The PlayStation 4 will be playable to the public during San Diego Comic-Con later this month, Sony announced today. It will mark the first time the general public will be able to go hands-on with the next-generation console since its announcement in February.
The Xbox One will also be playable at Comic-Con.
Gamers can try out PS4 games DriveClub, Octodad, and Knack during the show at Sony's booth. Various PlayStation Vita and PlayStation 3 titles will also be on-hand and playable.
In addition, Naughty Dog creative director Neil Druckmann and comic book artist Faith Erin Hicks will sign copies of The Last of Us: American Dreams at the Dark Horse booth on Friday, July 19 from 2-3 p.m. PDT. Druckmann and Hicks will also make an appearance on "The Art of Video Games" panel at 4 p.m. that day.
Gamers can also expect to learn more about the PlayStation Vita version of The Walking Dead at Comic-Con during a July 20 panel titled "Behind the Scenes with Telltale Games' The Walking Dead Game Series." It will be hosted by series creator Robert Kirkman, Telltale Games developers, and PlayStation's Don Mesa.
San Diego Comic-Con takes place at the San Diego Convention Center July 18-21.
Capcom has announced that it will be holding a tournament for Super Street Fighter IV: Arcade Edition, Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3, and Street Fighter X Tekken titled the Capcom Cup. Eight of the world's best players will compete in each of the games. The first Street Fighter IV qualifier will be this weekend's EVO 2013.
Capcom says they don't have the resources to run the type of tournament they did last year for Street Fighter's 25th Anniversary, but that they want to continue to support the community themselves. They have also partnered with the World Cyber Games to continue to pursue their eSports and fill the void from last year's 25th Anniversary event.
Capcom tells GameSpot that the event will be held in December in the Bay Area. Qualifiers will only be held for Street Fighter IV, and they will be partnering with with current community run events for their winners. Capcom also confirmed there will be some events outside of the US in the qualifier process. Players qualifying for Marvel vs Capcom 3 and Street Fighter X Tekken will use a different model, which has not yet been formalized.
GameSpot is covering the EVO 2013 live from the Paris Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. Watch it live on GameSpot's eSports hub
Warner Bros. Pictiures’ epic giant monster vs. giant robot action movie Pacific Rim released in theaters this week. As has often become the case these days, a movie tie-in game is not far behind thus we now have the Pacific Rim game on iOS and Android.
Developed by the Indian company Reliance Games, the Pacific Rim game is naturally based on the movie and brings some of the robot vs. monster action to the small screen.
If you were expecting some original gameplay, however, you are going to be in for some disappointment. Although the game lets you choose from five different robots, known as jaegers, and the visuals seem pretty decent, the gameplay is a clone of the screen swiping and the occasional pressing of buttons on the side to dodge action that we first saw in Infinity Blade almost three years ago and in several other games over the years, including Batman: Arkham City Lockdown and Man of Steel. Although it does seem appropriate here but the lack of novelty is sure to bore you quickly.
The Pacific Rim game is available on the App Store and the Play Store for a steep $4.99. Personally, it doesn’t seem like something I’d spend five bucks on.
Ubisoft has promised to reveal more details about a new Far Cry game soon.
Speaking to GameSpot, Ubisoft senior vice president of marketing and sales Tony Key said that the commercial and critical success of Far Cry 3 has ensured a sequel. "We’re totally psyched from [Far Cry 3]. It’s a great brand, and now it’s got the recognition it deserves, so we’re clearly going to make another one: more on that soon."
Far Cry 3 launched in late 2012, and was developed primarily by Ubisoft Montreal. The open-world FPS was set on a tropical island and revolved around its protagonist, Jason Brody, becoming increasingly unhinged after his friends are kidnapped by pirates. GameSpot awarded the game a 9.0 in its review.
Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon, a digital, 80s themed spin-off, was released earlier this year to further sales success. And an entry for a Far Cry HD, with Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 platforms specified, popped up in a Brazilian classification listing (spotted by VG Leaks) back in May.
Key also spoke about the current appetite for the open-world genre, saying that he believes today's gamers want fewer linear experiences. Many of Ubisoft's current releases incorporate elements of open world into their design, with Key saying that "I think open world can represent the future of, you know, gaming, and that’s where we’re investing huge portions of our resources--because we believe that that is what consumers want."
"They don’t want linear; they want open [world]," he continued. While Key did add that "there’s always going to be a place for linear experiences," he said Ubisoft was particularly capable at making large-scale, open-ended games.
Finally, Key told anyone hoping for a new Prince of Persia title on consoles to remain patient. "Prince of Persia, it’s got a really strong legacy with Ubisoft and it’s still there. We have nothing to announce, but, you know, we haven’t sold it off or given it away, so be patient. I know that’s hard!"
