Welcome to another instalment in our weekly news digest where the team at PSU Towers picks our favourite slices of gaming gossip from the past seven days, before proceeding to offer our two cents on each story for good measure.
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DmC to be ‘one of the greatest’ titles in the series to date
Having been a Devil May Cry aficionado since the series’ inception back in 2001, I’m one of the apparently many legion of gamers who were immediately turned off by Ninja Theory’s forthcoming entry in the celebrated hack ‘n slash franchise. And to be honest, I’m still not taking a shining to Dante’s short-haired, emo-esque aesthetic even after all this time. Nonetheless, it’s the gameplay that will determine whether or not the controversial DmC will triumph or fall flat on its arse, and I’m certainly hoping it’ll be the former. Capcom’s reassured us that it’ll be one of the best entries in the series to date; in fact, it’s got its sights firmly set on raking in 90+ review scores. Interestingly it notes that past titles, while “great games,” scored around the low 80s. That may be the case, though apart from the dismal DMC2, the rest were as far as I’m concerned triple-A material. With little shown on the new title, however, it’ll be a while before we can get some sort of idea as to how it’s shaping up. Fingers crossed though.
UK Charts: Pokemon dethrones Killzone 3
Without sounding too pessimistic, I had a feeling that Killzone 3’s days at the UK top spot were numbered. I mean, let’s face it – Pokemon is a cultural phenomenon, a commercial juggernaut on the same playing field as FIFA and Call of Duty. It was inevitable it’d plant its backside firmly in pole position upon release. What’s more surprising, however, is the fact Guerrilla Games’ sci-fi shooter – which recently bagged PSU’s February 2011 Game of the Month accolade – has plummeted to fifth place. After beating Bulletstorm to no.1 last week, I’m surprised that Epic’s expletive-filled shooter managed to get one over on Killzone 3. Elsewhere, Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood has finally bowed out of the top ten after a lengthy chart stay dating back to November 2010, though pleasingly, Dead Space 2 is managing to cling on at nine. No doubt it must be champagne all around at EA HQ.
Sony and Insomniac want to see you in Resistance 3
Getting your mug plastered in a videogame boasting the commercial clout of the likes of Resistance is nothing short of an opportunity too good to miss, no two ways about it. Hopefully we’ll see more developers following suit over the next couple of years. After all, how snazzy would it be to put a shotgun to the face of your on-screen zombie counterpart in Resident Evil? Or even storming the beaches of Normandy in the shoes of a heroic, chisel-jawed WWII veteran? As for Resistance 3, a quick glance in the mirror confirms that I had better pass on this particular avenue – when you sport a mug that’d make even the Chimera look like oil-paintings, it’s time to call it a day. Wouldn’t want to give the chaps at Insomniac Games a heart attack, would I now?
EA chuffed with Mass Effect 2 PS3 sales
That makes both of us. Indeed, I’ve personally been itching to get my mitts on some info pertaining to Mass Effect 2 PS3’s retail performance ever since the sci-fi spectacle made a conspicuously brief visit to the UK charts at the tail end of January. Reaching seventh place, the RPG quietly slipped out of the Top Ten altogether, much to my surprise. Okay, so the game’s been out for a year on Xbox 360 already, but I had expected a little more love for Shepherd’s much-anticipated PS3 debut. Fortunately it seems the game generated sufficient numbers – especially the PSN release – with EA big cheese John Riccitiello describing sales as “meaningful.” This statement would have carried more clout had Riccitiello divulged exact sales numbers, though it’s nonetheless encouraging news for the third instalments arrival on Sony’s black box later this year. Quite how it’ll measure up to the 360 and PC release remains to be seen, but for all intents and purpose, ME2 was a success.
Deus Ex: Human Revolution dated for UK
Mark it in your diaries, folks – August 26 is the day Square Enix seeks to augment your gaming experience with the release of Deus Ex: Human Revolution. The date’s still a way off, though I’m pretty pleased to see it occupy a traditionally dry release period, so the wait isn’t so hard to bare. Plus it’s not as if we didn’t see it coming – the game was pushed back last year to a post April launch, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise to see it turn up in late summer. Let’s just hope it’s worth the wait, eh?
