Rumors: PS3 and PSP 2009 info blowout

[Luis]

Huge Sony info blowout!
18:54 22/11/2008
Posted by D+PAD Staff


In attendance at the Sony Computer Entertainment Staff Annual Briefing held yesterday in London, an anonymous source going by the alias of ‘Legends’ has just tipped us off on all manner of huge PlayStation news. We must make it clear that D+PAD weren’t in attendance, but we have no reason to doubt the validity of Legends’ claims.

* Price cuts coming in March, PS3 performing better in Europe than 360

Our source tells us that SCEE President David Reeves took to the stage to discuss the current economic climate and how it shouldn’t affect PlayStation business, though was quick to mention that SCEE will be getting more competitive on price from March 2009 onwards. Our guess is that we’ll be seeing price cuts to PS3 around Easter to tie in with the release of Killzone 2…

Reeves then went on to say that the PS3 has a bigger install base than the 360 in PAL territories, and that the install base gap will significantly increase in 2009. Apparently SCEE is the success story of the SCE divisions, generating more profit than SCEA and SCEJ. 2008 sees it ‘in the black’ in profit our inside man revealed. Apparently there are more technological innovations to come for both PS3 and PSP, but details weren’t disclosed.

* Growth of PSN

PSN will be getting much more investment in the future, and having generated £150m in 2008, it’s considered a huge success for Sony. Sony Studio titles will also begin their life with a Blu-ray release and the franchises will be expanded with online content.

* LittleBigPlanet & MotorStorm coming to PSP

Our source also confirmed that LittleBigPlanet PSP is definitely in development and that Media Molecule have been working on it for four months. Footage was shown to attendees, though Alex Evans allegedly wasn’t prepared to show it himself because it was such an early build. “It looked good, obviously not PS3 good, but missing the level of detail that you get in a final release” says Legends.

MotorStorm PSP is on the way and ‘target footage’ was shown. No more details on that one.

* Uncharted 2, Killzone 2 & God of War 3 info

A 30 second clip of in-game footage of Uncharted 2 was shown displaying Drake being shot at, followed by an explosion. No full title or location was revealed though our source tells us that he did spot a wall with a line of 4 or 5 Aztec masks. Don’t expect a huge graphical leap though - “Looks the same as Uncharted 1, no bad thing”, says our source.

The intro to Killzone 2 was also shown off which “showed the character from the original trailer and a Helghan leader”. “Paints a picture of the world a bit more,” says Legends.

Finally our source revealed that God of War 3 was “masterfully shown at the end”, and that it looked so good our source wasn’t clear whether it was CGI or not!

The trailer showed Kratos wielding his swords and fighting hoards of skeletons and Cyclops’s, before catching a ride on an eagle, and killing it when he got dropped off. The final scene showed Kratos looking up to a long dark, deep cavern, presumed to be Mount Olympus.

“Some of it looked like it could be in-game action because of the camera angles, but it all looked so good that it couldn’t be. CGI or not, everyone was pumped up by this. The anticipation is growing. God of War 3 could be amazing.”

So there you have it. Technological innovations inbound, PS3 price cut early next year, LittleBigPlanet and MotorStorm coming to PSP, Uncharted 2 and an “amazing” looking God of War 3. What more could you want?

I'm going to classify this as rumor info for the time being, although the source is reliable.

[CreativeWriter]

I can't believe Uncharted 2 looks identical to the first game. All those tech slides from GDC showed ideas (swimming levels, etc) that required a graphics boost to pull off... or at least an improvement to the water physics to add displacement and depth.

Moreover, I'm certain Naughty Dog will keep improving the animations (the real impressive tech in the game) and get rid of the screen tearing. My bet is the D+ staffer who saw the game hasn't played the first one recently and has unreasonable expectations for what constitutes improvements... If the game is set for November 09, there's most of the polishing left to go, so it wouldn't be too surprising to hear it looks like U1 at the moment...

Are we gonna start making U2 jokes soon? Drake still hasn't found what he's looking for. Guess he'll find the treasure with or without Elena. Maybe he'll send a bullet into the blue sky...

[Jay Gee]

A 30 second clip of in-game footage of Uncharted 2 was shown displaying Drake being shot at, followed by an explosion. No full title or location was revealed though our source tells us that he did spot a wall with a line of 4 or 5 Aztec masks. Don’t expect a huge graphical leap though - “Looks the same as Uncharted 1, no bad thing”, says our source.

BWAHAHAHAHAHA @ The bolded part. Like the build they saw is anywhere near the final product. I was close to calling bullshit, but the God Of War 3 news is too scintilating to pass off.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[jako]

Are we gonna start making U2 jokes soon? Drake still hasn't found what he's looking for. Guess he'll find the treasure with or without Elena. Maybe he'll send a bullet into the blue sky...

