E3 2010 News – Sony Computer Entertainment
Okay, so when I said that each game giant gets its own day to shine? I lied. Sony AND Nintendo took to their respective stages today, so we’ve got a ton of news for you! First up, Sony.
Just like Microsoft, Sony was keen to show off its new motion-sensing system, called PlayStation Move. Since most of the titles Sony revealed at E3 have Move-support, it makes sense to look at the system first. Consisting of a camera and controller device, the camera, called PlayStation Eye, will retail for $49.99 US; the controller, Move, will be available for $30 US. A bundle, consisiting of Eye, Move, and a copy of Sports Champions will sell for $99.99 US. An additional bundle consists of a PS3, Move, Eye, and (presumably) Sports Champions will go for $399.99 US. The system is availble for purchase almost a full month earlier than Microsoft Kinect, on September 19.
This is Move. The Eye? Not shown.
The control system itself is fairly close to the Nintendo Wii in that the PlayStation Eye utilises the balls on top of the Move controllers to track gamers.
Taking a step back, Move with 2 controllers is looking to cost the same price as Microsoft’s Kinect — around $150 US. Translate that price into Australian dollars…and I’m having difficulty seeing a huge uptake on these pricey peripherals. What do you all think?
Anyways, moving on…
Sony introduced a slew of titles with Move-support. Killzone 3, availble in February 2011, will feature Move-functionality and full 3D…providing you have a 3D television (I think they’d recommend Bravia), and glasses. Can you see this new way of gaming becoming quite costly?
On the 3D front, Sony announced twenty 3D-enabled titles by March 2011, listing ten: Super Stardust HD, Motorstorm: San Francisco, Killzone 3, Gran Turismo 5, NBA 2K11, Sly Cooper Collection, Mortal Kombat, Ghost Recon: Future Soldier, EyePet and Tron.
Other Move-supported titles of note include a new Time Crisis game and a port of Nintendo Wii’s Dead Space: Extraction on-rails shooter bundled into the upcoming Dead Space 2.
If you’re into Harry Potter-esque gameplay, then the exclusive Sorcery is for you. Using the Move controller, players perform specific motions for a variety of different spells; the spells change the spherical end of the Move controller to let you know you’re on the right track. No word on when Sorcery will be released, unfortunately.
It's Harry Pot..I mean, Sorcery.
Non-3D and non-Move games? Sony has those too. My personal favourite: a new addition to the Twisted Metal series! New to this iteration? Flight. So cool! A tentative release date of 2011 was announced.
TWISTED METAL!
Joining Twisted Metal are more sequels: SingStar Dance and Echochrome 2. Not much else was said on them…so if you like the originals, you’re presumably excited.
Though developer Valve and Sony aren’t the best bed-fellows, they sure do craft some good deals: get ready for Portal 2 in 2011, alongside Steam Cloud support. The only console that will offer it, the PS3 will offer “auto updates, community features, downloadble content, and more” as part of the cloud support. Gabe Newell, head chief of Valve and a known PS3-naysayer, claims that the PS3 version of Portal 2 will indeed be the “best version.”
As far as exclusive content goes, Sony has also scored with Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood, citing unspecific exclusive add-ons and early access to the multiplayer beta. Medal of Honor will also get a remastered HD version of Medal of Honor: Frontline, originally released in 2002.
Have you been waiting for Gran Turismo 5 for what seems like a lifetime? A release date of November 2 has been issued…so that wait is almost up!
There wasn’t much on the PSP front, but if you’re a Patapon fan, get ready for Patapon 3…to be released, in Sony’s words, “between now and December.”
Last but not least, it looks as if the rumors of a subscription-based PlayStation Network were true. Say hello to PlayStation Plus.
PlayStation Plus: elevate your game.
Whilst online play via PlayStation Network will still be available, and free, the Plus subscription will give you access to the following extras:
- Exclusive in-game DLC and other content
- Free full games, changing each month
- Early access to demos and betas
- Auto-patching feature, which will detect, download and install updates
The service will cost $49 US annually, or $18 US for three months…so about half the price of an Xbox Live Gold membership. The differences in service are readily apparent, however — I notice there’s still no offering of in-game chat as part of Plus. Subscribers will also get Wipeout HD, a demo for inFamous, Fieldrunners, Age of Zombies, Rallycross, and various avatars and themes for free in the month of July.
So there’s Sony’s offerings…what do you think of them? I’ve given you my own thoughts, but I’m very curious about yours. Do comment!
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UPDATE: (Grr!) EB Games just confirmed Australian prices: “It will be $99.95 for the starter bundle or $69.95 for the controller,” reads their Twitter post.