Sony trumps Microsoft again with a confident, comprehensive showcase at Gamescom

http://media.edge-online.com/wp-cont...-610x3441.jpegAfter a series of turnarounds and with FIFA and Call Of Duty in its corner, following Microsoft was a more difficult task for Sony at Gamescom than at E3. All PlayStation had to do was turn up and collect the spoils back in June, but here, with significantly revised competition and the temperature rising ever higher as we lead into launch, it felt like Sony needed to remind us exactly why it has gathered so much goodwill with its new console.It succeeded, with what seemed like an unending list of new indie games, some promising new partnerships, a neat demo of Vita’s Remote Play capabilities, price cuts for Vita and PS3, and a PS4 release date. It even found time for a dig at Microsoft’s string of reversals and compromises. By the conclusion of Sony’s comprehensive press showcase, the crowd almost seemed weary from the need to applaud each and every new announcement.It began slowly. New Killzone Shadow Fall footage was, well, shooty, and the video that led into the news of Gran Turismo 6’s release date (December 6 globally) was soundtracked by the very worst heavy metal dirge imaginable.News of free to play PS3 title LittleBigPlanet Hub livened up the proceedings, and Sony’s GTA V / PS3 bundle – guaranteed to be a strong seller – followed. Then it was onto Sony’s Vita rescue plan: a price cut to €199 / $199 plus new versions Football Manager and Borderlands 2 will help, as will Media Molecule’s Tearaway, which got an extended, appreciative round of applause.The meat of this conference, however, was a love letter to indie developers. Ovosonico’s Murasaki Baby set the tone here – where Xbox One has big-name, guns-and-football blockbusters, PS4 had a ludicrous number of smaller, much more interesting games. Big Fest followed, a free to play game which allows players to build a fantasy music festival featuring real-world unsigned bands.

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