LOL man, I can just +rep you on this bloody sunday

[Kiwi]

You could at least wait until it was Sunday to pull out that one! :P

[jako]

You could at least wait until it was Sunday to pull out that one! :P

Yeah right but it is in 2 hours for me and I couldn't stop myself. Don't forget that I have 9 hours more than joshua trees country (oups couldn't stop myself again for that one)

[LiquidEagle]

Yeah right but it is in 2 hours for me and I couldn't stop myself. Don't forget that I have 9 hours more than joshua trees country (oups couldn't stop myself again for that one)

lol, that's me! (my parents live in the Mojave Desert right next to Joshua Tree National Park)

[jako]

lol, that's me! (my parents live in the Mojave Desert right next to Joshua Tree National Park)

Sorry to be off topic but I'll visit this park next summer, can't wait.

[Red]

Sounds like Pure Playstation ownage.

[Nameless]

I can't believe Uncharted 2 looks identical to the first game. All those tech slides from GDC showed ideas (swimming levels, etc) that required a graphics boost to pull off... or at least an improvement to the water physics to add displacement and depth.

Moreover, I'm certain Naughty Dog will keep improving the animations (the real impressive tech in the game) and get rid of the screen tearing. My bet is the D+ staffer who saw the game hasn't played the first one recently and has unreasonable expectations for what constitutes improvements... If the game is set for November 09, there's most of the polishing left to go, so it wouldn't be too surprising to hear it looks like U1 at the moment...

Are we gonna start making U2 jokes soon? Drake still hasn't found what he's looking for. Guess he'll find the treasure with or without Elena. Maybe he'll send a bullet into the blue sky...

Agreed, but I would not expect any major changes visually considering the art direction. I would expect to see improvements to game play, animations, etc. The only visual boost may be better lighting, but the art direction of the orginal title limits what they can change visually. Even if the game looks basically the same that's not a bad thing considering it's one of the best looking next-gen games released.
*Still no other game has better dynamic shadows...*

[Red_Eyes]

FIXED: Uncharted 2 looks as incredible as Uncharted 1.

[TEEDA]

I would' nt matter if they use the same engine as long as they tweak it and boost it. Just like Insomniac did with Resistance > Ratchet & Clank when they put better streamless textures or something like that.

Uncharted does have amazing textures and still one of the best graphics



The animation seemed a little bit odd sometimes especially while climbing ropes or walls.
And the thing I dislike was the " hand to hand " button mashing system. You just could n t really control the moves, it depended of the angle of attack , sometimes you could kick the opponent, or slide between his legs and kick him, doing a jump kick, it was quite random I think.

But the general game is awesome.

[AC!D]

All sounds plausible to me. Seriously though Killzone 2, Uncharted 2, God of War 3, Heavy Rain, Infamous, Ratchet, MAG and White Knight Chronicles. Possibly GT5 and FF13 versus. That has to be the best ever line up of exclusives for a single year in the history of all consoles.

[GTAce]

Please dont mention GT5.
I wish i wouldnt know that it is in developement, till they finally show something of it...

FOR GODS SAKE!!!!!

[AC!D]

End of next year will be nearly another 2 years since the release of GTP so they really have to be getting close right?

[GTAce]

I expect it to launch in the holiday season 2010.
Without damage, without weather and without day/night cycle.

If my PC could run games better i wouldnt be so depressed from the lack of a good sim.

[PS3LikeNoOther]

It Uncharted 2 looks as beautiful as the first one already things are looking really good. The first game looked nowhere near the final product as near as E3 before it launched. Remember the pictures of the explosions in the jetski sections from May, July, and Final builds. We won't get a real idea of the graphical improvments on this game tell just befor launch.

As far as price cuts go it makes sense. smaller Blu-ray drives are going into mass production, Cell and RSX should be down to 45nm come early next year, and They should be able to though in a cheaper fan and Power Supply. With the amount of heat reduction and size reduction a slimmer PS3 would be a very good buisness decisions come September of 2009.

[curryking1]

Thanks for sharing VG. Sounds like 2009 is going to be a great follow up to 2008.

When it starts with Killzone 2 and a price cut that makes me a little more than just optimistic.

[BahnNZ]

I'd think with Naughty Dog well in the Sony Studios family and the cross pollination between them and the other studios there's no way Uncharted 2 is going to look identical to Uncharted 1. Sony have some much sexier software tech since way back when Uncharted came out.

Very sorted for games for PS3 for another year.

Let's spell it out...

Exclusive stuff that might make it to 2009: Killzone 2, Uncharted 2, God of War 3, Infamous, Ratchet and Clank Next, MAG, White Knight, GT5, FF13 Versus, Jak'n'Daxter Next, The Agency, Heavy Rain.

Multiplatform: Call of Duty 6, Resident Evil 5, Skate 2, Bionic Commando, Street Fighter IV, Tekken 6, Beyond Good and Evil 2, FF13.

Then a bunch of dark horses and surprises.

All sorted, really. One happy customer. How many games can one dude finish in one year, really.

[CreativeWriter]

Funny how even a rumor about Uncharted 2 gets me excited. I can't remember another game that I have such fond emotions/memories for--maybe Goldeneye64, maybe Super Tecmo Bowl.... Uncharted was the game that validated my PS3 purchase, and I still think it's the best PS3 game to date.

Fighting through GTA4's clunky cover system made me want to import Drake into Liberty City, that City of Blinding Lights, Fast Cars, Miracle Drugs...