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Tag: PS4

  • You Can Have Up To 2,000 Friends On The PS4, And Other Fun Facts About Sony’s New Console

    Science says you can only have 150 friends. Anymore beyond that is impossible. Don’t tell that to Sony though as it’s planning on letting you have a few thousand on the PS4.

    In a new video from PlayStation Access, Sony revealed that the PS4 will support up to 2,000 friends. On the PS3, gamers were restricted to 100 friends. It’s doubtful that many people were running into trouble with the 100 players max friend list, but it’s nice to know that Sony will be supporting your unhealthy habit of accepting friend requests from every person you play with.

    Having that many friends is kind of pointless, however, if you can’t talk to all of them. Thankfully, Sony says that the PS4 will support party chat for such occasions. In other words, you’ll be able to talk to friends regardless of the game they’re playing.

    In the above video, Sony reiterated that online multiplayer will not be free on the PS4. You will need a PlayStation Plus account to play online, but online apps like Netflix and party chat will remain available to PS4 owners without a Plus account.

    As for other details, Sony says that the PS4 will only be available in jet black at launch, and that it won’t support the DualShock 3. They also detail the hardware found inside the PlayStation Camera.

    The PS4 is still slated to launch later this year, but the exact date remains elusive. Some have suggested that the retail PS4’s recent pass through the FCC ensures an early launch, but I wouldn’t be so sure. We’re probably going to see both next-generation consoles launch in November, but I would be glad to be wrong.

  • PlayStation 4 Has Huge Lead on Xbox One, Shows Analyst Survey

    Sony dominated this year’s E3, at least when it came to messaging. The company gained praise from gamers for the PlayStation 4‘s $400 price – $100 less than Microsoft’s Xbox One. Sony also got a positive response for simply not implementing DRM in its new console or restricting used game sales – both “features” that Microsoft had announced for the Xbox One.

    Though Microsoft later backed off from implementing hardware-level DRM and restricting used games, the damage to the Xbox One’s reputation had already been done – and not just for hardcore gamers. Anecdotally, the PlayStation 4 has gained a lead on the Xbox One. The PS4 sits at number three in Amazon’s 2013 best-seller list for video games, with the Xbox One trailing behind at number six. Now, one analyst firm has released some actual data about the public’s perception of the two consoles.

    A new report out from Strategy Analytics shows that negative perceptions of Microsoft’s next-generation video game console seem to have reached average consumers. The analyst firm’s latest “ConsumerMetrix” survey gathered data on consumers’ intentions of purchasing next-generation consoles. The survey found that 14.2% of more than 6,000 consumers surveyed in the U.S. and Europe were “very or somewhat likely” to purchase a PlayStation 4 within the next year. Only 9.5 of consumers could say the same about the Xbox One. The firm believes this consumer sentiment could predict 50% higher sales of the PlayStation 4 over the Xbox One.

    “Our survey suggests that consumers believe the PS4 will win the early phase of the next generation console war,” said Jia Wu, director of Connected Home Devices at Strategy Analytics. “Sony’s performance at E3 was widely accepted as superior to Microsoft’s, and the survey evidence suggests this has already fed through to the wider consumer market.”

  • PS4, Xbox One Will Continuously Record Your Gameplay

    People love watching other people play games. It started out by going to a friend’s house to watch them play the latest release, but has now expanded to a worldwide audience with the advent of YouTube, Twitch and other video services. This has been largely helped along by video capture equipment, but the next generation of consoles will have video capture built right in.

    Sony and Microsoft both announced earlier this year that the PS4 and Xbox One will be able to record gameplay footage without the use of additional hardware. They wouldn’t say much beyond that at first, but both companies recently decided to detail their separate video recording strategies.

    This week, Sony said that the PS4 will be continuously recording the last 15 minutes of gameplay footage at all times. At any time, players will be able to hit the new share button, and edit those 15 minutes on the console itself. From there, players can upload that video content to YouTube or other video services.

