E3 2012: Quantic Dream Announces Beyond: Two Souls

The follow-up to the twisting drama Heavy Rain doesn't look like it's going to be treading mainstream territory any time soon.  And we wouldn't have it any other way.

Beyond: Two Souls looks to be another gripping, mindbending story from Quantic Dream that explores the connection of life and afterlife.  This psychological thriller follows Jodie Holmes as she grows up with a special connection to the supernatural - granting her powers through a link to some unknown entity.  The player's decisions throughout Jodie's life will ultimately determine her fate and, according to Quantic Dream founder and game creator David Cage, may even answer the eternal questions about death and the afterlife.

Like Heavy Rain, the main draw of Beyond will be its Hollywood-caliber acting and motion capture, pushing the interactive story along to its final chapter.  To this end, Cage hand picked Oscar-nominated actress Ellen Page (Juno, Inception) for the role of Jodie, who, based on the initial video, appears to have fallen into the tortured girl's character extremely well.

While no gameplay elements were shown, the opening video was still a striking example of what Quantic can do.  And, to be honest, in an interactive drama, the gameplay (while important) takes a back seat to the presentation - something this trailer shows is worth watching.

Beyond: Two Souls is a PlayStation 3 exclusive, but currently has no scheduled release window.

E3 2012: The Last of Us Gameplay Demo

At yesterday's Sony press conference (did you think we forgot about them?), Naughty Dog floored us all with a demo showcasing their new IP, The Last of Us.

Only a few details were known about the game prior to yesterday's demonstration, and, well, we still don't know all that much.  It's not a zombie survival game, as some originally suspected, and there are hints of Uncharted-influences in the design, but we really only have basic details.

What we do know, however, is that now that we've gotten our eyes on it, we want more.  Check out the gameplay video here and salivate with the rest of us.

The developers tell us that, even though this demo was combat heavy, the game will allow you to play through the hotel floor in different ways.  For example, in this same building scene, it's possible to sneak your way past all of these scavengers hunting for supplies.

Most impressive in this demo (aside from the stunning visuals and voice acting) is what's going on under the hood:  the AI.  Called the "Balance of Power AI," enemies will realistically react to certain stimuli in combat, such as, in this video, when protagonist Joel's revolver clicks empty.  The enemies hear it and become more aggressive.  Similarly, Joel's young partner Elle grabs a nearby brick and knife to help Joel fight off the enemy, allowing Joel to rush in and claim the final strike.

From what we've seen, this is a game that everyone should have on his/her radar.  The bleak desolation of this post-apocalyptic world and the surprising emotion prompted by the 14-year-old Elle at your charge will no doubt lend itself well to a gripping story.  Thankfully, Naughty Dog has exceeded all expectations when it comes to story writing.

The Last of Us is due out sometime next year, exclusively for the PlayStation 3.

"Transformers: Fall of Cybertron" Official Trailer

The war rages on...

Activision and High Moon Studios have released the new, official trailer for Transfomers: Fall of Cybertron, the highly-anticipated sequel to 2010's Transfomers: War for Cybertron.   Set to debut on PS3 and Xbox 360 consoles this summer, the sequel chronicles the final days of Cyberton, leading up to the exile of both the Autobots and Decepticons.  Will they finally reach Earth in this one?  Perhaps.  Check out the new trailer, courtesy of Gamespot, below!

As we saw in the announcement trailer in December, the game will feature Combiners and Dinobots, favorites among Transformers fans.  While we don't get to see much else along the lines of new game features, we do see that gameplay looks to be just as visceral and chaotic as it was in T:WfC.

Cybertron falls on August 28th.

Transformers: Fall of Cybertron Trailer Debuts

During Saturday's broadcast of Spike TV's Video Game Awards, Activision and High Moon Studios premiered the trailer for the highly-anticipated Transformers: Fall of Cybertron, the sequel to 2010's Transformers: War for Cybertron.  Check out the emotional trailer below, courtesy of Game Trailers!

Taking a cue from the advertising campaign for Gears of War 3, it looks like the Autobots, like Delta Squad, wil be "brothers to the end." 

The trailer features fan-favorites such as Grimlock and the Dinobots, as well as the Decepticon combiners, the Combaticons, coming together to form Bruticus....and they better all be playable!

