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Sony PlayStation (Games) Games

PS Move Launch Date and Price Announced, Portal 2 For the PS3 145

Posted by Soulskill from the beating-ms-at-the-price-game dept.
Sony took the stage for the last major keynote of E3 this afternoon, splitting their attention evenly between hardware improvements and new games. First, they talked about 3D technology — Sony plans to try driving 3D adoption in a similar way to what they did with Blu-ray, with 20 titles planned for March 2011 or earlier. Headlining those will be Killzone 3 (coming February 2011), Gran Turismo 5 (coming November 2nd), Tron Evolution, Mortal Kombat, and Crysis 2. Sony also released launch details for their PS Move motion control system. It will be released on September 19th in the US, the motion controller will cost $50, and the navigation controller will cost $30. Several games will get retroactive Move support, such as Resident Evil 5, Heavy Rain, and Tiger Woods PGA Tour 11. An RPG called Sorcery was demonstrated; your character has a wand that's very similar to the controller, and you throw arcane bolts or draw walls of fire just as you'd expect. Read on for more about Sony's E3 announcements.

Sony also unveiled a new campaign for the PSP, apparently designed to compete with phone games. Upcoming titles include Metal Gear Solid: Peacewalkers, Invizimals (an augmented reality game that makes use of the camera), God of War: Ghost of Sparta, and Kingdom Hearts. Moving back to the PS3, they gave a presentation on LittleBigPlanet 2, emphasizing how it is a platform for all kinds of games. Users will be able to create almost any type of game within LBP 2 — FPS, RTS, RPG, racing, space shooters, etc. They showed several brief demonstrations created in a short period of time, and it appears to be a very robust set of tools.

Next, Sony announced a long-rumored subscription service for the PlayStation Network called PlayStation Plus. It's intended to provide additional services to gamers for $50 a year. Existing PSN features won't change, and PSPlus will provide access to betas, themes, discounts at the Store, and other services. The crowd wasn't particularly pleased at this, and Sony quickly moved on to upcoming games. Valve's Gabe Newell came out on stage and announced that Portal 2 will be coming to the PS3, apparently with some limited Steam Cloud integration. We also got presentations on Dead Space 2 and a new Twisted Metal game planned for 2011

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PS Move Launch Date and Price Announced, Portal 2 For the PS3 More

PS Move Launch Date and Price Announced, Portal 2 For the PS3

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  • I'm kind of hoping for Move support in Portal 2. That will really be the killer Proof of Concept for Move as a game controller over Natal.

    • I don't know why you would prefer Move for Portal 2, over a controller, but I'll humour you.

      Why would that be any better for a controller than Kinect (formerly known as Natal)?

      Any situation where you are pointing a remote, Kinect can read what direction your arm is pointing too, so its really the same thing.

      • Buttons?

        It's seriously why I think move's better. most games don't have you unarmed flailing around wildly. You're often equipped with something.

        • I don't see why you'll be flailing anymore with Kinect than you will with move though. And buttons would be like pointing with your various fingers. Index for blue, Open palm for Orange, and closed fist for idle, and you've essentially got the controls necessary for portal.

          If its movement you want to avoid, why would you want a move?

          • it's imprecise movement I want to avoid. the controller scheme you mention sounds painfully uncomfortable. Yes, waving around a waggle rod is uncomfortable too, but it's an improvement over Kinect's full body bullshit.

            • I think in the end it'll be a controller with 2 analog joysticks that does it best. Or a mouse and keyboard.

              I think all motion detecting devices operate too slowly for some of the faster paced portal challenges out there.

              • I expect that "aiming" will eventually be obsolete, and "do what I mean" will be based instead on where you are looking.

            • >>>it's imprecise movement I want to avoid

              Exactly. Why do I feel like my favorite hobby..... okay, okay my SECOND favorite hobby... is going down the wrong path. I want to RELAX when I'm gaming, not have to worry whether or not the iWand thingie will register my jump, or else let me die.

