[Official] GDC '09 Sony Discussion

[DrunknMunky Veteran]

Use this topic to discuss everything Sony related from GDC '09.

Find out more on the event in the General discussion topic or find news on your favourite games and developers here

Little Big Planet, Braid lead GDC Award noms

Kojima scores GDCA top honor

Team Ico honcho, Suda 51 speaking at GDC

Edited March 20, 2009 by DrunknMunky

[+Audioboxer Subscriber²]

Here's your first collection of lolwut rumours to drive through

A member of our forums (Teeda) was kind enough to share some of the latest rumors involving the Game Developers Conference with us. There are some very interesting tidbits in there that should make every PlayStation fan very happy should they pan out to be true. Here's the latest:

New 80gb PS3 bundled with 2 games will be launched at the end of March.it will cost 399$ (already confirmed).- New 40gb ps3 sku will be launched this May. The cost will be 299$.

- PSP slide will be shown for the first time in this year's E3. The launch is next year.

- The currently available PSP model will get a price cut too. The cost will be 119$.

- Fumito Ueda will be there at GDC '09. He will announce 2 projects. One of them is Shadow of the Colossus Online.

- Syphon Filter is underway to PS3. Apparently the developers are using the same engine behind Killzone2.

- Insomniac is developing a new action platformer RPG. It looks like a Zelda clone.

- Jak 4 is on the way too.

- Daxter 2 will be on ready at the time of PSP slide launch.

- Legend of Dragoon is under development and is to be launched in japan this year.

There are being reported as rumors, nothing more, so until GDC has come and gone take them with a grain of salt. Very exciting if true, however!

Source: http://psinsider.e-mpire.com/index.php?cat..._articleid=1121

I'm sure the FF7 Remake is just around the corner.

Oh and the viral Home Xi stuff hints at an unveiling tomorrow

Home Xi to be revealed Mar 23?

Various clues have lead investigators on the EU blogs to a bench in Hampsted Heath. Attached to said bench was a USB key with the following video staring the woman seen in early Home Xi vids.

Your guess?

Don't know what I'm on about... catch all 200+ pages of chat on the EU forums!

Video: http://www.tawkn.com/index.php?page=site-b...18&posted=1

And by the way if there was actually a USB stick under a bench that's some crazy marketing :laugh:

[+Audioboxer Subscriber²]

I'm sure this will feature at GDC, so I'll just post this here.

A taster for Home Xi has launched

Both forums are up also

Welcome to the Xi Message Board!

This is where you can discuss everything Xi-related: theories, hints, questions and answers, or whatever you want to share.

If you’re wondering what all this is about, Xi is an adventure based in PlayStation?Home. Download Home for free on your PlayStation?3 and look for the graffiti on the wall in Home Square. Find that and all will be explained…

If you’re ever stuck, this forum should be your first stop for help and advice. You can access it through your PlayStation?3 or through the web browser of any ordinary computer.

So right now, have fun, be respectful to everyone you meet here, and enjoy the adventure!

http://community.eu.playstation.com/playst...d.id=bEN_PS3_Xi

http://boardsus.playstation.com/playstatio...board.id=homexi

Right now you can get to The Hub by clicking the Xi icon in the Home Square. I just got to the Hub, it's pretty cool, it's like a game, trying to find a piece of paper just now for the guy who's talking to :laugh:gh:

[DrunknMunky Veteran]

PushSquare's wish list of PS3 games at GDC..

http://www.pushsquare.com/1040/gdc-09-sony...ation-wishlist/

What's your's?

[+Audioboxer Subscriber²]

Heavy Rain

Uncharted 2

GoW3

inFAMOUS

More LBP unveils

Home content

Keeping it realistic, it's a developers conference, not E3. Although LBP did get unveiled at GDC, as well as Home. However I believe Sony had a keynote that year.

Team ICO would be amazing, but that's gonna be E3 for sure.

