First Look At Madden 12

When you mention football NFL fans have the tendency to cringe at the thought of the lockout continuing for the whole season – when you mention Madden, NFL fans should smile amidst the bountiful improvements implemented in the upcoming 18th installment to the Madden series (not counting the previous John Madden versions). In Madden 12, EA has taken a new approach in development – focusing more on improvements to the games current features, with a new few additions here and there to provide a more realistic experience for users.

Some of the improvements are updated small features that seem so miniscule that it’s safe to say most wont notice a change in a 15 minute game. When users do have a nice hour to sit down and enjoy a game – they’ll notice that they are now unable to zoom in freely as they used to. Cameramen now have a more realistic feel, forcing users to obey rules that cameramen in the NFL have to obey when taping the players and the games.

Speaking of more realistic things, the NFL cameramen were created using motion captured so that users can pick up the smallest of actions; such as how a cameramen tries to limit their breathing to keep still. Along with the many improvements to the camera, EA has also implemented a much updated to team jerseys, making them a whole lot “Sexier”, as well as shrinking the ball size for a more realistic feel.

Last year EA introduced a new feature called “Game Flow” which provided a choice of plays for the user, based on their team, which received a fair amount of criticism due to the lack of customization. Of course EA knew this had to be fixed, so they added a Game Flow enhancement to Madden 12. Users can now rate their plays, allowing Game Flow to recognize the users favorite plays.

EA also made some desperately needed changes to the Tackle Mechanics. In previous versions, users would lose control of their selected players 2-3 yards before the collision, lining up for a hit, and delivering. With the new improvements, users now have full control over their players, with collisions starting when the players are in front of one another, and not 2-3 yards in advance.

Finally, EA has thoroughly worked on their environment mechanics, providing a HUGE realistic boost. For example, if your team is on the West Coast and is going to play an East Coast game, be prepared for the time change, weather change, and different fan enthusiasm.

Keep in mind that this was just the first of many Madden 12 presentations. This time around, EA is going with the “staggered” news approach, the kind that worked well with Marvel Vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds. Users you can be sure that I’ll have more news on the game as the release date (August 30) nears.

Resistance 3 Demo to be Bundled with Battle: Los Angeles Blu-ray

Those of you that can’t wait for the release of Resistance 3 have a chance to get a taste of the game before the September release. It was announced yesterday on G4TV that the hit movie Battle L.A. will feature a 30 minute action packed single-player demo when purchasing the Blu-ray. The game demo will come installed directly onto the Blu-ray disc, so y’all don’t have to worry about multiple disks.

That’s not the only way to get your hands on the demo – there is one more. For those of you who purchased the SOCOM 4 add-on “Full Deployment Edition” count yourselves lucky – you’ll also be recieving a copy of the Resistance 3 demo.

The down fall to this is I’m unable to report if the demo will be available for download through the PSN. A multi-player demo is still in the works.

Battle: Los Angeles is slated to invade your Blu-ray player on June 14th while Resistance 3 is looking at a September 6th as for its own personal invasion.

Hit the jump for a video trailer of Resistance 3, exclusive on the PlayStation 3.

New Black Ops Map Pack Releasing May 3rd 2011

Call of Duty fans we have something to look forward to during this PlayStation Network fiasco – Activison recently added some new screenshots and trailers to the Call of Duty site to hype up the May 3rd (For xbox live) debut of the second Call of Duty: Black Ops Map-Pack. The pack includes 5 new intensive combat maps as well a new addition to zombies featuring an more in-depth story line to get users more into Zombie packed fun.

The multi-player section of the pack features 4 new maps for players to dive themselves into – the first map “Hotel” takes place on the roof of a Cuban luxury hotel, where players battle against the backdrop of old Havana. The next map players have to indulge themselves in is called “Convoy” and as the name suggest the map takes place at the scene of an ambushed US military convoy – the perfect map for those who like fast-paced close-quarter combat. Third on the multi-player list is “Zoo” which takes place in an abandoned Soviet Russian Zoo. Lastly we have “Stockpile” placing players in a remote Russian farm town housing secret weapons of mass destruction facilities.

