via IGN


Ascaron Entertainment GmbH, one of Europe's leading game developers, today announced that the PlayStation 3 version of their upcoming action RPG, Sacred 2: Fallen Angel will hit retail shelves this fall.

"Role-playing game enthusiasts have always been strongly represented on the PlayStation platforms, and we are delighted to offer a version of Sacred 2: Fallen Angel for the PlayStation 3," said Heiko tom Felde, Managing Director of Ascaron Entertainment GmbH. "We've been working on this version for more than a year, and can now proudly reveal it and its new features, to an entirely new audience."

This version of Sacred 2: Fallen Angel will feature enhanced graphics, 5.1 Channel Dolby Surround Sound and support drop-in cooperative play, as well as other multiplayer gaming modes via the Internet. The game also features two-player shared-screen gaming on one console - players simply pick up a controller, press "Start" and join their friends. Players can save their characters and use them in all game modes - allowing the same character to be used both in single-player or multiplayer modes, accumulating experience and loot seamlessly. The controls and interface have been developed from scratch for the PlayStation 3 to ensure fluid and intuitive game play optimized for the platform throughout.

Sacred 2: Fallen Angel is an action RPG which features a huge, seamless and living world spanning over 22 square miles of hand-crafted terrain, top-notch 3D graphics and online "hot swap" cooperative play with monsters that dynamically adjust to party strength for a consistent challenge. ...

via Eurogamer


Sony has updated the PlayStation Store with the promised MGS4 Database and a demo of Wolf of the Battlefield: Commando 3.

Those of you who enjoy Commando 3 will be able to buy the full version from the European store next week, as revealed on Eurogamer earlier.

Both are for PS3 owners, while PSP owners can download the original Pursuit Force for GBP 14.99 from either the PC Store or via the PS3 online service.

PS3 owners also get access to the free World of Warcraft song we mentioned earlier and an extra character for PAIN, Nigel, for GBP 0.69.

Elsewhere there are Prince of Persia, PAIN, Prince Caspian and Call of Duty: World at War trailers. ...

via Games Industry


Sony has revealed that over 9.8 million users have registered PlayStation Network accounts.

Between them, they have accessed over 170 million downloads via the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Portable service.

The PlayStation Network allows users to access the PlayStation Store for demos, trailers, full games and other content, as well as communicate with other users.

Today, Sony revealed that it will be offering a movie download service for PlayStation 3 users, due to go live in the US this summer. ...

via Eurogamer


Downloaded the Super Street Fighter II Turbo High Definition Remix beta? Having problems with freezes, like so many of those posting on the Capcom forum?

Well, tough luck. Capcom says it won't be issuing a patch for the beta - perhaps because it's, you know, a beta.

Responding to the forum complaints, marketing man Christian Svensson wrote, "We wil not be patching the beta. Resubmissions would cost a fortune and not go live for weeks."

Turns out Microsoft would have to approve every new submission, you see: "This isn't like the PC where a developer can make changes daily (for good or ill)."

Svensson concluded by assuring posters, "All feedback and bugs will be factored into the final code."

As reported yesterday, the SSFIITHDR beta is now available for download via Xbox Live. You must have purchased Wolf of the Battlefield: Commando 3 to gain access. ...

via IGN


Atari and Eden Games celebrated the news that its revolutionary action survival game Alone in the Dark has topped the Xbox 360 sales charts across Europe following its release on 20 June 2008. Alone in the Dark is officially No.1 in the UK and Germany, two of the largest Xbox 360 markets in Europe (Source: Chart Track and Media Control).

Alone in the Dark marks a blistering return for the legendary franchise with startling innovations and wide screen cinematic presentation. The game follows paranormal investigator Edward Carnby as over the course of one apocalyptic night he must fight to survive and uncover the earth-shattering secret behind New York's Central Park. With an exhilarating mix of challenging gameplay, intense storytelling in the style of a blockbuster TV series, unprecedented environmental interaction, realistic fire physics as a core gameplay element, and DVD chapter select feature which lets everyone reach the game's climax, Alone in the Dark challenges what players expect from video games.

