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.
See below for the past week’s top stories.
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Yamauchi “restricted” by PS3, wanted “a lot more” in GT5
Even though the game isn’t in our hands yet, it doesn’t take a lengthy preview session to deduce that Gran Turismo 5 is nothing short of a sumptuous affair in virtually every conceivable aspect. Understandable then, that we’re slightly stumped as to how Kazunori Yamauchi could even attempt to cram in “a lot more” than what’s already on offer, which the developer claims he would have done if it weren’t for the pesky hardware restrictions of the PS3. Yep, it seems the technical prowess of Sony’s black behemoth wasn’t quite enough for Yamauchi-san’s latest baby. Hard to believe? Not really, as Kaz is notorious for admitting he’s been limited when it comes to the GT series dating back to his work on the original PlayStation iterations. Clearly, the man has lofty ambitions. Still, we’re intrigued as to what else Polyphony Digital would have incorporated had they been able to, though we’d be willing to bet motorbikes would have had something to do with it, seeing as how Polyphony has admitted the game has been made to accomodate such an addition. We think it’s a safe bet to assume we’ll be getting some DLC in the future — let’s just hope it doesn’t take five years to arrive like the main attraction.
GT5 is “gaming’s Avatar”
When a studio as prestigious as UK developer Blitz heaps praise over your latest endeavour, you know you’re on to something special – and no doubt the folks at Polyphony Digital are patting themselves on the back after Blitz did just that this week. Indeed, studio boss Andrew Oliver was so impressed with Yamauchi-san’s perpetually delayed racer that he labelled it the gaming equivalent of James Cameron’s movie masterpiece, Avatar. That’s some serious kudos there. Of course, there’s also the small fact that Oliver has experienced the game in 3D, which adds even more weight to his admiration for the game considering Blitz was responsible for the first console stereoscopic 3D title back in the day. And let’s face it, folks; one look at GT5 in action is enough to know it’s one of the most visually outstanding titles ever conceived.
Sony unveils Euro LittleBigPlanet 2 Collector’s Edition
Phew. Just when it looked like us PAL plebs were going to have to go without any Sacktastic LBP2 Collector’s Edition release, Sony goes and lifts the veil on a European CE release. And, while it’s a crying shame we won’t be able to snuggle up to that lovable SackBoy plushie in the cold winter nights that our lucky mates across the pond, it’s still a meaty package nonetheless, featuring the swanky obligatory Steel Book case, ample DLC costumes and a heap of PSN avatars. Obviously in this day and age CE releases of triple-A software is about as common as muck, but it doesn’t make it any less tantalizing for salivating gaming fanatics such as ourselves – we lap it up. January can’t come soon enough.
BioWare confirms interactive comic for Mass Effect 2
From the moment Mass Effect 2 was announced for Sony’s black behemoth, fans only had one question in mind – what will BioWare do to explain the mammoth choices we should have undertaken in the original game? The answer – an interactive comic. Yep, the developer confirmed this week that players will be able to take advantage of this feature – dubbed a “stunning visual experience” – to bone up on the inaugural game’s narrative and even make some crucial decisions that will ultimately influence their experience with the sequel. While we’d love to see the first game on PS3, this is about as good as it gets for now, and from the sound of things BioWare have done a bang up job of attempting to acquaint players with the Mass Effect universe.
CoD: Black Ops is “biggest entertainment launch ever”
Beginning to see a trend here? Indeed, it only seems like yesterday that Modern Warfare 2 assaulted store shelves with its compelling blend of action-packed set pieces, comprehensive multiplayer component and gripping campaign – the result? The biggest entertainment launch of all time. This week the latest entry in the series, CoD: Black Ops, hit shelves, ticking all the above credentials for the quintessential CoD experience and – shock, horror – cemented itself as the biggest entertainment launch ever. Regardless of where the next instalment takes us (which, if recent Internet rumblings are to be believed, could be in space of all places), we could be typing something similar out once again in November 2011. These days, CoD is a bit like marmite though; you either love it or hate it, and from the overwhelming success the brand has enjoyed in recent years, it’s abundantly clear that Joe Public bloody loves it. Ditto to hardcore gamers, though it’s obvious after scouting around on various forums across the web that a fair chunk of players are becoming a little fed up with the series’ overly formulaic offerings year after year. Nonetheless, we doubt Bobby Kotick and co will be overly concerned seeing as how the franchise may as well be a money printing machine in disguise. Regardless of your affiliation with the brand, we think a hearty pat on the back is the least the under dogs at Treyarch deserve in light of this mammoth milestone. Well done chaps – you’re no longer in Infinity Wards shadow. At least, not until Modern Warfare 3 shows up.
