pretty cocktails and idle sun worship.

"We've kept all the elements from the first game and made it even more brutal, more aggressive," starts Paul Hollywood, Art Director for Evolution. "But this is not just MotorStorm in the jungle. It's MotorStorm on top of the world. It's MotorStorm on the edge of a volcano. And that's the main difference between the first game and this one - the environment. The environment is there to challenge you as well as the AI. It's all part of the rich tapestry of brutal off-road racing."

Monster (truck) expectations

In a room housing a massive High Definition TV and projector, the ever energetic Hollywood lets the game do some of the talking for him as it explodes into life. Even at only 60% complete, Pacific Rift is already looking utterly stunning, as sun reflects off pools of water, multiple vehicles violently bounce and scrape off each other, grass, vines and vegetation flex, break and flap in the fracas... and it all's so smooth you'd think the final code was already done and dusted.

Nigel Kershaw, the company's Game Director, is on hand to show some of Pacific Rift's flash and flare, picking up a Wireless Controller and performing a number of fancy manoeuvres in the game: ramming other racers, bunny-hopping his ATV, ducking the driver down to avoid dangerous branches and making extravagant hand gestures to anyone he overtakes in the playground of driving and destruction. None of which helps him when he gets a little overzealous in his attacks on a biker only to find himself flattened by the game's newest addition to the vehicle roster, a giant monster truck.

Undeterred, Kershaw gets his driver back into the race, deciding to crash straight through a massive wooden tower that turns into a splinter shower. Smiling, he pauses the game and goes into Photo Mode, saving his deliberate carnage. "Any moment can be captured in this mode, recorded and saved on to the PLAYSTATION 3's home menu... and then shared with others," says Kershaw.

Burning rubber

It's already apparent from both Kershaw and Hollywood - not to mention the display of industry awards won by MotorStorm - that there's a lot of pride put into Pacific Rift, equally expressed by the various development rooms which are a hub of activity. Walls are covered with artwork of vehicles and characters created for the game, which show off the increased emphasis on them this time around with more variety, selection and personalisation for players. In fact, each part of the studio has its own feel - one room's window looked out into what could have passed as the Island's jungle area, whereas another was markedly different... which is appropriate given the wide types of environment in Pacific Rift you'll be encountering.

"We try and capture the full range of experiences on the island," says Mark Radcliff, World Lead Developer. "There are lava pools on the top areas of the track, and all the fumes and sulphur in the air kills a lot of the vegetation. So we have this blend between life and lifelessness. The lava also heats up your vehicle's boost ability. The heavier vehicles are more robust and less prone to overheating and exploding, but the lighter vehicles have to be very wary about the boosts they can take."

All of these different surfaces, dirt, lava, grass, gravel and more create different handling aspects on each vehicle, adding to the numerous unpredictable elements of the game. The team goes through the painstaking test of each object in the environment for how it interacts with the vehicles (even the grass has various reactions to your machine depending on how you hit it), the way the AI reacts to your racing and creating multiple routes for each course based how much destruction you cause on each lap - bigger vehicles can plough right through some things, opening up new parts of the track to drive into, but should lighter ones try they may find themselves a little less successful.

MotorStorm goes to Hollywood

"Teamwork makes the dream work" beams a poster stuck on one of the walls where various coders and designers map out the game's look. It's a motto that seems to be prevalent in Evolution Studios, as Hollywood is more than happy to express. "We're very, very passionate about what we do. The passion comes from an excitement of working on games, but also that desire to be the best. Not only be the best in comparison to what's out there in the market, but be the best/better than our last game.

"Of course [there are disagreements] - there are always... creative discussions..." smiles Hollywood. "Nigel [Kershaw] and I, we have what we call friendly tension where we look at things in different ways but we're after the same goal, which is a quality product. It's very difficult to please everybody all the time, and we have such a cross section of people at work here, we believe if everybody is generally happy with the product that should ripple out to the community."

Lively and talkative, Hollywood is very much the epitome of the MotorStorm and Evolution Studios ethos. He's not afraid to express his enthusiasm and love for games, something which hasn't waned over an excess of 17 years in the industry as a founding member of studio. His message to what he wants players to experience in Pacific Rift is clear. "It's about putting a smile on players' faces. We want to entertain them and challenge them, so they want to keep coming back, they want to better themselves, they want to beat the AI racers, they want to keep playing it and improving. These are the core values we want to get through to the player."

The best Gag of all

Around Evolution Studios, personality is constantly apparent. Whether it's from the bubbly sparks of Kershaw, Hollywood and the team members, or the various aspects of Pacific Rift - the game is a shining mirror of the studio's effervescent character, and the Gag system, used in the first game, returns as a welcome example of this.

The system is a way of making the AI opponents appear more human, creating a number of behaviour patterns that switch and adjust as the race goes on. For example, a blocking Gag will make a racer hell-bent on obstructing you, an aggression one makes drivers much more hostile in their driving style, and so on. The Gag system is even smart enough to decide when AI wants to interact with obstacles and objects, just to make your (and others') race harder by smashing through things and creating a mess.

One Gag the team is particularly fond of is very comedy driven. "If one of the AI vehicles is performing particularly badly and racing from the back of the pack, they'll sometimes be taken out of the race and crash somewhere," explains Mike Humphrey, Designer. "When the player drives back around they can see the crashed vehicle along with the driver stumbling around outside of it." And the team already knows what you're going to ask next - yes, even outside of their cars these poor drivers have their own collision detection. Ouch.

Driving ambition

There are tons of nice little touches in MotorStorm: Pacific Rift that will be evident when you get to play it: the use of motion control to balance certain vehicles when it's teetering on two wheels, the ability to put up to ten AI vehicles in your offline split-screen race (for up to four players), custom soundtracks and more.

However, the principle thing Evolution Studios wants is that you enjoy the game as much as they enjoy working on it. Hollywood wants that same energy that comes out when he speaks, to come through Pacific Rift. "I'm lucky to work with some of the most talented, intellectual, gifted, developers in the world. And we're quite a close knit family, and we're really enthused about what we do.

"When you play any good game, it's the input the developers put into it, the sweat the tears, the tantrums, the laughter... a good game is one that's been loved from the start and I think you can feel that with MotorStorm," says Hollywood. "And hopefully you'll see that even more with Pacific Rift because obviously we've enjoyed the success of MotorStorm, but that drove us on to be even better, and now we have competition with people who are trying to match us with what we're doing now, which pushes us on even further.

"We're not going to stop, we're not going to slow down... we're going to keep going and going."

SCORE International Baja 1000 Announced
Twenty-nine stunning MotorStorm Pacific Rift images

LittleBigPlanet tutorial level video and information

ConfusedCartman over at LittleBigPlanet Central got some decent game time in (1.5 hours split up into five 15-20 minute intervals) with the upcoming PS3 exclusive over at Comic Con. There's a whole heap of information on LittleBigPlanet: character customization (Tron suits, Killzone helmets, stickers and magic wands!), the level editor (menu setup, vehicles, event triggers and how to set things on fire!), emoting (SIXAXIS controls your head and hips, leading to hula dancing!) and a level called the Construction Yard ("I stood on the sponge with a friend while another guy dragged it across, and right before we got there I slapped my friend off so I could have the stuff to myself."). ConfusedCartman even filmed a part of the tutorial level for us, after the jump. Or check out the entire article here.

