Via PSPSPS

Downloadable content – that’s definitely something still more commonly associated with Xbox 360 titles; clearly Sony has to put its plan for a lot more content on the PlayStation Network into action and start catching up with its rival, Microsoft. Unsurprisingly, launch title MotorStorm is the first game to get Sony’s DLC debut with an update that goes a bit beyond a simple patch. From June you’ll be able to download a new content pack called Coyote Weekend.

Coyote Weekend will contain three brand spanking new groups of races, an ‘altered’ (so not new then?) version of Coyote Rage map and a load of new car configurations for the existing tracks. More excitingly, there’ll be a new vehicle to play with – we’re not sure what kind though.

Prices aren’t certain yet, but in the mean time a free download will be unlocking a Time attack mode, some gameplay tweaks and leaderboard system on the 7th June. Via Eurogamer ...

Via Wii UK

A massive slew of rumours is currently circulating pertaining to Nintendo's mysterious press summit held in an abandoned castle on the top of a cliff in Transylvania. Lightning and everything.

Those rumour-mongering scamps at NeoGAF have posted up a message purportedly from a 'press insider', presumably given to them in a dark alley in some kind of swanky looking briefcase.

There's rather a lot of information, so I'll give you a condensed version - remember, these 'facts' are completely unsubstantiated for the most part so they might not be true:

Metroid Prime 3 will have downloadable extra missions, suits, weapons, and so on.

Smash Bros uses either classic controller / GC controller or a Wii remote / nunchuck combination.

Super Mario Galaxy allows you to explore the interior of giant planets - the game will also use WiiConnect24. Somehow.

A trailer reel was shown featuring ( amongst others ) Mario Kart Wii, Vision Red ( a new RPG from Nintendo ), Animal Crossing, Wii Music, Wii Health.

Finally, an epic-sounding video was shown that finishes with Link and a massive triforce 'smashing into pieces.' ( I love that bit ).

How plausible is all that then? It could be educated guesswork, as nothing sounds particularly unexpected. It's unlikely Nintendo will comment on any of it as the information they released at the press summit is currently under embargo.

It's interesting, but I'm going to wait for the official word before I get too excited.

You can never trust anyone these days.

Stay tuned for more news. ...

Via Spong

Worms goes to Hell

29 May 2007

As of 9am tomorrow you'll be able to get your mitts on some brand new content for Worms on Xbox Live Arcade.

Up for grabs are three new landscapes, with 'Hell Landscape' and 'Jungle Landscape' setting you back 150 Microsoft Points each, and 'Space Landscape' costing you nothing at all.

Also free is a soundbank, with foreign language and classic voices available to enhance the little blighters' aural landscape. Rounding off the line-up are two desktop themes at 150 points each and packs of gamer pictures to enhance your profile at 100 points for 5 or 200 points for 12.

Team17's Martyn Brown recently delivered a keynote at Northern Exposure on the developer's success with Worms on Xbox Live. For SPOnG's coverage click here. If that's not enough wormage for one day, you can find out what SPOnG thought of its recent trip across to Team17 to preview Worms Open Warfare 2 here.

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Screens can be found here ...

Via QJ

French site Play-3 Live reports that a Sony PlayStation 3 version of the popular MMORPG EverQuest II: Echoes of Faydwer is in the works. There's not a lot of details on that, but they did post these screens allegedly from the port.

It does seem a little bit doubtful to us if we judge the buzz on these images alone. The graphics seem to not be too far off from the PC version. We thought that if it was getting ported, it could look a little better. Still, it's possible that they didn't change the visuals for the sake of quelling lag issues.

EverQuest II: Echoes of Faydwer takes players on the journey of their lives into the island of Faydwer where the land is quiet but the spirits are restless. Using traditional MMORPG elements with quest-driven play that enhances your abilities, the game racks serious longevity and great fun for all ages.

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Some screenshots of the game can be found at this link ...

Via Worth Playing

The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena presents a reinvention of 2004's Escape from Butcher Bay in HD, enhancements, as well as adding the Dark Athena chapter, an expansion of the original game with an exciting new story and new gameplay features.

With The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena, players will not only be challenged to survive Butcher Bay, but will also engage in a new single-player experience and, for the first time in the Riddick universe, take action in intense multi-player combat. The game introduces the ominous Merc-ship Dark Athena, which sits silent like a marauding spider, awaiting helpless prey in the dark reaches of the galaxy. Players must face a large, bloodthirsty operation led by the dreaded Captain Revas and her slaves-turned-controllable combat drones, storm though death-defying events and fight fierce enemies in a battle of malice and gore.