Transformers: Fall of Cybertron is slated for a Fall 2012 release on Xbox 360 and PS3 consoles.

DC Universe Online Hits the Free-to-Play Switch!

Depite a slight blip in the start date, DC Universe Online finally goes free-to-play, starting today for the PlayStation 3 and the PC.

As mentioned in the original announcement post, the new freemium DCUO will support three subscription tiers: Free, Premium (spend at least $5), and Legendary ($14.99/mo.)  Each tier will give you access to the game, but the higher tiers have significant advantages, like increased character slots.

Snag the PC version at the DCUO homepage or download the console version at the PlayStation Store via the PS3.  (Remember to pick up the "Fight for the Light" DLC expansion to access your inner willpower for $9.99 or for free for Lengendary members!)

PlayStation Network Revival This Week

As you've probably heard, there's been a big commotion happening at Sony in recent weeks.

Since April 20, the PlayStation Network has fallen prey to severe attack, leaving PS3 owners unable to watch Netflix, to play online, or even, in some cases, to play offline.  User data was compromised, and, amidst all of this, Sony representatives have been uncomfortably silent during most of this process.

However, there finally seems to be some light at the end of the tunnel, and your patience will be rewarded.

According to a press release, the PlayStation Network will begin the restoration process as early as this week.  The network will be slowly rebooted for all PSN users, with the restoration rollout divided by region and by service.  After reboot, the PS3 will undergo a forced software update, and you will be required to change your PSN password.

Also, frustrated gamers will be given a "welcome back" gift: free downloads of select content, 30 free days of PlayStation Plus, and 30 free days of Music Unlimited by Qriocity.

A good gesture, sure, but there has been a lot of bad blood boiling in Sony's direction for a while now.  Some argue that it's unlikely Sony will ever come back to the public's good graces, and I'm not sure I disagree.

Mass Effect: Arrival Arrives!

Today was bittersweet for Mass Effect fans.  The final DLC mission for Mass Effect 2, Arrival, is available for download.

Like previously released DLC missions, Overlord and Lair of the Shadow Broker, Arrival does not disappoint.  Combining elements of stealth and survival, this mission provides new challenges, grants new rewards, and bridges the gap between Mass Effect 2 and Mass Effect 3.  

*Minor Spoilers Ahead*

Contacted once more by Admiral Hackett (reprised by Lance Henriksen), Commander Shepard is sent on a one-man/woman rescue mission.  The rescuee in question is Dr. Amanda Kenson, an alliance operative who has discovered a Reaper artifact, but was subsequently captured by Batarians.  Unlike every other major assignment in ME2, Shepard goes in alone and does his best Solid Snake impression for roughly the first third of the mission.  Granted, the stealth approach is optional, but if you manage to sneak past a half dozen inept Batarian guards, you're awarded one of 3 new game achievements.

Admiral Hackett (Lance Henriksen)The next major portion of the mission involves a very challenging survival round.  Hunker down and keep your shields up for this one.  Shepard gets assaulted by at least 5 waves of increasingly difficult enemies, which include those ever-popular heavy mechs.  If you can make it past wave #5, you are rewarded once again. 

And without giving too much away in terms of spoilers, I will simply say this: The last major firefight takes place on a moving asteroid with an orbiting Mass Relay visible in the sky.  A truly spectacular sendoff for ME2.

One final face-to-face chat with Admiral Hackett (who is finally given a face!) makes it clear that the consequences of your actions in Arrival will carry over to ME3.  It is also what prompts Shepard's return to Earth.

While Shepard does not face off against any actual Reapers, like many fans had speculated, Arrival provides plenty of noteworthy moments that one would expect from ME2.  Yes, it would've been nice to have two of your trusty team members along (if you're thinking stealth, Kasumi and Thane are first to come to mind), but the unchaperoned aspect did provide a new dynamic for the game.  Who knows, maybe there will be more solo missions in ME3.  We'll find out this Fall.

Mass Effect: Arrival is available now for the Xbox 360 (560 Microsoft Points), PlayStation 3 ($6.99), and the PC (560 BioWare points).