    As for Microsoft, the company said that the Xbox One is continuously recording the last five minutes of gameplay footage. Internally, they call it “Project Upload,” and the idea is to allow users go back after a game and edit together the best moments. You can also say, “Xbox, record that” to have the console automatically save the last 30 seconds of gameplay.

    In short, the PS4 saves more game footage, but the Xbox One appears to give players more recording options. Both sound pretty compelling, but we’ll find out later this year if it actually works.

    Oh, and both consoles will have something for those who don’t like being constrained by time limits. You’ll be able to stream as much video as you want to each console’s respective streaming service – Ustream on PS4 and Twitch on Xbox One.

    [h/t: CVG]

  • Comic-Con 2013: Capcom Announces A New Strider Game

    Strider and its sequel are some of the most cherished action games of all time. Capcom has kept the fandom alive by including the game’s main protagonist, Hiryu, in its various fighting games over the years, including the recent Marvel vs. Capcom 3. Now Capcom is bringing the franchise back in a big way.

    At its San Diego Comic-Con panel last night, Capcom announced that it’s working with Double Helix to create a new Strider game for current and next gen consoles. Some may feel a little uneasy about Double Helix working on the title, but you should at least check out the announcement trailer. It’s looking pretty good.

    The guys at Double Helix are sticking to the classic Strider formula, but they are introducing some new elements as well. The major change this time around is the introduction of Metroidvania elements. In other words, players will explore an open world full of upgrades, branching paths and hidden rooms.

    Of course, you may not be sold on a new Strider just yet. Perhaps you feel that anybody can make an announce trailer look good. What you need is gameplay, and Capcom has seven minutes of it just for you.

    Strider will be released as a digital download in 2014 for the PC, Xbox One, Xbox 360, PS4 and PS3. There’s no mention of Wii U anywhere so Nintendo fans shouldn’t get their hopes up.

  • PlayStation 4’s Interesting Features Highlighted in New Video

    Gamers who saw Sony’s big PlayStation 4 announcement in February and its surprise-laden E3 conference will know most of the details about the PlayStation 4 – the $400 price, what it looks like, and the lack of console-level DRM, at least. Those who were paying close enough attention to catch the PS4 user interface preview even know a bit about what it will look like on a TV. For everyone else, Sony has just released a new video running down some of the lesser-known details about its next-generation console.

    The video highlights 20 features of the PS4, some of which haven’t been highlighted much in the mainstream press. These features include:

    • The user interface being called the “PlayStation Dynamic Menu.”
    • Any PS4 can play any customer’s games, as long as they are logged in.
    • A user’s “home” console content is available to everyone on that particular PlayStation 4.
    • The instant gaming-to streaming-to chat switching that was heavily touted by Microsoft for the Xbox One will also be present on the PlayStation 4.
    • The PS4’s suspend feature will work similar to the PS Vita’s. Players will be able to suspend gameplay on-the-fly and resume when they are ready.
    • The Touchpad on the PS4 controller is also a button.
    • More than 140 games are currently being developed for the console.

    In addition to these announcements, Sony is also touting the fact that it is working on “new original programming and unique access to entertainment content” for PS4. This could mean deals with online streaming outlets, or it could even mean the return of gaming shows such as Qore, which Sony cancelled over one year ago.

  • Latest Killzone: Shadow Fall Trailer Is Nothing But Gameplay

    It’s rare to find a game trailer that’s just nothing but gameplay. There always has to be a narrator or an annoying dubstep track to prove just how gamey a game is. Thankfully, that’s not the case with this latest Killzone: Shadow Fall trailer.

    In a refreshing move, Sony has shared a trailer of nothing but gameplay for Killzone: Shadow Fall. It’s our best look at how the game plays yet, and I must say, it looks marvelous. My prior reservations regarding the OWL are mostly gone as I can now see just how useful the little robot buddy will be. Also, that instant zip line looks incredibly fun.

