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 ...

Via Worth Playing

Combining its adventure roots with an epic storyline and immersive gameplay, Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction draws players into a vast, new galaxy more vibrant, diverse and interactive than ever before. With bustling cities, gigantic enemies and giant boss battles, Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction delivers a sophisticated, yet humorous adventure.

After saving countless planets from dreadful doom and earning intergalactic mega-celebrity status in the process, Ratchet and Clank have taken some well-deserved R&R -- again. Yet, Ratchet remains restless. An orphan of the universe, he has never known anything of his past, his family, or his Lombax origins. And no one, not even Clank, can fill that void.

Unfortunately for Ratchet, someone else is equally interested in Ratchet’s origins: Emperor Percival Tachyon. In his thirst for revenge, the vile tyrant of an ancient race of foul insect-like monsters called Cragmites has festered an age-old grudge and is bent on wiping the last-known Lombax off the universe. As Tachyon’s forces ambush Ratchet and Clank in their home galaxy, our heroes realize they need to escape quickly to prevent its destruction. In a move of desperate irony, Ratchet and Clank steal Tachyon’s imperial warship and embark upon an adventure bigger than any they’ve experienced- one that will not only unravel the mystery of the Lombaxes, but also test the very limits of their friendship.

Features :

* Insomniac Games has overhauled its proprietary PS3 engine technology to create the most visceral Ratchet & Clank universe yet, overflowing with exotic creatures and flying vehicles.
* Experience many more objects on screen and in more intricate detail than what was possible on PlayStation®2 Ratchet & Clank games.
* The PS3 system’s superior power enables Ratchet & Clank Future:
* Tools of Destruction to bring vivid worlds to life with increased draw distances, enhanced lighting and shadowing, and more fluid and exaggerated animations.
* Discover an all-new galaxy spanning vast worlds such as a majestic cloud city and a space-age amusement park.
* Encounter an entirely new cast of expressive characters (and some old favorites) as well as the introduction of a variety of new alien races and life forms.
* Experience a more emotive Ratchet with nearly as many animation joints in his face (90) as PS2 Ratchet had in his entire body (112). This joint density applies to many of the characters featured in Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction, enabling more detailed, personable and expressive characters.
* Clank returns as a playable character, and Ratchet will have new enhanced abilities.
* Fire a fully stocked arsenal of all-new weapons such as the Plasma Beasts and Tornado Launcher, which uses the SIXAXIS™ controller to direct tornadoes that suck up enemies and whip them around with debris.
* Use the SIXAXIS controller to maneuver, destroy enemies and solve puzzles.
* Upgrade and customize weapons with a new system that provides greater power and flexibility. Players also will have the ability to upgrade Ratchet’s armor.
* Utilize Ratchet’s new supply of consumable “on-demand” combat devices, such as the Groovitron, which causes enemies to dance uncontrollably to ‘70s disco hits.
* Gadgets gameplay returns as Ratchet and Clank will have more gadgets at their disposal to help them bounce, fly, evade and defy gravity.
* Pilot Ratchet’s ship through asteroid fields while trying to destroy enemy fleets in a complete redesign of classic Ratchet & Clank space combat gameplay.

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Screens can be view here.

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Via
Tectinic

Want to do more with your Playstation 3? HELIOS Software and Terra Soft Solutions have made available for free download a modified version of the Yellow Dog Linux (YDL) distribution.

Using the YDL distro, it is possible to add server functionality to the PS3. The stripped down distro provides a lightweight, low overhead server environment on the powerful gaming machine, offering what HELIOS describes as "an exciting test-drive platform for its file, print, PDF and image server software".

Installing in only 6 minutes, the distro includes DHCP network settings, support for Java 1.5 and an AppleTalk enhanced kernel. The server's operating system has also been optimised, with HELIOS boasting that it frees up 40% more memory.

"Our Linux distribution for PS3 is another milestone in our support for the Open Source Community", explained Helmut Tschemernjak, chief executive and president of HELIOS Software.

"I am pleased HELIOS chose to bring its enterprise client server solutions to the PS3 running Yellow Dog Linux," reported Kai Staats, chief executive of Terra Soft Solutions, the developer of Yellow Dog Linux. "With HELIOS' modified Yellow Dog Linux distribution it is simple to use the PS3 as an efficient light duty server."

Packed with gaming power, the PS3 uses a 64-bit Cell processor which runs at 3.2 GHz, is PowerPC compatible with 256 MB of main memory, and has performance comparable to a G5 single CPU. The PS3 comes with the NVIDIA RSX Graphics Processing Unit, has a 60 GB 2.5" swappable serial ATA disk and offers WLAN and Gigabit Ethernet for network connectivity.

For a detailed installation guide, go here. ...

Via Spong

US games mag EGM has just published ‘a rumour’ that Konami is readying Silent Hill 5 - the follow up to 2004's Silent Hill 4: The Room (pictured), for a late 2007 release.

Silent Hill 5, according to the mag, could well launch later this year on PS3 and Xbox 360. The organ also claims that the game is being developed in the US rather than Japan.

Konami’s UK PR responded to the rumour this morning with a to-be-expected, “We don’t comment on rumours,” response.

Of course, we expect to find out more confirmed news on Silent Hill 5 in the coming weeks and we should be bringing you all the detailed news and hopefully a decent first look at the game from E3 in mid-July. ...

News/release from Schyzophrenic




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