[E3 09] Sony Press Conference Recap

[DoctorFinger]

Sony just finished their E3 presser, which clocked in at over 2 hours long. Here's your friendly neighborhood recap.

- The first game we got a look at was Uncharted 2. The live demo was great, featuring incredible graphics, big firefights and interesting instanced events, including a building collapsing while Drake is still in it. Reaffirmed the fall release date.

- Next up was MAG. We were told the battle we were being shown features 256 live players, from across Sony and Zipper's various locales. Graphics are middle of the road, but some of the features are interesting. Teams are divided into 8 person squads and larger platoons. Squad and platoon leaders can issue orders, which you get XP for following. We saw a flight of helicopters called in, as well as an airstrike and a UAV, all of which are player controlled. Set for release this fall on the PS3.

- A lot on the PSP, including a lavender Hannah Montana PSP, and the new UMD-less PSP Go. The until will go on sale October 1 for $249. It will have 16 GB internal memory, and use a new type of mini Memory Sticks. Going forward all PSP games will be available for digital purchase. PSP Go won't replace PSP-3000, but sit alongside it.

- A new PS app called Media Go launches today, allows easier browsing and organizing of your digital library. They also announced the expansion of the Video Delivery Service to the PSP.

- Next we hear about Gran Turismo PSP, no footage was shown, but it will have 800 cars. October 1 release date.

- Next is the new Metal Gear Solid: Peacewalker for the PSP. A 2010 release. Looks like classic Metal Gear gameplay, but with clones implying that there may be co-op play.

- The PSP gets an unnamed new Resident Evil title next year.

- A live demo of Assassin's Creed 2. Your character Ezio works with Leonardo DaVinci, who makes his gadgets. He has dual arm blades, and gets a flying machine/glider at one point. Gameplay is pretty much the same as AC1, but the whole thing looks very nice. Instead of just using a sword, you take weapons from enemies, for a total of 30. Plus you can unlock 6 more via the PSP Assassins's Creed. Releasing Q4 this year

- A video trailer for Final Fantasy 13, which didn't show much new.

- Final Fantasy 14 was announced as a PS3 exclusive, and as an online game. Whether that means MMO, co-op or what, we don't know. We do know that it's coming next year.

- Next we moved onto Sony's motion control system. The system uses the PlayStation Eye, and a controller with a glowing ball on the end. The camera tracks the ball, and there are buttons and triggers on the controller itself. The demo showed the devs on screen (via the camera) with a number of cartoony items in their hands: bats, hammers, light whips, stop signs, etc. They were also manipulating items in a virtual sandbox, writing, painting, swinging a sword, and using a bow with the system. Everything looks fairly early in development, but PlayStation Motion won't be out until spring 2010, anyway.

- A new PS3 exclusive title called Mod Nation Racers. It's a cartoony kart racer, but with absolutely tons of customization options. You can make your racer or vehicle look however you want it to. The game also has very robust and easy track creation tools. In under 5 minutes, the developer made a new track live on stage. Lot of possibilities here.

- The new Team Ico game (formerly known as Trico) was unveiled for the PS3: the Last Guardian. Part of the trailer was in the leaked video, albeit with much better graphics here, but there was a lot of new footage too. The game centers around a boy and his...monster. I call it a Giant Rat Dragon, but he reminds me of Falkor from the Neverending Story. The boy rides atop him for much of the video, but also goes off on his own. It has all the charm, whimsy and wonder you expect from Team Ico.

- They then announced The Agent from Rockstar North, another PS3 exclusive. It's an espionage title set in the 70s , so lots of Cold War hijinks. Nothing was shown of the game, though.

- A video of Gran Turismo 5 for the PS3 was shown. Just video, but you could see World Rally Championship and I think NASCAR logos in the game. No date was given.

- Finally the show ended with a God of War III demo. It was simply put: brutal. Kratos grabbing harpies and forcing them to carry him. Ripping the horn of a chimera and stabbing it in the head with it. Just tons of enemies and ultimate brutality; a great demo. Announced as coming in March 2010.

[Wraith]

High Interest:

• Final Fantasy XIV: Online
• Gran Turismo PSP
• Final Fantasy XIII
• The Last Guardian

Moderate Interest:

• Uncharted 2
• Metal Gear Solid: Peacewalker
• Resident Evil on PSP
• Assassin's Creed 2
• Gran Turismo 5 (would be High if we had a date)

Mild Interest:

• God of War III
• Mod Nation Racers
• MAG
• PSP Go
• PlayStation Motion

Unknown:

• Agent

[Ink Asylum]

Excited about The Last Guardian and GoWIII. Assassin's Creed 2 I'll be getting for 360. The rest doesn't much interest me.

[MrBibbz]

I was very disappointed in this conference. There are a few games I am interested in, however I was digging the ego stroke that Sony had going for themselves.

Games I'm interested in:
M.A.G
The Last Guardian
Uncharted 2
MGS: Peacewalker


Was it me or was there really a lack of exclusive titles to Sony's line up aside from the expected ones (ie Uncharted 2, and God Of War 3).

[civil]

No Agent mention? Just the description alone has me changing my underwear.

Stupid Rockstar website has no mention of it as I type this. Cockteases!

[violent]

Originally Posted by MrBibbz

I was very disappointed in this conference. There are a few games I am interested in, however I was digging the ego stroke that Sony had going for themselves.

Games I'm interested in:
M.A.G
The Last Guardian
Uncharted 2
MGS: Peacewalker


Was it me or was there really a lack of exclusive titles to Sony's line up aside from the expected ones (ie Uncharted 2, and God Of War 3).

I'm not sure but I think Sony showed the most exclusives this year.

[Wraith]

Not from the conference, but: Kratos a Playable Character in Soul Calibur PSP (1up)

[Xerxes]

Originally Posted by Wraith

Not from the conference, but: Kratos a Playable Character in Soul Calibur PSP (1up)

Do want....

[Goronmon]

Anyone know where I can check out a video of the conference?

[DoctorFinger]

Originally Posted by Goronmon

Anyone know where I can check out a video of the conference?

Gamespot has it up - http://e3.gamespot.com/press-conference/sony-e3/

[Goronmon]

Thank you sir.

[Vandabo]

I loves me some Gran Turismo, but I have no desire to play it on a PSP. Those games are all about immersion for me, and it's hard to get immersed in a 3 inch screen. Not to mention the lack of sufficient analog controls.

[Tayaya]

Originally Posted by Vandabo

I loves me some Gran Turismo, but I have no desire to play it on a PSP. Those games are all about immersion for me, and it's hard to get immersed in a 3 inch screen. Not to mention the lack of sufficient analog controls.

I'm still excited about it, despite not being able to play this version with my G25. GT was the reason I bought a PSP (it was supposed to be a launch title for that). I do enjoy portable games quite a bit, including racers, so it'll be nice to have a good, high-quality, long-lasting racing game on the PSP after all these years.

The GT5 trailer was very significant in that it confirms that there will be car damage (at least in NASCAR), and the addition of licensed racing leagues like WRC (and rally racing period, since that was previously unseen for GT5), Le Mans, and NASCAR.... which all helps elevate GT to a lot more than just a car-lover's somewhat generic but pretty racing game. Compared to Forza 3, which is looking loads better than Forza 2, GT5 still has me a lot more excited overall. The problem is, those that don't care about racing games or think they're all pretty much the same don't realize how big a deal that all is.

I think Microsoft had the best "wow" showing, mostly thanks to Milo, which was the only bit of Project Natal that I really cared about....controlling the interface with my hands did not impress me, though it would be fun for a minute or two, but I think Sony had a very strong showing, ego issues aside.