[DrunknMunky Veteran]

Team Ico are due to talk this week, they may reveal something!

[+Audioboxer Subscriber²]

Team Ico are due to talk this week, they may reveal something!

I think it's one guy talking as part of another discussion project. (Something like Japanese Development in the West)

Sadly it's not just Team ICO addressing us :(

[+Audioboxer Subscriber²]

Oh I forgot Fat Princess, that's confirmed to be there and in a playable demo.

[madd-hatter]

PushSquare's wish list of PS3 games at GDC..

http://www.pushsquare.com/1040/gdc-09-sony...ation-wishlist/

What's your's?

Twisted Metal (PLEASE!)

God of War 3

FF13 and versus

FatPrincess

Team ICO

I thought the Thursday released PSN trailers for inFamous looked a bit boring. Graphically, it was nice. Game play reminded me of DarkSector (which sucked.)

[crazzyyfool]

Any news on the supposed rumored new PSP?

[+Audioboxer Subscriber²]

Gamespot: Resistance 2 Interview 2

Lead Multiplayer Designer of Resistance 2 talks about the new features hitting on the Resistance 2 DLC!

Video: http://gdc.gamespot.com/video/6206601/

Multi PSN login @ 3:38.

This might mean firmware 2.7 is hitting this month? I'm sure multi-login was part of the 2.7 SDK... or maybe it can just be done per game.

[+Audioboxer Subscriber²]

Firmware 2.70 Announced Today?

It?s GDC 2009 over in California, and our ears are to the ground. We?ve had to put up with the rumour mill grinding about Firmware 2.70 for a while now, but we?ve heard more recently gossip in and amongst our Twitter account overnight hinting that Sony are about to announce Firmware 2.70 for the PS3, and there appeared to be some maintenance on the network this morning, according to MGO?s in-game notices. Whether this will come to fruition or not we?ll have to wait and see, but it has been a while since the last update; so whilst we?re not expecting cross-game chat it would be nice to get something out of GDC.

As ever, anything official will be announced here first.

Source: http://www.thesixthaxis.com/2009/03/24/fir...nnounced-today/

[FlibbyFlobby]

Source: http://www.thesixthaxis.com/2009/03/24/fir...nnounced-today/

Cross game chat is in the works apparently, which is good news.

[Ricardo Gil]

Twisted Metal (PLEASE!)

God of War 3

FF13 and versus

FatPrincess

Team ICO

I thought the Thursday released PSN trailers for inFamous looked a bit boring. Graphically, it was nice. Game play reminded me of DarkSector (which sucked.)

I kind of liked darksector, it was a strange mix between gears of war, resistance and blades.

inFamous on the other hand doesn't get me interested at all :/

[Richard Hammond]

Shadow of the Colossus Online..................change of pants time, i so want that game.

[Max Veteran]

Threads merged

[Fid]

What time is the keynote anyway? Is it being streamed anywhere?

[+Audioboxer Subscriber²]

lawl where is Corris?

soniq, you would of got one of these buddy :(

Not better than in-shirt XMB of last year though :rofl:

IIRC that caused a lot of tears/arguing.

[soniqstylz]

soniq, you would of got one of these buddy :(

Not better than in-shirt XMB of last year though :rofl:

The In-Shirt XMB shirts were hard to find, I think they were invite only to get into the lounge.

[+Audioboxer Subscriber²]

Just got this from a prominent PS3 developer at GDC: “PS3 Firmware 2.70 definitely this week. Developers got it yesterday.”

The update was rumoured to have gone live this afternoon, but was apparently withdrawn.

This source is concrete, kids. Watch for an announcement in the next few days.

Source: http://www.vg247.com/2009/03/24/gdc-ps3-fi...t-it-yesterday/

Other topic was a trainwreck of rumours and posts - I'll update this main post once it hits. Probably today or tomorrow.

[LightIdea]

Good good AB.