            • Re: (Score:3, Interesting)

              by sortius_nod ( 1080919 )

              I don't think you've actually seen the Move in action vs the Kinect in action.

              Move looks exactly as retarded as someone playing a Wii. There is almost NO precision. I watched two guys try the gladiator game they're using to demo the move, the amount of times the guys swung and it didn't register was phenominal.

              Thing is, the move uses very similar technology to the Kinect. The main difference being that the Move is single camera with control vs dual camera with human tracking. I would actually say the Kinect

              • Re: (Score:2)

                by Zerth ( 26112 )

                In most of the demos I saw yesterday, the demonstrators weren't using them either. That or Kinect is so awesome it can read your movements in the future.

                Starwars was really fake, Forza was fake, that tiger-petting demo was fake.

                I strongly doubt any of the demos were real.

          • Re: (Score:3, Informative)

            by Zerth ( 26112 )

            Kinect can't reliably detect anything better than coarse limb movement, so no hand actions, sorry.

            http://www.destructoid.com/sadly-scrapped-arkedo-s-natal-game-2-finger-heroes-161106.phtml [destructoid.com]

        • Re: (Score:1, Troll)

          by Lunix Nutcase ( 1092239 )

          So basically you want to hold a plastic phallus in your hand?

      • Re:Move support in Portal 2. (Score:4, Insightful)

        by interkin3tic ( 1469267 ) on Tuesday June 15, 2010 @05:26PM (#32584282)

        Why would that be any better for a controller than Kinect (formerly known as Natal)?

        Precision, timing, and buttons. I can't imagine detecting where your arm is pointing being laser-pointer accurate, which you would like when making tricky portal shots. There's also latency with kinetic that wouldn't be good for puzzles like near the end of portal 1 (think, having to shoot a portal as you're flying through the air). And how would you shoot without a button? Stamp your foot?

        • The move won't be any better than pointing your arm for precision. All motion detection devices have that level of latency.

          As for buttons, refer to my other post in this thread. (32584130)

          • The move won't be any better than pointing your arm for precision. All motion detection devices have that level of latency.

            Read up on the tech involved. It's sub-microsecond latency for movement, because it's a camera tracking a very obvious target instead of having to compute where the whole of your body is in real time.

            Furthermore, as stated there is an actual button - which means zero latency, whereas Kinect has to process your movements to determine if you meant fire which means it has at least whatev

            • Re:Wrong, buttons have no latency and Move is fast (Score:4, Insightful)

              by illumin8 ( 148082 ) on Wednesday June 16, 2010 @09:25AM (#32590262) Journal

              Furthermore, as stated there is an actual button - which means zero latency

              I have to take issue with this whole "zero latency" statement. On any game system, whether it be console or PC, there is no such thing as zero latency. Even if the console acknowledges your button press instantly, you still have the latency between now and the next framebuffer update to the video screen, which is at least 1/30th or 1/60th of a second.

              On modern consoles, it is even worse. The PS3 uses a bluetooth communications protocol with it's controllers. This means that your button press has to be packetized and sent through the 7 layers of the OSI model across an inherently slow and subject to interference wireless connection, then depacketized and processed by software on the other end. The best thing you can hope for is that you only have 25-50 ms of latency and that it is unnoticeable to most players. This same thing is true of Xbox360 and Wii as well.

              If you want to minimize latency, first you have to get rid of all wireless controllers and go back to corded joysticks or keyboard controls. Then you need to get a framebuffer (and CRT) that can refresh at 120hz or higher. This is why professional FPS players don't want anything other than a keyboard, mouse, and a real CRT. With a 120hz. refresh rate and a hard-wired keyboard/mouse, FPS players can get their latency down to around 8.33 ms (1000 ms in a second divided by 120 frames per second) which, while faster than most players can react, makes a difference to fighter pilots and other trained professionals.