This week's new Grand Theft Auto V trailer sure was a doozy, wasn't it? Within that four minutes and 50 seconds of footage was everything from fighter jets to to investment banking. Yes, GTAV is shaping up to be a pretty massive game. So massive, in fact, that the trailer didn't even cover it all. So what better time than now to cover everything that's happening with Rockstar's latest crime simulator. Ready? Let's dive in…
About The Protagonists They've got unique abilities. You probably know that Franklin, Michael, and Trevor each come with their own background and personalities. But did you know they've each got their own special powers in combat? Michael, being the cool and experienced bank robber that he is, has the ability to slow down time in a shootout. As the wildman of the bunch, Trevor can trigger a sort of berserker mode where he can go to town on enemies with extra-powerful melee attacks. And finally, Franklin can tap into his not-entirely-legal history with cars to slow down time while driving.
They've got their own lives. Remember that part in the trailer where the camera zoomed high above the map and dropped in on Michael returning from a bike ride with his son? Or Trevor while he was fully engaged in a fight with the cops? That's because these characters all lead their own lives while they're left to their own devices. So when you decide to switch back to them, you'll find them tangled up in a variety of situations meant to give you more insight into their characters.
You can talk about them behind their backs. One of the interesting things about roaming around in a world that all three characters inhabit is that you can take the first character, go find the second, and wind up talking about the third one behind his back. Something tells us Michael and Franklin are going to do a lot of venting about Trevor's eccentricities, to put it mildly.
About Heists and Combat
You'll need to get strategic. GTAV's heists are what Rockstar calls the "narrative spine" of the game, a series of bigger and more dangerous jobs spread throughout the length of the game's main storyline. These heists can get pretty complex, requiring you to plan out your approach from start to finish. This means anything from buying your own disguises at clothing stores to placing the getaway car in the best possible location to hiring goons to fill out your crew. Complicating things is the fact that more skilled mercs will require a bigger percentage from the final tally. Further complicating things is the fact that only those helping hands left standing at the end of a heist will get paid, so you can use your imagination there.
Gunplay is more mobile. According to Rockstar, one of its biggest combat goals is to ensure that players can freely run around while still fully engaged in combat. You fire with the right trigger while moving around and aiming with the analog sticks--the same as a first-person shooter. The game detects when you're engaged in a fight and switches your movement speed from the default walking pace to what Rockstar has dubbed a "combat jog." Yes, a combat jog. If that's not the greatest bit of video game jargon ever, we don't know what is.
Cover is still important. Don't take the above to mean that cover has been completely ditched. It's still very much a factor, but Rockstar wants to make sure that it's more of an option and less of a necessity. But most of all, Rockstar wants to make the transition in and out of cover more natural. As one example, you can now hop in and out of your car and hunker down beside it all without exposing yourself to surrounding gunfire. It's that sort of fluidity that they're aiming for.
Weapons are customizable. Adding more depth to the way you approach each heist is your ability to customize your arsenal of guns. Want to stay quiet? Buy a silencer. Want to keep your distance? Buy a high-powered scope. Want to look like kind of a weirdo? Buy a flashy new paint job. It's your call.
About the World
The world has a soundtrack. Music has always been a hallmark of the GTA series thanks to the wonderful and often ridiculous assortment of in-game radio stations. But GTAV will be the first game in the series to provide a soundtrack to the outside world. There's a very subtle, ambient score that accompanies you throughout your adventures in the game. It'll provide a hint of sonic texture when you're just walking around, then build up to a frantic crescendo during a big shootout. It reminds us of the score HEALTH provided for Max Payne 3 in the way the music just kind of blends into the gameplay. Who knows? It might even be the same band providing the music this time around. Rockstar hasn't confirmed one way or the other.
There are plenty of ways to get around. Besides the standard assortments of cars, helicopters, and boats that you would expect out of a Grand Theft Auto game, this latest game boasts fighter jets, ATVs, jet skis, scuba gear, parachutes, submarines, and--as fans of San Andreas will be thrilled to hear--bicycles. You haven't lived until you've used a bike as your getaway vehicle. Well, you won't live if you try it either.
Those cars are customizable. In GTAV, Pay and Sprays have been ditched in favor of more fully featured auto shops in the form of LS Customs. These shops let you add cosmetic options like window tinting and body kits as well as functional enhancements like bulletproof wheels and vehicle armor. You can also tune your performance and handling by tweaking your car's suspension, brakes, and more. No word on being able to add wings or a periscope, but we have our fingers crossed
There are missions all around you. As you explore the gameworld, you'll happen upon ambient missions that have nothing to do with the main story or characters. This might mean picking up a hitchhiker out in the middle of nowhere, or helping a starlet escape the paparazzi on Vinewood Boulevard. And that's in addition to all the assorted outdoor activities featured in the new trailer, such as bike races, golf, and hunting.