    Regardless of what you think of the gameplay, you must admit that Killzone: Shadow Fall is really pretty. There weren’t really any graphical powerhouses at the launch of both the PS3 and the Xbox 360 so it’s really gratifying to see games like Killzone: Shadow Fall and Forza Motorsport 5 launching alongside the next gen consoles.

    Killzone: Shadow Fall will launch later this year alongside the PS4.

  • EA Is Raising Xbox One, PS4 Game Prices In The UK

    Well, this is troubling.

    GAME, a major UK games retailer, said that EA will be raising the prices of its next-gen games on the Xbox One and PS4. Gamers in the UK will be paying £54.99 for EA’s games instead of the usual £44.99 price tag that many have become accustomed to over the last generation.

    What makes this so worrisome is that it shows third parties are willing to raise prices when first parties aren’t. Sony and Microsoft have both confirmed that games will still cost $59.99/£44.99 on the PS4 and Xbox One, but said that third parties were allowed to do what they wanted. Giving that freedom to third parties was eventually going to lead to higher game prices, but it was unexpected to see it happen this soon.

    Of course, this news only affects UK gamers for now. EA has not announced pricing for the U.S. or Europe at large yet. Stores like GameStop have applied a placeholder price of $59.99 to EA’s next-gen games, but they’re placeholders. Retailers expect EA to follow suit with everyone else by sticking to the same $59.99 price tag, but it wouldn’t be completely out of the realm of reason for EA to increase the price of games by $10.

    This is definitely cause for concern, but the price increase might not end up affecting UK gamers. TechRadar points out that Activision raised the price of two previous Call of Duty games to £54.99, but many stores still sold the games at the usual £44.99 price tag. MSRPs are meant to be broken, and retailers will want to break it this holiday season.

    Still, we’ve contacted EA for further clarification on its pricing scheme for next gen games. We’ll update if and when we hear back.

  • You Can Play Your Digital Game Library On Any PS4

    One of the more potentially awesome things about Microsoft’s vision of a DRM-laden future was the ability to play your games on any other Xbox One console. With everything being digital, all you had to do was sign in via your account and you could start playing your games while at a friend’s house. Sony has revealed that it has a similar idea in store for the PS4.

    At Develop, Sony R&D Senior Team Leader Neil Brown said that any digital game you own on the PS4 can be played on any other PS4 as long as you’re signed into your account. He also says that the “Play as you Download” option on the PS4 makes transporting your digital game library almost as easy as transporting your physical game library:

    “You can visit your friends house you can log into your account and play any game from your digital library, which is good. But how useful is that if it takes half a day to download the game you want to play? With Play As You Download you get much quicker access to at least the first section of the game so you can start playing quicker. So this makes a digital library a practical option in the real world.”

    It’s apparent that Sony is trying to sell the convenience of digital game ownership in the next generation. It’s already doing a pretty solid job of it on the PS3 with Day 1 Digital, but the infrastructure in place on the dated PS3 just isn’t built for all of the realities of digital ownership. With the PS4 and Xbox One, we’re going to see an increased push towards an all digital future where physical copies are really only a tool to wean gamers off of physical ownership.

    Speaking of physical game ownership, those who decide to buy the blu-ray version of games on the PS4 will still have to deal with game installs. Unlike the PS3, however, Brown says game installs will happen automatically in the background while you’re playing the game:

    “A similar system also works on Blu-ray, chunks are automatically copied to the hard drive in the background. This means that after the first few minutes your game can rely on having faster read speeds from the hard drive. Which provides a better experience for players, and this is a completely background process for the player. They don’t have to wait for anything to install before playing the game. The game will launch as soon as the disk has been put in the drive.”

    It’s great that the PS4 and Xbox One are eliminating some of the inconveniences of console gaming, but both platform holders will have to be careful in regards to where they go next. Microsoft admittedly had a lot of great ideas in regards to its DRM scheme, but it didn’t give enough in return to gamers to justify the removal of game trade-ins. Going forward, both platform holders will have to figure out the best way to encourage an all digital future that gives back as much as it takes away.