NGP won’t just be for the ‘ultra-rich,’ says SCEE
Now that the initial hype-induced vertigo has subsided somewhat, one of the most prominent things embedded in gamers’ minds regarding NGP is the price. Sony’s remained coy on how much the new handheld will cost, though various company bigwigs have indicated we won’t have to fork out too much for the pint-sized platform. Adding further fuel to the prospect of a reasonable RRP this week is SCEE’s Jay Ryan, who said the PSP successor would retail for an “affordable” price point. Specifically, it seems the NGP won’t just be catered towards the Hooray Henry’s of gamers (and for the yanks who are wondering what i’m waffling on about, that basically means rich folk), with Ryan insisting Sony aims to attract a broad audience with the new device. Just as well too, since with the rise of Smartphones as of late, the last thing the electronics giant needs is another exorbitantly priced piece of kit on shelves, ala PS3 back in 2006. NGP’s got a lot going for it in terms of software and raw features, so as I’ve said before, it’ll all come down to the price in terms of how successful hardware adoption will play out come late 2011. Don’t muck it up, chaps.
Saints Row: The Third info landslide
Developer Volition’s third entry in the Saints Row franchise is sounding particularly scrumptious, if fresh info this week is anything to go by. Thanks to US publication Game Informer, we’ve managed to clap eyes on the first concrete details on Saint Row: The Third, and it’s shaping up to be something pretty spectacular indeed. According to the mag, it seems the celebrated IP has received a suitable amount of poking and prodding in just about every conceivable area, from weapons, customisation and multiplayer. The latter is especially noteworthy, as Volition’s ditched traditional online scraps in favour of shining the spotlight firmly on a co-op experience. Series followers should also be pleased to see the return of an array of whacky costumes, adhering to the franchise’s unique brand of humour. It’s still too early to judge since we’ve yet to see the game in action, but going by early tidbits, Saints Row 3 is shaping up to be a proper Gangsters Paradise.
Introducing Uncharted 3’s chief antagonist – Katherine Marlowe
Cheeky chappie Nathan Drake’s found himself up against some ruthlessly unscrupulous sorts over the past few years, though from the look of things, Uncharted 3’s Big Bad looks set to top them all. Specifically I’m referring to Helen Mirren lookalike, Katherine Marlowe, who Naughty Dog gave a little taster of earlier this week. From the sumptuous cut scene we were treated to, I can’t help but feel that the Dogs have fallen head over heels for us Brits. Aside from Mirren doppelganger Marlowe, Drake’s third adventure also features a chap who sports an uncanny resemblance to Jason Statham, right down to the trademark hard man persona as he duffs Drake up against a wall. Ouch. Gorgeous graphics aside though, Marlowe and her flock of thugs definitely instil a sense of ‘omg-what-has-Drake-got-himself-into-this-time’ about the proceedings, and there’s no doubt the femme fatale’s psychological-based antics will make bald brash brute’s like Zoran Lazarverich seems like child play in comparison. I can’t wait to see how all this pans out – and let’s hope Drake gets a chance to pay Mr. Statham’s lookalike back with a meaty punch to the chops.
Top marketing exec leaves Sony
As a games journalist, I’ve written about countless corporate bigwigs over the years, and despite never meeting one, I can’t help but feel I’ve come to know them over the years. I’m sure this statement will resonate with anyone in my position, though for everyone else, just take my word for it. Peter Dille is no different, and has proved instrumental in the continued success of PlayStation hardware for the past five years, having held the position of SCEA marketing boss. He was part of the furniture, so to speak, and as such I’m sad to see he’s jumped ship. I won’t speculate as to his reasons for leaving the company, but I would like to talk the opportunity to wish him all the best for his future endeavours, whatever they may be. Cheerio, mate.