NBA Jam hits retail for the PS3 and 360; Online play included

Despite being touted as a Wii exclusive back in the day, NBA Jam is making its way to the Xbox 360 and the PlayStation 3 - complete with full HD graphics and online play.

Clocking in at the same $50 price point as the Wii, the HD version of NBA Jam will be available on November 17 with a "free title update to enhance the online experience" coming by December.

Featuring gameplay that is true to the original, NBA Jam will have players competing in two distinct game modes — Classic Campaign and Remix Tour — plus online modes.

At the 11/17 launch, gamers can take on friends and rivals in the classic 2-on-2 mode, complete with leaderboard rankings.  In December, the online experience "will expand significantly" through a free title update.  The update will let gamers team-up locally and online to compete in Remix Game modes, like Elimination, Backboard Smash, Domination, and 21.  Also, the update will introduce "Online Progression," which will put players through the ringer in a series of challengers to unlock all kinds of hidden rewards.

That sounds pretty wonderful and all, but it still doesn't answer the biggest question:  is the game non-partisan?

NYCC 2010: Interview with Chris Cao, Game Director of ‘DC Universe Online.’

In the Sony Online Entertainment press room, we at OTF had a chance to sit down and discuss the minutiae of the game’s focus and development with Chris Cao, game director of the upcoming superhero MMO DC Universe Online.

In the second of two interviews conducted at a roundtable, Mr. Cao was kind enough to discuss the MMO’s “inspired by” system, the development challenges in defining  the game world, and what exactly is being done to make the player the star of the game in a world where Superman flies the skies.  We also talk about the dreaded subscription fee ($14.99/mo) and why that subscription fee may be “the cheapest thing you’ve ever spent on video games.”

Read on for the interview and the character creation trailer released at NYCC!

DC Universe Online is slated for release on the PC and the PlayStation 3 early next year.

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At the panel, you were going over the create-a-character – that you could align yourself with certain characters or motifs. How many characters are we looking at that you have the opportunity to align yourself with?

Chris Cao: There are sort of two different parts to this. One is choosing your mentor, which is really a choice of what kind of hero or villain you are. We have the game is split into three buckets: tech, meta, and magic. Guys who depend on their own skills are tech-based; guys who have inherent powers, like Superman, are meta-based; and those who use magic are magic – it’s kind of surprising [laughs.]

DC Universe Online’s Character Create Trailer

Those mentors actually [determine] your choice of content through the game and ultimately what kind of battle suit you get. If you want the Batsuit, you need to have Batman as your mentor because he’s not just going to hand it out to anybody, right? If you want the strength of Hera, which is Wonder Woman’s suit, you need to actually be working for her. That’s the first choice in character create.

Read more about game development, the challenges in making an MMO with a license, and betraying your mentor after the jump!

Click to read more ...

PlayStation 3 Getting No-Disc Netflix, adds 1080p & 5.1 Sound

While it was no secret that Sony and Netflix have been toying around with a native, hard drive based app for quite some time, the best the PS3 contingent could hope for in their Netflix experience since the Netflix disc was initially sent out late last year was a net gain in time:  that using the clunky interface from the Netflix disc took less time than watching the desired video.  That didn’t always happen.

As of next week though, that’s (mercifully) no longer the case.

As originally revealed by Eric Lempel, VP of Network Operations, on the PlayStation Blog, starting Monday, October 18, PlayStation 3 users can watch all of the Netflix Instant content without use of a disc.  See the announcement video here:

As can be readily seen from the video, the entire UI has been redesigned and optimized, making the user experience significantly better by a wide margin.  It seems to take a cue from PS3’s horizontal Xross Media Bar navigation in that the menu hierarchy populates to the right as selections are made.

The update also brings 5.1 Dolby Surround Sound and 1080p playback (note: the video states 1080i playback, but this was later corrected in the PS Blog post.)

From what can be seen in this preview video, it seems to jump far beyond the capability of the current Xbox 360 Netflix experience, particularly in terms of search (in that it has one.)  However, I admit to being partial to the NUI-optimized setup of the Netflix app that was released to the preview bunch; we’ll see how everything stacks up when the  app is officially launched next Monday.

Oh, and the best part?  It’s free.  For all PlayStation users.  I officially have no need for PlayStation Plus.  (Well, until I bit the bullet on Hulu Plus, anyway.)