The action survival opus Alone in the Dark is in stores now across Europe for Xbox 360, PC, Wii and PlayStation 2, with the PlayStation 3 version following later in 2008. In addition to the standard game, Xbox 360, PC and Wii Limited Editions are available now from selected European retailers featuring exclusive items including hero figurine, art book and 'making of' documentary DVD. ...

via Eurogamer


Sony exec Kaz Hirai has been demonstrating a new PS3 exclusive application titled 'Life with PlayStation', Kotaku reports.

The application is a Google Earth-style affair with a spinning globe which presents weather and news information from around the world. Stories are accessible from their headlines and users can choose their own musical accompaniment whilst browsing. It's been suggested that later iterations of the system will also allow location specific 'Geo-tagged' images to be browsed.

Pics of 'Life With PlayStation', which should really be a documentary about addiction starring David James, but isn't, are available on Kotaku, courtesy of Dengeki Online. ...

via Games Industry


Sony Computer Entertainment Japan has confirmed that a new download service offering movies on the PlayStation 3 is set to launch shortly.

The service will go live in the US this summer, according to Kaz Hirai, with a roll-out in Japan and Europe at later dates. Official timings are expected next month.

The service will be a direct rival to Microsoft's service over Xbox Live, which currently boasts movies and TV content from a host of partners including MTV, Warner Bros., Paramount and National Geographic, amongst others.

The company said that the PlayStation 3 will be the first Sony product to benefit from video services, with plans to expand video to other products by 2010.

As a further sign of Sony's commitment to networked products, this November Sony Pictures Entertainment will offer Will Smith movie Hancock to all internet connected Bravia LCD TVs in the US before it's available on DVD. ...

via Games Industry


Former Sony Worldwide Studios exec Phil Harrison's influence at the early stages of LittleBigPlanet was "completely key and pivotal" says Alex Evans.

"Obviously that then transitioned into Sony, and especially the team at Liverpool, and Michael Denny - I don't want to downplay their roles as well. But certainly with Phil, at the very beginning, the amazing thing was that he got it," the Media Molecule co-founder told GamesIndustry.biz.

Evans said the team struggled to describe the game in words before they had anything to show, and didn't expect a publisher to really get it - let alone champion it.

"But the interesting thing with Phil was that when we pitched to him, we actually played down what became the Game 3.0 things that he talked about.

"We pitched much more of a platform game, the physics and so on, and he was very instrumental in telling us to think about what it would mean to have user-generated content - to think about what that means for the community."

Evans said Harrison pushed them - correctly - towards what they most wanted to do, with great clarity and perspective.

"I think that was his influence on the game early on, and I think it was hugely useful to have that degree of focus in the right place, and the right time."

Although Harrison has since departed for Infogrames, Evans notes that Sony as a whole is behind the game and thinks that there will be a continuation of the "good patterns" that were set up during the development process.

Part two of our interview with Alex Evans is now available online. ...

via Games Industry


Bandai-Namco's Super Robot Wars A Portable for the PSP has debuted at the top spot of the Japanese software chart for the week ended June 22, according to figures released by Media Create.

Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots drops a place to number two and is the only PlayStation 3 title in this week's chart.

It is followed by two new entries, Super Mario Stadium Family Baseball for the Wii and Koei's PS2 title Harulanaru Tokie no Naka de 4, in third and fourth places respectively.

Bringing up the rear of the chart is Nintendo's Beautiful Letter Training for the DS at nine and Sega's Let's Make a Pro Baseball Team! also for the DS in last place at ten.


The chart for the week ended June 22 follow:

1. Super Robot Wars A Portable (PSP)
2. Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (PS3)
3. Super Mario Stadium Family Baseball (WII)
4. Harulanaru Toki no Naka de 4 (PS2)
5. Mario Kart Wii (WII)
6. Wii Fit (WII)
7. Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G (PSP)
8. Jikkyou Powerful Pro Baseball 3 (PSP)
9. Beautiful Letter Training (NDS)
10. Let's Make a Pro Baseball Team! (NDS) ...