Sony E3 press conference wrap-up
Sony really had to bring out the big guns to top the games and the technology that Microsoft rolled out yesterday and it probably didn’t help that some of the juiciest information - including photos and video of the new PSP had been leaked by accident (or on purpose) by QORE. It was these worries in mind that Sony Computer Entertainment America president Jack Tretton made his way to the Shrine Auditorium stage and opened the press conference.
After making a nervous joke about the PSP leak and his high level of nervousness, Tretton began talking about the PSP family and how it’s doing. The presentation would prove to be a roller coaster ride, filled with talk of sales figures, Hannah Montana and some very big surprises…
PlayStation Family
Tretton mentioned that 30 percent of retail sales in 2008 were from the PSP, PS3 and the PS2. The PS2 will continue to receive Sony’s support well past the ten year life cycle Sony orinally had planned for the console, but with interest still high for it, the company pledged to support it as long as consumer continued to show an interest in it. At 99 USD he expects the interest and the sales to continue.
He called the three systems the perfect family console and noted that 100 new titles are on the way for the PS2. He briefly talked about some other financial stuff like the company’s continued expansion into the Latin American market, but this stuff was all very droll. There’s also talk of a Hannah Montana bundle offering the latest game from Disney coupled with a pink PSP. Scott Jones will be wanting that on his wish list for Christmas, no doubt.
Uncharted 2 Live Demo
That mind numbing presentation was interrupted by an excellent live demo of Uncharted 2: Among Thieves for the PS3. Naughty Dog showed off Drake and friend as they attempt to survive and unabashed full frontal assault from a helicopter gunship and a number of well armed ruffians. The action moved quickly from rooftop, to ledge, to broken building exterior and interior, with lots of gun play, acrobatics and maneuvering. The demo ends in a crescendo of explosions as the gunship tries to level the building Drake is in. It was interesting to watch the buildings structure shake and tilt left and right as the building is rocked by rockets.
The demo they played is at the Sony booth and playable so we should hear more about it from our operatives on the ground. The multiplayer beta begins tonight at Midnight (we think PST)
MAG Live Demo
Next up was a live demo of MAG, Zipper Interactive’s large scale online multiplayer action game. Andy Bodwin of Zipper Interactive showed a sample of the tactics and commands players can use as he lead a 8 man squad comprised of developers into a battlefield capable of housing up to 256 live players. The demo actually featured that many players, though from the [perspective we saw you would be hard press to point that out. Nevertheless Zipper is really working hard to make the game as gritty and as real as a large scale battle would be. The game is all about taking and securing key points on the map - which in turn giving the team taking these points interesting advantages.
PSP GO
Next Tretton (and later Kazuo Hirai) talks about the worst kept secret of E3: the PSP Go. The new smaller, slimmer PSP will not replace previously released models, nor will it see the end of the UMD format. Instead games will now be released on PSN and UMD format. The PSP features integrated wifi, a small size and less weight than other PSPs, 16g of flash memory, slide out feature, an M2 memory slot for additional memory, Blutooth support, and a number of new apps to make moving media and games a lot easier. the PSP GO will be released in North America and Europe October 1 for $249.99 USD. The system will launch in Japan on November 1st.
Hirai also mentioned that Sony’s video delivery service has more than more than 1900 movies and 9400 TV shows. Now thanks to a replacement app for the PSP, these can be run natively on the PSP as well. Sony has also inked deals with Showtime, G4, E! HD NET and other including sports partners to bring even more content to the PlayStation Family.
Gran Turismo PSP
Kazunori Yamauchi of Polyphony Digital stops by to announce Gran Turismo PSP. He tries to show it running on the PSP Go, but the screen is so small that no one can see it clearly. GT for PSP will run is a full blown product running at 60 fps and offering 800 cars, 30 tracks and 60 (?) layout options. The game will offer standard racing, time trials and a legacy license mode where you can learn all your driving skills
The game will support adhoc play in various modes for up to players and will allow users to trade cars and other stuff with other players simply. GT for PSP will be released October 1.
Assassin’s Creed 2
A live demo is shown of Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed 2. While it was shown at Microsoft’s and Ubisoft’s events earlier in the week this is the first glimpse of the actual demo. What we learned from it is that Leonardo Divinci serves as the players personal inventor creating devices that are used throughout the game. His famous flying machine is shown in a scene where our hero soars above the waterways and streets of Venice, italy. Ubisoft says that it chose this setting because it offers crowded streets and wide open spaces. Some new features are shown like the ability to kill by dropping onto an enemy, a new AI called “the seeker” which does a better job of hunting you down, smoke bombs for fast escapes and a new kill method where you eliminate two bad guys using a couple of concealed blade Leonardo invented for you. Six additional weapons will be unlocked in the game if you connect the PSP version with it - a feature you obviously won’t find on other platforms. Don’t’ worry Ubisoft announced that DLC for all platforms will be out shortly after the game ships this holiday season.