Our Site Editor, Allegra, Unboxes LittleBigPlanet 2: Collectors Edition (Video)

I know we were late to the party when it came to getting our hands on LittleBigPlanet 2, but we really wanted the Collector’s Edition and I was under strict orders that I wasn’t allowed to play the new game till our site editor, Allegra, had arrived back in Los Angeles. Because she was able to spend a week here, we finally got the opportunity to not only play LBP2 but also do an unboxing.

Sony Puts Country Before Profits, Cancels MotorStorm Apocalypse for Japan

By now, we have all have seen the countless images and videos on CNN and other places from the recent natural disasters that took place in Japan. With cities destroyed and the country’s spirits and energies going towards their people and the much needed recovery that is taking place as each day passes, it’s nice to see a company set aside its profits and instead focus on the people. In an alternative universe where a 8.9 earthquake and tsunami had not rocked the country of Japan, this week Sony’s PlayStation division would be releasing MotorStorm Apocalypse for the PlayStation 3. This genre-defining racing game has always been centered around all forms of jaw-dropping environments where the player can race, crash and taunt away the opponents in all forms of manors. Prior to this installment, the series had raced into the deserts and tropical landscapes for the game’s backdrop. For MotorStorm Apocalypse, the developers wanted to instead focus on an old abandoned city where the environment itself played like an opponent. With falling buildings and destroyed streets, the game was a spectacle to look at and play through, if you had not recently been exposed to a trauma of the same magnitude. Sony instead believes that the game will hit too close to home and will not be appropriate for the people of Japan and through an email issued out to the press, has stated that the game will be postponed (indefinitely) for Japan. From a capitalistic standpoint, this might not be a good move. After all, millions are/were spent on making this game, let alone localizing it for Japan, but from a humanity standpoint, it’s nice to see a company forgo profits and instead focus on the people.

Our LittleBigPlanet 2: Collectors Edition is Here!

We’re a little late to Media Molecule master piece, LittleBigPlanet 2 but our lovely editor, Allegra Wilson was able to get her hands on a collectors edition and our team will soon be rocking it with Sackboy and Sackgirl. Released on January 18th of this year, this sequel has gone to receive critical praise like the original title. With an average score of 9.1 from the critics and 9.3 from users, this PlayStation Move enabled sequel is as refreshing as the first round with plenty of new tricks and features. Did we mention there is already over 2 million user generated levels, in addition to the 50+ game levels? Look for my dressed up as either Captain Jack Sparrow, Spider-man or Clu from Tron under Fusion_ID and Allegra as Miss Elizabeth Swan or the Human Torch under The_Prancer. Unfortunately, the Collectors Edition is extremely hard to find but the normal edition can be found on Amazon for $53.88.

SOCOM 4 Full Deployment Edition Gives You Move Bundle with $70 Savings

2011 is gearing up to be an exciting time for PlayStation 3 and Move fans. January saw the release of LittleBigPlanet 2 and just this week, Killzone 3 was released with full native Move and 3D support. Now set for an April 19th release, SOCOM 4 will give PlayStation 3 owners another exclusive FPS with full Move support from the ground up. The SOCOM 4: U.S. Navy SEALs Full Deployment Edition for $149.99 will come packed with:

• SOCOM 4: U.S. Navy SEALs video game on Blu-ray disc
• PlayStation Move Motion Controller
• PlayStation Move Navigation Controller
• PlayStation Move sharp shooter
• PlayStation Eye Camera

This limited time bundle will allow those who want to experience Move for the first time to save $70 versus buying the individual pieces needed for the full Move experience. Of course FPS fans, SOCOM 4 is Dualshock 3 compatible as well with the regular edition costing $59.99.

Gran Turismo 5 Update 1.07 Now Available

Hey GT5 fans, a new small update awaits you before your next gaming session that is set to fix some glitches and bring on some overall enhancements.

[Major Changes and New Features]

Friend Rankings

In Drift Trials and Time Trials, you can now display leaderboards that shows only your friends. While it was difficult before to locate your friends in the general leaderboards, this now makes it easier to compare laptimes with them, allowing you to compete between just your friends for the best laps and scores.

[Correction of Known Issues]

– The calculation of performance points (PP) which is an index of a car’s performance, is now calculated without taking into account the tyre selection.You can now combine the performance point restriction and the tyre restriction when setting the regulations for a lounge.

– Fixed the issue where the performance of electric cars increased/decreased after a certain amount of driving.