You can buy more than just safe houses. So what happens once you've completed a few big heists and suddenly you've got money to burn? You invest it. You can buy assorted businesses throughout the city that not only provide a steady income, but also everyday benefits like free cab rides throughout Los Santos if you've purchased a taxi company. But if you're into more high-stakes investments, there's always the stock trading system as well. Buy low, sell high, and rob the joint when Black Friday hits.
It's big. Now for everyone's favorite metric for the quality of a game: cold, hard numbers. In terms of size, Rockstar claims that the world of GTAV is three and a half times as big as that of Red Dead Redemption, or five times as big if you count the underwater exploration areas accessible while scuba diving. That size will require a pretty hefty mandatory installation, however. That's nothing new for PlayStation 3 owners, but Xbox 360 owners should be aware that GTAV will require an 8GB install using one of its two game discs. After that, Rockstar says you'll be able to play the single-player game as well as Grand Theft Auto Online without switching discs. Oh yeah, about that multiplayer…
Rockstar Leeds recently posted (and has since removed) a job listing for a programmer who would assist in bringing the company's "latest titles" to PC.
"Rockstar Leeds are currently looking for a talented graphics programmer to help bring our latest titles to the PC platform," reads a line from the job ad as captured by Rockstar Watch.
"Working together with the other Rockstar studios, you will be responsible for maintaining the studio’s uncompromising quality bar, delivering the highest quality PC experience possible."
The requisition also mentions "working with skilled developers on next generation gamers," suggesting Rockstar will continue to release games on PC in the future.
A Rockstar Games representative was not immediately available to comment.
Some of Rockstar Games' "latest titles" currently unavailable or unannounced for PC include 2010's Red Dead Redemption and this September's Grand Theft Auto V. The company has said a PC version of GTAV is "up for consideration."
Rockstar Games released the first official gameplay trailer for GTAV today.
Beyond: Two Souls is not the only upcoming PlayStation exclusive to feature Hollywood talent.
Guerrilla Games announced today that David Harewood (Blood Diamond, Homeland) and Jamie Gray Hyder (True Blood) will play roles in the upcoming PlayStation 4 first-person shooter Killzone: Shadow Fall.
Harewood will play Vektan Security Agency director Sinclair, while Hyder has been cast as Echo, an intelligence operative for the Helghast. Both actors are lending their physical performance, voice, and likeness to their respective roles.
Killzone: Shadow Fall is a PS4 launch title set 30 years after the events of Killzone 3. It takes place in a new world and puts players into the boots of an all-new hero, the Shadow Marshal.
As for Beyond: Two Souls, that game launches exclusively for the PlayStation on October 8. It features the performance and voice work of Ellen Page (Inception, Juno), and Willem Dafoe (Spider-Man, The Boondock Saints).
Sony Computer Entertainment has announced that worldwide sales of its PS3 action title The Last of Us have exceeded 3.4 million units.
The sales figure was achieved within a span of three weeks since the game's release on June 14. Currently, the game is the fastest-selling new IP in the history of the PS3.
SCE Worldwide Studios president Shuhei Yoshida said that the figures are a testament to the game's quality. "The teams at Naughty Dog are true visionaries and their storytelling capabilities are second to none, this title is an undisputed demonstration of that."
The title secured the top spot in the UK gaming charts for the past four weeks. Critics praised The Last of Us for its story, combat and sound design.
Rockstar has been teasing its upcoming game with lots of in-game screen shots. One of the trailers revealed the main characters of the Grand Theft Auto V and we even saw a dozen of other screenshots to build up the hype for the game.
Now, Rockstar has finally released a trailer, which reveals in gameplay of the Grand Theft Auto V. In a teaser that runs for about 5 minutes, Rockstar shows the various locations of the gameplay that includes the urban environment and, of course, the beaches.
The video clip also shows the three main characters of the game and their backgrounds. The upcoming version of the popular Grand Theft Auto will allow you to invest in the stock markets and other real estate businesses.
The official gameplay trailer also reveals that Rockstar will be introducing the multiplayer feature in the Grand Theft Auto V. Check out the official gameplay video below:
Grand Theft Auto V will be launching on September 17 and will be available on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.
EA’s FIFA 13 has officially landed on Windows Phone 8. The member of the ultra-popular soccer gaming franchise is available in the Windows Phone marketplace exclusively for Nokia Lumia smartphones, priced at $4.99.
The Xbox Live enabled title unsurprisingly offers impressive graphics, coupled with responsive controls. Game content is well-covered too – there are 30 leagues, 500 licensed teams with 15,000 players, and 32 authentic stadiums to choose from, resulting in a hefty 951MB download.
Users of Nokia Lumia Windows Phone 8 devices can download the game by hitting the source link below. Feel free to share your impressions with us by dropping a line in the comments section.