Watch LittleBigPlanet’s Sackboy battle a boss
Diablo III Official at Blizzard World Wide International
DC Universe Online Making Of Trailer
Video tutorial teaches you how to play Warhawk

Video tutorial teaches you how to play Warhawk

With Warhawk now available for $30 at retail and on PSN, there's bound to be a slew of new players entering the game. Thankfully, Brady Games and the PlayStation.Blog have teamed up to create this beginner's tutorial video, showcasing all the tricks and tips any n00b will need to know. This video will help players get a grasp on flying, and will give a few hints on how to survive on the incredibly competitive Warhawk battlegrounds. Perhaps these tips will come in handy if you're trying to unlock all of Warhawk's Trophies ... whenever they come.

Mega Man 9 first footage
Design your own Warhawk insignia
Diablo III Official at Blizzard World Wide International

Tune in to GT-TV

It was announced at E3 that from August 1, Gran Turismo 5 Prologue owners can download a host of new motoring programmes on GT-TV.

BBC's Top Gear is among the new content, as is drift series D1 Grand Prix, Super GT, Video Option and Best Motoring from Japan.

Also coming to GT-TV, exclusive content from Polyphony Digital includes a documentary on development of the Nissan GT-R - a cutting edge supercar that the Gran Turismo developer helped design - and a behind the scenes look at Ferrari, featuring Kazunori Yamauchi.

Look out for more great motoring content on GT-TV in the coming months.

Gran Turismo series reaches 50 million milestone
Documentary on Wireless Philadelphia Released

Mirror's Edge Comic-Con exclusive comic book scans

Unless you are in San Diego, you are not at Comic-Con. Therefore, you are missing the exclusive prequel comic toMirror's Edge that we mentioned last week . Luckily for us, Siliconera was kind enough to scan seven pages of the mini comic book for everyone's enjoyment. The pages highlight Faith, who is the main character of the game. It also goes into more details about her occupation as a runner and what the game title's namesake refers to. Take a look here.


Mirror’s Edge Comic Book Announced
Mirror’s Edge getting tie-in comic, first issue out now at Comic Con
DC Universe Online walkthrough straight from Comic Con

Soulcalibur IV hands-on: The first few hours

So, it's finally here. The definitive weapons-based fighter is back and we've been lucky enough to get an early taste of all the steel-clashing action. We've been practicing our combat skills over the weekend and have sunk a good amount of time into the PS3 version. So, want to know what our first few hours were like? Want to know answers to those questions burning in the back of your mind, like: Is the install worth it? What's up with rumble? If you're planning to pick up Soulcalibur IV tomorrow, you'll want to read on.

Gallery: Soulcalibur IV

First up, let's discuss the install. The most important piece of information is that it is completely optional. There's no need to install, but it certainly doesn't hurt to go ahead and do it anyway -- it's only 2.6GB and will only take about 10 minutes of your time. You can install/uninstall from the options menu. The most noticeable area that benefits from the install is the load time for loading the fighting stage. Without it, you'll have to wait roughly 30 seconds on average for the stage to load up; with it, you save some time as it only takes less than 10 seconds for a stage to load. Another area is in character creation mode where character models will take several seconds to load without the install; they will load almost instantaneously with the install.

Now, let's talk about rumble. Yes, there is no rumble in the PS3 version, but this exclusion isn't really detrimental to the gameplay experience. The lack of rumble is hardly noticeable; we've been enjoying the game for several hours before we even found out that the controller wasn't rumbling. We were too busy checking out the new combat elements such as destructible equipment and critical finish.

Speaking of which, equipment and weapons can give bonuses to a character in story mode and in special versus battles. Targeting an area (high, mid, low) may cause a piece of armor to break making the character lose their bonus. The effects of equipment destruction, while tactical, also has a nice visual appearance. You can see some pieces literally break off and even remain on the fighting stage floor. The fighting overall is just fast and fluid and plays a lot like Soulcalibur II.

Character creation is a pretty meaty section. You have up to 50 slots for created characters or modifications of current characters (meaning canon characters with special weapons and equipment). Character creation is a good mode, but we do have a slight problem with it. The menus are a tad cumbersome as you'll have to go shuffle through several before getting to where you need to go.

Online multiplayer is a standard affair. There are ranked and unranked matches. An interesting bit is that you can host unranked matches with up to four players. This means that only two players fight at a time, while the others watch and wait their turn; it' not two-on-two battles. There is a lag at times; of course it depends on who you're playing against. You'll see a signal strength bar on various screens letting you know who has the best connectivity, so you could most likely avoid that problem if you pick and choose your opponent.

So what about Vader? He's pretty good, although he is pretty slow. The Apprentice, however, is wickedly fast. Vader is available right from the get go, and you'll need to unlock The Apprentice by using Vader in Arcade mode. The five anime-designed characters are unlocked by defeating them in Story mode. We're just laying out that information in case anyone wants some help completing their character collection -- you can collect them all in a day, really.

On a minor note, the game has already been patched (v1.01). It's a small install at 16MB. Anyway, that's it for now. We're still going to try out some of the other areas. If you've got any questions, just leave us a comment and we'll try to answer it.


Debian GNU/Linux 4.0r4
Soulcalibur IV Limited Edition Fighting Stick available for pre-order

Games journalists work from Home

The Events Space within PlayStation Home opened its doors to the press for the first time on July 17.

Gaming press from around the world attended a Q & A session with a difference on July 17; selected journalists were invited to log into PlayStation Home, where their avatars were given a guided tour of the brand new Events Space and the opportunity to interview developers from Insomniac Games and Sucker Punch Productions.

The invitation-only event lasted around an hour, in which time attendees were able to explore the space, try out its new mini-games and watch E3 videos; probe the developers behind Resistance 2, Ratchet & Clank: Quest for Booty and inFamous; and chat with each other about the games industry in general.

European Home service manager Dan Hill declared the event a success, adding: "The Events Space is a great way for us to interact with both media and the PlayStation community, and this is just the first of a number of events that we'll be hosting over the coming months."

Sony unveils the ‘Media and Events’ Home venue
Christian Game Developers Conference
Develop Conference outline

PS3 Poll Police: Have you tried the PixelJunk Eden demo?

It's another week for the Poll Police to roll into town and get your take on a random, but relevant, issue that has come up over the past few days. While there are tons of new things on the PlayStation Store, we're most interested to see if you've tried the new offering from Q Games, the folks who brought the acclaimed PixelJunk Monsters. Their new title, PixelJunk Eden, has a demo up on the store right now that allows for a surprising amount of play. Have you tried it?

Our opinion? We've tried it out and we're pretty sure it's going to be a fun game. It's simple to pick up and play, has an excellent musical feel to it, and just plain makes us smile. Even though the full game isn't out yet, we're very excited to see what Q Games has in store for us after this game. You can check out the results from last week's poll after the cut.

It seems the world is split up over how to feel about E3. While developers and the media feel the event is dying off and is no longer what it used to be, gamers seem torn about whether or not they like what they see. While the majority of the votes went towards a positive reaction to the show, they were by no means overwhelming the other choices. We're left with a hollow feeling -- is E3 dying? It seems that the lukewarm reactions in this poll indicate so. Thanks for voting everyone!