– Downloaded replays from Seasonal Event Rankings can now be viewed properly.

[Other Changes]

– Cars worth over 1,000,000 Cr. (Including those in a gift car ticket form) are now prohibited from being traded to prevent issues during the trading process. When lending and borrowing cars between friends, please utilize the car loan system.

SOCOM 4 Release Date News & Killzone 3 will have SOCOM 4 Beta

SOCOM 4 news has been pretty quiet ever since we heard that the game was delayed back in July of last year.  However, the Wall Street Journal said this third-person shooter game will be arriving in April.  A specific date has not been set but we have a month and it’s getting there.  SOCOM 4 will also be Playstation Move compatible.

Other exciting news for fans was announced today from Sony.  When buying Killzone 3, players will receive a code to access the SOCOM 4 Beta.  Killzone 3 arrives in just over a month, (February 22) and this definitely adds to the excitement and anticipation for this game .  The beta will test the online multiplayer portion of the game, offering up to 32-player firefights.  Zipper Interactive’s Chris Roper described the details:

To get early access to the beta, look for the SOCOM 4 callout on the front of all eligible copies of Killzone 3 (including both the standalone and Helghast Editions). Inside the box you’ll find a PSN code that you’ll be able to redeem for your early access as soon as the beta goes live. To find out when the SOCOM 4 multiplayer beta begins, be sure to check back at SOCOM.com once you pick up your copy of Killzone 3, hitting shelves on February 22nd.

We’ll have more information on the SOCOM 4 multiplayer beta itself in the near future. For now, take a look at the callout for the beta on the awesome Killzone 3 box art!

There’s no word as to when the SOCOM 4 beta will kick off but details should come shortly.  The beta code will only be available at participating retailers.  Pre-order Killzone 3 now at GameStop, Amazon or Best Buy to receive the SOCOM 4 Beta.

[via Playstation Blog]

MotorStorm Apocalypse Release Dates Announced!

Along with the release date, the retail box art was revealed. Quite strangely, the European and US release dates are a month apart. For once, Europe gets something first. Although, it’s obviously best when release dates are as close as possible. The game will be released on March 16th in Europe, and April 12th in the US.

Follow the links for the official announcements:

[Via PlayStation Blog – US / Europe]

PlayStation Store Update Highlights – January 11th & 12th

This week’s updates were fairly low-key, mostly featuring price cuts on the US side, whilst Europe’s highlight was Angry Birds, only as a result of a delay from the previous week. There’s also the usual add-on content for older games, in addition to themes, trailers and wallpapers.

Find the details at the following links.

[Via PlayStation Blog – US / Europe]

Tomb Raider Trilogy in HD – Exclusive to PS3

It’s clear that the convenience and popularity of ‘HD collections’ is not going unnoticed by developers. In particular, the current set of industry circumstances, that make the process of re-releasing PS2 games in higher resolution (among other things) for PS3 feasible, are ideal.

The Anniversary, Legend and Underworld Tomb Raider titles will be found in this HD trilogy on Blu ray for the PS3. Due to Anniversary already being a remake of the original Tomb Raider game, things begin to get a little complicated, and a little suggestive of the recycled nature of the franchise. Nevertheless, the product’s premise is certainly compelling.

As always, follow the links for the official announcement.

[Via PlayStation Blog – US / Europe]

PlayStation Store Update Highlights – January 4th & 5th

It’s an interesting update this week, with full downloadable games becoming less of a rarity. Third party titles such as Borderlands being one of these examples is evidence that it’s becoming easier for companies to work together in virtual retail. Borderlands was made available for digital download on the US side of the store in December of last year. This week’s European release simply highlights the proliferation of the form of distribution.

The following links will provide you with the full release information:

[Via PlayStation Blog – US / Europe]

Editorial: Games & The Value of Their Aesthetics

During the year of 2010, I thought about the following topic a considerable amount: the value of aesthetics in interactive entertainment. This was partly a result of there being a less than abundant supply of games that I found engaging this year.

I firstly want to make clear that – obviously – there were games that I greatly enjoyed in 2010. To give a few examples – God of War III, GoW: Ghost of Sparta, Heavy Rain and Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker. These games consumed a lot of my free time. Yet, the time I spent with the aforementioned titles pales in comparison to the time I invested in older games released in the 90s and the first half of this decade.