NGP offers console-level experience, says Mark Rein
Sony’s NGP has been creating a lot of buzz among industry watchers as of late, and it seems everyone and his granny is eager to get their mitts on the pint-sized platform. Well, everyone but Michael Pachter anyway. Mark Rein this week has sprinkled praise on the handheld, specifically its application of dual analogue sticks that he says afford a console-like experience. By that, he means games like Gears of War, Call of Duty and other similar titles that you’d typically play on a massive screen that requires the precise manipulation offered by twin sticks. Epic Games stable mate Cliffy B made similar statements last month, when he said NGP gives the FPS a decent shot on handhelds. More pleasingly, however, is Rein’s confidence in the handheld market, believing traditional platforms are safe despite the invasion of Smartphones and app store content.
White Knight Chronicles II heading to Europe
A result of sloppy workmanship or a victim of the soul-sucking hype machine? Whatever the case may be, the original White Knight Chronicles received a decidedly luke warm reception when it arrived on PlayStation 3 a few years back, so it is perhaps without surprise that many gamers are anticipating the sequel with a whiff of apprehension. Still, I’m willing to give it the benefit of the doubt, and no doubt hardened RPG nuts could care less that the series hasn’t quite measured up to the likes of Final Fantasy. If fantasy-filled frolics are your thing, then there’s a lot worth checking out in White Knight Chronicles. Plus, Level-5’s also bringing out PSP prequel White Knight Chronicles: Origins, so I imagine fans must be frothing at the mouth right about now. I’m just pleased to see that game such as WKC and Yakuza are making the transition to western territories these days, as there was a time when they’d never have seen the light of day over here or the US.
PS3 firmware v3.60 released, includes cloud saving
Cloud saving is the ‘next big thing’ as far as industry watchers are concerned, and a mighty handy tool at that. For those out of the loop, the feature essentially allows you to save game files on Sony’s online servers, sparing you the trouble of clogging up your PS3 hard drive with data. Sony’s flagship console finally got its taste of the feature this week with the release of the latest firmware update, though annoyingly, it’s only for PS Plus subscribers at the time of writing. Nonetheless, it should be interesting to see how well this feature goes down with consumers and whether or not it makes a smooth transition to PS3.
Rumor: NGP hitting Europe before Christmas?
Next to that all-important price point, the release date for Sony’s NGP remains very much a hot topic since Sony lifted the cloth on the device in late January. So far, the hardware manufacturer’s kept mum on any specific date, only stating that it’s aiming to have the system out in “at least one” major territory by the end of 2011. Most people have pretty much accepted this’ll be Japan, with Western regions getting it in 2012. However, MCV sources have claimed the PSP successor will in fact make it onto European shelves on November 11, 2011. Obviously this would be ideal, meaning we’d not only have the chance to get the handheld in our stockings for Christmas, but pick it up a little earlier than expected to boot. Right now though I’m not entirely convinced it’ll make Europe in 2011. I predict a Japanese-only launch for this year, and most likely an early 2012, simultaneous release for North America and Europe. Perhaps they’ll squeeze a US launch out of the system before the year’s out, but I’m not holding my breath.
GTA IV worldwide sales now at 20 million
Hands up anyone who’s surprised at this? No? Good, didn’t think so. Indeed, Rockstar’s Grand Theft Auto has always sold by the bucket load, and given the monumentally positive response to 2008’s fourth outing in the crime ‘em up series, I’m not at all shocked how well it’s performed. Congrats to Rockstar though, as the franchise has now barrelled through the life-to-date sales milestone of 100 million units sold. Virtual claps all around. Still, as great as this is, there’s only one thing on everyone’s mind – GTA V. I know it’s coming, you know it’s coming, and Rockstar’s probably known it’s been coming ever since GTA IV assaulted shelves three years ago. And, with rumors rife that a fifth outing is in the works – apparently going under the moniker of ‘Rush’ – I reckon it’s only a matter of time now before we hear something concrete. E3 reveal perhaps? Make it happen, folks.
