0

As with our Microsoft and Nintendo roundups, this is our attempt to make everything on the site easier. Sadly while the other two had plenty of interesting / new footage to show, Sony focussed more on the idea of the ten year plan and what the future can hold, rather than what it does. It showed its continual support for the PS2 with over 130 new titles shipping this year and as ever was pushing the power of the PSP. It could have been a bit better. There was no mention of Killzone 2 [in the presentation], Gran Turismo 5, (although GTTV was pimped) or any real substance of Home apart from a gimmicky trailer. What little showing there was can be seen below.

They showed off Resistance 2 with a new trailer and a 3-4 minute gameplay demonstration where a leviathan was fought. 30 stories high, it seemed very ‘Cloverfieldy.’ Implausible survival chances aside, it looked pretty spectacular (even with the demonstrator enjoying the walls rather than the actual game). It’s set in 1953 with a “country under siege.” There’s 8 player co-op planned and 60 player online gaming on the cards.

Then came the standard sales figures with the help of a unique Little Bit Planet level. 1.8million PS3’s, 1.6 PSP’s and 1.5 PS2’s have been sold in the first half of 2008. A new classics range will come to the US for $29.99 in October. Questionably Sony had to kept trecking back to 95 to strengthen their statistics (i.e. the Playstation as a complete entity rather than just the PS3). As usual it was boring.

The 10 million PSN users are getting some love. Ratchet and Clank Future: Quest for Booty Bay is a DLC episodic add-on that continues the story line and introduces some new features. Crash Commando, Fat Princess, Pixel Junk Monsters, Pain: Amusement Park and Flower are PSN’s casual troop. They also showed Siren: Blood Curse and Ragdoll Kungfu: Fists of Plastic. Gran Turismo TV is starting August 1^st and will surely entertain petrol heads. Anyone else will be crying out for more gameplay rather than racing coverage. For the US, Film and TV coverage launched the evening of the conference and it includes the majority of studios. The feature does benefit from extensive categorising.

The PSP is getting a new pack and Resistance: Retribution. It looked fantastic and we have to admit, it breathed some life into the conference. It’s due out Spring 09. Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, Madden 09, Loco Roco 2, Buzz, Valkarie Chronicles and Patapon 2 are all due to bolster the PSP’s library.

The PS3 is getting there. SOE are bringing The Agency, Kid Realms and DC Universe Online (which is also due on the PC) to the PS3’s catalogue. The latter has a dynamic interactive world and allows you to fight alongside your favourite characters. For $399.99 you’ll be able to buy an 80 gig PS3 (in September) with the same features as the 40gig, but with more hard-drive space. Sony then let off a large list of PS3 games:

• Little Big Planet
• Motorstorm: Pacific Rift
• Metal Gear Solid 4
• 007: Quantum of Solace
• SOCOM Confrontation
• Ghostbusters
• SoulCalibur IV
• Resistance 2
• The Agency
• Naruto
• Resident Evil 5
• Singstar
• Guitar Hero: World Tour
• MBA
• Buzz Quiz TV
• Killzone 2

Two new exclusives were announced. One unsurprising; God of War III and the other unheard of; M.A.G. Massive Action Game will supposedly have 256 players online at once, split into eight man squads. They’ll be airdrops, faction based campaigns and character growth. A trailer was shown but it was all pre-rendered. Sony capped off the show with Infamous, an open world heroic game due in spring 2009. It looks nice and reminds us of Crackdown.

Underwhelming at best. E3 done and dusted. Back to normal next week. (Excuse any typos, it's been a deathly week - Ed).