Link crowned most popular Brawler
Learn to play PixelJunk Eden at the PlayStation Blog

Alone in the Dark finally coming in November

Still waiting for Alone in the Dark? Is a release date of autumn 2008 too vague for you? Not to worry, Eurogamer just got official word from Atari that Alone in the Dark for the PS3 will be arriving in November. Obviously, Eurogamer reports on European release dates, but since Alone in the Dark for the PS2/360/Wii launched in the US four days after the European release date, we are assuming the US will get the game in November as well.

Hopefully, we'll see some of that episodic content to make up for the time PS3 owners had to wait. Or did the five-month delay (coupled with hilariously bad reviews) cause any disinterest?

Atari is not suing over Alone in the Dark review
Warhammer Online Cuts Content
PS3 version of Alone in the Dark getting a frame rate fix; not cancelled

Movement - Engine Trouble

Spencer and Martin leave France behind and head for Germany on the next leg of their search.

On route, Spencer gives Martin a quick lesson on how to drive the camper van, but then disaster strikes! The van overheats and breaks down; the engine fizzing like a very hot bottle of lemonade...

Finally arriving in Munich, there's just enough time to squeeze in a traditional Bavarian breakfast - much to the joy of Spencer and the disappointment of Martin - before they track down Black Diamond and inVain.

Black Diamond, a four-piece who got together in a local club and draw their inspiration from the Britpop scene and 60s guitar bands, assault PLAYSTATION Store with three performances - I Want You In My Collection, Can't Take My Eyes Off Your Daughter, and Ride My Pony.

Influenced by the likes of Papa Roach and Muse, inVain have perfected their own powerful melancholic sound - performances of Not Enough and Wake Me Up are available to download on PLAYSTATION Store.

Download these exclusive band performances, interviews and road trip episodes by signing into PLAYSTATION Store on your PLAYSTATION 3 or, for PSP owners, by downloading the videos at PLAYSTATION Store (PC).

To access both the PS3 and PSP versions of PLAYSTATION Store you will need a PLAYSTATION Network account.

To find out more about Black Diamond and inVain, or any of the bands featured in Movement, visit psmovement.com.

Europe Invades Rock Band
Movement - Goth time
Largest physics engine provider signs deal with 2K Games

Mirror's Edge getting tie-in comic, first issue out now at Comic Con

We don't know much about the story of Mirror's Edge, other than it's written by Heavenly Sword and Overlord's Rhianna Pratchett. EA has today announced that a prequel comic is in production in collaboration with DC Comics, to elucidate the pre-game story and get some more hype for the game going. As if it needs it.

The first issue of the series, which will be written by Rhianna Pratchett along with the game, is available exclusively at Comic Con. So if you're in the San Diego area, stop by booth 5233 at the convention to grab the comic and try out the game first hand. Even if you don't enjoy it, issue 1 will probably sell quite well on ebay. If you do make it to the show, make sure you stop by the PlayStation booth too, for lots more hands-on gaming opportunities.

[Via Press Release]


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Mirror’s Edge Comic Book Announced
DC Universe Online walkthrough straight from Comic Con
‘Twilight’ Masterminds Catherine Hardwicke, Stephenie Meyer Take In Wild Comic-Con, Talk Movie’s Music

Worldwide PS3 releases for the week of July 27th

Soul Calibur IV gets its worldwide release this week. If you're not into weapon based fighting games with a Star Wars twist, there's very little else that might interest you. By "very little" we do, of course, mean "nothing." If you live in Europe, however, you might be interested in knowing that a bunch of Platinum titles are being released this week. All of these five games are well worth their new 20 price, despite the yucky yellow packaging. Here's the full release list:

US GamesSoul Calibur IVEU Games
Soul Calibur IVUncharted: Drake's Fortune (Platinum)Heavenly Sword (Platinum)MotorStorm (Platinum)Resistance: Fall of Man (Platinum)Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools Of Destruction (Platinum)Asian Games
Soul Calibur IVBeijing Olympics 2008 Protip: Play.com have cut 2 off their Platinum price for the full range. 18 for Uncharted or Ratchet & Clank? You'd be mad not to. Release dates are constantly subject to change, so check with your local retailer if you're concerned.


What E3 needs: intercompany battles
E3: Sony Press Conference Notes
Worldwide PS3 releases for the week of July 20th

Movement - Goth time

On the second leg of their German search our hosts, Spencer and Martin, go Goth with Spellbind.

With the sun setting on their Bavarian adventure, Spencer surprises Martin with tickets to a Bayern Munich football match at the stunning Allianz Arena. Then, to round off an eventful day, Martin returns the favour, pulling out all the stops as the duo decides to hit the town - in full Goth gear. On the way, they meet up with the last German band on their list, Spellbind.

After starting out as an acoustic project, Spellbind evolved into a polished electro, acoustic rock group inspired by bands such as Pink Floyd, The Smashing Pumpkins and Radiohead. A self-proclaimed live band, the boys have a strong following in their native Bavaria.

Performances of Soapbox Race, Kings And Queens and Champagne, plus interviews and road trip episodes are available for download by signing into PLAYSTATION Store on your PLAYSTATION 3 or, for PSP owners, by downloading the videos at PLAYSTATION Store (PC).

To access both the PS3 and PSP versions of PLAYSTATION Store you will need a PLAYSTATION Network account.

To find out more about Spellbind or any of the bands featured in Movement visit psmovement.com.

Europe Invades Rock Band
Movement - Let’s hit the road

Hirai claims Home's release date doesn't really matter

Let's not take the subject line without some context, okay? Kaz Hirai stated that Home will truly resonate with consumers and they will love its online services. In that respect, its release date really doesn't matter. He said in an interview with MCV: "I'd much rather make sure we take the time to have a great service rather than rush something into the market ... If we have the right service, it doesn't matter when we launch – so long as it's in a reasonable timeframe." That said, Home is still scheduled to launch this Fall.


Microsoft Talks Windows 7 … But Doesn’t Say Anything
Kaz Hirai: Sony can ‘re-evaluate’ paying for PS3 exclusives
Kaz Hirai: PS3 operations to turn profit by March ‘09

Characters galore appear in this Cross Edge trailer

It's time to get your translating hats on, everyone. A Japanese trailer for Cross Edge has hit the airwaves and we have no idea what it's saying. We see a ton of cast members, from Darkstalkers, Disgaea, the Atelier series (including Mana Khemia) as well as Ar Tonelico, doling out some voice-acting skills and massive damage.

We're not quite sure what the game is about or how all these characters end up fighting alongside the main characters of the game, but the battles seem frenetic and entertaining. We're itching to see more because 2D is far from dead.

[Via Siliconera]

First gameplay trailer of Mirror’s Edge looks fantastic
This is what ‘next gen’ Prince of Persia looks like

New content for Metal Gear Online

Gene Expansion and Gene Expansion Plus are here, adding three maps, a new game mode and playable characters to Metal Gear Online.

The first expansion packs for Metal Gear Online have arrived and can be downloaded from the in-game MGO Shop now.

