17w ago - Irrational Games Writer Drew Holmes has shared a video today dubbed Head in the Clouds spotlighting the writing of BioShock Infinite below.

To quote: The toughest question to answer is "How do you write for a BioShock game?" Wait, let me back up.

I started at Irrational almost a year ago. At that point, there wasn't a "writing team", it was just Ken Levine. Luckily, Ken is a smart guy and knew that this upcoming game was going to be big. Bigger than any game he'd worked on before.

So I tricked him into hiring me, and a couple months later we realized it was still a really big game, so Joe Fielder tricked us into hiring him as well. And the three of us, along with Jordan Thomas, tried to wrangle the beast that is BioShock Infinite.

The writing team at Irrational is structured a lot like a television writing staff. (At least I assume. I've never worked in TV, so maybe they don't have a special room for footrubs and/or quiet sobbing.)





We'll sit down with a problem to solve ("How do we make Infinite make any sense?") and pitch various ideas ("Free drugs in every box?") until one of them sticks. (*INSERT ENDING OF BIOSHOCK INFINITE*) Then we'll grind...

61w ago - Sony Senior Producer Harvard Bonin has announced today that Starhawk is bringing back splitscreen head-to-head and co-op multiplayer action on the PlayStation 3 entertainment system!

To quote: As most Warhawk players know, there's nothing quite like "couch gaming!" That is to say, playing video games on the same TV with a friend.

Lots of games have it: Games like Dance Today, Dance Forever, Dance 2 Dance, Dance Dancy Dance, or even Dance Your Self Esteem Away. Dancing is fine and all, but there's nothing that can quite replace the thrill of fragging the buddy sitting next to you - especially if he's being a lame hillbilly (deep, deep love of shotguns).

In Warhawk, you could play with some friends in the same room and have a proper night of gaming: Face to face and frag to frag while sharing nachos, smack talk, and profanity. Good times!

So we're happy to let you know that Starhawk has the exact same feature! OK...not the EXACT same feature. We've spent some time making it better, we think.

Two-Player Split Screen:

Yes, we've got splitscreen play. You can play with another friend on the same PS3 on the same TV. We are very aware that some of you wanted four-player splitscreen like Warhawk.

We thought about it a...

85w ago - Today Producer and Studio Head Sian Yue Tan has shared a video reveal of the new Rocketbirds: Couch Co-Op Mode for PlayStation Network.

To quote: After its triple nomination at the 2010 Independent Games Festival, the Rocketbirds universe is finally approaching release - and only on PSN.

Rocketbirds: Hardboiled Chicken takes you on a cinematic platform adventure through Albatropolis.

In the single-player mode, you're Hardboiled Chicken, the original Coq of War, on a mission to hunt down the Penguin's corrupt leader, Putzki. Along the way you'll have to kill many Penguins, solve puzzles, incite revolution, and maybe possibly pilot a few jetpacks.

Today I'd like to share a bit about the game's two-player couch co-op mode, since we are particularly happy with the way it's turned out. But first, check out some gameplay in our new Rocketbirds co-op video.





We had always wanted a couch co-op mode for the game ever since we started development on the PS3 (because, well, co-op is fun), but didn't know how and if it would work for our non-scrolling platformer. Simple questions needed answering, such as; "What should happen when one player leaves the current screen the other one is still on it?"

After...

138w ago - SCEE Home Community Lead Alex Weekes has announced today that Heroes and Villains are heading to PlayStation Home in Europe as part of the update this week.

To quote: We have our first batch of the great costumes that have been released in America recently. Whether you're into fighting crime as a masked hero, or causing mayhem as a villain, we've got you (spandex) covered!

On the hero side there's Captain Inflame-o, The Epsilon Viper and Nocturne, facing off against the villainous Wild Scarlet, Red Raven and Cyborg. Keeping an eye on all of them from a dirty alleyway is the Hobo... deadly assassin in disguise, or just a man down on his luck?

VEEMEE's latest animal-themed costume items have proven to be a hit, and this week sees the second release. Check out the V-store for the latest creatures, including vicious looking draconic pieces.

Lockwood's dropping some more female clothing this week. The latest in fashion from Lockwood is described as "rock chick" and includes a range of gloves and new tops. I'll let the screenshot do the talking:

To finish off quickly, we also have costumes for The Last Airbender and a small LocoRoco update. Yup, there's another unusual item to wear on your head!

146w ago - SCEE's PSP European Product Manager Adam Grant has shared two new videos today spotlighting Widget's Odyssey 2 and Solitaire which are both heading to the PlayStation Portable as PSP Minis.

To quote: We have two new minis releasing this week. Widget's Odyssey 2, the follow up to ... Widget's Odyssey and closely following last week's classic games, BIGBEN INTERACTIVE are releasing one more; the all time favourite, Solitaire.

Widget's Odyssey 2 by FRIMA STUDIO

This follow up to the original features more puzzles, more mini-games, and more enemies in four brand new missions leading to the ultimate showdown against the tyrannical Yagor.

Exiled from a planet devastated by the Cosmic Sneeze, Spad, Bruce, Cosmo, Helmut and Monk embark on a quest to vanquish the evil Yagor, who, in turn, swore to hunt them down until he's witnessed their complete and total annihilation.





Aboard the S-Pace, our five heroes must once again thwart Yagor's diabolical plans. In a race against time, they have to defeat hordes of enemies and face mind-blowing dangers. Will they finally succeed in putting an end to Yagor's despotic hold over the universe? Visit new planets, meet new creatures and play more mini-games as you guide our...