First released in 2004, The Chronicles of Riddick game features an original storyline that provides insight into the mythology of Universal Pictures' films The Chronicles of Riddick and the cult classic Pitch Black, which first introduced Vin Diesel as enigmatic anti-hero Riddick. The game blends action and stealth elements, as players navigate Riddick through the harsh environments of dank tunnels, dimly lit corridors, and other hazardous areas filled with guards, savage inmates and deadly creatures that prowl the darkness.

Moving and attacking in darkness is particularly effective for Riddick as his haunting "eye shine" gives him the ability to see without ambient light. However, stealth won't serve every situation and players will be able to take the action up close and personal. As Riddick, players will be able to sneak up behind enemies and snap necks or fight face to face using fists, elbows and grapples. Additionally, players will be able to capture weapons such as shanks, shotguns, or assault rifles and use these to cut a swath of destruction through anyone who gets in their way.

The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena is scheduled to ship later in 2007

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Click here to view the screens ...

Via Worth Playing

The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena presents a reinvention of 2004's Escape from Butcher Bay in HD, enhancements, as well as adding the Dark Athena chapter, an expansion of the original game with an exciting new story and new gameplay features.

With The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena, players will not only be challenged to survive Butcher Bay, but will also engage in a new single-player experience and, for the first time in the Riddick universe, take action in intense multi-player combat. The game introduces the ominous Merc-ship Dark Athena, which sits silent like a marauding spider, awaiting helpless prey in the dark reaches of the galaxy. Players must face a large, bloodthirsty operation led by the dreaded Captain Revas and her slaves-turned-controllable combat drones, storm though death-defying events and fight fierce enemies in a battle of malice and gore.

First released in 2004, The Chronicles of Riddick game features an original storyline that provides insight into the mythology of Universal Pictures' films The Chronicles of Riddick and the cult classic Pitch Black, which first introduced Vin Diesel as enigmatic anti-hero Riddick. The game blends action and stealth elements, as players navigate Riddick through the harsh environments of dank tunnels, dimly lit corridors, and other hazardous areas filled with guards, savage inmates and deadly creatures that prowl the darkness.

Moving and attacking in darkness is particularly effective for Riddick as his haunting "eye shine" gives him the ability to see without ambient light. However, stealth won't serve every situation and players will be able to take the action up close and personal. As Riddick, players will be able to sneak up behind enemies and snap necks or fight face to face using fists, elbows and grapples. Additionally, players will be able to capture weapons such as shanks, shotguns, or assault rifles and use these to cut a swath of destruction through anyone who gets in their way.

The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena is scheduled to ship later in 2007

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Click here to view the screens ...

Via Daily Tech

PS3 significantly helping European Blu-ray Disc cause

The Sony PlayStation 3 isn’t only a powerful piece of gaming hardware; it’s also one of the best Blu-ray Disc players currently on the market. PlayStation 3 owners are well of this fact, and may likely be using the console as a part-time HD movie player.

Following the North American release of the PS3 in November 2006, Blu-ray movie sales surged significantly – making up for ground lost to the more economical HD DVD standard. A similar trend is now occurring in Western Europe, where the PlayStation 3 launched on March 23.

According to data from the Blu-ray Disc Association, as cited by Pocket-lint, HD DVD comfortably outsold Blu-ray Disc up until the launch of the PS3. In the week immediately after the console’s European launch, Blu-ray discs accounted for almost 87% of all HD disc sales, and not since trailed HD DVD sales.

Recent weekly figures from Europe put Blu-ray sales three times greater than that of HD DVD, with the now-leading format accounting for 64 percent of the total volume in 2007. The quick turn of the tide, however, reflects how easily it is to sway favor in a still relatively small niche market. ...

Via CVG

Price cut later this year wouldn't be enough to "stimulate sales" of PS3 says Bank of America bloke

While everyone's crying been out for a PS3 price drop since the console launched in March, the Bank of America's Michael L. Savner has said he doesn't think it would be enough to stimulate sales of the console significantly.

"Despite growing anticipation that a $100 price cut for the PS3 is imminent this summer or early fall, we do not believe such a move would meaningfully improve stagnant PS3 sales and we are growing more concerned that a share shift away from Sony and Microsoft to Nintendo's Wii platform is incrementally negative of all third-party publishers," Savner said.

He continued by describing a $50 cut "as meaningless" and added that it's down to the games to put PS3 back in the spotlight. "Based on our analysis, we conclude that a $100 price cut for the PS3 (we have dismissed a potential $50 cut as meaningless) would still leave the 'all-in' cost for a PS3 console and basic accoutrements 20-25% higher than the comparable Xbox 360, and does not even reflect the possibility that Microsoft could also lower its hardware prices.