              All of this has been dumbed down in modern consoles to the point that latency is an extreme joke and we must calibrate our Rock Band setups to account for almost 100 ms of latency due to slow processing HDTVs, wireless controllers, and interference.

              Give me back my keyboard/mouse, and Sony Trinitron CRT any day - and get off my lawn!

              • -1 Pedantic

                By "zero latency" he means that a person cannot notice a latency issue. What you're saying is like arguing that the latency between the TV and your eye is an issue because the speed of light isn't instantaneous. Technically, it isn't instantaneous. But practically, from what we can perceive, it is.

                I record music onto my computer. Technically, there's no such thing as zero latency recording. But I don't have the perceptual acuteness necessary to be aware of this and neither does anyone else, so it

              • Sadly, Win7 only works up to 85hz.

                Yes, I do play with a 21" CRT. And wired controls.

  • Metal Gear Solid: Peacewalkers (Score:3, Funny)

    by protektor ( 63514 ) on Tuesday June 15, 2010 @04:56PM (#32583950)

    Not sure that that Peacewalkers was the best title for the game. It brings up intimidate images of Snake being 65 years old and using a walker with those tennis balls on the feet to get around like you see seniors doing at the malls. LOL

  • I haven't played a single Valve title and thought I hadn't got value for money. Although short, Portal was amazing. I can't wait for Portal 2. In fact I think I'm going to piss myself in anticipation. /fanboi

    • [make up your own lame pun involving wii]

    • Team Fortress 2 for the 360 was a complete waste. But it was the only way to get portal a the time.

      I've always gotten value for my money, I just feel a little annoyed at having to buy Half life 2 3x times.

      • I've always gotten value for my money, I just feel a little annoyed at having to buy Half life 2 3x times.

        I didn't think Half-Life 2 was available for the 360 before Orange Box came out.

        Or did you buy the PC version as well?

      • Re: (Score:2)

        by elrous0 ( 869638 ) *
        Are you kidding? The Orange Box was one of the best values in console history. Half-Life 2 and several expansions, TF2, *and* Portal--all for $60. I bought that thing when it came out and I'm *still* playing it today.
  • Just bought my PS3 last week, and excited to see they're still planning games and even more improvements for it instead of phasing it out already since they've been around a while.
    • They are still releasing new games for the PS2 so don't expect them to kill the PS3 just yet... Also, they won't even begin to phase it out before the PS4 is released.

  • Can it be?!? (Score:3, Informative)

    by Rewind ( 138843 ) on Tuesday June 15, 2010 @05:03PM (#32584052)
    Gran Turismo 5 (coming November 2nd)? One can holy hope. I was waiting for it to be renamed DNF Kart at this point. The game looks great if it is (finally) going to come out. A reason to get a PS3!

    • Indeed. Gran Turismo has been losing speed to other racing series like Forza, though I've always prefered Turismo. It's been a long time coming.

  • Neverminding the general shape of the Move controller itself, am I the only one that thinks the glowy ball looks goofy? It's like a color-changing lightbulb someone stuck out of a phallic lamp. Surely Sony could've integrated the glowing part into the controller itself? Perhaps like a lighted end cap or something? Sony's got the design skills to make it look all high-tech and cool, but the best they can do to an ergonomic controller is to stick a ball onto it?

    As for Portal 2 - is it going to be as gimped as

    • Re: (Score:3, Insightful)

      by h4rr4r ( 612664 )
      If you are going to play a computer game play it on a computer. I say this as the owner of a PS3, so calm down fanboys. Games are best on the system they were designed for, PS3 <-> 360 ports are ok, PC to console or the other way never works.

      • Re: (Score:1)

        by Kenoli ( 934612 )
        Agreed. In particular the interfaces for console vs PC have significantly different designs, which are generally left unaltered in the port, making the game suffer terribly.

      • Re:Couldn't they make the Move less goofy? (Score:4, Insightful)

        by rxan ( 1424721 ) on Tuesday June 15, 2010 @10:39PM (#32586976)

        My problem is that so few games are designed with the PC in mind today. Most developers are going multiplatform which essentially means console focused games (ie: lowest common denominator).