New L.A. Noire trailer unveiled
They say good things come to those who wait, and in the case of Rockstar’s long delayed L.A. Noire, we’ve certainly had our fair share of twiddling our thumbs over the past five years or so. First it’s a PS3 exclusive, then it’s not, then Rockstar’s shoved it in to 2011 – indeed, the game has been surrounded by an aura of negativity ever since we caught our first glimpse at the gritty 1940s detective outing back in 2006. That all changed this week, much to our delight, when Rockstar finally lifted the curtains on a brand-spanking new trailer for the game, which sees players hopping in to the shoes of a LAPD bobby by the name of Cole Phelps. And boy, was it worth it. Let’s not waste any time babbling though, check it out for yourself in our weekly media digest here.
THQ confirms Saints Row movie reveal for next month
We suspect many of you, like us, remain highly sceptical when it comes to the topic of game – movie adaptations, and rightly so. Frankly, they tend to have a pesky reputation for being absolute bollocks. However, we’re always willing to give the big name franchises a shot (Uncharted being one example we’re hoping doesn’t prove a complete disaster), and with news that Saints Row will be joining the pack, we’re hoping against hope that the crime sim’s transition to the silver screen will at least offer a modicum of entertainment for fans. THQ is remaining tight lipped on any major details concerning the project at present, though we won’t have to wait long for the scoop – the publisher reiterated this week that a full reveal will be with us some time next month. Smart money says it’ll be unveiled at the Spike VGA Awards, which as you may recall typically plays host to big announcements – Uncharted 2 got its world premiere there back in 2008 – so we’ll be keeping our eyes peeled. Interestingly, the flick should be with us by this time next year, as THQ big cheese Brian Farrell said the company is aiming to have the movie out the same time as Saints Row 3 on PS3 and Xbox 360, which itself is scheduled for an autumn 2011 release. Fingers crossed neither take a delay bullet, then.
Call of Duty: Black Ops smashes UK day one sales record
Not content with becoming the “biggest entertainment launch ever,” Treyarch’s Cold War-era shooter also slammed a rifle butt through the UK’s day one sale record previously held by 2009 shooter, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 – surpassing the Infinity Ward title by 14 percent, apparently. No mean feat considering MW2 sold like hot cakes, but it does mean that PSU Towers has been forced to stuff our face with some much-deserved humble pie, having previously predicted that Black Ops wouldn’t match the mammoth success of last year’s effort. Munch Munch. Indeed, the Call of Duty juggernaut has proven to be a colossal commercial success story for publisher Activision for yet another year, and we’ve no doubt that the trend will continue for some time. As mentioned previously, it’s even more of a significant achievement considering Treyarch, for lack of a better term, has been regarded as the under dog when it comes to the two development studios behind the brand, and while CoD 3 and World at War proved competent enough shooters in their own right (although the former is probably our least favourite in the entire series), they never quite matched the dizzying critical and commercial heights of Infinity Ward’s offerings. So, once again, a hearty pat on the back to the chaps at Treyarch – oh, and be sure to stay tuned for our definitive verdict on CoD: Black Ops in the next couple of days.
Gran Turismo 5 dated for US & UK, will have 1,031 cars
As far as megatons go, you’d be hard pressed to find something with more clout than the small matter of Gran Turismo 5 finally getting stamped with a firm release date following its delay last month. And that’s exactly what we got today, where Kazunori Yamauchi answered the prayers of racing aficionados’ around the globe by confirming the perpetually delayed racing simulator will be cruising on to store shelves on November 24 – that’s in both the UK and U.S. too, we might add. Japan gets it the following day. What’s that sound? Ah, that’ll be the unanimous sigh of relief uttered by gamers across the web, no doubt. Indeed, the past few months haven’t proven an easy pill to swallow for us poor PS3 owners, with a seemingly endless barrage of delays plucking away the juiciest fruits of Sony’s planned 2010 holiday line-up from the branch like apples and plonking them in the basket for next year. GT5 remained pretty much the only game that hadn’t followed a similar fate; that is, until Polyphony Digital announced last month that the game wouldn’t make its early November launch. In fact, many speculated that it wouldn’t see the light of day in 2010 full stop. Fortunately, this is no longer the case, and we’ll finally be able to get our mitts on the game in less than a fortnight. Doesn’t seem possible after five years worth of development does it? Colour us mega pumped. We’ll have a review up shortly after release too, so be sure to keep your eyes peeled.