A few weeks ago, I made my way to Ubisoft's Montreal studio to interview a pair of team members working on the latest Prince of Persia, and it turned out to be one of those interviews where we kept talking longer than we probably should have.
Below is an excerpt from that interview as follows:
1UP: Were you guys disappointed when those first couple of screenshots leaked out and everyone assumed it was going to be a two-player game?
BM: [Laughs] Disappointed? No, it was to be expected, really. I think if you see two characters on the screen, some people are going to assume one of their friends can control one of those two characters. So it didn't really disappoint me to see people saying, "Oh, oh, I think this is going to be a co-op game."
But we really haven't had much negative backlash about the fact that it's single-player. I've been reading the forums, I get e-mails, I get Facebook messages and that sort of stuff, and no one ever... More »
Fable II explores what happens when a game does away with most forms of punishment, and does nothing but reward its players from start to finish. The results are astonishing.
It's worth stepping away from the tried and tested Pavlovian mechanics that games have inherited from the coin-crunching arcades to consider what Lionhead is proposing. Almost every game ever made has reinforced its rules with penalties: if you fight and lose, you're killed; if you go off and explore, you get lost; if you're spotted when you're meant to be hiding, you're deported back to the start.
It's a strategy that undoubtedly works - many of gaming's finer moments are often interlinked with its harshest challenges - but there's also no escaping the fact that when it all goes wrong you're often treated like a lab monkey undergoing a rather cruel experiment: you may really want that banana, but the chances are you're going to get a lot of electric shocks first.
Per Grace Chen (Senior Manager, PLAYSTATION Store) today:
Hey, everyone. It’s time again for the PLAYSTATION Store weekly update. Enjoy!
Qore
Qore Episode 5 ($2.99 for episode / $24.99 for Annual Subscription)
Episode 5 celebrates Halloween with a scary game roundup. It also includes exclusive access to SEGA’s Valkyria Chronicles demo, some spooky/creepy artwork and new shooting galleries.
File Size: 1.68 GB
Games
Linger in Shadows ($2.99)
Linger in Shadows is a unique interactive digital art experience that uses the SIXAXIS controller to manipulate the very fabric of time and reality. Groundbreaking graphics and interactivity raise the bar for what is possible on PlayStation 3. Download Linger in Shadows and experience a truly unique journey that will change the way you think about games and art.
File Size: 100 MB
Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords ($14.9... More »
Psyonix Studios announced today that Supersonic Acrobatic Rocket-Powered Battle-Cars has gone gold, and will be released on October 9 for the PlayStation Network on the PlayStation 3 computer entertainment system.
Press Release: PSYONIX STUDIOS ANNOUNCES THAT SUPERSONIC ACROBATIC ROCKET-POWERED BATTLE-CARS HAS GONE GOLD
Vehicular Arena-based Sports Game Slams Its Way onto the PlayStation®Network October 9
El Segundo, Calif. - October 3, 2008 - Psyonix Studios announced today that Supersonic Acrobatic Rocket-Powered Battle-Cars has gone gold and will be released on October 9 for the PlayStation®Network on the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system.
SARPBC features unique rocket-powered cars with incredible physics-based maneuverability, including the ability to rocket into the air or accelerate at supersonic speeds on the ground by racing over boost strips, obtaining boost capsules or by performing a rapid succession of acrobat... More »
Are $60 games poking holes in your wallet? Looking for some good, fun downloadable games? Here's 11 online gems that you definitely shouldn't miss!
What's better than buying, downloading, and playing a full-feature video game from the comfort of your own home? Online games are the bread and butter of busy gamers, and there are still a great number of titles just around the corner.
If you're a trackball-wielding PC user, frequent member of the PlayStation Network, or a card-carrying Xbox Live Arcade buyer, these are the 11 upcoming online games you'll want to spend your points and cash on.
11. Fez Developer: Kokoromi; TBA on PC/XBLA
By far the most unique game to come out of this year's Independent Games Festival, Fez changes the rules on perspective in a classic way. Every level can be rotated on the fly, featuring a fresh take on 2D-in-3D perspective. As you try to get little protagonist Gomez to the end of each lev... More »
Here are Yahoo's picks for the Top 20 games of fall, 2008:
Lego Batman Platforms: PC, Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, PS2, PSP, DS
Genre: Action
Release Date: September 23
The caped crusader gets an angular makeover in Lego Batman. Protect Gotham as Batman and sidekick Robin from a rash of criminals, including nefarious villains like The Penguin, Two-Face, The Riddler and Mr. Freeze. Utilize a wealth of Bat-gadgets to survive over 30 levels in another comical Lego adventure.
Why It's Hot:
It's Lego. It's Batman. If you can't suss out why this is hot, we're not sure we can help you. Go sit in the corner and put on your Bat-dunce cap.
Why It's Not:
We stand by these Lego games because they are that very rare breed of video game that appeals equally to parents and kids. Still, they're all sort of the same game. If you've played Lego Star Wars and Lego Indy, don't expect a huge change in gameplay with the blocky D... More »
Now here's a mouthful, the latest exclusive PSN game for the PS3 is - Supersonic Acrobatic Rocket-Powered Battle-Cars.
Wow, that's a long title. Supersonic Acrobatic Rocket-Powered Battle-Cars by Psyonix Studios will strike PSN in early fall 2008. SAR-PB-C is "an arena-based online vehicle sports game" that's inspired by the game of soccer (football for the rest of the world).
The game will feature extensive stats tracking, ranking and rewards. However, more exciting is the announcement of popular features, like Trophy support and the ability to record gameplay directly to YouTube. It's great to see third party developers starting to take advantage of the various capabilities of the PS3.
If you wish to know more about the game, then check it out in full at their official Web site linked above, Battle-Cars.com.
Psyonix Studios today announced Supersonic Acrobatic Rocket-Powered Battle-Cars, an arena-based online vehicle sports game for PlayStation Network that brings together animated vehicles in sports-like gameplay.
The game features vehicles with incredible physics-based maneuverability, including boosters for launching high into the air or accelerating at break-neck speed on the ground. In the air, cars can roll, flip, jump, dodge or spin. In this team-based soccer-inspired game, the vehicles maneuver to perform breathtaking saves, awe-inspiring shots on goal, and gruesome demolishes of opponent cars. These abilities, combined with the players' own creativity, create a unique and thrilling experience every time.
Wide-ranging community involvement is supported through team and league play, as well as extensive statistical tracking, rankings, and rewards for individuals and teams. The game features mini-games and single player matches as well as team and league mat... More »