The new maps are Coppertown Conflict, featuring wide streets for close to medium range combat; an intricate labyrinth of underground tunnels called Tomb of Tubes and Virtuous Vista - an outdoor map covered in natural terrain that's great for snipers. Also included are the brand new Survival mode and the chance to play as Meryl and Akiba from Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots and use their special abilities to your advantage on the battlefield.

Completing the Gene Expansion pack are a new Reward Shop for trading Reward Points and the ability to create female playable characters. And if you download Gene Expansion Plus, you'll get all the content from Gene Expansion and a MGO Extra Character Slot.

Metal Gear Online just got bigger and better, so head over to the MGO Shop and choose your pack.

Metal Gear Solid 5 in talks
80GB Metal Gear systems on amazon.com tomorrow at 10AM PST

DC Universe Online walkthrough straight from Comic Con

DC Universe Online probably won't be out until this time next year, but it's already playable today at Comic Con. Can't make it? Mr. Rubenstein of the PlayStation Blog has your back. The video above shows the game's Creative Director, Jens Anderson, giving us a tour of the game in its current state. The character visuals may look a little rough, but the gameplay looks pretty interesting. For an MMO.

We love the look of running up and down buildings and throwing cars in a persistent world on the PS3, but can't help feeling a niggle at the back of our mind. Why couldn't it be Marvel Universe Online? Maybe one day ...


Sony MMO DC Universe Online first details
DC Universe Online creative director talks about the game on PS3
Champions Online Gameplay Trailer

Japanese ad for Siren is shocking

Just wait for it ... wait for it.

The Japanese ad for SIREN: Blood Curse (now available) is rather shocking. We don't want to ruin the surprise for you, so please just watch. Would an ad like this work in the States? We say: yes.

Talking inVain

As Movement moves to Munich, the foursome that makeup the eclectic inVain chat about their music and influences.

inVain are four young musicians, who pour their different styles into a crucible of joint creativity, the result being bitter, energetic but melancholic songs, which are anything but ordinary. With u-turns right in the midst of a tune, dreamy lyrics and the mashing up of different styles song after song pinning a genre on inVain is difficult - if labels are needed, Alternative Rock is the best fit.

How would you describe your music to someone who hasn't heard it before?

Our music is just kind of unique. It's basically rock music but just unforeseeable. I mean, writing our songs is just one crazy act. We just meet and mash up our ideas and concepts and in the end, there's one song which can only be described as inVain and is totally different from all the others, but in some way, they fit together. You have to listen to it to understand this. We can't really tell what is happening in our jam sessions, it all just sort of sputters out of us, the songs literally anathematise us. We have actually no control of the whole thing and we don't know where it'll take us. What we know, is that our base is a kind of energetic and melancholic Alternative Rock, combined with emotional lyrics, pounding instruments and wacky B-parts.

So, how did you get together?

Our singer Geli and bass player Dave have been making music together for some years working on various projects; they met for the first time at the local music store and decided to work out some ideas. When our guitar player, Timu, a friend and school colleague of Dave's, and drummer Joey, a good friend of the band for years, joined the project, we knew it was perfect. You couldn't really tell why, everyone just felt confident and was sure of this constellation being the one and only cast for this band.

Who are your musical influences?

We basically listen to all kinds of Rock music. It's important for us not to have any prejudices in the music business and we listen to the stuff first before we judge the artist. inVain consists of four different members with different styles and tastes, everyone takes their influences from another place, but to name some bands that we like - Funeral for a Friend, The Distillers, Radiohead and Limp Bizkit.

You see, we just asked every band member just to name one spontaneously, and the constellation couldn't have been any more different. We like many different bands, but love our own stuff, which is a huge mash up from all the styles of the four band members and the music we like to hear.

What subjects do you tackle in your lyrics?

Geli does all the writing for the lyrics and she assimilates mostly personal feelings and bad experiences of life into her writings. Like a diary of her way to see the world, channeling all the different impressions of life in its different shapes. A mixture out of concise experiences, weird dreams and deepest inner feelings, strained on paper and sung with passion.

Your music is available through Movement (available on PLAYSTATION Store), how are the Internet and downloads changing the face of the music industry?

The growing importance of the Internet in the music industry is unstoppable and very important for the development of the business. It's important to accept and support developments like that to accelerate the progress of technologising the world and to enable flying cars some when.

It's also a great possibility to increase the sphere of influence of music. By uploading music and to facilitate the downloading for everyone, the access to music will be way easier and much more people will be able to hear and talk about music, bands, albums and artists in various forums. Many artists offer their newest records online, so it's a huge process which has already started.

In Germany, there's a little pun that says, "Who doesn't want to go with time, has to go in about no time." We think it's a very big deal and necessary to modernise the whole world and increase the participation of people in music in general, but you can't deny that it's still the coolest thing in the world to hold a copy of your favourite band's newest album with all the artwork and stuff in your hands.

What do you think of the general perception of music from your country?

The music scene in Germany and the common sense of the people who live here isn't something to complain about. You see a lot of weird things here in local music stores when you look, but it's not as bad as it seems. We have quite a lot of artists and bands who write some really nice stuff and you can see some substance in it. There are a lot of plastic pop things here, but people also reward handmade music which you know someone put a lot of work into.

Germany's not just a follower concerning the music scene, the people are able to develop their own kind of music, and the field reaches from a wide Metal scene and big Electro festivals to boy bands and stuff. Every single style of music is reachable and we think that's very important to the development of music in a country. So in Germany, music is a big thing and it's discussed nearly everywhere and it'd be quite hard to avoid it in your everyday life here.

Are you touring this year or will you be doing any festivals?

Yeah, we'll play some gigs this year to promote our new record. Most of them will be in clubs, but we're gonna play the some festivals too. That's an unsettled thing here between us four. Dave for instance prefers playing open air, while our singer Geli prefers the club gigs, because of the closeness to the crowd.

Anyway, we're looking forward to all the upcoming gigs this year to finally play the stuff from our record and are very pleased to be part of the PlayStation Movement Project and to represent Germany with our music. This will be an exciting year.

inVain's Movement videos can be downloaded from PLAYSTATION Store. More about inVain can be found on their MySpace page, www.myspace.com/invainmusic.

A rose by any other name
Europe Invades Rock Band

WipEout HD delay means more tracks, ships and Trophies

Yes, we're all bummed by WipEout HD's epilepsy-related delay. However, we're reminded of the old adage, "good things come to those who wait." It appears that the team at Liverpool isn't just sitting around. They've taken this time to add a number of new features to WipEout HD, most exciting of which must be Trophies. A SCEE representative told TVGthat the delay has added "8 reverse tracks, 4 extra ships, 2 alternative HUDS, 2 Player offline split screen and XMB Trophy support."

Wow, that's a lot of added content. We're excited for WipEout HD, and we're glad to see more being added to the upcoming racer. Now, we all have to do just one thing: wait.