In order to analyse this concept faithfully, I’ll need to touch on other issues that influence the situation.

The currently slug-like state of my internet connection accentuated this thinking. I was cut off from the pulsating flow of community consciousness. It brought to the forefront of my mind the huge similarities in fundamental gameplay when comparing what we buy today and what we bought ten or fifteen years ago. This idea is not new, and many people are acutely aware of it.

So, if what I’m saying has any weight to it — if we’re essentially buying the same games over and over again – what makes us do it? Among other smaller, varying factors, it seems that marketing / hype, narrative, and graphical fidelity are the main culprits.

PSN Update Highlights – December 21st & 22nd

It seems as though some of the best PSN updates simply involve demos. This week’s update brings the LittleBigPlanet 2, Mass Effect 2 and Dead Space 2 demos to the US and PAL-region stores (there are some exceptions to availability for certain countries).

Supplementing this are the plethora of discounts available. There’s a truly staggering amount of new content in this update. Though, most will agree that the aforementioned demos are most exciting. Follow the links for the full details.

[Via PlayStation Blog – US / Europe]

LittleBigPlanet 2 Release Date Announced & Demo Available

The release dates for LittleBigPlanet 2 have been revealed – January 18th for North America, January 19th for Europe, January 20th for Australia and New Zealand and January 21st for the UK and Ireland. The date marks an important time in the PlayStation brand’s release calendar, with the franchise being one of the most critically successful in the PS3 first party lineup. Its delay, which resulted in it missing a holiday release, accentuated the arguably lacklustre selection of games exclusive to the PS3 this Christmas.

The team even made a quick card that can be printed out and placed under any would-be-buyers’ christmas tree, stating ‘I bought you LittleBigPlanet 2, and it’s coming on January 18th, but here’s a card for you to open now!’, pleasantly conforming to the quirky LittleBigPlanet brand of humour.

Also, a demo is now available for download on the US and UK PSN Stores.

[Via PlayStation Blog – Europe / US]

Gamer Log: Time Crisis: Razing Storm and Enslaved Arrive!

Woo hoo, over the past week, I’ve ordered two new PlayStation 3 games that I’m eager to play: Time Crisis: Razing Storm and Enslaved. As you might be aware, I’ve been slowly building my PlayStation Move fleet by purchasing two Shooting Gun Attachments, as well as the PlayStation Eye Camera Mounting kit and Charging Station. Now, I actually have a game for the PlayStation Move itself as well, though to be honest, I still don’t own a PlayStation Move. Though this might sound crazy, there is a reason behind this. I’ve been having a pile up issue with games, as in I own plenty of games that I have yet to beat. Recently, I put a stop to all of this by setting a goal of finishing some old games. I’m one Trophy away from completing everything in Battlefield: 1943 and I’m currently at the end boss in Final Fantasy 13, this means that after these games, I’ll be clear for some more games. By having all my items ready for the Move, I can actually go out and by one in the next few weeks or might even get them for Christmas and have the full ready “Move” experience. But alas, Time Crisis will be more of  a fun game, beaten or not. It’s something that I can pick up with my girlfriend and just have some fun with, or have the family give it a try. Enslaved on the other hand is where it’s really at for me in terms of real gaming. I loved Ninja Theories Heavenly Sword with its rich world and characters and I’m the type of gamer who plays for story and that’s exactly what Enslaved is meant to be. Gorgeous graphics, set with rich characters and a story that is to be played out in front of me in an epic fashion are the types of games I’m a sucker for. Plus, Ninja Theory is well known for truly utilizing MoCap to bring their games to life. Though, I’m still not sure if I want to just go and beat Final Fantasy 13 and move along to Enslaved, or actually go do some more side quests and extra bosses as well. Thoughts?

“Angry Birds” Headed to the PlayStation 3 Next Year

Looking to expand on the ever popular iPhone game, Rovio’s CEO Peter Vesterbacka is looking to expand into gaming consoles, including the PlayStation 3. Though the game won’t be played with touchscreen controls like the iPhone (PlayStation Move maybe?) the CEO did say that this will indeed be much more then just a port over, instead “the pigs will be a lot more active than just being slingshotted at by birds.” Look for the game to be distributed via the PlayStation Network (PSN) some time in 2011.