    [h/t: OPM UK]

  • Amazon Is Sold Out Of PS4, Xbox One Launch Units

    Just yesterday, GameStop announced that it had completely sold out of its initial allotment of PS4 units. Now another retailer has announced the same.

    Amazon announced today via its Video Games Facebook page that it has completely sold out of its initial allotment of PS4 and Xbox One launch units. As the retailer notes, it only took them a month to sell through the launch unit preorders:

    After a crazy and exciting month, we’ve sold through our initial allocations of PS4 and Xbox One. Thank you to all who have ordered and shared your opinions. We have the Standard Editions for both consoles still available, but we can’t guarantee these at release. Please check back here as we’ll update you first if we receive further release day allocations.

    What Amazon didn’t say is that it has sold out of its more expensive launch day bundles as well. The sell through rate of these bundle only further cements that the hype for next-gen consoles is very high, and will remain so throughout the end of the year.

    Amazon may be sold out of both the PS4 and the Xbox One, but GameStop still has the Xbox One Day One Edition available for preorder. There’s no guarantee that it will be available for much longer, however, so you better preorder now if you have your heart set on an Xbox One this holiday season.

  • Ubisoft Shows Off Pirate Gameplay In Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag

    Assassin’s Creed III introduced a lot of elements to the franchise that mostly garnered a resounding “meh” from gamers, but most can agree that its introduction of ship battles was definitely the highlight. That enthusiasm for naval combat may have been the reason Ubisoft turned to pirates in this year’s title.

    Today, Ubisoft released a new trailer for Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag that shows off the game’s pirate gameplay and naval combat. Like any good pirate, players will spend a lot of their free time hunting treasure that they find on maps. Some of the treasure that you find will help you upgrade your ship to take on the tougher naval challenges.

    Some people will claim that they are becoming tired of Assassin’s Creed, and that’s a valid argument. Others argue that pirate games are passé, but that one’s a little harder to defend. It’s rare that we get a pirate game, let alone a good one; and Assassin’s Creed IV is looking to be a good pirate game.

    Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag will launch on October 29 for the Xbox 360, PS3, PC and Wii U. It will also be a launch title for the Xbox One and PS4.

  • Killzone: Shadow Fall Gets A Touch Of Hollywood Talent

    You usually don’t look for great storytelling in big budget shooters, but the guys at Guerilla Games are at least wanting to inject a little Hollywood talent into Killzone: Shadow Fall’s campaign.

    Steven Ter Heide, Game Director at Guerilla Games, announced today that David Harewood of Homeland fame and Jamie Gray of True Blood fame have been brought on to play Sinclair and Echo respectively in Killzone: Shadow Fall. Sinclair is the Vetan Security Agency director while Echo is an intelligence operative for the Helghast. Both actors made their in game debut today in a story teaser trailer:

    Guerilla Games has also shared more details on the campaign’s story:

    Although they’ve shared the same planet for thirty years, the Vektans and the Helghast are now on the brink of war. With both factions eager to protect their home and reclaim what they believe is theirs, trust has reached an all-time low. The wall built to separate both sides can no longer contain the enemy.

    In Killzone: Shadow Fall, you’ll serve as a Shadow Marshal under Vektan Security Agency director Sinclair, who has you perform the difficult missions that ensure the balance remains tipped in favor of the Vektans. But Echo, an intelligence operative for the Helghast, has similar orders – and she will stop at nothing to accomplish them.

    Killzone: Shadow Fall will be available as a PS4 launch title later this year.

  • GameStop Has Sold Out Of PS4 Preorders

    In mid-June, Sony’s Andrew House said that PS4 demand “may well outstrip supply.” It only took about a month for that to become reality at one of the largest game retailers.

    Game Informer reports that GameStop has stopped taking PS4 preorders. Here’s the full statement from the retail chain:

    “Due to high demand for the system, GameStop is not currently taking additional store reservations for the PlayStation 4.”