[Via NeoGAF]

Gallery: Wipeout HD

iSkin ships DuoBand case for third-gen Nano
H20 ships new waterproof headset for Shuffles
Exclusive: new screenshots of inFAMOUS

American PSN update for July 24th

As we walk through the scorching heat of the midday sun through the desert that is this year's Summer game drought we find ourselves in the shadow of a falling object. Looking up, we see a care package from the Sony overlords, full of tasty treats to quench our thirst and keep us going for another week. And wow, have they delivered this week. Playable content coming out of our ears and the price of some classic PSN games lowered to just $5. Here's the full release list:

Playable contentParappa The Rapper full PSP game ($22.99)Siren Blood Curse full game ($39.99 for the full game or $14.99 per episode)1942: Joint Strike full game ($9.99)PixelJunk Eden demo (free)Add-on content
Guitar Hero III "Virtuoso Pack" ($6.25)Rock Band DLC (listed after the break) Check after the break for the rest of today's content drop.
VideosPixelJunk Eden trailerStreet Fighter IV E3 trailerStreet Fighter IV PS3 Special trailerBionic Commando Rearmed "The Making Of: Part 1"
Wallpapers and Themes
Street Fighter IV Summer 08 themeSiren Blood Curse theme2 Killzone 2 wallpapersPixelJunk Eden wallpaper4 Fracture wallpapers5 Siren wallpapersRock Band DLC
Devour - Shinedown ($1.99) Junkies for Fame - Shinedown ($1.99) Nine Inch Nails Track Pack 02 ($5.49 includes songs below or songs available individually) Last - Nine Inch Nails ($1.99) Burn - Nine Inch Nails ($1.99) Capital G - Nine Inch Nails ($1.99)Summer Sale Items (all $5 for one week only)
PAINPixelJunk Monsters (a must-buy, at this price)
High Velocity BowlingHigh Stakes: PokerRocketmen



Siren: Blood Curse priced and dated for Europe
Worldwide PS3 releases for the week of July 20th
New Blood Bowl Screenshots

Something new

Brand new original games announced at E3 for PLAYSTATION Network.

The games industry flocked to E3 in Los Angeles to see the latest games sensations and Sony Computer Entertainment Europe did not disappoint as it lifted the lid on five of the hottest new downloadable PLAYSTATION 3 titles that will be coming to PLAYSTATION Network.

Rachet & Clank: Quest For Booty
Ratchet and Clank return to PS3 with their trademark crazy weaponry, side-splitting comedy and dazzling 3D animation in this bite-sized treasure tale. Help Ratchet sail solo into a world of galleons, parrots and cutlasses in his quest to uncover booty and his missing mate Clank.

Fat Princess
How do you prevent your princess from being carried off by enemy warriors? In this game for up to 16 players, the answer is to feed her until she’s too heavy to lift. It’s not an easy task as you’ll need to harvest food while keeping your enemies at bay – all while keeping your princess full of fattening food products.

Flower
Another soothing, relaxing experience from thatgamecompany – developer of fl0w – Flower tasks you with gathering petals and soaring through the air across majestic landscapes, in order to purify the land as you see fit.

CRASH COMMANDO
Join duelling factions the Grunts and the Jarheads to fight for world supremacy in this frantic side-scrolling fragfest! Fly into action with your jetpack, and then crush the enemy with an arsenal of 15 awesome weapons, tanks, jeeps, and even special moves.

Rag Doll Kung Fu: Fists of Plastic
Look out for this PS3-exclusive reworking of the much acclaimed 2005 title. Build up your Chi power by mastering your moves, then use it to create spectacular special attacks and combat sequences. Perfect your skills at home, then head online for multiplayer rag doll mayhem.

Sony plans video everywhere
Ratchet and Clank: Quest for Booty first impressions
SCEE takes the stage at E3
Enemy Territory Quake Wars Live Weekend 2008

System 3 talk about Ferrari Challenge DLC, demo

We haven't been keeping much tabs on Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli -- a racing title currently out in Europe and soon to release across North America on August 26 -- but we suppose now is a good time to get back to it. It's an especially good time as developers System 3 have released details on its first content pack DLC for the month of August.

The first DLC, priced at 3.99 (sorry no exact Euro price mentioned), will include the German Nrburgring GP-Strecke course and five more Ferrari vehicles: Ferrari Enzo, Ferrari P4, 430 Scuderia, 612 Scaglietti, and the 599 GTB Fiorano. It's currently unknown whether the DLC will be made available for the North American release next month; the downloadable content seems to be Europe-only for now. Other future content is also promised including the following race tracks: Laguna Seca, Daytona, Brands Hatch, Donington, Barcelona, Hungaroring and Suzuka. Monaco will follow in September.

Also, as the North American release draws nearer, thoughts of a demo come to mind. Mark Cale, System 3's boss, had this to say about that: "There are many factors that we need to take into account, and logistically, it's very possible, but I'm afraid we can't confirm anything at the moment."


Ferrari game heats up this summer
GRID Demo Roars Past the One Million Downloads Mark

Satriani, Vai, Buckethead headed for Guitar Hero III, Hendrix to World Tour

Looks like Activision is ready for some blood in the battle against Rock Band; after scoring Van Halen and the Eagles as exclusives, they have now secured the lengendary Jimi Hendrix into their lineup for Guitar Hero: World Tour. Hendrix will be a playable character in the game, and two master tracks have also been confirmed to be in the game, with more tracks coming later as downloadable content:
"Purple Haze (Live)" (recorded in 1969 at the San Diego Sports Arena)
"The Wind Cries Mary" In Legends of Rock news, three songs are set to debut this Thursday on Guitar Hero III. We honestly think the tracklist speaks for itself:
"Surfing with the Alien" by Joe Satriani"For the Love of God" by Steve Vai"Soothsayer" by Buckethead This "Virtuoso Pack" will be released this Thursday. While no pricing info was provided, we can assume it will be $6.25 like previous 3-track packs.

[Via Joystiq and press release]


Deal of the Day: Guitar Hero wireless Les Paul guitar for $36
Joystiq’s Guitar Hero/Rock Band guitar compatibility matrix v2
Guitar Hero World Tour DLC on Wii

The best of PLAYSTATION 3

PS3 Platinum range launches with some of the year’s greatest gaming adventures at a great price

The people have spoken: now, the most critically acclaimed and best-selling titles on PLAYSTATION 3 are due for release as part of the PS3 Platinum range from Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE). Offering gamers the greatest titles at unbeatable value, some of the best PS3 games will hit stores shelves on August 1, 2008, meaning there’s no excuse not to include them in your collection.

Whether you’re an intergalactic adventurer, a high-speed off-road racing nut, or simply enjoy thrashing your friends in competitive tennis, the PS3 Platinum range offers something for fans of every genre.

“If you’re a longstanding PS3 owner with gaps in your collection – or perhaps you’ve just joined the family – the PS3 Platinum range is your chance to pick up some of the very best games at a wallet-friendly price,” said David Reeves, President and CEO, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe. “With great titles spanning a huge breadth of gaming experiences, this August is a great time to be a PS3 owner.”

To qualify for Platinum status, a game must achieve more than 400,000 units across the PAL territories. Confirmed titles that will be coming in the Platinum range include: Heavenly Sword, MotorStorm, Ratchet & Clank: Tools of Destruction, Uncharted: Drake's Fortune, Virtua Tennis, Assassin’s Creed and WWW Smackdown Vs Raw 08.

If these PS3 classics passed you by the first time around, this August is the time to make sure your games library is up-to-date.