If the Saints Row franchise continues past next month's Saints Row IV, the series could move in a new direction. That's according to Saints Row design director Scott Phillips, who told Gamereactor that Saints Row IV is the conclusion of the existing saga.
"We're definitely considering Saints Row IV sort of the end of that saga of this character and the Saints as they are," Phillips said. "So if there's any more future Saints Rows--which you know we always hope there will be, we hope there's fans for future games like that--they will probably continue in a different direction."
Saints Row IV launches August 20 in North America. It follows past entries Saints Row (2006), Saints Row 2 (2008), and Saints Row: The Third (2011).
The franchise was created by Volition and was published by THQ before the company went bankrupt late last year. The Saints Row series and developer Volition were purchased by Deep Silver (Dead Island) parent company Koch Media during a January auction for $22.3 million.
Players won't be able to switch off the light which emanates from the front of the PlayStation 4's controller, Sony president of worldwide studios Shuhei Yoshida has confirmed.
When asked on Twitter if the PS4's light bar could be switched off to save battery, Yoshida responded with a firm "no."
The light bar on the DualShock 4 controller is designed to work with the PlayStation 4 camera to detect motion, similar to the Move controller. The light can also be used for system functions, such as letting players know when the battery is low, and by developers; Killzone: Shadow Fall uses the light bar to give an indication of the players' health.
Along with the light bar, the DualShock 4 features a mono speaker, a 3.5mm headset jack, a micro USB port, and a clickable touch pad on the front of the controller.
The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) announced today that Activision Blizzard and Tencent have joined the industry group. The ESA is responsible for putting on the annual Electronic Entertainment Expo and represents the industry's interests on Capitol Hill.
The ESA's membership now stands at 37 companies, including heavyweights like Microsoft Corporation, Nintendo of America, and Sony Computer Entertainment of America, among others.
Activision left the ESA in May 2008 citing "business reasons."
Today, Activision Blizzard chief legal officer Chris Walther said the company is "excited" to return to the ESA.
"ESA has a long track-record of supporting its members and the video game industry, and we look forward to sharing our unique perspective and experience with them," Walther said in a statement.
Tencent is a significant Chinese Internet company that owns a majority stake in League of Legends developer Riot Games. The outfit also owns 40 percent of Gears of War studio Epic Games and has two employees on the developer's board of directors.
"ESA supports and cultivates collaboration among member companies," said Tencent director of business development and industry relations Gordon Bellamy. "We are excited to join an association that promotes the development of the U.S. game industry as we are exploring more opportunities in this market."
The ESA recently organized E3 2013 in Los Angeles, which drew 48,200 total attendees. Next year's event will be held June 10-12 at the Los Angeles Convention Center.
The trade association's president, Michael Gallagher, met with United States vice president Joe Biden earlier this year to discuss the role of violent media--including films and games--in mass shootings. The discussions came after the December schoolhouse massacre in Connecticut perpetrated by a reported "deranged gamer" that left 20 children and six adults dead.
ESA lawyers also successfully defended the game industry in a 2011 landmark Supreme Court decision that ruled that a California law preventing retailers from selling violent games to children was unconstitutional. The attorneys, Ken Doroshow and Paul M. Smith, were presented with the GDC Ambassador award for their contributions to the case.
Wii U launch title ZombiU was not profitable and there are no plans, or desire, for a sequel. That's according to Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot, who told GamesIndustry International that "betting big" on the Wii U did not pay off for the company.
Guillemot also said it was ZombiU's underwhelming performance that led the publisher to decide to release Rayman Legends as a multiplatform game instead of a Wii U-exclusive.
In May, Ubisoft Montpellier creative director Jean-Philippe Caro said the studio was at work on a ZombiU 2 prototype, though firm details were not disclosed.
GameSpot has reached out to Ubisoft for additional comment or clarification on Guillemot's remarks and the status of the ZombiU franchise moving forward.
Electronic Arts chief operating officer Peter Moore is also quoted in the GamesIndustry International report, saying the Wii U has been a "disappointment" thus far. No new titles are in development for the system, he confirmed.
"We were there with four games for them [at launch]," he says. "It's been a disappointment when you look at sell-through and, as a company, we have to be very judicious where we deploy our resources."
By comparison, EA supported the original Wii with 78 titles through the system's lifespan. Moore also pointed out that a lack of interest in online functionality among Wii U users is a reason EA is staying away from the platform.
"The lack of online engagement that we see on Wii U [is troubling]," Moore said. "It's so integral to what we do. They're so small it's hardly worth running the servers. It seems like a box that's out of sync with the future of EA - which is one that gives a real social feel to our games. The Wii U feels like an offline experience right now."
The Wii U has officially sold 3.45 million units worldwide. Nintendo president Satoru Iwata said last month that "We are to blame" for poor Wii U sales, noting marketing efforts have not done enough to explain why the system is compelling.