    As you may have noticed, GameStop only says that it’s no longer taking in store reservations. Unfortunately, the situation is no different online as GameStop’s Web site also says that it’s sold out.

    What makes this particularly interesting is that GameStop opened the flood gates last month when an internal memo said that Sony was allowing the retailer to take unlimited preorders. The memo, if legitimate, made it clear that Sony was confident in its ability to deliver this holiday season. Now it appears that Sony is making sure that it can actually deliver by cutting off preorders before it gets too ridiculous.

    Of course, GameStop isn’t the first to stop taking launch system preorders. Shortly after the PS4 was made available for preorder, Amazon stopped taking preorders for what it called the Launch Edition. It’s still taking preorders on Launch Day bundles and a Standard Edition, but the latter won’t be available at launch.

    If you desperately need a next-gen console at launch, you can still preorder the Xbox One through GameStop. Microsoft is ditching its restrictive DRM through a day one patch, but you still have to deal with the more expensive price tag and required Kinect sensor.

  • The Witcher 3 Gets A Fun Making Of Feature

    A film crew heads out to the beaches of Scotland for some location scouting. They aren’t there for a film though. It’s CD Projekt Red preparing a trailer for their latest video game – The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.

    CD Projekt Red went on location in Scotland to film the E3 trailer for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. You can check out that trailer here. Below, you’ll see the making of that trailer as the team braves the elements of a very cold Scotland and a very cuddly wolf.

    Of course, they weren’t just shooting for a trailer in Scotland as the team used the area as direct inspiration for its in-game environments. You’ll see a few times in the trailer above a direct comparison between in-game footage and the live footage shot of a Scottish coast or forest. In short, it’s absolutely breathtaking what the team at CD Projekt Red is able to accomplish with The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.

    The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is scheduled to release in 2014 for the PS4, Xbox One and PC.

  • Watch This 45-Minute Talk From PS4 Architect Mark Cerny

    Mark Cerny is like a really nice (and really awesome) teacher of the gaming business. He has a demeanor that’s instantly likable, and his breadth of knowledge ensures that you actually learn something when he speaks.

    If you like Cerny as much as I do, you’re in a for a treat today. His recent talk at Gamelab in Barcelona this week is now up online for everybody to enjoy.

    The 45-minute talk is primarily about the PS4 and developing for it, but he spent a rather long time at the beginning talking about his 31 years in the industry. None of it is too brag though as he only uses stories of his past experience to illustrate what he’s trying to achieve with the PS4.

    It’s rare to hear somebody from a major platform holder to be this frank. His honesty shows that Sony has realized its mistakes, and is now working to correct them. Being transparent is just the start. Here’s hoping we get more interviews like this from the rest of Sony Computer Entertainment, like Shuhei Yoshida.

    Cerny is the lead architect of the PlayStation 4 hardware, and director of PS4 launch title Knack.

    [h/t: Engadget]

  • Here’s An Inside Look At PS4 Development From The Blacklight: Retribution Team

    One of the first games announced for the PS4 was the PC free-to-play shooter Blacklight: Retribution. The multiplayer-only team-based shooter will be a launch title for Sony’s new console and it will be one of the first free-to-play titles to grace Sony’s system.

    The developers at Zombie Studios spoke to Sony recently on their experiences in developing for the PS4 and the free-to-play model on consoles. It’s an interesting watch:

    It’s going to be interesting to see how well the free-to-play model works, especially with shooters, on the PS4. There are already a few free-to-play titles available on the PS3, like Dust 514, but the PS4 will be pushing it right from launch. Will PS4 buyers pick up any games at retail when they can just play games like Blacklight: Retribution for free? They will if developers present ultra compelling titles that players can’t get from free-to-play titles.

  • Learn All About Final Fantasy XV From Its Creator

    Square Enix had two surprise announcements at E3 – Kingdom Hearts III and Final Fantasy XV. Both games are being overseen by Square Enix superstar Tetsuya Nomura, and he was at E3 earlier this month to talk about the titles.

