At E3 2010, Sony Computer Entertainment revealed the future of PS3 in glorious 3D, as well as confirming the coming of the PlayStation Move motion controller and much, much more.
E3, the Electronic Entertainment Expo, is the biggest show in the videogame calendar and Sony Computer Entertainment America used the occasion to showcase the future of PlayStation.
At the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, SCEA president Jack Tretton took to the stage and introduced a succession of illustrious guests and products to wow the massed crowd of press, bloggers and PlayStation fans.
First up on stage was Kaz Hirai, president of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc, to introduce a segment on stereoscopic 3D. And what better way to bring this to life than with Killzone 3 in 3D?
Hermen Hulst, managing director of Guerilla Games, walked onto the stage and talked of "a truly cinematic experience with explosive set pieces" and it was easy for the crowd, 3D glasses firmly in place, to see why in a live demo which featured bullet-ridden first person action as well as a jet pack sequence which saw the character navigating a series of tricky environments.
Hulst confirmed that Killzone 3 would be releasing worldwide in February 2011 and that it would feature support for the PlayStation Move motion controller. Back to Kaz Hirai, and confirmation that a number of titles would support 3D in the coming year and beyond, including MotorStorm Apocalypse, Sly Collection, Gran Turismo 5, Crysis 2 and the new Mortal Kombat title.
The Fight, EyePet and Tumble would support 3D as well as PlayStation Move, the mention of the motion controller providing an opportunity for Peter Dilley of SCEA to take to the stage and reveal that over 40 developers are working on PlayStation Move titles.
Cue live demonstrations of Sorcery and Tiger Woods 11, as well as a teaser video for Heroes on the Move (working title), a title that brings iconic PlayStation characters such as Ratchet, Sly and more to life with the PlayStation Move motion controller in your hand.
Jack Tretton confirmed the release date for PlayStation Move in Europe as 15 September 2010 and then reeled off a string of titles that would support the new peripheral. Kevin Butler, star of a series of popular and hilarious TV advertisements in the United States, joined Jack on stage in what turned out to be a real crowd pleasing turn and then the attention turned to PSP.
As well as highlighting upcoming title God of War: Ghost of Sparta, Jack reiterated support from publishers for the handheld with the release of Toy Story 3 and UFC 2010.
On the PlayStation Network front, with over 50 million people now having created accounts, the focus shifted firmly to LittleBigPlanet 2 as Alex Evans of Media Molecule showcased how the title has built on the philosophy of the original, becoming a game in which “you can make any game you can imagine”. This was demonstrated live on stage with a number of levels being played competitively with four players.
Tretton also revealed the coming of PlayStation Plus, the premium service that will allow PlayStation Network users to enjoy access to exclusive content and premium features for a monthly or yearly fee.
The show came to a thrilling close with a series of announcements on upcoming games, EA taking to the stage first up to reveal exclusive PS3 content for Medal of Honor and Dead Space 2. Subsequent looks at Portal 2, introduced by Gabe Newell, Final Fantasy XIV, Mafia 2 and Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood thrilled the crowds.
Following a trailer for inFamous 2, there was on surprise to come as Sweet Tooth, star of the Twisted Metal series, accompanied series creator David Jaffe on stage for a detailed look at the multiplayer gameplay on offer when it arrives on PS3 for the first time.
Closing the show, Jack Tretton explained that “PlayStation 3 continues to evolve and our commitment to that remains constant.” Looking back over nearly two hours packed with gaming treats, it was difficult to argue with that.
Obsession Confessions: PlayStation Move