[Via BBC]

Grand Turismo 5 to be Released on November 24th

It looks like our hunch on the matter was correct. Kazunori Yamauchi, President of Polyphony Digita (creator of the Grand Turismo series) and Sony have gone on record and confirmed that GT5 will be released on Wednesday, November 24th. Some key features of GT5, outside of its realistic graphics and physics engine include:

• 1,000 cars, including karts and select NASCAR cars
• Scores of tracks (over 100)
• Course maker
• Car damage
• Dynamic weather system
• Robust online community
• Grand Turismo television

Remember, Grand Turismo 5 will be coming in two different packages. First, is the normal edition (you can pre-order it now from Amazon) that will run for $59 which includes just the game. Then, for the real hardcore fans, Sony has also made the collector’s edition as well.

Collector’s Edition Content Details:

• Gran Turismo® 5 game
• Exclusive limited edition 1:43 scale diecast 2009 Nissan GT-R Spec V with custom Gran Turismo livery designed by Polyphony Digital, produced by well-known collectible car maker Kyosho
• In-depth 300-page car-lover’s guide written by the experts at Polyphony Digital, covering everything from the history of the modern automobile to driving techniques and game reference material
• Custom etched Gran Turismo key chain
• Voucher for five (5) exclusive high-end cars with custom Gran Turismo livery and performance upgrades
• Numbered certificate of authenticity
• Custom collector’s packaging

Remember, you can pre-order the Standard Edition, as well as the Collector’s Edition from Amazon which will not only guarantee your copy delivered on November 24th, but it will also help out this this site!

Killzone 3 Helghast Edition ($129.99)

Not to be outdone by the Call of Duty and Halo bundles, Sony and Gurrila Games are putting together a pack of their own for Killzone fans. The Killzone 3 Helghast Edition is aimed at collectors and hardcore fans alike. Priced at $129, this edition is now available for pre-order on Amazon and will offer fans:

• Authentic Helghast Helmet replica opens to reveal art book, Super Voucher and Killzone 3 game.
• Exclusive Cloaking Helghast Marksman action figure is 6.5” tall with multiple articulation points and will not be sold at retail
• Includes bonus video content giving you a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the game.
• Exclusive art book featuring imagery from the Killzone universe
• Super Voucher includes
  • Killzone 3 soundtrack and PS3 Dynamic Theme
  • Retro Map Pack featuring two of the most popular multiplayer maps from Killzone 2
  • Double XP for the first 24 hours of multiplayer gameplay
  • Full access to all weapons and abilities during the first 24 hours of multiplayer gameplay

Killzone 3 will launch on February 22nd, 2011 with full native Playstation Move support.

[Pre-order Now]

Sonic: The Hedgehog That Started it All For Me. Sonic 4 out now!

Sonic the Hedgehog 4:  Episode 1 was released yesterday on the PSN and available for $14.99. To say I’ve been excited for this game is an understatement.  Sonic 1, 2 and 3 for Sega Genesis were among the first video games I’ve ever played, period.  I loved the series and it became the base for my love of video games today.  Episode 1 has four main zones; Splash Hill, Casino Street, Lost Labyrinth, and Mad Gear.  Each of these has three acts followed by a boss battle, which is the same formula as the previous classic games.  Of course Sonic upgraded to 1080p graphics but has the classic side scrolling game play we all know and love.

While playing the game last night, I noticed there have been quite a few changes in the game.  You start out playing Act 1 of Splash Hill but after you beat that, you are brought to the main menu where you can choose between all four stages (as shown below).  When you click on a stage, a menu pops up, giving you the option to play Act 1, 2, 3 and the boss stage, of course you have to beat the acts within a stage in order. I really like this new feature for the game and having the option to switch between Stages and going back for a higher score or finding a new path to beat the Act.  As far as the gameplay,  I think this new Sonic is a bit easier to play.  They added a locking-on/homing feature to all enemies and item boxes, making it super easy to destroy them.  When there is a string of enemies, just press X a few times and Sonic jumps from one to the next in one continuous move.  If you touch an enemy, you lose your rings (like in the originals) and  you don’t have to take them out using the lock on feature.  To stick with the original game play and a little challenge, I only use the locking-on feature when it is really needed.