        Microsoft has been failing in the PC gaming department lately. They have the Games for Windows brand and those games often don't have 360 controller support. Even when a game is ported to the PC from the 360 it often has the 360 controller support stripped out or useless. If the controller isn't supported then the PC interface is usually a crap port.

        I love the PC because you have the greatest graphics anywhere. But the supporting companies always gimp it for us. WTF?

    • Re:Couldn't they make the Move less goofy? (Score:4, Interesting)

      by BoogeyOfTheMan ( 1256002 ) on Tuesday June 15, 2010 @05:20PM (#32584222)

      Well, Newell said that the PS3 version of Portal 2 was going to be "the best version" (paraphrased), so hopefully it wont suck.

      And as to the reason for the giant glowing ball, the software knows the exact size of the ball, so if it appears smaller, it knows its farther away, etc. I doubt it would work as well with just an LED or a lit endcap.

      • Re: (Score:1)

        by AvitarX ( 172628 )

        I bet it could work as well outside of the visible spectrum though.

        • Yeah, that would probably work (can the PS Eye pick up other wavelengths?) but since they can change what color the ball glows, it can be used to differentiate between players, as a health bar, as a signifier for the function the controller is used for at the time (like blue for magic, red for sword), etc.

          • From what I've seen, the colors are used to differentiate which controller # you are using. So switching colors during gameplay is unlikely.

      • Re: (Score:3, Informative)

        by ElKry ( 1544795 )
        He said the best console version.

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by am 2k ( 217885 )

      Surely Sony could've integrated the glowing part into the controller itself? Perhaps like a lighted end cap or something? Sony's got the design skills to make it look all high-tech and cool, but the best they can do to an ergonomic controller is to stick a ball onto it?

      I think it has to be round by design. The idea is that the camera has to capture the round ball to know where it is (X/Y position in the image and its size defining the position on all three axes). Additionally, the more it sticks out, the less it will be obstructed (by the player's hand for example).

    • You aren't the only one who think Move is goofy.

      http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2010/3/24/ [penny-arcade.com]

  • You attack its weak point for massive damage!
  • Thank you... you burned me... I'm going to go cry in a corner now... With steam... On Wine... Where is the love?

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by AP31R0N ( 723649 )

      You moved up to the mountain to away from the cooties that come with living with other people and to look down on us sheep. But then you whine that no one builds roads to your house.

      Enjoy your self imposed exile.

  • I suppose it is too much to hope that Sony would say something about this sore subject at a press conference. I wonder if anyone is going to try and bring it up at E3...

    • Re: (Score:3, Insightful)

      by Narishma ( 822073 )

      E3 is a gaming conference/show. Nobody there cares about OtherOS.

      • You don't remember Sony talking about this very feature at E3 when when announcing the PS3? SONY even cared then.

  • New games having 3d support is a no-brainer, the real information is the pricing on the Move. $49 for a wand and $29 for a navigation controller is $10 higher (each) than the respective Wii controllers; add in the cost of the Eye ($39) and there's going to be alot of angst over the cost of this new optional hardware. First-party Move games being priced at $39 was a smart move, undercutting first-party Wii games by $10; to be fair, Sony is no Nintendo when it comes to first-party games, and it seems most of

    • I sold my Wii in anticipation of the Move. Motion controls are kinda gimiky, but are REALLY fun when done well (and you're drunk). And I much, much, much prefered using the Wiimote to aim in RE4 than trying to use my analog sticks to aim in RE5, so hopefully they will have decent support for the various shooters when its released.

      Before you ask why I would sell my Wii, it was gathering dust and I've turned into a trophy whore. Theres something about having a list of accomplishments to show where my day off

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by rxan ( 1424721 )
      You have the cost of the Eye but then factor in Motion Plus for all of your Wii controllers. Even with that you don't get matching functionality. The PS3 seems to provide the better dollar value here. Not to mention extra flexibility such as dual-wand Move games which would be freaking awesome.
  • I have to say that I'm not even a little excited about 3D coming to video games. Marty McFly said it best - The shark still looks fake.