"Further, an important driver of Sony hardware last cycle was exclusive games, such as Grand Theft Auto. Unfortunately, Sony does not have a similar advantage this cycle. Halo 3, a highly anticipated game release this year is a Microsoft-published game only for the Xbox, and Grand Theft Auto IV, by Take-Two's Rockstar unit, is being released on both the Sony and Xbox platforms."

Savner believes that Sony has made a number of mistakes and consumers are more price sensitive than Sony anticipated. To make up more ground, Savner says Sony would actually need a $200 price cut, but doesn't see that happening. ...

Via Game Pro

You could view the current situation of the PS3 in one of two ways; either everything is going as planned and the geniuses at Sony are gifted with insane amounts of foresight, or things could be better. Being that Sony appears a little bit, shall we say, defensive about the whole ordeal, we suspect the latter. So assuming Sony still wants to appeal to the mass market, here are eight ways the company can turnaround the PS3 in the shortest amount of time. Behold our armchair quarterback skills!

1. Admit there is a slight problem. No one likes to admit they're wrong. And we're not saying all is lost for the PS3; far from it, in fact. But it hasn't been the best start especially considering that over the last two generations, the PS3 sold worse in the first six months than any other console, including the soft-selling GameCube. Rather than take offense or assume there is some mass conspiracy against them, Sony could turn the situation into a positive by asking and listening to the majority of gamers as to what it would take to earn their business. Sony doesn't need to save face at the moment. They need to sell systems.

2. Acknowledge the high price. I don't think I've encountered any logical person that isn't impressed with the PS3's technology. She really is a beaut. But the dancing around her high price has got to stop. Every time the system is mentioned, its price instantly becomes the elephant in the room. You want to get excited for the games, but your inner-economist just won't let you. Fact: Sony's console price doubled in just less than seven years since first releasing the PS2 for $300. I'm no expert, but that has to be one of the highest relative price increases in recent history. The short-term solution: acknowledge the high price rather than making excuses for it.

3. Drop the PS3's price, like NOW! The NPD aptly summed up the PS3's dismal sales last month: "While there has been good content available for the [PS3], there hasn't yet been the 'killer' title that tends to drive hardware sales acquisition among the broader audience. As the content ramps up, we're confident the hardware sales will too." Agree to disagree. There have been some solid games hitting the PS3 already (Resistance and MotorStorm, anyone?). The real issue is that it's difficult for most gamers to justify the $660 asking price (console + one game), not that they're waiting for games. It's doubtful that most gamers would even be willing to pay that much for the next Mario or Halo game. Hence, Sony seems to have underestimated gamers' sensitivity to high prices. "What should they do?" you ask. Drop the price by $100 right now then by another $100 six months from now. This tactic may be unheard of, and Sony will incur even more losses on hardware. But they're in it for the long haul, right?

4. Hire ninja lawyers to write more exclusive game deals. It has been said that Sony has the best relationship with third-party publishers and developers. But those relationships appear to be waning while Microsoft wines and dines developers away and early Wii success shifts the focus to a new, cheaper way of making games. Granted, the third-party exclusive may have lost its luster since the last-generation, but it still helps move hardware. Sony should bend over backwards to keep and woo publishers in their favor.

5. Promote the thing as a game console, not a supercomputer. Again, the PS3 is capable of doing just about everything besides filing your taxes. Everyone likes extras, but Sony needs to market the PS3 as its name implies: a play station to "play" video games first. Movies, music and other content should come secondary. If the systems ends up being used as a computer like the PS2 was used as a DVD player, all the better for Sony. But last time I checked, the PS3 was selling in the video game department at retail, so let's keep it that way. Either market the machine as a video game console or rebrand it as the Sony ComputerStation and sell it at CompUSA.

6. Make the system easier to develop for. To ensure that more games grace the console, Sony needs to help developers use the Cell processor, something it currently don't appear to be doing to its full potential. The common belief is that the Cell is difficult to develop on, thus its benefits are still untapped. If the PS3 processor is in fact twice as fast as the 360 and googles faster than Wii, Sony would be wise to bank on what its competitors are incapable of doing. To offset developer learning curves, how about waiving a set number of licensing fees to publishers? That's sure to get people excited to develop for the PS3.

7. More games, please! Assuming Sony gets the price to a more tolerable point, games are sure to open the flood gates further still. Though disputable, I'd argue Nintendo and Sony are tied for first when it ...