    Fans of both franchises will be pleased to know that Nomura sat down with Square Enix North America for an hour long interview about Kingdom Hearts III, Final Fantasy XV and Kingdom Hearts 1.5 HD Remix. He touches upon everything from the development of the original Kingdom Hearts to what he’s planning to do with the latest title in the franchise. As for Final Fantasy XV, he addresses the long and troubled development of the title from back when it was known as Final Fantasy Versus XIII. It’s a fascinating and frank look into the mind of a man who usually prefers to tease fans with cryptic answers instead of straight answers.

    Kingdom Hearts 1.5 HD Remix will be out on September 10 exclusively for the PS3. Kingdom Hearts III and Final Fantasy XV will be available for both the Xbox One and PS4 when they’re ready.

  • This Is What You’ll Get If You Buy A PS4 This Year

    The PS4 launch is still a few months away, and as such, there are still a few mysteries about the console. What’s the full launch lineup going to look like? What accessories will Sony and third parties have available at launch? What will Sony pack in? The two former questions will have to wait, but the latter was answered today.

    We got out first real look at what will be packed in with the PS4 later this year in a press shot that’s been making the rounds on the Internet today. Remember that $400 price tag? Turns out the low price means that we’re not going to get much in the base package:

    This Is What You'll Get If You A PS4 This Year

    As you can see, the PS4 will ship with the console itself, one DualShock 4, a HDMI cable, a power cord, a USB cable for the DualShock 4 and the prerequisite manual telling you not to dump water on the thing.

    Now, the interesting pack in are the earbuds. They will act as your mic as they plug directly into the controller. It’s no headset, but it’s nice gesture on Sony’s part to pack in some form of communication device after neglecting to do so on the PS3. Now maybe every multiplayer match on the PS4 won’t be dead silence outside of the game itself.

    We could look at the pack ins for the Xbox One for comparison’s sake, but we don’t know the full picture yet. My bet is that it’s going to be similar. The only real difference is that the Xbox One won’t pack in a headset like the Xbox 360 did at its launch. That’s a little unfortunate, but the Xbox One’s headset will probably be pretty cheap. It will also be a real headset, unlike Sony’s earbud solution.

    Still, it looks like Sony isn’t packing in much to make sure it hits that $400 price tag. In fact, IGN reports that Sony was going to include the new PlayStation Eye with every PS4 sold at first, but decided against it to make sure it could undercut Microsoft at E3.

    [h/t: TheGrimOfDeath via Reddit]

  • Conan O’Brien Visits E3, Hilarity Ensues

    Conan O’Brien, by his own admission, is not much of a gamer. He does, however, like to play and review games for his brilliant Clueless Gamer sketch. It was only fitting then that he bring his Clueless Gamer antics to the biggest game show of them all – E3.

    In early June, Conan hit up E3 to offer up his early impressions of the Xbox One and the PS4. He also roamed the show floor looking for whatever he could get into.

    Conan also got a chance to talk to Shigeru Miyamoto and ask him about his obsession with moustaches.

    For more on E3 and talk shows, check out Jimmy Fallon’s Video Game Week.

  • Sony Wants The PlayStation 4 To Save the PS Vita

    Aside from continuing the ongoing console wars, one of Sony’s primary goals for the upcoming PlayStation 4 is for the console to save the bacon of the PS Vita, Sony’s handheld gaming device. Despite having solid reviews from both consumers and the tech media, the device is still well behind Nintendo’s 3DS in terms of overall sales (31.9 million devices sold for the 3DS compared to 5.2 million Vitas).

    Perhaps even more telling: the VGChartz’ data reveals that Sony’s classic console, the PlayStation 2, also outsold the Vita last week.