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by Pojut ( 1027544 )

      I gotta admit, after having seen one of the new 3D LED flatscreens in action at a Best Buy, it doesn't fuck around. The commercials where it looks like stuff is just popping out of the screen isn't too far off base...it does add a lot to the cost of the TV, and it is kinda gimmicky, but I highly recommend naysayers going into a Best Buy (or similar store) and at least giving it a looksie. Gimmick or no, the results are impressive.

      • Re:Back to the Future Part 2 (Score:4, Insightful)

        by X0563511 ( 793323 ) on Tuesday June 15, 2010 @06:54PM (#32585194) Homepage Journal

        Of course, the people without proper depth perception will bitch and whine about it. After all, if they can't enjoy/utilize it, nobody should.

        (This is the same crap you see regarding 3D movies)

      • Re: (Score:2)

        by tlhIngan ( 30335 )

        I gotta admit, after having seen one of the new 3D LED flatscreens in action at a Best Buy, it doesn't fuck around. The commercials where it looks like stuff is just popping out of the screen isn't too far off base...it does add a lot to the cost of the TV, and it is kinda gimmicky, but I highly recommend naysayers going into a Best Buy (or similar store) and at least giving it a looksie. Gimmick or no, the results are impressive.

        Yeah, the demos are good. However, unlike say IMAX 3D, the FOV of a screen is

        • Re: (Score:2)

          by Pojut ( 1027544 )

          Considering the 3D flatscreens out there are essentially first-gen products, they work amazingly well. I know they aren't technically first-gen, but they are the first mass-produced and "priced for retail" versions available. All things considered, very impressive.

  • "Nav" controller confirmed semi-unnecessary (Score:4, Informative)

    by muel ( 132794 ) on Tuesday June 15, 2010 @05:41PM (#32584412)

    Reps from Zipper Interactive confirmed to me that the standard, Sixaxis controller can be used instead of the new "Nav" controller. The Nav replicates the left side of Sixaxis, anyway -- two shoulder buttons, one joystick, and simple gyroscope/motion sensing. Nav also has the face buttons, but so does the Move Wand, so those are a bit superfluous. If you want to save $30 on games that support the Nav, it's an option.

  • Am I the only one who's getting really sick of shooters? It seems 1st and 3rd person shooters are the "go-to" safe bet genre nowadays, like platformers were in the early '90s. There's only so many times I can shoot the same mooks with the same automatic rifles before I stop enjoying it. There's always another new element promising deeper gameplay (cover mechanics, stealth, vehicles) but you're still aligning the crosshair with the head and pulling the trigger like you were 13 years ago.

    Maybe I'm just jaded,

    • I got sick of FPS shooters sometime around Quake II.

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by abigor ( 540274 )

      Agreed, which is why I typically only buy shooters with cool stories. The game mechanic of shooting/first-person perspective becomes secondary to unraveling what's going on.

      Good examples of this: Bioshock, CoD 4, Resistance 1 and 2

      Bad example: Killzone 2, which had a very lame story in the single-player mode. Cool looking game, though.

      • As awful as the multiplayer was, I found the redeeming factor for MW2 was the campaign. Granted, CoD 4 had both a good campaign AND good multiplayer, I won't completely discredit MW2. I thoroughly enjoyed the storyline. The only thing that annoyed me is how it ended, and the fact they did not even hint that there would be an actual conclusion, whether through DLC or another title.
  • Mortal Kombat was supposedly over after Armageddon, which in turn meant after MK vs DC I guess. Are they really bringing it back? It sure would be nice if they made another GOOD MK game for once..
  • At least I've read that somewhere. (There's going to be a Sly Cooper collection for the PS3 and it's going to support 3d TV.)

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