I just stayed away from that thread, lol.

Hopefully this will be a short thread if it is coming to us this week / next week.

[+Audioboxer Subscriber²]

The public hasn't seen much of The Agency since it was first revealed in 2007. When questioned about the lack of updates on the ambitious PC/PS3 online espionage game, SOE's Hal Milton told us: "We don't want to keep having hype sessions just showing movies and crap. We need to make the game and not just keep promoting it."

GDC continues that idea, with Sony Online Entertainment revealing nothing more than a distant release window for both The Agency and DC Universe Online. John Smedley, president of SOE, revealed that both titles will arrive in 2010 in his keynote, "An industry perspective on how new online games will reach the masses."

We understand that it takes time to craft a solid game, especially a massive online one. However, we'd like to remind Smedley that the first step for a game to "reach the masses" involves, y'know, releasing it.

Source: http://www.joystiq.com/2009/03/24/gdc09-th...ne-coming-2010/

[jonhapimp]

well i really hope it's as good as they're saying it is

[+Audioboxer Subscriber²]

PS3 firmware update to coincide with Resistance 2 patch

Looks like a PS3 firmware update is happening today or tomorrow, folks. We reported details on the upcoming Resistance 2 patch which includes a number of features, one being multiple PSN log-ins. Many of our readers correctly chimed in, saying this is a feature not possible with the current PS3 firmware.

We got confirmation of a pending PS3 firmware update through our comments section. Insomniac Games' James Stevenson responded to our post clarifying the situation. "Resistance 2 is the first game to fully log-in two PSN accounts. LBP only logs you in locally, and does not register both accounts as online through PSN. This is a big difference, and what is required for split-screen online co-op with other folks."

Here's the smoking gun: "And it was dependent on a Sony update, hence why it wasn't in when the game shipped." If the R2 patch is available on March 26th, then a new PS3 firmware update will be necessary today or tomorrow. Obviously it will allow for multiple PSN sign-ins, but will it feature any other improvements? Stay tuned.

Source: http://www.joystiq.com/2009/03/25/ps3-firm...stance-2-patch/

New PS3 exclusive Katamari game in the works

Japanese games are a misunderstood breed in the US. Often nonsensical, always charming, they are either hit or miss amongst most Westerners. For those that do like them, prepare to celebrate - the latest issue of Famitsu confirms a PS3 exclusive Katamari game is in the works. The game is called Katamari Damacy Tribute, and will be running in full 1080p HD. Designers are aiming for a new 'visual expression' with this game. Tribute is due for a 2009 release in Japan.

The Katamari franchise sees the player as a small character known simply as 'The Prince'. The player must roll up objects into a ball, and as the ball grows bigger, larger objects can be picked up, with entire cities and islands even falling victim to the Prince at times.

If Keita Takahashi's latest offering, the PSN exclusive Noby Noby Boy, is any indication, the Katamari team over at Namco still has a lot of ways to push the boundaries of nonsensical insanity.

Source: http://www.ps3center.net/news/2539/new-ps3...e-in-the-works/

Edited March 25, 2009 by Audioboxer

[+Audioboxer Subscriber²]

GDC 09: Fat Princess Update

Still cute. Still fun. Still bloody.

US, March 24, 2009 - The first time I saw Fat Princess, I was floored. A multiplayer game for 32 folks, Fat Princess combined the bright, cheery visuals of a new school cartoon with buckets of blood to create a pretty unique canvas for your capture the flag battles -- except that the flag is the other team's princess and you can force feed her sweets to make her plump up and be too heavy to carry. Still, that was nearly a year ago, and I needed a Fat Princess fix.

Luckily for me, the PlayStation Blog Lounge at GDC has the good stuff -- three flat-screen TVs linked up for some online action.