    With that in mind, the move to make the PlayStation 4 compatible with the Vita only makes sense. In fact, during E3, it was revealed Sony wants to make “almost every PS4 title” available to Vita owners. Sony’s commitment to the Vita was again the topic of discussion during an interview with GamesIndustry.biz, where comments from PlayStation brand marketing Guy Longworth reveal Sony’s intentions:

    With Vita, we’re only 15 months in to launch and now we think that with PlayStation 4 the opportunity for Vita is to be the absolutely perfect companion to the PS4. What we’re seeing is that once people get it in their hands and buy it, they’re buying games and they love it. Now, it’s not had as fast a start as we would like, that’s common knowledge. But we do really believe in that platform and think that is has a significant opportunity. We think there’s a number of things that we can do in the coming months and years that will make it a long-term sustainable business.”

    The question is, will people who want the PS4 be willing to spend an additional $249.99 to have access to the PS4’s remote gaming features? Granted, it’s logical a price drop will follow the PS4 launch, making it more accessible, but is the demand for remote gaming really that high?

    Yes, mobile gaming is certainly a thing, but these games are featured on devices that are considered necessary by consumers. Considering many people are already carrying around a touchscreen brick, are they going to want to carry another device? 3DS sales indicate a definitive attraction to handheld gaming, but will PS4 compatibility make the Vita a serious contender?

    Lead image courtesy.

  • Killzone: Shadow Fall Gets A Touch Pad Gimmick

    The PS3 introduced the world to a sixaxis motion controller that developers felt needed to be integrated into every PS3 game. It got pretty annoying, but the trend has mostly worn off. Now Sony is set to introduce another potentially annoying gimmick, but that’s not going to stop the guys behind Killzone: Shadow Fall from using it.

    In a blog post on the official Killzone page, Guerilla Games introduced the world to the OWL – “an advanced hovering attack drone used exclusively by the Shadow Marshals to give them all kinds of tactical abilities in the field.” It sounds awesome, but the OWL will be controlled by the touch pad on the DualShock 4. Depending on how annoying it is – it could either be cool or as bad as throwing grenades with the sixaxis in Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune.

    To sell you on the concept, Guerilla’s Lead Designer Eric Boltjes says that the OWL can do the following:

  • Attack Mode orders the OWL to move to an area and attack anyone within range; alternatively, you can tell it to attack a single enemy directly.
  • Zipline Mode gets the OWL to fire a zipline, allowing the Shadow Marshal to traverse incredibly quickly from point A to B.
  • Stun Mode is similar to Attack Mode, but lets the OWL use up its energy to create an area-of-effect shock blast that turns off all nearby electronics and stuns humanoid enemies within range.
  • Lastly, Shield Mode creates an energy shield right in front of the Shadow Marshal, allowing bullets/projectiles to pass through from his POV but stopping bullets coming in from the other side.

    • Boltjes says that OWL is easy to use even in the heat of battle so here’s hoping that the touch pad doesn’t get in the way of gameplay. If it does, Guerilla would be wise to include more traditional control options for those that recoil in horror whenever touch controls are mentioned.

  • Check Out The PS4’s AR Gaming Capabilities

    Check Out The PS4’s AR Gaming Capabilities

    The PlayStation 4 will have a new PlayStation Eye camera available alongside it at launch. Sony hasn’t really advertised it much outside of the PlayStation 4 reveal in February though. During E3, however, it did create a small video to show off some of the cool things it has planned for the new PlayStation Eye.

    Sony calls it the Playroom and it’s more like an interactive toy. The controller and the camera work hand-in-hand to create an AR experience not unlike what Sony is doing now on the PS3 with Wonderbook and Move. It’s just that the power of the PS4 lets Sony be just a little more creative in its efforts.

    Like most other PlayStation Eye “games,” I can see myself playing around this for a few minutes and conclude that it’s super charming. Outside of that, it’s just a nice tech demo that showcases some of the tech that’s available to PS4 gamers. It will be interesting, however, to see what Sony does with the new PlayStation Eye further in the PS4’s lifespan and if it will create anything like Wonderbook for it.

    The new PlayStation Eye will be available this holiday season alongside the PS4.