Sony promotes Kaz Hirai
Out of all Sony’s top dogs, Kaz Hirai is undoubtedly the most prolific. That probably has something to do with the fact he’s Group CEO of SCEI, but I imagine his legendary performance at E3 2006 may have helped people remember him as more than just simply “that bloke who runs Sony.” Indeed, who could ever forget the moment he gushed ‘Riiiidge Raaaacer’ or dropped that $599 bombshell— it’s right up there with stabbing giant enemy crabs for "massive damage," we think you’ll agree. Anyway, ‘ol Kaz has certainly done well for himself in recent years, and as of April 1, will assume the position of Sony vice president. All that’s left to say is a hearty congratulations to Mr Hirai, and I’m personally looking forward to seeing him pop up at future tradeshows to dazzle us with his words of wisdom once more. Big it up for the Kazonator, folks!
CoD: Black Ops is best-selling game ever in US
Bloody hell. You know, at this point, I’m half expecting Activision to announce that Black Ops has unearthed the universal cure for cancer – it seems there’s no end to Cold War-era shooter’s achievements, which continues to rifle-butt through yet more sales milestones four months after release. Indeed, I think it’s fair to say that any doubt as to the commercial pulling power of the brand can be safely put to bed. Regardless of the fact some hardcore folk are getting tired of the annual antics of this venerable FPS series, Joe Public is lapping it up – – and that means Big Bucks for Bobby Kotick and co. With the game tipped to snag this year’s BAFA GAME gong, it seems Black Ops’ success has only just started. Watch this space.
Batman: Arkham City dated for US, UK
Batman: Arkham Asylum was unequivocally the greatest superhero videogame to have graced a home console in recent memory, and so it’s no surprise the Caped Crusader’s next outing, Arkham City, has made it on to many gamers’ most wanted lists. From the look of things, the game’s shaping up mighty fine indeed, packing in a far more expansive locale than before, plus heaps of new gadgets and iconic villains to boot. Even better, we now know when we can finally get our mitts on the gritty sequel – October 18 for the US, and October 21 for Europe. I’m just hoping we’ll also be privy to a sumptuous Collector’s Edition of some description – come on Warner Bros., you know you want to.
Sony responds to NPD February 2011 figures
Sony’s monthly NPD responses are getting a tad predictable, to be honest. While its competitors are only too happy to lay the raw figures on the table, Sony’s consistently refused to divulge any specific numbers for PlayStation 3 hardware, making me wonder just how well the console has been selling in comparison to Xbox 360 and Wii. While it’s encouraging to know that the hardware manufacturer continues to enjoy growth each month, I’d like to be able to digest some cold, hard figures for a change. After all, you can waffle on about growth all you like, but if there’s no sales numbers on the plate, it doesn’t carry the same clout. Then again, for all I know, Sony’s black behemoth could be selling 200k+ below the front runner, so perhaps it’s just as well they keep figures close to their chest. I doubt this is the case, but still, I’d just be intriguing to see how well it’s performing, if nothing just to compare year-on-year results. Not only that, but with Killzone 3 just out and the fact PS3’s seen some meaty exclusives on shelves as of late, I was eager to see how the recent onslaught of triple-A treats had facilitated PS3 adoption in comparison to previous months, if at all.
Massive earthquake smashes Japan
I happened to be up early enough to watch this horrendous tragedy unfold on the early morning news, and all honesty, it’s at this point where words fail me. While it’s comforting to know that some of our much-loved games developers are safe, the bigger picture is far grimmer; thousands have lost their lives, and the death toll looks only set to rise in the coming days. Not only that, but he repercussions of the event speak for themselves; I can’t even begin to imagine how it must feel to be in the shoes of those who must now go about the colossal task of rebuilding their lives after losing their homes and loved ones. Indeed, the last few years have seen some particularly brutal disasters unleashed across the globe – the 2004 tsunami and last year’s awful quake in Haiti spring to mind – and this latest disaster is no different. All that’s left to be said is that my thoughts and prayers go out to the friends and loved ones of those affected by this awful tragedy.