Sony plans video everywhere
SCEE takes the stage at E3
PlayStation Day video

Sackboy knight rescues his princess in LittleBigPlanet trailer

Sackboy wants to be a hero. In this infuriatingly cute trailer (yes, we're so bombarded by cuteness we're angry) you see the regular sackboy dreaming about becoming a knight rescuing his princess. It's another trailer showing how free you are to create your worlds and this is another success in our eyes, even if sackboy doesn't get his kiss. It's also got a great musical number going on in the background. October cannot arrive soon enough!


Saints Row 2 Story Trailer
Watch LittleBigPlanet’s Sackboy battle a boss
Resistance 2 E3 trailer ‘may now be forever lost’

Project Abraham countdown ends, features more videos

The Project Abraham countdown has ended, and we haven't discovered an open beta quite yet. (Good job, Nick. You were right on the money!) There are, however, new videos for your perusal, many of which are quite disturbing. Looks like the tone of Resistance 2 will be rather dark, if this viral site is any indication. One of the creepier aspects of the site is the community's ability to vote on who will get injected next. Chances are, no matter who you vote for, the results will be quite ... disastrous. (Oh, and guess who else is on the list?)

[Thanks, Jonathan C. & raj!]


Rumor Forza 3 to Feature Over 400 Cars and 100 Tracks
Resistance 2 playable at PlayStation Day
AMD Shows Ray-tracing Tech on YouTube
Fill your tanks with even more Resistance shots

Go!View on PSP

Watch a range of great content on the go thanks to an exclusive deal with Sky TV.

Go!View is the brand new service exclusively available on PSP which is brought to you in partnership with Sky TV.

Now you can watch your favourite TV shows, sports and movies on your PSP, wherever you find yourself. With an ever expanding selection of top movies from big budget blockbusters to comedy capers, hit US TV dramas, classic sporting action and much, much more, you'll always find something you'll want to watch.

Go!View is so easy to use. Just go to goview.tv, register your details, install the free software, then you're ready to go. Browse through the selection of TV shows, sports and movies, chose what you want to watch, download it, then send it across to your PSP and watch it on the go.

With Go!View, you can watch individual shows and movies or subscribe monthly and get unlimited downloads from our great subscriptions packs - sports, comedy and entertainment. To get you started, you can sign up for a free one-month subscription to Go!View absolutely free. So go on - go to goview.tv now.


Wii Sports sequel announced
Digital TV to go

Revealed trophies for BioShock identical to 360 achievements

Over on the PS Blog, the executive producer for BioShock revealed some detailed information on trophy content for the upcoming PS3 version. In fact, the post divulged that the trophies mentioned were identical to the achievements found in the original Xbox 360 game. It is very likely that the remainder trophies will follow just the same.

Silver trophy "Historian" is exactly the same as the 360 achievement of the same name which requires players to find all audio diaries. Gold trophy "Brass Balls" requires players to complete the game on hard mode with all Vita-Chambers turned off. This one is also identical to the 360 achievement of the same name. Some of the bronze trophies will revolve around the in-game systems "like Researching, Modifying Weapons, Hacking, and Crafting." In total, only a very few trophies were mentioned, but it wouldn't be surprising if some of these achievements find their way into the PS3 version.


Penny Arcade tells us what to think about Bioshock PS3
BioShock Activation Restrictions Dropped

Worldwide PS3 releases for the week of July 20th

Slim pickings this week. Only Japan gets a couple of Blu-ray releases. The rest of us have to endure the wait for Soul Calibur IV without anything new to pass the time. Having said that, though. Siren: New Translation (Siren: Blood Curse in the West) will be released on the PSN Store this Thursday. So if you're a horror enthusiast, you do have something to look forward to this week. Here's the full release list:

US Games

No new releases

EU Games

No new releases

Asian Games
Kung Fu PandaSiren: New Translation Release dates are subject to change at any time, so be sure to check with your local store.


Siren: Blood Curse priced and dated for Europe
Apple confirms same-day iTunes/DVD releases
Worldwide PS3 releases for the week of June 1st

"It's bigger, it's badder, it's better."

The information engines have yet to cool off for MotorStorm: Pacific Rift as Paul Hollywood, Creative Director for Evolution Studios talks to eu.playstation.com to get you revved up for an off-road racing extravaganza.

How is MotorStorm: Pacific Rift using the abilities of PLAYSTATION 3?

PS3 is the only console powerful enough to realise our dreams. We're using every single part of the system, but we're not maximising it yet - more through our knowledge rather than the hardware itself. What we did on our games, from our first game to our fifth on PlayStation 2, were miles apart. The hardware was the same, the changes are just the way we utilise the hardware. We try a few things, we learn and then we advance on that, so we're just getting far more from the system in comparison to the first MotorStorm game.

What were the main factors you had to deal with in putting the monster truck into the game, regarding balance and other gameplay elements?

The monster truck was one of our biggest challenges because we don't like to do things half-heartedly or give ourselves an easy ride - we like to push and challenge ourselves. Selecting seven vehicles for the first MotorStorm title which all have their unique characteristics and have to balance against each other to race around a single track (which is actually more like seven tracks in one), and then throwing in the monster truck as well... that could have put the whole thing out of skew.

But I think we've got the right balance as even though the monster truck can go over certain terrain it can't fit down other channels, and while it's good in a straight line it's not too good on cornering, so there are positives and negatives on every single vehicle class and then we temper that with positives and negatives in all the different groups, such as water, vegetation, hot rocks which may all slow you down, the size of the channel, the terrain you're on...

Have there been some unexpected or surprising events that have happened during testing the game?

Yeah! An analogy is it's like making a chilli. You put all the ingredients in the pot and you stir it up and give it a taste. When we made MotorStorm we put in all these different vehicles with different handling characteristics into this chaotic environment and then added things like the Havok physics. I'm not saying it was a bit hit or miss, but it started to taste really good straight away and then we seasoned it and made it really good looking at the end of production.

Where we are with Pacific Rift is very much the same sort of thing - we've got all the latest Havok code and are very lucky to have their full support. We really pushed their systems with the amount of vehicles, the amount of debris objects, the amount of hinged objects, the rag doll physics... all this stuff we're demanding from them and they deliver for us. And it just adds that element of realism because it's all loaded into a true physics engine, but sometimes when you're playing a game you get that Uncanny Valley effect, that something didn't quite bounce or move right and it destroys that illusion. It has to be believable. It has to look real so you don't feel like you have to question it, and allow yourself to be totally immersed in that experience.

The island obviously plays a massive part of the game, almost acting as a character to MotorStorm: Pacific Rift itself. What was it like researching it?

[laughs] Yeah... it was a real bind to go to Hawaii for three weeks and fly around in helicopters and travel in speedboats... [laughs]. Doing the reference trip is a fantastic experience but very difficult as well. I was lucky enough during the World Rally Championship games to go to all the different countries where the rallies were showing, sometimes on my own with just a camera going on a little adventure. You never quite know what you're going to find on a reference trip, and half of it is like a guerrilla attitude where you just turn up and do whatever you need to do.

Similarly, when we went to Hawaii, we sort of had an idea of the location. It's the most amazing place I've ever been to, because of the variety and the tension. You'll be in the thickest jungle and then you'd pop out and there'd be nothing, just death and black lava because 100 years ago it had totally wiped out everything and nothing would be living there at all. And then we were like on top of a 12,000 foot volcano, above the clouds, we were in swamps, we were on beautiful beaches and the coast... and it was just awesome.