The matches -- pitting the people playing on the three TVs against each other and 29 bots -- was taking place on the same map I had seen at E3 called Black Forest, but even so, it was cool to see how far the game had come. To begin with, everything was brighter and cleaner. The game looked good before, but now there's just a slick feel to it as the gears and pipes of the hat-producing machines flutter on the screen and as your team storms the gates of an opposing enemy castle.

Still, maybe I'm getting ahead of myself. See, there are five classes in Fat Princess, but you don't need to choose what you want to be before you set out in a match. In your base, a multi-tiered castle with plenty of defenses and a holding cell for your female prisoner, you'll find several machines pumping out caps for your men. When you pick one of these distinctive hats up, you take that class for as long as you survive or until you grab another piece of headwear. Now, each of these caps comes with its own set of benefits. When you pick up the horned cowl of a warrior, you'll get a six-heart life bar, gnarly sword, and shield to protect yourself from incoming attacks. Choose to be a heavenly cleric, and you can heal you allies. Pick up a villager hat, and you can chop down trees and mine metal so that you can upgrade your base.

My gameplay demo actually focused a lot on this upgrading ability -- which is something I had never seen in this amount of detail. While jogging around the eye-popping green ground and clear blue stream, your villager can pick up the aforementioned wood and metal and you'll see those resource totals grow in a top-right, onscreen meter. Back at base, you'll come across little spots with padlocks on them. These icons signify that you can work some building magic on the spot and create or improve what is already there. See, sometimes building will be as easy as creating a seesaw catapult that can rocket your men across the map into the enemy's base, but other times you'll be able to upgrade the machines that are pumping out class caps. Each class has three levels of use and each comes with power-ups that will change the face of the game.

While the resource-gathering villagers might not be something to fear at Level 1 (they can only slap opponents), they'll be able to toss out explosives once you level that particular machine up. The warriors and their swords are nothing to mess with in any arena, but once their devices start spitting out upgraded hats, they'll be able to wield a glaive so that they can slice through the competition in a full-on run. Upgrade your ranger (see: archer), and you'll get a sweet-looking musket.

Even as you're adding in these levels and changes, Fat Princess seems like it's going to be simple enough for anyone to jump into. You can charge an attack by holding Square (you can run while doing this), L1 will lock onto enemies and give you a short and sweet health summary (green hearts with smiling faces are good to go; yellow hearts with a plain face are damaged; and red, sad-face hearts are on death's door), and R1 allows you to strafe across the map.

Aside from getting to play the game, the lounge actually gave me the chance to goof around with the game's menus and setup. First off, the whole thing is stylized in this cartoon motif so that when you check out the tutorial section you're paging through this storybook, but beyond that, the entire setup is very tongue-in-cheek. Leaderboards are under "Bragging Rights," options are "Twiddly Knobs," and your personal statistics -- all 15 pages that document things from the number of games played to multiplayer stuns to single-player fire power-up kills -- are termed "Why I'm Awesome."

The characters in Fat Princess are simple guys to fit the simple environment, but you're welcome to fool with your character as you see fit. Under the "Get Fabulous" option, I was able to change skin color, make my eyes go from green to blue to brown, and modify what kind of facial hair my guy was rocking. Pigtails and mullets are possible for hairstyles, but I stumbled upon the "baldy" option and the ghostly white skin and something tells me you're going to see a lot of Kratos clans running around this game.

Fat Princess is set for a summer release and should launch with six maps. Personally, I can't wait. I dig that you score points for killing bad guys but also for committing to your role of villager and upgrading the hat machines, the game's a breeze to jump into and a blast to play -- nothing says fun like decapitating your friends and watching their blood gush across an Animal Crossing-like world -- and I can see me putting a lot of online hours into this one. Look for a video preview of Fat Princess this week on IGN, and keep checking back for updates.

Source: http://uk.ps3.ign.com/articles/965/965736p1.html

Lots of new screens: http://uk.ps3.ign.com/dor/objects/14266745...4003226901.html

Corris, get this baby some front page exposure ;)