Sony’s Magic Wand
After a montage of video and talk of PSN titles, the biggest news of the event happened: A prototype of a motion sensor controller that had been rumored to exist was finally shown. The controller, which resembled a cartoon magic wand (with a giant ball sensor on the end) uses the EyeToy camera to track movement directly to the device. Since the sphere at the end of the device is what is being tracked it can easily sense and track movement on the screen. The proof was right on the screen as the EyeToy’s video showed that the movement, the way it was being held and what angle and position it was in was tracked accurately.
There was also zero delay in movement as the device was used as a baseball bat, tennis, sword, gun, etc. Sony showed some applications to give us a better idea of how it could be used. In a simple RTS style map the wand was used to circle units, in another tech demo they showed how two of these wands could be used as a sword and a shield, and in another they showed how accurately you could write and draw with the device.
By the end of it the crowd and everyone else watching was amazed at this little surprise that Sony had not managed to leak. This technology, which will probably look much different when it finally sees the light of day. will be rolled out in spring 2010. Buy that EyeToy if you don’t already own one.
Mod Nation Racers
The next big surprise was a beautifully and clever racing game called Mod Nation Racers. Inspired by the idea of allowing users to build and play, this game lets you do just that - but unlike Little Big Planet - the tools you use to do so are so simply a baby could use them. The game is a cute and highly customizable arcade racing game featuring cute characters, weapons, and the ability to create and customize and share everything.
To prove how easy it was to create a track, the developers showed off the track building technology. And sure enough they adjusted everything from the layout of the tracks, to scenery, power-ups buildings, the weather and even sheep, then took the track for a spin. Hearing about this game doesn’t do it justice - you really have to see it in a more visual format.
Metal Gear Solid Peace Walker
Next was an announcement that a new Metal Gear Solid game wis coming to the PSP. The new game, which takes place after the events of Metal Gear Solid 3, is called Metal Gear Solid Peace Walker. The game is set in Costa Rica and will feature Solid Snake doing what he does best - sneaking around and killing people. Kojima promises that this is a direct sequel to MGS 3 and that it isn’t a spin-off; it’s full MGS game that will take advantage of the PSP. A video is shown of the game which reveals something very interesting: two Snakes sneak behind a soldier and get under one box. This seems like a pretty good hint that cooperative play will be available in game via adhoc. The game will ship later this year.
Rock Stars and Fantasies
Tretton announces that some popular PlayStation games are coming to PSN and that one of them will be Final Fantasy VII.
He also name drops Lost Planet 2, which is not an exclusive, but one game that is is coming from Rock Star North..
Lots of videos showing off new games. the most notable being Gran Turismo 5 and the next project from the genius behind ICO and Shadow of the Colossus called The Last Guardian. While the movie for this game was pretty impressive looking it was hard to guage whether or not there was some actual gameplay footage in there. The game revolves around a young boy and a strange winged creature who seem to be taking care of each other. No details on when this game will be released but fans will eat this video up.
A short video of Final Fantasy XIV Online was shown, along with word that it will be a PS3 exclusive.
Rockstar North’s next game, an espionage thriller set in the late 70’s, would also be a PS3 exclusive. Tretton said that this game will sell PS3’s like the Grand Theft Auto series had in past.
God of War 3 Live Demo
The show went out with a bang as a live demo of God of War 3 is shown off. The live demo of third game in the Kratos trilogy is gorier, grittier and more violent than any God of War game so far. Kratos has plenty of new moves and new weapons like a flaming bow and a pair of gauntlets that allow him to smash monsters in the face with or light on fire. Fun stuff. The game is played out as gods and Titans fight in the background - what the developers call an eternal battle that never ends. Maybe Kratos can play peace maker by stabbing some of them in the face? God of War 3 will be released in March 2010.
The End
And with an impressive showing of God of War 3, Sony closed out its press conference. Going in I didn’t believe that Sony had it in them to top Microsoft. While i don’t want to say that they did, I will say that their impressive line-up of games, the PSP GO and its prototyped motion sensing technology at least put them in a tie with Microsoft.