We've got some interesting fly-on-the-wall footage that we took while we were there. We may include it, possibly in the extras of the game. But while we were there we weren't just looking at the beauty of it, thinking that if we could just replicate this we could put this in the game, but we could also see how we could add to these elements of the environment to the gameplay, so we had water with flow and buoyancy, lava with heat, high altitude tracks with the danger of falling off... and it's just the most amazing place to put brutal off-road racing.

What were the main characteristics and essential elements from Hawaii that you wanted to portray in the game?

The tension. The variety and differences between all these areas that make up the island. We've classified these four elements for the tracks, so there's water, air, earth, and fire, but they're not mutually exclusive, so in one track you'll have a bit of vegetation, water and then maybe end up high on a cliff, so it's recreating that tension between these different areas that we saw in the reference trip and the way that made us feel when we encountered it, that amazement. That's what we wanted to get into the game.

Was there anything that you came across in your research for MotorStorm: Pacific Rift that you initially wanted to put in, but didn't find the time or it wasn't realistically viable?

Not really... our ambitions are limited by our imagination and sometimes we'll get back and we'll try a few things and yet they may not work, but all the key things we wanted to do when we were at the reference trip and wanted to put into the game, we got into the game. It's getting that balance and knowing where to draw the line with stuff we don't need against the important things, and I think we've really nailed that. This part of development is my favourite time, where we really start to see the game mature.

What sort of emotions do you want the players to feel when they play MotorStorm: Pacific Rift?

We want the player to laugh out loud. I remember vividly working on the Tokyo Game Show demo for MotorStorm. I sat in the office on my own at 3am in the morning, playing the demo laughing out loud and turning around to tell anyone "did you see that..." and then realising I was on my own [laughs]. It was mad. And that's where brutal off-road racing was born, it's that combination of the rag doll physics, the destruction of the vehicles, that element of "come on, reset it, I want to play again".

Especially with the split-screen racing - there's nothing better than sitting with a friend and seeing how they're actually playing while jostling them, so I'm really excited about that social aspect. I think we've reinvigorated the arcade style off-road racer, and I'd like to think that with MotorStorm: Pacific Rift we're going to reinvigorate that offline multiplayer experience.

We'd also like to think it's a bit of a lifestyle to check into as well. We've got a brand new score for the music track, which helps create this rich tapestry of a festival experience. We wanted to get that into the games. But not everybody likes our taste in music, so we've added the ability to play your own music in the game. So if you want to listen to Chris De Burgh while you play MotorStorm you can do that now!

What are the main factors in deciding what goes on the soundtrack for the game, especially in comparison to how you made the selection for MotorStorm?

It has to be raucous, high octane, adrenaline pumping racing music, that's what we're going for. I don't care what genre, there's always a good tune in every genre, but it's got to be pumping, it's got to be driving, it's got to fit with brutal off-road racing. I like to think we're maturing in our tastes of music and we've got a much larger selection of tracks. It's bigger, it's badder, it's better.

What's your favourite part/expression of the game so far?

The gestures. The way you can gesture disrespect to opponents. And also the satisfaction of chinning another opponent. Now we've added bunny hopping and ducking, you get an immense satisfaction out of clearing a log or ducking under it at the right time.

What would you like to say to any players who may have passed on the first MotorStorm game, to try and attract them to this one?

Firstly, they missed out. Hopefully when they see the quality of MotorStorm: Pacific Rift, if they haven't got the first game they'll go out and get it because the core of the game hasn't changed - that laugh out loud, brutal off-road racing experience... that's always going to be there in the MotorStorm games. We just build upon and make it better. I feel sorry for anyone who's missed out [laughs].

SCORE International Baja 1000 Announced
Twenty-nine stunning MotorStorm Pacific Rift images
One WiiWare Game and One Virtual Console Game Added to Wii Shop Channel
Motorstorm Pacific Rift gameplay vids surface

Kaz Hirai: PS3 operations to turn profit by March '09

As many Sony fans know, the PlayStation 3 hasn't exactly been a financial success for Sony quite yet. Every console sold has not necessarily led to profits for the company, but that trend is to change soon if you believe what Sony head honcho Kaz Hirai had to say. He believes that overall PS3 operations will start to bring in a profit by the end of this fiscal year -- that's the end of March, 2009.

Keep in mind "overall" PS3 operations means more than simply selling the console. This means peripherals, software, and downloadable titles will contribute as well. It might not seem like something important to the gamer population, but unless the PS3 can do this, shareholders and other decision-makers may start to question the longevity of the console. We're not worried, though.


UTStarcom wraps up $240M sale of unit to AIG, exec gets $1.5M bonus
Ninja Commando on Virtual Console
Kaz Hirai: Sony can ‘re-evaluate’ paying for PS3 exclusives

Watch LittleBigPlanet's Sackboy battle a boss

There hasn't been too many continuous gameplay videos of LittleBigPlanet, but here's one that's getting us even more excited for this upcoming PS3 exclusive.

The video starts with Sackboy jumping over some obstacles and platforms, but soon encounters a small boss battle. Machines attempt to attack Sackboy with what appears to be bombs. In addtion to avoiding the explosives, Sackboy uses a contraption that bounces the bomb back at the machine when timed correctly.

We get the vibe of an awesome Genesis-era Sonic boss battle from the video, but how about you guys watch it and tell us your thoughts.

[Thanks, GhostViper!]

Lengthy new Metal Gear Solid 4 video preview
New Spore Video Dev Diary

SCEE takes the stage at E3

Missed all the Sony Computer Entertainment Europe news at this year’s E3 Media & Business Summit? Never fear – here’s a round-up of all the goodies for you as PlayStation marches on through 2008 and into 2009.

A massive array of exciting new titles were unveiled on PlayStation systems at Los Angeles' annual E3 Media & Business Summit 2008, as well as Sony Computer Entertainment Europe's plans for the immediate future.

Dozens of genre defying software appealing to both seasoned and casual players were showcased, including the long awaited likes of the creation-driven platform world of LittleBigPlanet, the open sandbox domain of superhero epic, inFamous, the wild tropical racing action that is MotorStorm: Pacific Rift, and first person extravaganzas Killzone 2 and Resistance 2 - all gracing PLAYSTATION 3 in 2008 and 2009.

In addition to revealing new content for over 20 previously announced first party titles, there was also the introduction of ten never seen before games, including the PS3 bound adult action feast God of War 3 and the 256-player online shooter, MAG, PLAYSTATION Network software Ratchet & Clank: Quest for Booty, and sparkling new PSP titles Resistance: Retribution, Patapon 2 and LocoRoco 2.   

Other original content available through PLAYSTATION Network was also on display, granting access to previously unseen footage of the experimental PixelJunk Eden, the independent gaming experience of Flower, the episodic Siren: Blood Curse and previously unannounced games such as CRASH COMMANDO and Fat Princess.

In addition to the crisp first party line-up, a selection of titles from third parties was spotlighted, such as Sega's ground-breaking role playing game, Valkyria Chronicles and Namco Bandai's Ultimate Ninja Storm, featuring fully 3D free roaming, combat driven gameplay.

PS3 owners who may have missed out on some of the earlier classic titles released on the system are also in for a treat with the introduction of the Platinum range on PS3 on August 1, 2008 which will give you the opportunity to experience great games at a low price. The initial line-up includes Heavenly Sword, MotorStorm, Uncharted: Drake's Fortune, Ratchet & Clank: Tools of Destruction, Virtua Tennis and Assassin's Creed. Each title will retail at a bargain price, meaning there's no excuse to pass up these great games.

Newcomers to PLAYSTATION 3 will also be able to enjoy a new 80GB model when it hits European shores on August 27, 2008. The new model will come in at €399 and will offer all the features and functionality of the 40GB model, with double the storage to accommodate more games, movies, graphics, music, photos and other entertainment content - all for the same price. New hardware bundles for PSP and PlayStation 2 are also promised.

Want more? The revolutionary online community experience, PlayStation Home, is gearing up to let you explore a whole new world of interaction and entertainment for the end of 2008, letting you shop, chat, play and much, much more all through your PLAYSTATION 3, meaning there will never be a better time to get online with PlayStation.

E3 just scratches the tip of what's in store for you on PlayStation, so stay with eu.playstation.com for more information on these products as they arrive.

PlayStation Day video
Rockstar Games Announces GTA IV Available Worldwide
World of PlayStation: Creation

Impressions: Valkyria Chronicles

Click for high-resolution image.

Sega's upcoming Valkyria Chronicles has everything a PS3 fan could want: not only is is pretty, it sports a unique artstyle, innovative gameplay ... and it's exclusive to PS3. We stopped by the Sega booth at E3 and was treated to a fun experience that will attract strategy and shooting fans alike.

The fundamentals of battle have us excited. Players must take out a swarm of enemy soldiers, and to do so they must be incredibly resourceful. Each turn grants players the ability to move characters around a map and attack enemies. Players must use each character's unique abilities wisely, as they only have a limited amount of turns to use before the enemies attack. For example, player may want to use a scout to move ahead forward and scout out enemy positions. Unlike other SRPGs, players have direct control over the characters they select; players will move the characters using the analog stick and must quickly find appropriate cover. Positioning is key: players will want to not only get a vantage over enemies, but they'll want to be in a position where return fire will not affect them.

Gallery: Valkyria Chronicles

Having direct control over each of the character's actions adds a nice active feel to typically slow-paced genre. Running as a sniper, finding cover and then getting a headshot on an enemy seems like the opposite of what SRPG games should provide. However, don't expect to play this like Gears of War. Strategy is still crucial, and players will quickly learn that rushing headfirst into battle may not end with the best results. Characters, even story characters, don't have a lot of health -- losing story characters will lead to an unfortunate Game Over. The various classes all feel different, and the inclusion of tanks adds another layer of depth we can appreciate.

Numbers still play a big role in the game as well, although that might not be immediately apparant. Not only will players want to keep an eye on their HP, they'll want to look at their accuracy and the deadliness of their attacks. A heavily armored enemy may take quite a great deal of gunfire, but a properly thrown grenade can take one of them out. Thinking about your location in a level and the weaponry in-hand is key to each level's success.

Valkyria Chronicles really has a lot to offer both the shooter and RPG fan. Unlike other SRPG games, this one comes as fairly intuitive, thanks to its shooter elements. However, don't expect to simply breeze through the campaign. Players are constantly being ranked in their performance, and they'll want to try and beat each mission as effectively as possible. In fact, we're told that the best players will be able to conquer each level with just one offensive sequence -- how that's possible is beyond us. Valkyria Chronicles is due Fall 2008.


White Knight Chronicles magazine screenshot bonanza
New Chronicles of Spellborn Screenshots

Valkyria Chronicles live demo by associate producer

Over at PlayStation.Blog, associate producer Christopher Kaminski of the upcoming tactical RPG Valkyria Chronicles shows us a live demo, showcasing some of the more unique aspects of this PS3 exclusive. As we already know from a previous interview, the game will be utilizing a unique Canvas Engine, pushing the PS3 to its graphical limits in a different way -- instead of going for "hyper-realism," Sega is aiming for a "watercolor (painting) brought to life" look. It definitely makes the game look stunning visually, but the gameplay will also be unique. The BLiTZ battle system, as we reported on before, will forgo traditional grid-based mechanics. You have an action point meter, which allows you run around on a field in real-time as long as the meter holds up. Attacking will cause the game to freeze time, giving you time to make a decision. With 20 main missions (with additional skirmishes) and 50 different characters, don't let anyone tell you the PS3 is lacking JRPGs when this game arrives stateside in November.

New Chronicles of Spellborn Screenshots
Impressions: Valkyria Chronicles

Ratchet and Clank: Quest for Booty first impressions

Ratchet’s search for his best friend Clank pits him against a notorious pirate in this mini swashbuckling adventure.

Having already released Resistance: Fall of Man and Ratchet and Clank: Tools of Destruction on PLAYSTATION 3, and with Resistance 2 and Ratchet and Clank: Quest for Booty still in development, it's hard to see how anyone at Insomniac Games ever gets any sleep.

Ratchet and Clank: Quest for Booty is best described as a mini adventure; a shorter game than Tools of Destruction, available from PLAYSTATION Store at a reduced price.

The action begins on the deck of a rain-drenched flying pirate ship, where Ratchet has to blast his way through the crew. The graphics are stunning, retaining the unique art style and high quality animation that the series is renowned for, and making good use of water and particle effects - especially when things are blowing up, which is, as Ratchet and Clank fans will expect, very often.

After blasting through Darkwater's minions, play moves to Hoolefar Island: a lush jungle paradise with a network of caves containing all kinds of nefarious creatures. It's the largest of the game's environments and the most beautiful; the contrast between the kaleidoscope of vegetation on the surface and the sinister underground is a credit to Insomniac's art team.

Gameplay consists of a familiar mix of platforming and shooting, providing the player with an arsenal of extravagant weaponry such as the Nano-swarmers: posts that when erected, release a flurry of fluorescent insects. Ratchet's new Omniwrench is a welcome addition, introducing new gameplay elements, such as the ability to manipulate the environment. Ratchet can throw his wrench at certain platforms and trapdoors and move them to a better position, adding a puzzle element to platforming sequences. You can also pick up explosive lava rocks and small blob-like creatures, Heliogrubs, which emit light. The former can be used to blow up doors and the latter to light dark caves and keep bats away.

Another series hallmark making a return is the sense of humour driving everything from dialogue to weapon design, in a tone that appeals to both children and adults. It's an aspect that adds to the general shine of the game; like its predecessors, Ratchet and Clank: Quest for Booty is dripping with polish. Everything smacks of quality, and even in its current unfinished state, animations run as smooth as Lombax fur and loading screens are practically non-existent.

Whatever they're putting in the water over at Insomniac Games, any developer in the world would give their mouse hand for some. Not only is their output prolific, the quality of their games is always second to none. Ratchet and Clank: Quest for Booty is no exception, retaining all the gameplay elements that earned the series wide acclaim, and introducing new ones that only add to the experience.

It's a juicy morsel of a game, and one that will surely be a huge hit when it arrives on PLAYSTATION Store later this year.

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